They Call Me Mista Yu

Hosted by Mista Yu

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Episodes

576

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Every Thursday, the flagship, " They Call Me Mista Yu " is where we have the deepest conversations on just about everything from society and culture to family dynamic to sports to world affairs. This is straight out of the mind of Mista Yu! Buckle up! At the end of the day, this is where our edges get sharpened! PERSPECTIVE is the purpose here! Your Booking 🔗 To Guest: https://calendly.com/yusefmichaelmarshall/theycallmemistayu TCMMY is your "Weekly Mirror Check" before you go change the world! Note: Please be advised there are scheduled breaks in recording and interviews during July, August, November, and December.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 11, 202635 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - What Does A Successful Life Actually Mean? w/ Marcus Norman

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Success is often measured by what a person owns, earns, builds, or accomplishes. But what happens when we look beneath the businesses and ask a different question: Who did you have to become to build the life you're living? Marcus Norman is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, and former United States Navy sailor originally from St. Croix. His experience spans real estate investing, finance, ATM businesses, franchising, podcasting, equity investing, and other entrepreneurial ventures. But this conversation isn't simply about how to start an ATM business, invest in real estate, or choose between a business and a franchise. It's about the experiences and principles behind those pursuits. We'll talk about: Growing up in St. Croix and becoming a man How eight years in the Navy shaped Marcus's discipline and perspective The mindset of a serial entrepreneur Calculated risk versus chasing opportunities Financial literacy and making complicated subjects understandable Learning through both success and failure Faith and decision-making Building multiple streams without losing sight of purpose What entrepreneurship can teach us about life The difference between building businesses and building a meaningful life The Bigger Question If success is measured by more than money, businesses, and accomplishments, what are you actually building—and who are you becoming while you build it? Closing If this episode resonates with you..... Share it with someone who is thinking about making a change, starting something new, or simply trying to figure out what success should look like in their own life. Link to send listeners to: https://www.gentlemanstylepodcast.com Make sure you subscribe to They Call Me Mista Yu on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. And if this conversation made you think differently about your own journey, send me a message and let me know. And remember... The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. We're out! Support the show

November 11, 202628 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - When Success Isn't Enough: The Person You Still Need to Become w/ Fredrik Lyhagen

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Stop trying to upgrade your skillset when it’s your identity that needs an overhaul! Today’s guest crushed the tech world for 15 years at some of the world’s leading tech companies—until the mask came off! If you desire to be a businessperson or entrepreneur with longevity, you don’t want to miss this blueprint episode on how to walk in authentic success! We are cutting through the fluff to answer one question: What do you do when winning is no longer enough? Get ready to level up. Let’s welcome Fredrik Lyhagen to the Flagship! You can be capable, experienced, respected, and successful—and still feel that something important isn't working. For Fredrik Lyhagen, that contradiction played out over 15 years in senior leadership roles at Cisco, Juniper, and Telefónica O2. By external measures, he was successful. Internally, he was deeply unhappy, and eventually that unhappiness spiralled into burnout. His search for understanding led him through coaching, Buddhism, adult development theory, Jungian psychology, and contemplative practice. Over time, he came to see many struggles with leadership, relationships, and meaning differently: sometimes, the issue isn't a lack of skills. It's that the way we understand ourselves and the world needs to evolve. Today, Fredrik works with senior leaders through CFL Global, facilitates men's circles and annual retreats through Transformation Within, and writes about meaning-making in life, love, and leadership. He is the author of Awakened Relationships and the forthcoming The Invisible Gap . In this conversation, we explore: Why external success doesn't always translate into internal fulfillment. The difference between a skill problem and a developmental challenge. How the identity that once served us can eventually limit us. What burnout can reveal about the way we're living. Why self-awareness matters in leadership, marriage, and relationships. How our understanding of life changes as we mature. What it means to keep growing when the old answers no longer work. The Bigger Question: What if the struggle you've been trying to overcome isn't proof that you're failing—but a sign that the way you've learned to navigate life is no longer enough for who you're becoming? This is a conversation about perspective, personal development, and the deeper work of understanding ourselves—not just so we can accomplish more, but so we can live and relate differently. Connect with Fredrik Lyhagen Explore Fredrik's work through Transformation Within and CFL Global, and look for his books Awakened Relationships and the forthcoming The Invisible Gap . Link to send listeners to: https://fredriklyhagen.com/ To learn more about my work, access resources, and get in touch with me. The book: https://learn.transformationwithin.com/awakenedrelationships Closing If this episode resonates with you..... share it with someone who has done many things right but still senses that something in their life needs to change. Subscribe to the Mista Yu YouTube channel and follow They Call Me Mista Yu wherever you listen. Join us as we explore the experiences, questions, and perspectives that help us better understand ourselves and the people we are becoming. And remember... The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. We're out! Support the show

