Stuck In My Mind Podcast Podcast By Wil ”Wize” Otero cover art

Stuck In My Mind Podcast

Stuck In My Mind Podcast

By: Wil ”Wize” Otero
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🎙️ Stuck In My Mind Podcast – Hosted by Wil “Wize” Otero

Real conversations. Real people. Real growth.

From the heart of the Poconos, Wil “Wize” Otero podcaster, life coach, and CEO of Real Wize Global Media dives deep into the minds of creators, entrepreneurs, and everyday visionaries who turned their struggles into success stories.

Raw. Unfiltered. Empowering.
Stuck In My Mind isn’t just a podcast it’s a movement for those ready to break mental barriers and live with purpose.

🎧 Tune in, get inspired, and remember: you’re not stuck you’re just getting started.

Copyright 2026 Real Wize Global Media LLC All rights reserved. Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • EP 299 Unlocking Freedom: Jeremy Shapiro’s Playbook for Scaling Your Business Without Burnout

    EP 299 Unlocking Freedom: Jeremy Shapiro’s Playbook for Scaling Your Business Without Burnout
    Jun 1 2026
    In this powerhouse episode of the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, host Wize El Jefe sits down with serial entrepreneur, business coach, and acclaimed author Jeremy Shapiro for a masterclass in transforming your business from a self-created job into a true asset that delivers freedom, not burnout. If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own company, confused busyness with progress, or wondered how to escape the endless hustle, this conversation brings actionable insights and eye-opening advice you won’t want to miss. About the Guest Jeremy Shapiro has spent nearly three decades helping entrepreneurs build scalable, sustainable, and sellable businesses. Featured on NPR, Fox News, and major outlets worldwide, he specializes in guiding founders through the transformational leap from solopreneur to true business owner—allowing them to reclaim their time, health, and creativity, while building assets that create generational wealth. Key Themes & Discussion Highlights The Solopreneur Trap: Are You Growing a Business or a Job? Early in the conversation, Wize and Jeremy break down the critical distinction between being "self-employed" and being a "business owner." Jeremy shares from experience that many enthusiastic founders unknowingly build businesses that trap them, taking on all the risk and workload but missing the freedom entrepreneurship promises. If the business can’t run without you, says Speaker B, it’s a job—one you could end up resenting (02:03). Builder or Grinder? Why Mindset Matters Reflecting on his own path, Jeremy identifies as a lifelong builder—someone who thrives on creating systems, solutions, and opportunities for others (03:01). This mindset, he explains, is key to scaling successfully. The pitfall? Confusing activity with progress. Entrepreneurs often wear busyness like a badge of honor, but as Jeremy reveals, tracking where your time actually goes often exposes unprofitable patterns (03:43). Systems, Delegation, and the Power of Marginal Gains Building a true business means learning to let go. For many, this is a massive mindset shift. Jeremy discusses why perfectionism (“nobody can do this as well as I can!”) is the enemy of growth (07:00). Instead, he urges founders to document and systematize repeatable tasks, define success clearly, and empower new team members to take ownership. This approach not only enables scale—it’s essential for sanity and sustainability. The episode takes a deep dive into the concept of "small hinges swing big doors." Through the story of the British cycling team’s transformation, listeners learn how stacking tiny, 1% improvements can completely change business outcomes (17:55). These marginal gains—whether it’s a tweak to onboarding, pricing, or lead generation—compound into massive wins. Finding (and Freeing) Hidden Profit Plateaus are normal in business, but they signal it’s time to work smarter, not harder. With his trademark clarity, Speaker B outlines the three levers that can reignite growth and profitability. Sometimes, he advises, it’s about refining the business model or optimizing pricing; other times, it’s about adopting new channels or outsourcing for leverage (14:28). A standout moment is his pricing masterclass. Speaker B challenges the common founder fallacy of undercharging for unique expertise—and shares a real-life story of helping a client 10x her consulting fees by shifting from time-based to value-based pricing (33:09). He explains how minor price increases can double profit margins, even if customer numbers stay flat. Building an Asset, Not Just a Paycheck One of the most profound insights arrives as Jeremy explains why every founder should design their business with an exit in mind—even if they never intend to sell. Businesses tend to follow one of three paths: shut down, pass to family, or become a sellable asset. Building with sale in mind forces owners to create systems, document roles, and make the company valuable to someone else (24:36). This not only maximizes future wealth—it also gives more freedom now. The story of a business owner forced to systematize after a health scare is a wake-up call about why founders must set their businesses up to run (and grow) without them (25:33). Ultimately, the goal is for founders to work on their business, not just in it—unlocking not just profit, but the optionality to travel, launch new projects, or simply take a real vacation. The Power of Niching & Specialization For those feeling "stuck" on a plateau, Jeremy recommends strategic niching. By narrowing focus and speaking directly to an ideal customer, businesses can increase pricing power, dominate specialist markets, and avoid the trap of being a replaceable commodity (39:39). The episode includes memorable stories of sub-niching (even among high-net-worth clients) and how hyper-specialization can actually expand total addressable markets. Actionable Takeaways Track Your Time: Perform a time diary to ...
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    46 mins
  • EP 298 Becoming a Cultural Catalyst: Transforming Leadership and Culture Through Connection and Change

