Welcome to The Johnjay Van Es Podcast!

Episodes

Oct. 31, 2025

Would You Hire for Culture Fit Over Credentials?

What if hiring your next CEO started with a real conversation instead of a job post? Max Hansen, co-founder of Y Scouts, shares how he turned recruiting into a purpose-driven adventure, matching leaders to roles that actually...
Oct. 24, 2025

What Happens When You Challenge Your Body and Mind Daily?

The Foundry: Hot Yoga, Sweat, and Community A tiny hot studio, a stubborn dream, and a community forged in 105 degree. This is how Nicole built The Foundry, a yoga network where people come to sweat, heal, and start over. We dive into first classes that feel impossible, the discipline of the 26 and…
Oct. 17, 2025

Not Your Average 21-Year-Old: Building Habits, Not Hype

What do you get when a 21-year-old skips college, gets married young, and starts building a life from pure purpose? A story that’s equal parts guts, growth, and gratitude. We talk about how a move to Molokai shaped everything...
Oct. 10, 2025

From Rehab to Rebrands: The Comeback Story You Didn’t Expect

Joe Polish: Recovery, Marketing & the Business of Being Human What if the same principles that heal trauma could also build great businesses? Entrepreneur and recovery advocate Joe Polish shares how connection, not competitio...
Oct. 3, 2025

What Do You Gain from Thousands of Hikes If Not Fitness?

Restaurateur Craig DeMarco (Postino, Le Grande Orange) has logged 4,600+ hikes up Camelback Mountain, not for fitness, but as a daily meditation that shaped his approach to parenting, partnership, and community. In this episo...
Sept. 26, 2025

How Close Are We to Training the Body to Kill Cancer?

What if your immune system already knows how to fight cancer, if only it could see it? In this episode, immunotherapy pioneers Dr. Matt Halpert, Dr. Dan Rubin, and Dr. Rafael Gonzalez explain how their breakthrough at Immunos...
Sept. 19, 2025

My Sister’s Job Is Way Cooler Than I Thought

Elvia Van Es Oliva didn’t just “break into” reality TV; she built a whole career out of it. From her very first job as a temp on Rescue 911 to interviewing Steven Spielberg and eventually running shows for Gordon Ramsay’s stu...
Sept. 12, 2025

Are We All Just Zombies in Disguise?

What if you’re being zombified right now, by your phone, your gut microbes, or even your dog? Dr. Athena Aktipis, the “Zombie Professor,” breaks down how unseen forces influence our thoughts and behaviors in ways we don’t rea...
Sept. 5, 2025

The Van Es Family Birthday Special

Family takes the spotlight as JohnJay rings in his birthday with wife Blake and oldest son Jake in a crossover conversation that’s equal parts heartfelt, funny, and real. From marriage communication (including why John admits...
Aug. 29, 2025

What If Every Argument Was a Chance to Get Closer?

What happens when an engineer and a nurse discover their true calling as marriage coaches? Meet Aaron and Jocelyn Freeman, the couple behind a relationship coaching movement that’s helped thousands of partners shift from surv...
Aug. 22, 2025

Turning ADHD Struggles Into Stories

What if all the scattered thoughts, half-finished projects, and “doom piles” weren’t flaws but part of how your brain is uniquely wired? ADHD expert and author Meredith gets real about her late diagnosis and how finally under...
Aug. 15, 2025

Behind the Scenes With the Van Es Family

What do you get when a radio show spinoff turns into a no-filter family chat? JohnJay Van Es and his wife Blake sit down with their son Kemp, who takes over the interview chair with listener questions and his own take on grow...
Aug. 8, 2025

The Motherhood Playbook Nobody Gave You

Modern motherhood, burnout, and building your village—Regina Steele says it’s time to stop doing it alone. In this honest and empowering episode, Regina opens up about her journey from autoimmune struggles to becoming a nutri...
Aug. 1, 2025

Before The Rock Played Him: Who Is Mark Kerr, The Smashing Machine?

MMA legend Mark Kerr’s true story of addiction, redemption, and resilience is raw and unforgettable. From underground fights in Brazil to an upcoming biopic by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Mark Kerr’s life is the stuff of legend and pain. Known as “The Smashing Machine,” Kerr dominated early MMA with…
July 25, 2025

Is Modern Medicine Healing or Harming?

What if your body already knows how to heal if you just give it the right tools? This week, we sit down with the Certified Health Nut, who’s spent 35 years exploring natural healing and transforming his own life—from 340 poun...
July 18, 2025

Who's Teaching Your Kid About Money?

What do you do when you’ve made millions, but don’t know what to do with them? Walter Clarke saw this firsthand and set out to fix it, not by selling, but by teaching. From helping wealthy entrepreneurs understand their finan...
July 11, 2025

From Street Hustler to Sneaker Mogul. Here’s How He Did It!

He begged for a job at Foot Locker. Now he runs a sneaker empire! Ryan Gazinski’s story isn’t about luck, it’s about relentless hustle, real relationships, and doing the work when no one’s watching. From cleaning floors for $...
Feb. 28, 2025

Unlocking Inner Happiness: The Science of States With Sri Krishnaji

They’ve guided some of the world’s most influential people. Now, Sri Krishnaji is here to help you transform your life. In this powerful episode, we dive into the science and spirituality of shifting your inner state —moving ...