Welcome to The Johnjay Van Es Podcast!

Episodes

THE CALL THAT KEPT HIM OUT OF THE TWIN TOWERS
July 10, 2026

THE CALL THAT KEPT HIM OUT OF THE TWIN TOWERS

One missed meeting on 9/11 changed Chuck Howard's life forever, and it set him on a path he never expected. In this episode, Chuck shares how that moment reshaped his purpose, led him to Arizona, and inspired him to build communities that help men and young athletes become stronger on and off the court. We talk about Pump and Praise, his free men's fitness group where workouts lead to real conversations about stress, family, and faith. We also dive into Iron Prep Academy, where basketball is ...
PEPTIDES: HOW TO KNOW WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S FAKE
July 3, 2026

PEPTIDES: HOW TO KNOW WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S FAKE

Not all peptides are created equal, and some of the most popular ones online may not be what you think you're buying. Will Armijo joins us to separate facts from hype in the fast-growing world of peptides. We break down GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, why they're changing weight loss, and what people often get wrong about muscle loss, protein, and long-term results. We also talk about the risks of buying "research peptides" online and why quality, sourcing, and medical guidan...
YOUR ATTITUDE ON THE BENCH DEFINES YOUR CHARACTER ON THE FLOOR ASU — COACH SPILLS
June 26, 2026

YOUR ATTITUDE ON THE BENCH DEFINES YOUR CHARACTER ON THE FLOOR ASU — COACH SPILLS

Talent might get you recruited but culture is what wins when the game gets tough. Arizona State women’s basketball head coach Molly Miller joins us fresh off practice to share how she builds a winning program in a world of NIL deals, transfer portals, personal brands, and constant distractions. From the first whistle to the final buzzer, she explains why the smallest habits, body language, and daily standards often determine who succeeds. We also get into recruiting, leadership, accountabilit...
WE LET THE INTERNET INTERVIEW MY SON & HIS GIRLFRIEND
June 19, 2026

WE LET THE INTERNET INTERVIEW MY SON & HIS GIRLFRIEND

Who said “I love you” first? Who takes longer to text back? And what happens when you put a couple with decades of marriage in the same room as a couple still figuring it all out? In this episode, we sit down with our son Kemp and his girlfriend Catherine for a fun, honest, and occasionally hilarious conversation about dating, relationships, family, and all the little things that can make or break a romance. From first impressions and awkward misunderstandings to future plans, money habits, and ...
TIKTOK TO STARDOM: HOW SHE GOT HER BIG BREAK
June 12, 2026

TIKTOK TO STARDOM: HOW SHE GOT HER BIG BREAK

TikTok fame looks instant from the outside, but Jessica Baio and Sam Jose show what it actually takes to get there. We sit down with the couple behind viral content, touring life, and growing creator careers to talk about sleep on the road, Oura Ring scores, and trying to stay healthy while living out of a bus and posting every day. From there, we get into how they actually build content. What goes into a viral cooking video, how Sam’s Parmesan cheese wheel pasta series took off, and the real wo...
He Sold Flannels Out of a Scion... Now He Does $150M a Year
June 5, 2026

He Sold Flannels Out of a Scion... Now He Does $150M a Year

From selling flannels out of a car trunk to building a brand on track for roughly $150 million in sales, Dan Dreyer’s journey is anything but ordinary. The founder and CEO of Dixxon Flannel joins us for an honest conversation about building a global apparel brand, the pressure that comes with success, and what it looks like when everything you built starts to come apart behind the scenes. Dan opens up about addiction, rehab, recovery, faith, and the process of rebuilding his life while still lea...
Guest: Dan Dreyer
MOST PEOPLE HER AGE ARE STRUGGLING — SHE'S A MILLIONAIRE, HERE'S WHY!
May 29, 2026

MOST PEOPLE HER AGE ARE STRUGGLING — SHE'S A MILLIONAIRE, HERE'S WHY!

What starts with color analysis and black T-shirts somehow turns into one of the most honest conversations about money, ambition, and burnout we’ve had in a while. Hannah Hammond joins us to break down commercial real estate financing in plain English, from capital stacks and lenders to how massive real estate deals actually get funded. But the real heart of this episode is the mindset behind success. Growing up around scarcity, pushing through burnout, learning to protect your energy, and reali...
YOU MIGHT BE DRINKING MOLD EVERY MORNING WITHOUT KNOWING!
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May 22, 2026

YOU MIGHT BE DRINKING MOLD EVERY MORNING WITHOUT KNOWING!

