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Season 1

What happens when families in crisis hand their kids over to a loosely regulated $23 billion industry promising to "fix" them? Professor Jon McQueen, a survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), pulls back the curtain on wilderness programs, residential boarding schools, and the devastating human cost—450+ deaths and 220,000 kids sent yearly, often starting with a middle-of-the-night "transport."

Jon shares his raw journey from Chicago kid to sales leader (realtor.com and more) to full-time ASU sociology professor teaching 1,900 students. He breaks down AI cheating dilemmas in education, why students feel unseen, and his groundbreaking Men & Masculinity class that challenges toxic narratives with multiple masculinities.

Later, NFL legend and returning guest Nick Lowery joins for the final stretch—talking his new book Naked and Alone with 80,000 People (now on Audible!), leadership lessons from the Chiefs, factory keynotes, mental health, and his free Companion app helping first responders and beyond.

This episode is packed with real talk on resilience, education's evolution, fatherhood, team chemistry, and creating connection in a disconnected world.

Topics Covered

  • Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) survivor story & exposé
  • Sales-to-academia career pivot and "hacking" the system
  • Teaching massive classes and making students feel seen
  • AI cheating crisis, detectors, and mental atrophy in education
  • Multiple masculinities vs toxic masculinity debates
  • Public speaking fears and using sales skills in academia
  • Worst-to-first leadership and team chemistry (Chiefs stories)
  • Mental health companion app for first responders & veterans
  • Fan connection, social capital, and performing under pressure
  • RateMyProfessor feedback and evolving with student needs

Chapters

  • 00:00 Intro Band & Theme Song
  • 01:35 Scott & Mike Welcome – First Professor Guest
  • 02:29 Jon McQueen’s Story: Son of a Marketer to Sales Life
  • 03:50 Pivot During COVID – Master’s Degree & ASU Opportunity
  • 05:55 From Adjunct to Full Faculty – Teaching 443 Then 1400 Students
  • 08:00 The Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) Explained – $23B Empire
  • 09:27 Marketing Tactics, 450 Deaths, 220k Kids Annually
  • 11:00 Trappings of Trust, Paris Hilton, Netflix “The Program”
  • 13:00 Advocacy Through Teaching & Research at Stanford
  • 15:00 Student Connection Story – 7-Year ASU Senior Feedback
  • 18:00 AI in Education – Cheating Detection, Prisoner’s Dilemma
  • 21:00 Handling AI Papers, Syllabus Policies & Office Hour Tests
  • 23:00 RateMyProfessor, Pre-Framing Classes & Profanity Warnings
  • 26:00 Sales Anecdotes in the Classroom – Zocdoc Lessons
  • 28:00 Men & Masculinity Class – Pitching It & Multiple Masculinities
  • 30:00 Toxic Masculinity Critique & Helping Young Men
  • 32:30 Nick Lowery Joins – Trifecta Appearance
  • 33:00 Book Update – Naked and Alone with 80,000 People on Audible, P&G Keynote
  • 35:00 Chiefs Turnaround, Efficiency & Locker Room Chemistry
  • 37:00 World Cup Insights, Fan Energy & Arrowhead Stories
  • 40:00 Royals Game & Kansas City Love – Social Capital
  • 42:00 Mental Health Companion App & BlueCloudX Impact
  • 44:00 Clinical Research Standards & Military/Veteran Support
  • 47:00 Final Thoughts, Gratitude & Outro

Watch the full conversation and let us know in the comments: What’s one system or industry that needs more transparency and reform?

Full episode also available on your favorite podcast app. Subscribe, like, and share if this hit home. New episodes drop weekly!

Links & Socials

  • Unsilenced (TTI Advocacy): unsilenced.org
  • Naked and Alone with 80,000 People: nicklowerybook.com (Hardcover, Paperback, Audible)
  • Mental Health Companion App: Search “Nick Lowery Companion” or BlueCloudX

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!


This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth. If you need someone to help build your financial future, check out their website, and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com

Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

NEW WEBSITE! whatsyourstorypod.com