Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed

Timestamps00:01 — The moment Justin reconsidered the “five people” principle00:04 — The manager who saw potential in him00:09 — Why your intention matters more than the event00:12 — The five people Justin keeps in his corner00:20 — A more natural approach to networking00:29 — What makes a room worth being in00:33 — How to audit your circle without cutting people offGuest linkswww.instagram.com/justintschenck 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Shay’s healing journey helped her find her voice—and a new direction for her work.Why effective leadership starts with curiosity, listening, and making space for others.Signs that “independence” may actually be isolation, and how community can help.What makes an inner circle meaningful: shared values, different perspectives, and real contribution.Why purpose and profit can support each other—and how to lead with intention.Timestamps00:00 — Meet Sha Sparks and the idea behind the episode02:00 — The healing journey that led Shay to speak her truth07:12 — Courage, vulnerability, and being present09:37 — Leading through curiosity instead of having every answer17:17 — The hidden cost of striving alone21:10 — How to know when you’re ready for an inner circle32:09 — Purpose-driven business and the fear of rejectionGuest LinksLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sha-sparksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshasparks/Instagram: www.instagram.com/theshasparks/YouTube: www.youtube.com/shasparksWebsite: www.shasparks.com 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Key TakeawaysMoney decisions are influenced by emotional patterns and family stories—not just budgets and calculations.A quick, pressure-free writing exercise can help clarify what you genuinely want from life and money.Small, repeatable steps are more sustainable than trying to change everything at once.A pre-approval or maximum qualifying amount isn’t the same as a comfortable, realistic home budget.You don’t need to put 20% down in every case, but you do need to understand the full costs and possible payment changes.Timestamps02:08 — Why Jax expanded from mortgages into financial education04:45 — The hidden money patterns that can affect high achievers11:35 — Why budgets fail when they ignore emotions and identity18:22 — A 5–10 minute exercise to get clear on what you want21:30 — The Financial Instincts Framework, explained31:25 — What first-time home buyers often misunderstand39:19 — Pre-approval, down payments, and the risk of becoming house poorGuest LinksPBJ Mortgage: PBJTeam.comurals.co (Portfolio)podopshost.com (RSS Feed)pbjteam.com (Company)linkedin.com/in/pbj-mortgage-jacqueline-crider 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:How perfectionism can lead to paralysis, overwhelm, and procrastination.Why ADHD, emotional reactivity, and perfectionism can overlap.How vulnerability and authenticity can help people connect.What a balanced, supportive parenting approach can look like.Why aiming for “good enough” may be healthier than demanding 100% all the time.Timestamps00:00 — Meet Dr. Beth Capecchi and the “Never Perfect” message06:03 — People-pleasing, perfectionism, and getting stuck08:01 — ADHD, procrastination, and imposter syndrome11:03 — How perfectionism undermines your potential19:47 — Practical ways to challenge your inner critic26:37 — Perfectionism, parenting, and modeling imperfection41:05 — Dr. Beth’s challenge: practice progress over perfectionGuest LinksWebsite: neverperfect.org@neverperfectpodcast 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 key takeawaysRussell describes how accommodations during a state government internship—and later experiences in law school—shaped his path into dyslexia research.He argues that identifying reading difficulties early can help families and schools respond sooner.His “write first, read next” approach starts with a student’s interests and builds from words to sentences.He demonstrates how reading a sentence aloud and revising it can help students notice grammar and spelling.For older students, he outlines a structured writing process using specific questions, evidence, and a “warrant” to connect ideas.Timestamps01:17 — The internship experience that turned dyslexia into a mission11:11 — The advice Russell says can make struggling readers wait too long for support19:53 — A live demonstration of the “write first” approach29:00 — Why student interests and motivation matter32:00 — Building ideas from specific questions toward bigger themes37:31 — A framework for writing stronger body paragraphs48:33 — Where to learn more about Russell’s workGuest linksWebsite:https://dyslexiaclasses.