In this eye-opening episode, Charles dives into the fitness secrets of ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs with Ted Ryce, celebrity trainer and health coach to executives who demand peak performance.

Ted reveals his journey from training A-listers like Richard Branson and Robert Downey Jr. to developing systematic health protocols for high-performing entrepreneurs who've neglected their bodies while building empires.

The conversation moves beyond basic fitness advice to expose the critical health tests most successful people ignore—and why your doctor's "normal" blood work might be setting you up for metabolic disaster down the road.

Rather than chasing fitness fads, Charles and Ted explore the unsexy fundamentals that actually work: why muscle mass is your metabolic insurance policy, how pre-diabetes can be reversed through strategic training, and why tracking the right metrics matters more than expensive biohacks.

Key Takeaways:
* Why DEXA scans, VO2 max testing, and advanced blood panels are non-negotiable for serious entrepreneurs
* How lifting weights and building muscle mass trumps cardio for metabolic health and longevity
* The truth about TRT, stem cells, and which interventions actually deliver life-changing results
* Why fiber supplementation beats every trendy nootropic for overall health optimization

Head over to podcast.iamcharlesschwartz.com to download your exclusive companion guide, designed to guide you step-by-step in implementing the strategies revealed in this episode.

KEY POINTS:
02:25 - The hidden metabolic disaster: A successful entrepreneur lost 20 pounds but was actually pre-diabetic with a 6.3 A1C - and why his doctor dismissed elevated fasting glucose as "no big deal" despite clear warning signs.
08:44 - Why sugar doesn't cause diabetes: The common myth gets destroyed by explaining that sugar is "like pouring gasoline on the fire, but it didn't start the fire" - the real culprits are sitting on your ass and carrying too much body fat.
14:26 - The exercise hierarchy that changes everything: Why exercise, not diet, is the number one factor for health and longevity - and why you can't replace the training stimulus even with the most perfect diet.
25:15 - The Mediterranean diet reality check: Living in Portugal revealed people pouring olive oil over everything, proving that even "healthy" diets fail when you ignore the fundamental math of calories.
42:33 - The stem cell transformation: A tens of thousands of dollars investment in joint injections eliminated chronic pain from multiple injuries, allowing a return to heavy squats and deadlifts after years of limitations.
49:52 - The TRT truth bomb: Why testosterone replacement therapy shrinks your testicles, doesn't magically transform you, and why losing belly fat is more impactful than any hormone optimization.
58:11 - The fiber supplement secret: Why fiber is the number one supplement for health and longevity - not sexy to discuss, but more powerful than any expensive biohack for managing appetite and improving metabolic markers.

In this insightful episode, Charles explores the psychology of authentic entrepreneurship with Mark Young, founder of RYZE Agency and creator of the Fitter Over 50 movement.

Mark reveals his journey from clinical psychology to marketing mastery, sharing how his background in understanding human behavior shaped his approach to building genuine business relationships in an increasingly commoditized world.

The conversation shifts from surface-level marketing tactics to deep psychological insights as Mark breaks down why most entrepreneurs hit a wall at $10 million—and how the transition from gut-feeling operations to data-driven scaling requires uncomfortable but necessary team changes.
Rather than focusing on growth-at-all-costs mentalities, Charles and Mark explore how creating authentic connections through value-first communication transforms business outcomes and customer lifetime value.

Together, they challenge conventional marketing wisdom, emphasizing that in today's market, being loved by a few trumps being liked by many. Mark illustrates this through real-world examples from his work with health and wellness brands swimming upstream against big pharma.

Key Takeaways:
* Why email databases outperform social media followers by 5-10x in actual conversion rates
* How to use the "aging defiantly" mindset to build premium positioning in any industry
* The psychological reason why treating teams like family destroys scalability at the $10M threshold
* Why changing your approach from transaction-focused to relationship-focused transforms customer loyalty

Head over to podcast.iamcharlesschwartz.com to download your exclusive companion guide, designed to guide you step-by-step in implementing the strategies revealed in this episode.

