The Dillon England Show

Hosted by Dillon England

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Jun 2026

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My mission is to provide my listeners with authentic conversations with interesting people, covering a wide range of topics from personal growth, entrepreneurship and lifestyle improvement, all while keeping it entertaining and informative. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support .

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June 12, 202624 min

Is This The Best Pastry Shop in Michigan? | Bobby Blake | Bobby Blake

Most people know Blake's from the cider mill out in Armada, MI.Five years ago, Bobby Blake took that heritage and launched Bakehouse 46. Today they have six locations across Metro Detroit, from Ann Arbor to Grosse Pointe, and a menu that covers cupcakes, gourmet donuts, savory pastries, bagels, and a full cafe line. They make their donuts fresh in every single store, every morning.I invited Bobby on the show the week before our 313 Studio Launch Event because I needed to taste test what we were serving 130 guests… We ended up just recording the whole thing live!In the episode we covered:→ How Bakehouse 46 grew from a cupcake concept to a full bakery and cafe operation→ What makes the gourmet donut lineup different from the cider mill classics→ The new savory pastry line and where that idea came from→ Why they keep the classics on the menu alongside the monthly rotating specialsBobby, thank you for showing up and agreeing to record last minute. Your baking speaks for itself… But you made it an awesome conversation too.*Chapters*0:00 - Welcome & Intro to Bakehouse 461:07 - Bobby Breaks Down the Bakehouse 46 Story2:05 - Six Locations and What They Offer2:36 - The Cupcake Lineup Explained3:18 - Starting With the Donuts4:32 - Classic Cider Mill Donut vs. Gourmet Donut6:00 - Apple Pie Gourmet Donut Taste Test8:27 - Moving Into the Savory Pastries10:26 - Spinach & Feta and the Margherita Pastry11:40 - Croissants and Bagels15:07 - The Cupcake Taste Test17:13 - Campfire Cupcake and the Monthly Specials19:37 - Final Verdict and Event Preview22:04 - Where to Find Bakehouse 46*Connect with Bobby*https://www.linkedin.com/company/bakehouse46/https://www.instagram.com/bakehouse46/https://www.facebook.com/Bakehouse46/https://www.bakehouse46.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

June 5, 202647 min

You Only Get 18 Summers... | George Rivera

At the peak of George Rivera building his company, he was practically printing money, but was working 90 hours a week and hating life.The business had everything. His family got what was left.He had to stop being the answer to everything inside his company. He built the systems, transferred the ownership, and stepped back. Two years later the business had scaled past $50 million and he was working 30 hours a week. Sometimes zero.In this episode, we covered:→ Why founders build a prison for themselves, even when they're financially free→ The "18 summers" framework that reframes how little time you actually have→ How to start reclaiming time even as a solopreneur with zero team→ What it costs your marriage when the business becomes your identity→ The difference between scaling freedom and scaling chaosGeorge, thank you for driving three hours to sit across from me and share your story with our audience!*Chapters*0:00 - Welcome & How George and Dillon Connected1:17 - George's Origin Story: Starting at 17 With $04:00 - First Six-Figure Year in College5:11 - $400M in Lifetime Sales: The Full Career Arc9:30 - First Major Business Collapse in 200510:25 - Seeking Dad's Approval: The Three-Way Bank Call12:38 - "Son, You Did It Once. Go Do It Again."14:21 - The $50M Year That Almost Cost Him His Family16:39 - "Don't Miss Leo's Games": His Dad's Dying Words20:44 - Cash Rich, Time Poor: Who George Helps Now21:38 - Scaling Freedom vs. Scaling Chaos27:51 - The Books: Buy Back Time Formula & Before They Stop Asking31:08 - Biggest Business Lessons Learned the Hard Way35:22 - How to Reconnect With Your Family Starting Today36:12 - What Founders Get Wrong About Their Marriage43:21 - Where to Find George & The Free Assessment44:14 - The 18 Summers Framework*Connect with George*https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-rivera-53b3296/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

