The Freedom Founders Podcast

Dr. David Phelps
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship

Build Wealth You Control. Design A Life You Choose. For Founders aiming higher and wanting to maximize time for enjoyment and impact. Burnt out? Needing direction? If you’ve climbed “the mountain” and still feeling like you’re missing something… This podcast shows how other owners are winning back their time, increasing influence and creating cash flow for maximum impact.

  1. 3d ago

    The Wealthy Don’t Invest Like Everyone Else: Taking Control Beyond Wall Street – Ep28 Mat Sorensen

    The Wealthy Don’t Invest Like Everyone Else: Taking Control Beyond Wall Street – Ep28 Mat SorensenWhat if the money you’ve spent decades building is invested in things you barely understand—and controlled by people you’ll never meet? Mat Sorensen is a business and tax attorney, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Directed IRA. After helping thousands of investors use retirement accounts to purchase real estate, private businesses, oil and gas, venture capital, and other alternative assets, he became one of the nation’s leading authorities on self-directed investing. In this conversation, Mat and David explore why there is no single path to wealth, why earning money and preserving it require different skill sets, and why many successful investors prefer to stay closer to their capital. Mat explains how self-directed retirement accounts can allow investors to move beyond stocks and mutual funds and invest in assets they already know and understand. But greater control also brings greater responsibility. The investor must build the network, evaluate the operator, understand the risks, and develop the judgment to make informed decisions. They also discuss Mat’s unconventional path from becoming a father at 18 to building a national law firm and one of the fastest-growing self-directed retirement companies in the country. The goal is not simply to invest differently. It is to build wealth with greater clarity, connection, and choice. Episode LinksConnect with Mat Sorensen and Directed IRA: https://directedira.com Use discount code FREEDOM150 to save $150. Connect with KKOS Lawyers: https://kkoslawyers.com The Self-Directed IRA Handbook: https://sdirahandbook.com Get David Phelps’ book, The Exit Optional Playbook: https://exitoptional.com Timecodes00:00 — What Does It Mean to Be Wealthy? 01:19 — Why Mat Calls Himself a “Wealth Lawyer” 03:12 — There Is No Single Path to Wealth 06:06 — Becoming a Father and Husband at 18 09:20 — Why Mat Chose Law and Entrepreneurship 12:08 — Discovering Self-Directed IRAs 15:25 — Building Directed IRA 18:03 — Why Wealthy Investors Favor Alternative Assets 21:20 — Staying Closer to Your Money 23:48 — Who Is a Good Fit for Self-Directed Investing? 26:34 — Control Requires Education and Due Diligence 28:54 — Why the Best Investors Specialize 30:18 — Tax Strategy, Asset Protection, and Estate Planning 32:21 — How to Connect With Mat and Directed IRA

    The Wealthy Don’t Invest Like Everyone Else: Taking Control Beyond Wall Street – Ep28 Mat Sorensen

  2. Aug 10

    The Longevity Equation: Living Longer & Stronger - Ep27 Dr. Howard Luks

    What if the secret to lifting your grandchildren at 85 isn't a supplement or a cold plunge, but a lifestyle you start today? Dr. Howard Luks is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and author of Longevity Simplified. His message is simple: our bodies were designed to move, and the capabilities you don't train are the ones you lose. Howard explains why the 10,000-step goal is a marketing myth, why falls are less about the fall itself than the frailty that follows, and why pain doesn't always mean harm. He and David explore metabolic health, recovery, and the surprising reason tennis may add more years to your life than running. Ninety to ninety-five percent of longevity comes from a few simple habits. The rest is garnish. Episode Links Longevity Simplified by Dr. Howard Luks - https://a.co/d/0cD34tw4 Connect with Dr. Howard Luks - https://substack.com/@hjluks Get David Phelps' Exit Optional Playbook – https://exitoptional.com Timecodes 00:00 – Intro 01:06 – Introducing Dr. Howard Luks 02:45 – From Scalpel to Prevention: How His Thinking Evolved 05:45 – What Is Metabolic Health? 09:46 – Movement as the Foundation of Longevity 12:43 – Falls, Frailty, and the Brain-Muscle Connection 20:03 – Loneliness, Purpose, and Why Tennis Wins 24:45 – Running, Osteoarthritis, and Rethinking Old Assumptions 30:48 – Cutting Through Longevity Trends and Supplements 38:12 – The Non-Negotiable Habits for Staying Active at 85

    The Longevity Equation: Living Longer & Stronger - Ep27 Dr. Howard Luks

  3. Aug 3

    Security or Freedom? The Financial Choice That Shapes Your Life - Ep26 Kim Kiyosaki

