Escaping the Drift with John Gafford

Cody Ash grew up in a tiny town in Kentucky where the most exciting thing to do was play baseball or get into trouble. Today, he travels the world on private jets playing sold-out stadiums as the drummer for country-rap superstar Jelly Roll.

In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Cody to hear the wild story of his rise to the top. From driving 14 hours to New York City for a single unpaid show just to get his foot in the door, to the hilariously rumored reason he actually landed the Jelly Roll gig (hint: it involves hair), Cody's journey is a masterclass in hustle, networking, and being ready when the phone rings.

If you are a musician, a creative, or just an entrepreneur trying to figure out how to break into a closed industry, Cody’s "say yes to everything" mentality is exactly what you need to hear.

In this episode, we cover:

The 14-hour drive to NYC for one show that changed his life.

Why "Small Town Mindset" kills more dreams than lack of talent.

The truth about how he got hired by Jelly Roll.

How to network in an industry where you know nobody.

The reality of touring: It’s not all parties and private jets.

Chapter Titles & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Did the Mullet Get Him the Job?

04:15 – Growing Up in Small Town Kentucky

11:30 – The "Drive to NYC" Hustle: 14 Hours for One Show

19:45 – Breaking Into the Nashville Scene

28:10 – The "Umpire" Incident: Why He Quit His Day Job

35:50 – Getting the Call for Jelly Roll

42:30 – The Mullet Story: How He Really Got Hired

50:00 – Life on the Road: Stadiums vs. Dive Bars

💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below!

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💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.

➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.

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✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:

Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford

Facebook ▶️ / gafford2

🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:
Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9
Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283

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#JellyRoll #CodyAsh #DrummerLife #MusicBusiness #HustleCulture #TourLife #EscapingTheDrift #Nashville
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike Feazel built one of the largest roof replacement companies in America, scaling it to $60 million in revenue before selling it 13 years ago. But instead of retiring to an island, he saw a massive problem in the industry and decided to disrupt it all over again with Roof Maxx.

In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks with Mike about the journey from a small farm in Ohio to becoming a roofing mogul. Mike shares the exact "dealership model" he used to scale his new company to 380 locations in just five years, why he believes the "franchise model" is broken for most service businesses, and how a 17-page Google search led to a breakthrough product that is saving homeowners millions.

If you are in the trades, own a service business, or want to know how to scale a company for a massive exit, this episode is a masterclass in blue-collar entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we cover:

How he scaled a roofing company to $60M and sold it.

The "Dealership vs. Franchise" model: Why one is superior.

How a simple Google search led to a bio-oil breakthrough.

Why he believes "white collar" jobs are in trouble and "blue collar" is the future.

The 3-minute rule for pitching your business to anyone.

Chapter Titles & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Sold for $60 Million

02:15 – The Problem with Asphalt Shingles (And How He Fixed It)

08:45 – Dealerships vs. Franchises: The Scaling Secret

15:30 – How to Scale to 380 Locations in 5 Years

22:10 – The "Google Mafia" & The Cost of Leads

29:00 – Why Blue Collar is the New Gold Rush

36:45 – Managing a Remote Team of 50+ People

42:00 – Final Advice: Don't Retire, Reload

💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below!

☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford
*************
💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.

➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.

*************

✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:

Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford

Facebook ▶️ / gafford2

🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:
Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9
Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283

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#RoofingBusiness #BlueCollarMillionaire #BusinessScaling #ExitStrategy #RoofMaxx #MikeFeazel #EscapingTheDrift #Entrepreneurship

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Cali Estes was an aspiring FBI agent until a meltdown involving cake on the floor led her down a path of addiction to diet pills, speed, and chaos. Today, she is known as "The Female Dr. Drew," helping celebrities, executives, and high-performers break free from addiction without hitting rock bottom.

In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Dr. Cali to discuss the hidden addictions of the wealthy, why traditional rehab fails high achievers, and the shocking reality of high-functioning addicts in the boardroom. She reveals her controversial "harm reduction" approach, why she believes ADHD can be a superpower, and the exact "brain dump" technique she uses to help clients sleep.

If you think addiction only looks like a person under a bridge, or if you're using "stress" as an excuse for your habits, this episode will change your perspective forever.

In this episode, we cover:

How a diet pill addiction almost killed her at 23.

The "Sober on Demand" method for high-functioning executives.

