VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory

vippodcast

Welcome to The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory. Join us for engaging conversations with influential guests from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, poker, and more. Discover the stories, insights, and experiences behind their success.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    VIP Podcast - Episode 5 - Michael Mizrachi

    Episode 5  – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other Welcome to Episode 5 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory. This episode features Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi— who came out of the womb ready to bluff his opponents, he is a purist in all the poker disciplines. With more than $30 Million in poker winnings and as a record breaking four time champion of the poker players tournament Michael Mizrachi is the current World Series of Poker, Main Event Champion and one of the greatest living poker players who takes inside his craft on this revealing episode.   Timestamps: (1:00) – Introduction (2:25) - Michael’s Triumphant Return to Poker Tournaments in 2025   (4:10) - How Michael Won the Shortest Main Event Final in History   (5:00) - How Michael’s Mother taught him to play cards and the influence it had on his life (7:01) - Michael’s Jewish Upbringing   (13:50) - The Birth of Michael’s Competitive spirit on the Football field (16:01) - Online poker and the rise of The Grinder   (20:02) - The First Millions in Winnings - 2004 (23:35) - How Michael got in the house game   (26:45) - Why Michael always plays BIG   (30:00) - How to balance the Party lifestyle (35:09) - It’s Time to Ban Headphones and Bring socializing back (37:07) - Michael’s love of Travel   (40:02) - What it Means to be the People’s Champ (44:33) - How Phil Ivey became Michael’s first Backer (47:54) - Michael’s advice to his younger self (51:45) - The Grinder’s biggest win in a Cash Game (54:26) - The Importance of keeping Emotions in Check (57:37) - Hobbies outside of Poker - Slots (58:38) - Growing up in a Gambling Family (1:02:21) - When Derek and Michael Roomed Together

    1h 5m
  2. Jun 4

    VIP Podcast Episode 1 - Mitch Butler

    Welcome to the first episode of the VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.  Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other   We welcome Mitch Butler NBA Veteran & NBA Agent who taught me about consistency. As a UCLA Basketball Player and 8 Year NBA Veteran turned Agent representing luminaries like Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, & Earl Watson.    (1:00) - Introduction (5:30) - Mitch Butler talks about his upbringing and coming from the bottom (9:51) - Mitch Butler dives into his faith  (12:03) - Poker’s Influence on Mitch’s Mindset (16:07) - Happy Harrison’s Basketball Camp & it’s Influence  (18:01) - Mitch’s childhood friendship with ER & The Pitt Actor, Noah Wylie (29:40) - The Root of Mitch Butler’s Discipline  (37:32) - How the support of his neighborhood allowed Mitch to pursue his basketball dream (42:29) - The cost and commutes involved with pursuing Basketball (45:52) - How Los Angeles became the hub of Basketball and Magic Johnson’s Role (51:03) - Poker as a form of Networking  (56:01) - Parallels between Christian Laettner and Cooper Flagg (58:45) - Mitch’s life changing conversation with Coach K  (102:25) - When Mitch realized that Basketball could be a life path for him (1:10:02) - When Mitch Butler Met Shaq  (1:16:05) - How to push the development of young basketball players (1:23:00) - Mitch on his relationship with Coaches as an Agent and Advocate (1:35:26) - The world of poker in the NBA  (1:43:52) - How Poker teaches you to read people (1:52:00) - Mitch Butler’s impact on the game of basketball

    1h 57m

About

Welcome to The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory. Join us for engaging conversations with influential guests from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, poker, and more. Discover the stories, insights, and experiences behind their success.