    What if the financial security you have spent your life building is the very thing keeping you from freedom?Most people are taught to follow a familiar path: Get an education. Find a good job. Save money. Contribute to retirement accounts. Avoid mistakes. Trust the experts. It sounds responsible. But Kim Kiyosaki believes there is a more important question beneath that advice: Are you building security—or are you building freedom? Kim is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, bestselling author of Rich Woman, and co-founder of the Rich Dad Company alongside Robert Kiyosaki. In this conversation with David, she challenges many of the assumptions people inherit about money, investing, education, and financial independence. Her own journey began with a $45,000 rental house, a trembling hand at the closing table, and just $25 a month in cash flow. The amount was almost irrelevant. What mattered was that she had crossed the line from studying investing to becoming an investor. Kim explains why financial intelligence cannot be outsourced, why mistakes are often the price of growth, and why no one will ever care about your financial future as much as you must. She and David explore the difference between assets and liabilities, cash flow and speculation, and security and control. They also confront one of the greatest barriers facing successful professionals: the fear of being wrong. School teaches us to avoid mistakes and search for the correct answer. Investing and entrepreneurship require experimentation, judgment, collaboration, and the willingness to learn through experience. But this conversation is about more than money. When Kim and Robert became financially free in 1994, they did not simply stop working. They gained the ability to ask a more meaningful question: What do we actually want to do with our lives? Financial freedom is not the absence of work. It is the ability to choose your work, direct your time, protect what matters, and build a life that is not dependent on the next paycheck. Security may help you feel protected. Freedom allows you to decide what your life is for. Episode Links: Learn more about Rich Dad – https://richdad.com Cashflow Board Game – https://richdad.com/cashflow-game-online/ Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki – https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Woman-Investing-Women-Because/dp/B002GJU4SG Get David Phelps’ Exit Optional Playbook – https://exitoptional.com

    Security or Freedom? The Financial Choice That Shapes Your Life - Ep26 Kim Kiyosaki

  4. Jul 27

    The Second Half Advantage: Why Your Best Is Still Ahead - Ep25 Ben Glass

    What if the most meaningful work of your life begins after you've already become successful?Many business owners spend decades building a thriving company, providing for their families, and earning the freedom they once dreamed about. But eventually, a different question emerges: Now what? In this conversation, David sits down with longtime friend, attorney, entrepreneur, and author Ben Glass to explore what it means to intentionally design the second half of life. Rather than viewing an exit as the finish line, Ben shares why the greatest opportunity may be to shift from building a business to building people—passing on wisdom, cultivating deeper relationships, and creating a life defined by purpose instead of professional identity. Together, they discuss why happiness comes from having choices, how to prepare for life beyond your primary career years before you ever step away, and why the most valuable asset you can build isn't simply wealth—it's the freedom to decide how you'll spend your time. This conversation isn't really about retirement. It's about becoming the kind of person whose greatest contribution may still be ahead. Because financial freedom isn't the end goal. It's the opportunity to design a life that becomes more meaningful with every passing year. Episode Links: Ben Glass Law: https://benglasslaw.com Lunch with Ben: https://lunchwithben.com Get David Phelps' Exit Optional Playbook: https://exitoptional.com Timecodes: 00:00 – Building a Life, Not Just a Resume 05:04 – Doing More of What Gives You Energy 10:27 – Letting Go & Finding Your Next Chapter 16:37 – Creating Meaningful Friendships 20:19 – Succession Planning Done Right 26:25 – Happiness Comes From Choices 30:45 – Give Yourself Permission to Lead 35:24 – Thriving in the Age of AI 38:38 – Principles for a Meaningful Life 43:02 – How to Connect with Ben

    The Second Half Advantage: Why Your Best Is Still Ahead - Ep25 Ben Glass

  5. Jul 20

    When Success Outruns Your Body: The Hidden Health Crisis Facing High Achievers - Ep24 Steve Adams

    “Normal isn’t optimal”.What if the exhaustion, brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, and declining energy you have learned to tolerate are not simply the price of getting older? In this episode, Steve Adam’s joins David to reveal the hidden health crisis facing many high-achieving men: they remain productive enough to keep performing while their health quietly moves from optimal to functional, dysfunctional, and eventually diseased. For entrepreneur Steve Adams, the warning signs became impossible to ignore. After years of building and scaling companies, he found himself waking at 1:00 a.m., unable to sleep, physically depleted, and reacting in ways that no longer felt like him. His success had outrun his body. Together, they discuss why “normal” lab results can offer false reassurance, why isolated biohacks and quick fixes often fail, and frameworks to address the deeper foundations of health. But this conversation is about more than living longer. It is about having the energy, clarity, and physical capacity to remain present for your family, pursue meaningful work, and fully inhabit the next chapter of your life. Because building the financial freedom to choose what comes next means very little if your health no longer allows you to choose it. Episode Links: Learn more about Tiger Medical - https://www.tigermi.com/ Get David Phelps' Exit Optional Playbook - https://exitoptional.com Timecodes: 00:00 – The Hidden Health Crisis 01:57 – Steve's Wake-Up Call 05:01 – Why High Achievers Ignore the Signs 07:49 – Normal Isn't Optimal 11:10 – Taking Ownership of Your Health 15:12 – The Three P Framework 18:47 – Biohacking vs Root Cause Medicine 20:20 – Why Purpose Extends Life 22:29 – Your Next Chapter Starts With Health 23:25 – Final Takeaways

