MIKE'D UP!

Mike DiCioccio
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Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio features bold conversations with inspiring entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, world-class coaches, thought leaders, entertainers, and high achievers from all walks of life. Each episode delivers powerful personal stories and actionable insights to fuel your growth, ignite your mindset, and help you level up in business and life.

  1. 17H AGO

    #291: Paul Hutchinson — Inside the Fight Against Child Trafficking

    This week on Mike'D Up! Mike catches up with Paul Hutchinson, investor, humanitarian,  executive producer of the powerful blockbuster film Sound of Freedom, and author of the book The Sound of Freedom: True Stories that Inspired the Film.  Paul has participated in more than 70 undercover rescue missions across 15 countries, helping liberate thousands of children from trafficking networks. As the founder of the Child Liberation Foundation, his work now focuses heavily on prevention, awareness, and equipping parents with the tools to protect their children in a rapidly changing digital world. In this powerful conversation, Paul explains why the greatest threat to children today often isn't a stranger in a dark alley, but the technology sitting in their pocket. From online gaming to social media grooming and sextortion, traffickers increasingly use digital platforms to target and manipulate kids. But this conversation goes deeper than exposing a problem. Paul shares why strong families, healthy communication, and situational awareness are some of the most effective forms of prevention. He also discusses the mindset shift needed for leaders and entrepreneurs to create impact through ethical business, purpose-driven leadership, and conscious capitalism. Mike and Paul also explore how trauma, addiction, and unresolved pain often sit at the root of destructive behavior and how healing, personal growth, and spiritual alignment can transform both individuals and the world around them. From rescuing children to empowering entrepreneurs to leading with purpose through his upcoming book, Your Infinite Wealth, Paul's mission is simple: shine a light where darkness once hid. Because when the light shows up, darkness has nowhere left to hide. If you care about protecting children, leading with integrity, and building a life that creates real impact, this episode is one you won't forget.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Child Liberation Foundation Sound of Freedom The Sound of Freedom Book Liberating Humanity Santuario Retreats  The Liberating Humanity Podcast   Connect with Paul:  Linktree LinkedIn   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    48 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

    17H AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

    Introducing Side Dish: More with Dan Bucatinsky from Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Follow the show: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson More of my interview with ‘The Comeback’ star Dan Bucatinsky. We get into Dan's longtime collaboration with Lisa Kudrow and he shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from their comedy series Web Therapy. This episode was recorded at Louise’s Trattoria in Larchmont Village in Los Angeles, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio Trailer

    Welcome to Mike'D Up!, I'm your host, Mike DiCioccio, and I created this podcast back in 2019 with a mission to inspire other early-stage entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, level up in every way possible, personally and professionally, and to give them real, applicable advice and wisdom from experts who have actually done it before. No empty rah rah from people who haven't walked the walk. And since launching, I have interviewed over 275 experts, award-winning authors, business leaders, high-performance athletes, talented performers, and people who have never given up on themselves despite facing adversity in many rock-bottom moments. They have experienced many losses. Many heartbreaks. Personal setbacks. But they all have one thing in common: they never gave up.  One of the many reasons that I get amped up to record this podcast every week, is because I'd love that one of stories told, one piece of advice given, or maybe something I cover in a solo episode…one thought sparks you to take action…and that action leads you closer to being the best version of yourself and somebody who you are proud of and you are making your dreams come true. Living in your greatness. That is the heartbeat of this show. So if that sounds like something you'd enjoy…then YOU are in the right place. Enjoy the show, share it with your friends or business connections that you feel it will resonate with. And always remember to BE GREAT and BE GRATEFUL in all that you do. Much love!   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORED BY: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio

    2 min

  4. MAR 2

    #290: Russ Hedge — Life Happens…And Then You Choose!

