IAM1624 – Podcast Hosts Share The Passion of Helping Change Lives

Joey Braun 00:00

So I decided to bring it back after I gave up for a couple of months and actually dm Avery on Twitter and I asked him if he wanted to be on the podcast because I saw the motivational videos he made and they hit me hard and they inspired me. So I was like, dang, this is someone that I wanted to do a podcast with.

This guy's an inspiration, he's motivational, and he'd be a great co-host. So that was how I initiated that with him, and he can kind of tell his side real quick.

Intro 00:28

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you are in search of. This is the I am CEO podcast.

Gresham Harkless 00:55

Hello, hello, hello, this is Gresh from the I am CEO podcast and I have two very special guests on the show today. I have Joey Braun and I have Avery Chatman of the Mind Shape Podcast. Gentlemen, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Joey Braun 01:04

Thank you for having us.

Gresham Harkless 01:05

No problem. Super excited to have you on. And what I wanted to do was just read a little bit more about Joey and Avery and Joey and Avery are two men who had never met before, but both share the passion of helping people change their lives.

So they decided to create a podcast. Joey and Avery, are you ready to speak to the I am CEO community?

Joey Braun 01:19

Yeah, let's do it.

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Gresham Harkless 01:20

Let's make it happen. So to kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story. What led you guys to get started in the podcast?

Joey Braun 01:26

It all kind of started off and Avery can kind of give his take as well, but I started a podcast a while back. I just wanted to start something to help people and I had no listeners, no one was really looking at our stuff or listening to it. So I decided to bring it back after I gave up for a couple of months and actually dm Avery on Twitter and I asked him if you wanted to be on the podcast because I saw the motivational videos he made and they hit me hard and they inspired me.

So I was like, dang, this is someone that I wanna do a podcast with. This guy's inspirational. He's motivational, and he'd be a great co-host. So that was like how I initiated that with him. And he can kind of tell his side real quick.

Avery Chatman 02:04

Yeah. So one day I'm looking on Twitter and I get a DM from this random guy and he's like, ‘Hey man, I love your content.'

And I've been thinking about starting something. I don't know if you'd be interested, but I kind of wanna just run it by you if you see my message. And of course, I saw his message and I responded right away. And he started diving in saying he had a podcast I guess a few months prior and things like that.

And that I would be a perfect fit to help him out with the podcast he had started. And from there we brainstormed a lot of ideas and we got to know each other a little bit more. And then we just started recording like no script, no anything, just off the top of the head just whatever we wanted to talk about.

We thought of a topic and we just started talking. And from there it's been growing, it's been building and I'm really excited to see where it ends up. But that's basically the start of our story, I would say.

Joey Braun 03:02

Yeah, man.

Gresham Harkless 03:03

Nice. I appreciate that. I think, you know, even on a deeper level, it sounds like you guys, you've been able to co-host a podcast and develop relationships with each other as a result of doing this podcast together.

Joey Braun 03:13

No, hundred percent. Yeah, I'm definitely looking to meet Avery in the future here shortly. I definitely wanna actually meet him and get to know him a little bit more.

Gresham Harkless 03:20

Yeah. You guys are gonna have to go Facebook Live or something like that. That would be awesome, right?

Yeah, Well, cool. So, I know we touched on it a little bit. I wanted to hear a little bit more about your podcast. Tell me what you guys are doing, what you guys are talking about, and, and all the awesome content you guys are putting out.

Joey Braun 03:33

Yeah, Avery, go ahead and tell 'em.

Avery Chatman 03:36

Right. So each week there's a different topic.

We put out videos that are motivational, and inspirational. We also have guests on the podcast that tell their stories. Sometimes we'll have artists such as singers writers, promoters and things like that. And then we'll just have everyday people as well, people who just like me and Joey and people who just have a story to tell.

I think that's what's really unique about our podcast is we don't have all of the big-name stars on it. We don't have celebrities. We want people to relate to it on an everyday average Joe type of level, but we want you to be inspired, do more than just everyday society things. We want you to pursue your dreams. We want you to go chase whatever you're after. And I'm sure Joey has more to add to this as well.

Joey Braun 04:33

No, yeah, a hundred percent. Avery just like described everything I was going to say, and we just want it to be authentic, from the heart.

And we don't want it to be totally scripted or anything like that. We just want authentic conversations with people because that's when you really can be yourself. Sometimes people get caught up in like the interview and they can't be themselves, and we just want people to be themselves, be authentic, and have that ripple effect onto other people.

Gresham Harkless 04:59

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. And that's why, you know, I love this medium as an opportunity to kind of do that because you can, have that mic and get to kind of talk to yourself. And, I don't know if you guys find the exact same thing. I think especially as you guys have talked about those stories and that piece, I feel like we hear stories sometimes we're a lot more alike than we sometimes think we are on the surface.

When we kind of drill down, you hear somebody's story, you hear the trials and tribulations they might have gone through. It kind of helps to bring us together. I don't know if you guys find the exact same thing.

Joey Braun 05:25

Yeah, exactly.

Gresham Harkless 05:27

Nice and that makes perfect sense. And I know you touched on this as well, but I wanted to ask you for what I call your secret sauce.

