The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner
You can be grateful for what you have and still strive for more. The duality of gratitude and success is a difficult concept to grasp, but understanding it is invaluable in both your success and well-being.
On the Grateful Podcast, Jack and his guests explain how everyone has opportunities and choices to go after the life they want, and they owe it to themselves to do just that. You must recognize and be grateful for what you have in order to get the best out of yourself moving forward.
There are conversations ranging from business to mental health and everything in between as well.
The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner
Why Achievement Is NOT Success with James Brackin IV | 93
James Brackin started coaching people twice his age at 17. At 21, he’s hosted over 300 episodes of the You Can Too Podcast and built a life completely on his own terms — without college, without a corporate job, and without waiting for permission.
In episode 93 of The Grateful Podcast, we go deep on what it really takes to live with intention in your early 20s — from investing in yourself with money you don’t have, to navigating self-doubt, to redefining success outside of social expectations.
We talk about:
• The Be-Do-Have mindset
• Escaping the trap of chasing outcomes
• Why most people are just not “f*cking around enough to find out”
• How to build credibility as a young creator
• Why true success is internal, not external
Whether you’re 18 or 38, this conversation will challenge the way you think about ambition, balance, and what it means to live a life worth living.
Timestamps:
00:00 Breaking the Mold: Early Success and Self-Investment
03:43 Navigating the Balance: Fast-Paced Living vs. Slow Reflection
06:56 Building Connections: The Power of Community and Environment
09:53 Unlocking Opportunities: How to Attract Influential Guests
12:51 Defining Success: Internal vs. External Validation
16:05 Finding Your Own Path: The Challenge of Societal Expectations
19:15 Investing in Yourself: The Value of Personal Growth
22:11 Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Personal Development
25:15 The Journey of Self-Discovery: Embracing Change and Growth
29:27 The Power of Presence and Anticipation
33:24 The Duality of Gratitude and Ambition
38:31 Redefining Happiness and Expectations
39:15 Designing a Life of Enjoyment
43:33 The Role of Environment and Beliefs
49:06 Embracing Imposter Syndrome
52:54 Trusting Intuition and Discernment
57:04 The Importance of Honesty and Self-Awareness
🔗 Connect with James:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbrackiniv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesbrackiniv
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-brackin-iv-506069216
🎙️ Listen to You Can Too Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/44fMq0nBTx7YUg0oxXfCeC
📺 Listen on your favorite platform:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-grateful-podcast-with-jack-wagoner/id1725776061
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5EsTEpQAjU4BxUrDoFyZ6b
Subscribe for more deep conversations with thinkers, seekers, and soulful creators. 🙏
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🧠 More from Jack:
Newsletter (Magic, Meaning & Momentum): https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/aa6b0945-43aa-43c8-b320-0fde6998f852?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack_wagoner_/
1:1 Coaching & Dream-Chasing Guidance: jackcwagoner@gmail.com
💬 If you found this conversation meaningful, send it to a friend and leave a review. It really helps more people find this kind of soul-nourishing content.
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🎙️ About Jack:
I’m an 18-year-old high school student with a big dream: to show the world that you can be grateful and ambitious at the same time. Through The Grateful Podcast, I explore what it means to live a meaningful life—one deep conversation at a time.
#GratefulPodcast #JamesBrackin #SelfImprovement #YoungEntrepreneur #PersonalGrowth #BeDoHave #LifeDesign