    This week on Mike'D Up!, Russ Hedge returns with a story of resilience, faith, and redemption. After facing stage four melanoma and the brutal realities of treatment, Russ shares how his strong faith helped him navigate through uncertainty and battle fear. He recently received the incredible news that he is cancer-free. But this is not only a story about surviving cancer. It's about choosing perspective when everything feels out of control. Rooted in the message of his book Life Happens…Then You Choose, Russ reveals how adversity can become fuel, how mindset shapes meaning, and why hope is a decision we make daily. When we are weak, God is our strength. Beyond the diagnosis, this conversation dives into leadership, business, and relationships. It pinpoints why community always supercedes audience. An audience tunes in…a real community participates. It unpacks how service builds trust, and how authentic connections always outlast forced transactional selling. Life will happen. The question is: what will you choose to do next? If you're facing a battle, building something meaningful, or searching for clarity in the middle of uncertainty, this episode will remind you that your perspective, along with strong faith, is your ultimate power.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Life Happens…Then You Choose The Experience with Russ & Scott Podcast The Go-Giver How to Win Friends and Influence People The Divine Equation My first interview with Russ   Connect with Russ:  Website Book Podcasts LinkedIn Facebook  YouTube    Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    45 min

  5. FEB 23

    #289: Bill Blankschaen — Your Story Isn't About You. It's About THEM.

    Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in leadership and business. It is also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Mike'D Up!, Mike sits down with Bill Blankschaen, founder and Chief Story Architect of Story Builders, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about how to tell stories that actually connect, influence, and move people to action. Drawing on principles popularized by John Maxwell and refined through years of coaching leaders, Bill explains why effective communication requires flipping the focus from me to THEM. Great storytelling is not about showcasing your experience. It is about making your message accessible, relevant, and transformational for the audience. Bill also shares his personal journey. After helping build and lead a Christian academy for 12 years, he stepped away in obedience to a deeper calling to write and tell stories. With six kids at home and no income for a year, he faced fear, uncertainty, and the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship. That season forced him to fully own his story, and that commitment became the breakthrough that shaped his business and impact. If you are an entrepreneur, leader, speaker, or creator who knows you are carrying something meaningful but struggles to articulate it in a way that truly resonates, this episode will give you a practical roadmap. Because the right story, told the right way, builds trust, creates movement, and unlocks opportunity. IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️ STORY OVER SELF: The shift from performing for an audience to serving them ➡️ THE 5-STEP FRAMEWORK: Attention. Tension. Connection. Solution. Action. A simple structure that turns ideas into impact ➡️ OWNING YOUR LEAP: What happens when you fully commit to your calling, even when the outcome is uncertain   📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: You don't scale by doing more. You scale by aligning with the right people.   🚀 PERFECT FOR: For those ready to build influence, deepen relationships, and inspire real action.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Your Story Advantage  Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington John Maxwell Lewis Howes Dean Graziosi Rory Vaden Connect with Bill and Story Builders:  Website LinkedIn Books YouTube Instagram   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    51 min

  6. FEB 16

    #288: The Real ROI of Podcasting: How Relationships Rebuilt My Business | Mike DiCioccio

    In this solo episode, I reveal the truth most people completely miss about podcasting. The real ROI isn't downloads. It isn't sponsorships. It isn't vanity metrics. It's access. It's trust. It's relationships. It's the ability to sit down with people you admire, build genuine connections, and create opportunities that would have been impossible otherwise. And over time, those relationships compound into something far greater than any single episode. During one of the most challenging financial periods of my life, I felt a tug from God to launch this podcast. It became a way to create meaningful, inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, and later became something far more powerful. Without intending to, I built a relationship engine that introduced me to clients, strategic partners, great friends, and ultimately helped transform Social Chameleon into the podcast agency it is today. In this episode, I share how long-form conversations accelerate trust faster than any other medium, how podcasting creates proximity to incredible people, and how a single conversation can open doors that alter your trajectory. Drawing from my own journey and the success of influential shows like The Tim Ferriss Show, My First Million, and The Diary of a CEO, I explain how podcasting has quietly become one of the most effective and underutilized business development tools in the world. I also deliver an honest look at why most podcasts never reach their full potential. While starting a podcast has never been easier, sustaining one that creates meaningful impact requires consistency, systems, and the right operational support behind the scenes. Podcasting didn't only grow my business. It rebuilt it.   IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️ Why the true ROI of podcasting has nothing to do with vanity metrics ➡️ How podcasting creates direct access to relationships that lead to new opportunities ➡️ Why long-form conversations build trust faster than any other form of content ➡️ How one conversation can open doors that change the trajectory of a business ➡️ Real-world examples of podcasts that became powerful business and relationship engines ➡️ Why consistency, systems, and a team are the infrastructure of successful podcasts   🚀 PERFECT FOR: ➡️ Entrepreneurs who want to grow their business through meaningful relationships ➡️ Business owners considering launching a podcast ➡️ Agency owners exploring podcasting as a service offering for their clients ➡️ Podcast hosts who want to turn their show into a true business engine   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    6 min

