The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas

In this episode of the "Secret to Success" podcast, CJ hosts an engaging conversation featuring co-host Karl Wesley Phillips, Dr. King, ET and special guest Gersh King. The episode kicks off with the hosts catching up, sharing a light-hearted and humorous dialogue that sets the tone for an inspiring discussion. Gersh King, a physical therapist known for his exceptional skills and dedication, shares his journey of personal and professional growth. He discusses his experiences with challenges such as homelessness, ADHD, and anxiety, and how he overcame them through intense dedication to his craft and personal development. Gersh emphasizes the importance of impact over monetary gain, explaining how he discovered fulfillment through service and honing his skills. He also delves into his rigorous routine, including his practice of lunges and a disciplined workout regimen inspired by figures like Bruce Lee. The hosts touch on topics like the power of breathing techniques to manage anxiety and enhance focus. Gersh leads a brief breathing exercise to demonstrate how proper breathing can ground you and activate the parasympathetic system for relaxation. The conversation further explores philosophies from Bruce Lee, the significance of being authentic, and how to harness one's energy and skills to become a master in their field. This episode is a deep dive into the mindset and practices required to achieve personal and professional mastery, offering listeners practical tips and inspiration to pursue their own paths to success.

Episodes

510 - You can't win like this!

October 9, 2025 • 65 mins

Most people don’t lose because they’re not talented—they lose because they’re scattered. In this episode, the guys break down why doing nine things halfway will never beat doing one thing with ruthless focus. ET unpacks how people-pleasing drains your energy, CJ shows how a single North Star changed their whole brand, and Maul & Karl dive into legacy, parenting, and building skills that outlive you. You’ll learn: Why your foc...

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509 - The Comparison That’s Destroying You

October 2, 2025 • 49 mins

In this powerful continuation of last week’s conversation, the S2S crew dives deep into the truth about circles, ego, and why so many people stay stuck. 💡ET, CJ, Karl, Jemal and Pastor TJ break down: - Why your circle can be the biggest ceiling on your future 🚫 - How comparison keeps you frustrated, broke, and unfulfilled - The hidden difference between a real anchor and a pseudo-anchor (ego) - Why honesty about where you are ...

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508 - The #1 Thing Your Kids Need More Than Money

September 25, 2025 • 48 mins

Parents think the best gift they can give their kids is money. But the truth? Money alone isn’t enough. In this powerful episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl & TJ unpack the story of Vontrell — a star athlete whose NFL dream collapsed after repeated injuries. Lost and struggling, he fell into security jobs and uncertainty… until Marlon & Camille stepped in. Instead of letting him sink, they gave him something fa...

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507 - 👉 Why Stress Is Killing You (And How to Eliminate It)

September 18, 2025 • 65 mins

Chronic stress is silently killing your energy, focus, and health. In this episode, learn how to eliminate stress, gain mental clarity, and thrive. Stress isn’t about your job, marriage, or circumstances—it’s about your perception of them. In this powerful episode, the S2S crew sits down with Lisa Angel Smith to break down the difference between acute stress and chronic stress, why managing stress isn’t enough, and how to actuall...

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506 - The Real Reason You’re Still Broke: Stop Listening to the Wrong People

September 11, 2025 • 62 mins

This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go deep on why most people stay stuck financially and personally. From Cracker Barrel’s branding mistakes to the truth about passive income, standards, and self-sabotage—this episode will challenge you to stop listening to the wrong voices and finally become the right person. 🚨 Topics covered: - Why Cracker Barrel got punked and what it teaches us about chasing approval. - “On...

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505 - Stop Drifting: The 70/30 Rule That Keeps You From Going Broke

September 4, 2025 • 52 mins

If you’re not intentional with money, marriage, or business, you’ll accidentally end up broke. 💥 In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the 70/30 rule and why discipline beats feelings every time. They show how anchors—non-negotiable principles—keep you from drifting into bad deals, broken marriages, or wasted years. 👉 Why the 70/30 rule protects your finances 👉 How to choose anchors that prevent...

