The Ownership Game with Gary Montalvo

Leadership Starts with You: Building a Legacy That Lasts – Christian Fischer

What if your greatest legacy isn’t what you leave behind — but how you live right now? In this episode of The Ownership Game, I sit down with Christian Fischer, a values-driven leader, entrepreneur, and father who’s on a mission to help people build legacies rooted in purpose, service, and self-awareness. This isn’t your typical leadership talk. Christian opens up about the habits, mindsets, and daily decisions that have shaped how he leads in business, in family, and in faith. From overcoming identity struggles to redefining success through service, this conversation is packed with wisdom that challenges the hustle-for-worth narrative — and invites you to slow down and lead with integrity. If you're an entrepreneur, parent, or high-performer who feels called to something deeper, this one’s for you.   In this episode, we discuss: * Why legacy starts long before you leave anything behind * Leading from identity, not insecurity * The difference between calling and ego * Building habits that reflect your values — not just your goals * Leading as a parent and partner with intentionality * How to redefine masculinity through vulnerability and faith * The power of pausing to reflect, redirect, and realign   Chapters: 00:00 Welcome & Intro: Leadership Is Personal 03:20 Meet Christian Fischer: Business, Family, and Faith 06:45 From Confusion to Calling: Identity Work in Leadership 10:10 Redefining Success: It's Not About Titles 14:30 Legacy as a Daily Practice 19:00 How Christian Leads at Home and in Business 23:40 Habits, Anchors, and Rhythms That Build Character 28:55 Masculinity, Faith & Leading Through Humility 33:10 Learning to Slow Down to Speed Up 38:40 What True Ownership Looks Like 42:30 Christian’s Legacy Vision 46:00 Final Reflections + Invitation to Lead from Within __________________________________   Connect with Christian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianjfischer/ [https://www.instagram.com/christianjfischer/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisruptiveChefCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/DisruptiveChefCommunity]  LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/christianjfischer [http://linkedin.com/in/christianjfischer]  Website: https://www.christianjfischer.com/ [https://www.christianjfischer.com/]  __________________________________   Love this episode? Here’s how to support the show: * Subscribe & never miss an episode! * Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people discover the show! * Share this episode with a friend who needs inspiration.    __________________________________   Have a question or suggestion for the show? Let us know about it by visiting www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Sign up to get episodes and bonus content delivered to your inbox weekly at www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/47xYgUn [https://bit.ly/47xYgUn]

Ownership in the Age of AI: Leading Yourself Through the Revolution – Marnie Wills

What if the biggest risk in the Age of AI… is sitting on the sidelines? In this episode of The Ownership Game, host Gary Montalvo sits down with AI Strategist and educator Marnie Wills for an honest, insightful conversation on how to lead yourself (and your business) through the most disruptive technological revolution of our time. If AI feels intimidating, overwhelming, or like “something for the tech people,” this conversation is going to flip that script. Marnie, a self-proclaimed non-techie with an athlete’s mindset, shares how she became her own Chief AI Officer, and how she now helps everyday entrepreneurs and creatives do the same — without needing to code, know the jargon, or “keep up” with every new tool. This episode is all about mindset, experimentation, and reclaiming your agency in an accelerating world. Whether you're already using AI tools in your business or you’ve been avoiding it altogether, you'll walk away feeling clearer, more empowered, and ready to play the long game.   In this episode, we discuss: * Why AI is not just about tech — it’s about how you think * The real meaning of becoming your own Chief AI Officer * How Marnie 10X’d her business using ChatGPT, Claude, and custom GPTs * How to avoid the trap of “doing AI right” and just get started * How AI can unlock confidence, creativity, and strategy * What it means to protect your IP and brand in the age of AI * Building your own branded AI tools + agents — and why it matters * How to make AI your thinking partner and not just a copy machine    Chapters: 00:00 Welcome: The AI Revolution Is Already Here 03:00 Marnie’s Story: From Blackberry Loyalist to AI Strategist 06:45 How AI 10X’d Her Business (and Helped Her Exit One) 09:30 Developing an AI-First Mindset 13:00 Why You Don’t Need to Be “Techy” to Lead with AI 15:50 From Overwhelm to Ownership: Pick One Tool and Start 21:15 Becoming Your Own Chief AI Officer 26:00 Building Trust with AI Tools as a Creative/Entrepreneur 31:40 Using AI for Coaching, Strategy, and Business Ops 35:00 Launching Your Own AI Platform (and Owning Your Data) 40:30 How to Protect Your Intellectual Property 45:00 The Coaching Industry’s AI Disruption (And Opportunity) 49:00 Marnie’s Final Message: Confidence Through Collaboration __________________________________ Connect with Marnie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businesswithai_strategist/ [https://www.instagram.com/businesswithai_strategist/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businesswithaistrategist [https://www.facebook.com/businesswithaistrategist]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-wills-entrepreneur [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-wills-entrepreneur]  Website: www.businesswithaistrategist.com [http://www.businesswithaistrategist.com]  Onesheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uSdbDmSdjh5Sa_v5Htp-MbD2EIn_bxDH/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uSdbDmSdjh5Sa_v5Htp-MbD2EIn_bxDH/view?usp=sharing]  __________________________________ Love this episode? Here’s how to support the show: * Subscribe & never miss an episode! * Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people discover the show! * Share this episode with a friend who needs inspiration.    __________________________________ Have a question or suggestion for the show? Let us know about it by visiting www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Sign up to get episodes and bonus content delivered to your inbox weekly at www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/47xYgUn [https://bit.ly/47xYgUn]

