The Meat Mafia Podcast

Cru Mahoney is a 24-year-old writer and creator known for his raw, daily reflections on self-discipline, purpose, and identity. With over 2,400 consecutive days of running a mile and sitting in an ice bath each morning, Cru isn't chasing performance—he's chasing character. His content blends humor, honesty, and personal conviction, resonating with people who are tired of surface-level inspiration and ready to do the work.

In this episode, we sit down with Cru Mahoney to explore what it means to live in alignment with your values. Cru opens up about growing up with anxiety, feeling trapped in school, and why he chose to opt out of the traditional path to build a life around truth and discipline. We dig into his 2,400+ day streak of running and ice baths—not for the physical challenge, but as a way to become someone he respects. If you’ve ever felt like you were meant for more, this conversation is your reminder that the work begins within.

What we cover:
- 2,478+ days of running and ice baths
- Why doing hard things builds self-respect
- What it actually means to “keep a promise to yourself.”
- Why confidence is a skill—not a trait—and how to build it.

(00:00) Introduction
(05:30) Why doing one hard thing every day changes who you are
(10:15) The real reason Cru has run every day for 6.5 years
(16:45) Ice baths, pain, and learning to stay in the hard moments
(22:10) Discipline as a daily promise, not a performance
(28:35) How choosing discomfort builds self-respect
(35:00) Why confidence is earned—not a personality trait
(41:20) You don't need a plan—just show up today
(48:05) Running every day didn’t fix his life—but it revealed who he is
(01:02:10) What 2,478 days taught Cru about who he wants to be

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In this episode of the Meat Mafia Podcast, Harry sits down with Jonathan Lusk, founder of BirdDog, a revolutionary platform reconnecting Americans with the land through hunting, farming, and stewardship. Jonathan shares his inspiring journey from Wall Street to rural Texas, and how BirdDog is empowering landowners, preserving wild places, and changing lives through what he calls “conservation capitalism.” From tax credits to campfire conversations, this episode dives deep into the future of land use, legacy, and regenerative living. 

Jonathan Lusk is the founder and CEO of BirdDog, a Texas-based land platform that helps landowners unlock income and preserve their legacy through hunting leases, farming access, land management tools, and more. With a background in investment management and a passion for the outdoors, Jonathan blends business acumen with boots-on-the-ground empathy, creating life-changing experiences that heal both people and land. His vision is bold: to build a better, more connected rural America—powered by technology, stewardship, and storytelling.

What we cover:
- The Origin Story of Bird Dog
- Conservation Capitalism
- Tax Strategy for Landowners
- The Role of AI in Rural Stewardship
-  BirdDog’s Vision for the Future

Timestamps:
(00:45) – Jonathan introduces Bird Dog and the mission to reconnect people with the land
(06:30) – The early days: realizing the lack of tech and transparency in hunting access
(12:15) – Hosting educational hunts that build confidence and community
(18:40) – Life-changing stories: how one father-son trip shifted everything
(24:50) – Bringing on investors like Colt McCoy and the power of aligned capital
(31:10) – Bird Dog’s tech and tax platform: simplifying land ownership at scale
(38:30) – The role of AI in unlocking government programs for landowners
(45:05) – Building a team culture around mission, humility, and high performance

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Sean Lake is the founder of BUBS Naturals, a supplement company honoring the legacy of Glen “BUB” Doherty, a Navy SEAL and Sean’s best friend. Former professional snowboarder and marketing executive, Sean brings a unique blend of grit, entrepreneurial spirit, and heartfelt purpose. His mission: create clean, effective products that fuel performance and give back to veteran communities.

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Lake—former pro snowboarder, team manager for legends like Shaun White, and now founder of BUBS Naturals. Sean shares the raw, inspiring story of how his best friend Glen “BUB” Doherty’s legacy lives on through a company built on integrity, performance, and purpose. We dive into the world of collagen, MCT oil, and the supplement industry, but what shines most is the story of friendship, loss, and building something that matters.

