Three men. Three businesses. One podcast.
Meet Talon, Andy, and John — three entrepreneurs at different stages of life and business, united by one mindset: Obsession is required to win in business and in life.
In this first episode, you'll get to know the hosts and the paths that brought them here — from combat zones to car auctions, magazine empires to mental health advocacy. They dive into the mindset shifts that helped them grow, the radical life changes they’ve made, and how your past experiences can fuel your future success.
Your hosts:
🔹 Talon Smith
A retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Talon went from acting in L.A. to serving in Afghanistan. He’s now a HYROX gym owner, 5x World Championship qualifier, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice student in psychiatric and mental health. Talon brings the grit, the structure, and the relentless drive for better.
🔹 John Radzwilla
Founder of Hook & Barrel, the #1 outdoor lifestyle magazine in the U.S., and a marketing innovator with a sharp eye for sales strategy and brand growth. John brings a decade of hustle and creativity in a fast-evolving media space.
🔹 Andy Dunning
Hall of Fame auctioneer and founder of one of the fastest-growing car auctions in America. Andy has scaled multiple businesses and recently underwent a radical personal transformation that’s fueled record-breaking growth.
This episode covers:
• Finding your why
• Turning adversity into advantage
• Radical life change as a business growth catalyst
• Translating past experiences into present leadership
Real stories. Real talk. Real obsession.
This isn’t theory — it’s raw, tested experience from the trenches of business and life. The good, the bad, the ugly, the challenges are all on the table.
Episode 8 - Becoming a better leader in business and life
This conversation covers everything from overcoming old insecurities and childhood baggage to letting go of people’s opinions, forgiving yourself for past mistakes, and setting intentional goals for the new year. If you’re working on becoming more confident, more authentic, and more effective as a leader, this episode is packed with real insight.
3 Mar 2026
Episode 7 - How to recognize excuses in business, fitness, leadership, and life
Why do people make excuses — and how do you actually stop? In this episode of Obsession Required, Talon, John, and Andy break down the real reason people stay stuck: excuses, fear, ego, burnout, and protecting themselves from failure. They unpack how excuses show up in business, fitness, leadership, and life — and how to push past them by making your why bigger than your ego. This episode also dives into Talon’s massive Hyrox Dallas weekend, the explosive growth of his gym, and the mindset s...
22 Jan 2026
Episode 6 - Success isn’t magic—it’s reps.
When your back’s against the wall, do you fight or fold? In Episode 6 of Obsession Required, Talon sits down with mentors Andy and John to unpack real stories of resilience—near-bankruptcy pivots, leading under pressure, cutting bad vendors, and the five fundamentals of success (you’ve got to do all five). If you’re building a business, leading a team, or just leveling up, this one is a masterclass in calm execution, mentorship, and relentless consistency.
24 Dec 2025
Episode 5 - No Shortcuts - Grit in the Gym, Wins at Work
Leadership isn’t just frameworks—it’s physiology. In this episode we unpack how training your body sharpens your judgment, de-stresses your day, and upgrades the presence you carry into every room. Practical starts, zero-cost options, and why “one mile 100 times” beats all-or-nothing thinking. From Marine Recon patrols to HYROX podiums, we break down how discipline in the gym compounds into discipline at work—stress tolerance, decision making, confidence, and the “presence” you bring into a r...
14 Nov 2025
Episode 4 - Haters: How to Turn Criticism into Fuel
If you don’t have haters, you’re playing too small. In this episode we dig into why criticism shows up the moment you raise your standards, how to handle online trolls and quiet “grapevine haters,” and the leadership moves that turn negativity into traction—without getting dragged into the mud. We cover clap-backs (with class), why competitors hate from insecurity, how to read team “dissent” (love vs. frustration vs. misinformation), and why leaders must sell the vision so the org isn’t run ...
7 Oct 2025
Episode 3 - Burnout Isn’t a Badge
Grind culture is not cool—success culture is. In this episode we get real about entrepreneur/CEO burnout: how it sneaks up (brain fog, irritability, “movement without progress,” random emotion), why social media makes it worse, and the practical systems we use to prevent, spot, and recover—without taking our foot off the growth pedal. We cover signs of burnout, how to build a team you can actually step away from, using time-zone arbitrage (working abroad) for a forced daily reset, the “1 hou...
28 Aug 2025
Episode 2 - Everyday Entrepreneur Blind Spots, Resilience & Leading
If you run a business, you know the daily battles are real. In this episode of Obsession Required, we dig into the day-to-day challenges founders face—unexpected shocks (tariffs, COVID shutdowns), broken lead-gen systems, over-engineered tech, team dependency, customer churn, and the leadership traps that quietly stall growth. We share what actually worked: getting back to basics, building independent problem-solvers, installing chain-of-command, and using AI and systems (when they help—not w...
26 Jul 2025
Episode 1: Welcome to the POD
Three men. Three businesses. One podcast. Meet Talon, Andy, and John — three entrepreneurs at different stages of life and business, united by one mindset: Obsession is required to win in business and in life. In this first episode, you'll get to know the hosts and the paths that brought them here — from combat zones to car auctions, magazine empires to mental health advocacy. They dive into the mindset shifts that helped them grow, the radical life changes they’ve made, and how your past exp...
Contact Obsession Required
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Obsession Required?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
