Dan "Jungleman" Cates

"Jungleman" Dan Cates
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Dan "Jungleman" Cates (Formerly "Winning The Game of Life") is hosted by Dan Cates. Known as Jungleman in the poker world, Dan has won nearly $12 million in live tournament earnings, more than $11 million in high stakes online games, and is a 2x World Series of Poker champion. On the podcast, Dan will interview interesting individuals who all have one thing in common… poker and helping others. Conversations about life lessons from poker, achieving success, personal growth, mental health, diet & fitness, parenthood, philanthropy, effective altruism, and more. Every Saturday.

  1. "PokerGO cost me way more than I ever planned..." - Cary Katz

    AUG 29

    "PokerGO cost me way more than I ever planned..." - Cary Katz

    I sat down with Cary Katz, the man who quietly built the modern stage of poker. He’s the founder of PokerGO, the one who brought us the Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, US Poker Open, and yes, even the Big Blind Ante. What fascinates me isn’t just his $40M+ in tournament winnings, but his mindset: the shift from frustration to gratitude, from creating a prison with losses to celebrating them. Cary opens up about business risks, how passion projects cost more than you expect, and why he thinks integrity is the only real strategy in life. We also got into health, longevity, and some personal truths: how it took him 55 years to quit sugar, why lifting weights is a cheat code against the “four horsemen,” and how he views the next 30 years of his life as a freeroll. From billion-dollar loans to billions of minutes of poker watched, Cary’s story isn’t just about poker, it’s about building, adapting, and finding perspective through the swings. He also finally lays out who he thinks are poker's true icons... You're not going to want to miss this stunning conversation! CHAPTERS 00:00 Cary Katz on being a “copycat” in poker & business 00:37 Dan introduces Cary Katz’s impact on poker 01:02 Building PokerGO, Super High Roller Bowl & majors 02:05 Why Cary prefers tournaments over cash games 02:34 Staking, friendships, and instincts in high rollers 04:14 Copying great ideas to grow poker brands 06:03 Making poker a true spectator sport 07:07 Challenges with live broadcasting & delays 07:33 Transition from Poker Central → PokerGO 08:48 Expanding PokerGO globally (Brazil, Japan, Spanish markets) 09:41 Cary’s mindset shift: embracing losses & positivity 12:16 Winning his first bracelet with a new mindset 13:30 Dan & Cary on gratitude, history, and perspective 19:00 Health & lifestyle: fasting, quitting sugar, longevity 22:17 Fitness, weightlifting, yoga, and cryotherapy 27:01 Fitness vs. business focus – finding balance 27:25 Cary’s sales background and path to building College Loan Corp 29:04 Scaling from $20M to $3B in student loans 33:26 Starting PokerGO as a passion project 34:53 The cost of poker productions & why paywalls exist 40:17 Online poker challenges vs. live poker instincts 43:22 Why Cary supports poker: passion & competition 45:16 The invention of the Big Blind Ante 48:18 Difficulties of the media business & PokerGO growth 50:59 Life balance, gratitude, and slowing down time 55:00 Business lessons: revenue, hiring, and integrity 58:51 Poker players transitioning into business 01:03:40 Cary’s goals: family, longevity, and staying present 01:04:09 What’s next for Cary Katz and PokerGO 01:04:45 Titles, bracelets, and long-term poker goals 01:05:22 Embracing swings & “the wave” in poker and life 01:06:12 Closing banter: Negreanu’s influence & poker icons PINNED COMMENT Who are your top 5 poker icons? Drop em below...

    1h 15m
  2. The poker crusher that smashes Monster Energy every morning... | Global Poker Kenny

    JUL 25

    The poker crusher that smashes Monster Energy every morning... | Global Poker Kenny