And it could be for both of you guys individually or for your podcast. What do you feel kind of sets you apart and makes you unique?

Joey Braun 05:39

I feel like, we just touch upon it a little bit, which is the authentic factor. And I feel like outside of our podcast, we're also doing other things. Making our faces known, giving videos out to the people so it's not just audio. It's not just someone we actually give our authentic selves out there and we don't just hide.

So you see some podcasts where they don't really put their face out, and I think that makes us authentic because at the end of the day, I mean, we're not gonna change the world, but we can change the world of individual people's lives, that's important.

What do you think, Avery?

Avery Chatman 06:12

Yeah, and to go along with your saying what you were just saying Joey, we are interacting with our listeners, we're asking them questions, we're talking to them about topics they may want to hear about and things like that. And it's not just from a standpoint of we get a bunch of ideas and we just go from there.

We're having full-on conversations with people. About what they're going through and what they want to hear about to really key on things that everyday people go through. So it's more relatable.

Gresham Harkless 06:44

Yeah, absolutely. And I definitely feel, and I don't know if you guys find the exact same thing, especially with that video piece you get the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes, look and give you that additional touchpoint, I guess you can say. So you can have that authenticity, that relatability that you guys spoke to.

Joey Braun 06:59

Yeah, 100%.

Gresham Harkless 07:01

Nice. And, I wanted to switch gears a little bit and I wanted to ask you guys for what I call a CEO hack.

And this could be an App, book or a habit that you have, but what do you guys think makes you more effective and efficient?

Joey Braun 07:12

Hey, go ahead and start with this one.

Avery Chatman 07:14

Okay, so for me I think it's having a set schedule and sticking to that schedule. I wake up I start off by praying, thanking God for another day.

I meditate, and I go for a run. I work out, I have breakfast, and then I start my day and it's a way to just clear my mind and just get into a routine and be able to just jump right at it. I think that is very beneficial. Another thing that most people hate doing, but I do is making my bed every day.

And a long time ago I saw, I'm not sure if he was a general

Gresham Harkless 07:48 hmm-hmm.

Joey Braun 07:49 Yep. I know the video.

Avery Chatman 07:50 Know what I'm talking about Joey.

Joey Braun 07:51 Yes.

Gresham Harkless 07:52 I do too.

Avery Chatman 07:53

Alright, perfect, perfect, perfect. Yeah. And so I saw that video, but my entire life, I don't know why, I've always wanted to make my bed. It was just a weird thing I did as I've always done it, but after listening to what he said, you know, that's the first thing you accomplished of the day you got your first accomplishment done.

So I think when you have a set schedule and you get those things done, you're setting up a path to where you're constantly accomplishing things. And I think that's the biggest thing you have to do to be successful as a CEO. You have to set a path to where you're constantly accomplishing things throughout the day.

And I mean, once you do that, you're gonna stay on track to become one of the most successful people, in your mind, as long as you're successful in your mind, that's all that matters.

Joey Braun 08:40

No, I really love that what Avery just said is like something that I literally do too. Super important is the morning routine especially gets you starting off the day with wins and we always talk about celebrating your little wins because it's the little things that matter the most and that's what helps you build this kind of momentum.

People think you have to do this huge thing, but it's not just the little things every day that compound into results. And I've always chased the big thing, but once I started focusing on the little things, the big things seemed to just happen with consistency so.

Gresham Harkless 09:14

Yeah, absolutely. And it kind of seems, and I can't definitely speak to wanting to make my bed in the morning, but I saw that exact same video and it definitely does give you that type of energy just as you guys kind of spoke to.

Because once you start getting those small wins, it's like an energy start to make a magnet, so to speak, where you start to see those medium things start to happen and those bigger things start to happen and all of a sudden you're starting to crush your dreams and your goals.

Joey Braun 09:36 Mm-hmm.

Avery Chatman 09:37

Right? I totally agree, agree with you on that.

Gresham Harkless 09:40

Nice. And, so now I wanted to ask you guys for what I call a CEO nugget, and this is a word of wisdom or a piece of advice, or if you can hop into a time machine, what would you tell your younger business selves?

Joey Braun 09:51

Oh, wow. That's, that's a tough one.

I mean, I am just in the beginning of the journey, but, I would say to him don't look at like the results. Just follow the process. Because the results aren't gonna be there at first. They're not. But the process and the journey and overcoming fears, overcoming bad habits and building better ones, it's all part of the process. And I think you find personally that's what really awesome is that watching that progression of yourself, what do you think Avery?

Avery Chatman 10:23 I think I'm gonna go just off of what you said, and I think you said, overcoming those fears, you know, and those bad habits.

I think a lot of us give up at certain times because we are fearful of certain things and we do have some bad habits that we don't want to get rid of. And so what I would tell my younger self is, you know, all of the haters, the doubters, the complainers, the people who look down on you, you have to ignore 'em, you know?

Joey Braun 10:48 Got 'em.

Avery Chatman 10:49

Don't absorb what they're saying. Don't let them project your future. Don't let them tell you what you're gonna do or what you can't do. Because I think that affects a lot of people to this day a lot of people don't accomplish certain things because they're scared of what their peers might say or people around them might say.