May 29, 20261 hr 19 min

Why Your Business Should Be on YouTube (Even If Nobody Watches) | Trevor Baker

Trevor Baker built one of the most respected YouTube agencies in the world starting from a roach-infested apartment in New York - editing videos for $20 a pop.A LinkedIn message changed his trajectory: One conversation turned into a coffee meeting, which turned into a business partnership, which turned into even more partnerships. That gave Trevor the proof he needed that he could build something real in the media space. He went all in on Astra Media, and the company hasn't stopped since.In the episode, we talked about:→ Why most businesses are completely wrong about what YouTube is for→ The YouTube feature in beta right now that Trevor calls the most exciting update in recent history→ How the marketing funnel has shifted, and why organic content matters more than ever→ What two core values Trevor hires and fires by→ Why a 50 million-follower TikTok account isn't clearing six figures, and what that tells you about platform strategyThe real ROI of YouTube isn't what happens in year one… It's looking back in year three and thinking, "We should have started this earlier." Trevor, thank you for the energy and the honesty you always bring. Love you dude!*Chapters*0:00 - Introduction and How Trevor and Dillon Met2:45 - Their Shared Business Journey and the Coffee Meeting That Started It5:40 - Five Years of "Absolute Hell" in Insurance8:00 - The Phone Call That Brought Trevor Into Media11:00 - Learning to Reap What You Sow (Faith and Patience in Business)15:00 - Astra's Two Core Values: Great Work Consistently and Own It22:00 - Building an Accountability Chart (Not a Hierarchy Chart)25:00 - The Difference Between Being Honest and Being Open32:00 - Fake Grinding vs. Actually Working: The Productivity Trap37:30 - YouTube 101: Why Every Business Needs to Be There44:30 - How the Marketing Funnel Has Completely Changed48:30 - Trevor's Most Surreal Moment: Producing Marshawn Lynch's Show52:45 - Dynamic Brand Insertion: YouTube's Most Exciting New Feature59:00 - Live Streaming on YouTube: Worth It or Not?1:07:00 - Where to Start on YouTube (The Realistic Version)1:10:00 - Stop Overproducing: Make It for People, Not Production Budgets1:14:00 - Why YouTube Is Still the Most Monetizable Platform on Earth1:15:50 - Where to Find Trevor and Astra Media*Connect with Trevor*www.youtube.com/@tegbakerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tegbaker42/https://www.astramedia.co/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

May 22, 20261 hr 13 min

"Overnight Success" Is Usually 15+ Years of Invisible Work | Manager Jon

Manager Jon has worked with TikTok, brokered KSI fights, built podcast studios, and managed some of the biggest creators on the internet.But that's only half of it, the version everyone sees.He’s spent years grinding through YouTube channels through a difficult childhood. After one rough night with his dad, his mom tried to comfort him with, "It's okay, son. We were never made to get out."As he sat on the steps as a young man, Jon decided those words were a lie which he refused to accept.We talked through the full arc:→ How a high school video with 3 million views accidentally launched his career→ Why the barber shop failure was the moment he finally understood what he was building→ The King's Table framework for surrounding yourself with the right advisors→ How he found a blue ocean in the construction industry by solving a problem nobody else was addressing→ Why pricing too low actually harms your clientsSo many times, we look at personal and professional wins without knowing the failures and heartache it took to get there.Jon, thank you for coming back on. It’s always awesome getting to talk and work with you!*Chapters*0:00 - Introduction and Who Manager Jon Is2:15 - Growing Up in Section 8: Roman Road and Where It All Began6:20 - Getting Into Content Through a High School YouTube Channel9:00 - The $7,000 YouTube Check and Learning to Reinvest11:10 - The Barber Shop: Building Something Real and Losing It14:40 - The Media Collective and the First Terrible Offer21:55 - Rock Bottom: The Car, the Kitchen Job, and His Mom's Words27:40 - Choosing to Go All In From $70 in the Bank31:20 - Why Resilience Can't Be Taught, Only Earned33:10 - Dillon's Own Lowest Point: Chronic Illness and a New Business41:55 - The King's Table: How to Build the Right Circle of Advisors46:40 - Finding a Blue Ocean in the Construction Industry52:10 - Offer Clarity, Pricing, and Why Low Ticket Hurts Your Clients1:04:00 - Paying for Rooms, Relationships, and Why It Works1:08:15 - The SIA Framework: Signal, Initiate, Affiliate1:09:30 - Where to Find Manager Jon*Connect with Manager Jon*https://www.instagram.com/managerjon\https://www.instagram.com/creatorsdenofficialhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cater-840185198Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

