A different side of Ian Fonzian. From a kid hiding in his room with cystic acne to a man building businesses, running ultras, summiting Kilimanjaro and building a mammoth personal brand and following online.
We talk about growing up feeling like a monster, how the military shaped him, and the massive decision to step away from Raw Dawg when it was at its peak. Ian opens up about loneliness, purpose, external validation, and what’s next with his gym and ice cream company.
Key Discussion Points
Growing up with extreme acne and the mental toll
How solo travel skyrocketed his confidence
The military experience and loneliness
Building and leaving Raw Dawg at its peak
Purpose, business pivots, and what’s next for Ian
Follow Ian:
https://www.instagram.com/fonzian/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
0:04:09 Chasing harder challenges
0:06:13 Purpose from suffering
0:07:21 Real talk about consistency
0:08:11 Business pivot ice cream and gym
0:09:18 Why I left Raw Dawg
0:13:00 Protecting friendships and leaving
0:19:58 Transformation and desert upbringing
0:23:34 Cystic acne nightmare and Accutane
0:32:01 Lingering trauma and confidence
0:35:25 Military reality check
0:37:42 Loneliness and marriage incentives
0:41:17 Leadership and rank problems
0:51:28 Creative ruts and working without an agent
1:12:45 What drives me now and what’s next
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1:12:59
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1:12:59
#93: This One Mindset Switch Eliminated My Fear…
In this episode I elaborate on a quote that changed my life. I share why fear is the ultimate price tag for everything you want, how I’ve learned to trust the unknown, and why clarity only comes after you take the leap. This one’s for anyone feeling stuck, overthinking their next move, or waiting for the “perfect time” to start.
If you’ve been looking for a sign - this is it.
Key Discussion Points
Why uncertainty is the cost of all your dreams
The Steve Jobs quote that shaped my life
How to get out of your own way and stop overthinking
Turning fear into fuel and risk into reward
Why taking the leap before you’re ready is the only way forward
Blow up your podcast and apply to work with Chris:
https://thepodcastjungle.com/apply
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
0:00 – The quote that shaped my life
2:40 – Why uncertainty is the price tag of your dreams
5:30 – Lessons from The Alchemist & discovering purpose
7:50 – Getting out of your own way
10:20 – The pressure of growth & building a team
12:30 – How trust creates calm in chaos
14:30 – Clearing noise to invite clarity
16:20 – Choosing what feels right, even in the dark
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21:44
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21:44
#92: Rory Sutherland: Why The Dumbest Ideas Make the Most Money
Rory Sutherland is one of the world’s most fascinating thinkers in advertising and behavioral science. In this episode, he breaks down why logic often kills creativity, why the dumbest ideas (like Red Bull) end up making billions, and how consumer behavior makes no rational sense. From frozen yogurt lines to Airbnb’s unintended consequences, this conversation dives into the messy, illogical, and deeply human side of decision-making. We also had a whole lot of fun. Rory is one entertaining guy.
Key Discussion Points
Why logical decisions rarely lead to innovation
Red Bull, frozen yogurt, and the psychology of “dumb” ideas
Why entrepreneurs belong in casinos, not chess clubs
How framing and emotion drive behavior more than facts
Airbnb, matcha, and the paradox of things that shouldn’t work but do
ANDDDD Much, much more
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Apply to work with Chris to build your podcast:
https://thepodcastjungle.com/apply
Chapters:
0:00 Rory on Australia & first impressions
6:15 Ice cream vs frozen yogurt psychology
12:42 Restaurants, failure & Darwinian innovation
18:55 Why luck beats logic in business
25:30 The Red Bull paradox
31:48 Bubble tea, matcha & strange consumer habits
38:22 Why Australians undervalue themselves
45:10 Breakthroughs born by accident
52:04 The danger of pure logic
58:40 Emotion > facts in persuasion
1:05:15 Electric cars & tribal identity
1:12:02 Pensions, dating apps & real priorities
1:18:47 Social constraints we never question
1:25:33 Airbnb’s unintended consequences
1:32:20 Experience goods: only valuable once tried
1:39:05 Why Americans adopt faster
1:45:55 The myth of perfect information
1:52:40 Airports, bad purchases & brain mush
1:59:00 Final reflections with Rory
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1:59:32
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1:59:32
#91: Ex-CIA Spy: What They Don’t Tell You About Money, Success, and Power
Today’s guest is ex-CIA officer and founder of EveryDaySpy, Andrew Bustamante.