Why "hitting rock bottom" is a myth that kills people.

The truth about sugar, phones, and dopamine addiction.

How to use ADHD as a competitive advantage in business.

Chapter Titles & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: The Cake Meltdown & The "Fat Doctor"

03:45 – The 3 Markers of Addiction You Can’t Ignore

08:15 – Why Sugar is the Gateway Drug

14:30 – The "Functional Addict" Myth: CEOs & Celebrities

21:00 – Why Traditional Rehab Fails High Performers

29:15 – The "Brain Dump" Technique for Better Sleep

36:40 – Is ADHD a Disorder or a Superpower?

42:00 – How to Reset Your Dopamine Baseline

💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below!

☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford
*************
💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.

➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.

*************

✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:

Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford

Facebook ▶️ / gafford2

🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:
Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9
Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283

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#AddictionRecovery #HighFunctioningAnxiety #DrCaliEstes #SoberOnDemand #MentalHealth #ExecutiveCoaching #EscapingTheDrift #DopamineDetox
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brant Pinvidic has sold over 100 TV shows and movie projects to every major network in Hollywood. But one day, while standing in the lobby of MTV, he realized he hated the industry he had conquered.

In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks with the legendary producer and author of The 3-Minute Rule about exactly how to simplify your message to close any deal. Brant shares the terrifying story of pitching between Mark Burnett and Simon Cowell, why he took his family to 52 countries in 52 weeks, and the harsh truth about "investing" in private equity that most entrepreneurs ignore.

If you struggle to explain what you do clearly or feel trapped by your own success, this episode is the blueprint for reclaiming your freedom and your voice.

In this episode, we cover:

How to pitch your business clearly in 3 minutes or less.

The "whiplash" method of storytelling.

Why he quit a dream career in Hollywood to start over.

The "Game of Money": Why you are the end consumer, not the investor.

Chapter Titles & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Pitching with Mark Burnett & Simon Cowell

03:15 – Traveling 52 Countries in 52 Weeks with Kids

12:45 – The 3-Minute Rule: Conceptualize, Contextualize, Actualize

20:30 – The CBS Pitch Story: Out in 9 Minutes

28:10 – Why I Quit Hollywood: The MTV Lobby Moment

36:00 – The "Game of Money": Are You the Investor or the Consumer?

45:00 – Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck

💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below!

☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford
*************
💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.

➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.

*************

✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:

Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford

Facebook ▶️ / gafford2

🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:
Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9
Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283

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#The3MinuteRule #SalesPitch #PublicSpeaking #BrantPinvidic #HollywoodProducer #BusinessTips #EscapingTheDrift #Storytelling
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At just 7 years old, Hannah Hammond was told her family couldn't afford a McFlurry. That single moment of scarcity sparked a fire that would lead her to become a millionaire by age 25.

In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Hannah to break down exactly how she went from an insecure "ugly duckling" to a powerhouse entrepreneur with her own national finance and real estate companies. She shares the surreal experience of being mentored by Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki, why she walked away from a safe engineering career to bet on herself, and the $10,000 investment she made when she was broke that changed everything.

If you feel stuck in a scarcity mindset or think you’re too young to build massive wealth, this episode is your wake-up call.

In this episode, we cover:

The "McFlurry Moment" that defined her financial future.
How she connected with Robert Kiyosaki and Joe Polish.
Why "Energetic Intelligence" is more important than IQ.
Overcoming the "Imposter Syndrome" of young success.

Chapter Titles & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: The 7-Year-Old Who Decided to Be Rich
02:15 – Meeting Robert Kiyosaki & The "Rich Dad" Influence
07:17 – The McFlurry Story: When Ambition Was Born
13:45 – Quitting Engineering to Sell Real Estate
19:30 – The "Rich Dad" Family vs. The "Poor Dad" Reality
24:10 – Investing $10k in Coaching When You’re Broke
32:00 – Mastering "Energetic Intelligence" & Self-Worth
38:45 – Navigating Relationships & Ego as an Entrepreneur
45:00 – Final Advice: How to Stop Drifting

💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below!

☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford
*************
💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.

➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.

*************

✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:

Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford

Facebook ▶️ / gafford2

🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:
Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9
Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283

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#escapingthedrift #hannahhammond #MillionaireMindset #RichDadPoorDad #YoungEntrepreneur #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.