UNMUTED SHOW

Jeff Ross & Sandy Grigsby, Michael Silvers, Michael Silvers, Jeff Ross & Sandy Grigsby

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Unmuted is the show where real voices get loud. Hosted by Jeffery Ross, Michael Silvers, and Sandy Grigsby, this podcast brings raw conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who refuse to stay silent. Expect bold ideas, honest stories, and powerful insights designed to help you lead, influence, and make an impact.

4d ago

UNMUTED — Episode 29 Be the Messenger, Not the Message: 30 Years of Leadership Lessons with Jay Forston

🔥 Episode Summary What separates those who build lasting success in network marketing from those who give up before they find their feet? Recorded in Dubai, Jeff Ross sits down with direct sales veteran Jay Forston for an honest conversation about three decades of experience, mentorship, personal responsibility and the power of human connection. From his early days in ACN to the uncomfortable leadership lessons that shaped his career, Jay shares why success isn't about shortcuts — it's about showing up, getting the reps in and learning to lead yourself before you lead others. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Human Connection Never Goes Out of Style Technology changes, but the fundamentals don't. Jay explains why genuine relationships, face-to-face conversations and community remain the foundation of successful direct sales. 2. Invest in Yourself — There Are No Shortcuts Events, mentorship and experiences all come at a cost. But the right investment in personal development can accelerate your growth and help you avoid repeating costly mistakes. 3. Leadership Starts With Self-Leadership Before committing to an opportunity, have an honest conversation with yourself. Are you genuinely prepared to do the work, sacrifice your time and remain consistent? 4. Be the Messenger, Not the Message Jay shares a memorable lesson from a mentor who taught him to stop talking over the expert during a three-way call. Sometimes your greatest contribution is making the introduction, passing the baton and allowing someone else to deliver the message. 5. Growth Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone After 90 days of mentorship, Jay's leader deliberately left him to deliver a presentation alone. It wasn't perfect, but the experience changed his confidence and helped him recognise he was more capable than he realised. 💬 Memorable Quotes “If you try to shortcut the system, the system will end up shortcutting you.” “All you have to do is be the messenger.” “You cannot put a price on experience or experiences.” ⏱️ Key Moments Opening – Jeff and Jay connect in DubaiEarly conversation – Jay's childhood, education and first sales opportunityCareer beginnings – From Nextel to ACN and network marketingBuilding community – The impact of Jay's first major conventionHuman connection – Why technology is a tool, not the foundationInvesting in growth – Mentorship, events and the cost of experienceThe truth about turnover – Why honesty and commitment matterSelf-leadership – Accountability, ownership and responsibilityThe three-way call – Learning to be the messengerThe leadership test – When Jay's mentor didn't show upFinding the right mentor – Values, relationships and shared goalsClosing – Final reflections from Dubai Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 13

UNMUTED — Episode 28 The Hidden Cost of Success: Fame, Family & Leaving a Legacy with Skip Martin

🔥 Episode Summary What happens when you've achieved worldwide success, won an Emmy, performed for hundreds of thousands of people — and realise the greatest legacy isn't about you? In Episode 28 of UNMUTED, Jeff Ross, Michael Silvers and Sandy Grigsby sit down with legendary musician Skip Martin of Kool & The Gang and the Dazz Band. Skip shares unforgettable stories about music, an Emmy-winning collaboration, surviving serious health challenges and why he's now focused on giving back, preserving stories and spending time with the people who sacrificed for his success. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Legacy Is What Outlives You Skip believes our greatest contribution is documenting experiences, creating something meaningful and leaving wisdom that future generations can learn from. 2. It's Not About Me — It's About Us Skip shares how his collaborative recording of People Get Ready brought together 29 performers and went on to win an Emmy. His lesson? The greatest rewards often come when you make others the priority. 3. Turn Your Pain Into Purpose After surviving serious heart problems and discovering prostate cancer, Skip became passionate about encouraging men to get regular health checks. His message: “Go get your oil checked.” 4. Music Can Change Lives Skip recalls performing in Nairobi before an estimated 500,000 people at a concert encouraging HIV testing. Seeing people singing together across language barriers showed him the extraordinary power of music. 5. Success Has a Hidden Cost After decades of touring, Skip is choosing to spend more time with family and friends. His powerful reminder: “The people closest to you pay the biggest price for your success.” 💬 Memorable Quotes “It's not about me, it's about us.” “One completed idea is more valuable than a thousand dreams.” “Success is a double-edged sword. The people closest to you will pay the biggest price for your success.” ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 – Welcome to UNMUTED01:24 – Introducing music legend Skip Martin02:55 – What legacy really means04:30 – Creating the Emmy-winning People Get Ready project08:50 – A new musical legacy: If Not Now, Then When?11:53 – Music, charity and giving back12:55 – Skip's life-threatening heart experience13:43 – Prostate cancer and regular health checks16:13 – Advice for younger generations17:43 – Why human connection still matters26:13 – Performing before 500,000 people in Nairobi28:30 – Why Skip stepped away from touring31:21 – Skip's C words for success33:04 – Sharing a lifetime of wisdom Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 6

