The 1% Podcast with Vin and Shane

Vin Infante, Shane Riggs

๐ŸŽ™๏ธHosted by Shane Riggs & @vin.infante ๐Ÿ”ฅ Master the mindset, strategy & discipline of the top 1%. Because 99% wonโ€™t โ€” ๐’ƒ๐’–๐’• ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’. โ‡ฃListen & Level Up

  1. She Moved From Germany To The US At 19 To Build A Business | Ep 148

    May 27

    She Moved From Germany To The US At 19 To Build A Business | Ep 148

    Meet Julia Kappler โ€” a fourth-generation entrepreneur from Germany who moved to the United States at 19 with no job, no network, and one mission: to expand her family's 70-year-old medical design legacy into the US market. She is now the founder and leader of Kappler North America โ€” a global architecture and interior design firm that transforms medical and dental practices from the ground up โ€” and the co-founder of Anti-Fashion Week, a movement challenging overconsumption in the design industry. She moved to a new country at 19, never had a 9-to-5, and built a global company from scratch. The space you walk into is changing your brain โ€” and she knows exactly how. She breaks down: 1. Why the design of your space is directly affecting your revenue and patient retention 2. How to scale a business across multiple countries without losing your mind or your culture 3. The difference between delegating and letting go โ€” and why most entrepreneurs get it wrong 4. Why a 12,000 sq ft dental park in Dallas is about to change healthcare design forever 5. What four generations of entrepreneurship taught her about building something that lasts Follow Julia: ๐Ÿ“ธ Instagram: @juliakappler โ†’ https://www.instagram.com/juliakappler/ ๐Ÿ”— LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-kappler-1b21ab141 ๐ŸŒ juliavkappler.com ๐Ÿข Kappler Group: kapplergroup.com Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:55 Fourth Generation โ€” Julia's Origin Story 03:50 Why Medical Design? The Niche That Changed Everything 05:55 Inside the 12,000 Sq Ft Dental Park in Dallas 09:00 Why Your Space Is Your Best Marketing Tool 11:00 Design Is Not Just Pretty โ€” It Has to Work 13:00 How Your Senses Shape Every Patient Experience 15:00 Why AI Can't Replace What She Does 17:00 Daring to Challenge the Status Quo 19:00 Co-Founding Anti-Fashion Week 21:30 Running a Global Company Across 5 Locations 22:30 The Difference Between Delegating and Letting Go 25:00 The Military Approach to Building Teams 27:00 What's Her Why โ€” The Real Reason She Builds 29:00 Moving to the US at 19 With No Friends, No Job 32:00 Never Having a 9-to-5 โ€” The Mindset Behind It 35:00 Teaching Your Kids Entrepreneurship Early 38:00 The Family Legacy That Fuels Her Drive 40:00 What Being 1% Means to Julia 41:30 How to Connect With Julia & Kappler Group STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    43 min
  2. He Had $600, a Baby on the Way, and Bet It All on a Stranger. Here's What Happened | EP 147

    May 8

    He Had $600, a Baby on the Way, and Bet It All on a Stranger. Here's What Happened | EP 147

    Meet Joe Zapiain โ€” a self-taught automation expert who went from living in his car working as a McLaren technician in Miami, to getting laid off two weeks before his daughter was born, to building SmartClick Systems โ€” an AI automation and Clickup implementation company that has generated tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for clients across industries. He held over 32 jobs across 9 states, became an official Clickup partner through a cold DM and a $200 bet on himself, and now builds custom automation systems and full-stack applications for businesses ready to scale. He got laid off with $600 in his account and a baby on the way. He bet $200 on a stranger. It changed everything. He breaks down: 1. Why 99% of AI automation courses online are just Shopify dropshipping in disguise 2. The difference between agentic AI and programmatic logic โ€” and when to use each 3. Why businesses running $10M on Google Sheets are more common than you think 4. How he went from $400/month to $20-30K/month by doing free work first Why the future of business isn't AI vs. humans โ€” it's a customer service renaissance Follow Joe: ๐Ÿ”— LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joezapiain ๐Ÿ“… Book a call: smartclick.systems/bookjoe ๐ŸŒ smartclick.systems ๐Ÿ“บ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartclicksystems/videos Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:41 32 Jobs, 9 States โ€” Joe's Origin Story 06:00 Living in His Car Working at McLaren 08:00 Laid Off Two Weeks Before His Daughter Was Born 09:00 The $200 Bet That Changed His Life 11:00 How a Cold DM Led to the Clickup Partnership 13:00 From $400/Month to $20-30K/Month 16:00 What Smart Click Actually Does 19:00 Why Businesses Are Still Running on Google Sheets in 2025 21:00 The Truth About AI Automation Courses Online 24:00 Agentic AI vs. Programmatic Logic โ€” Know the Difference 26:00 Why Joe Only Hires 100% US-Based Engineers 28:00 The Customer Service Renaissance Is Coming 30:00 McDonald's vs. Chick-fil-A โ€” The AI Parable 32:00 Will Robots Replace Workers? The Political Reality 37:00 The Automation Wizard YouTube Channel 40:00 Stop Using AI for Things Logic Can Handle 44:00 What Being 1% Means to Joe 46:00 The Best Advice Joe Ever Received 48:00 How ChatGPT Recommended Joe to a Client โ€” The New SEO STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    50 min
  3. He Built a Premium Bag Brand With Zero Investors โ€” Athletes Carry It for Free | Ep 146

