42: The Kid With No Chance Who Built A World Class Podcast // The Story of Justin Schenck

Justin Schenck is the host of the top-rated podcast the Growth Now Movement and founder of Growth Now, LLC which is a full-service podcast production and coaching company. He has been named a Top 8 Podcaster to follow by INC Magazine and chosen as an ‘Icon of Influence’ in the new media space. What started as a way to connect with top people and inspire others has become a way of life. Now getting played in over 100 countries every single week he is able to make a greater impact than he could ever imagine. He not only speaks to organizations on how to overcome adversity and utilize podcasting to grow your business but he helps others launch and grow their own podcasts with www.beginpodcastingnow.com. His vision? To teach the world how to live happily no matter where they are today. “It’s about the journey, not the destination.”

Like most people, Justin thought that it was his past that defined him. Because he didn’t come from a great upbringing and didn’t have the resources so many had, he thought that he was destined to fail. Then, at 19 years old Justin discovered personal development through a mentor. He became obsessed with the idea that he can have full control over the outcome of his life simply by choosing to grow. The realization that it doesn’t matter where he comes from, but the choices that he makes today to create a better tomorrow for himself and others is all that matters, was life-changing.

When Justin launched the Growth Now Movement podcast in 2016, he had no idea what it would become. Now it gets played in over 100 countries every single week, he speaks all over the country on overcoming adversity, and most importantly, he discovered that we all have the power to create our own happiness, to grow into the person we were meant to be and that we can all create the life we truly desire.

Time-Stamped Show Notes:

• 2:59 At 19 years old, Justin met his mentor, which became his catalyst for the beginning of the change in his life.
• 4:37 When Eric was 18, he met his mentor who gave him the book Who Moved My Cheese, which also coincides with what happened to Justin.
• 6:01 Justin talks about the current issue of the opioid class action lawsuit and the big pharma companies.
• 9:37 The rock bottom moment for Justin is when he lost his mother because of opioids.
• 11:19 Because of his mother’s death, Justin had this huge realization about self-love.
• 13:29 Justin defines what self-love means to him.
• 16:32 For Justin, the opposite of self-love is the lack of self-worth.
• 19:50 Eric poses a question regarding what is more powerful, choice or circumstance? Justin thinks choice is more powerful.
• 23:52 For 7 and a half years, Justin did not talk to his father.
• 27:06 Justin offers important advice on how to let go of toxic people by taking care of yourself first.
• 29:28 After his rock bottom moment and launching his podcast, the first few years were all self-discovery and healing for Justin.
• 31:25 Two years after his mom died, Inc magazine listed his podcast as the top podcast every entrepreneur should follow.
• 34:31 Podcasting is Justin’s vehicle to change his life and get his message heard by everyone.
• 35:17 Justin talks about the Growth Now Movement and what it’s all about.
• 36:49 In May 2022, Justin’s live event show is finally happening in Pennsylvania. The live event website is GrowthNowSummit.com to check it out.
• 40:36 If Justin can go back to his rock bottom moment and talk to his younger self, he would say to himself that it’s all going to be worth it.
• 42:04 Justin shares his daily routine and his life today.

This Episode Brought to You By:

• 33:06 The Man, the Myth, the Canadian Legend: Eric Gilbert-Williams. Eric put together this very podcast as a passion project to help you & others. If you’d be so kind to Subscribe & Leave a Written Review of the show, it’d really make our day! You can Subscribe & Rate our Podcast right here: From Rock Bottom to Rockin’ It..

Key Points from the Interview:

• “Look, things can happen around me, things can change, bad things can happen but what matters is how I react to that change or those bad things. And that was my aha moment in my life to say okay I’m going to take control of this, I’m gonna build a life that I want.”
• “There is no destination. We can have goals, and I encourage everybody to have massive goals because without growth, we’re dying but that’s not gonna give you the fulfillment that you want in your life, that’s not gonna give you the happiness that you want in your life. I can tell you that from my own experiences and I can tell you that from the four hundred plus conversations that I’ve had on my podcast, that those goals are nothing but direction, the fulfillment comes from within. So to understand that you are enough at this very moment and exactly where you are supposed to be, I think is the true definition of self-love.”

Resources Mentioned:

• LinkedIn: Justin Schenck
• Instagram: @justintschenck
• Facebook: @GNMPodcast
• YouTube: Growth Now Movement with Justin Schenck
• GrowthNowMovement.com
• BeginPodcastingNow.com
• GrowthNowSummit.com
• Justin’s Podcast – GrowthNowMovement
• Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson
• From Least Likely to Succeed to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur