What happens when you pour five years into building a successful team and product, only to have the entire studio shut down due to forces beyond your control? Game designer Patrick Fram (known for X-Defiant and The Division 2) faced this exact "darkest hour," forcing him to reckon with the "golden handcuffs" of a stable role. Patrick shares his journey from a young enthusiast who had ideas for games but didn't know where to begin to mastering the highly competitive game creation industr...

Episode Description: Joe Slack was stuck in the Corporate Hamster Wheel—burned out from a 17-year career and craving more control and strategy. He realized the escape plan wasn't another promotion, but mastering the game of wealth by putting his passion first. This strategic conversation dives deep into Joe’s leap of faith, charting his move from a comfortable salary to the unpredictable world of game design. He shares the critical lessons learned from a failed Kickstarter campaign and the "W...

Episode Description: What happens when you trade a six-figure salary for uncertainty during a market crisis?. Michele Harkov's journey from a high-paying IT role to a top 1.5% ranked realtor reveals the incredible power of intentional decision-making, even when facing massive financial setbacks and personal uncertainty. Michele shares the pivotal moment she realized she was living life for everyone else, the leap of faith that led her from Chicago to California, and the discipline it took to ...

Episode Summary: Greg Fernando realized he was trading his time for someone else’s dream, and he felt caged in a job that used to be fun. He refused to accept the corporate grind and set out to build a business designed for freedom and focused entirely on results. In this powerful episode, Greg shares the tactical moves he made to launch Merge Appraisal in a tough market. We dive deep into why relentless execution and a commitment to customer service—doing what others won't (like 5 a.m. inspe...

Episode Description Every episode on Dragon’s Gold leads to the ultimate question of legacy: the profound message we leave behind when the quest is complete. In this special compilation, join us for a Tour of the Hall of Heroes, where we distill the most powerful, profound, and non-negotiable truths shared by world-class entrepreneurs. We examine the core mandates—principles of persistence, courage, and impact—that our guests have etched into their metaphorical statues. Anchor yourself in thi...

Episode Summary: For years, John Ottman worked 60–70 hour weeks, grinding just to keep the doors open on his San Francisco bar, Holy Water. After 8 incredibly slow years, John had every reason to quit, but his belief, passion, and grit kept him pushing through the hard times, including the crushing financial stress of the pandemic shutdown. John shares his fascinating origin story, how he used the power of relationship and pattern recognition to gain ownership, and why he chose to stick...

Episode Summary: Luke Laurie isn't just a master of game mechanics; he's a true Strategic Game Master who found his Dragon's Gold not in a pile of treasure, but in the enduring joy his creations bring to thousands of players worldwide. Join us as the designer of Dwellings of Eldervale and Andromeda's Edge unpacks the mindset required to build a lasting creative legacy while embracing the "grind" of discipline and finding joy in the journey. Key Takeaways to Level Up Your Mindset: • The Power ...

What if the thing you’re most afraid of is the very thing you’re meant to do? In this episode, Vicki Stephens shares how she went from scared to start to leading a business that’s touched thousands of lives — furry and human alike. Through fear, faith, and a little bit of crazy, she built Vicki’s Little Rascals into a story of courage and community. What You’ll Learn: Why fear is often the sign you’re on the right pathHow confidence comes from action, not before itThe role of faith and suppor...

What do you do when your studio shuts down and your whole life resets? In this episode, game designer and co-creator of a mobile game that’s earned over $1B in revenue, Matt Zimmitti shares the rise, fall, and reinvention of a career that’s anything but typical. From learning to code at 26 to launching his own studio at 40+, Matt unpacks the failures, friendships, and mindset shifts that shaped him. What You’ll Learn: Why he told his first boss: “I’m going to take your QA job and design my wa...

Episode Summary: What do you do when you lose everything? In this powerful episode, Stewart Heath shares the raw truth about building too fast, collapsing too hard, and rising again with a deeper mission. From a $10M portfolio lost in the 2008 crash to a life rebuilt with purpose, this conversation is a masterclass in humility, patience, and legacy. What You’ll Learn: Why he left the CPA path to get “in the game” of real estateThe 2AM infomercial that changed his lifeHow he went from $10M net...

