Experts Speak

Hosted by Michael DeLon

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Episodes

480

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Listen in as Michael DeLon, founder of Paperback Expert, speaks with business professionals in various industries about what makes them the true expert in their field.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 27, 202651 min

#481: What Causes a Business to Flourish or Flounder with RJon Robins

RJon Robins makes his 2nd appearance on Experts Speak to discuss how his newest book - Truth, Lies, Mistakes, and Bullsh*t - helps you understand what's holding you back and how you can become a better entrepreneur. RJon has distilled decades of building and running multiple 7 and 8-figure businesses into a few pages of his book. And in this interview, he shares openly what causes businesses to flounder and how to make yours flourish. There's no fluff here, folks. This is one you'll want to listen to multiple times. Be sure to PRE-ORDER RJon's book before August 4, 2026, here. Learn more about RJon at his website.

May 13, 202621 min

#480: Being Authentic with Marques Ogden

In this episode, former NFL player, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker, Marques Ogden, shares his journey from professional football to business ownership, losing everything in a failed construction venture, and rebuilding his life through speaking and coaching. The conversation explores the meaning of authenticity, overcoming fear of judgment, and practical leadership strategies that help individuals and organizations perform at a higher level.Learn more about Marques at his website.

April 29, 202622 min

#479: Finding Great Mid-Level Talent

In this episode, Mitch McDermott, CEO & Founder of Talent Ascension Group, talks about the overlooked gap between HR-driven hiring and expensive C-level search. Mitch explains why volume-based recruiting fails for leadership roles, how his team “headhunts” largely employed candidates, and why they lead with the person—not the job—to create better fits and longer tenures.Learn more about Mitch at his website.

April 15, 202629 min

#478: Finding the Bottlenecks in Your Business

Tim Martinez explains why many businesses stall even when sales and marketing look “fine”: the real constraint often sits inside the operation—sometimes in the owner’s own habits. Drawing on two decades of building and advising companies, Tim walks through the most common bottleneck he sees (the owner-operator), how weak delegation and “circumvention” culture keep everything flowing back to the founder, and why owners must ask the tougher question: “Why am I allowing this to happen?” He also outlines the three categories of chokepoints—human, technological, and physical—and shares a practical, non-theoretical way to diagnose them using flowcharts. Michael adds perspective from his own company, describing how narrowing down to just a few weekly KPIs created clarity and helped them fix upstream issues instead of chasing downstream symptoms.Learn more about Tim at his website.

April 1, 202625 min

#477: Choosing Bankruptcy with Luke Homen

Luke Homen, an Oklahoma bankruptcy attorney and author of Choosing Bankruptcy, breaks down the basics of bankruptcy, why people typically file (life events + creditor pressure), and the key differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. He also explains when student loan discharge may be possible, why many debt-settlement programs can be risky, and what “life after bankruptcy” really looks like—often faster and more hopeful than people assume. Learn more about Luke at his website, and buy a copy of Luke's book, Choosing Bankruptcy.

March 18, 202631 min

#476: Building Wealth with a Human Brain

In this episode, Michael DeLon welcomes back Dr. Vicki Rackner (Thriving Doctors) to unpack why so many high-achievers still struggle to build wealth. Vicki explains how our ancient “hunter-gatherer” wiring drives fear, pleasure-seeking, and avoidance—often hijacking our best financial intentions. She shares how recognizing nervous-system responses (fight/flight/freeze) can prevent panic decisions, and how “true wealth” starts with values, clarity, and using money as a tool to create a satisfied, stable life. Learn more about Vicki at her website or her YouTube Channel.

March 4, 202632 min

#475: Helping Others Succeed

In this episode, Gal Ezra shares how getting “stuck” in South Africa at 19 forced him to build from zero—without financial rescue—while his father mentored him with principles that apply across business, relationships, and personal growth. Gal reframes sales as a form of help (not manipulation), explains why many people associate “help” with betrayal, and introduces the power of defining end results (instead of just staying busy doing tasks). He also breaks down Guaranteed Prosperity’s unusual “money back plus” guarantee and how their work spans business, family/relationships, and mindset/spiritual clarity. Learn more about Gal from his website. You can also find Gal on any Social Media platform at gal.a.ezra.

February 18, 202628 min

#474: Predicting Your Future

In this episode, Erik Dodier shares his 30-year entrepreneurial journey—from launching a tech agency in the early internet era, to pivoting through major industry shifts, adopting EOS, scaling dramatically, and ultimately selling the business. Erik explains how EOS helps leaders clarify where they’re going, narrow focus, build alignment, and create accountability—so the future becomes less guesswork and more intentional construction. Learn more about Erik at his website.

February 11, 202632 min

#473: Building Authority Through Media: How Thought Leaders Stand Out

In this episode, Dominic Forth explores how entrepreneurs and experts can amplify their credibility through traditional media. Dominic shares his journey from a near-death experience to leading Thought Leaders America, a company that helps professionals get featured on trusted media outlets. The discussion covers why storytelling matters more than tactics, how media appearances build trust faster than social platforms alone, and why consistency—not one-off exposure—is the key to authority and business growth. Learn more about Dominic at his website.

February 4, 202627 min

#472: How Doctors Build True Wealth

In this episode, Dr. Vicki Rackner shares her personal journey from surgeon to consultant and author helping physicians get more of what they want and less of what they don’t. She explains why doctors struggle with money conversations, how burnout has become an epidemic in medicine, and why profitability and service are not opposites. Vicki introduces her “True Wealth Engine,” reframing wealth as a combination of a satisfied life, a rich life, and a wealthy life—and shows how mindset shifts, not radical career changes, unlock freedom and fulfillment.Learn more about Vicki at her website.