    Apr 23

    He Built a Premium Bag Brand With Zero Investors โ€” Athletes Carry It for Free | Ep 146

    Meet Ryan Lane โ€” a New York City-based entrepreneur who spent 8 years in corporate real estate before quitting his job to go all-in on FTL Bags, a bootstrapped premium bag brand he co-founded with his childhood best friend Zander. Built from scratch with zero outside funding, FTL has grown into one of the most exciting up-and-coming bag brands in the market โ€” carried organically by professional athletes, and now available on Amazon. He quit his corporate job, kept 50/50 ownership, took on 145% tariffs, and never compromised on quality once. That's what building for the love looks like. He breaks down: How two friends solved a real problem and built a premium brand with zero investorsWhy organic athlete endorsements beat paid influencer deals every timeHow FTL survived Covid, supply chain chaos, and the tariff crisis without lowering qualityWhy bootstrapping forces better decisions โ€” and builds a more authentic brand storyThe one rule that will never change no matter what: quality is non-negotiable Follow Ryan: ๐Ÿ“ธ Instagram: @ftlbags ๐ŸŒ ftlbags.com ๐Ÿ›’ Also available on Amazon Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Meet Ryan โ€” From Real Estate to Bag Brand 03:50 What Makes the FTL Bag Different 06:30 Shoe Compartment, Garment Bag & Packing Cube Walkthrough 12:30 95% Male Demographic & How They Market 14:00 Why Athletes Carry FTL for Free โ€” Zero Paid Endorsements 17:00 Meta, Google & Bootstrapped Marketing Strategy 19:00 Expanding the Product Line โ€” FTL Light, Max & What's Next 21:00 Working ON the Business vs. Working IN It 23:00 How FTL Is Structured โ€” Freelancers Over W2s 25:00 How to Source a Product From Scratch โ€” The Playbook 28:00 Two Steps Forward One Step Back โ€” The Manufacturing Reality 29:00 Tariffs, Sleepless Nights & Supply Chain Survival 34:00 Quality Is the Non-Negotiable โ€” Never Compromise the Brand 36:00 The Zipper Story โ€” What One Bad Batch Taught Them 39:00 Never Lower Quality to Save Margin 41:00 What the 1% Life Means to Ryan 42:00 The Best Advice Ryan Ever Received 45:00 How to Connect With Ryan & Shop FTL Bags STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    46 min
  4. He's Been Building the Same Business for 17 Years โ€” Here's Why That's Genius | EP 145

    Apr 10

    He's Been Building the Same Business for 17 Years โ€” Here's Why That's Genius | EP 145

    Meet Austin Boyd โ€” a Las Vegas-based entrepreneur who started making and selling custom t-shirts in 10th grade and, 17 years later, has built a 40-person live print shop operation serving Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and major brands across the nation. He also recently launched a laser med spa and hosts a recurring in-person networking event called Grow & Connect. Stop waiting for perfect. The best businesses are built by people who push the car down the hill and figure out the engine on the way. He breaks down: Why cheap merch is silently destroying your brand โ€” and what to do insteadThe one form of advertising where people actually pay YOU to promote your brandWhy AI won't replace his industry and what that means for entrepreneursHow Jim Rohn at 16 rewired the way he thinks about successWhy the shift from "I want to achieve" to "I want to help others win" is the real unlockFollow Austin: ๐Ÿ“ธ Instagram: @austinboydlasvegas https://www.instagram.com/aliveprintshop/ https://www.instagram.com/laserskinlounge/ Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:55 17 Years Building His First Business 03:30 How a Matching T-Shirt in Class Started It All 08:00 Doubling Down โ€” No Exit, No Sellout 09:50 Why Tariffs Were Actually a Scam for His Industry 13:50 Why Cheap Merch Kills Your Brand 17:00 Merch Is the Only Marketing People Pay For 14:00 Will AI & Robots Replace His Business? 19:30 The Most Important Leadership Skill He Developed 22:00 Jim Rohn at 16 โ€” The CD That Changed Everything 23:00 What Got You Here Won't Get You There 25:00 From Achieving Goals to Helping Others Win 28:00 Why Success Makes People Pull You Down 30:00 Money Doesn't Buy Happiness โ€” It Just Enhances It 33:00 Why Entrepreneurship Is Lonely at the Top 35:00 The DMV Story That Revealed Everything 38:00 Why Short Memory Is a Superpower in Business 41:00 Best Advice for Anyone Starting a Business 43:00 Push the Car Down the Hill โ€” Figure It Out on the Way 45:00 Stop Asking How โ€” Start Asking What 47:00 The Pre-Launch Strategy That Built Day-One Revenue 01:16:49 The Laser Med Spa & Tattoo Removal Business 01:17:00 Grow & Connect โ€” His Las Vegas Entrepreneur Events STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    1h 19m
  5. The Man Who Went Inside the Darkest Evil on Earth โ€” And What He Found | Ep 144