May 15, 20261 hr 4 min

Why Price Doesn't Matter (And What Actually Does) | Daniel Russell

Daniel Russell is VP of National Sales at Trion Solutions, one of the fastest-growing PEO companies in the country. He’s been in sales for over 26 years and he helps businesses manage payroll and HR for over 1.2 million employees worldwide.And he has a 98.7% client retention rate.In this episode of The Dillon England Show, we covered:→ Why the question "How much does it cost?" is never really about price→ The heart surgeon mindset that redefined how Daniel approaches every client→ What elite athletes transitioning out of professional sports taught him about identity→ How Daniel built a marriage and a family of six kids with the same intentionality he brings to business→ Why your accountability partner should never be someone who makes you feel good about yourselfDaniel, thank you for making the drive to the studio. I'm grateful you shared your story here, in the new studio! Appreciate you man!*Chapters*0:00 - Introduction & The Pro Athlete Community4:20 - Daniel's Upbringing and the Seeds of Excellence6:55 - Michigan State and Learning to Connect with Everyone8:00 - The Guy in the Suit: How Daniel Found His Direction10:00 - The $795 Moment That Changed His Career12:00 - Why He Never Wanted to Be a Salesperson13:30 - The Heart Surgeon Mindset for Business17:50 - Being Intentionally Present: Family and Business21:20 - What Real Success Actually Looks Like27:40 - Why Price Is Never Really the Issue34:00 - Knowing If Your Product Is Actually the Best37:15 - Stop Dating Your Clients: The Right Sales Conversation44:30 - Educating the Customer Changes Everything47:40 - The Best Advice He Never Got Early Enough51:10 - Accountability Partners and Finding Better Rooms57:00 - The Kobe Mentality: What Greatness Demands59:00 - Trion Solutions and Where to Find Daniel*Connect with Daniel*https://trionworks.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-russell-sr-b6373627/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

April 10, 202647 min

He Did 1,200 Guest Appearances, Then He Turned It Into a Business | Mike C-Roc

At 40, Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco had everything most people chase.He went on a self-discovery journey, started surrounding himself with mentors who had what he wanted, and made one commitment: getting on podcasts to build relationships, and eventually- see where it leads.What it led to was over 2,000 podcast appearances, a top-tier booking agency called That1 Agency, a WhatsApp community of 600+ operators and founders, and a philosophy around performance, proximity, and getting out of your own way.We covered:→ Why 95-99% of your time in early business should go toward generating revenue→ How to "buy time" from people instead of trying to manage more of your own→ The outcome question that tripled their clients in a single month→ Why confronting problems fast is the most underrated business skillMike said he wakes up every morning pretending nobody's ever heard of him, after building one of the top podcast booking firms in North America… what a mindset!!Thank you Mike for hopping on and sharing your story, the dark years, the refunds, the doubt, and the version of yourself that had to shed to get here. Talking with you was a blast!Chapters0:00 - Intro1:03 - Meet Mike C-Roc: The Man Behind That1 Agency1:48 - How 200 Podcast Appearances Became a Business3:23 - 20 Years in Mortgage and Walking Away at 405:29 - The Lesson About Confronting Problems Fast6:30 - What Actually Made That1 Agency Grow So Fast8:17 - The 15-Minute Call: Where It Came From and Why It Works11:25 - How to Buy Time Instead of Manage It14:39 - Revenue First: Why Founders Get This Backwards16:00 - Finding Your Offer and Raising Your Prices18:08 - Asking Outcome Questions to Close More Clients23:53 - Community, Confidence, and Not Scaling Too Early29:40 - Building Stage Confidence and Manufacturing Celebrity37:00 - The Most Life-Changing Advice for Young Entrepreneurs39:08 - Why Podcasting Works (And Why Authenticity Wins)42:51 - What's Next for Crock and How to ConnectConnect with MikeWeb: https://that1agency.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ciorrocco/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

