Up + Adam with Adam Montiel

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingWhat happens when a community becomes so desperate for answers that it embraces the wrong ones?In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with veteran Rolling Stone investigative journalist Paul Solotaroff, host of the gripping true crime podcast The Devil's Quarry. What begins as the story of two teenagers wrongfully convicted in the murder of a 12-year-old girl unfolds into something far more disturbing. A predator hiding in plain sight. A justice system that may have failed the very people it was supposed to protect. And a decades-long search for truth that is still unfolding today.Paul has spent more than 30 years exposing corruption, uncovering institutional failures, and helping free the wrongly convicted. In this conversation, he shares how The Devil's Quarry became more than an investigation. It became a mission. Adam and Paul explore the danger of certainty, why humans are often willing to accept the wrong answer in exchange for closure, and what happens when the official story turns out not to be the true story.They also discuss the emotional toll of investigative journalism, the survivors who haunted Paul long after the reporting ended, and why, despite spending a career staring into some of humanity's darkest corners, he still considers himself an optimist.If you're fascinated by true crime, wrongful convictions, investigative journalism, criminal justice reform, and the psychology of human behavior, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Links:• The Devil's Quarry Podcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-hit-man-45764628/episode/introducing-bone-valley-season-5-the-devils-quarry-336437918• Paul Solotaroff at Rolling Stone:https://www.rollingstone.com/author/paul-solotaroff/• Lava for Good:https://lavaforgood.com*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingWhat happens when a kid raised around con men, mobsters, loan sharks, and chaos decides to start over... and accidentally lands in the middle of one of the most consequential stories of the last 35 years?On this True Crime Tuesday episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with Jamison Firestone, author of Rule of Lies: My Wild Ride Through Chaos, Corruption, and Murder in Putin's Russia. What begins as the story of a young American lawyer chasing opportunity in post-Soviet Russia quickly becomes something much bigger. Firestone shares how he built the first independent foreign-owned law firm in Russia, negotiated with mafia bosses, witnessed the rise of Vladimir Putin, and found himself at the center of some of Russia's most explosive corruption scandals.Along the way, he reflects on the courage of Sergei Magnitsky, the dangers of a justice system turned into a weapon, the role humor played in surviving impossible circumstances, and what honesty looks like when everything is on the line. This conversation is part true crime, part history lesson, part political thriller, and entirely human.In this episode:• Growing up around criminals in New York• Why he moved to Russia after law school• Negotiating with Russian mafia groups• The moment he realized Putin's Russia was changing• The story of Sergei Magnitsky• The difference between criminals and criminals with governments• Why humor became a survival toolWhether you're fascinated by true crime, geopolitics, history, human resilience, or stories that sound too wild to be true, this episode delivers.Learn more about Jamison Firestone:• Find Rule of Lies on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Lies-Through-Corruption-Murder-ebook/dp/B0FS7TDR19********Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingWhat does wealth actually look like?For years, Mandi Woodruff-Santos thought the answer might be financial security, a bigger paycheck, or climbing the career ladder. After being laid off just three months into a dream job in New York City, she made a promise to herself: never again would she feel financially vulnerable. That promise launched a remarkable journey that led her from journalism to becoming one of the most respected voices in personal finance.Today, Mandi is the co-host of Brown Ambition, the award-winning podcast helping people build wealth, navigate careers, negotiate better opportunities, and create financial freedom on their own terms. In this conversation, Adam and Mandi dive into money shame, career setbacks, financial planning, entrepreneurship, motherhood, mental health, and the surprising lessons that come from rebuilding after life throws a curveball.They also explore why so many people tie their self-worth to their financial accomplishments, what those of us in our 30s and 40s should be doing right now to strengthen our financial futures, and the moment Mandi realized the financial decisions she'd made years earlier had given her something more valuable than money: options.Learn more about Mandi Woodruff-Santos:• Website: https://www.mandimoney.com• Brown Ambition Podcast: https://brownambitionpodcast.com• Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-brown-ambition-31122656/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandimoney/Listen to Up+Adam wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe for more conversations that are inquisitive, clever, engaging, and thoughtful.