November 11, 202627 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - The Delicious Side of Life: Finding Meaning in the Everyday with Jon Francois

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! What makes life meaningful? Sometimes, it’s not the big milestones or the accomplishments we share with the world. Sometimes, it’s a memorable meal, a favorite movie, an unexpected encounter, or a small moment that reminds us what it means to be alive. Jon Francois is the host and producer of The Delicious Culture with Jon Francois , a podcast built around three simple questions about food, pop culture, and positive moments in life. But behind those questions is a career full of stories—from eight years in commercial radio and public access television to two decades of acting and his current experiences as an Uber and Lyft driver in Vermont. In this conversation, we explore the lessons hidden in everyday experiences, the unexpected ways our work shapes us, the importance of human connection, and how we find meaning in the middle of ordinary life. In this episode, we discuss: What a varied career can teach us about people and perspective. Why the simplest questions can lead to meaningful conversations. The difference between a public image and the reality behind it. How acting can deepen empathy and challenge assumptions. What caregiving, commitment, and family teach us about love. Finding purpose and redefining success through life’s changing seasons. The Bigger Question: Are we paying enough attention to the ordinary moments and everyday people that may be teaching us the most about life? Join us for a conversation about perspective, unexpected experiences, and the stories that connect us. Connect with Jon Francois: Listen to, watch, and follow The Delicious Culture with Jon Francois across major podcast and social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/thedeliciousculture Closing If this episode resonates with you….. share it with someone who could use a reminder that meaningful lessons can come from the most unexpected places. Subscribe to the Mista Yu YouTube channel, follow the conversations, and join us as we continue exploring the people, experiences, and perspectives that challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us. And remember… The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. We’re out! Support the show

November 11, 202631 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - Loss Built This: Finding Purpose When Life Falls Apart | Chris McCarthy

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! What happens when the life you’ve worked so hard to build begins falling apart? You can be successful in business and still struggle to find peace. You can have a plan for your future and watch it change in ways you never anticipated. You can lose relationships, question your identity, and wonder what comes next. But what if the end of the life you imagined doesn’t have to be the end of your story? Chris McCarthy is an entrepreneur, author, father, and founder of Limitless with Chris. After navigating a failed adoption, divorce, personal loss, and the difficult work of rebuilding his identity, Chris came to understand that achievement alone cannot provide the foundation we need to navigate life’s hardest seasons. His experiences became the foundation for Loss Built This: Finding Identity, Purpose, and Hope After Life Falls Apart. On this episode of They Call Me Mista Yu , we’re having an honest conversation about what it means to rebuild when life doesn’t go according to plan. We’ll explore: Rebuilding after loss, disappointment, and major life changes Why professional success doesn’t guarantee personal fulfillment Separating identity from relationships and accomplishments Faith and hope during uncertain seasons Fatherhood, adoption, and changing priorities Taking responsibility for your response without blaming yourself for your circumstances Entrepreneurship, resilience, and personal pressure Challenging limiting beliefs and rediscovering purpose Turning difficult experiences into opportunities for growth Chris doesn’t claim to have every answer. He’s still learning, growing, and applying the lessons his own life has taught him. And perhaps that’s what makes this conversation worth having. The Bigger Question When the life you planned no longer exists, will you spend your time trying to recover who you were—or begin discovering who you can become? If this episode resonates with you…..Share it with someone who may be navigating loss, questioning their identity, or trying to figure out what comes next. Connect with Chris McCarthy through Limitless with Chris and explore his book, Loss Built This , for more on rebuilding identity, finding purpose, and moving forward after adversity. Link to send listeners to: https://limitlesswithchris.com Subscribe to They Call Me Mista Yu on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. And if this conversation gave you a new perspective, send me a message and let me know what stood out to you. And remember…The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. Support the show

November 4, 202626 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - The Conversations That Change Us: Grit, Growth, and Accountability / Darryl Russell Smith Jr

