• How perseverance (not talent) was Ruben's edge — he decided early to stop quitting.
• How Ruben reverse-engineered a plan around his strengths and chose the luge because it rewarded tenacity and outlasting the quitters.
• The power of mentorship as a true "shortcut": borrow someone else's belief, follow their proven path, and stop arguing logical reasons you can't do it.
• Proximity + authenticity win: your energy is the currency, and habits change in the right rooms.
• … and much more!

Ruben Gonzalez is a common man who achieved extraordinary things. He wasn't a gifted athlete. In school he was always the last kid picked to play sports. He didn't take up the sport of luge until he was 21. Four years and a few broken bones later, Ruben was competing in the Calgary Winter Olympics. When he competed at the Vancouver Olympics at the age of 47, Ruben became the first person to ever compete in four Winter Olympics each in a different decade. Since 2002 Ruben has spoken for over 100 of the Fortune 500 companies. He's considered one of the top motivational and inspirational speakers in America. His bestselling books have sold over 300,000 copies and have been translated to over 10 languages. His incredible story takes people's excuses away and fills them with the belief and inspiration to face their challenges and fight for their goals and dreams. People buy into what Ruben teaches because they can relate to him.

• Website: TheLugeMan.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-gonzalez-olympian/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelugeman

• Success Principles Coaching: RubenU.com
• Ruben's latest book: TheShortcutBook.com
• Pursuing Freedom Podcast interview with Damon Lembi

• Why 2026 is a "new beginning" year
• Before you add more… subtract first: the breakthrough lesson that changed everything
• How consistent activity tends to create results in about 90 days, regardless of season
• Freedom is built through systems + support
• How the biggest leaps (hiring, investing, visibility, grief seasons) were done while scared — and still worked

Erin Bradley is a speaker and business coach, bestselling author, and host of the real estate podcast Pursuing Freedom.

As a mortgage lender, Erin learned the hard way just how hard entrepreneurship and success in sales can be. From flat broke to 6 figures, and then to burnout, Erin and her team have been through it all! Erin operates under the mindset that you never give up, and you never settle, in life or in business. Anything is possible when you have the right mindset, great systems, and an amazing team. Erin is passionate about helping others design their ideal life, then create a business that is a vehicle to support that lifestyle, rather than rob you of it. And she's on a mission to help you believe in, and achieve your biggest dreams!

• Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PursuingFreedomOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfreedomofficial/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-bradley/

• Get a copy of Pursuing Freedom on Amazon here.
• Subscribe to the Pursuing Freedom podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcatcher of choice for weekly inspiration and strategies.

• The life-altering moment that changed everything: a training ride that ended in a 60-mph collision, a coma, and the long road of learning to walk, talk, and live again.
• How adversity can become fuel instead of dead weight — and why "tomorrow is never promised" reframes how we use our time today.
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom, and why mentorship + proximity to high-level thinkers compresses your learning curve.
• A powerful redefinition of wealth: true wealth = ownership of your time, built through aligned assets, income streams, and purpose-driven stewardship.
• Why systems + delegation create scale — and how building teams is the bridge from solopreneur to entrepreneur to capitalist.

Nathan Barkocy is a real estate developer, entrepreneur, and the emerging voice behind the True Wealth movement. He is the co-author—alongside financial legend Sharon Lechter—of the upcoming book Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth, set to publish on January 23, 2026, exactly ten years after a life-altering cycling accident that reshaped his purpose and mission.

From rebuilding his life after being declared dead on the scene, Nathan has gone on to build multiple successful ventures across real estate development, restoration, wellness, and education. He is the founder of Testament Real Estate, Phoenix Real Estate Restoration, and the True Wealth Academy, as well as a growing media brand centered around generational wealth, personal growth, and time freedom.

Guided and mentored by Sharon Lechter, Nathan blends timeless wealth principles with a modern, purpose-driven approach that resonates with the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors. His work emphasizes the pillars of financial literacy, intentional leadership, and building a legacy rooted in impact.

Nathan is currently leading several major development projects—including the Galveston Skyline mixed-use district in Fort Worth and a master-planned resort and casino village in Colorado—and his message has gained national traction, earning endorsements from leaders like Ken McElroy, Russell Gray, Marcin Drozdz, and Mark Victor Hansen.

Through his book, speaking engagements, and the True Wealth community, Nathan is inspiring others to rise above adversity, unlock their God-given potential, and build wealth that lasts across generations.

• Website: NathanBarkocy.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarkocy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nathan-Barkocy-100080039299725/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarkocy
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nathanbarkocy

• https://nathanbarkocy.com/book-presale
• Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth

• How early exposure to money conversations and entrepreneurship shaped her lifelong mission around financial literacy and empowerment
• Why one of her "worst" business decisions ultimately led to her best life decision — and how closing one door often opens many others
• The powerful distinction between chasing income vs. building assets — and why assets only get "sexier" with time.
• Sharon introduces the core message of her upcoming book Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth — redefining success as who you become, not just what you earn.
• A reminder that it's never too late to start, pivot, or rebuild — especially when guided by mentorship, clarity, and aligned risk tolerance.

Sharon Lechter is internationally recognized as a financial literacy expert, keynote speaker and business mentor. She is a 5 time New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and enjoyed a 35 year career as a licensed CPA. She has advised two US Presidents on the topic of financial literacy. Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. In 2008, when the economy crashed, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the teachings of Napoleon Hill.