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses (page with 2,091+ followers) 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, you’ll learn:Why creators need a business strategy—not just followers and views.How to spot a proven format and bring a fresh perspective to it.Why choosing a focused niche can help a new account find its audience.How multiple platforms and an email list can make a creator business more resilient.How batching content and setting limits can support consistency without constant filming.Timestamps00:02 — The mindset shift: creator to business owner00:07 — The viral reel that showed him what could work00:17 — Why views don’t automatically turn into income00:24 — Rene’s playbook for building a faceless content account00:32 — The software products behind his creator business00:42 — Content batching, boundaries, and avoiding burnoutGuest linksAll my links: https://beacons.ai/reneremsikMy website: https://aitrendz.xyz/ 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Five takeaways:Why chasing “easy money” can leave entrepreneurs without the motivation to push through hard moments.How ten minutes of daily dreaming helped Jason clarify what he wanted from his life and work.What the 3L framework—Longing, Lifting, and Lightness—can reveal about a business idea.How focus groups, beta testers, and pre-sales can help test whether an idea solves a real problem people will pay for.Why finding your first customers and learning from mentors may matter more than perfecting your logo or website.Timestamps00:00 — From the family car dealerships to entrepreneurship06:26 — The daily habit that helped Jason find clarity09:11 — “Easy money” versus a dream-driven business13:42 — Jason’s 3L framework for choosing an idea22:30 — Focus groups, feedback, and pre-selling28:39 — Finding your first customers and reaching new audiences34:15 — Why mentors can shorten the pathGuest linksWebsite: goalcrazy.comIdea to Profit Blueprint: goalcrazy.com/blueprintBook: Dream Driven — featured on Jason’s website 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Key TakeawaysBuild a reliable task-management system that grows with your responsibilities.Protect scheduled time for high-impact, money-making activities.Use “junk drawer” blocks for small tasks and buffer time for the unexpected.Choose a key quarterly goal and create a “not now” list to guard your focus.Spend ten minutes a day dreaming about the work and life you want to build.Episode Timestamps00:00 — Why ideas aren’t enough to create follow-through04:20 — The “busy but not building” trap07:17 — Planning your week around high-impact work10:25 — Buffer time, accountability, and avoiding derailment15:26 — The power of a quarterly “not now” list18:40 — How boundaries can make you more effective23:37 — Jason’s seven-day dreaming challengeGuest LinksWebsite: goalcrazy.comFree Life Crash Course: goalcrazy.com/course 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 takeawaysBring your strengths into a new chapter. Andrew adapted skills from corporate leadership rather than leaving them behind.Make the plan measurable. Regular check-ins and clear tactics help turn a strategy into tangible progress.Don’t let FOMO make the decision. Evaluate the land, the property, and your long-term goals before committing.Success includes how you show up for family. Andrew describes the intention and support it took to stay engaged while traveling for work.Build a life around what matters. For Andrew and Meg, living on Long Beach Island brought community, purpose, gratitude, and a fresh start.Timestamps00:00 — Andrew’s next chapter after corporate leadership06:34 — The example he hoped to set for his children09:25 — Why disciplined planning matters in real estate14:41 — How to avoid a fear-of-missing-out purchase17:38 — Doing right by clients—and building trust20:14 — Creating a meaningful life on Long Beach Island25:33 — Andrew’s advice for high performers chasing the next titleGuest linksWebsite: https://lbifreemanco.com/agents/andrew-paetowLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewpaetow 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 key takeawaysCompetence earns trust: Know your work deeply and keep sharpening your skills.Confidence grows through clarity: When you can explain what you know, others can make decisions with greater assurance.Commitment shows up in the follow-through: Work ethic, preparation, and keeping your word matter.Care makes trust personal: People want to feel valued—not treated as a means to an outcome.Success can change with age: Andrew now puts more emphasis on family time, health, and meaningful work than on accumulation alone.Timestamps00:00 — Andrew’s unlikely path from pharma to real estate05:58 — What “meaningful success” looks like at 5510:35 — The Four Cs: Andrew’s framework for building trust18:58 — Teaching kids discipline, work ethic, and investing25:43 — How to assess a professional before you hire them31:12 — Why quality matters most when nobody is watching32:42 — Where to connect with AndrewGuest linksWebsite: https://lbifreemanco.com/agents/andrew-paetowLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewpaetow 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.