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! They Call Me Mista Yu Guest: Darryl Russell Smith Jr. Some conversations entertain us. Others challenge us. And every once in a while, a conversation changes the way we see ourselves and the lives we’re living. But meaningful change doesn’t happen simply because we hear something inspiring. It begins when we’re willing to examine our experiences, confront our assumptions, take responsibility for our choices, and consider a different perspective. On this episode of They Call Me Mista Yu, we welcome Darryl Russell Smith Jr., creator of the GRIT Conversation—a platform built on one central belief: Conversations Change People. Darryl’s perspective has been shaped by a lifetime of experiences, including profound loss, adversity, rebuilding, leadership, and entrepreneurship. After more than twenty years in mortgage banking, he transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship, building ventures in transportation, vehicle rentals, consulting, AI automation, and media. But his story is about more than career transitions or business accomplishments. It’s about the principles we develop through experience and how those principles influence the way we think, lead, respond to adversity, and shape our future. In this conversation, we’ll explore: ● The Power of Conversation: How the right questions can challenge assumptions and change perspectives ● Adversity and Growth: Turning life experiences into opportunities for deeper understanding ● Accountability: Taking ownership of our choices without being defined by our mistakes ● Identity and Reinvention: Recognizing when an old version of ourselves no longer serves our future ● Grit and Resilience: Understanding the difference between perseverance and knowing when to change direction ● Leadership and Purpose: Applying life lessons to the way we lead and influence others ● Legacy and Impact: Considering what we leave behind through our actions, decisions, and relationships This is a conversation about the lessons life teaches us, the responsibility we have to apply them, and the importance of remaining open to perspectives that challenge what we think we know. Because sometimes, the breakthrough we need doesn’t begin with a new opportunity or a different set of circumstances. It begins with a different question. The Bigger Question What if the next meaningful change in your life begins with a conversation you’re willing to have—and a truth you’re finally willing to face? If this episode resonates with you….. Share it with someone who is navigating change, reconsidering their direction, or trying to make sense of what life has taught them. Link to send listeners to: https://gritconversation.com/ Subscribe to They Call Me Mista Yu on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. And remember… The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. Support the show

November 4, 202633 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - What Is Your Money Saying About You? Legacy, Structure, and Purpose | Albert Butler

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Does your financial decisions equal the legacy you want to create? We’re talking Faith, fatherhood, leadership, and building something that can outlive you. Money tells a story. So does success. So does failure. So does the way we lead our businesses, raise our families, and prepare for the future. But are those stories aligned with the life we say we want to build? Albert Butler, CPA, MBA is a nationally recognized CPA, strategic advisor, author, and creator of the Legacy Alignment System , a framework designed to help leaders, entrepreneurs, and families align purpose, structure, money, and legacy. With more than 25 years of experience in accounting, business advisory, and executive financial leadership, Albert brings a perspective that goes far beyond balance sheets and financial statements. His belief is simple: “Accounting is the Heartbeat of Business.” And his other signature principle may be even more revealing: “If you follow the money, you will find the answers.” On this episode of They Call Me Mista Yu , we're exploring the deeper story behind the numbers: What our financial decisions reveal about our priorities Financial literacy and generational wealth Purpose-driven entrepreneurship Building businesses that can endure Leadership, governance, and enterprise structure Faith, family, money, and legacy Learning from success and failure Preparing the next generation The difference between achievement and alignment Building a life you can eventually exit with peace rather than regret Albert is also the author of LIFE: Truth, Love, Loss, Success & Failure , a book that brings financial wisdom, fatherhood, faith, leadership, and lived experience into one larger conversation about what it means to build a meaningful life. The Bigger Question When the numbers tell the truth about what we've built, will they reflect the life and legacy we intended to create? If this episode resonates with you..... Share it with someone who needs to think differently about money, success, purpose, or legacy. Check out Albert’s work: LIFE: Truth, Love, Loss, Success & Failure Make sure you subscribe to They Call Me Mista Yu on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. And if there's a conversation you think I need to have, reach out and let me know. And remember... The difference between who you are and who you could be is found in what you do every single day. Support the show

October 28, 202622 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - Everybody Wants a Mentor, Nobody Wants the Correction

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Everybody Wants a Mentor, Nobody Wants the Correction We say we want guidance, but what we really want is agreement with a better vocabulary. Growth lives on the other side of correction. Scripture anchor: Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 15:31-32 Listener takeaway: A teachable spirit is the real prerequisite for growth, and you can build it on purpose. Story Open Somebody sends the message: "Hey, I'm looking for a mentor." They've got the ambition, the plan, the energy. Then the mentor gives them one honest observation. "I think you're moving too fast and skipping the foundation." And the response is a polite thank-you, followed by silence. Two weeks later they've found someone new, someone more encouraging. [Insert your own moment here: a time you were corrected and bristled, or a time you watched someone walk away from the truth.] I want to talk about the gap between wanting guidance and wanting growth. Episode description Everybody wants a mentor until the mentor tells the truth. In this solo episode, Mista Yu tackles the gap between wanting guidance and wanting growth. Most of us don't want a mentor. We want a cheerleader with credentials. And when someone wise says "slow down" or "that's a blind spot," we hear criticism instead of help. This episode looks at who it costs when we resist correction, why the speed of your growth is set by the speed of your response, and how to build a teachable spirit on purpose. Rooted in Proverbs 12 and 27, it asks whether you're teachable or just inspired. IN THIS EPISODE Why we confuse mentorship with validation The real cost of resisting correction: to you, to your mentor, and to the people downstream A four-step practice for receiving hard truth: pause, separate delivery from data, ask for it, act on it Your assignment: ask one trusted person what you need to hear and say nothing but thank you Everybody wants a mentor until the mentor tells the truth. Mista Yu breaks down why we resist correction, who it costs, and a four-step practice for building a teachable spirit. Your challenge: ask one person what you need to hear, then just say thank you. The speed of your growth is the speed of your response to correction. Support the show