Building a Life That Holds All of You with The Inspiration Engineer, Cauveé

What if success isn’t about doing more, but becoming more of who you already are? In this episode of The Ownership Game, Gary Montalvo sits down with Cauveé (Kaw-Vay), also known as Cauvee, and widely recognized as The Inspiration Engineer®, to talk about what it means to build a life that doesn’t just look good, but feels aligned on every level. Cauveé has helped influencers, entrepreneurs, and leaders take off the mask, reconnect with their truth, and create a reality that honors their full, authentic self. In this episode, he opens up about his own transformation, from living in survival mode to stepping into purpose-driven leadership. This conversation is raw, reflective, and filled with frameworks you can use to shift your energy, upgrade your environment, and finally start living a life that holds all of you.   In this episode, we discuss: * The difference between living to survive vs. living to express * What it takes to rewire your mindset after trauma and burnout * How to stop building for the algorithm and start building for your soul * Why presence > performance for entrepreneurs and creators * Building a lifestyle that’s sustainable, soulful, and scalable * Tuning into your own “divine algorithm”   Chapters:  00:00  Intro: The Inspiration Engineer Joins the Game 02:30  From Trauma to Transformation: Cauveé’s Origin Story 06:10  Why Achievement Can’t Heal Abandonment 09:50  Masculinity, Vulnerability & the Power of Softness 13:15  The Energy Audit: Realigning Your Time, People & Space 18:00  Authenticity vs. Performative Success in the Digital Age 23:40  Your Divine Algorithm: Operating From Inner Truth 29:20  The Cost of Living Disconnected from Purpose 33:50  Presence, Peace, and the Art of Letting Go 39:00  Designing a Life That Holds All of You 44:15  Cauveé’s Message to Creators and Leaders Ready to Evolve 47:30  Closing Reflections: Who Are You Without the Mask? __________________________________ Connect with Cauveé: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cauvee [https://www.instagram.com/cauvee] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cauvee [https://www.facebook.com/cauvee] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cauvee [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cauvee] Website:  inspirationengineer.com  [http://inspirationengineer.com/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@cauvee [https://www.threads.net/@cauvee] Onesheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15QC1tuF2oRVynvwS1Zqb_ocvzndq-oHhewK2pmtJpto/edit?tab=t.0 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/15QC1tuF2oRVynvwS1Zqb_ocvzndq-oHhewK2pmtJpto/edit?tab=t.0]  __________________________________ Love this episode? Here’s how to support the show: * Subscribe & never miss an episode! * Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people discover the show! * Share this episode with a friend who needs inspiration.    __________________________________ Have a question or suggestion for the show? Let us know about it by visiting www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Sign up to get episodes and bonus content delivered to your inbox weekly at www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/47xYgUn [https://bit.ly/47xYgUn]

When Success Becomes Your Cage: The Journey to Breaking Free from Expectations - Betsy Pepine