UNMUTED – Episode 27 The Authority Gap: Why Expertise Alone Isn't Enough to Get You Known

🔥 Episode Summary You can spend 10 or 20 years becoming exceptional at what you do and still remain the world's best-kept secret. In Episode 27 of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Michael Silvers unpack The Authority Gap™ — the distance between the value and expertise you already possess and what the marketplace actually recognises. They explore why relationships, trust, proximity, platforms and servant leadership can be just as important as expertise when building real influence. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Expertise Alone Isn't Enough Being great at what you do doesn't automatically mean people know, trust or recognise you. There's often a gap between your actual capability and your perceived authority. That's The Authority Gap™. 2. Trust Is Earned When Someone Else Passes You The Mic You can tell the world you're an expert. It's much more powerful when somebody who already has trust introduces you, recommends you or gives you their platform. Relationships can open doors that credentials alone cannot. 3. Become Known, Trusted & Connected In an increasingly noisy world of AI and social media, getting attention isn't enough. Real influence comes from becoming: Known.Trusted.Connected. 4. Get In Rooms Where You're Not The Smartest Person Jeff and Michael discuss the importance of intentionally surrounding yourself with people further down the road. Become the small fish in the bigger pond. Listen. Learn. Serve. Build relationships. 5. Lead With Service Influence isn't simply about becoming more visible. Michael's message is grounded in servant leadership: Go out and make a difference for one person today. The bigger your voice becomes, the greater your opportunity to use it to elevate others. 💬 Memorable Quotes “Trust is earned when someone else passes you the mic.” “It's the story people talk about you when you're not in the room.” “You have a voice. And because you have a voice, you have a place.” “How can I help? How can I serve?” ⏱️ Key Moments 00:01 – Welcome back to Unmuted03:14 – Why you should be the small fish in the big pond05:26 – Why expertise alone doesn't open doors06:37 – Becoming known, trusted and connected07:21 – Trust is earned when someone else passes you the mic08:26 – How relationships create opportunities08:56 – The real work begins after the event10:40 – Branding: what people say when you're not in the room11:41 – Servant leadership and using your voice13:46 – Understanding The Authority Gap™16:04 – The power of relationship capital17:59 – Mentors who understand entrepreneurs21:52 – How to get closer to people you want to learn from23:13 – Ask two questions: “How can I help? How can I serve?” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sep 22

UNMUTED – Episode 26 Lessons Cost Money: Leadership, Failure & Playing the Long Game with Eddie Austin

🔥 Episode SummaryWhat if your biggest business failure became one of your most valuable investments?In Episode 26 of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Michael Silvers sit down with entrepreneur and investor Eddie Austin for a raw conversation about money, leadership, failure, faith, relationships and personal responsibility. From starting as a welder at 12 to building businesses and an investment company, Eddie shares the wins — and the expensive losses — that shaped the leader he is today.💡 Key Takeaways1. Don't Wait Until Retirement to Start LivingAs a young tradesman, Eddie watched older workers sacrifice their bodies for decades while dreaming about what they'd finally do when they retired.It forced him to question whether there was another way to create both money and freedom.2. Focus Before You DiversifyAt one point Eddie and his wife had eight companies.His lesson? More income streams don't automatically create wealth. Often, wealth comes from doing one thing exceptionally well first, then diversifying from a position of strength.3. Your Losses Can Become Your Greatest LessonsEddie shares how one business acquisition cost him $170,000 of his own money after he personally repaid investors.His takeaway:“You won't learn anything from your W's. You'll learn everything from your L's.”4. Leadership Means OwnershipWhen something goes wrong, Eddie's instinct isn't to blame someone else.It's:“Everything is my fault.”Not because leaders literally control everything, but because leadership means taking responsibility for preparation, people, systems and decisions.5. Value Peace More Than Being RightJeff shares one of his biggest leadership lessons: when emotions rise, intelligence can fall.Michael and Eddie build on that idea with a practical communication strategy:Pause. Don't react. Type the response if necessary — but don't immediately send it.Sometimes saying less is the strongest leadership move.💬 Memorable Quotes“Lessons cost money, and good lessons cost lots.”“You won't learn anything from your W's. You'll learn everything from your L's.”“God plus one is a superpower.”“I never respond with anger.”⏱️ Key Moments00:00 – Michael returns to Unmuted03:07 – Meet entrepreneur and investor Eddie Austin03:34 – Why real conversations matter05:00 – Starting as a welder at 1206:51 – Questioning the traditional retirement path08:00 – The origins of JE Capital11:12 – What are we really chasing?12:39 – Trying to “buy back” time after 4013:15 – Eddie's costly business acquisition15:35 – Why failure teaches more than winning17:15 – Becoming malleable as a leader17:26 – Leadership means taking ownership19:50 – Faith, networks and relationships20:30 – Why Eddie examined his failed partnerships24:14 – Michael on learning to pause25:09 – Jeff: value peace over being right27:45 – Eddie's method for handling angry messages30:31 – Don't leave regrets on the table Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sep 8