  7. FEB 9

    #287: Kevin Anderson — The #1 New York Times Editor Behind 50+ National Bestsellers

    In this episode, Mike welcomes Kevin Anderson, New York Times bestselling editor and founder of Kevin Anderson & Associates, the world's largest and most prestigious book-writing firm, for a candid conversation about growth, delegation, and the hidden power of publishing. Kevin brings decades of experience working behind the scenes with top entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders to help them scale their impact through books. Kevin breaks down the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make, including trying to do everything themselves and waiting too long to bring in professional support. He explains why delegation isn't optional for scaling and how letting go of control is often the pivotal shift that unlocks real growth. The conversation then turns to Kevin's unexpected path into ghostwriting, which evolved into a firm that now collaborates on nearly 500 books each year. He pulls back the curtain on how high-level ghostwriting actually works, how collaborative teams preserve an author's voice and credibility, and why books remain unmatched as authority and marketing assets. Mike and Kevin also tackle the role of AI in publishing, exploring why technology hasn't replaced human storytelling, and the risks authors face when they rely on it too heavily. Smart, sharp, and packed with real-world insight, this episode is essential for entrepreneurs, authors, and anyone ready to scale their business with intention.   IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️ THE AUTHORITY ADVANTAGE: How publishing a book transforms credibility into long-term influence and opportunity ➡️ HUMAN OVER HYPE: How AI hasn't replaced authentic storytelling or strategic thinking ➡️ BUILT TO LAST: Creating teams, systems, and leadership structures that support expansion without burnout ➡️ SCALING WITH INTENTION: Why delegation—not hustle—is the true catalyst for sustainable business growth   📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: The sooner you take action, whether publishing a book or hiring the right experts, the sooner your work compounds, builds authority, and opens doors that you won't access by waiting.   🚀 PERFECT FOR: Entrepreneurs, business owners, thought leaders, and aspiring authors who want their book to build real authority.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Thesis Editor Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World's Greatest Mentalist Brené Brown's Books Simon Sinek's Books   Connect with Kevin:  Kevin Anderson & Associates  UK Office LinkedIn   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    1 hr

  8. FEB 2

    #286: Fred Joyal — Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days

    What if confidence isn't something you're born with, but something you build? This week, Mike welcomes Fred Joyal, bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and co-founder of 1-800-DENTIST, the nation's leading dentist referral service, which generated more than $1 billion in revenue under his leadership. Once deeply introverted, Fred transformed his life through one powerful realization: bold action creates confidence, not the other way around. Now the author of Superbold: From Under Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days, Fred reveals how boldness is not a personality trait; it's a learnable life skill. Through personal stories and practical strategies, Fred shows how small, intentional acts of courage can create massive momentum in both life and business. Listeners are taken behind the scenes of the rise of 1-800-DENTIST, from early risk-taking to national expansion, including the leadership pivots, economic challenges, and cultural foundations that fueled its success. He explains how transparency, adaptability, and trust became the pillars of long-term growth. One of the episode's most unexpected insights comes from Fred's experience with improv comedy, which reshaped his communication style and elevated his public-speaking confidence, proving that growth often begins far outside your comfort zone. From lessons learned through his mother's bold parenting to actionable techniques for strengthening your own "boldness muscle," this episode delivers inspiration you can immediately put into action. If you've ever hesitated to speak up, take the leap, or trust yourself, this conversation is your invitation to stop waiting and start moving. Because confidence isn't discovered. It's built.   🚀 PERFECT FOR: Entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives, and anyone who feels that they are called to do more but are held back by fear or self-doubt.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 1-800-DENTIST Lonesome Dove Man's Search for Meaning   Connect with Fred:  Website Book  Podcast LinkedIn Instagram   Connect with Mike: Linktree   SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast   AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside   Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us   Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us

    48 min
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4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio features bold conversations with inspiring entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, world-class coaches, thought leaders, entertainers, and high achievers from all walks of life. Each episode delivers powerful personal stories and actionable insights to fuel your growth, ignite your mindset, and help you level up in business and life.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike DiCioccio
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    292
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Produced by Social Chameleon © 2026
  • Show Website
    MIKE'D UP!