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On this episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael sits down with Max Hansen, founder of YScouts and a leader who has helped companies scale by fixing the one thing most entrepreneurs avoid: hiring. With resumes being gamed, AI rewriting job histories, and job boards flooded with noise, hiring has never been more confusing or more critical. Max breaks down why most hiring systems are broken, why the best people are not applying, and how great leaders actually build teams on purpose. This conversation is not about HR tactics. It is about leadership, culture, and why who you hire ultimately decides how far you go. If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader who wants freedom, growth, and a team that actually performs, this episode will change how you think about hiring forever.

In this episode of the Average Sucks Podcast, Michael sits down with financial expert, entrepreneur, and creator of Wealth Factory, Garrett Gunderson, for a conversation that will shift the way you think about money, value, and freedom.

What if your brand matters more than your bank account? In this episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with entrepreneur, identity coach, and branding expert Travis Brady for a conversation that will challenge everything you think you know about marketing and business growth. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your business... if the strategies aren’t working... or if you're tired of playing small—this is the wake-up call. Travis breaks down why your identity is the foundation of your brand—and how most entrepreneurs are sabotaging their results by ignoring it. This episode dives deep into branding, influence, mindset, and the psychology of standing out in a crowded market. You’ll learn: - How to create a brand that actually attracts clients - The real reason your marketing isn’t converting - Why framing your identity is the key to breakthrough results - How to stop hiding and start leading with confidence Whether you're a business owner, coach, or creator... this episode will push you to think differently, show up bigger, and finally build a brand that reflects who you really are. This one might just be the most important shift you make this year.

What if your business isn’t stuck because you’re not working hard enough… but because you’re focusing on the wrong things? In this raw and eye-opening episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with Adam Bensman—founder of The Roof Strategist—who went from scraping by on $4.20/day to building a multimillion-dollar brand without a single paid ad. No funnels. No hacks. Just timeless strategy, real metrics, and a mindset built for growth.

In this episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor, to discuss his transformation from a fitness studio owner to the head of a seven-figure marketing agency. Mike shares powerful insights on overcoming challenges, the importance of mindset, and the strategies that helped him break through barriers to reach success. Mike also introduces his new book, “The Standard is You,” a playbook for team members who want to lead, grow, and raise the standard. This step-by-step guide will help you live above average, set higher personal and professional standards, and unleash your full potential. Learn more and get your copy at

Have you ever watched a young athlete perform at a high level and thought, Where does that kind of drive come from? In this electrifying episode of Average Sucks, we uncover the answer. Some kids discover a passion so strong that it fuels them to excel—transforming their love for an activity into a relentless competitive fire. And in the pursuit of excellence, they develop an extraordinary set of life skills that set them apart. Our guest? My daughter, Maya Bernoff. From the moment she stepped onto the ice as a little girl, she felt something powerful—like she had found her place. Skating isn’t just a sport to her; it’s where she feels most alive. And that passion? It’s what keeps her pushing, competing, and winning. Her results speak for themselves. Maya competes in over 50 events annually, traveling across the U.S., and more often than not, she leaves with a medal around her neck. At just 12 years old, she’s already earned five national gold medals at the 2023 and 2024 National Showcase competitions hosted by U.S. Figure Skating. In this episode, we dive into the mindset, habits, and strategies that fuel her success, including: Belief in Yourself: Maya’s philosophy? Love yourself first—because you’re the one person you spend your entire life with. Entrepreneurial Spirit: At just 10, she created a fundraiser for a local dog rescue with only $40 in startup money, turning that into a great win for the rescue. Passion for Figure Skating: The ice isn’t just where she competes—it’s where she thrives, setting goals and pushing herself to new levels. Mental Toughness: The mindset work that helps her power through challenges, setbacks, and the dreaded brain rot. The Power of Visualization: A mental exercise Maya swears by to break through negative thoughts. And that’s just the beginning! This conversation is inspiring, insightful, and packed with wisdom—straight from a 12-year-old powerhouse. You won’t want to miss it. Tune in now!