Your “healthy” coffee might not be as healthy as you think. In this episode, we sit down with Patrick & Ashley Sullivan from Jigsaw Health and Firefly Coffee Shop, the team behind the documentary Breaking Big Food, to talk about what is really hiding in everyday food and drinks. We get into mold-free coffee, ultra-processed foods, seed oils, and why reading labels has become a full-time job. Ashley shares how mycotoxin testing completely changed the way she looked at coffee and why they built an...
Curious About Hollywood and Comedy? Rob Schneider Spill The Tea!
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May 15, 2026

Curious About Hollywood and Comedy? Rob Schneider Spill The Tea!

Rob Schneider joins us for a fun, honest conversation about stand-up comedy, Hollywood, and the weird moments that shape a career. What starts with a goofy fan story quickly turns into a behind-the-scenes look at how comedy really works.We talk about the grind of stand-up, the pressure of live crowds, and how one unforgettable SNL moment changed everything. Rob also shares what he learned from comedy legends like Richard Pryor, why timing matters more than people think, and how jokes evolve once you’re actually on stage.We also get into cancel culture, hecklers, crowds walking out mid-show, and the split-second decisions comedians make to save a room. Plus the blunt advice from Jay Leno that completely changed how Rob approached getting better fast.If you love comedy, Hollywood stories, and hearing how great performers actually think, this episode delivers.
MERCYME LEAD SINGER TELLS THE VOICE BEHIND THE SONG
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May 8, 2026

MERCYME LEAD SINGER TELLS THE VOICE BEHIND THE SONG

A song can follow you for years before you understand why it matters. In this episode, MercyMe’s Bart Millard joins us to talk about the real story behind “I Can Only Imagine” and why it still shows up in the hardest moments of people’s lives. We get into where it came from. Losing his dad, dealing with anger, and writing through grief instead of around it. Bart shares how the song was never meant to be a hit, just an honest question turned into music. Then we go back to the beginning. Playing c...
THE TRADER WHO BOUGHT HIS WAY BACK TO HEALTH
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May 1, 2026

THE TRADER WHO BOUGHT HIS WAY BACK TO HEALTH

Everyone’s talking about Redatrutide for weight loss, but almost no one is asking what it’s doing to your body long term. That’s where this conversation starts. We sit down with Brian, a patient turned operator in the longevity and regenerative medicine space, to break down the difference between chasing fast results and building a plan you can actually sustain. We get into how GLP-style drugs really work, why visceral fat is the bigger problem, and how people end up “skinny fat” when they skip ...
The Stem Cell Conversation Your Doctor Has Not Had With You Yet
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April 24, 2026

The Stem Cell Conversation Your Doctor Has Not Had With You Yet

Most doctors are not talking about this side of stem cell therapy, and that leaves a lot of people confused or misled. This episode breaks down what you’re probably not hearing. We start with a common frustration. Your HRV drops even when you feel like you’re doing everything right. We explain how sleep, late-night eating, and stress can quietly affect recovery, and why small changes can make a big impact. Then we get into stem cells in a clear, honest way. What real clinical-grade stem cells ar...
BRAIN MAPPING WITHOUT A CLINIC — HERE’S HOW!
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April 17, 2026

BRAIN MAPPING WITHOUT A CLINIC — HERE’S HOW!

Your brain is sending signals all day, most people just do not know how to read them. In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Brain Code Centers, Rachel Lambert and Angie Noack, to break down brain mapping and neurofeedback in simple terms. We talk about what a brain scan actually shows, how brain patterns can connect to focus, anxiety, sleep, and performance, and why the brain is more adaptable than most people think. We also walk through what neurofeedback training looks like in real...
BANKRUPT TO MILLIONAIRE: THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE
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April 10, 2026

BANKRUPT TO MILLIONAIRE: THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE

At 24, Joel thought he had the dream. A healthy fast food spot called Thinker’s Grill with salmon burgers and smoothies. Instead, it turned into almost $800,000 in debt and a crash course in how brutal business can be. In this episode, Joel breaks down what really happened behind the scenes. The pressure to open more locations, the overhead that quietly piles up, and the hard lessons about leases, payroll, and operations that most new entrepreneurs never see coming. Then came the pivot. With deb...
Influence vs Manipulation — Do You Know the Difference?
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April 3, 2026

Influence vs Manipulation — Do You Know the Difference?

What are you scared to say out loud? That is where this conversation with Brett Bartholomew starts. We get real about the stuff people usually avoid: • Fertility struggles • Frozen embryos • Messy divorces • What dating looks like when you are trying to stay open without inviting chaos. Then we get into Brett’s wheelhouse. Communication, persuasion, and why trying to “be logical” in an argument almost never works. We talk about how people actually make decisions, how to motivate someone who d...
Your Body Wants To Heal! Are You Listening?
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March 27, 2026

Your Body Wants To Heal! Are You Listening?

