Mick Unplugged

The most powerful move in business is not always saying yes. Sometimes it is knowing when to walk away.

Daymond John joins Mick Hunt for a candid conversation about the decisions that shape a business and a life. The FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor explains why his deeper purpose is “because I should,” how mentors can save us from painful mistakes and why growing too quickly can quietly destroy what an entrepreneur worked to build.

Daymond also opens up about his health journey after cancer and the discipline of making gradual, sustainable change. He shares how he thinks about investing through his “My Money, Homie” framework, why he supports artists without asking for anything in return and how a five-to-seven-person filter helps him decide what belongs on social media.

This episode is a sharp, funny and personal masterclass in protecting your time, choosing the right people and refusing opportunities that no longer respect your value. Daymond’s message is clear: get narrow, go deep and keep the power to walk away.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why Daymond’s deeper purpose is “because I should”

• How dyslexia, business and cancer shaped his perspective

• Why mentors and mistakes are the two great teachers

• How scaling too fast can weaken a business

• The difference between purpose-driven and return-driven investments

• Why Daymond supports artists without asking for anything back

• The five-to-seven-person filter behind his social media decisions

• Why too many opportunities can become a liability

• How walking away protects your value

• Why a small, trusted inner circle can outperform a massive network

CHAPTERS

00:00 Mentors or mistakes

01:38 Meet Daymond John

03:38 “Because I should”

06:04 What Daymond had to overcome

08:13 Fasting, discipline and gradual change

12:09 Cancer and the decision to study health

16:44 Why mentors matter

20:15 Don’t scale too fast

23:50 “My Money, Homie” and smarter investing

28:47 Supporting artists with no strings attached

33:16 The two-year-old turkey leg debate

35:29 Daymond’s five-to-seven-person filter

39:34 Drowning in opportunity

41:15 The power to walk away

41:30 Quick Five

43:39 Go narrow and deep

43:53 Leadership and what Daymond is building

46:22 Closing

Connect with Daymond John:

Website: daymondjohn.com

Instagram: @thesharkdaymond

LinkedIn: @daymondjohn

YouTube: @TheSharkDaymond

Facebook: @TheSharkDaymond

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged

Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast

LinkedIn: @mickhunt

Website: MickHuntOfficial.com

Website: howtobeagoodleader.com

Website: Leadloudseries.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

#MickUnplugged #Leadership #Podcast #daymondjohn

Mick sits down with licensed therapist, mental health advocate and author Kier Gaines for a direct conversation about emotional honesty, uncomfortable truths and the courage to begin.

Kier explains why saying "you hurt my feelings" can be an act of strength, especially for men who have been conditioned to hide emotion. He and Mick unpack avoidance, awareness, curiosity, boundaries, professional value and why credentials still matter in a culture that often rewards visibility over expertise.

Kier also shares the barber shop conversation that helped him recognize his mind as a valuable tool for change. He explains why his book, It All Starts When You Do, rejects shallow positivity and invites readers into the real work of self-healing.

This conversation is honest, practical and deeply human. It is about telling the truth, protecting what matters and taking the first step before you feel completely ready.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why emotional honesty is a form of authority, not weakness

• How to move beyond surface-level wellness

• Why awareness and curiosity are the first two steps toward change

• The connection between boundaries, business and self-respect

• Why credentials create accountability, safety and protection

• How attention and notoriety can weaken integrity

• The barber shop conversation that changed Kier's view of his work

• Why "walking away from what does not serve you" can become avoidance

• The meaning of an authentic and consistent legacy

MICK'S BOOK OFFER

As discussed in the episode, the first 20 people who message Mick with the words "I'm starting" will receive a copy of It All Starts When You Do, purchased by Mick. Available while the offer remains open and supplies last.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Attention Economy and Integrity

00:24 Meet Kier Gaines

01:00 Saying "You Hurt My Feelings"

04:46 The Because: Because Why Not?

