This episode was never meant for the public. It was recorded exclusively for our Patreon community — the people who are already in the inner circle. But we’re pulling the curtain back and letting you see what S2S really looks like when the pressure is off, the cameras are still rolling, and nobody is performing for anybody.
This is the crew unfiltered. No script. No agenda. Just ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal being exactly who they are.
From 80s hip-hop debates to the first game they ever ran, to ET getting real about why he stopped giving his expertise away for free — this episode has everything the highlight reel never shows you. And then Pops pulls up and drops the origin story of how ET and CJ found each other — the moment that started all of this.
If you’ve ever wondered what S2S looks like behind closed doors — this is it.
In This Episode:
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The 80s hip-hop playlist that shaped who they became — LL Cool J, Eric B & Rakim, Babyface and more
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The first piece of game they ever ran (ET’s Babyface line on Dede is legendary)
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Why ET stopped giving his time and expertise away for free — and why you should too
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The “selfish vs. self-focused” conversation that will change how you think about your time and money
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A special visit from the Cooking with the Cooks family
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Pops pulls up and tells the untold origin story of how ET and CJ connected
Timestamps:
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Opening: The Public Was Never Supposed to See This
- 00:03:39 Throwback Music Session: LL Cool J and the Golden Era of Hip-Hop
- 00:09:58 Baby Face and Early Game: The First Piece of Wisdom
- 00:15:00 The Football Team Get Naked Story: When Confidence Was King
- 00:17:18 The Michael Jordan Clip: Being Selfish Is How You Win
- 00:18:05 The Shift: How ET Stopped Giving Everything Away for Free
- 00:22:02 The Mastermind Testimony: When People Pay, They Apply
- 00:24:16 Valuing Your Time and Expertise: The CJ Partnership Model
- 00:32:59 The ETA Records Story: Giving What’s Earned, Not What’s Expected
- 00:37:35 Pops Enters the Building: The Man Who Started It All
- 00:41:04 The Origin Story: From Prison Visit to Twenty Years of Partnership
- 00:43:43 Closing: Behind the Scenes Access and What’s Next
Key Takeaways:
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The difference between being selfish and being self-focused — and why it matters for your money and your time
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Why giving your expertise away for free is a disservice to yourself and the people you’re trying to help
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The unplanned moment that created one of the most influential mentoring relationships in the world
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What the S2S Patreon is really about — and why this content exists
🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get Every Week Unscripted conversations. Behind the scenes moments. Live Q&As. ET’s speech streams. This is the version of S2S where nothing gets cut. If you want in: 👉 Join the S2S Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789
About the Secret to Success Podcast
The Secret to Success (S2S) Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development — not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results.
Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who’ve lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.
New episodes every Thursday. Patreon drops every Tuesday and Wednesday.