The Code To Winning

In this episode, we sit down with Donald Luxama, one of the biggest names in the vending machine industry, with over 700,000 followers and more than 1 billion views across social media teaching people how to start and scale a real vending business. What began as a simple side hustle, buying used vending machines for around $500 that generate over $1,000 in profit a month, has grown into a full-fledged movement inspiring thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs to take control of their financial future.
Donald breaks down the exact blueprint he used to get started, from finding locations to sourcing machines. He explains that the first step is going around your local town and asking family, friends, and local businesses if you can place a vending machine in their establishment, often pitching it as a free vending machine for their location. From there, he shows how to search Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist to find machines typically ranging from $300 to $700, and the importance of testing every machine before buying it to make sure it is fully functional.
We also dig into the numbers behind the business, because vending is as much about margins as it is about hustle. Donald shares real examples of how he prices his products for maximum profit, revealing gains that range from over 100 percent to as high as 700 percent on certain snacks. Beyond the numbers, Donald opens up about his world tour, where he traveled to meet some of the top vending machine operators across the globe, learning firsthand how different markets, cultures, and business models are pushing the industry forward in ways most people never see.
The conversation also dives into where vending is headed next, including Donald's move into Pokemon and trading card vending machines, a fast growing niche built for collectors that operates on cashless, remotely managed technology, as well as the rise of AI powered vending machines that are changing how operators track inventory, manage restocks, and maximize profit with far less manual work. Whether you are just getting started with your first machine or looking to scale into new verticals, this episode is packed with real, actionable insight into building and future proofing a vending machine empire
Chapters
00:00 Vending Machine Idea
03:09 First Vending Machine
09:48 Pitching to Owners
16:11 Bad Location Strategy
23:06 Pokemon Machine
30:15 AI in Vending
33:31 Permits & Licenses
40:48 Lowest Performer
47:24 School for Vending Pros
53:31 Product Sourcing

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Simi Arora is a personal brand strategist, mindset and growth mentor, and the host of True Power with Simi. As the founder of Brand Scale, she has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and professionals build premium personal brands that command attention, trust, and revenue.
An immigrant who built her platform from the ground up in New York City, Simi has grown a LinkedIn following of over 115,000 people and become a go to voice for those looking to turn their expertise into influence and income. Her work sits at the intersection of branding, mindset, and business strategy, teaching people not just how to grow an audience, but how to build something that lasts.
In this episode, Simi breaks down exactly how to make $10,000 a month using LinkedIn, sharing the strategies, mindset shifts, and content systems that took her from just starting out to building a thriving personal brand and business.
Chapters
00:00 LinkedIn Importance
03:07 Immigrant Story Begin
06:41 Corporate Ladder Climb
09:47 Immigrant Experience
12:39 Cultural Nuances ️
15:46 LinkedIn Authenticity
18:52 LinkedIn Game Changer
22:56 LinkedIn Algorithm
26:21 Identity Activation
29:21 Identity Activation 5-Step
32:46 Destroying Trust
35:42 Authenticity Trends
38:51 Client Success Story
42:51 Consistency Challenge
45:56 Podcast Intention
49:37 Podcast Agency
52:54 Connect with Simi


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Sitting down with us today is Michael J. MacDonald, visionary entrepreneur, architect of impact, and co founder of Earn Your Leisure (EYL), the movement redefining financial education and culture for an entire generation.
Michael doesn't just talk about branding. He builds legacies. As a coach, strategist, and entrepreneur, he has spent his career pushing people to think bigger, act bolder, and build brands that command attention and stand the test of time.
In this episode, we go deep into Michael's journey as co founder of both Earn Your Leisure and Invest Fest, the powerhouse financial literacy conference that has become a movement in its own right. We uncover the untold story behind their very first conference, where they took a bold $1.3 million investment with absolutely no sponsors locked in, a high stakes gamble that could have gone either way. We break down exactly how that risk paid off and set the foundation for everything that followed.
We also explore the game changing partnership with Steve Harvey, a strategic move that opened doors, elevated credibility, and helped propel Invest Fest into the global phenomenon it is today. From humble beginnings to tens of thousands of attendees, this is the real story of how vision, risk, and relentless execution built one of the most influential platforms in financial education.
Chapters
00:00 EYL Origin Story
03:45 Entrepreneur Journey ️
07:17 Freedom Mindset
10:21 Community Info Gap
14:10 Real Estate Boom
17:16 Investfest Profitability
20:23 Diddy's Impact
24:20 AI Investing Ease
27:27 Generational Wealth Gap
31:28 Podcast Impact Goal ️
34:45 System for Fulfillment ️
38:59 Business Relationships
41:58 Time is Now ⏰
45:49 Dream Big
49:56 Community Building ️
53:06 Obsession Drives Success
56:06 Winning Definition