You can do all the “right” health habits and still feel tired, inflamed, and wide awake at night. Haylie Pomroy says hidden toxins might be the reason. Haylie is a neuroimmunology research scientist and a six-time New York Times bestselling author. She explains how everyday exposures can stress the body and affect sleep, mood, weight, and energy. We also talk about stem cell therapy and why not all treatments are the same. The real key is preparing the body first so it can actually respond and h...
The Longevity Advice That Doesn’t Make You Miserable
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March 20, 2026

The Longevity Advice That Doesn’t Make You Miserable

Think living longer is enough? Think again. Biohacking is everywhere with IV drips, cold plunges, red light, and hyperbaric chambers, but none of it matters if your mind is stuck. We talk about why your state drives every health habit, how simple routines and meditation actually stick, and why sobriety plus consistency can make life feel totally different. We touch on Joe Dispenza, emotional energy over vision boards, and avoiding the trap of chasing peak experiences. We also peek at modern tool...
How Do You Survive a High-Pressure Industry? Ask Kim Alexis
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March 13, 2026

How Do You Survive a High-Pressure Industry? Ask Kim Alexis

Ever wonder what it’s really like to become a supermodel in the 1970s? Kim Alexis started as a teen swimmer with a pharmacy plan and quickly rose to fame. She shares how she was discovered, navigated charm school, and survived the whirlwind of NYC, Paris, and magazine covers. Kim gets real about the pressures behind the runway: weight comments, Studio 54 culture, and why learning to say no kept her grounded. She also reveals the health and wellness habits that work for her today, from hydration ...
Sleep Myths That Are Totally Ruining You!
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March 6, 2026

Sleep Myths That Are Totally Ruining You!

Want to finally get real rest without the guesswork? We sit down with a board-certified sleep specialist to break down what actually restores you and why better nights mean better days. Learn why caffeine, alcohol, and your chronotype matter, how to handle middle-of-the-night wake-ups, and simple tricks like the 4-7-8 breath or non-sleep deep rest. We cover melatonin, CBD, THC, and when they help—or hurt—plus taper strategies to avoid relying on meds. Snoring or feeling groggy? We dive into slee...
Life Lessons From a Surgeon That Will Change You
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Feb. 27, 2026

Life Lessons From a Surgeon That Will Change You

A phone call from the White House, separating conjoined twins, and a mother working all hours so her kids could see grit in action, Dr. Ben Carson’s story goes beyond headlines. We talk early awe in the OR, why steady role models matter, and what separates survival from real success. Dr. Ben shares lessons from medicine, faith, and parenting, plus practical wisdom for longevity: whole foods, daily movement, real sleep, and purposeful community. If you want habits that stick and a fresh perspecti...
Good Food Isn’t Enough. Here’s Why Some Restaurants Win
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Feb. 20, 2026

Good Food Isn’t Enough. Here’s Why Some Restaurants Win

Getting fired from your own company can break you. For Sam Fox, it lit the fuse. In this episode, Sam shares how he bet on himself and went on to build 150 plus restaurants and a flagship hotel, including True Food, Flower Child, The Henry, and The Global Ambassador. We talk early hustle in Tucson, opening a restaurant at 21, counting every dollar, and why food has to taste great before it can be healthy. Sam breaks down what actually scales, how to choose partners, when to say no, and why hy...
Separate Beds: The Weirdest Sleep Hack That Works
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Feb. 13, 2026

Separate Beds: The Weirdest Sleep Hack That Works

A new haircut, a hard truth, and real care kick off a conversation about health, home, and heart. Blake shares her hysterectomy journey and why trusting your gut and finding a doctor who listens can change everything. We dive into sleep, marriage, and routines: separate beds, nightly habits, and small tweaks that actually improve rest and connection. Parenthood insights, family milestones, and fun stories about music, home projects, and rescue dogs keep it real and relatable. Follow, share, and ...
Meet the Poop Fairy Behind Modern Gut Health
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Feb. 6, 2026

Meet the Poop Fairy Behind Modern Gut Health

Gut health gets way less weird once you start feeling better. We sit down with Marina, aka the Poop Fairy, and Steve to talk constipation, colonics, and why so many people feel tired, bloated, and stuck without realizing what’s really going on. We keep it simple. How colon hydrotherapy works, the difference between open and closed systems, when enemas help and when they don’t, and why lymphatic drainage and ozone sauna therapy can make a big difference for energy, skin, and inflammation. It’s al...
Want Hollywood-Level Scripts? Learn From Director Ric Roman Waugh
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Jan. 30, 2026

Want Hollywood-Level Scripts? Learn From Director Ric Roman Waugh

What if an action movie could make your heart race and actually hit you in the chest? We sit down with director Ric Roman Waugh, the stuntman-turned-filmmaker behind Shelter with Jason Statham, to talk about making action feel real. Ric breaks down the stunts, car chases, and live-action fights that make the thrills land, plus how chemistry—not just star power—drives the story. We dive into his journey from stuntman to director, what he learned from mentors like Tony Scott, and how respect for t...