I Will Not Lose

Tony Ortiz

Hosted by Tony Ortiz, I Will Not Lose is a podcast dedicated to exploring the valuable lessons learned from our failures. We delve into inspiring topics of persistence, resilience, and triumph in the face of adversity. By adopting a mindset that sees every misstep as an opportunity for growth, we challenge the conventional notion of failure. Join us as we journey through life's trials and tribulations, and emerge stronger, wiser, and unbroken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Aug 7

    AI, Music & the Human Touch with Phaze Wun | IWNL 0079

    Phaze Wun returns to I Will Not Lose for a wide-ranging conversation with Tony Ortiz about music, technology, long-form content, creative independence, and what it takes to build something that lasts. They look back at live internet radio in 2007, examine social media as brand equity, and explain why a viral moment means little without a catalog or point of view behind it. Phaze Wun also reflects on being boxed in by an early song, becoming a multidisciplinary creator out of necessity, completing a new album through grief, and deciding whether this could be his final album. The conversation moves through AI music, Auto-Tune, automation, creative guardrails, communication, album aesthetics, faith, streaming economics, and the human judgment that makes identical tools produce completely different work. If this episode gives you something useful, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with another creator who is building for the long run. CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening montage 01:18 Phaze Wun returns 02:13 Live streaming before it was normal 04:33 Social media as brand equity 05:58 Why a viral moment needs a catalog 11:32 When one successful song puts you in a box 12:56 The Renaissance approach to creative work 16:33 Building the new album through grief 17:44 Could the next project be an AI album? 20:38 Auto-Tune, AI, and resisting new tools 28:05 When AI gets the simple order wrong 29:07 AI customer service and missing context 35:18 Fear, incentives, and the AI argument 38:34 The deeper you go, the clearer AI's limits become 43:57 Training a local model through its mistakes 44:46 Communication across cultures, people, and machines 49:50 Creative waves and the possibility of a final album 55:49 Merch, ownership, and selling directly 57:02 What streaming actually pays independent artists 59:55 Making the new album gritty without losing clarity 64:46 Marriage, faith, and writing without old crutches 70:32 The right tool and the human touch 73:25 What it really costs to start a podcast 74:35 High-tech cities and low-tech systems 78:53 Training AI for a specific business 79:34 Where to find Phaze Wun 81:06 Closing Find new episodes: https://iwillnotlosepodcast.com Support the show: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=FKGSHYR8WAB7C&no_recurring=0&item_name=Invest+in+%22I+Will+Not+Lose%22+podcast%21+Help+us+produce+quality+content+and+support+the+show+by+donation%21¤cy_code=USD&source=qr Phaze Wun: https://themiserylovecompany.com Tony: @tothedesigner #IWillNotLose #PhazeWun #Podcast #ArtificialIntelligence #MusicIndustry #CreatorEconomy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    AI, Music & the Human Touch with Phaze Wun | IWNL 0079
  2. Jul 20

    Men, Mental Health, Faith & Self-Defense with Ease | IWNL 0078

    Ease to the World joins Tony on I Will Not Lose for a raw conversation about men’s mental health, brotherhood, therapy, faith, reputation, self-defense, podcasting, and the discipline it takes to keep moving when life pushes back. They unpack why growth requires discomfort, why nobody succeeds alone, when a trusted circle is enough—and when it is time to speak with a professional. Ease also shares how boxing humbled him, how faith reshaped his perspective, and why confidence is built through action rather than performance. If this conversation gives you something useful, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs the reminder: you may give up mentally long before you actually have to. CHAPTERS 00:00 Put in the work when nobody is watching 00:48 Meet Ease to the World 04:26 Growth begins outside your comfort zone 07:15 Why nobody succeeds alone 10:04 Moving, opportunity, and career portability 13:29 Comparison, vulnerability, and changing views 14:35 Crohn’s disease, food, and health discipline 18:50 Men’s mental health and trusted circles 26:45 Friends, therapy, and professional help 29:26 Accountability and what therapy can do 36:10 Bible study and getting closer to God 39:09 Reputation, courage, and honest opinions 41:57 Why networking matters beyond talent 44:20 Faith, language, and intent 47:05 Self-defense, restraint, and walking away 51:27 The boxing lesson that humbled Ease 54:10 Why men should learn self-defense 57:20 The meaning behind I Will Not Lose 01:02:08 What Ease is building next 01:03:25 Stop waiting for perfect podcast equipment 01:07:03 Where to follow Ease 01:08:07 Closing and community initiatives Find new episodes: https://iwillnotlosepodcast.com Creative services: https://tothedesigner.com Tony: @tothedesigner Ease: @easetotheworld #IWillNotLose #Podcast #MensMentalHealth #SelfDefense #PersonalGrowth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Men, Mental Health, Faith & Self-Defense with Ease | IWNL 0078
  3. Jan 31