How differently do you define success today compared to two, five, or even ten years ago? For most of us, life’s ups and downs have a tendency to reshape what truly matters. That’s why our latest guest on the Average Sucks Podcast brings a unique and powerful perspective. Vince DelMonte, founder of the 7 Figure Mastermind for Fit Pros, hit his biggest goals and then faced the question: Now what? In this candid conversation, Vince dives deep into redefining success for your life today and in the future. He doesn’t sugarcoat the journey, yet instead asks the hard questions and shares the reflections that shaped his “lifestyle first” approach. It’s a must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges of success and striving to align their life with what matters most. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Vince built his fitness empire with thousands of videos and 80+ hour workweeks—crushing his financial goals.The “true cost” of that success on himself and his loved ones.Why work-life balance is easier said than done—and how Vince tackled it head-on.The pivotal self-reflection that shifted his approach and transformed his business and life.His “lifestyle first” philosophy, which helps him balance success while knowing when to hit the gas. This thought-provoking conversation is packed with insights to help you redefine and elevate your own success. It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Vince. Don’t miss this compelling episode of the Average Sucks Podcast!

You’ve got a life plan.  It goes great. Until it doesn’t. Ever catch sight of yourself in a mirror and are surprised by what you see?  What you do when life hands you lemons will either bury you or strengthen you beyond measure. Our special guest in our Average Sucks Podcast has been through the fire and came back to help others. Natalie Jill is a former medical device sales professional who had risen to national sales director. She got married, bought a house, and had a daughter along the way.  Life was awesome! It should have been…and yet still…her marriage fell apart while she was pregnant. She fell into a depression, watched her finances dwindle and threaten her home, and gained more than 60 pounds. Worse, she felt hopeless. Then, she had a series of epiphanies that triggered her comeback: She caught her reflection in a mirror and saw she was not who she wanted to be – overweight, depressed, overwhelmed and alone.She watched a television show where she was reminded of the importance of focusing on the possibility instead of the problem.She chose to focus on where she wanted to go and who she wanted to be, instead of “what was” at that moment. Her story continues to inspire from there.  She turned it all around and now is a renowned fitness and fat loss expert at Natalie Jill Fitness. She transforms people’s lives as they navigate their midlife challenges. Her clients in midlife don’t feel alone, stuck, and overwhelmed.  You don’t want to miss this extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary entrepreneur and leader! Head over now to hear her moving story in our Average Sucks Podcast. It was a pleasure and an honor to speak with her – and you’ll see why.

Warning: This Average Sucks Podcast starts out in a dark place.  Drug addiction, drug dealing, and even worse. Our guest at 15 found himself outrunning the police. For a while, he descended deeper and deeper into a dark world.  You wouldn’t expect a life that starts out that way to head into a sunlit place of serving others and making a powerful difference in their lives.  But that’s where Dan Martell, a successful SaaS entrepreneur coach, did and that’s the life he lives now. Dan helps grateful SaaS CEOs scale their business and remove the “time assassins” that wreck their lives. He helps them be successful and get their time (and life!) back.  Listen this special episode of the Average Sucks Podcast to hear how Dan: Overcame addiction and illicit business enterprisesLearned the hard way the entrepreneurial skills that kept him going Worked too hard and had too little to show for itLeveraged skills ranging from coping with uncertainty to finding the right peopleScaled his business with a reproducible process that can help others.  Listen this entire powerful conversation. You don’t want to miss Dan’s story and apply the key lessons to your life (and boost your average).  It was an honor and privilege speaking with my friend Dan. No matter where you are today on your journey, you’ll find real value in hearing his story. 

How can you create value for your customers and clients? Our guest this week says this: Be curious, caring, and giving.  Authentic curiosity starts with meaningful conversations. You get those through real caring – because only then will people open up and be vulnerable with you. They’ll share what they want and don’t want with you. And that puts your giving on target.  Mastering that process gives you a superpower in your business, says our latest Average Sucks Podcast guest Kevin Kauffman.  Kevin is a one-of-a-kind real estate entrepreneur, coach, and podcaster.  Join us and discover: The importance of expanding one's sphere of influence and maintaining meaningful relationships in business. Kevin provides a step-by-step approach to building and activating this sphere.How to cultivate and activate your sphere by finding ways to add value to these connections. Value can take various forms, such as phone calls, notes, or gestures that show you care. Always look for opportunities to expand and grow your sphere.How to nurture your sphere of influence as a long-term strategy. It may not lead to immediate results, but over time, it can become a powerful source of business.  He also acknowledges that while this approach is essential, there may still be a need for other activities, like prospecting and actively seeking immediate business opportunities. However, your sphere should remain a core focus for long-term success. I loved sitting down with Kevin and hearing his insights and I know you’ll love it, too. I will also be speaking at his upcoming event NLA Live on December 5th. Check it out at NLALive.com and use code BERNOFF at checkout for a discount! 

