The Hardcore Closer Podcast

Five years ago, my life looked completely different. I was stuck in a dead-end kitchen career, smoking weed daily, carrying a victim mindset, and telling myself stories about how money was evil and success was for other people. I was floundering as a leader in my own home, raising six kids without real structure, direction, or confidence. We were living in a one-bedroom apartment, and while I cared deeply about my family, I didn’t yet have the discipline, mindset, or standards to lead them the way they deserved. Then I started listening to The Hardcore Closer and The Rewire. Ryan Stewman didn’t sugarcoat anything. He didn’t motivate me—he confronted me. He challenged my excuses, my limiting beliefs, and the lies I was telling myself about responsibility, money, leadership, and identity. Over time, those messages forced me to take ownership of my life in a way I never had before. That ownership didn’t just change my habits—it led me back to faith. I rebuilt my moral foundation, re-centered my life around purpose, and brought my family with me. Today, faith plays an active role in how I lead my household, how we make decisions, and how I raise my children. Our home now has structure, values, and direction—not just ambition, but meaning. I’m sober. I lead my family with intention. We hold weekly family meetings, operate as a unified team, and I’m raising my kids with discipline, accountability, and a belief that the sky truly is the limit. My marriage is stronger, my household is structured, and my role as a father and husband is no longer reactive—it’s deliberate. Career-wise, I went from feeling trapped and underpaid to being well on my way to a high six-figure income, with a clear path toward financial independence and generational wealth. We’ve moved from a one-bedroom apartment into a three-bedroom home in California, and for the first time in my life, homeownership here feels realistic—not like a fantasy. Just as importantly, Ryan was the catalyst. Listening to him opened the door to other powerful voices—Patrick Bet-David, Bedros Keuilian, Alex Hormozi—but Ryan was the one who lit the match. He was the one who pushed me to take the leap, stop blaming, and start doing the work. Every major transformation in my life—my mindset, my career, my leadership, my faith, and my family—can be traced back to the changes that began with these podcasts. Ryan, thank you. Thank you for telling the truth when it was uncomfortable, for pushing accountability over excuses, and for being the catalyst that helped me rebuild my life, my family, and my future. Your work didn’t just change my thinking—it changed the trajectory of my bloodline.

I listen to this podcast every day if not every other day. Stewman is the man when it comes to business and just keeping it real in general. He tells you what others want and gives us real in-depth ideas of what’s going on in his life.

Thank you for the podcast! I discovered the podcast about 2 years ago. I started listening to it first thing around 4:30 am when I wake up for work. Working in sales for a large corporation and staying in the top sale club members is tough, but I like the mindset the pod gives me. I am not sure if it’s correlated but the few months Ryan took off from the shows my numbers were down! Now that it’s back numbers are back up! I don’t know you tell me.

Thanks for coming back man, I listened to you for years as an insurance producer. I recently opened my own State Farm office and have been feeling that “imposter syndrome” as if I didn’t deserve this opportunity or I didn’t work hard enough. Listening to you has rejuvenated me and I appreciate the time you take to record this podcast! Rise above baby.