07:01 Why Surface-Level Wellness Is Not Enough

10:14 It All Starts When You Do

14:12 Two Ways to Start Healing

18:15 Boundaries, Business and the Cost of Free

23:53 Hot Takes: Credentials, Safety and Anti-Intellectualism

34:13 The Room: A Barber Shop Conversation That Changed Everything

37:43 The Book, the Podcast and Mick's Offer

40:15 The Unplugged Five

44:03 Legacy, Authenticity and Kept Promises

46:00 Closing

Connect & Discover Kier:

Instagram: @kiergaines

Instagram: @learnedthehardwaypod

LinkedIn: @kiergaines

Podcast: Learned the Hard Way with Kier Gaines

Facebook: @kiergaines

TikTok: @kiergaines

Book: It All Starts When You Do

Threads: @kiergaines

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged

Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast

LinkedIn: @mickhunt

Website: MickHuntOfficial.com

Website: howtobeagoodleader.com

Website: Leadloudseries.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

Discussion about service, patriotism, faith, leadership, technology, and the responsibility to leave no one behind.

Governor Moore explains why "service saved me," beginning with the mentors, teachers, coaches, ministers, aunties, and uncles who saw his potential before he could see it himself. He reflects on losing his father at age three, wearing handcuffs by eleven, being sent to military school, and eventually discovering that leadership is not about individual achievement. It is about lifting as we climb.

The conversation then turns to the meaning of American patriotism. Governor Moore draws a sharp distinction between patriotism and nationalism, arguing that faith, not fear, is the foundation of a more perfect union. He and Mick also discuss Maryland's public-safety progress, service-year opportunities, apprenticeships, cannabis pardons, energy affordability, AI, data-center accountability, and why technological progress must include guardrails and public trust.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Mick’s most important conversation

02:05 Governor Moore’s “Because”: service saved me

04:39 Running away from military school

06:37 The Unplugged Truth: a speech that moved Mick’s family

08:41 Faith, fear, patriotism, and nationalism

13:22 God’s grace and moral leadership

15:21 Hot Takes: Maryland’s progress through collaboration

20:49 Energy affordability, AI, and data-center guardrails

28:55 The Room: you belong because the room needs you

33:11 The Unplugged Five and a legacy of compassion

FEATURED SPEECH

Watch Governor Wes Moore's July 4, 2026 address, "The Work of Patriotism":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfLQy82IsWo

Read the official transcript:

https://governor.maryland.gov/news/speeches/work-patriotism

Connect & Discover Governor Wes Moore:

Website: theofficeofgovernorwesmoore.com

LinkedIn: @iamwesmoore

X: @iamwesmoore

Facebook: @iamwesmoore

Instagram: @iamwesmoore

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged

Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast

LinkedIn: @mickhunt

Website: MickHuntOfficial.com

Website: howtobeagoodleader.com

Website: Leadloudseries.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

What if one of the most important ingredients in a healthy life isn’t actually on your plate?

In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Mick Hunt sits down with Emmy Award-winning chef, bestselling author, restaurateur, and Giadzy founder Giada De Laurentiis for a joyful conversation about food, family, entrepreneurship, community, and la dolce vita.

Giada shares how a shy young chef learned to tell stories to millions of viewers, why audience feedback transformed her into a stronger teacher, and how her desire to cut through the noise of the food industry became the foundation for Giadzy. She explains what makes high-quality Italian ingredients different, why Giadzy’s gluten-free pasta surprised even her, and how small Italian producers helped inspire a growing lifestyle marketplace.