How to bring a new community into your life (and your soul) is the focus of this month’s incredible podcast.  You’ll be thrilled to meet Tori Totlis, a powerful entrepreneur and athlete who founded Compete Confidence Golf, Phoenix. Tori created a way for women to connect more deeply in their lives through the game of golf – showing women how to go from the beginner stage all the way to expert-level. And doing so with a supportive community where they’ll make new friends, share laughter and make memories.   From beginner-friendly courses that kick-start your journey, to carefully curated practice programs that sharpen your short game, and comprehensive six-week practice plans – Tori offers options to improve your game no matter how well you can put and swing. She hosts action packed women's tournaments, including her signature event The Desert Classic in Phoenix. And if that's not enough, she hosts luxurious golf retreats set against the backdrop of world-class courses across the globe. Tori's world of golf is nothing short of extraordinary. Tori is also the 2022 Arizona Golf Association Women’s Golfer of the Year. And she produces "T-Time with Tori", her podcast that shows strategies, inspiration and motivation on women’s golf – with weekly guests who share their wins, losses and challenges.  She’s a woman that knows how to make things happen. Come join us in the inspiring podcast conversation with Tori. She’ll share: Why making new friends as a grown-up can be quite a challenge, and some great ways to connect with others, build some awesome relationships with people who are positive and supportive.The highly effective practice plan her coach gave her as a teen golfer that inspired her career. It’s the same plan she uses as a model for her courses, which brings great results.4 essential keys to elevate your golf game. Whether you're aiming for immediate improvements or long-term mastery, Tori knows what game-changing strategies to focus on - from the right equipment to navigating a course and most importantly…taking a swing well past your comfort zone. Tee up and hold on to your visors as you level up your golf journey! You won’t be hearing routine golf tips from this lady - there’s a lot more to this great conversation and you definitely will want to hear it. It was a joy and privilege to sit down with Tori and hear her insights into raising your average through community, soul work, and the game of golf. To become ABOVE AVERAGE (and lower your handicap), take Tori’s words to heart.

Eliminating limiting beliefs and ideas is what led our guest on The Average Sucks Show to achieve success, prosperity and peace. Jonathan Maynard is owner of The Huge Convention, one of the biggest conventions in the world and in this episode, Jonathan takes us on a powerful journey into the mind of an “accidental” entrepreneur. He shares how he went from a lucrative career in the IT world to starting and selling multiple businesses as he achieved his personal goals to spend more time with family.  Come join us for this warm conversation with a wonderful person who is eager to share what he knows and to serve others, including:  If you want more time for family and to travel and to do other things in life, avoid buying into limited beliefs that say that’s for someone else but not you – it is possible for you and do not let an off-target belief stop you before you start. Even if it sounds like a crazy idea at first. Free yourself from expectations of what you “should do” versus what makes entrepreneurial sense to do. Jonathan wanted more time with his family and to travel – and realized his IT career was never going to take him there. So he looked for what made sense entrepreneurially. Why you should remain open to opportunity wherever you might find it–Jonathan was inspired by a line at a kettle corn stand at an apple orchard. He did the math, started a business that his family could join him in, and pretty soon was counting $5,000 in cash around the dining room table with his family from a weekend take. And of course, crush those limited beliefs. Too many entrepreneurs lose out because they have the ownership mindset of “only I can do this … nobody can do this as good as I can.” That’s a fallacy and Jonathan gives you the formula for when you should turn something over.  Plus, much more …  It was an honor to have Jonathan Maynard join us on The Average Sucks Show. You’’ll definitely want to listen in to gain insight into your own life as you hear Jonathan’s approach to all around success.