What we cover:
- Sean’s journey from pro snowboarder to brand builder
- Building a supplement brand rooted in purpose
- The legacy of Glen “BUB” Doherty and the founding of BUBS Naturals
- How the SEAL community inspired Sean’s mission
- Balancing business growth with staying mission-driven

Timestamps:
(00:00) – Intro: Who is Sean Lake and what is BUBS Naturals?

(04:12) – Snowboarding beginnings and ski bum days

(09:30) – The story of Glen “BUB” Doherty

(15:45) – The moment Sean knew he had to start BUBS

(26:08) – First product launch and what set them apart

(01:02:19) – Giving 10% to veteran charities: Why it matters

(01:08:41) – Building trust in a noisy supplement industry

(01:14:07) – Living a life of self-improvement

(01:20:16) – What Glen stood for, and keeping that mission alive

(01:27:33) – Final reflections: Purpose, performance, and legacy

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Scott Hickle is the founder and CEO of Throne, a health tech startup building the world’s first smart toilet to help people monitor their gut health, hydration, and urological function through passive, real-time data collection. With a background in engineering and product management, Scott blends deep technical knowledge with a mission-driven approach to preventative health. A Texas native and Austin-based builder, he’s turning one of the last untapped frontiers of health data—the toilet—into a life-saving diagnostic tool.

In this episode, Brett sits down with Scott Hickle, founder of Throne, to unpack one of the most ambitious healthtech missions in the game: building a toilet that could help prevent colon cancer, manage IBD, and transform gut health awareness. Scott shares how Throne evolved from a running joke to a startup with the potential to save lives. They dive deep into gut health, the cultural stigma around poop, and how stress, sleep, and food inputs impact digestion. Scott also shares takeaways from his ultra-processed food experiment and lessons from startup life—touching on energy, mission, and building in public.

What we cover:
- The Origin of Throne
- The Gut as a Diagnostic Goldmine
- Ultra-Processed Food Experiment
- Building a Mission-Driven Startup

Timestamps:
(00:33) – How Throne was born
(05:45) – From math failure to engineer
(10:00) – Pain tolerance and entrepreneurship
(27:55) – The smart toilet idea emerges
(30:40) – Gut health starts in the toilet
(36:00) – Why people ignore symptoms
(44:50) – Tracking your gut in real time
(52:00) – Preventing colon cancer early

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Michael is a fitness coach and content creator dedicated to simplifying health and wellness. After leaving a corporate career in cybersecurity sales, he embraced social media as a platform to spread practical, no-nonsense fitness advice, quickly amassing a large following. His content focuses on breaking down myths in the health space, advocating for simple yet effective habits, and inspiring people to take control of their fitness journey. Rooted in faith and personal growth, Michael’s mission is to help others unlock their full potential through discipline, self-improvement, and community. 

Michael from HigherUp Wellness joins the show to talk about the explosive rise of his coaching business, social media journey, and the deeper purpose driving his mission. We explore how fitness is more than just aesthetics—it's about unlocking energy, confidence, and mental clarity. Michael shares the life-changing lessons he learned through personal hardship, the role of faith in his journey, and why he believes health is the foundation for success in all areas of life. From his viral “60-second public speaking challenge” to his take on why Austin is leading the health renaissance, this conversation is packed with insights on self-improvement, discipline, and taking control of your well-being. 

What we cover:
- Michael’s Journey to Fitness Coaching 
- Fitness Fundamentals That Work 
- Faith & Personal Growth 
- Building Confidence Through Health 
- The 60-Second Speaking Challenge 

Timestamps:
(00:00) – Introduction and how Michael connected with the podcast.

(06:00) – Michael’s social media growth and the power of authenticity online.

(12:00) – How stepping out of fear and embracing vulnerability changed his career.

(16:00) – Faith, hardship, and how his father’s illness shaped his perspective.

(30:00) – The simple fitness principles that deliver real results.

(42:00) – Why personal health is the key to unlocking success in life and business.

(54:00) – The viral “60-second public speaking challenge” and helping people improve their communication.

(58:00) – Final thoughts, reflections, and where to find Michael online.

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