    Mar 30

    The Man Who Went Inside the Darkest Evil on Earth โ€” And What He Found | Ep 144

    Meet Paul Hutchinson โ€” a serial entrepreneur who sold his first company at 29 for $20 million, co-founded Bridge Investment Group which grew to over $50 billion in assets under management, led more than 70 undercover child rescue missions across 15 countries, and is the executive producer and primary investor behind Sound of Freedom โ€” the #1 independent film in the world that went head-to-head with Hollywood and won. He put $14 million into a movie the industry tried to kill. It made $300 million at the box office. That's just the beginning of this story. He breaks down: 1. How he built and exited a company in his 20s that 0.01% of people ever achieve 2. Why he walked away from billions to go undercover rescuing children 3. The truth behind Epstein, Diddy, and how deep the swamp really goes 4. Why psilocybin therapy could replace 20 years of traditional therapy in 2-3 sessions 5. How looking in the mirror changed everything โ€” and why it will for you too Timescode: 00:00 Intro 05:00 The Mindset That Started at 14 07:30 From $6M to $72M โ€” The Marketing Play 09:00 Building Bridge Investment Group 13:00 Hiring People Smarter Than You 17:00 How He Predicted the 2008 Crash 19:00 Scarcity Mindset Is Killing Your Wealth 22:00 From Billionaire Lifestyle to Rock Bottom 23:00 His First Undercover Child Rescue Mission 25:00 Why Green Berets Broke But He Didn't 28:30 Sound of Freedom โ€” The Real Story 30:00 Epstein, Diddy & How Deep It Goes 33:00 What Traffickers Actually Look Like 35:00 The Man in the Mirror Moment 39:00 The Healing Retreat That Changed Everything 41:00 Psilocybin & the Future of Trauma Therapy 49:00 What a 1% Life Means to Paul 51:20 How to Connect With Paul STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    55 min
  6. He Built an Invite-Only Network of 420 Million Followers โ€” Here's How | Ep 143

    Mar 27

    He Built an Invite-Only Network of 420 Million Followers โ€” Here's How | Ep 143

    Meet Levi Lomey the Face of Syndicate11, top creator and model community, a South African-born model who walked runways for Dior and Kenzo at Paris Fashion Week, built a growth marketing agency, gave a TED Talk, and is now the founder of Syndicate 11, an invite-only private network connecting the world's top creative talent, models, musicians, athletes, and creators, to each other and to life-changing opportunities. Creators are building empires on rented land,and most don't even know it. He breaks down: 1. Why most creators are one algorithm update away from losing everything 2. The 1,000 True Fans theory that quietly generates $100K/month 3. How he built a community of 317 members with 420 million combined followers 4. Why authentic connection will always outlast paid masterminds 5. What AI is really doing to the creator economy โ€” and who survives it Timescode: 00:00 Intro 01:32 From Nerdy Kid to Dior 05:10 How to Stand Out in Any Room 07:10 The Township Hustle at Age 12 10:30 Modeling's Golden Handcuffs Explained 13:00 Inside Syndicate 11 16:30 The No A**holes Policy 18:20 How Syndicate 11 Funds Itself 22:30 317 Members. 420 Million Followers. 25:30 Curated Community Is What's Next 26:00 Why Creators Are on Rented Land 28:30 The 1,000 True Fans Theory 31:00 Turning Your Audience Into a Company 33:00 Will AI Replace Influencers? 35:00 What Being 1% Really Means 38:15 The Best Advice Levi Ever Received 39:00 How to Connect With Levi Follow Levi: ๐Ÿ“ธ Instagram: @levilomey โ†’ https://www.instagram.com/levilomey/ ๐ŸŒ Syndicate 11 โ†’ https://www.syndicate11.co STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    40 min
  7. Youโ€™re Doing It Wrong: Why Living 'Outside In' is the Trajectory to Failure | Ep 142

