Built For Legacy
Built For Legacy (previously The Nichols and Dimez Show) is the podcast for high performers navigating major transitions and building work that lasts. Hosted by Chris Nichols, this show features candid conversations with athletes, veterans, and entrepreneurs who have boldly shifted from peak careers into purpose-driven ventures built to leave lasting impact. Whether stepping off the field, leaving the military, or walking away from a corporate ladder, our guests share how they embraced their next chapter to grow, lead, and build with intention. Each episode dives into the mindset shifts, strategies, and lessons they used to move beyond their first chapter — from launching a business to scaling a personal brand. Built For Legacy offers actionable insights, inspiring stories of reinvention, and a playbook for those determined to make their next move the most meaningful yet.
Episodes
96 episodes
Bryce Smith | Losing Both Parents, Pro Basketball in Sweden, CrossFit Games & Forging AllSmith w/Chris Nichols #97
Bryce Smith is a former professional basketball player (San Diego State, Cal State Northridge, Sweden), CrossFit Games athlete, and the founder of AllSmith — a San Diego-based coaching, apparel, and lifestyle brand built on the belief that we a...
10 Lessons from 2025 & Guest Highlights | Built For Legacy
This episode is a personal reflection on 2025 and Q2--Q4 guest highlight recap. I talk about some personal and general challenges from the year and share 10 lessons I took away from the experience. Chapters:00:00 - My Reflecti...
4 Days, 640 Miles, No Sleep—Behind the Scenes of the California Traverse Documentary w/ Will Stull & Cole Mueller
In this episode, I sit down with Will Stull and Cole Mueller, two of the six runners from The California Traverse documentary — a 640-mile nonstop relay from San Diego to San Francisco that pushed a global team of ultra-athletes to the...
Noah Oliver | How “Flow State” Became a Business: From Combat Mindset to Creative Freedom
Noah Oliver is a former Navy EOD specialist turned entrepreneur and founder of Flowhold, a San Diego–based MMA and BJJ training apparel brand built around the idea of “flow state.” After six years in the military and earning his MBA, N...
Sloan Clymer | From Barn Fights to Pro MMA: Performance, Branding & the UFC Dream
Sloan Clymer is a pro MMA fighter, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and no-gi specialist at Legion American Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego (founded by Keenan Cornelius). He earned his black belt from Cornelius—being the coach’s second-ever recipient—and...
Kendall Reusing | From Jiu-Jitsu World Champion to Entrepreneur: Building Success On and Off the Mats
Kendall Reusing is an 8-time world champion black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, founder of Jiu Jitsu Accelerator (JJA), and host of the Get a Grip Podcast. She’s also one of the most respected commentators and entrepreneurs in the BJJ world. In ...
Lessons from 5 Pro Athletes Who Built Businesses After Sports
In this special highlight episode, we revisit 5 of the most impactful pro athletes featured on the show — each of whom successfully transitioned from elite sports to entrepreneurship. You’ll hear from: Shawne Merriman - ...
Built for Legacy | Why I Rebranded the Podcast
After 90+ episodes of The Nichols and Dimez Show, it’s time to evolve.In this special rebrand announcement episode, I break down why the podcast is now called “Built for Legacy with Chris Nichols — and what that really means. Yo...
Brandon Turner | From Pro Skateboarding to Purpose-Driven Recovery, Entrepreneurship & Reinvention
Brandon Turner is a professional skateboarder, longtime member of the legendary Sk8Mafia crew, and protégé of Chad Muska. He’s also the Founder of West Side Recovery, a San Diego-based rehab center helping people overcome addiction through purp...
Jason Stewart | Mastering Calm in Chaos: Mindset & Business in MMA, Real Estate & Exotic Cars
Jason Stewart is Founder of Epic Fighting (SoCal based MMA promotion), Stewart Estates (real estate group), and Epic Exoctics (exotic car rentals). In this conversation, we discuss how Jason stays calm under pressure, his approach to stress man...
2025 Q1 Recap | The Nichols and Dimez Show
This episode is an audio exclusive highlight reel recap of the first three months of 2025. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:51 - Ryan Williams - Full episode06:22 ...
