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Freedom Nation Podcast

Freedom Nation Podcast

By: Jeff Kikel
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The Freedom Nation podcast is the home of Freedom Day, the achievement of a work-optional lifestyle. Our show focuses around personal finance, real estate, multiple sources of income, cashflow, and the stories of people that have achieved their own Freedom Days. Our host is Jeff Kikel a 30 year veteran of the Financial Services industry that attained his own Freedom Day by building multiple streams of income, selling some, buying more and sharing his story with the audience.Jeff Kikel Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • From Money to Meaning | Jim Sabellico on Success, Fatherhood, and Showing Up for What Matters

    From Money to Meaning | Jim Sabellico on Success, Fatherhood, and Showing Up for What Matters
    Apr 9 2026
    You can be successful on paper…and still feel like your life is falling apart.Money is coming in.The business is growing.But your health, your relationships, your family—they’re quietly slipping away.That’s exactly where Jim Sabellico found himself.Working from 3AM to 9PM.Six days a week.Providing everything his family needed…Except himself.Until one moment changed everything—standing in front of a half-eaten birthday cake on his son’s birthday.In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Jim Sabellico to unpack the moment that redefined success—and the journey that followed.You’ll learn:Why traditional success can leave you emptyThe hidden cost of “providing” without presenceHow to redefine success across ALL areas of lifeThe 6 “slices” of a complete lifeHow to start showing up for what actually mattersIf you’re building wealth but losing yourself in the process…this episode is your wake-up call.👉 Subscribe to the Freedom Nation Podcast and start building your own Freedom Day the right way.Episode Takeaways:• Success without presence leads to emptiness• The “half-eaten birthday cake” moment that changed everything• Why providing financially is not the same as being present• How burnout can destroy relationships and health• The importance of redefining success personally• The 6 “slices” of a full life:ProfessionalEmotionalRelationalFinancialSpiritualPhysical• Why most people skip the step of feeling “seen and heard” before growth• How identity work is the foundation of transformation• Why relationships are the most powerful business tool• Freedom is when work and life feel the same About the Guest:Jim Sabellico is an entrepreneur, marketing expert, and host of the No Half Cakes podcast. After building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, he realized success isn’t just about money—it’s about creating a life you won’t regret later. Now, he helps entrepreneurs redefine success, simplify their growth, and build businesses that align with their purpose. Through real stories and actionable insights, Jim empowers high achievers to take back control of their time, energy, and impact.Links:https://nohalfcakes.com/https://www.facebook.com/jsabellicohttps://www.youtube.com/@JimSabellicohttps://www.instagram.com/jimsabellicohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jimsabellico/Fast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Find someone to serve… when you actually help people genuinely, business will take care of itself.”What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Thinking you have all the answers… thinking you know best.”What is a book that you would recommend? “Profit First… understanding how to properly allocate money was very helpful.”What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Google Analytics… and from a non-technical standpoint—relationships.”What is your definition of freedom? “The ability to live a life where people are gonna wonder if you're at work or at play.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence FoundationConnect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/Connect with Jeff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
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    22 mins
  • Why Freedom Isn’t What You Think | Josh Carr on Responsibility, Growth, and Real Happiness

