First Things THRST

» Produced by Hack You Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/ [https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/] Website: https://hackyou.media/ [https://hackyou.media/] Diego Perez, widely known by his pen name Yung Pueblo joins the show to share the inner journey that led him from emotional chaos to global recognition as a voice for self-awareness and healing. Before the books, the quotes, and the millions of readers, there was a personal reckoning: addiction, overstimulation, and the need to change from the inside out. Meditation became the turning point, helping him rebuild his relationship with stillness, discipline, and emotional honesty. Diego's new release "How to Love Better" is out now: https://lnk.bio/a8IF [https://lnk.bio/a8IF] 00:00 Introduction 02:00 How Diego created the Young Pueblo pen name and what it means 04:31 Partying hard at university and realising it was self-avoidance 06:13 Health collapse at 23 and the wake-up call that changed everything 08:46 Rugby, gym life, and how Mike avoided spiralling at university 10:14 Early motivations behind Mike’s fitness journey 11:47 Building discipline through meditation and the “mental gym” concept 13:08 Why you don’t need to become a monk to master resilience 14:38 How Silent 45-day retreats reset personal growth and relationships 16:45 Why Diego invests heavily in silent retreats every year 18:04 Meditation, scrolling addictions, and wisdom 22:23 Diego’s relationship with emotions 29:17 Why communication matters more than mind reading 31:06 Should you grow with a partner or find someone already emotionally aware? 35:03 Dating apps, and the dangers of chasing 2% better 40:27 Mike’s experience thriving after living alone for the first time 42:47 Solitude, presence, and why personal growth fuels better relationships 51:11 Learning to trust your intuition over generic dating advice 54:35 Mike and Diego reflect on career, self-knowledge, and relationship priorities 1:01:31 Handling conflict properly instead of expecting endless peace 1:10:02 Compassionate venture capital investing and startup mental health 1:18:16 Shifting social media landscapes and why newsletters matter more now 1:21:03 Loving the creative process and protecting deep work » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/ [https://www.digitalplaybook.net/] » Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/ [https://www.thrstapp.com/] » My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com [https://thrstofficial.com] » Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston [https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston]  • 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO  • 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO » Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/ [https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/] » Join WHOOP – get your first month for free: https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst [https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst] » Follow Diego How to Love Better: https://lnk.bio/a8IF [https://lnk.bio/a8IF] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yung_pueblo [https://www.instagram.com/yung_pueblo] Article: https://yungpueblo.substack.com/ [https://yungpueblo.substack.com/]

Davis Diley, entrepreneur, content creator, and competitive strongman—joins the show to challenge one of the most common fitness myths: that more training equals better results. Drawing from his own journey pushing elite numbers in strength while juggling business and content, Davis breaks down why recovery, frequency, and nervous system management matter more than just intensity. He explains how training less—but smarter—has led to bigger lifts, fewer injuries, and more consistency over time. It’s a refreshing, no-BS take on performance, discipline, and letting go of the grind-for-grind’s-sake mindset. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Kicking off inside a $55,000 home gym setup 04:46 Planning and building a professional-grade home gym 07:15 How the pandemic reshaped fitness content and workout habits 08:10 Davis’ gym journey, football and a hunger for control 10:47 Discovering bodybuilding as an outlet for personal responsibility 14:17 How training helped avoid distractions and anchor discipline 16:18 Is fitness coaching too saturated for newcomers? 20:12 Navigating conflicting advice and finding trusted voices 22:32 Trimming the fat from training as an advanced lifter 25:36 Going all in on food, focus, and gym execution 28:00 Building and scaling your own fitness app the hard way 34:45 Davis’ unexpected viral moment sparks a new career path 38:58 Why content creation never gets easier, just more demanding 45:46 Crafting standout short-form videos with just a phone 49:13 Shifting from aesthetics to long-form content and longevity 51:00 Strongman days, extreme bulking, and chasing World’s Strongest Man 58:09 Narrowly avoiding steroids after a career-altering back injury 1:02:16 Staying lean, staying motivated, and the mental cost of shredding 1:09:35 Meals, volume, and why boring food is killing your cut 1:11:38 Travel routines, smart walking, and eating without spiralling » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/ [https://www.digitalplaybook.net/] » Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/ [https://www.thrstapp.com/] » My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com [https://thrstofficial.com] » Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston [https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston]  • 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO  • 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO » Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/ [https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/] » Join WHOOP – get your first month for free: https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst [https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst] » Follow Davis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davis.diley/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/davis.diley/?hl=en] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davis.diley?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@davis.diley?lang=en]