    When Success Outruns Your Body: The Hidden Health Crisis Facing High Achievers - Ep24 Steve Adams

  6. Jul 13

    The Great Filtering: Risk, Trust & the Return of Fundamentals - Ep23 Scott Corbett

    Most investment mistakes don't begin with bad spreadsheets. They begin with bad psychology. Scott Corbett has spent decades working behind the scenes with real estate operators, capital raisers, and entrepreneurs. In this conversation with Dr. David Phelps, he shares what he's learned about evaluating trust, managing risk, and why the best investment decisions often have more to do with character than projections. The discussion moves beyond investing into something every successful business owner eventually faces: identity. Scott opens up about his own decision to step away from the business he spent twenty years building, the unexpected emotions that came with that transition, and why many entrepreneurs struggle to give themselves permission to imagine a different next chapter. Whether you're evaluating investment opportunities, preparing for an eventual exit, or simply trying to build a life with more intentionality, this episode offers practical wisdom on making decisions that extend well beyond money. EPISODE LINKS: Connect with Scott Corbett: https://sunrisecapitalinvestors.com/| Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcorbett/ Get David's book, The Exit Optional Playbook: https://exitoptional.com Time Codes: 00:00 — Why Better Investors Ask Better Questions 04:11 — How Sophisticated LPs Have Changed 10:32 — Why Marketing Has Shifted from Returns to Risk 17:03 — What Great Operators Have in Common 21:01 — Can You Actually Measure Character? 26:40 — When Success Becomes an Identity Trap 30:32 — Giving Yourself Permission to Enter a New Season 33:10 — Breaking Through Major Life Decisions 36:02 — Why Every Entrepreneur Needs Trusted Advisors 37:48 — The Hidden Cost of Carrying All the Responsibility 40:08 — Writing the Story of Your Next Chapter

    The Great Filtering: Risk, Trust & the Return of Fundamentals - Ep23 Scott Corbett

  7. Jul 6

    Today Is Your Someday - Ep22 Jim Palmer

    "On redefining success once you stop chasing a finish line" Success isn't the finish line—it's the beginning of a more intentional life. David Phelps sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Dream Business Mastermind founder Jim Palmer to discuss purpose beyond business, redefining retirement, creating time freedom, and why the best chapter of life begins when you stop waiting for someday. Connect with Jim Website - https://www.getjimpalmer.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-palmer-dream-business-coach-900a75/ Get David Phelps’ Book - https://exitoptional.com Join David Phelps' Workshop - https://www.freedomfounders.com/freedom-number-method-workshop/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Life After Success 02:09 – Redefining Retirement 09:15 – Finding Purpose Without Pressure 13:11 – Lessons From Slowing Down 20:50 – Identity Beyond Business 25:07 – Advice for Your Younger Self 27:49 – Stop Waiting for Someday 31:21 – Health, Energy & Longevity 35:14 – Money, Marriage & Meaning 39:54 – Today Is Someday

    Today Is Your Someday - Ep22 Jim Palmer

  8. Jun 29

    Why Your Best Skills Become Your Worst Investments - Ep21 David Leiter

    "A Wall Street insider on choosing temperament over intelligence — and how your best business instincts work against you" Successful business owners often become poor investors for one simple reason—they bring the wrong mindset. David Phelps sits down with investor and author David Leiter to unpack timeless investing principles, avoid costly mistakes, manage emotions through market cycles, and build lasting wealth through productive assets instead of hype. Episode Links: David Leiter's website - https://www.theultimateinvestor.com/ Pre-order David Leiter's book - https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Making-Stupid-Investments-Wealth/dp/1394377657 Get David Phelps’ Book - https://exitoptional.com Join David Phelps' Workshop - https://www.freedomfounders.com/freedom-number-method-workshop/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Why Smart People Make Bad Investments 03:16 – Business Success vs Investing Success 09:24 – Evaluating Private Investment Deals 15:12 – Hype, Ego & Investment Scams 19:48 – The Power of Long-Term Compounding 23:57 – Real Estate Lessons & Market Cycles 31:39 – Debt, Risk & Protecting Wealth 37:03 – Investing vs Speculating 40:22 – Today's Biggest Investment Mistakes 45:35 – Building Real Wealth That Lasts

    Why Your Best Skills Become Your Worst Investments - Ep21 David Leiter
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Build Wealth You Control. Design A Life You Choose. For Founders aiming higher and wanting to maximize time for enjoyment and impact. Burnt out? Needing direction? If you’ve climbed “the mountain” and still feeling like you’re missing something… This podcast shows how other owners are winning back their time, increasing influence and creating cash flow for maximum impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. David Phelps
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. David Phelps

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