    You're about to meet a poker player who might have the strangest pre-game routine I've ever heard of. Global Kenny (@globalkennypoker on Instagram) has some absolutely wild theories about nutrition, energy, and cognitive performance that honestly sound crazy until you see his results. This guy went from complete unknown to playing some of the biggest pots on the West Coast, and his approach to preparation is... let's just say it involves some unconventional choices that most poker pros would never consider. I was skeptical going into this conversation, but his logic actually started making sense by the end. What really caught my attention wasn't just Kenny's rapid rise through the stakes, but how he's navigating the modern poker landscape where everyone's trying to be both a player and a content creator. He's got some strong opinions about the "nit epidemic" in poker and has actually built a movement around it, but more importantly, he's figured out something that most poker influencers haven't: how to actually keep improving at poker while building a brand. We get into some fascinating territory about game selection, the West Coast scene, and why he thinks the path to higher stakes is more accessible than people realize. Plus, he drops some insights about international poker that might surprise you. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Introduction and Global Kenny's poker background 00:03:20 - The anti-knit campaign and converting poker players 00:07:00 - Fasting and caffeine preparation routines 00:12:00 - Meditation vs morning routine philosophy 00:18:00 - Sleep tracking and optimization strategies 00:22:00 - Daily poker schedule and session structure 00:27:00 - Moving up stakes and bankroll building journey 00:32:00 - Building a social media brand in poker 00:38:00 - Biggest pots won and lost; the 50k hands 00:43:00 - Biggest bluffs and table presence discussion 00:47:00 - Future tournament and streaming plans 00:52:00 - Education background and investment interests 00:56:00 - Content creation challenges and balancing poker 01:00:25 - Closing thoughts and social media shoutouts PINNED COMMENT What's your Monster Energy drink of choice?

    1h 2m
  3. "Women just don't have as much money as men..." - Xuan Liu

    JUN 27

    "Women just don't have as much money as men..." - Xuan Liu

    Xuan Liu just detonated one of poker’s longest-standing glass ceilings—busting a 200-event streak with the first female title in Triton history, taking down the $25 000 WPT Global Slam in Montenegro (155 entries, $860 000 up top). I had to know how she did it, so we sat down to trade war stories: her Yukon bankroll challenge that started with two grand total (flights included), the cliquey staking webs that freeze most women out of 25 Ks, and why she thinks “marketing yourself” is the truest edge in high-rollers. From double-board bomb-pots in the Arctic to four-bet battles on Poker Night in America, we unpack the mind-game, the money game, and the human game... plus a few leaks we’re still plugging. If you’re chasing freedom through cards... or just wondering how a calm Canadian-Chinese grinder became the “Queen of Triton”, hit play, drop a comment, and let’s keep pushing the ceiling higher! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction & Xuan’s breakthrough Triton win 01:45 – Are there other female high-roller champs? 03:30 – Where Xuan ranks among the game’s top women 05:35 – The real barriers keeping women out of high-stakes poker 08:55 – Selling action online as a launchpad to live events 11:45 – Why community (and clean staking deals) matter 14:30 – Cash-game cred vs. tournament glory 18:50 – Stream games, thumbnails & the “female click-factor” 22:00 – The $2k cross-Canada bankroll challenge 28:15 – Yukon bomb-pots and soft PLO edges 33:40 – Wild travel poker tales from Newfoundland to Nunavut 38:45 – Couch-surfing, poverty roots & those early $5k shots 40:45 – Cutting costs: practical tips for the tour-grind lifestyle 43:50 – Re-igniting passion, building brand & fresh content goals 46:30 – WSOP plans, mixed-game temptations and China tour 50:15 – Dating on pause: focus, independence & life balance 52:45 – Growing the women’s game: golf analogy & untapped markets 55:40 – Final reflections, bracelet dreams & sign-off PINNED COMMENT Who should I have next on the podcast?