Returning face and old friend Chris Williamson is back on the show to unpack the real cost of chasing self-improvement—and the trade-offs few people talk about. While the internet makes optimisation look effortless, Chris shares how his own journey has been marked by burnout, loneliness, and the pressure to always do more. He questions the myth that productivity equals purpose, and dives into the importance of slowing down, feeling safe in your body, and building a life that’s actually enjoyable—not just efficient. If you’re wired for growth but feeling stretched thin, this one’s a thoughtful reset. 00:00 Reuniting in the heart of Austin 01:37 Why everyone's moving to Texas 02:40 Building habits that actually stick 07:30 How guests reshape your thinking 09:08 The passion behind the microphone 13:29 Optimising your mental game 15:39 Meeting heroes and battling nerves 21:31 Choosing guests worth listening to 24:46 The weight of public opinions 29:43 Mastering the time management puzzle 35:08 Life between the UK and Austin 41:02 Building Neutonic from the ground up 43:35 Bringing past skills to new ventures 47:14 The hidden battle with mold toxicity 49:45 Coming to terms with getting older 52:47 Evolving as a better partner 1:00:51 Knowing when to walk away 1:10:16 Writing through health challenges 1:13:56 AI's role in content creation 1:21:04 Where AI falls short in fitness 1:25:07 The art of high-quality podcasting 1:30:18 Staying relevant in changing times 1:35:04 Taking the leap into video content 1:39:02 Facing criticism with grace 1:43:29 Understanding our shared insecurities » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/ [https://www.digitalplaybook.net/] » Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/ [https://www.thrstapp.com/] » My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com [https://thrstofficial.com] » Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston [https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston]     • 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO     • 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO » Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/ [https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/] » Join WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst [https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst] » Follow Chris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx/?hl=en] Website: https://chriswillx.com/ [https://chriswillx.com/]

Grant Cardone, real estate master and founder of 10X, joins the show for an honest breakdown of his journey from addiction and failure to billion-dollar success. It’s easy to assume his rise was all confidence and sales mastery—but Grant admits he would’ve skipped sales entirely and gone straight to marketing and investing. From sleeping on couches to building a $5B portfolio, he shares what really changed the game: going 10x bigger in every direction. Whether you love him or hate him, this episode is a masterclass in thinking long-term, building resilience, and playing offense. * 00:00 Introduction * 04:18 Grant’s decade of drug use and the harsh realities of addiction * 08:26 The childhood moment that shaped his view of money * 12:11 How Grant treats money and the importance of financial respect * 14:35 Discovering the power of improving sales skills * 17:13 Borrowing $3,000 to invest in himself after rehab * 20:59 Studying sales obsessively and becoming a master through teaching * 24:30 Choosing the wrong lane early on and staying small for too long * 28:26 From fired car salesman to training the auto industry * 34:35 First big real estate move and building passive income * 38:01 Why real estate gave him peace compared to rejection-heavy sales * 41:00 How to turn criticism and hate into fuel * 46:07 The myth of social media comments and clickbait haters * 51:00 How to build unshakable trust * 54:09 The key reason why the 2008 crash sparked the 10x mindset * 56:54 Going from $2M/year to nearly $1B/year through bold expansion * 58:00 Business conflicts, lawsuits, and lessons on who to fight * 1:06:34 Building a bank and changing the financial system * 1:09:07 Longevity secrets and 10x Health System * 1:13:05 Discipline, overeating, and stacking small daily habits * 1:17:04 Raising kids with contracts, income, and real-world accountability * 1:22:11 Teaching kids confidence through work and communication * 1:27:05 Letting go of dying partnerships * 1:29:16 Why stopping unhealthy habits is the ultimate hack » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/ [https://www.digitalplaybook.net/] » Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/ [https://www.thrstapp.com/] » My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com [https://thrstofficial.com] » Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston [https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston] • 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO • 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO » Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/ [https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/] » Join WHOOP and get your first month for free: join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst [https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst] » Follow Grant: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantcardone [https://www.instagram.com/grantcardone/?hl=en] Website: https://grantcardone.com/ [https://grantcardone.com/]

Christian Guzman, founder of Alphalete and creator of Alphaland, joins the show to break down the real highs and brutal lows of building a multimillion-dollar brand from scratch. It’s tempting to assume overnight success when you see big launches and flashy gyms—but Christian walks us through the failed gyms, manufacturing mistakes, and sleepless decisions that built the empire. From ordering $2.5M in inventory without a finance team to managing influencer trends, middlemen, and changing buyer habits, he shares what it truly takes to scale. * 00:00 Welcome to Alphaland * 02:23 From first YouTube video to fitness icon * 04:05 Choosing entrepreneurship over college * 05:18 The humble beginnings of gym ownership * 09:22 Pivoting to digital and apparel * 10:45 Alphalete's birth and early growing pains * 15:38 Building community through content * 20:47 The costly lessons of scaling too fast * 28:16 Learning the women's apparel market * 33:49 How women became Alphalete's core business * 36:46 Mastering production relationships * 41:38 Nearly losing it all: financial turning points * 45:46 Building a proper finance foundation * 50:02 Adapting to evolving marketing landscapes * 53:52 Reimagining the Alphalete brand * 55:40 Thoughts on selling vs. building legacy * 57:19 The 3D Energy drink adventure * 1:02:28 Fighting to reclaim a stolen brand * 1:05:53 Rebuilding 3D from the ground up * 1:11:16 Managing multiple ventures and life * 1:15:37 Confronting addiction and burnout * 1:19:48 How Alphaland transformed a community * 1:22:55 Vision for the brands' future » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life https://www.digitalplaybook.net/ [https://www.digitalplaybook.net/] » Transform your physique https://www.thrstapp.com/ [https://www.thrstapp.com/] » My clothing brand, THRST https://thrstofficial.com [https://thrstofficial.com/] » Custom Bioniq supplements https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston [https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston] 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO » Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/ [https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/] » Join @Whoop and get your first month for free: https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst [https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst] » Follow Christian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianguzmanfitness [https://www.instagram.com/christianguzmanfitness/?hl=en] Website: https://alphaleteathletics.com [https://alphaleteathletics.com/]