Mitch Aguiar | Navy SEAL, MMA Fighter & Entrepreneur on Business, Fighting & Mindset for Success
Mitch Aguiar is a former Navy SEAL, professional MMA fighter, and the Founder of MASF (Mitch Aguiar Smashin’ Frog) Supplements, Violent Hippie (a BJJ academy & merch brand), and Adopt-a-Cop BJJ (a non-profit that helps police officers learn...
Tony Azevedo | How a 5-Time Olympian & the Greatest American Player Ever is Revolutionizing Water Polo With Data & Analytics
Tony Azevedo is a five-time Olympian (2000-2016), Olympic silver medalist, and widely regarded as one of the greatest water polo players of all time. Since retiring in 2017, he has been on a mission to grow and evolve the sport through his entr...
My Overdue Review of "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss | Chris Nichols
In this solo episode, I share my review and top takeaways from Tim Ferriss's book, "The 4-Hour Workweek" (2007). Tim Ferriss is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and podcaster. I credit Tim as being one of my earliest inspirations of eventuall...
Ryan Williams | Why Entrepreneurship is Harder Than Being a Navy SEAL, Apparel Manufacturing, Relationships
Ryan Williams is Founder of Industry Threadworks and Archive 3PL, an apparel manufacturing company, and a warehousing fulfillment service, respectively. He is a former Navy SEAL who pursued the path of entrepreneurship with prior ventures in ap...
2024 Reflection & Q4 Guest Highlights | The Nichols and Dimez Show
This episode is an audio exclusive personal reflection on 2024 and Q4 guest highlight recap (October through December). Chapters:00:00 - My Reflection on 2024 08:34 - Shawne Merriman -
Juan Leija | Building Onnit Gym: Unconventional Fitness, Aubrey Marcus, and Business Wisdom
Juan Leija is the owner of iconic Onnit Gym in Austin, TX and a Fitness & Strength Coach. He is one of the first team members of supplement and fitness brand, Onnit, alongside Aubrey Marcus and Joe Rogan. In this conversation, we discuss Ju...
Taylor Cavanaugh | From Navy SEAL to French Foreign Legionnaire: A Journey Through Jail, Addiction, and Redemption
Taylor Cavanaugh is a former Navy SEAL and French Foreign Legionnaire (the only one with this distinction), turned entrepreneur, who currently runs a coaching business supporting people towards their fitness and mindset goals. Taylor has a wild...
David Meltzer | The Business Behind Iconic Athletes & Path to CEO
David Meltzer is Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing and was CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie, Jerry Maguire. In this conversation, we discuss the intersection in David’...
Shawne Merriman | Lights Out: Turning a Football Legacy Into a Business Empire
Shawne Merriman is an ex-NFL All-Pro Linebacker for the San Diego Chargers & Buffalo Bills. Since his football career, Shawne has been very active as an entrepreneur, including founding Lights Out Xtreme Fighting (Fight Promotion), Lights O...
Q3 2024 Recap | The Nichols and Dimez Show
This episode is an audio exclusive highlight recap of Q3 2024 (July through September).Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:38 - Alex Bowen - Full episode05:19 - India...
Jeff Fenster | Everbowl Founder on Scaling Brands and the Power of Relationship Capital
Jeff Fenster is an award winning entrepreneur, best selling author, podcast host, and expert in relationship capital. He is Founder & CEO of Everbowl, a superfood quick serve restaurant franchise with nearly a hundred locations around the U...
Nathaniel Linquist | Building Soccer Dreams in Uganda, Empowering Athletes, and a Journey of Faith
Nathaniel (Natty) Linquist is Founder of Elysian Fitness and non-profit soccer academy in Uganda, MUNGU Academy, which helps develop and give kids opportunities to play soccer in college or professionally. In this conversation, we discuss Natty...
ADCC 2024 Preview: Javier Zaruski's Jiu-Jitsu Journey From Uruguay to World Champion
Javier Zaruski is an IBJJF Black Belt World Champion (2023) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (No-Gi). This episode is a special preview for the ADCC 2024 World Championship in Las Vegas this August, which Javier is competing in. In this conversation, we ...
Indian Wedding in Poland, Berlin, Travel Tips & Podcast Updates
This solo episode recaps my recent travel experience in Europe and shares some important near term updates to the podcast. The travel includes Berlin, Germany during the Eurocup Soccer Final and Western Poland to attend an Indian wedding. ...