    EP 298 Becoming a Cultural Catalyst: Transforming Leadership and Culture Through Connection and Change
    May 5 2026
    Welcome to a transformative episode of the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, hosted by Wize El Jefe and featuring the insightful Jacqueline Oren, creator of the Culture Catalyst system and co-founder/CEO of the Coaching Catalyst Network. In this powerful conversation, Jacqueline Oren explores the depths of cultural change, personal transformation, and leadership in today's rapidly evolving world. The episode opens with Wize El Jefe introducing Jaclyn Orent, highlighting her pioneering approach to cultural transformation and leadership through the Culture Catalyst framework—a system designed to drive real, sustainable change by focusing on relationships, energy, and a shared vision. Jacqueline Oren sheds light on what it means to be a “cultural catalyst”: someone actively instigating cultural evolution not just within organizations, but across society as a whole. She defines culture as an "invisible system" made up of shared norms, behaviors, and the quality of relationships—a living, breathing network shaped by the people within it (02:02). Throughout the episode, Jaclyn Orent draws on decades of research in the science of intentional change, referencing luminaries like Dr. David Hawkins and Richard E. Boyatzes, as well as practical leadership experiences from her own life. She describes a pivotal personal turning point: being fired from her dream job and embarking on a transformative journey—including a 36-day water fast—that fundamentally shifted her focus from personal success to service and conscious leadership (10:39). Listeners hear about the psychological and physiological importance of community among changemakers and leaders, and how isolation can sabotage the larger mission of cultural renewal. Jaclyn Orent emphasizes that for real, systemic change to last, leaders must come together, share resources, and support one another in relationships marked by resonance—a powerful blend of shared vision, compassion, energy, and competence (06:34, 22:47). She introduces the Coaching Catalyst Network, a global community for leaders, as a direct response to the siloed and fragmented reality faced by those striving for cultural evolution. The science of transformation takes center stage as Jacqueline Oren discusses concepts like emotional contagion and resonance, explaining that energy, vibes, and emotional state are not just feel-good platitudes—they are measurable, neurologically impactful, and contagious within social networks and organizations (24:09). These concepts are woven together with scientific rigor and spiritual awareness, synthesizing research and lived experience to provide a holistic road map for anyone seeking change. One of the core themes explored is why change is so hard, both individually and collectively. Jaclyn Orent unpacks the cognitive and embodied barriers to real transformation, noting that mindset alone isn’t enough. Change happens when the mind, body, and deeper consciousness are aligned—and this process is rooted in simultaneous awareness of our mortality, our purpose, our willingness, and our relationships (17:00, 39:57). The episode is rich with practical tools and wisdom. Jaclyn Orent offers actionable advice for listeners stuck between iterations of themselves, encouraging small, courageous steps outside one’s comfort zone to build efficacy and momentum (48:28). She also unpacks the idea of legacy and the power that comes from accepting our mortality, suggesting that this humility can drive us to use our finite time intentionally, focusing less on fear and more on meaningful impact (40:03). As the conversation unfolds, Wize El Jefe shares his personal journey—how podcasting and a deliberate shift in mindset led to profound changes in his life, from health transformations to new professional opportunities. This personal sharing bridges the gap between theory and practice, showing that everyone, regardless of where they are, can take steps to step into a new identity, challenge self-imposed limits, and catalyze change, both in themselves and the wider world (33:44). Jaclyn Orent also talks about integrating science and spirituality in leadership development, highlighting her research partnerships and the importance of coherence between consciousness, intention, and systemic change (28:29). She explains how the Culture Catalyst system and network operate not just as theoretical constructs but as concrete communities where leaders can find support, challenge, and inspiration. In closing, this episode is a call to action for anyone feeling "stuck"—whether personally, professionally, or within the broader context of societal change. It's an inspiring guide for changemakers, creative thinkers, leaders, and anyone committed to growth. The conversation is a seamless blend of cutting-edge science, spiritual wisdom, and actionable insights guaranteed to ignite new ways of thinking, being, and leading. Connect with Jaclyn Orent and learn about transformational ...
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    52 mins
  • EP 297 Navigating Chaos and Finding Purpose with Andre Thornton