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504 - F* the Anchor? Why Most People Drift Through Life...

August 28, 2025 • 57 mins

F* the Anchor. Yeah, we said it. But it’s not what you think. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal break down why so many people are drifting in life—financially, relationally, and spiritually—because they don’t have anchors holding them steady. The guys talk about: Why margin for error matters in your money, marriage, and health How real estate formulas apply to every area of life Lessons from...

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503 - Praying Won’t Fix Stupid Habits (Here’s What Will)

August 21, 2025 • 43 mins

You keep praying for a better life — more money, a better marriage, peace of mind — but nothing changes. Why? Because prayer won’t fix stupid habits. You can pray all day, but if you’re still eating like trash, still blaming everybody else, still out of order… don’t expect different results. In this episode, CJ, ET, and Pastor TJ break down why your sequence matters more than your intentions — and why God’s blessings aren’t missi...

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502 - Stop Holding It In - You’re Destroying Your Relationships

August 14, 2025 • 70 mins

You think staying quiet is keeping the peace — but it’s killing your marriage, your friendships, and your opportunities. In this raw conversation from the S2S Podcast, the guys get brutally honest about the damage caused by holding things in for years, avoiding hard conversations, and expecting others to “just know” how you feel. Learn why unspoken frustrations become resentment, how your silence might be teaching your kids unheal...

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501 - 😳 The Real Reason People Cut You Off (Even If You’ve Been Loyal)

August 7, 2025 • 64 mins

Why do people cut you off even after years of loyalty? In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jamal break down a truth most people don’t want to face: being loyal isn’t enough if you’re no longer an asset. From Dede’s emotional revelation about feeling unprotected, to the raw talk about marriages, business partnerships, and friendships—this episode will challenge how you see your own relationships and ...

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🎉 500 Episodes Later… The Biggest S2S Podcast Party EVER (LIVE!) 🎉

July 31, 2025 • 116 mins

🔥 500 EPISODES! 🔥 Join Eric Thomas (ET), CJ, Karl, and Jemal for a LIVE celebration of 500 episodes of the Secret to Success Podcast! This isn’t just another episode – it’s a moment in history. Expect laughs, surprises, special guests and the raw motivation that’s kept us going for nearly a decade. 🚨 What to Expect: Behind-the-scenes stories we’ve NEVER shared before LIVE Q&A with the S2S crew Special shoutouts to our day-ones...

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499 - The Rich Get Richer Because of THIS Mentality

July 24, 2025 • 56 mins

In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go all in on the mindset shift required to break out of survival mode. They challenge the traditional W2 mentality and expose why playing defense in life keeps you stuck. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead—this episode is for you. Topics Discussed: Why the W2 mindset is keeping you broke How real wealth starts wit...

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498 - It’s Not What They Teach. It’s How They Think.

July 17, 2025 • 65 mins

You’ve got more access to information than any generation in history — so why are most people still stuck? In this powerful episode, the guys break down the real reason proximity to greatness doesn’t automatically lead to results: you’re learning the moves but not adopting the mindset. From million-dollar real estate lessons to spiritual growth, relationships, and health — this one covers what it really takes to win in life. 🎯 W...

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497 - This Is Why She Doesn’t Talk to You Anymore

July 10, 2025 • 68 mins

Dede is back — and she’s not holding back. In one of the rawest episodes we’ve ever recorded, Dede and Candis join CJ and Eric for an unfiltered conversation about walls, wounds, and the real reason trust is so hard to build — especially in marriage and sisterhood. Whether you're dating, married, or simply trying to grow in emotional maturity, this episode is your mirror. From communication breakdowns to spiritual breakthroughs, ...

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496 - How Serving in Africa Changed Our Lives Forever | The Power of Simplicity & One Accord

July 3, 2025 • 69 mins

Karl returns from a life-changing mission trip to Kenya — but what started as a service project turned into a soul reset. In this episode, the guys unpack what it really means to live with less, why simplicity brings peace, and how one week of building a school in the mountains revealed what America often distracts us from. From 400 kids with no phones and no complaints, to laying bricks alongside his kids and a 75-year-old volunt...