    1 hr
  4. It's 2025... the red pill is WRONG! - French OG

    MAY 23

    It's 2025... the red pill is WRONG! - French OG

    GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO! Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/jungleman DESCRIPTION Alright, so I sat down with French OG for this episode of Winning The Game Of Life. This guy's got a wild background – went from grinding poker tables, understanding odds and variance, to coaching guys through the even more complex and sometimes brutal game of modern dating. We didn't waste time on fluff; we jumped straight into the deep end, applying strategic thinking and probability to figure out what actually works with women, relationships, and frankly, just navigating human psychology when the stakes feel high. Expect some takes that might make you uncomfortable. French OG dropped some bombs, like comparing personality to makeup and arguing why chasing commitment can kill attraction. We went back and forth on whether optimizing for 'lays' is a fundamental mistake (a point where I think the Red Pill logic often breaks down), debated the real source of confidence, and even touched on whether my blue hair stunt was a calculated 'polarizing' move. It's raw, unfiltered, and definitely not your standard dating advice. If you're tired of simplistic answers and want to explore the messy variables, the actual 'game theory' behind attraction and connection, then you need to check this out. We dissect common assumptions, challenge popular narratives, and try to find a real edge in understanding this crucial part of life. Hit play, listen close, and then tell me in the comments where you think we got it right or wrong – figuring this stuff out is part of winning the game. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro: Meet French OG 01:35 – Twitter Truths & Trolls 04:45 – French OG: Poker Player to Dating Coach 09:15 – Poker Strategy Applied to Dating 13:47 – Confidence, Uncertainty & Poker Mindset 16:10 – Coaching Smart Guys (INTJs) 18:20 – Boundaries vs. Ultimatums in Dating 20:30 – Dealing with Randomness (Poker & Life) 23:34 – Culture Clash: Agency vs. Environment 25:05 – Poker Analogy: Know Your Value & Spot 27:38 – Jungleman's Blue Hair: Polarizing Works 31:39 – Don't Be Average 32:10 – Niche Strategy: Poker Tables & Dating Apps 34:27 – Red Pill Critique: Optimize LIFE, Not Lays 36:16 – Lust vs. Love: Who Secures the Relationship? 37:03 – Debate: Leading with Relationship Intent 40:05 – Filtering for Partner vs. Max Quantity 44:45 – Why Men Shouldn't Chase Relationships 45:50 – Red Pill Flaw: Metrics Aren't Everything 48:05 – Defining Male Personality 48:39 – Coaching Different Men, Different Goals 53:40 – Advice for the "Average" Guy 58:24 – Looks, Fitness & Self-Care Matter 01:00:30 – Ripped vs. Money vs. Confidence Debate 01:04:40 – Personality is Male "Makeup" 01:07:20 – The "Good Woman" Debate 01:12:15 – Compatibility vs. Pedestals 01:14:05 – Predictable vs. Exciting Relationships 01:20:15 – Control Dynamics & Dealing with Damage 01:21:05 – Final Thoughts & Outro PINNED COMMENT French OG says that "Personality is makeup for men". Is 'game' the ultimate equalizer, or do looks/status still dominate? Weigh in!

    1h 21m
  5. "Why I QUIT POKER at the top..." - Wayne Yap reveals decision

    MAY 16

    "Why I QUIT POKER at the top..." - Wayne Yap reveals decision

    GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO! Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/jungleman This week I'm with Wayne Yap, who literally dominated the Asian poker scene as the former #1 in Singapore, stacking up over $1.3M in tournaments and $3M+ in cash games before making a hard left into business. Seriously, why would someone leave crushing it at the tables? We dug into applying hardcore poker thinking – the EV, the polarization – to the business world, and turns out, most business folks are missing this crucial stuff. He breaks down why you actually need to repel some people to attract the right ones, a wild concept that makes a lot of sense once you hear it. Beyond the strategy, we touched on some deep and unexpected territory: intense spiritual journeys, what it's really like buying and running businesses without prior experience, and the brutal lessons about who to trust along the way. If you've ever wondered if poker brains are wasted just playing cards, or how to find leverage and value in unconventional places, this is the conversation. Check out Wayne's X linked below for more unfiltered thoughts. https://x.com/wayneyap CHAPTERS 00:00 - Wayne Yap: Poker Pro to Business Guru & Spiritual Explorer 01:00 - The Spiritual Rabbit Hole: Meditation & Transcendent Experiences 02:26 - Crushing Poker: Singapore's #1 and Big Wins 03:08 - Why Leave Poker at the Peak? Climbing a Higher Mountain 04:40 - Lessons from Life: Bowling, World of Warcraft & Obsession 06:05 - Poker Skills for Business: EV & Polarization 08:45 - Why You Need People to Like & Hate You 11:24 - First Business Acquisition & Fighting Industry Norms 15:19 - Finding & Exploiting Opportunities (Business vs. Poker) 19:05 - Bouncing Back: Overcoming Poker & Business Setbacks 20:49 - The Leap into Buying Businesses 23:16 - Solving Problems & Motivating Teams Without Experience 26:48 - Different Types of "Genius" in Life & Work 28:29 - The Inner Game: Motivation & Self-Talk 29:39 - The "Star Principle": Finding a Winning Market Niche 32:42 - If I Started Over: Poker as a Hobby? 34:40 - Business vs. Poker: Risk, Rewards & Finding Your Path 38:08 - Getting into Business Without Money: Apprenticeship & Acquisitions 44:16 - The Dangers of Partnering with the Wrong People 45:40 - Is Business for Everyone? Finding Your Archetype 50:00 - Deep Dive into Spiritual Experiences & Joe Dispenza 55:09 - Experiencing Energy & Questioning Miracles 57:25 - Samadhi, Unity, and Out-of-Body States 1:01:42 - Integrating Spiritual Insights into Business & Life 1:05:35 - Evaluating Tony Robbins: Value, Manipulation, and Ethics 1:09:38 - Connecting & Collaborating: Wayne's Community & Future Vision 1:12:21 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Wayne PINNED COMMENT What do you think of Wayne Yap's decision? Smart? Crazy? Drop your thoughts below...

