Duffy Diaries is a lifestyle podcast recorded on and around the water, featuring real conversations about business, dating, travel, and everyday chaos. Hosted by Travis Michael, with guests, stories, and perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else
Model, Actor, Country Artist… Then He Bought a Jerky Company | Brandon Collins
Brandon Todd Collins joins Travis Michael on Duffy Diaries to share the unconventional path that took him from growing up on an Oklahoma farm to modeling in New York, acting in Los Angeles, pursuing country music in Nashville, and eventually becoming the owner and CEO of Southern Jerky Company.
Brandon breaks down how a chance encounter during COVID led him to discover a closed jerky company, track down the owners, and ultimately buy the business. We talk about financing the acquisition, rebuilding the brand, growing through grassroots marketing and real relationships, and why he believes taking on something difficult can actually become an advantage when fewer people are willing to stick it out.
We also get into the realities behind entrepreneurship: learning as you go, making sacrifices, knowing when a huge retail opportunity doesn’t make financial sense yet, and staying committed when building a company starts testing every part of your life. Brandon closes the episode with his perspective on purpose, and why having something bigger than money is what keeps you moving when motivation runs out.
Guest: Brandon Todd Collins
Instagram: @brandontoddcollins
TikTok: @brandontoddcollins
Southern Jerky Company
Instagram: @southernjerkycompany
TikTok: @southernjerkycompany
southernjerkyco.com
Hosted by Travis Michael
Instagram: @travismichael
TikTok: @thetravismichael
Duffy Diaries Podcast
Instagram: @duffydiariespodcast
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24 Sept 2026
Marc Wims: Building Wealth, Investing in People & Avoiding a Life of Regret
Marc Wims joins Travis Michael to talk about building wealth, investing in real estate, backing entrepreneurs, and the mindset required to turn ambition into action.
Through Wims Enterprises, Marc invests in real estate and private businesses while working alongside entrepreneurs he believes can drive a company forward. In this episode, he shares how he evaluates founders, why execution matters more than ideas alone, and what decades of business experience have taught him about risk, discipline, and opportunity.
Marc also looks back on his path through the car business and dealership ownership, his transition into investing, his approach to real estate in today’s market, and how he thinks about multifamily development, delayed gratification, relationships, legacy, and mentoring the next generation.
Guest: Marc Wims
Instagram: @marcwims
TikTok: @marctiktoc
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Hosted by Travis Michael
Instagram: @travismichael
TikTok: @thetravismichael
17 Jun 2026
The Rise of Balboa Social Club | Blake Cooke & Jack Friedman
In this episode of Duffy Diaries, Travis sits down with Blake Cooke and Jack Friedman, the founders of Balboa Social Club, to talk about how a small run club turned into one of Newport’s fastest-growing social communities.
Blake and Jack share the story behind Balboa Run Club, the early DIY events, learning how to throw real parties, the power of social media, building a brand from the ground up, and what it takes to create a community people actually want to be part of.
They also get into the behind-the-scenes grind of running events, reinvesting into the business, finding the right partner, staying grounded in the nightlife scene, and the wild story of Ty Dolla $ign pulling up to one of their events.
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@balboa.socialclub
@jackfriedman
@blakecooke
@duffydiariespodcast
@travismichael
#DuffyDiaries #BalboaSocialClub #BlakeCooke #JackFriedman #NewportBeach #OrangeCounty #FounderStory #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Community #RunClub #SocialClub
10 Jun 2026
Antonio Zanellato’s Wild Story: From Naples Streets to Inner Peace | Duffy Diaries
In this episode of Duffy Diaries, Travis sits down with Antonio Zanellato for one of the most powerful stories yet.
Antonio opens up about growing up in Naples, Italy, surviving a tragic childhood accident, being pulled into a tough street environment, moving to America, building a career in shipping, and eventually reinventing himself as a strength and conditioning coach in Newport Beach.
The conversation goes deep into fitness, fatherhood, divorce, plant medicine, healing, self-worth, and learning that the answers we chase externally are often already inside of us.
This episode is about survival, transformation, and finding peace after years of chasing validation.