UNMUTED – Episode 25 Men Need Men: Brotherhood, Accountability & Becoming the Man Your Family Needs with Joshua Mason

🔥 Episode Summary What does healthy masculinity really look like today? In this episode of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Sandy Grigsby sit down with entrepreneur, husband, father and men's leadership advocate Joshua Mason to talk about brotherhood, accountability, humility, ownership and fatherhood. Drawing from his own experience growing up without a father in the home, Joshua shares why strong men still need other men around them — and why becoming better starts with taking responsibility for the things you can control. 💡 Key Takeaways1. Men Need Brotherhood Joshua explains that no success is created in isolation. Men need other men around them who can challenge them, raise their standards and help pull more out of them. 2. Accountability Creates Growth Just like training with a partner can push you harder in the gym, the right community can help you go further in life, business, marriage and fatherhood. 3. Control Your Actions & Attitude Joshua is already teaching his two young sons that there are two things they can control: Their actions and their attitude. That simple principle becomes a powerful foundation for ownership and personal responsibility. 4. Masculinity Requires Humility Joshua challenges the idea that masculinity is just toughness or physical strength. For him, strength also means humility, emotional control and having tough skin with a soft heart. 5. Ownership Starts In The Mind Joshua describes ownership as a key part of masculinity, especially taking responsibility for your mindset, decisions and direction. His reminder: “I will mind my mind until my mind minds me.” 💬 Memorable Quotes “No success was created in isolation.” “The two things you can control are your actions and your attitude.” “Humility always wins.” “Observe the masses and do the opposite.” ⏱️ Key Moments00:50 – Joshua's mission to help men02:36 – Growing up without a father in the home05:29 – Why brotherhood needs accountability07:17 – Lifted men's group and “break bread, break a sweat”09:31 – One overlooked struggle for men: sleep12:59 – Actions and attitude14:04 – Vote for the man you want to become16:32 – Humility and masculinity18:49 – Ownership of your mind19:45 – “Observe the masses and do the opposite”22:18 – How to connect with Lifted in Virginia Beach Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Aug 25

UNMUTED — Episode 24 Be More Human: Why Relationships Still Win in Sales with Joe Graham