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Ryan Gardner founded Bucked Up in 2016 and has been the managing partner and CEO ever since. Under his supervision, Bucked Up has gone from a local supplement brand to the #1 best-selling pre-workout, available in over 100,000 stores worldwide.

 

Back in 2001, Ryan and his twin brother Jeff built a successful internet marketing company, promoting everything from supplements to biz opp to lead generation. By 2010, their affiliate network (with only 3 other employees) was earning over $25M+ annually in revenue. In 2015, they saw that social media was the future and decided to start their own social media agency. After over a decade of promoting other people's products, Ryan and Jeff realized it was finally time to put their talents to work promoting their own.

 

Ryan purchased the domain name DeerAntlerSpray.com in 2013. Not long after, Ray Lewis made headline news when he was accused of taking the spray before the Super Bowl. Sales exploded overnight. Sure, he was in the "Right Time...Right Place," but without Ryan's smart, hard work, he would've missed out on all that success. Shortly after the Super Bowl, he managed to get Deer Antler Spray into GNC and sold thousands of bottles a week for the next two years. Ryan, with the help of a GNC franchise owner, came up with the idea to launch a pre-workout. Despite some skepticism from family, he purchased BUCKEDUP.com for $1500 and named the first pre-workout "Bucked Up." With a great logo, flavor profile, the right ingredients, and a non-proprietary blend, the company started making waves in the supplement industry and never looked back.

 

This episode Ryan talks about his journey and the start of Bucked Up how the business structure works, affiliates and partners and the vision for the next 10 years.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 

03:37 How The Journey Begun

08:06 Brand Name Challenges ️

10:48 Athlete Selection

13:20 Ambassador Payments

17:14 Company Growth

21:17 Networking Importance

24:13 CEO Involvement ‍

27:32 Learning From Failure

30:03 Intuition in Business

32:50 Bucked Up Future

38:43 Next Athlete Partner?

42:06 Soccer/NFL/ NBA

45:35 Brand Equity Focus

48:47 Affiliate Program

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Catherine Bennett, Executive Editor of Utah Business, joins us for a deep dive into what truly makes Utah one of the best places for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. With a background in print journalism, she began her career in marketing as a global communications leader, managing a team of 10 translators before stepping into entrepreneurship and launching Backpack Marketing, an agency focused on helping small businesses grow. She later moved into an executive marketing role working across industries including manufacturing, aerospace, and health sciences.

In this episode, we explore why Utah stands out from other states when it comes to business culture. We break down how collaboration, accessibility, and a strong community mindset create the perfect environment for solopreneurs, startups, and growing companies. Catherine also shares insights into networking, events, and key resources available in Utah—and how Utah Business serves as a powerful platform to celebrate, connect, and elevate everyday entrepreneurs.

If you’re building a business or looking to tap into a thriving ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable perspective and practical takeaways.

Chapters

00:00 Utah Business History

03:03 Utah Business Mission

05:49 Entrepreneur Journey

10:20 Executive Editor Role

13:29 Utah Business Advisory

17:03 Collaborative Workforce

20:41 Utah's Accessibility

24:31 Journalistic Integrity

27:16 Mission: Celebrate & Elevate

30:11 Founder's Struggle ️

32:53 Utah Industry Growth

41:08 Networking Advice ️

45:03 Utah Executive Talk ️

50:39 Customer Obsession

53:37 Connect with Utah Biz

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