    From Local To Global with Red McFly - #0074

    On this episode of the I Will Not Lose Podcast, we sit down with Red McFly, an award-winning hip hop producer, performer, and creative force representing Allentown on a global stage. Red McFly has built a career that blends chart-topping production, live performance, and entrepreneurial vision, earning multiple Producer of the Year honors while staying deeply rooted in community and culture. In this conversation, we go beyond highlights and into the mindset, discipline, and long game required to survive and thrive in today’s music industry. From building real audience connection to mastering both the creative and business sides of music, this episode is a masterclass for artists, producers, and entrepreneurs who are serious about longevity. If you’re navigating creativity, branding, networking, or trying to build something that lasts without shortcuts, this one’s for you. Episode Breakdown 0:00 - The Grindset Mindset 2:00 - Connecting with Your Audience 4:00 - Global Reach and Passion 6:00 - Meet the Award-Winning Producer 8:00 - Celebrating New Year's Eve 10:00 - Allentown's Music Scene 12:00 - Producing Chart-Topping Hits 14:00 - The Evolution of Hip Hop 16:00 - Inspired by the Greats 18:00 - Mastering Both Sides of Music 20:00 - Performing Live 22:00 - Working with Idols 24:00 - The Power of Networking 26:00 - Continuous Learning in the Game 28:00 - Entrepreneurship in Hip Hop 30:00 - Building Your Brand Equity 32:00 - The Music Industry's Pace 34:00 - Consistency is Key 36:00 - Community and Culture 38:00 - Nepotism or Legacy? 40:00 - The Art of Marketing 42:00 - Music's Translatable Skills 44:00 - The Importance of Timing 46:00 - Don't Announce Departures 48:00 - Collaborating with Experts 50:00 - Supporting Local Talent 52:00 - Defining Entrepreneurship 54:00 - Creating a Regional Look 56:00 - Community Impact 58:00 - What's Next? 1:00:00 - Elevate and Take Flight Subscribe for conversations on resilience, creativity, and winning without shortcuts. This is I Will Not Lose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    From Local To Global with Red McFly - #0074
  4. 11/28/2025

    Midlife Mastery Finding Your Voice and Inspiring the World - Jack Nine - #0070

    Joshua Ramirez of Jack Nine Films went from recording in small neighborhood spaces to directing projects that have reached more than seven billion views. He has filmed thousands of videos for artists around the world and built a reputation for sharp storytelling, disciplined work, and a vision that cuts through the noise. This episode breaks down the real journey behind the success. We talk about persistence, purpose, legacy, and what it means to build something that lasts when no one is watching. Joshua opens up about family, faith, the grind, the pressure, and the mindset that took him from local projects to global reach. We cover creativity, gear versus skill, the art of saying no, protecting your energy, and the importance of being a good human while you chase big goals. If you are a filmmaker, creator, or someone building something from scratch, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe to stay connected with more conversations that focus on story, craft, and the people who push culture forward. 0:00 - The Power of Persistence and Purpose 2:30 - Building Your Legacy Behind the Scenes 4:10 - Embracing Your 50s A New Chapter 6:00 - Finding Your Voice Midlife Reflection 8:00 - The Creative Journey What Drives You 10:00 - Finding Your Foundation The Power of 34 12:00 - Family as Fuel Your Greatest Motivation 14:00 - Navigating Life's Challenges With Faith 16:00 - The Art of Saying No Protecting Your Energy 18:00 - The Director's Vision Orchestrating Success 20:00 - Mastering Your Craft Gear vs Skill 22:00 - From Local to Global Inspiring the World 24:00 - AI's Impact Human Connection Remains 26:00 - The Value of Authenticity Timeless Appeal 28:00 - A Journey of Faith and Humility 30:00 - The Power of Connection Be a Good Human Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Midlife Mastery Finding Your Voice and Inspiring the World - Jack Nine - #0070

About

Hosted by Tony Ortiz, I Will Not Lose is a podcast dedicated to exploring the valuable lessons learned from our failures. We delve into inspiring topics of persistence, resilience, and triumph in the face of adversity. By adopting a mindset that sees every misstep as an opportunity for growth, we challenge the conventional notion of failure. Join us as we journey through life's trials and tribulations, and emerge stronger, wiser, and unbroken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.