Would you risk everything to save someone you love? In this powerful episode of Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Josh Ketner shares how his mother’s ALS diagnosis pushed him to defy the system and build something from scratch (outside U.S. borders, approval, and conventional wisdom). It’s a story about stem cells, sure. But more than that, it’s about sacrifice, grit, and going all in when most people play it safe. Key Takeaways: Why he launched a clinic in Mexico instead of waiting for FD...

Episode Summary: What if the biggest wins in your life didn’t look like wins at the time? In this heartfelt episode of Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Mike Naughton walks us through a journey marked by unexpected detours, second chances, and the quiet confidence that comes from choosing happiness, even when everything goes sideways. Key Takeaways: The surprising benefit of dyslexia and why he never saw it as a limitationWhat the Navy taught him about showing up, even after failureHow a f...

What does a legendary fire bird have to teach us about building a legacy? In one of our most unique episodes yet, we revisit some of the most powerful moments from past guests all united by one mythical choice: the Phoenix. This universal symbol of rebirth, resilience, and transformation runs through their stories like a golden thread. From the spark of change, to the flames of trial, to the rise into a new chapter, you’ll hear how each entrepreneur has lived the Phoenix’s journey in their ow...

Episode Summary: What if the worst day of your life was the beginning of your real legacy? Eric Zwigart built a $150M business, lost $35M, and came out the other side a better father, leader, and man. In this powerful episode of Dragon's Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Eric shares the crash that changed everything—and why he wouldn’t take it back. Key Takeaways: How $35M disappeared almost overnightWhy real estate became his safe havenThe faith that got him through the darkest momentsWhat it mean...

Episode Summary: What happens when you burn the boats and commit fully? In this episode of Dragon's Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Danny Flores shares how he transformed grit into generational wealth. From 16-hour days on job sites to billion-dollar loan syndications, Danny's journey is a blueprint in discipline, vision, and long-term thinking. Whether you're chasing freedom, building legacy, or facing your own pivot point, this one’s for you. Key Takeaways: What six years of night school taught...

What do you do when your career looks like success on paper... but feels like it’s built on sand? Morgan Keim built his career in venture-backed startups. Raising $400 million to scale the next generation of food tech companies. But beneath the accolades was a growing sense that he needed something different. Something sustainable. Something real. In this week’s episode, Morgan shares how a personal pivot into real estate gave him, and the entrepreneurs he serves, more than just income. It ga...

What do you do when the mission is clear, but the path isn’t? Greg Robeson was building furniture, road schooling five kids across North America, and running businesses out of an RV when a divine detour led him into senior living, and changed everything. In this powerful episode, Greg shares how his journey through grief, faith, and fatherhood shaped his entrepreneurial path and gave rise to a movement centered on presence, people, and purpose. Here’s what you’ll uncover in this week’s advent...

What happens when a blind kid from Oregon becomes a world-class shooter, a champion race car driver, and a bestselling author? This week’s guest, Gary Faules, is living proof that mindset is everything. From losing his vision for four years to chasing down world records and handwritten letters from Ronald Reagan, Gary’s life has been a masterclass in curiosity, belief, and doing the hard things anyway. Here’s what you’ll uncover in this week’s adventure: What going blind at age 10 taught Gary...

Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is not give up. This week on Dragon’s Gold, we’re joined by Louis O’Connor. A global entrepreneur and founder of Strategic Metals Invest, whose story is one of stubborn resilience, soulful wisdom, and relentless forward motion. From walking away from comfort to returning home decades later as a changed man, Louis has lived a life of bold choices and deeper meanings. Here’s what you’ll uncover in this week’s adventure: How a homesick 19-year-old b...

Episode Summary: What makes a man walk away from everything secure to build something completely uncertain? Tom Dunkel took that leap and nearly lost it all. But through failure, faith, and the long game, he rebuilt a life of ownership, alignment, and impact. In this episode of Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Tom opens up about the real story behind leaving corporate, hitting bottom, and learning to play chess instead of checkers. Key Themes: Leaving corporate safety for entrepreneurial ...