This week on Burning the Ships, I’m doing something a little different—a completely unscripted solo episode. No guest interviews, no pre-planned ramble, just me answering real questions from friends about leadership, positivity, marriage, fatherhood, and life. These are the kinds of questions I’d usually ask my guests, but today, I’m in the hot seat.

I open up about where my “annoyingly positive” mindset really comes from, how I developed my leadership style (and how I almost wrecked it early on), the foundation of my marriage, and the promises I’ve made to myself as a father. I also get candid about my biggest strengths, my most frustrating weaknesses, and the lessons I’ve learned the hard way about tone, focus, and organization. If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at who I am beyond the mic, this is that episode.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

[0:00] – The story of Hernán Cortés and what “burning the ships” really means

[2:11] – How a last-minute scheduling change led to this solo, Q&A-style episode

[3:54] – JJ’s Joke of the Week: shellfish humor at its finest

[5:02] – Where my lifelong positivity comes from—and how my mom modeled it in hard times

[14:25] – My definition of great leadership, and the book that changed my management style forever

[25:32] – Marriage advice: trust, space, and never stopping the flirt

[33:42] – Fatherhood philosophy: why I’d rather give my kids me than anything money can buy

[38:27] – My biggest strengths, weaknesses, and how I’ve learned to work with both

[50:29] – Wrapping up the first solo Sunday episode and what’s coming next

Quotables

• “Patience and positivity don’t mean ignoring reality—they mean choosing the mindset that will actually move you forward.”
• “Leadership isn’t about fixing people; it’s about finding their strengths and putting them where they can win.”
• “The best marriages are built on trust, space, and never letting the flirting stop.”
• “Your kids don’t care what you provide nearly as much as they care about your presence.”
• “We have three family rules: have a good attitude and give max effort, treat life as an adventure, and figure shit out.”

Links & Resources

• 608B Capital – https://608bcapital.com

Closing Remark

If you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes episode, please take a moment to rate, review, and follow the podcast—it means the world to me and helps more people find Burning the Ships. And if someone in your life needs that extra push to commit fully to their goals, share this episode with them. The past is behind you, the future is yours to conquer.