    Why Freedom Isn’t What You Think | Josh Carr on Responsibility, Growth, and Real Happiness
    Apr 7 2026
    Many people hit their 30s feeling stuck.They followed the “right” path—career, family, responsibilities—but something feels off.They’re busy… but not fulfilled.Successful… but not free.Life starts happening to you instead of being designed by you.The years go by fast. Goals get buried. Dreams get postponed. And before you know it—you’re living a life you didn’t intentionally choose.In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Josh Carr, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed “entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” to talk about the moment that changed everything.At age 30, Josh found a list of 100 goals he wrote in college—and realized he had barely scratched the surface.That moment sparked a complete shift in how he approached life, business, and freedom.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why freedom is NOT the absence of responsibility How taking control of your life creates real happiness The mindset shift that separates reactive living from intentional living How entrepreneurs can redesign their path at any stage If you're serious about building your Freedom Day, this episode will challenge how you think about success and fulfillment.Episode Takeaways:• Why many people drift into life instead of designing it• The impact of revisiting your life goals (and realizing how much you’ve ignored)• Why turning 30 can be a major wake-up call• The difference between reactive living vs intentional living• Why freedom is NOT about doing less—but choosing more• The concept of the hedonism paradox (chasing pleasure vs purpose)• Why taking on responsibility actually increases happiness• How entrepreneurs can redesign their lives at any stage• The importance of aligning your actions with your values• Why controlling your responsibilities = real freedomAbout the Guest:Josh Carr is the CEO of Echo Water, a pioneering company at the forefront of hydrogen-based wellness. A few years ago, he could barely climb the stairs in his own home due to severe arthritis. After adding hydrogen-infused water to his wellness routine, his symptoms became far more manageable—enough to get his life back. Based on this personal experience, he joined Echo as CEO to champion hydrogen water as a simple and consistent way to improve health.Links:https://echowater.com/ https://www.facebook.com/echohydrogen/ https://www.youtube.com/@Echohydrogen https://www.instagram.com/echohydrogenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/superstar/Fast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? ““I’d probably go back to what I know best—building relationships and finding opportunities where I can add value quickly.”What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Trying to scale too fast without the right systems in place.”What is a book that you would recommend? “Good to Great… it really shaped how I think about building companies.”What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “AI tools… especially for marketing and content creation—it’s completely changed how we operate.”What is your definition of freedom? “Having control over your time and being able to choose what you work on.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence FoundationConnect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/Connect with Jeff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Why Most Real Estate Investors Fail | Hadley Nightingale on Mistakes, Systems, and Building a Scalable Business

    Why Most Real Estate Investors Fail | Hadley Nightingale on Mistakes, Systems, and Building a Scalable Business
    Mar 26 2026
    Most people get into real estate thinking it’s the “safe” path to wealth… only to make costly mistakes, follow bad advice, and struggle to scale.They chase income, hustle harder, and try to do everything themselves—without systems, without guidance, and without a real strategy.What happens when you make the wrong investment early?You spend years trying to recover.You work longer hours.You burn out… and still feel stuck.And even when you start making money, growth creates new problems—broken systems, hiring struggles, and chaos behind the scenes.In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Hadley Nightingale, who shares his journey from dairy farming to building a real estate company through:Market crashes Bad early decisions Scaling challenges And learning the hard way You’ll learn:Why most investors fail in real estate The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when scaling How to build systems and teams that actually grow your business How AI is transforming operations and efficiency If you want to avoid costly mistakes and build a real, scalable path to your Freedom Day, this episode is a must-listen.Episode Takeaways:• Why “it’s different this time” is a dangerous mindset in real estate • The costly impact of early bad investment decisions • Why working harder is NOT the solution to scaling • The importance of systems before hiring • Why hiring operators too early can hurt your business • How recurring revenue (property management) stabilizes income • The real reason most businesses fail when scaling • Why AI is a game changer for efficiency and operations • The power of focusing on one business before expanding • How struggle builds the foundation for long-term successAbout the Guest:Hadley Nightingale is the CEO of New Zealand Property Buyers, founded in 2020. Through his leadership, the business has scaled rapidly in just five years! Today, NZPB manages hundreds of properties and has helped hundreds of clients successfully secure investment properties across New Zealand, operating with a remote team across New Zealand and Southeast Asia.Links:https://www.newzealandpropertybuyers.com/https://www.facebook.com/Newzealandpropertybuyer/https://www.instagram.com/hadleynightingale/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadleyn/Fast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “going out and selling something… Who do I know? What can I sell?… validate your product before you've spent any time trying to make it.”What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? ““Going too wide too soon… and… spending a ton of money on sales and marketing without a solid delivery system… basically burning cash.”What is a book that you would recommend? “Dan Martell's Buy Back Your Time… one of the best books… around hiring and buying back your time.”What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Manus AI… and Claude… we’re pretty AI heavy… they help run reports, build systems, and improve efficiency.”What is your definition of freedom? “not having to worry about money… and having the time to spend with your kids and family… freedom to choose what I do.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence FoundationConnect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/Connect with Jeff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
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    42 mins
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