🎙️ UNMUTED — Episode 24 Be More Human: Why Relationships Still Win in Sales with Joe Graham 🔥 Episode Summary As AI, automation and chatbots transform the way businesses sell, Joe Graham believes the competitive advantage is surprisingly simple: be human. In this episode of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Sandy Grigsby sit down with veteran sales professional and host of The Joseph Graham Show to explore relationship-based selling, the 70/30 listening rule, building a healthy pipeline, playing the long game and creating a definition of success that actually fits the life you want to live. 💡 Main Topics & Takeaways 1. Your Greatest Advantage Against AI Is Being Human Joe isn't anti-AI—he uses it himself. But as everyone rushes toward chatbots, automation and efficiency, he believes old-school human behaviours are becoming increasingly valuable: picking up the phone, knocking on a door, sending a handwritten note, taking someone to lunch and having an actual conversation. When everyone zigs toward automation, there may be enormous opportunity in zagging toward humanity. 2. Sales Is About Helping, Not Manipulating Joe's philosophy is straightforward: Understand what somebody needs. Listen. Determine whether you can genuinely solve their problem. Offer the right solution. And sometimes the best sales decision is actually sending someone to a competitor because they're a better fit. That integrity builds something far more valuable than a single transaction: trust. 3. The Long Game Is the Shortcut In a world obsessed with instant gratification, entrepreneurs often try to accelerate every stage of the sales process. Joe argues the opposite. Especially in B2B, coaching and high-ticket sales, people need to like you, trust you and believe in you. Slowing down enough to build the relationship can ultimately speed up the result. 4. Stop Talking and Start Listening Joe uses a 70/30 rule: The client talks 70%. You talk 30%. Ask questions. Understand how they buy. Find out who else is involved in the decision. Then allow silence to do some of the work. One of the easiest ways to lose a sale is simply to keep talking after you've already said enough. 5. Build a Pipeline Big Enough That You Don't Need the Sale Desperation changes the energy of a conversation. Joe recommends building enough prospects into your world that you're never dependent on one or two people saying yes. His preference is roughly a 10x pipeline, allowing him to approach each conversation without forcing an outcome. As he puts it: Slow down to speed up. 💬 Memorable Quotes “Be a human. Human connection.” — Joe Graham “Sales is relationship. It is so relationship. It is not manipulating anyone.” — Joe Graham “The long game is the shortcut.” — Joe Graham “Sales is just helping people.” — Joe Graham ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome Back to Unmuted 01:27 — Who Is Joe Graham? 02:51 — From the $150K Podcast to The Joseph Graham Show 03:58 — Nearly 300 Podcast Episodes 05:16 — Forget the Bucket List 05:40 — From Welfare to Millionaires & Billionaires 06:25 — Make Your Younger Self Proud 07:01 — Spider-Man, Storytelling & Being Human 09:50 — Finding Common Ground 10:39 — The Podcast Guests Who Changed Joe 13:24 — Define Success for Yourself 14:49 — There's Nothing Wrong With Having a Job 16:11 — How Do You Sell Against AI? 16:13 — Donuts, Door Knocking & Handwritten Notes 17:22 — Sales Is Relationship 18:00 — When Everyone Zigs, Zag 19:27 — The Long Game Is the Shortcut 21:30 — Tell the Customer Before They Discover the Problem 23:02 — Silence Is the Key 23:02 — The 70/30 Rule 24:00 — Understand How People Buy 24:45 — Build a Bigger Pipeline 25:33 — Slow Down to Speed Up 25:47 — Can Someone Else Sell for You? 25:59 — Moving From Founder-Led Sales to a Sales Team 26:30 — Find Your Ideal Client 27:27 — Network Differently 28:39 — How to Connect With Joe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Aug 18

UNMUTED – Episode 23 Stop Building Alone: Why Proximity, Partnership & the Right Room Change Everything

🔥 Episode Summary What if the breakthrough you're looking for isn't another course, strategy or piece of information—but the right people, the right room and the right opportunities? In Episode 23 of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Michael Silvers unpack why leadership development shouldn't happen in isolation. They explore the philosophy behind the Voice To Influence ecosystem, the power of partnership and proximity, and why surrounding yourself with experienced leaders while creating real-world opportunities to speak, host, teach and lead can dramatically change the trajectory of your business and influence. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Stop Trying To Build Everything Alone Entrepreneurship can become incredibly isolating. Jeff and Michael argue that the next level isn't necessarily about learning more—it's often about surrounding yourself with people who can see what you can't see. The right partnership can shorten the distance between where you are and where you're trying to go. 2. Proximity Can Be More Valuable Than Information Information is everywhere. You can watch videos, buy courses, read books and ask AI almost anything. What's harder to replicate is proximity. Being around people who have already travelled the road you're trying to travel gives you access to perspective, feedback, relationships and opportunities that information alone can't provide. 3. There Are No Shortcuts—But You Can Remove Guesswork Learning from experienced people doesn't mean someone else does the work for you. You still have to execute. But mentors who have already been where you're trying to go can help you identify the roadblocks, avoid unnecessary mistakes and remove much of the guesswork. 4. Leadership Development Needs Real Opportunities Leadership isn't developed simply by consuming more leadership content. You have to lead. That means speaking, hosting, coaching, contributing, collaborating and putting yourself into environments where your abilities can actually be tested and developed. 5. Build Around The Person—Not The Program Not everyone needs a podcast. Not everyone needs to speak on stage. Not everyone needs the same business model. The philosophy discussed in this episode is about understanding the individual first—their business, message, vision and deeper "why"—and then determining which vehicles can help them move forward. 💬 Memorable Quotes "There are no shortcuts to success." "We're no longer having to do this alone. We get to do this together." "We focus on opportunities, not just education." "This is not just another program or a course. This is a true ecosystem." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Aug 14

UNMUTED – Episode 22 The Insider Who Walked Away: Corporate Power, Hidden Money & Leveling the Playing Field with Kelly McGinnis