    1h 13m
  6. It's time for JUSTICE in the POKER WORLD (with Goob_U2)

    MAY 2

    It's time for JUSTICE in the POKER WORLD (with Goob_U2)

    GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO! Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/ What is justice if we let cheats slide? John Dorsey and I architect the poker justice system... a council sworn to expose fraudsters and hold everyone (including us) accountable. We debate membership criteria, Supreme Court-style verdict drops, and specialized squads to tackle every flavor of wrongdoing But we’re not all capes and gavels...we also talk Shuffle & Shred, the 60-day, $300 challenge that marries gym gains with poker stakes. Log your workouts, meals, and steps to earn tournament points, then battle your friends at the table for a chance to win cash or lose chips. Sign up now at shuffleandshred.com. As always, don't forget to sign up for the JUNGLEVERSE, your one-stop shop for justice-tracking tools, rake-back insights, and game-finding maps to help you crush it on and off the felt. Drop your Justice League superpower in the comments, smash that subscribe button, and let’s get to work! Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/ CHAPTERS 00:48 - Introducing Shuffle & Shred: poker × fitness challenge 01:29 - How Shuffle & Shred works: incentives & program details 04:09 - Jungleverse community launch announcement 05:29 - Calling out scumbags & proposing a “Justice League” 07:12 - Preventing mistakes with collective judgment 09:00 - Quick-fix anecdotes: texting to resolve disputes 11:29 - Building the Justice League: membership & transparency 13:53 - Defining superpowers & roles within the League 17:05 - Formalizing the League: invites, council structure & tools 23:02 - Flaking on a tournament 26:07 - Fun staking incentives: refining the “cuckoo koochoo” challenge 28:46 - Wrap-up & next steps for your own challenges PINNED COMMENT Have you been wronged by someone in the poker world... Let's bring them to justice! My weaponized autism is ready

    29 min
  7. Is Owen ‘Pr0digy’ Messere the Best No-Limit Player Alive?

    APR 18

    Is Owen ‘Pr0digy’ Messere the Best No-Limit Player Alive?

    GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO! Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/ What if the game isn’t solved? What if the best player alive right now… is a 25-year-old Brit who just soul-read me on the river with ace-queen high? In this episode I sit down with Owen “Pr0digy” Messere—aka possibly the #1 heads-up no limit player in the world—and dig deep into the real layers of high-stakes poker. We talk population exploits, psychological warfare, the art of range betting vs chaos, and what actually separates the elite from the elite-elite. Also… we go off-script. Spiritual scripts. Life as a game. EV as a compass for living. The war between safe strategy and liberating aggression—on and off the felt. There’s a lot in here. The poker world may never be the same. But maybe that’s the point. Let the real games begin. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Meet Owen 'Pr0digy' Messere & His Dominant Win 02:00 - Owen's Edge: Exploiting Players & Why Tricks Have Long Shelf Lives 03:22 - Legendary Hand: Owen's Ace-High Soul Read on Jungleman 08:14 - Deep Diving on Opponents: Studying Stefan, Solti & Berri Sweet 15:06 - Battling the Aggro Kings: Davy Jones & Flushy 19:21 - Playing Linus: A More "Sensible" (Boring?) Game 21:30 - The Meta Game: Playing Spicy, Getting Action & Private Games 24:01 - Poker Mindset: Long-Term Thinking, Calculated Risks & Life Parallels 28:40 - Is the Poker Dream Alive? Finding Edges Beyond Solvers 33:20 - Exploiting Off-Script Mistakes & Flawed Range Construction 41:57 - Strategy Talk: Range Betting vs Polarized & NLHE vs PLO 49:10 - Poker Skills in Life & Owen's Coaching for Profit (CFP) 55:10 - Sharing Strategy vs Protecting High-Stakes Edges 01:00:50 - Dan's Goal: Using Poker for Something Greater 01:02:00 - Who is the Best NLHE Player? Owen Names His Rivals 01:05:06 - The Spirituality Deep Dive: Logic, Game Theory & Ancient Wisdom 01:21:40 - Final Thoughts & The Jungleman vs Pr0digy Challenge! 01:22:26 - Outro PINNED COMMENT Owen might be the best in the world right now. What do you think?

    1h 23m
  8. Behind The Mindset of a $10 Million Poker Winner | Alexander Kostritsyn

    MAR 27

    Behind The Mindset of a $10 Million Poker Winner | Alexander Kostritsyn

    GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO! Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/ Ever wondered what it takes to crush the toughest poker games on the planet? Dive deep into the mind of Alexander Kostritsyn, a legend who's banked over $10 MILLION playing online poker! Alexander pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, revealing:Unorthodox study methods that CRUSH solvers. Why he QUIT No-Limit Hold'em (and what you should do). How to exploit *human* weaknesses, not just GTO. The dark side of high stakes & the ethics of the game. Practical philosophy for a better poker & life strategy. This isn't just about cards – it's about thinking differently & achieving peak performance. Unlock Alexander Kostritsyn's secrets now... Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/ Here is what you can expect to here on this video: 0:00:00 - Intro: Power, Greed & the Poker Mindset 0:00:42 - Meet Alexander Kostritsyn: $10M Winner 0:01:16 - High Stakes: Battles & Strategies 0:02:17 - Mastering Poker: Unique Study Methods 0:05:10 - Reverse Engineering: Analyzing & Exploiting Hands 0:05:54 - Why He Quit NLH: The Solver Debate 0:07:18 - Advanced Strategy: Deviations & Ranges 0:08:38 - Bobby's Room: Inside the Legendary Games 0:13:51 - "Stupid Solver People" & the Future of Poker 0:15:03 - River Strategy: Bet Sizing & Exploitation 0:20:50 - Reading People: Identifying Thought Patterns 0:22:37 - Kairos: Perfect Timing & Imperfection 0:24:55 - Ethics & Perspective in Poker 0:28:59 - Self-Awareness & Emotional Control 0:37:17 - The Grand Theory: Combining Philosophy & Poker 0:38:29 - Understanding Players and Cooperation 0:44:53 - Responsibility & Continuous Improvement 0:53:41 - Philosophies & Making Judgements 0:57:35 - Alexander's Current Practical Philisophies: Goal Driven Mindset 1:02:54 - How He Improves Others Minds 1:08:26 - Using Tools and What To Prioritze 1:11:01 - The Goals: The Mindset 1:12:27 - Multi Agent and How it Works: How Systematic Approach 1:17:18 - Summary: Last Words & Takeaways

    1h 18m
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About

Dan "Jungleman" Cates (Formerly "Winning The Game of Life") is hosted by Dan Cates. Known as Jungleman in the poker world, Dan has won nearly $12 million in live tournament earnings, more than $11 million in high stakes online games, and is a 2x World Series of Poker champion. On the podcast, Dan will interview interesting individuals who all have one thing in common… poker and helping others. Conversations about life lessons from poker, achieving success, personal growth, mental health, diet & fitness, parenthood, philanthropy, effective altruism, and more. Every Saturday.

Information

  • Creator
    "Jungleman" Dan Cates
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Daniel Cates 2022
  • Show Website
    Dan "Jungleman" Cates

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