March 27, 202640 min

The CEO Who Built a Cybersecurity Company Without Knowing IT | Matt Loria

Matt Loria built a top-tier cybersecurity and IT firm without a single tech degree or certification.Back when he and his brother ran a computer recycling business, they went repeatedly through IT providers. It was always the same: things started great, then the service just vanished. When Matt eventually told his brother he was starting his own IT firm, his brother pointed out the obvious.. "You don't know anything about IT."But Matt knew exactly what it looked like when someone did it wrong, and he knew how to fix it.That gap became the foundation for Auxiom. By bringing in a technical co-founder and focusing on the service and culture the industry was missing, he turned the company into a gold standard. Today, Auxiom handles everything from network security to AI readiness for massive, billion-dollar companies.We covered:→ Why antivirus software alone leaves your business dangerously exposed→ What a cyber attack actually costs after the breach (the rebuilding is worse than the hack)→ How AI has supercharged the threat landscape and what the good guys are doing to keep up→ Why every executive needs 30-60 minutes a day inside AI tools right now→ And why Matt interviews a candidate's spouse before making a major hireOne major takeaway: owners can't vision cast for something they don't know exists. That’s why it’s imperative every business owner gets their hands dirty with AI.Thank you Matt for coming to the studio and for sharing your story and expertise. It was a blast talking to you man!*Chapters*0:00 - Intro & Welcome1:06 - Meet Matt Loria and Auxiom7:37 - How Matt Got Into the IT Industry11:27 - The Gap in the Market That Started It All12:14 - What Is Managed IT Services?13:10 - Cybersecurity and Why It Has to Be the Foundation14:09 - How AI Has Changed the Threat Landscape16:33 - First Steps for Business Owners to Protect Themselves18:54 - The Real Cost of a Cyber Attack24:47 - Entrepreneurship, Failure, and the Mindset of Going Broke25:47 - Why Marrying the Right Person Changes Everything30:30 - Who Auxiom Serves and How to Work With Them31:33 - The BLTnT Podcast Story35:22 - AI as a Business Tool, Not Just a Shortcut39:44 - Outro*Connect with Matt* Web: https://auxiom.com/ | @BLTnTPodcast LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mattloriaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

March 20, 20261 hr 0 min

From Mud Hut in Liberia to Coaching Nonprofits Across 3 Countries | Chris Lambert

Most people who want to change the world start with a cause, not with Chris Lambert, ‘coz he started with a crisis…Chris Lambert, Founder & CEO of Next Level Nonprofit, grew up in a small town in northern Indiana, gave his faith the finger at 16, then spent six years chasing whatever he thought would make him happy, but no, it didn't, then there became a chance encounter at a church service in Australia, and when he came home, he wasn't the same person who'd left.We covered:→ How Chris's faith journey, from a small-town kid to a mud hut in Liberia, shaped everything he built after→ What Life Remodeled actually did in Detroit and why the Gallup results shocked even him→ The $300,000 check that completely rewired how he thinks about fundraising and donor relationships→ How Indiana University's 16-0 season explains the one principle that separates great organizations from struggling onesThere's a line Chris said that I keep thinking about, that is "Sometimes you just have to take the step forward even if you don't really know where it's going." He's done that more times than most people would be comfortable with, and it's produced something remarkable every single time!Chris, thank you for being so open about the whole journey, not just the wins. The stories you brought into this room were the kind that stay with you.Chapters0:00 - Introduction & How Chris and Dillon Connected2:16 - Who Is Chris Lambert? Defining Himself3:01 - Faith Journey: Growing Up in Small-Town Indiana4:06 - Walking Away from Faith at 164:34 - The Encounter in Australia That Changed Everything9:21 - Returning to Indiana, Seminary, and the Call to Detroit11:39 - Living in a Mud Hut in Liberia13:25 - Moving to Detroit and Starting a Church14:02 - The Birth of Life Remodeled (2010)18:43 - What Life Remodeled Actually Does21:35 - $56 Million, 87,000 Volunteers, and the Gallup Study26:59 - Writing Next Level Nonprofit and Leaving Life Remodeled33:07 - Why He Finally Wrote the Book (And Did It in 45 Days)36:43 - Right People, Right Seats: The IU Football Story44:00 - The $300,000 Check That Changed His Fundraising Mindset47:50 - How to Actually Raise Money: Donations vs. Investment55:06 - Building Capital for a For-Profit Studio: Dillon's Story57:34 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find ChrisConnect with ChrisWeb: https://www.nextlevelnonprofit.org/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nextlevellambertBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