Her best-selling Think and Grow Rich books with the Foundation include Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil, Think and Grow Rich for Women and Success and Something Greater. She is also featured in the movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and on the national television series World's Greatest Motivators. In 2021, Sharon's title, Exit Rich was released to support entrepreneurs in building value and scalability in their businesses so they can be in the position of greatest potential. Her newest title, How Money Works for Women was released in cooperation with WealthWave Media, a leading publisher of financial education materials in support of women taking control of their financial wellbeing.

Sharon's numerous accolades include most recently an Independent Press award, Trailblazer Legend award and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award. Sharon continues to drive innovation through technology in collaboration with IQ Hall, a cutting-edge AI-powered educational platform endorsed by UNESCO and aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Website: www.sharonlechter.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonlechter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharonLechter/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonlechter/

• How growing up in a tight-knit family shaped Edith's desire to create community and connection in both life and business.
• The importance of seeing people — truly hearing their stories and understanding how human dignity affects every decision they make.
• How hard seasons can become catalysts for finding purpose, building resilience, and creating support systems that strengthen entire communities.
• Edith's belief that leadership comes from generosity — giving time, attention, and encouragement even when life feels full.
• Building businesses that are heart-forward, aligned with service, and grounded in relationships that last.
• …and much more!

Edith Espinola, a top-producing, award-winning Luxury Realtor and intuitive life coach who helps high-achieving women find homes that align with their values, vision, and next-level selves.

As founder of the Espinola Real Estate Team at KW Bay Area Estates, Edith blends over 20 years of real estate success with a soulful, service-driven approach. Her clients, often executives and entrepreneurs, aren't just buying homes; they're creating sanctuaries.

• Website: edithespinola.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edithespinola
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspinolaRealEstateTeam
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edith_espinola/

• How a career pivot during college opened the door to an unexpected, purpose-driven path in entrepreneurship and financial education.
• The Agency Operating System, an acronym-based framework designed to realign your identity, energy, and actions so you can grow in life and business simultaneously.
• How accountability is actually a form of self-love — and why most people avoid it due to fear of being "called out."
• How limiting beliefs shape our "belief lid," and how small wins, intentional measurement, and behavior awareness help raise that lid over time.
• The emotional side of growth — releasing old identities, checking the facts behind fear, and using visualization to reshape your internal reality.
• …and much more!

Angela Totman is a business and accountability coach, veteran financial educator, and community leader who helps individuals and organizations elevate performance through her Own Your Operating System™ framework. With decades of experience in business leadership, financial literacy, and systems development, Angela equips others to align mindset, strategy, and structure—transforming potential into measurable results. Her mission is to lift others up through empowered accountability and wealth-building principles, helping them lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose in every area of life and business.

• Website: angelatotman.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatotman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelatotman
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azhomeswithangelatotman

• How "fun first" became Jennifer's unconventional success strategy after burnout in two careers
• Why most high achievers block joy — and how childhood moments often hard-wire that pattern
• The simple daily question that doubled her income almost overnight
• How curiosity, not hustle, becomes a reliable business strategy
• Jennifer's C-M-O Framework for magnetic marketing: Clarity, Magnetism, Offer

Jennifer Liss helps visionary entrepreneurs break free from invisible blocks so they can build businesses and lives that are joyful, abundant, and aligned.​

She blends somatic work, sales and abundance energetics, nervous system regulation, and breathwork to help entrepreneurs step into their power, gain clarity, and make quantum leaps in their business and life.

Jennifer hosts Untethered with Jen Liss, a top 2.5% podcast inspiring thousands of leaders to align with their truth and create businesses they love.

When she's not coaching or podcasting, you'll find Jennifer hiking in Portland with her husband and husky dog, Alfred.

• Website: https://www.jenliss.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferreneeliss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.liss.5
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.liss.coaching

Take Jennifer's passionfinder quiz to get a full profile on how to get paid doing what you love! jenliss.com/quiz

• Why freedom has a feeling — and how most real estate pros postpone it instead of accessing it now.
• The origin story of Pursuing Freedom and how misalignment — not effort— created burnout during the early success.
• The moment I stopped tolerating what wasn't aligned and started leading with authenticity, joy, and "vacation energy."
• How stepping into your future self requires choosing new standards, new boundaries, and new levels of belief.
• The powerful reminder that the decisions you make — especially the scary ones — shift your timeline and open new doors.
• … and much more!

Erin Bradley is a speaker and business coach, bestselling author, and host of the real estate podcast Pursuing Freedom.

As a mortgage lender, Erin learned the hard way just how hard entrepreneurship and success in sales can be. From flat broke to 6 figures, and then to burnout, Erin and her team have been through it all! Erin operates under the mindset that you never give up, and you never settle, in life or in business. Anything is possible when you have the right mindset, great systems, and an amazing team. Erin is passionate about helping others design their ideal life, then create a business that is a vehicle to support that lifestyle, rather than rob you of it. And she's on a mission to help you believe in, and achieve your biggest dreams!

• Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PursuingFreedomOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfreedomofficial/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-bradley/

• Learn more about the Collective at https://pursuingfreedom.com/collective Save $1,000 on the annual membership with code YES1000 and save $100/month on the monthly membership with code YES100 at checkout… for the lifetime of your membership!
• Get a copy of Pursuing Freedom on Amazon here.
• Subscribe to the Pursuing Freedom podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcatcher of choice for weekly inspiration and strategies.