What if the life you built — the one that looks perfect on paper — feels like a prison behind the scenes? In this deeply honest conversation on The Ownership Game, Gary Montalvo sits down with Betsy Pepine, a successful real estate entrepreneur and author, who shares her story of what happens when outward success clashes with inner fulfillment. Betsy opens up about the moment she realized she was living inside “boxes” built by other people’s expectations — and the courageous journey she took to break free, rewrite her story, and define success on her own terms. If you’ve ever found yourself chasing achievement but feeling empty, questioning the stories you’ve inherited, or wondering how to live a more authentic life — this episode of The Ownership Game is for you.   In this episode, we discuss: * The hidden cost of the hustle culture * How “boxes” keep us stuck in invisible cages * The fear of letting go of status, identity, or financial security * Practices for tuning in, asking better questions, and creating real freedom * How to redefine your relationship with success and failure * Why unlearning old programming is the key to authentic leadership   Chapters:  00:00 Introduction: When the Hustle Becomes the Cage 02:30 Meet Betsy Pepine: Success on Paper, Disconnection Inside 06:00 The First Signs: Listening to the Body and Inner Voice 09:30 Tools for Uncovering the Truth: Therapy, Meditation & More 14:45 Defining and Spotting the “Boxes” You Live In 19:20 Social and Cultural Boxes: Gender, Money & Status 25:00 The Ego Death of Changing Careers and Identities 31:30 Framework: Identifying Your Boxes and Facing the Fears 36:50 Betsy’s Book and How It Can Help Others 40:10 Powerful Takeaways: Joy, Impact, and Authenticity 46:30 Closing Reflections: Remembering Who You Really Are __________________________________ Connect with Betsy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsypepine/ [https://www.instagram.com/betsypepine/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betsypepine [https://www.facebook.com/betsypepine] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsypepine/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsypepine/] Website: https://www.betsypepine.com/ [https://www.betsypepine.com/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetsyPepine [https://www.youtube.com/@BetsyPepine]  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gainesvillerealtor [https://www.tiktok.com/@gainesvillerealtor]    Grab Betsy’s book Breaking Free from the Boxes: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Boxes-Dismantling-Metaphorical-That/dp/1636802842/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= [https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Boxes-Dismantling-Metaphorical-That/dp/1636802842/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=]  Join Betsy’s new companion course coming soon! __________________________________   Love this episode? Here’s how to support the show: * Subscribe & never miss an episode! * Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people discover the show! * Share this episode with a friend who needs inspiration.    __________________________________   Have a question or suggestion for the show? Let us know about it by visiting www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Sign up to get episodes and bonus content delivered to your inbox weekly at www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/47xYgUn [https://bit.ly/47xYgUn]

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage – Sara Gilbert

Why do we get stuck in self-sabotaging patterns — even when we know exactly what to do?  In this powerful episode of The Ownership Game, Gary sits down with mindset and strategy coach Sara Gilbert to unpack the invisible patterns that keep entrepreneurs, leaders, and high-achievers stuck in the cycle of “I know what to do, but I’m not doing it.” Sara reveals how our identity, emotions, and the stories we tell ourselves create hidden limits on our growth. Together, they break down how to spot these patterns, rewire your language, and shift from fear-driven action to leadership-driven alignment. If you’ve ever felt trapped by procrastination, perfectionism, or over-preparation — this episode will show you how to break free.   In this episode, we discuss:   * Identity anchors behavior. What you say after “I am” shapes what you’ll do — or avoid. * Safety drives sabotage. Often we don’t procrastinate out of laziness, but to protect a version of ourselves we’ve learned to keep safe. * Language is power. The stories you repeat become your reality. Awareness and new questions are the key to change. * Slowing down speeds you up. Reflection and intentional language create sustainable, aligned action. Chapters:  00:00 The Power of “I Am” Statements: How Identity Shapes Behavior 02:30 Sara’s Journey: From Business Strategy to Deep Mindset Work 05:50 Why “Be-Do-Have” is the Real Game Changer for Entrepreneurs 08:00 The Hidden Role of Emotions: Why Safety Sabotages Growth 14:00 The Familiarity Zone: Why We Stay in Patterns that Don’t Serve Us 19:00 Language as a Tool: How to Rewrite Your Stories 25:00 The Right Questions vs. The Wrong Questions: Moving from Stuck to Free 33:00 Why Slowing Down Helps You Speed Up 42:00 Self-Awareness, Self-Honesty, Self-Leadership: A New Model for Change 51:00 Why Ownership Over Your Stories is Non-Negotiable 54:00 Final Thoughts: Playing the Ownership Game in Life and Business __________________________________   Connect with Sara: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saragilbertstrategist/ [https://www.instagram.com/saragilbertstrategist/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015061414304 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015061414304] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saragilbert/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saragilbert/] Website: https://saragilbert.coach/ [https://saragilbert.coach/]  __________________________________   Love this episode? Here’s how to support the show: * Subscribe & never miss an episode! * Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people discover the show! * Share this episode with a friend who needs inspiration.    __________________________________   Have a question or suggestion for the show? Let us know about it by visiting www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Sign up to get episodes and bonus content delivered to your inbox weekly at www.TheOwnershipGame.com   Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/47xYgUn [https://bit.ly/47xYgUn]