Anthony Russo is the founder of #bethechange, Awake Not Woke clothing, host of the Truth Will Set you Free Podcast and a political analyst for nationally syndicated radio shows. Recently Anthony just launched a new podcast called Blunt Force Discussion that has had on national renowned guests in its first 10 episode’s and includes a long format style conversation with what he refers to as “BFD’s.” Anthony owns multiple businesses and is always looking to connect people to what their passion is in life. He is a motivational speaker that speaks on overcoming failure and has spoken and emceed in front of audiences in the tens of thousands for major concerts and sporting events.
| FMM: You have created a 7-figure business with zero capital. Tell us about your background. I was raised in a single parent house on free lunch until high school. I had some family with big money on my dad’s side in New Jersey. I never got anything from them, but I did learn that the phrase “money is the root of all evil” is not true. They were very wealthy and very good people. I had a disabled father who had Multiple Sclerosis and a compulsive gambling problem. These things thrust me into growing up a little faster than expected and always having the mindset that I was going to create an extraordinary life. Interestingly enough I went to art and design school for college where I got my major in graphic design and a minor in advertising. When I left college, I went right into sales and business management positions. As I got older, I started small business’ here and there and at one point got approved for an SBA loan with a business plan and a dream. After spending the 100k and the business floundering due to a myriad of reasons including the recession in 2008, I started to look for new opportunities. I went back to what I knew and what would pay my bills and I went back into emceeing and experiential marketing. In 2010, I started a business called Identity Partners with a good friend of mine that was who introduced me into the marketing industry years prior. We were able to get a couple clients but the business, nor the friendship went well. An opportunity arose to take on staffing on events and instead of competing against companies that we’ve worked with in the past I thought it would be best to service them. I continued hosting and emceeing events whilst I branched off (and sued) my business partner to start a promotional staffing firm in 2011. We went from staffing 6 people for three days on our first event to staffing over a 100 people at the Super Bowl in 2011. Once Identity Partners became Identity Marketing after splitting with my friend and business partner, we were doing over 7-figures of revenue annually after just 18 months in business. That business continued with that scale for 8 years until I turned my focus to BeTheChange and motivational speaking. FMM: What led you to launch #BETHECHANGE Movement? In 2016, there was a shooting where 5 police officers were ambushed and killed in Dallas, TX about 1 mile from house. It was just crazy to me that there was an anti-police protest because of an “officer involved shooting,” without any facts actually presented yet, just emotion and assumptions. At this protest the police protected protestors that were actually protesting against them which I already thought was an interesting dichotomy. Then there was an ambush from a shooter that targeted the Dallas Police Department. At this moment I realized we were in a very weird place in this country where we scream at the top of our lungs about awareness on problems we can fix with action and much of our yelling is based off of misinformation. I realized that we truly have the power to be the change we wish to see in our own lives, communities and our country. I made a long post on social media the next day and it spawned me to work for the trademark for BeTheChange and to start creating content. It’s evolved a lot since day one to media entities and shows like Truth Will Set You Free, Streetlights Unity Movement and now Blunt Force Discussion. FMM: What do you do? I’ve been a professional host and emcee for over a decade. I have multiple small businesses since the pandemic as I quickly learned I needed to diversify better. By trade, I am a motivational speaker that speaks on overcoming failure. I have been the on field host and Jumbotron guy for several NCAA championships such as College World Series in Omaha, Lacrosse, Basketball and more. I’ve been on microphone in front of 80k and I’ve given performance coaching 1-1 to individuals looking to get unstuck in their life. I’ve hosted spring breaks in South Padre, TX in front of 10k college kids and hosted major concerts. I’ve also started a promotional staffing firm that was a million-dollar business with no capital that was awarded one of the top promotional staffing firms to work for year over year. I also am partners in a spa in the Ft. Worth area with my girlfriend. During the fall I am the crowd emcee for Fox Big Noon Kickoff for College Football. My girlfriend is a professional barrel racer and has 10-15 horses at her ranch at all times, and I help with that regularly as well. So, I guess the question is… what do I not do… besides sleep much. FMM: You are the host of the Truth Will Set you Free podcast. What can we find? Truth Will Set You Free has had over 100 episodes that is what we call “Truth Tuesday.” It started out somewhere in the beginning of the COVID lockdowns as it just felt as though the media were misinforming People and fear mongering people from the start. Then there was George Floyd and then a gentleman by the name of Kash Lee Kelly came into my life as someone that had created one viral video entitled “When are black lives going to start mattering to black people?” He was a black man, ex gangbanger, and someone that was in the process of becoming a voice for unity and political awareness. I sent him a DM on FB right as his video starting to gain steam and the rest really is history. He did a show with me, and our team and we then continued a friendship and a partnership in what become something of journalistic intent. Truth Will Set You Free is currently on a summer hiatus but it will have a slight rebranding and will be back in mid-September. The intention of Truth Will Set You Free is to provide truth, educated opinions and logic. We also believe that disagreement is how one truly learns and goes further. We challenge the ideals of both political parties, not just the opposition and have a conversation where either we agree, compromise or agree to disagree. FMM: Tell us about Blunt Force Discussion. Blunt Force Dscussion is a long format Joe Rogan style interview show… The name of the show is BFD which stands for Blunt Force Discussion and the guests that we have are what we like to refer to as… BFD’s (Big Effin Deals). We have been blessed with using the connections I’ve made in the last few years to have some really amazing guests that are nationally recognized experts and “BFD’s” in their respective fields. In just 10 weeks I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with Jaco Booyens, Dr. Bryan Ardis, one of the founders of Monat (Toni Vans), Officer Tatum, Shemane Nugent, Sgt John Mattingly (Breonna Taylor case) and even Chad Prather. Turns out one of my gifts is having a conversation, and the show, the final product shows that. We’ve had really solid growth for a new show with no marketing budget. FMM: How have you changed as a result of #BETHECHANGE Movement? I have changed a lot… I feel as though I know my purpose much more, and I also know that my mission and purpose does not come with extreme struggle. I don’t believe I am as jovial as I was before I really started to grind on this concept. I have less free time, less profits and income and definitely a bit more confusion at the level of hate in this country. I do believe that my purpose and dedication to truth is something so needed that I almost consider it divine. I do think I’m different in the sense that I really do have an open mind to people with different lifestyles and I don’t fully fit in with any political party, but I do believe in love of Country and the pursuit of open dialogue and truth. It is often a daunting task, but the harder it gets, the more the threats and doxxing happens the more I feel I have to push forward. I realize that this world needs voices like mine, and the harder it gets for me, the closer I am to creating real change in this crazy country and world. FMM: You are a global motivational speaker. Share your upcoming speaking engagements and inspirational events. I have a digital event called Becoming the Best You were I’ll be emceeing and speaking on my main topic of overcoming failure, getting unstuck and living a more fulfilled life coming up August 25th and 26th. This digital conference is digital – https://www.comechangeyourlife.com/event-information – This event has over 20 life changing speakers. I’ll also be speaking at the in-person version of this event in St. Louis on the 23rd of October. Both of these I’ll be speaking on my topic on doubling down for success and overcoming failure by learning from mistakes and failures. I’ll also be speaking next year at some patriotic events and planning one of them known as the second annual Great American Summit where I speak on the power of patriotism, the American dream and the power to truly be the change you wish to see in the world from a place of business and using your voice. |
Website is: hashtagbethechange.com and awakenotwokestore.com
anthony@doubledownstrategy.com
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymichaelrusso/
