The Take A Step Podcast

EP 102: Are You Worth Following | Jeff Levitan

In this episode of the Take a Step Podcast, Josh Johnston sits down with Jeff Levitan — entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of Vantage — for a wide-ranging conversation on what it truly takes to build a meaningful life. Jeff shares his journey from running a college painting franchise at 19 to mentoring thousands of entrepreneurs. Together, they dig into ownership culture, emotional intelligence, the relationship between money and fulfillment, and why taking action matters more than consuming content. If you're ready to live with more purpose and intention, this one's for you. Links: * Take A Step [https://www.letstakeastep.com] * Vantage [https://vantagefinancialalliance.com/] * Jeff's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jeff.levitan/]

EP 101: Overcoming Past Trauma | Lou Samara

Lou Samara has lived many lives — Italian kid from Jersey, SWAT officer, corporate manager, entrepreneur, author. But behind the résumé was a story he hadn't told anyone, one buried so deep his own mind hid it for decades. In this raw and powerful episode, Lou opens up about the sequence of loss that cracked him open: his father's sudden death, a stillborn child on 9/11, and a career collapse — all within 18 months. What followed was a 20-year journey of therapy, faith, forgiveness, and rebuilding. Lou shares how confronting childhood sexual abuse, breaking generational patterns, and learning to truly forgive transformed not just his inner world, but his business and marriage. His book, The Forgiveness Effect, is the result — and this conversation is a compelling preview of why. Buy The Forgiveness Effect here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Effect-Journey-Courage-Healing/dp/1732936412 [https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Effect-Journey-Courage-Healing/dp/1732936412] Follow Lou on Instagram here: @lousamara

EP 100: Parenting Wisdom (and failures) | Josh and John

What does it really look like to be a driven professional and a present, intentional father? In this episode, Josh and John get real about the messy, rewarding journey of fatherhood — from the nine-month head start moms have on connection, to why your marriage has to come before your kids. They break down practical strategies like the weekly husband-wife meeting, building family core values, and teaching kids ownership through an entrepreneurial "gigs" system. They also get vulnerable sharing their own parenting fails. At the heart of it all is a simple truth: the same intentionality you bring to building a business needs to come home with you. Because your kids aren't just listening — they're watching.

EP 99: Relentless Pursuit of Growth | Dale Alexander

Dale Alexander joins the podcast for a powerful conversation on money, purpose, discipline, and the long road to meaningful success. From building a business over decades to impacting thousands of students through his book The Talk (About Money), Dale shares why growth matters more than quick results, how generosity changes your perspective on life, and why action creates clarity. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain about your next step, or frustrated by comparison and pressure, this episode will challenge you to redefine success and start building a life rooted in purpose instead of performance.

EP 98: Face the Scrutiny | Breaking Free from Comparison and Carving Your Own Path

Josh and John are back fresh off another week of Tribe Calls, this time diving into Step 5 of the 8-Step Journey — Face the Scrutiny. In this episode, they get real about one of the most universal battles young men face: the comparison trap. From social media scrolling to the pressure of chasing the American dream, they unpack why comparison is rooted in ego and how defining your own version of success is the only way to stay grounded when the opinions start flying. They also talk about the scrutiny that hits closest to home — the kind that comes from within your own four walls — and why a rock-solid center circle changes everything. Plus, the Rick Barry granny shot story that nobody wants to hear but everybody needs. If you've ever held back from taking a first step because you were afraid of what people would think, this one's for you.