Episodes

Stop waiting for your employer to notice you and start building your own future. Gen X has the perfect combination of experience, time, and assets to start a business. In this episode, Ben Walters breaks down how to fund a startup, buy an existing business, and create the career freedom you’ve been missing. Learn how to: Leverage your 401k or home equity to fund a business Test new ideas with side gigs or pop-ups Buy undervalued businesses with huge upside Escape the loyalty trap and design your...

From stuck in the mud to building momentum, SuperPumped Business is the podcast for professionals ready to launch. Looking for conversations on mindset, resilience, and intentional living? Continue your SuperPumped journey on our companion podcast, SuperPumped Life. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/superpumpedlife Website: http://www.superpumped.com Business launch readiness assessment: https://launchreadyassessment.scoreapp.com Book a complimentary 30-minute exploratory call: https://ca...

Feeling overlooked at work? Maybe you’ve played by the rules, stayed loyal, and watched others leapfrog ahead. In this episode, Ben Walters unpacks why so many professionals—especially Gen X—are being passed over for promotions and what to do about it. Learn how to: Assess your true standing in your company Make your ambitions known (without burning bridges) Recognize when it’s time to move on Position yourself like a free agent in the job market Prepare for entrepreneurship as the ultimate opti...

How to scale a trades company to $8 million through leadership and culture. Mike Rogers details how Jags Mechanical went from a small startup to a booming multi-million dollar business. Learn about the innovative partnership model inspired by Chick-fil-A, the importance of hiring for attitude and core values over experience, and how he shifted his role to mostly strategic thinking and culture building. Mike talks about the power of coaching, gamifying work with incentives, leadership accountabil...

Optimism, tenacity, and the hunger to improve — the keys to leadership success. In part 1, Mike Rogers shares candid insights on how a mindset of constant improvement and realistic optimism fuels his ability to lead effectively. Hear his thoughts on building a strong team culture where core values outweigh raw talent, why “liking the people you work with” is vital, and how coaching changed his approach to managing people. Discover the story behind his rise from technician to business owner, the ...

The Fall Grind Is Coming. Here's How to Stay Human As we gear up for the post–Labor Day grind, Ben shares a personal and timely message about why it’s dangerously easy to let work overtake everything — and what you can do to shift back toward joy, meaning, and play. From navigating cultural pressure to overwork, to rethinking the "grown-up mindset," this episode offers practical tools and deep insight on how to keep your fire lit without burning out. It's your call to recalibrate before the fall...

What Teachers Wish Parents Knew About School If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes at your child’s school, this episode pulls back the curtain. Ben sits down with Kristen, a former educator turned parent support advocate, to talk about how schools function, how teachers think, and what most parents misunderstand. Together, they explore practical strategies for parents who want to better support their kids — and their schools — without overstepping or burning out. Whether ...

For when you think you're doing everything right and you're still veering off course. A personal journey — literally — kayaking off Cape Cod, where a perfect metaphor for business, life, and self-sabotage unfolds. Discover how tides, winds, and waves aren’t the only forces pulling you off track. Sometimes, it’s your own blind spots. If you’re stuck in cycles of frustration, false assumptions, or unproductive hard work, this story-packed episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to plan, l...

The flight plan every parent needs for stress-free travel Have you ever tried flying with a baby, or a toddler, or three, or more? It can feel like a full-blown survival mission. But after hundreds of flights with young kids, Ben Walters shares the real strategies that saved his sanity and made family travel smoother, easier, and even enjoyable. From smart scheduling to airport hotel hacks, you’ll learn how to avoid the most common travel meltdowns and set your family up for success in the air a...

Do canceled flights keep throwing off your travel plans? Battle-tested tips to help you stay calm, flexible, and maybe even come out ahead when your flight is delayed, overbooked, or rerouted. Learn how to score travel perks, adapt and adjust quickly, and use every tool in your toolkit. Whether you’re trying to make it home for your kid’s soccer game or get to a business meeting on time, these practical strategies will save you time, money, and stress. Website: http://www.superpumped.com Busines...

Do airports stress you out? Do delays, security lines, and chaos bring out the worst in you? Expert tips to help you go from dreading travel to actually enjoying it. Ben covers how to book smarter, pack lighter, navigate delays, and fly like a pro. Even on a budget. Website: https://podcast.superpumped.com/ http://www.superpumped.com Business launch readiness assessment: https://launchreadyassessment.scoreapp.com Book a complimentary 30-minute exploratory call: https://calendly.com/ben-superpump...

Do you keep thinking, “My team just isn’t working?” Ben challenges the myth that great managers constantly hire better people and offers a radically more effective mindset. If you’re in middle management, today’s strategy could change your entire approach to leadership. Website: http://www.superpumped.com Business launch readiness assessment: https://launchreadyassessment.scoreapp.com Book a complimentary 30-minute exploratory call: https://calendly.com/ben-superpumped/30min Socials and such: ht...

