Brilliant Podcast

Brilliant Podcast

From 2021 to 2023, Tristan Ahumada captured the podcasting world’s attention with the Brilliant Thoughts podcast through SUCCESS Magazine, amassing a dedicated following. With over 100 episodes and glowing five-star reviews, it averaged more than 100,000 downloads per episode, becoming an essential listen for those eager to grow their life and business. Now, we’re narrowing the focus even further — Introducing Brilliant, a podcast dedicated to the books you should be reading, but aren’t. Join Tristan as he interviews some of the smartest minds on the planet—authors who have poured their genius into carefully crafted books that you should be reading. These thought leaders are shaping the future, and they’re sharing ideas that will help you think more critically, enhance your knowledge, and elevate your life and business. Each episode will take you through the key lessons from their work, offering insights that can inspire breakthroughs and drive real change. These aren’t just books—they’re transformative ideas that propel humanity forward, and Tristan will guide you through them. Subscribe now and discover the books and ideas that will change the way you think, transforming both your life and business. Brilliant is your new go-to for the stories and insights you didn’t know you needed.

Episodes

February 20, 2026 58 mins

If you think your high commission checks equal wealth, you’re adorable, and probably wrong. Most real estate agents are masters at making money and absolute disasters at keeping it. In this episode of the Brilliant Podcast, Tristan Ahumada sits down with Steph Wagner, author of Fly, to explain why your "leaning out" strategy is a financial train wreck waiting to happen.

We are moving past the "pink tax" and the cringey budget sprea...

Mark as Played

Welcome back to the Brilliant Podcast, where we don’t just talk about the future—we accidentally bump into it while gaming.

In this episode, Tristan Ahumada sits down with Bastian Bergman, Co-Founder & COO of Solsten and author of Press Play, to explain why gaming is no longer “interesting” or “experimental”, it’s unavoidable. If that makes you uncomfortable, good....

Mark as Played
So I sat down with Goldie Chan, yes, the green-haired legend of LinkedIn, to talk about introverts, fake extroverts, and why L.A. somehow demands you be “on” all the time, even when you’re just trying to buy a latte. If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone in L.A. who sounds like they’re auditioning… this episode is for you. Goldie showed up with her brand-new book, Personal Branding for Introverts, and within five minutes I...
  • Mark as Played
    I sat down with Russ Laggan, yes, rhymes with Dragon, to talk about what it actually means to be followable in business and life. He’s not just the Chief Growth Officer at eXp Realty, he’s also a guy who forges metal, builds guitars, and has a refreshingly honest take on leadership and mindset. We get into why being followable starts with how you show up, how to stop overcomplicating connection, and why adding value first changes e...
    Mark as Played
    What really makes someone a great leader? Spoiler: it’s not a fancy title or your ability to quote Simon Sinek. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Andrews, Harvard educator and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others, to talk about why leadership starts with, you guessed it, you. We get real about emotional awareness, personal stories, and how your inner world quietly dictates your outer leadership.

    Read more

    Mark as Played
    This week, I'm discussing self-persuasion with Jay Heinrichs. We bridge Aristotle's teachings with contemporary challenges such as imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and small actions that really do sum to something big. You'll learn how hyperbole can be harnessed as motivation, how mood → mind → action → habit plays out in real life, and why what you say to yourself matters more than you realize.

     

    It's...
    Mark as Played
    In this episode of BRILLIANT, I sit down with Martin Dubin, author of Blindspotting: How To See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader. Martin shares how our deepest blindspots, emotional, personal, and generational, often become the very things that shape our leadership if we’re brave enough to face them. We unpack how storytelling, reflection, and honest conversations can help us lead with purpose and heal what’s unspoken. If you’re...
    Mark as Played
    On this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I’m joined by Matthew Dicks, the author of Stories Sell, as we talk about how the power of storytelling can reshape how we connect with others—whether in business, relationships, or daily life. Matthew shares his techniques for transforming data into engaging stories, why vulnerability is crucial in connecting with audiences, and how to create emotional resonance through storytelling. From his ...

    Mark as Played
    In this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I talk with Kass and Michael Lazerow, co-authors of Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success. We dive into the reality of entrepreneurship—how it feels, why it’s worth it, and how to stay sane in the process. From giving Gary Vee his first office space to selling Buddy Media to Salesforce for $754M, they’ve lived it all.   We cover how to decide when to pivot,...

    Mark as Played
    In this episode of the BRILLIANT podcast, I sit down with linguist and award-winning author Anne Curzan to explore how language is changing in real time and what that means for how we communicate, connect, and lead.   Anne and I dig into everything from grammar correction on social media to the word “funner,” why kids are the real influencers of language, and how we can become more empathetic communicators. We also talk about how A...
    Mark as Played
    Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Terry Szuplat, former Special Assistant to the President and senior speechwriter for Barack Obama. He’s the author of Say It Well, a masterclass on writing and speaking with precision, empathy, and impact.   Terry opens up about the behind-the-scenes process of presidential speechwriting, including how moments like the Boston Marathon bombing memorial were shaped by...
  • Mark as Played
    Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I talk with LTC Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret and author of Nobody Is Coming to Save You. We dive deep into the emotional and social challenges we’re all facing today, and how to lead through them with intention.   Scott shares what it means to fight the real battle happening inside us and around us. We talked about storytelling as a healing tool, why social capital is more val...

    Mark as Played

    Popular Podcasts

      If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

      Betrayal Season 5

      Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

      The Joe Rogan Experience

      The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

      The Breakfast Club

      The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

      Dateline NBC

      Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Advertise With Us
    Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

    Connect

    © 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.