    Feb 18

    Youโ€™re Doing It Wrong: Why Living 'Outside In' is the Trajectory to Failure | Ep 142

    What happens when Dr. John A. King loses his career, his first marriage, and his reputation all at once? In this episode, Shane and Vin sit down with Dr. John A. King, a survivor of extreme childhood trauma and a global leader , to discuss the brutal reality of rebuilding a life from the ground up when the world as you know it collapses. We break down: 1. The Identity Trap: Why building your self-worth on external success is a dangerous foundation. 2. The Phoenix Concept: How to navigate the "burn" of a life transition and use it to reinvent yourself. 3. Redefining Masculinity: A raw look at the hidden statistics of why men are struggling today and how to fix it. 4. Inside-Out Leadership: Why the most successful people focus on what is irreplaceable rather than what is material. 5. Trauma as Fuel: How to take the "poop" of your past and turn it into the "fertilizer" for your future fruit. This episode is for you if: 1. You feel like your current path is crumbling and you're afraid of what's next. 2. Youโ€™ve achieved success but still feel an "identity hole" inside. 3. You want to understand the true resilience required to lead in the modern world. Stick aroundโ€”this conversation with Dr. King is the blueprint for anyone needing to start over and win. Connect with Dr. John A. King: Website: drjohnaking.com Instagram: @drjohnaking X (Twitter): @drjohnaking โฑ๏ธ Timestamps 00:00 How to handle a total life collapse 01:44 Introducing Dr. John A. King 05:40 Uncovering a hidden heritage: The "Breeding Out" policy 08:20 When the world falls apart: Losing a marriage and career 11:45 The Phoenix Concept: Why you must burn to rebuild 15:30 Why men are struggling with identity in today's society 24:10 Building success from the inside out 38:50 Dealing with childhood trauma as an adult 52:40 Final takeaway: How to live an amazing life STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

    54 min
  8. Iโ€™m Starting Over at Zero: This Is How Iโ€™d Build Wealth in 2026 | Ep 141

    Feb 11

    Iโ€™m Starting Over at Zero: This Is How Iโ€™d Build Wealth in 2026 | Ep 141

    In this episode, T-Drew reveals why heโ€™d burn the "Founder" title to the ground if he had to start over from zero today. We sit down with the designer and creative strategist to discuss why the 2026 wealth-building blueprint isn't about owning a startupโ€”itโ€™s about reforming your identity to become a high-level contributor with massive leverage. He explains: โƒ The "Founder Trap" that kills your creativity and keeps you broke โƒ Why a high-level career is actually the best venture capital for your life โƒ The "3-Step Reform" to kill your ego and accelerate your income โƒ How to build "Internal Equity" so you never have to worry about a paycheck again This episode is for you if: โƒ Youโ€™re burnt out from the "solopreneur" grind โƒ You feel like a failure because you donโ€™t have a viral business โƒ Youโ€™re ready to build actual wealth without the 24/7 CEO stress 00:00 Intro 02:25 Why the "Founder" title is a trap in 2026 07:15 The "Start Over at Zero" mindset: T-Drewโ€™s tactical shift 12:40 How to kill your ego to save your career 18:50 The Bridge Method: Moving from "Boss" to "Elite Contributor" 26:15 Using your 9-to-5 as the ultimate venture capital 33:10 Reforming the self: Escaping the "Comparison Trap" 41:45 Building wealth through internal equity 52:10 Mental health and the pressure of the "Modern Hustle" 1:04:00 The final step to starting over Follow T-Drew: https://www.instagram.com/itstdrew/ https://www.tiktok.com/ โจ@itstdrewโฉ https://www.facebook.com/iamtdrew https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdrew1and1 www.1and1life.com STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C TIMESCODES:

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

๐ŸŽ™๏ธHosted by Shane Riggs & @vin.infante ๐Ÿ”ฅ Master the mindset, strategy & discipline of the top 1%. Because 99% wonโ€™t โ€” ๐’ƒ๐’–๐’• ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’. โ‡ฃListen & Level Up

Information

  • Creator
    Vin Infante, Shane Riggs
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ยฉ Vin Infante, Shane Riggs
  • Show Website
    The 1% Podcast with Vin and Shane