🔥 Episode Summary What happens when someone who spent more than 20 years learning how big corporations really work decides to take that knowledge to the other side of the table? In this revealing episode of Unmuted, Jeff Ross and Sandy Grigsby sit down with former Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 senior executive Kelly McGinnis, who walked away from corporate leadership to launch Homera. Kelly pulls back the curtain on corporate politics, information gaps, mortgages, contracts, pricing, entrepreneurship and the lessons business owners need to understand before expensive mistakes teach them the hard way. 💬 Memorable Quotes "There is no top of a big company. You always have a boss." "Information gaps and asymmetry is where people make money." "Just because you're entrepreneurial and just because you want to move fast, that doesn't mean be stupid." "If you start low and try to work your way up, it never works." ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 – Welcome Back To Unmuted Jeff and Sandy kick off the episode and introduce Kelly McGinnis from Boston. 02:10 – What Is It Really Like At The Top? Kelly pulls back the curtain on senior corporate leadership and reveals why even the CEO doesn't have complete control. 04:30 – Corporate Politics Are Real From gathering support to managing "frenemies," Kelly explains why influence and alignment become increasingly important as you move higher. 06:20 – Politics Exist Everywhere Jeff and Kelly explore why similar dynamics show up in corporations, charities, nonprofits, churches and small businesses. 08:04 – The Upside Of Big Corporate It isn't all negative. Kelly explains the extraordinary opportunity to take enormous swings with huge budgets and execute projects most entrepreneurs could never fund. 09:46 – Why Kelly Walked Away After more than 20 years, Kelly realised she had something most consumers didn't: the ability to see all sides of complicated transactions. That insight planted the seed for Homera. 10:50 – The Mortgage Experience That Changed Everything Even with a finance background, Kelly remembers the frustration of signing hundreds of pages of mortgage documents and wondering how ordinary consumers could possibly understand everything they were agreeing to. 12:17 – Questioning The Story We Were Told Kelly reflects on watching thousands of people lose their homes during the 2008 financial crisis and questioning whether consumers were being given the entire story. 13:04 – What Is Homera? Kelly explains the platform she's building to help homeowners compare mortgage options, identify potential servicing issues and better understand their home finances. 14:53 – Why Transparency Creates Resistance Kelly explains one of the episode's most important business concepts: money is often made where information is unequal. Making that information more accessible can challenge an established industry. 15:35 – The Book Behind The Mission Kelly discusses her upcoming book, built around six real stories showing what can happen when people don't understand the financial agreements and systems surrounding them. 17:46 – The Contract Mistake Entrepreneurs Make Kelly shares lessons from acquiring companies and seeing "napkin contracts" destroy value during acquisitions. 19:19 – Pay For The Lawyer Early One of Kelly's most practical pieces of entrepreneurial advice: spending money to structure agreements correctly at the beginning can save enormous amounts later. 20:10 – What Are You Actually Worth? Kelly breaks down the difference between knowing your personal market value and understanding what your product or service is worth. 20:50 – Start High, Not Low Why starting with bargain pricing can trap a business—and why it's much easier to move pricing down than attempt to dramatically increase it later. 21:56 – Jeff's Pricing Lesson Jeff shares how repositioning a massage clinic from one of the cheapest providers to the most expensive—while increasing the customer experience—helped create weeks of advance bookings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Creator

Jeff Ross & Sandy Grigsby, Michael Silvers, Michael Silvers, Jeff Ross & Sandy Grigsby
Years Active

2026
Episodes

31
Rating

Explicit
Show Website

UNMUTED SHOW

UNMUTED SHOW

Episodes

UNMUTED — Episode 29 Be the Messenger, Not the Message: 30 Years of Leadership Lessons with Jay Forston

UNMUTED — Episode 28 The Hidden Cost of Success: Fame, Family & Leaving a Legacy with Skip Martin

UNMUTED – Episode 27 The Authority Gap: Why Expertise Alone Isn't Enough to Get You Known

UNMUTED – Episode 26 Lessons Cost Money: Leadership, Failure & Playing the Long Game with Eddie Austin

UNMUTED – Episode 25 Men Need Men: Brotherhood, Accountability & Becoming the Man Your Family Needs with Joshua Mason

UNMUTED — Episode 24 Be More Human: Why Relationships Still Win in Sales with Joe Graham

UNMUTED – Episode 23 Stop Building Alone: Why Proximity, Partnership & the Right Room Change Everything

UNMUTED – Episode 22 The Insider Who Walked Away: Corporate Power, Hidden Money & Leveling the Playing Field with Kelly McGinnis

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