We went deep on the truth about government, money, perception, persuasion, and what real success actually looks like. He revealed how spy training connects to everyday life, why the CIA isn’t what conspiracy theories claim, and how the systems around us are designed to keep us predictable.
What stood out most is his blunt honesty: happiness is a slippery pursuit, financial success is the only objective success, and once you see how the world really works, you can never unsee it.
Key Discussion Points:
The truth about the CIA vs conspiracy theories
Influence vs persuasion (and how you’re being steered daily)
How the world really works vs how we’re taught it runs
Why governments don’t care about you (and never did)
A debate on money, success, and what truly matters
Learn more about Andrew:
Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4oEHBby
Read Andrew’s CIA book ‘Shadow Cell’: https://geni.us/ShadowCellBook
Follow Andy on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante
Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/
Support Andy's sponsor Axolt Brain: https://axoltbrain.com/andy
Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
1:30 – CIA breathwork and field prep
6:40 – Debunking CIA conspiracies
11:20 – What the CIA actually does
16:45 – Influence vs persuasion explained
22:10 – How algorithms control your thinking
27:30 – The red pill: once you see it, you can’t unsee it
33:20 – How the world runs vs how the world works
38:50 – Governments don’t care about you
44:30 – Systems built to keep you predictable
50:40 – External validation vs real success
56:10 – Heated debate: what money really means
1:02:30 – Net worth and how it changes everything
1:08:00 – Curiosity vs commitment: why most stay stuck
1:13:10 – Raising kids with perspective outside the US
1:18:20 – Working for nothing vs working for something
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1:07:21
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1:07:21
#90: “I Could Die, And That’s What Drives Me…” (Ash Dykes)
Today’s guest is Ash Dykes. When most people think of adventure, they picture travel, fun, maybe a little challenge. For Ash Dykes, it’s life or death.
From pulling a 120kg trailer through the Gobi Desert with no backup, to hallucinating his way to survival on the brink of heatstroke, to being held at gunpoint and crossing crocodile-infested rivers. Ash has lived through it all.
But this isn’t just about danger. It’s about why someone would willingly step into the unknown, where death is a real option, and what that teaches you about life, fear, and resilience.
Ash shares how he went from a small coastal town in North Wales to setting world records in some of the most extreme places on Earth, and the mental discipline it takes to keep moving when everything in your body is screaming to stop.
This conversation is raw, wild, and filled with lessons that go way beyond exploration.
Key Discussion Points:
Nearly dying of heatstroke in the Gobi Desert
Training for world records with just a tire and sledgehammer
The “third man syndrome” that saved his life
Why fear is a package deal with growth
Leading with kindness in life-or-death missions
This one will make you rethink what’s really possible.
Follow Ash:
https://www.instagram.com/ash_dykes/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Timestamps:
03:00 Why Ash chases danger
09:40 Childhood dreams in North Wales
13:20 $10 bike across Vietnam
18:40 Illegal jungle crossings
24:50 Mongolia mission begins
31:00 Dragging 120kg through the Gobi
37:10 Heatstroke and hallucinations
42:00 The “third man” phenomenon
50:30 Wolves, bears, and crocs
58:20 Breaking down on the Yangtze
01:05:00 The weight of leadership
01:12:40 Survival in the Amazon
01:18:50 Love vs danger lessons
01:24:40 Next mission on the Yellow River
01:30:00 Chasing legacy and purpose
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Australia