Matt Urmy is a singer-songwriter and entrepreneur who created multi-million dollar music tech startup -- Artist Growth – that enlists nearly 20,000 users. His path to being a successful businessman actually started with him blowing a meeting with a Nashville music manager. This moment of career defeat – a story Urmy tells on the podcast – led to a million-dollar epiphany. 

What you’ll hear on this episode: 

- Matt’s story about his music career hitting a major road block – a meeting with a top music manager that went awry and eventually changed his life path. 

- How Matt went about solving a problem for thousands as opposed to just solving the problem for himself. 

- What Matt learned after spending several months living in New Zealand in and among Maori culture – a life-changing spiritual experience. 

- Matt expands on his creative process. How has he been able to create, day in and day out, for more than a decade? What goes into generating ideas, then implementing? What tricks does he use daily? 

- The biggest differences between musicians or artists who “make it,” and those that don’t – differences that also apply to many other professions outside the music industry. 

- Why integrity is the most important characteristic anyone can possess. 

S2, Ep. 5: Turning a roadblock into an epiphany... with Matt Urmy

Chuck Aoki was born with a rare genetic condition in which he is unable to feel anything below his knees. But instead of lamenting the lifelong need for a wheelchair, Chuck embraced it – and became one of the best wheelchair rugby players in the world.

Chuck isn’t just physically talented. His views on life are refreshing, positive and infectious.

What you’ll hear on this episode:

- The story of Chuck’s childhood, and how he began dealing with a rare genetic condition that only a handful of people in North America have.

- What is “Murderball,” and how did Chuck fall in love with it and become one of the best players in the world?

- Why you shouldn’t go out of your way to help people in wheelchairs – and Chuck’s methods for dealing with folks who treat disabled people differently

- Why, if given the chance, Chuck wouldn’t want full use of his legs

- How Chuck maintains a positive, productive mindset, day in and day out – and what separates happy people from people who are constantly frustrated?

- Chuck discusses the concept of mental framing and reframing as powerful tools for success

- The difference and importance between “why” and “what” when it comes to people’s actions

S2, Ep. 6: It's not about the "what," it's about the "why" ... with Chuck Aoki

Alec Torelli is an entrepreneur, world traveler, and one of the best poker players in the world, with millions in career winnings – both online and in live casinos. Throughout his journey over the past decade, Alec has learned how to gravitate toward the things (usually non-material) that fulfill him the most. But figuring out how to do that was a challenge and a process.

In this episode, Alec expands on his definitions of wealth and fulfillment, how he got hooked on poker, and why he gravitates away from being “normal.”

What you’ll hear on this episode:

- Alec explains how poker first hooked him as a high schooler, and why he eventually decided to drop out of college to pursue a career as a professional poker player.

- Why should people avoid doing and pursuing “normal” things in life and in their professions? Alec elaborates on this by telling a story about the most commonly asked questions he gets from non-poker people.

- The role of luck in success, and why luck isn’t always what it seems.

- What fulfillment and wealth mean to Alec – and why material things aren’t the answer.

- The story of Alec’s 6-month poker hiatus, why he left the game, and what he learned about himself and his profession by traveling to Italy for 6 months.

- The books and media platforms that have changed and shaped Alec’s life.

S2, Ep. 7: The life of a high stakes poker player, entrepreneur... with Alec Torelli

How To Live A Cool Life is all about peak performance and maximizing potential -- a series of conversations, hosted by Phil Mackey, focused on the methods, advice and mindsets of people who thrive. 

Each episode taps into the minds of driven, successful people to find out what their daily routines and thought processes look like, what sets them apart, what goes on inside their minds and –- most importantly -- what can we learn from them? Part of the 1500 ESPN Twin Cities podcast network. 

How To Live A Cool Life

Popular tracks