    EP 297 Navigating Chaos and Finding Purpose with Andre Thornton
    Apr 20 2026
    In this powerful episode of the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, host Wise sits down with Andre Thornton—founder and CEO of Whitman Consulting, seasoned executive leader, and author of "Disrupted: The Two Stabilizers and Seven Accelerators of Growth During Chaos." Together, they embark on an in-depth, honest exploration of what it means to confront disruption, both in the workplace and in our private lives, and how to emerge not just unbroken, but transformed. Andre Thornton draws on his remarkable journey from a high-ranking director at Lockheed Martin, where he led teams of thousands and was instrumental in securing over $1 billion in business, to facing the unexpected loss of his role during a corporate reorganization. He shares candidly about the personal crisis that followed, describing how deeply we often tie our identities to our careers—and what it felt like when that identity was suddenly taken away 03:03. A pivotal moment comes when Andre Thornton recounts his life-changing mission trip to Niger, Africa 04:00. The experience brought him a profound sense of clarity and purpose, revealing a calling to help others grow and thrive, especially during times of chaos. This newfound perspective would become the foundation on which he built his leadership development firm and later authored his book. The episode ventures deep into the meaning of "disruption," which for Andre Thornton, is simply when “things don’t go as we had planned"—ranging from minor everyday mishaps to seismic life events like job loss or the end of relationships 07:14. He explains how the disruption we face often requires both introspection and adaptation, and he introduces his two "stabilizers": the 1440 Method and Cognitive Calibration. The former is about defining and moving toward a vision for every area of your life by making conscious use of your 1,440 minutes each day, while the latter is an actionable neuroscience-based practice to recognize, reset, and reframe your reactions to daily disruptions 08:07. Listeners get a close-up look at how these concepts apply in real life as Wise vulnerably shares his own story of facing simultaneous professional opportunity and personal tragedy 11:05. Andre Thornton responds empathetically, offering his perspective and a moving personal account of experiencing both triumph and intense loss—winning a major award while simultaneously grieving the suicide of his best man 13:03. Their conversation is a testament to the complexity of human emotion and the necessity of processing, not suppressing, deep feelings when disruption strikes. At the heart of this episode lies Andre Thornton’s framework for thriving through chaos. He breaks down the seven accelerators for growth: the first three focus on self-leadership (Embrace Uncertainty, Put Why Over What, Engineer Your Strengths), and the remaining four center on leading others (Be Vulnerable, Care About Others, Inspire Accountability, Want to Be Wrong) 18:18. Andre Thornton explains that adopting these counterintuitive practices—especially when disruption makes us want to do the opposite—enables individuals and leaders to move forward intentionally, inspire teams, and innovate even when the path ahead is unclear. The discussion also explores why some people seem to grow through chaos while others remain stuck. For Andre Thornton, the answer is often ego: a reluctance to seek new perspectives, accept feedback, or admit one does not have all the answers 24:15. He emphasizes the critical importance of both taking action and being humble enough to adapt based on feedback. Listeners are encouraged to consider the practical steps for starting their own journey through chaos—beginning with articulating a personal "North Star," embracing uncertainty, and being willing to take the smallest next action, even in the face of fear or imperfection 30:53. The stories shared—from Wise’s beginnings in podcasting, overcoming self-doubt and perfectionism, to Andre Thornton’s journey into leadership development and entrepreneurship—underscore the transformative power of simply saying “yes” and taking action 37:13. Throughout, the episode remains grounded in real-life emotion and actionable wisdom. Whether discussing practical neuroscience for emotional regulation, the daunting realities of grief and career change, or the incremental process of building a dream (like podcasting or launching a business), Wise and Andre Thornton provide listeners with both inspiration and usable tools. In closing, Andre Thornton reflects on the legacy he hopes to leave: empowering people to thoughtfully design lives of meaning and impact, rather than passively accepting the paths prescribed by others 46:38. His message to anyone feeling recently “disrupted” is clear—acknowledge your feelings, process them out loud or in writing, and then tap into your body’s chemistry to reset and reframe 50:13. Whether you’re navigating the turbulence of the modern...
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    58 mins
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