You’re hiking with a team through the Grand Canyon.  The plan is simple: You’ll go from one rim to another and back (46 total miles over rough, steep trails) and do the whole trip from sunrise to sunset.  Thirteen miles in, you suffer a setback: You roll your ankle and break a bone. You keep going and finish despite the pain. What’s your take-home lesson?  Our amazing podcast guest Brad Weimert says if he hadn’t broken his ankle, “It wouldn’t be as cool a story.” Brad is an absolute rock star. He’s the founder of Easy Pay Direct, a merchant account company for “high-risk” industries. Before that, he was a legendary (seriously) highest-selling  Cutco sales person in the world. And now he’s a dedicated endurance athlete. As you’d expect, Brad is a student of performance and of mindset – and obsessed with pushing the envelope.  Come join us on this amazing podcast conversation with him, because Brad has so many gems to offer you’re going to want to keep stopping the interview to chew on what he’s said. Among them:  If you want to participate in the outcome of a team, you will not help anyone if you complain about an injury. Choose what you will do and do that! Set goals that are realistic, but far enough outside of your comfort zone they scare you. Brad says when a goal scares him a little, his other behaviors fall into line so he achieves his goals.   There are two different ways to prepare for a big goal: (1)The “step up” where you build up your capacity, but set a stretch goal for “game day.” (2) Or the opposite, where you’ve already completed the goal in practice a few times, and go into game day knowing you can perform. Choose the one that works best with your own mindset.  Plus, Brad gives us the secret to endurance in business and sports and life! There’s a lot more great stuff in this conversation (including about flying to Fiji with a team)!  I loved every second of speaking with Brad and you will be changed just by listening to him. It was an honor to have Brad Weimert join us on The Average Sucks Show. To become ABOVE AVERAGE, listen and apply to what Brad does and says!

Why do people get stuck and not reach their personal financial goals?  Why do they perform below what they are truly capable of? A powerful answer is provided by entrepreneur and elite business coach Garrett Gunderson. Garrett is the owner of 5 businesses (and was a millionaire at age 26). He is the Founder and Chief Wealth Architect of the Inc. 500 firm, Wealth Factory.  His Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your Prosperity is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller in personal finance.  And currently, Garrett’s been on a comedy tour and is a noted speaker on money and personal finance. I am thrilled to share this fascinating discussion with you. Garrett lays out the case that a powerful vision is necessary to truly go above (and then far above) your average. But your vision requires real thought and consideration.  “Vision is the rarest commodity in the world,” Garrett explains. ‘And it drives all value – and dollars follow value. So if we can create a vision that’s so compelling that it would take a lifetime to accomplish it, we create a life we don’t want to retire from.” Get all the details on creating a compelling, life-altering vision (and much more) in this episode.  It was an honor to have Garrett on The Average Sucks Show and discuss how you can rise above your current limitations and become ABOVE AVERAGE.

If you are a business owner you’ve probably asked yourself these questions at some point: How can I work more effectively with my team? How can I develop a team of leaders to run my business the way I want?   You want to develop relationships with people you care about, grow your business, get your time back, and build the team you’ve always wanted. So, let’s get it done. For this episode, we enlisted “The CEO Whisperer” to show you exactly how to gain the momentum needed to grow your business.  Cameron Herold has scaled 4 businesses, has written 6 books, and is the founder of the COO Alliance. His most recent book Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief is a BEST SELLER and a wealth of power tips for those in the driver’s seat of companies across the world.  He took 1-800-GOT-JUNK from $2 million to $106 million in revenue in only 6 years.  Cameron Herold is a top business coach, catering to some of the top businessmen and women including Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk’s brother, and serving as a reference for the brothers’ first round of funding in 1995.  In this episode, we waste no time. Cameron lays out exactly what you need to do, the crucial role you’ll want to play, and how you’ll get your team to free up your time! We were so excited to bring Cameron Herold to  The Average Sucks Show. Cameron’s entrepreneurial journey of scaling 4 businesses and his expertise showed us powerful ways for us and our teams to be ABOVE AVERAGE.