March 13, 202657 min

83% of Realtors Don't Make It Five Years. Here's Why. | Donny Samson

Most people think real estate is easy money.Donny Samson knows better.He got his license at 22, just because a friend did it first and his wife said, "If he can do it, you can." His first two commissions paid for her engagement ring. He was hooked.But building a career is one thing. Building a company is another. When his dad handed him the keys to Samson Properties and made him CEO in 2019, Donny had to learn fast what separates a great realtor from a great leader. Spoiler: it's not the same skillset. He hired the wrong managers. He watched a title company he co-owned spend years digging out from bad hires and broken trust. He navigated a housing crash, a national lawsuit, and a real estate market that has posted record low sales three years in a row. And he kept going.Today Samson Properties is the number one brokerage in the DMV, with 6,500 agents across 49 offices. They built their own title company. They run on a 100% commission model. And Donny still shows up to teach in a different office every Wednesday.We covered:→ Why 83% of realtors don't make it past five years and what brokerages owe them→ How the private listings controversy is quietly hurting buyers and sellers→ What the NAR lawsuit actually changed (and what it didn't)→ Why he'd rather leave a manager seat empty for six months than hire the wrong person→ How he thinks about growth without losing what made the company worth growingThe thing that stuck with me most from this conversation: Donny never stopped thinking like a realtor. Even as CEO, he's still thinking about the person sitting across the table trying to buy or sell their biggest asset. That perspective is rare. It's also, I think, exactly why Samson keeps growing.Donny, thank you for being so open and for sharing your passion for this industry. I also appreciate you speaking directly about topics that many people in your position might avoid. This one was a blast.*Chapters*0:00 - Introduction & Teaser1:00 - Meet Donny Samson1:42 - Getting Licensed Right Before the 2008 Crash2:45 - What Samson Properties Is Today6:21 - How the 100% Commission Model Works8:26 - Why 83% of Realtors Don't Make It Five Years10:11 - How to Recruit Your Way Out of a Down Market10:53 - Growing Up in the Family Business14:16 - What His Dad Taught Him About Leadership18:17 - Why Leaders Need Trench Experience First20:58 - The Private Listings Controversy28:22 - The NAR Lawsuit and What It Really Changed37:01 - Will AI Ever Replace Real Estate Agents?42:56 - The Biggest Mistakes He's Made as CEO45:31 - Why He'd Rather Leave a Seat Empty Than Hire Wrong52:16 - Why He's Not Trying to Go National55:37 - Where to Find Donny and Samson Properties*Connect with Donny*Web: https://samsonproperties.net/ | samson.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donny-samson-a9abb715aBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.

March 9, 20261 hr 13 min

No One Wants Their Legacy Buried: Herman Moore on Football and Business

Most people know Herman Moore as the Detroit Lions' greatest wide receiver. The records. The Pro Bowls.What they don't know is what happened after.Herman left the NFL and walked straight into one of the hardest seasons of his life. Business. He lost nearly everything. Got told no by banks, investors, and people who couldn't see past the helmet. He had to rebuild from scratch, in a world that kept boxing him in as just an athlete. He didn't leave. He didn't quit. He stayed in Michigan, bet on himself when no one else would, and eventually built one of the largest Cinnabon franchise operations in the country, owning the entire Michigan market and expanding into Florida.But this conversation goes deeper than franchise wins. Herman talks about the version of himself that almost walked away from football after his rookie year. About the coaching change that broke his trust in the game. About watching his legacy sit in Barry Sanders' shadow for decades and not being sure who gets to tell your story.We covered:→ How Herman lost nearly everything in business and what it took to rebuild→ What it's really like sharing a legacy with one of the greatest players in NFL history→ Why athletes are uniquely vulnerable when they leave sports and how Herman navigated it→ The real fear he carries as an entrepreneur that most people would never admitThank you, Herman, for giving this conversation everything. For being honest about the lows that most people keep private and for showing up with the same energy you brought on every Sunday in the Silver Dome.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dillon-england-show--6370921/support.*Connect with Dillon*https://www.instagram.com/thedillonenglandshow/https://twitter.com/imdillonenglandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonmengland/https://www.facebook.com/dillon.england.5*Sponsor — Broadcast Brew (Low-Acid Coffee)*Order our LOW ACID COFFEE “THE BROADCAST BREW”Thank you to Cool Beans Coffee Brewery for your partnership.https://www.coolbeanscoffeemi.com/product-page/broadcast-brew-low-acid-blend*ABOUT THE DILLON ENGLAND SHOW*Authentic conversations with interesting people across personal growth, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle — direct, faith-forward, Detroit grit.Subscribe for full conversations and weekly clips.Share this with someone on your leadership team.Comment your biggest takeaway.