Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip.

In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with Rachel Erickson, founder of Unmarked Street and apparel expert who has helped scale brands from startup to $50M+ . She breaks down what actually goes into building a successful brand—and why so many founders get it wrong from the very beginning.

From the importance of fit and truly understanding your customer, to budgeting before you ever design a product, Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes truths that can make or break a business. They also dive into why launching too many products too soon can kill your brand, how to properly test your product in the real world, and what it takes to build systems that actually scale.

If you’re an entrepreneur, former athlete, or high performer thinking about building something of your own, this conversation will challenge your assumptions—and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Chapters

00:00 – The biggest mistake founders make
03:00 – Why fit matters more than anything
06:00 – Defining your ideal customer
09:00 – How long it actually takes to build a product
13:00 – Working backwards from your launch timeline
17:00 – The cost of bad timing
20:00 – Why most brands launch too many products
23:00 – Budget before you design
26:00 – Building your first product the right way
28:00 – The importance of real-world testing
31:00 – Creating systems that scale
34:00 – What separates brands that grow vs stall
37:00 – Building a brand that lasts
39:00 – Profitability vs revenue

Connect with Rachel Erickson

• Website: https://www.unmarkedstreet.com

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

What happens when you hit your financial goals… and still feel like something is missing?

In this episode, Bryan sits down with entrepreneur Landen Goodnight, who built a million-dollar insurance business from the ground up after starting with nothing—living in a low-income apartment, newly married, with a baby on the way and no money for diapers .

Landen shares the real story behind his success, from grinding through the early years to leading a team of 40+ agents and creating a business that generates income without requiring his constant presence. But what makes this conversation powerful isn’t just the growth, it’s the shift. After achieving financial success, Landen found himself asking a deeper question: Now what?

They dive into leadership, hiring the right people, building systems that scale, and the importance of aligning your business with your purpose. Landen also opens up about faith, identity, and why chasing money alone will eventually leave you stuck.

If you’re a high performer, entrepreneur, or someone thinking about starting over, this episode will challenge how you define success, and what it actually takes to build a life you don’t want to escape from.

Chapters

00:00 – From Broke to Business Owner

02:00 – Early Entrepreneurship & Challenges

05:00 – Hiring, Leadership & Building a Team

09:00 – Vision vs Execution: Finding the Right People

13:00 – Faith, Identity & Showing Up Authentically

16:00 – The Hidden Opportunity in “Boring” Industries

19:00 – Advice for Starting Over

22:00 – Building a Business That Runs Without You

25:00 – When Money Isn’t Enough

28:00 – Finding Purpose Beyond Success

31:00 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship & Relationships

33:00 – Final Thoughts & How to Connect

28:30 – Keeping Detroit’s top talent from leaving the market

Connect with Landen Goodnight

• Website: http://www.landengoodnight.com
• Link for Kolbe Test www.kolbe.com

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

After years inside the traditional U.S. soccer system, Alex Lubyansky set out to build something radically different.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Alex, founder of Detroit Metro FC, to discuss his mission to create a new pathway for soccer players outside the pay-to-play system. From launching a club with no fees for players to creating the Merit Cup, a competition offering $10,000 with zero barriers to entry, Alex is challenging the way youth sports development works in America.

They dive into the structural differences between U.S. and European soccer, why incentives in youth sports are often misaligned, and how merit-based systems can uncover hidden talent. Alex also shares lessons from his journey as an entrepreneur, attorney, and sporting director, explaining how competition, accountability, and authentic leadership can transform both sports organizations and businesses.

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or leader looking to rethink traditional systems, this conversation highlights the power of creating a third door when the existing paths don’t make sense.

Chapters

00:00 – Introducing Alex Lubyansky and Detroit Metro FC

01:45 – The vision behind a completely free soccer pathway

03:30 – Where Detroit Metro FC fits in the U.S. soccer pyramid

04:45 – The idea behind the $10,000 Merit Cup

07:00 – Why the U.S. soccer system struggles globally

08:45 – The financial reality of youth soccer and pay-to-play

11:30 – Why most soccer investments don’t make financial sense

13:30 – The European soccer model vs the U.S. system

16:00 – Building a sustainable club and developing real talent

18:30 – Creating a real fan experience at Detroit Metro games

21:00 – The philosophy behind open tryouts and merit selection

23:30 – Developing accountable athletes and leaders

26:00 – Why honesty matters in player development

28:30 – Keeping Detroit’s top talent from leaving the market

30:30 – What Detroit businesses can do to support the mission

32:00 – Entrepreneurship, risk, and building bold ideas

34:00 – Final thoughts and where to find Alex

Connect with Alex Lubyansky

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlubyansky/
• Website: http://acquisitionstars.com
• Pro Soccer Team: https://detroitmetrofc.com/

Connect with Bryan

• Check out the website www.whatsnextpodcast.com
• Connect with Bryan on Instagram @bryanfinnerty22
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.