The conversation goes beyond cooking. Giada explains why the people at your table can affect how you experience and digest a meal, why joy and connection belong in the conversation about longevity, and how she is bringing her businesses together through her new Chicagoland restaurant, Sorella by Giada.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How Giada overcame shyness and learned to teach through storytelling

• Why repetition and audience feedback are essential to becoming a great teacher

• How Giadzy grew from a blog into a marketplace for Italian pantry products

• What makes bronze-cut, slow-dried Italian pasta different

• Why Giadzy’s gluten-free pasta became an unexpected breakthrough product

• How stress, connection, and the people at your table shape the experience of food

• Why la dolce vita is more than indulgence—it is part of health and longevity

• How Giada is connecting her media, product, and restaurant businesses

LISTENER OFFER / FEATURED PROMOTION

ACTIVE LISTENER OFFER 1 — The next 20 people who DM “GIADZY” to @mickunplugged on Instagram receive a $100 Giadzy gift card.

ACTIVE LISTENER OFFER 2 — The first 20 people who DM “SUPER ITALIAN” to @mickunplugged on Instagram receive a copy of Giada’s Super-Italian cookbook.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Giada’s impact on Mick and learning to tell stories on television

03:37 — What’s your because?

08:49 — The Unplugged Truth: how Giada changed Mick’s relationship with pasta

12:58 — Building Giadzy from audience feedback

15:28 — The unexpected success of gluten-free pasta

20:59 — Hot Takes: cauliflower rice, coconut, and food trends

23:46 — The secret ingredient: joy, connection, and la dolce vita

26:16 — Sorella by Giada and bringing the businesses together

28:51 — The Unplugged Five

31:23 — Super-Italian, Mick’s cookbook offer, and the send-off

Connect & Discover Giada:

Website: giadadelaurentiis.com

Website: giadzy.com

Instagram: @giadadelaurentiis

Facebook: @giada

X: @GDeLaurentiis

TikTok: @giadadelaurentiis

YouTube: @gdelaurentiis

Cookbook: Super-Italian

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged

Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast

LinkedIn: @mickhunt

Website: MickHuntOfficial.com

Website: howtobeagoodleader.com

Website: Leadloudseries.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

What if the exhaustion you feel isn’t burnout at all?

Success coach, keynote speaker, and Dream Think Do host Mitch Matthews joins Mick Hunt for a conversation about purpose, clarity,
action, and the hidden problem affecting many high achievers: being “bored out.”

Mitch shares how a bad-fit corporate promotion began extinguishing his fire, how his wife helped him recognize the work he was born to do, and how he built a coaching and speaking business that surpassed his
income in just five months. He also explains why a small injection of novelty can restore energy, why dreaming bigger must be paired with experimentation, and how to move from comparison and fear toward learning and love.

In this episode:

• Mitch’s “Because”: loving God, loving his family, and encouraging encouragers

• The clues that revealed his calling

• Why action separates great from exceptional

• Building an “authority bridge” without blowing up your life

• The difference between burnout and being bored out

• How 15 minutes of novelty can reignite your fire

• Why successful people struggle to name their own dreams

• Giving yourself permission to experiment

• Reframing imposter syndrome as “winner’s syndrome”

• The five-word prayer that changed how Mitch entered important rooms

LISTENER OFFER / FEATURED PROMOTION

FREE TRAINING — Make Time for Your Next Chapter

Visit: https://www.mitchmatthews.com/time

Use code: MICK

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Meet Mitch Matthews

01:39 - Mitch’s “Because” and encouraging encouragers

08:39 - The bad-fit job that extinguished his fire

14:31 - Building an authority bridge without blowing up your life

16:34 -Burnout vs. “bored out”

23:13 - Dream bigger and act on it

27:08 - Clarity, permission, and experimentation

34:27 - The room that transformed comparison into learning

40:54 - The Unplugged Five

45:50 - Generosity, legacy, and Mitch’s free gift

Connect & Discover Mitch Matthews:

Website: mitchmatthews.com

Free Training: mitchmatthews.com/time. Use Code MICK

LinkedIn: @mitchmatthews

Instagram: @mitch.matthews

Facebook: @mitch.matthews.104

Podcast: Dream Think Do

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast

LinkedIn: @mickhunt

Website: MickHuntOfficial.com

Website: howtobeagoodleader.com

Website: Leadloudseries.com

Apple: MickUnplugged