So I think the fear and overcoming bad habits is a great point, Joey.

Joey Braun 11:14 Well said.

Gresham Harkless 11:15

Definitely, definitely. I would agree with that and I appreciate you guys even in talking to how you created this podcast. Cause I think a lot of times we become a product of our environment and if a lot of people are your haters or your naysayers, or they have their own limiting beliefs, they put that on you, then all of a sudden you kind of feel like you can't do that.

But you guys, like you kind of touched on in your story wanted to create this podcast and then you reach out to others you created that environment that allowed you guys to both propel each other, which I think is something admirable and something we all need to take.

Joey Braun 11:42

Hmm. Yeah, it was, didn't think it would happen, but without that action of me trying, you know, this one might be possible. So always thank Avery for coming and joining me, it's been awesome.

Avery Chatman 11:51

Yeah, it's been a great ride. And I mean, we're gonna keep it going. We haven't run out of gas yet.

Joey Braun 11:54 No, definitely not.

Gresham Harkless 11:55

There you go. Just getting started. So I, I definitely appreciate that. So now I wanted to ask you guys my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO and we're hoping to have different quote-and quote CEOs on the show. So, Avery Bradley, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Avery Chatman 12:10

What does being a CEO mean to me?

I think it's basically everything we talked about, you know, it's setting a path, setting a goal for yourself and reaching it and accomplishing it. But while you're doing this, you're bringing other people along with you. You're reaching new heights and you're teaching people that are looking up to you how you can accomplish your goals.

I think it's, it's more than just you. The hype around being the boss, being the lead guy, being the head guy. I think it's bringing other people up, teaching the people below you, encouraging them, and inspiring them to do great things. I think that's what being a CEO means to me.

Gresham Harkless 12:49

I like that. And Joey, what do you, what do you have to say?

Joey Braun 12:51

I was thinking about this question because I saw them when you sent the preset questions and I think I look at it as, for me being a CEO, I change it to chief emotional Officer. So that's me being in charge of my emotions at all times because I believe that emotion drives energy. And when you're a CEO, you need to have that energy and the right emotions so you can lift other people up in your company and make sure you are coming every day to the best of your ability. So if my emotion isn't there, then my energy isn't there. So that to me is probably the most important thing when I'm defining a CEO.

Avery Chatman 13:24

Damn, I love that. I love that kind of be like you when I grow up, Joey.

Gresham Harkless 13:29

That is definitely a mic drop definition.

And I definitely appreciate that because a lot of times when you get emotional you get so angry or you get so happy, it's hard to control that. So wherever that's where you're gonna end up. And a lot of times you have to be in charge of that.

You have to be that chief energy officer, emotional officer so that you can be able to control that to make sure you're going exactly where you wanted to go. And like you said, Avery as well, you have to be able to kind of inspire people and to make sure that you're charging the course that you want for yourself, but also for many people that are listening, looking and, and following you.

Joey Braun 14:00

Mm-hmm a hundred percent. Avery's was on point.

Gresham Harkless 14:03

There you go. Two mic drops. So I appreciate both of you guys for your time. I appreciate all the awesome things you're doing and all the awesome things you're creating. I wanted to pass you both of mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know, and then of course, how best they can get ahold of you and subscribe to the podcast.

Joey Braun 14:19 Avery.

Avery Chatman 14:20

Well, I think I'll leave you guys with this. Just go chase it, chase your dreams. Go after it. You can be a CEO. You can accomplish whatever you're looking to accomplish. You just have to stay the course.

Joey Braun 14:31

Yeah. Going right off him, trust the process. It seems that we're afraid to take action and just take the first step because through the experience we learn the most.

And despite what people say, just keep focused, keep going. Do what you want because you don't wanna regret it. Let's be honest. And if we can do what we wanna do and, and live our dreams or even chase them, we'll end up somewhere great. So that's what I have to say.

Gresham Harkless 14:55

Nice. I definitely appreciate that. Yeah, that's some of the worst things are, are having regrets and so one of the ways you can kind of deflect that is just by trying, even if it doesn't go as you wanted to go, at least you tried and you have that.

So thank you. Great words of wisdom and for people that wanna subscribe to your podcast, find out about what you guys are doing, and what's the best way.

Avery Chatman 15:10

Yeah, go go to our Instagram, it's at Mind Shape podcast and we have a link there that takes you to Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, anything you wanna use, listen to it on or, or just go on Apple Music or Spotify and type in mind shape under podcasts.

And that'll come up. So go ahead, leave a review, and give it a listen. We look forward to your feedback.

Gresham Harkless 15:32

Awesome. Thank you so much guys, and we will make sure to have that link in the show notes so that you can follow up, and just like they said, you know, make sure to leave a review. Those are always great for us as podcasters.

So I appreciate you guys again, and I hope you have a great rest of the day.

Outro 15:44 Thank you for listening to the I am CEO podcast, powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. I am CEO is not just a phrase. It's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and everywhere you listen to podcasts, subscribe and leave us a five-star rating.

Grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I am CEO podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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