Are you stuck in a role that leaves you squeezed between the people you manage and the ones managing you? In this third episode of the SuperPumped Middle Management series, Ben Walters shares three strategies to lead with confidence, avoid self-sabotage, and stand out — without resorting to flattery or faking it. If you’re tired of feeling overlooked or uncertain about your future, this is the episode that gives you a fresh, actionable perspective. Discover how to stop grandstanding, start prepa...

Are you in a middle role—VP, assistant manager, executive director—where you're stuck between pressure from above and responsibility below? In this second episode of the SuperPumped Middle Management series, Ben Walters reveals three game-changing insights that every aspiring leader must hear. Learn why sucking up won’t get you promoted, how to prepare for your big moment, and who really decides who gets the top job. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠podcast.superpumped.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Take our Free Business-read...

Are you stuck in the middle, managing people below while answering to people above? In this first episode of the SuperPumped Middle Management series, Ben Walters shares why so many people feel squeezed, stuck, and burned out in mid-level roles. Learn how to find hope and strategy in the chaos. If you’ve ever felt powerless in your job, underpaid for the pressure, or uncertain how to advance without losing your mind… this is for you. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠podcast.superpumped.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Take our F...

Many executives and high performers land in top-tier roles — but not the top role — and feel stuck, undervalued, or exhausted. In this solo coaching episode, Ben lays out the five most common reasons professionals resent their number 2 position and how to assess whether to stay, move up, or move on. It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s feeling the squeeze of leadership but missing the freedom of the top seat. Chapters 00:39 – Are you stuck in a number two job? 01:42 – What is “the vice” for high-...

What does it mean to live a life of meaning, service, and connection — especially in a world increasingly shaped by grades, screens, and artificial intelligence? In this powerful episode, award-winning teacher Merle Black reflects on 41 years in the classroom. From engaging students with the wonders of history to navigating education in the digital age, Merle shares what it means to teach and to be transformed in return. This conversation is a love letter to education, connection, and the power ...

What do you do when the foundation of your identity begins to crack — or even collapse entirely? In this conversation, Glen Beasley opens up about navigating the complex intersections of work, purpose, and belonging after the September 11 attacks. As a senior executive at Verizon at the time, Glen was at Boston’s Logan Airport when the first alarms about the network failures in New York City came through. He pivoted quickly — leaving the airport and heading back to lead response efforts — just a...

Do you feel immense pressure to grow up? Are you pressuring (subtly or overtly) a young person to get their stuff together? Did life force you to grow up before you were ready? Are you unsure if the path you chose as a younger version of yourself is still right for you? In this episode, Ben Walters explores the struggles of adulting — from the pressure to have it all figured out to the tension between childhood choices, adult aspirations, and is this really it. Through stories, hard questions, a...

Have you ever felt like life suddenly derailed your plans? Ben Walters recounts how a broken engagement and a canceled flight reshaped the direction of his life — leading him to new opportunities and eventually, to the love of his life. Through moments of heartbreak, resilience, and bold action, this story reminds us that every missed train can be an invitation for a new one. Watch or listen to learn: What to do when life goes off track How to create opportunity from setbacks Why looking up can ...

Can you build a real business before you're legally allowed to toast its success? Meet William Fuchs, co-founder of A&W Handyman, a full-time college student who launched a growing home services business while juggling classes, side hustles, and even ChatGPT-powered design proposals. In this episode, William shares: • How he turned one carpet removal job into a thriving company • The way YouTube, ChatGPT, and local mentors fueled his DIY learning curve • How he manages employees, school, and a b...

Bryan and Sylvia Nelson had everything—great jobs, great pay, great benefits. But something was missing. In this inspiring episode, they share how they left Procter & Gamble to run their own real estate business, built a successful rental portfolio, and found a new rhythm in life and marriage. What you'll hear: The financial strategy that made the leap possible How passive income helped them transition What it’s really like to work with your spouse Lessons from managing 60+ rental units Why now ...

It’s easy to scroll past someone’s pain. In this episode, Ben challenges us to pause, look closer, and take small steps toward deeper connection in a world that desperately needs it. Find out more at podcast.superpumped.com ⁠ Take our Free Business-ready Assessment ⁠ ⁠ Book a Free 30min call with Ben ⁠ Get in Touch: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠

In this episode of SuperPumped Business and Life, host BenWalters interviews Ryan and April Berg as they share how they started the Aruna Project, an initiative aimed at freeing, employing, and empowering victims of human trafficking. The Berg’s share their personal journey that led them to confront the harsh realities of sex trafficking in India, and discuss the stark differences in trafficking methods between India and the U.S. They highlight the systemic issues that perpetuate trafficking, an...