*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingWhat does it mean to be truly fight ready?With the UFC back in the headlines and combat sports once again part of the national conversation, Adam sits down with one of the sport's most respected minds: Santino DeFranco. A former professional MMA fighter, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, elite UFC coach, former college English teacher, and now author of Fight Ready, Santino has spent decades helping athletes prepare for the biggest moments of their lives. But as you'll hear in this conversation, his lessons extend far beyond the cage.Together, Adam and Santino explore the difference between discipline and self-destruction, why fear is often misunderstood, how confidence changes the way we move through the world, and why recovery may be more important than hustle. They discuss the psychology of elite performers, the danger of burnout disguised as ambition, the power of habits, the importance of sleep, and why the toughest opponent many of us will ever face is staring back at us in the mirror.Whether you're training for competition, building a business, navigating a setback, or simply trying to become a stronger version of yourself, this episode offers practical wisdom, hard-earned perspective, and a refreshing reminder that success isn't built on hacks, gimmicks, or overnight transformations. It's built one decision, one habit, and one day at a time.As Santino says, being fight ready isn't really about fighting. It's about being prepared when life demands your very best.In This Episode• Why habits matter more than motivation• The difference between discipline and self-destruction• How learning to fight can teach you not to fight• Why fear is necessary for growth and performance• The hidden dangers of overtraining and burnout• Sleep, recovery, and sustainable success• The power of self-belief and "healthy delusion"• What it means to be fight ready outside the gym• Why the person in the mirror is often our toughest opponent• Lessons from coaching UFC champions and elite athletesLinks & Resources• Fight Ready by Santino DeFranco• Santino DeFranco Official Website*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingSan Luis Obispo County politics gets personal on this episode of Up+Adam as Adam Montiel sits down with District 4 County Supervisor candidate Adam Verdin for a conversation that goes far beyond campaign mailers and party labels.Verdin opens up about what pushed him into the race against incumbent Jimmy Paulding, the emotional reality of running for office for the first time, and why he believes local government should operate with more common sense and less political tribalism. From owning Old Juan’s Cantina and flying professionally as a pilot, to navigating campaign controversies, endorsements, and “dark money” headlines, this episode digs into the human side of public service.Adam and Adam also tackle some of the biggest issues facing the Central Coast right now, including homelessness, affordable housing, Diablo Canyon, workforce struggles, economic pressure on middle-class families, and whether young people can realistically build a future in SLO County anymore. There’s humor, tension, vulnerability, and a few moments where the conversation feels more like neighbors talking than politicians debating.Whether you’re deeply political, politically exhausted, or just trying to understand the future of the SLO CAL, this is one of those conversations built to make you think a little deeper.Links: • Campaign Website: VerdinForSupervisor.com • SLO Chamber Candidate Profile: SLO Chamber Candidate Profile – Adam Verdin*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Students Info HEREListen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingFitness icon. Motivational force. Fire survivor. Reinvention architect.On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with Jake Steinfeld, better known to generations as “Body By Jake,” for a conversation that goes far beyond workouts and weight loss. From creating the modern personal training industry and pioneering fitness television, to launching the brand-new Body By Jake Radio with iHeartMedia and Universal Music Group, Jake opens up about purpose, perseverance, and why movement may be the most underutilized antidepressant we have.But this conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Jake reflects on losing his home in the Palisades fire after 31 years, the emotional toll of rebuilding, and what happens when the man behind the iconic “Don’t Quit!” mantra is forced to live those words in real time. Adam and Jake also dive into: • Why Body By Jake Radio was created during Mental Health Awareness Month • The connection between music, mindset, and motivation • The first small steps people can take when they feel overwhelmed physically or emotionally • Why exercise should never feel like punishment • The recent passing of Ted Turner and his role in Jake’s media journey • The poem that changed Jake’s life forever • How routine and movement helped Jake survive grief and shock after the fire • Why hope is a muscle tooThis one’s about resilience. About momentum. About getting back up when life knocks you sideways.And yes… it’s 72 and sunny every day at Body By Jake Radio.Listen to Body By Jake Radio on the iHeartRadio app: iHeartRadioLearn more about Body By Jake: Body By Jake Official WebsiteFollow Jake Steinfeld on Instagram: @officialbodybyjake*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Students Info HEREListen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.