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@travismichael
@duffydiariespodcast
@antoniozanellato_
#DuffyDiaries #AntonioZanellato #Podcast #NewEpisode #PersonalGrowth #FitnessJourney #HealingJourney #Mindset #NewportBeach
3 Jun 2026
Jack Ryan on Watches, Newport Beach, Federal Trouble & Becoming The Most Red-Flagged Guy in America | Duffy Diaries
Jack Ryan joins Duffy Diaries for one of the wildest conversations yet. From growing up in Las Vegas, moving to Orange County, flipping watches, federal trouble, an ankle monitor, dating stories, family lessons, and becoming one of the most talked-about personalities in Newport — JR tells it all.
New episode drops tomorrow at 8am.
Host: @travismichael
Podcast: @duffydiariespodcast
Guest: @jackryan_golf
#DuffyDiaries #Podcast #NewEpisode #NewportBeach #JackRyan #StoryTime
27 May 2026
Idris Niiazi Returns After His Fight Win | Duffy Diaries
Idris Niiazi returns to Duffy Diaries after winning his fight. He breaks down the full experience — fight week, hearing his coaches in the cage, landing a calf kick knockdown, surviving a close decision, celebrating with food, and what he wants to improve before potentially going pro. Travis and Idris also talk about the weird reality of fighter attention, training, confidence, trash talk, and the mindset it takes to keep chasing bigger goals.
20 May 2026
From Compton to Newport: OC Dre’s Untold Story | Duffy Diaries
OC Dre joins Duffy Diaries for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about growing up in Compton, finding his way to Newport Beach, and becoming one of Orange County’s most recognizable personalities.
Dre talks about moving schools constantly as a kid, his years as a private investigator, wild Newport nightlife stories, dating, friendship, losing both of his parents, his recent 60-pound weight-loss journey, and why he still sees Newport Beach as paradise.
We also get into Sharky’s, Mastro’s, boats, Country Splash in Cabo, and what’s next for Dre as he heads into “hot boy summer.”
Follow OC Dre: @OC_Dre
Follow Duffy Diaries: @duffydiariespodcast
Follow Travis Michael: @travismichael
Country Splash: countrysplash.com
5 May 2026
From Broke in Vegas to Building an Appraisal Empire | Keith Beall
Keith Beall joins Duffy Diaries to talk about his wild journey from playing semi-pro baseball to building an appraisal management company from the ground up.
He opens up about moving from Vegas with no money, starting over, raising a child that wasn’t biologically his, and the lessons that shaped him into the businessman and man he is today.
This episode is about taking risks, handling real-life adversity, building something from nothing, and finding your way when life doesn’t go according to plan.
21 Apr 2026
Idris Niazi: From Immigrant to MMA Fighter
In the very first episode of Duffy Diaries, Travis sits down with up-and-coming MMA fighter Idris Niazi to talk about an incredible journey from Russia to America, building a life from nothing, and chasing the dream of becoming a professional fighter.
Idris opens up about immigrating with no English, working at 7-Eleven, riding a bike miles to work, overcoming setbacks, and the discipline it takes to balance training, work, and everyday life while pursuing MMA.
They also dive into mindset, confidence, sacrifice, relationships, mental toughness, and what it really takes to chase a dream when nobody sees the grind behind it.
If you enjoy real conversations, underdog stories, motivation, business mindset, and combat sports, this episode is for you.
Follow, subscribe, and welcome to Duffy Diaries.
28 Mar 2026
Mark Paul: Running From Police, Prison Stories & Turning His Life Around | Duffy Diaries
Mark Paul joins Duffy Diaries for a wild episode about running from the police, prison, life lessons, and the stories that shaped him into who he is today.
This one gets real, funny, and unpredictable — exactly what Duffy Diaries is all about.
New episodes every Tuesday at 8AM.
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Instagram: @duffydiariespodcast
Host: @travismichael
19 Dec 2025
Duffy Diaries Trailer
Duffy Diaries is a lifestyle podcast recorded on and around the water, featuring real conversations about business, dating, travel, and everyday chaos. Hosted by Travis, with guests, stories, and perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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