KEY POINTS:
03:52 - The entrepreneur's emotional rollercoaster: Mark breaks down why every entrepreneur experiences the same spectrum of emotions regardless of their wealth level - from "I'm crushing it" to "I'm going bankrupt" - all within a single day, not a month or year.
09:03 - The $10 million threshold trap: Why Mark sees the critical breaking point where entrepreneurs must choose between spending efficiently or aggressively, and how chasing revenue numbers without profitable sales becomes a death spiral that destroys businesses.
12:48 - The vanity metric epidemic: Mark exposes why Instagram followers are worthless compared to email databases - revealing that 10,000 followers only reach 200-500 people due to algorithm suppression, while email databases deliver 2,500-3,000 engaged readers.
25:47 - The family business killer: Mark's brutal truth about why treating your team like family destroys scalability - good team members know when it's time to step aside, while those who resist change are telling you they're the wrong people for the next level.
31:47 - The omnichannel harmony secret: Why Mark's clients struggle to break the $10 million ceiling because they're measuring channels in silos instead of understanding how Meta creates intent while Google captures conversions in a weighted strategy.
38:52 - The authenticity advantage: Mark reveals why being your genuine self is actually a skill set for marketers who could present as anyone, and how this authenticity becomes the foundation for being "loved by a few rather than liked by many."
42:52 - The problem awareness gap: Mark's game-changing insight that nobody walks around thinking "my bones feel fragile today" - explaining why successful marketing starts with creating awareness of problems people don't even know they have, not selling solutions.

Options disclosure: "Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options at tastytrade.com/disclosures before deciding to invest in options."

In this insightful conversation, the host sits down with Scott Sheridan, CEO of TastyTrade and co-founder of the revolutionary trading platform Thinkorswim, who shares his decades of experience navigating volatile markets and building successful financial technology companies.

Scott discusses his contrarian approach to current market trends, explaining why he remains skeptical of popular investments like cryptocurrency and gold while emphasizing the importance of options trading during periods of high volatility like we're experiencing now.

The interview explores Scott's entrepreneurial journey from floor trader at the Chicago Board Options Exchange to creating two major brokerage firms, focusing on how he built strong company cultures and the critical importance of timing, team building, and maintaining vision while staying flexible enough to pivot when necessary.

Scott and the host delve into practical investment strategies for uncertain times, with Scott advocating for consistent market participation through dollar-cost averaging and his current preference for selling puts in quality stocks during high-volatility periods.

Key Takeaways:
* Trade small and trade often - consistent market participation with manageable risk beats trying to hit home runs, especially for those just starting their investment journey
* Focus on what you can control and maintain strong risk management - whether in trading or business, calculate your risks and never invest more than you can afford to lose
* Build businesses and hire teams based on trust and complementary skills - successful partnerships require people you'd trust with your financial future, and company culture flows from authentic leadership rather than corporate buzzwords

Head over to podcast.iamcharlesschwartz.com to download your exclusive companion guide, designed to guide you step-by-step in implementing the strategies revealed in this episode.

KEY POINTS:
02:34 - From floor trader to tech pioneer: How Scott transitioned from trading at the Chicago Board Options Exchange to co-founding Thinkorswim, revolutionizing online trading by creating sophisticated platforms that retail investors could actually use.
05:35 - Why this market crash was different: Scott explains how the recent volatility was completely self-induced by political decisions, making it unlike previous crashes and creating unique opportunities for prepared traders.
06:09 - The young investor's advantage: Why people in their 20s and 30s need to take significant risks and stay engaged with volatile markets, since they have 40-year time horizons that virtually guarantee higher returns.
13:01 - The psychology of trading size: Scott's gambling wisdom about getting opponents to play for more than they're comfortable with, and how to know immediately if you're trading too big by your physical reaction.
35:00 - Selling flood insurance after the flood: Scott's current strategy of selling puts during high volatility periods, explaining how elevated option premiums create profit opportunities for patient investors.
39:40 - Building culture through trust: How Scott creates family-like company environments by challenging employees beyond their comfort zones while promising that any mistake can be fixed with time and money.
52:54 - The entrepreneur's regret insurance: Scott's passionate plea to anyone considering starting a business - the worst outcome is working for someone else again, but the regret of never trying lasts a lifetime.