Leave the Pile Higher, Grow Your Legacy
In 1983, my father, a hardworking blue-collar worker, made a life-altering decision for our family. Faced with the choice of my education, he chose to send me to a private Catholic high school, despite the financial challenges. His reason was simple yet profound: “My job is to leave the pile higher for you and your sister.” This statement, a guiding principle of his life, didn't fully resonate with me until after his untimely passing in 2018. It's this legacy of selflessness and commitment that birthed 'Leave the Pile Higher: Grow Your Legacy'. On what would have been my father's 75th birthday, I launched this podcast as an extension of his “Why”. Here, we explore the intangible aspects of legacy that go beyond monetary or material wealth. Each episode delves into stories of resilience, creativity, and how breaking societal scripts can lead to profound impacts on others. Join us for heart-to-heart conversations with diverse guests who share their journeys of setbacks, triumphs, and unwavering hope. We discuss how small acts and bold decisions can contribute to a lasting legacy, proving that anyone can make a difference, no matter their financial or social standing. 'Leave the Pile Higher: Grow Your Legacy' isn't just a podcast; it's a movement, a tribute to my father and to all those who strive to make life better for the next generation. It's about acknowledging that while we can't control the length of our lives, we can control its width and depth. Subscribe now and be part of this journey. Let’s honor the philosophy of leaving the pile higher, not just for ourselves, but for those who follow. Let's build.
Episodes
When was the last time you had a conversation that made you think deeper than you planned to?
In this episode, I sit down with my frat brother, Saif Madar — a man I’ve known for over two decades. Same yard. Different eras. Real brotherhood.
Saif was born in Guyana and raised in the Bronx. Engineer by training. MBA in finance. A numbers guy. Analytical. Measured. Strategic.
And if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s not the typ...
Some relationships don’t fade with time—they just pause.
And when they resume, they remind you who you were and who you’re becoming.
In this episode, I sit down with Cedric Nelson, a brother I’ve known for over four decades. We became friends and teammates in high school, went on to play college ball in different places, and somehow stayed connected through the noise of life—a friendship that always picked up right w...
This episode launches Legacy Blueprint, a new panel series within Leave the Pile Higher, Grow Your Legacy. Legacy Blueprint brings brothers together for honest, reflective conversations around leadership, healing, and legacy. Each Blueprint centers on a specific theme and may unfold as a single episode or a multi-part conversation, depending on how deep we chop it up.
In Part One: The Weight We Carry, I vibe with three...
What does it mean to grow as a man when the blueprint wasn’t handed to you?
Today is December 4th — the day my father was born, my fraternity’s Founders Day, and the day this podcast turns three years old. In this special reflection I speak about the weight men carry, the healing I’m walking through as a father, and the stretching that marriage continues to bring. I open up about a moment that shaped me, the lessons I...
Growth doesn’t happen when life is easy — it happens when you face fears and step out of your comfort zone. Legacy doesn’t start with money — it starts with mindset. So what does it really take to unlearn what’s been passed down, heal what’s been ignored, and build something that actually lasts?
That’s where Financial Advisor Ferris Dean comes in.
In this episode, we talk about what real growth looks like — not ...
Am I the only one? Have you ever said “yes” when you really meant “maybe” — or agreed to something you knew wasn’t yours to carry?
Oh, so it’s not just me.
Yeah, saying yes out of habit, out of guilt, or just wanting to be the one people can count on — until those yeses started costing me peace, purpose, and alignment. I found myself overextended, overcommitted, and wondering how I got there.
What I’m sharing today isn’t...
Ever been in a season where everything went quiet—your confidence, your creativity, even your peace?
It’s been six months since I dropped a new episode, and this one isn’t just about being back—it’s about what happens when the vision goes quiet but doesn’t die.
In this episode, I talk about the silence between seasons—how life, responsibility, and doubt can cloud your confidence—and how God used that stillness to reset ...
What if everything you thought was success… still left you empty?
King Solomon—richer and wiser than anyone alive—looked at everything he built and said: “Meaningless… all of it.”
That line hits even harder today—because this episode goes live on my birthday, and I’ve been thinking deeply about what really matters. Not just what we grind for—but what we build that will actually last.