October 28, 202618 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - Delayed Obedience Costs More Than You Think

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Episode Summary: Delayed Obedience Is Still Disobedience Episode Title: Delayed Obedience Is Still Disobedience Scripture Anchors: James 4:17 | 1 Samuel 15:22 | Jonah 1:1–3 We often dress fear up as wisdom, call it preparation, and let someone else pay for our delay. In this episode, we unpack that folder on your computer—the one filled with course certificates, business outlines, and half-built plans you've been "getting ready" to launch for years. We draw the fine line between true preparation and polite disobedience, exploring why saying "not yet" when God has already spoken is still a direct "no." Looking closely at biblical examples like King Saul and Jonah, we examine the hidden cost of putting our timing above divine authority. You'll learn how dragging your feet erodes your confidence, shrinks your vision, and leaves the very people who need your assignment waiting in the dark. Key Takeaway: Preparation is good until it becomes a hiding place—and one small act of obedience will tell you which one you are in. What We Cover: The Polite Mask of Delay: How phrases like "after I get more clarity" or "when the timing is right" turn into delay with a résumé. Preparation vs. Procrastination: How to tell if your research is moving you closer to action or just making you feel closer. 1 Samuel 15 & Saul: Why religious activity and partial compliance can never replace simple obedience ("To obey is better than sacrifice"). The Passengers of Your Delay: How putting off your assignment creates storms for the people attached to your calling. Support the show

October 21, 202621 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - When Did Being Busy Become Your Identity?

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Welcome in. This is They Call Me Mista Yu, the place where we get honest about the things most people talk around. I'm Mista Yu, and today it's just you and me. No guest, no filter, no pretending. I'm going to bring you a real problem, tell you who it's costing and why that should matter to you, and then give you something to do about it, or at least something worth wrestling with. So get comfortable, and let's get into it. We live in a culture that often treats busyness as evidence of importance. We celebrate being exhausted, call it “grinding,” and wear our lack of availability like a badge of honor. But what happens when the life we’re so busy maintaining isn’t actually the life we want? Support the show

October 14, 202621 min

They Call Me Mista Yu - Who Told You Who You Are? Identity in the Age of AI and Algorithms

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air! Episode Summary: Who Told You Who You Are? Identity in the Age of AI and Algorithms Episode Title: Who Told You Who You Are? Identity in the Age of AI and Algorithms Scripture Anchors: Genesis 1:27 | Psalm 139:13–16 | Romans 12:2 What happens when you type "What should my purpose be?" into a chatbot at midnight? In four seconds, you get a polished, perfectly formatted response—but while the answer sounds right, it leaves you feeling completely empty. In this episode, we tackle the quiet crisis facing modern leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs: outsourcing our identity to algorithms, titles, follower counts, and feeds. We aren't anti-technology—we are pro-clarity. While AI and digital tools are incredible at organizing, drafting, and brainstorming, they can never know your story, your calling, or your Creator. We dive deep into the fundamental truth that identity is discovered, not assigned . You are not a statistical probability or a likely outcome—you are a divine design. Looking at Genesis and Psalm 139, we examine why building a life or brand on a borrowed persona leads to burnout, hollowness, and instability. Key Takeaway: Use every tool you have, but let God, Scripture, and wise people define who you are. What We Cover: The Midnight Prompt: Why polished algorithmic answers offer quick relief but long-term emptiness. Borrowed Identity vs. Divine Design: Moving past roles, titles, and metrics to embrace the signature of being "knit together" by God. The Cost to Young Leaders & Entrepreneurs: Why building a brand or career before discovering who you are leads to performing instead of leading. Romans 12:2 & The Renewed Mind: How to resist being conformed to the patterns of digital feeds and step into true self-leadership. Proper Tool Alignment: How to leverage modern technology to serve your execution without letting it dictate your identity. Support the show