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495 - You Don’t Need Talent ... You Need Habits

June 26, 2025 • 58 mins

Most people want the rewards of success, but aren’t willing to do what it takes. In this episode, CJ drops a powerful analogy: the habits of the greats are like broccoli—hard to swallow but life-giving. He shares how adopting “broccoli habits” in fitness, finances, relationships, and business transformed his life from average to avenger-level. ET jumps in with a challenge: stop chasing Krispy Kreme results with cheat-meal commi...

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494 - The Hidden Strength In Your DNA: Lessons From Ghana

June 19, 2025 • 45 mins

This week, the fellas take you straight to the Motherland — recording live from Ghana! From the emotional walk through Cape Coast Castle to the powerful reality check about your DNA’s hidden strength, CJ, Jemal break down what it means to truly know your history.They unpack raw lessons about endurance, perspective, and how your ancestors’ survival story is coded in your blood. This episode will challenge you to stop complaining, ...

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493 - You Think You're Ready? You Can’t Even Take Feedback

June 12, 2025 • 62 mins

Are your feelings stopping your future? In this episode, the guys break down why so many people stay stuck — not because of a lack of skill or opportunity, but because they refuse to take feedback. From relationships to real estate, work to worship, it’s time to stop letting your emotions drive the car and start asking the right questions. If you're tired of being in the same place and ready for real growth, this episode is your ...

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492 - We Almost Lost My Dad… But a Decision Made 30 Years Ago Saved Him

June 5, 2025 • 63 mins

What happens when you're forced to make the hardest decision of your life… and you only have minutes to decide? In this deeply emotional episode, Jemal shares how his father's life was hanging in the balance — and how a choice made decades earlier saved everything. The guys unpack the difference between planning and true preparation, and why waiting until a crisis hits is too late. You’ll learn: ✅ Why living in your feelings can ...

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491 - Be Careful Who You Interlock With 😅

May 29, 2025 • 81 mins

What starts as a quick story about turbulence on a flight turns into a hilarious debate:When a random stranger reaches for your hand… What do you do? 👀 In this episode, the guys break down the now infamous “interlock moment” — but it’s deeper than just laughs. They explore how too many people try to “perform” success without ever preparing for it. Whether it’s your marriage, your business, your mindset, or your body — the press...

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The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}510 - You can't win like this!

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}509 - The Comparison That’s Destroying You

508 - The #1 Thing Your Kids Need More Than Money

507 - 👉 Why Stress Is Killing You (And How to Eliminate It)

506 - The Real Reason You’re Still Broke: Stop Listening to the Wrong People

505 - Stop Drifting: The 70/30 Rule That Keeps You From Going Broke

504 - F* the Anchor? Why Most People Drift Through Life...

503 - Praying Won’t Fix Stupid Habits (Here’s What Will)

502 - Stop Holding It In - You’re Destroying Your Relationships

501 - 😳 The Real Reason People Cut You Off (Even If You’ve Been Loyal)

🎉 500 Episodes Later… The Biggest S2S Podcast Party EVER (LIVE!) 🎉

499 - The Rich Get Richer Because of THIS Mentality

498 - It’s Not What They Teach. It’s How They Think.

497 - This Is Why She Doesn’t Talk to You Anymore

496 - How Serving in Africa Changed Our Lives Forever | The Power of Simplicity & One Accord

495 - You Don’t Need Talent ... You Need Habits

494 - The Hidden Strength In Your DNA: Lessons From Ghana

493 - You Think You're Ready? You Can’t Even Take Feedback

492 - We Almost Lost My Dad… But a Decision Made 30 Years Ago Saved Him

491 - Be Careful Who You Interlock With 😅

Popular Podcasts

510 - You can't win like this!

509 - The Comparison That’s Destroying You