LifeExcellence with Brian Bartes

Scott O’Neill is one of Australia’s leading voices in property investment. A former civil engineer turned self-made investor, he achieved financial freedom by 28 and built the Rethink Group – a powerhouse spanning commercial and residential investing, finance, and renewables. His hands-on approach, deep market insight and relentless drive for excellence have positioned Rethink Group as one of the country’s most trusted and progressive investment partners.

Laird Hamilton is a big wave surfer and a pioneer in the world of action water sports. Over the last decade, Laird has transcended from surfing to become an international fitness icon and nutrition expert. He is Co-Founder and Chief Innovator of Laird Superfood, and the author of several books. Laird has also appeared in a number of feature films and surfing documentaries, and on numerous television shows.

Hilde Dosogne is a Belgian ultrarunner who started running at 41 and quickly evolved into a world-class endurance athlete. In 2024, she set an extraordinary Guinness World Record by running 366 consecutive marathons in support of breast cancer research. A dedicated athlete, mother of four, and an inspiration to many, Hilde continues to push the limits of human endurance.

Mark Skousen, Ph. D. is a nationally known investment expert, economist, university professor and author of more than 25 books. Since 1980, he has been editor in chief of Forecasts & Strategies, a popular award-winning investment newsletter. Dr. Skousen is known as “America’s Economist,” and he has been identified as one of the 20 most influential living economists. 

Amy Mae Dolan is a World Champion Irish dancer. At just 19 years old, she became the youngest-ever Principal Dancer in the world-renowned, Grammy Award winning production, Riverdance. Amy Mae’s incredible artistry, unwavering determination, and tireless work ethic set her apart as a world-class performer, and also make her an inspiring leader both on and off the stage.

 Kevin Allen is a sports journalist and author who has written professionally for almost 50 years. He was USA Today's lead hockey writer from 1986 to 2019, and he has written more than 25 sports books. Kevin has covered everything from Super Bowls to the Olympic games, to the World Series, and NCAA basketball. Today, he covers the Detroit Red Wings for Detroit Hockey Now. 

Charlie Wetzel is the long-time writing partner of leadership expert John C. Maxwell. Charlie has been John’s writing partner for more than 30 years, and they have worked together on 120 books. Their incredibly successful collaboration has reached 36 million people, and produced six New York Times bestsellers. 

Michael and Matthew Gardiner, known around the world as “The Gardiner Brothers,” are the dynamic duo revolutionizing Irish dance! These 5x World Champions have captivated global audiences, amassing over 8 million followers and 1 billion+ views on social media. Former Riverdance principal dancers, they were the first brothers to achieve this honor. 

Kim Scott is one of the most sought-after flutists in both the classical and jazz fields. A #1 Billboard-charting artist with five acclaimed albums, Kim is renowned for her captivating tone, flawless technique, and magnetic performances. She is host of the nationally syndicated "Kim Scott’s Block Party Radio," and a soloist and member of the all-female jazz supergroup, Jazz in Pink.

Mally Roncal is a celebrity makeup artist, entrepreneur, and TV personality. Inspired by her mother’s impeccable style, Mally’s fearless approach and undeniable talent quickly earned her spot as a trusted artist for A-list celebrities including Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Celine Dion. In 2005, she launched Mally Beauty on QVC, selling out her entire line in just 36 minutes. Mally’s brand now spans beauty, fashion, and home collections.

Mat Fraser is widely considered to be the most dominant and successful athlete in the history of CrossFit, earning five consecutive CrossFit Games titles as the Fittest Man on Earth from 2016 to 2020. Mat is also the Founder and Chief Product Officer of HWPO Training. His mantra, “Hard Work Pays Off” guided him as a CrossFit athlete, and continues to drive him today in his business endeavors. 

Miki Sudo is a competitive eating champion, and the top-ranked female according to Major League Eating. Known for her dominance in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, she is a ten-time, undefeated champion of that event, setting a record in 2024 by consuming 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Miki is currently ranked World #5 among men and women combined.

Leigh Steinberg, legendary sports agent and founder of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, has represented over 300 elite athletes, including the number one overall pick in the NFL draft an unprecedented eight times. Known as the real-life inspiration for the Oscar-winning film, “Jerry Maguire,” Leigh is a bestselling author, philanthropist, and a pioneer in athlete branding and high-stakes contract negotiation.

Tiffani Bova is one of the world’s leading experts in business growth and transformation. Her distinguished career includes executive roles in sales, marketing, and customer service for both startups and Fortune 500 companies. Tiffani is the acclaimed author of two Wall Street Journal bestsellers, GrowthIQ and The Experience Mindset, and is also a highly respected keynote speaker. She is ranked in the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. 

 Franz Harary continually redefines the art of magic through his work as a performer and visionary illusion designer. He’s known for raising magic to the level of spectacle with his arena shows and he has the distinction of being the first world-class magician to perform illusions entirely of his own design, winning international acclaim and the highest awards for his astounding achievements. 

Amy Somerville is the Chief Executive Officer of SUCCESS Enterprises, a multi-platform media company which includes the iconic SUCCESS Magazine, SUCCESS Coaching, and SUCCESS.com. She is a mission-driven leader with demonstrated success in developing highly effective teams, delivering dynamic learning strategies, and building engaged communities. Amy lives her life intentionally and is driven daily by the acronym L.I.V.E., which stands for LEAD, INSPIRE, VALUE, and EMPATHIZE.

Jason Belmonte is an Australian professional bowler. Known for his unique, two-handed delivery style, Jason has won 31 PBA titles (which is the seventh most all-time), including a record 15 major championships. He is also a seven-time PBA Player of the Year. Belmonte’s influence extends beyond the lanes as a trailblazer and ambassador for the sport, earning him recognition as one of bowling’s all-time greats.

Madison Marsh is Miss America 2024. She is also a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2023 with a degree in physics, Madison made history in January 2024 when she became the first active-duty Air Force officer to be named Miss America.

Jean Oelwang is a Collaborations Architect and the founding CEO of Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds collectives, incubates ideas and re-invents systems for a better world. Prior to starting Virgin Unite, Jean worked with over 25 Virgin businesses across 15 industries. She is the Co-Founder of Plus Wonder, and author of the book, Partnering: Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen.

Dawn Riley is a legend in the world of sailing! She has raced in four America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World races, and was the first woman ever to manage an America’s Cup sailing team. Dawn was also named one of Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century. She has been inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the International America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.