In a world chasing fast wins and constan...
What happens when life forces you to rewrite your financial story?
For Shakira "Sam the Agent" Moran, financial empowerment wasn’t just a career choice—it was survival. As a young single mom, she found herself drowning in overdraft fees after an unexpected auto-pay mishap. A tearful call to the bank resulted in a rare moment of mercy, but it also sparked a vow: never again. That moment set her on a path to learn...
Seven years. That’s how long it’s been since my world shifted—since my father took his last breath in his sleep, leaving behind a legacy that still speaks to me every single day. Some days, I laugh. Other days, I feel the weight of his absence. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in death, there are things that come to life.
In this episode, I take you back to that weekend—the last call I didn’t return, the S...
What’s it like to sit down with your best friend of 40 years for a podcast interview? It’s an incredible experience filled with laughs, life lessons, and heartfelt reflections. But the real challenge? Editing over two hours of raw, inspiring conversation into one unforgettable episode—LOL.
DaRon Wood’s story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. From earning the rare distinction of U.S. Army Basic Training Hono...
Why do some people achieve unstoppable momentum while others struggle to even get started? Is it talent, luck, or something more intentional?
Welcome to 2025! In this first episode of the new year, we’re not just talking about habits that stick or resolutions that fade—we’re uncovering what makes habits truly transformative. This is about building momentum that propels you forward and creating a legacy that lasts.
Join me ...
For far too long, Black men have been expected to shoulder immense pressures from both society and our communities, often in silence. When it comes to mental health, this silence has devastating consequences. Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among Black men aged 15-24, and rates are climbing among middle-aged men—a sobering reminder of the challenges faced during this critical life stage.
This rise is fue...
Two years. Two years of resilience, purpose, and building something greater than ourselves. In this milestone episode of Leave the Pile Higher, Grow Your Legacy, we celebrate the journey—through the highs, the lows, and the six-month silence that nearly derailed it all.
This celebration is deeply personal. Today would have been my dad’s 77th birthday, and every step of this podcast has been done in honor of him. My father...
What does it really mean to heal from the legacy of broken relationships? Is healing a passive process, something that happens to us over time, or is it an intentional, active choice we make—one that requires courage, resilience, and faith?
In this transformative episode, Charvette Shirk Pitt—founder of M.E.N. (Men Embracing Non-Violence) and author of Healing the Fatherless: Valuing and Validating the Daughter You Have ...
In this powerful episode of Leave the Pile Higher, Grow Your Legacy, Bryan takes listeners from kindergarten memories to hard reflections on America’s promises and failures, exploring the complex legacy that shapes our lives today. With a deep focus on the resilience of Black Americans—especially Black women—he examines what “liberty and justice for all” should truly mean in a nation still grappling with the wounds of it...
Have you ever stopped to think about the legacy you’re building right now? Not some far-off dream or ‘someday’ plan, but the steps you and I are taking today to shape tomorrow. Legacy isn’t about waiting for the “right” moment; it’s made up of those small, daily choices we often overlook. It’s not about the big, flashy moments—it’s in the simple, consistent actions and the mindset we cultivate.
With the year winding down,...
Have you ever wondered how life’s toughest challenges can lead to personal growth and a lasting impact? In this episode, we sit down with Mesha Mebane, whose incredible journey of resilience shows how adversity can spark transformation. After the devastating loss of her only child, career upheavals, and divorce, Mesha chose not to settle. Instead, she redefined her life, shifted her mindset, and created a powerful bluepr...
Have you ever wondered how someone turns life’s challenges into a powerful legacy? In this episode, I connect with Emmett Burns, an educator and founder of ClaraRuth Homeschool, who’s doing just that. Emmett and I first met years ago on a commuter train, quickly bonding over our shared love of football—we both played in college—and our diehard loyalty to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Beyond our love for the game, we’re both e...
Episode Description:
We often think about legacy as the things we leave behind—our titles, accomplishments, and possessions. But what if part of building a legacy includes knowing when to pause, heal, and restore ourselves? In this episode, I share a personal story from my family vacation that opened my eyes to the importance of healing as part of legacy-building.
It all started with some horseshoe crabs washed ashore on t...
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