Crush and Climb
Crush and Climb
Podcast Description
Pour yourself a glass of something you love and join us for Crush & Climb, the podcast that pairs the intricate stories of great wine with the powerful strategies needed to navigate life’s biggest challenges. This isn’t just another business podcast. It’s a weekly ritual for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone with the courage to turn adversity into their greatest advantage.Hosted by author, speaker, and winery owner Jason McClain, Crush & Climb is your guide to building a life and business that are not just successful, but significant. Each episode begins with ”The Pour,” where Jason uncorks a bottle of wine whose character, history, and flavor profile mirror the day’s core lesson. From a bold Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks of legacy to a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that embodies the art of saying ”no,” the wine is more than a drink—it’s a metaphor, a conversation starter, and a reminder to savor the journey.From there, we dive into ”The Forge”—the heart of the episode where raw experience is hammered into practical wisdom. Drawing from his own dramatic journey of failures and triumphs, Jason shares unfiltered stories and actionable frameworks designed to help you not just bounce back from setbacks, but to bounce forward with newfound strength and clarity.Our Guiding Philosophies: Two Sides of the Same CoinThe Crush & Climb podcast is built on two foundational pillars, drawn from Jason McClain’s books, that address the interconnected challenges of business and life:Pivot to Profit: Mastering the Business TurnaroundLife and business rarely move in a straight line. The ”Pivot to Profit” philosophy is for the leader staring down a crisis, the entrepreneur whose great idea has stalled, or the sales team that has lost its momentum. It’s about facing brutal facts, finding the hidden opportunities within a crisis, and executing a disciplined plan to capture them. Through this lens, we explore the R.I.S.E. System, a four-part framework for engineering a powerful comeback:R - Reckon: Conducting a ”business autopsy” to find the root cause of a problem without blame.I - Identify: Pinpointing the ”painkiller” solution your market desperately needs.S - Strategize: Building a 90-day battle plan to turn opportunity into revenue.E - Execute: Cultivating the resilience to withstand setbacks and bounce forward.Island of One: Navigating Your Inner WorldExternal success is meaningless without internal strength. The ”Island of One” philosophy speaks to the personal journey. It’s for anyone who has ever felt different, isolated, or underestimated. It’s about transforming perceived limitations into your most formidable superpowers. Here, we unpack the COMPASS System, a guide to designing a life of purpose and fulfillment by mastering your inner world:C - Clarity: Defining your plan with S.M.A.R.T. goals.O - Owne...
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the intersection of personal growth and business strategies, featuring topics like crisis management, emotional intelligence in sales, and navigating life's challenges. Episodes often cover frameworks such as the R.I.S.E. System for turning business setbacks into opportunities, as well as the B.A.N.K. system for understanding human behavior in sales, as seen in the episode with Cheri Tree.
Pour yourself a glass of something you love and join us for Crush & Climb, the podcast that pairs the intricate stories of great wine with the powerful strategies needed to navigate life’s biggest challenges. This isn’t just another business podcast. It’s a weekly ritual for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone with the courage to turn adversity into their greatest advantage.
Hosted by author, speaker, and winery owner Jason McClain, Crush & Climb is your guide to building a life and business that are not just successful, but significant. Each episode begins with ”The Pour,” where Jason uncorks a bottle of wine whose character, history, and flavor profile mirror the day’s core lesson. From a bold Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks of legacy to a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that embodies the art of saying ”no,” the wine is more than a drink—it’s a metaphor, a conversation starter, and a reminder to savor the journey.
From there, we dive into ”The Forge”—the heart of the episode where raw experience is hammered into practical wisdom. Drawing from his own dramatic journey of failures and triumphs, Jason shares unfiltered stories and actionable frameworks designed to help you not just bounce back from setbacks, but to bounce forward with newfound strength and clarity.
Our Guiding Philosophies: Two Sides of the Same Coin
The Crush & Climb podcast is built on two foundational pillars, drawn from Jason McClain’s books, that address the interconnected challenges of business and life:
Pivot to Profit: Mastering the Business Turnaround
Life and business rarely move in a straight line. The ”Pivot to Profit” philosophy is for the leader staring down a crisis, the entrepreneur whose great idea has stalled, or the sales team that has lost its momentum. It’s about facing brutal facts, finding the hidden opportunities within a crisis, and executing a disciplined plan to capture them. Through this lens, we explore the R.I.S.E. System, a four-part framework for engineering a powerful comeback:
R – Reckon: Conducting a ”business autopsy” to find the root cause of a problem without blame.
I – Identify: Pinpointing the ”painkiller” solution your market desperately needs.
S – Strategize: Building a 90-day battle plan to turn opportunity into revenue.
E – Execute: Cultivating the resilience to withstand setbacks and bounce forward.
Island of One: Navigating Your Inner World
External success is meaningless without internal strength. The ”Island of One” philosophy speaks to the personal journey. It’s for anyone who has ever felt different, isolated, or underestimated. It’s about transforming perceived limitations into your most formidable superpowers. Here, we unpack the COMPASS System, a guide to designing a life of purpose and fulfillment by mastering your inner world:
C – Clarity: Defining your plan with S.M.A.R.T. goals.
O – Ownership: Taking radical responsibility for your choices.
M – Manage: Mastering your time and energy.
P – Perspective: Understanding that your past is data, not destiny.
A – Acknowledge: Befriending your fears to feed your faith.
S – Satisfy: Meeting your own needs without guilt.
S – Surround: Building your ”Thrive Tribe” for support and growth.
Who Is This Podcast For?
Crush & Climb is for you if:
You are an entrepreneur or business owner facing uncertainty and looking for a proven roadmap to stabilize and scale.
You are a leader or executive responsible for guiding a team through challenging times and want to foster a culture of resilience and psychological safety.
You are at a personal or professional crossroads, feeling stuck and seeking the clarity and courage to design your next chapter.
You believe that success is holistic—that professional achievement and personal fulfillment are deeply intertwined.
You appreciate the finer things in life, like a great glass of wine, and believe that life’s lessons can be found in the most unexpected places.
Join the Crush & Climb community. Subscribe today, and let’s raise a glass to the journey ahead. It’s time to crush your challenges, climb to new heights, and build a legacy you can be proud of.
Ever had a passion so strong you wanted to turn it into a business, only to realize the dream and the reality are worlds apart? In this powerful episode of the Crush and Climb Podcast, Jason sits down with his dear friend Vito La Fata, the visionary owner of the highly-acclaimed La Fata Cellars, for a glass of wine and a brutally honest conversation about the entrepreneurial climb.
Vito shares his raw journey of pivoting from a successful career in coaching and marketing to pursuing his family’s legacy in winemaking. But this wasn’t a simple fairytale. He reveals the “moment of reckoning” when he realized his passion project was on a path to failure, costing him hundreds of thousands of dollars in preventable mistakes simply because he had a dream, but not a business model.
This is a masterclass for anyone who has ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain if their venture can truly succeed.
In this episode, you will learn:
The critical difference between a hobby and a business, and the moment Vito realized he was treating his business like a hobby.
The story of one costly mistake with wine barrels that perfectly illustrates the importance of having a mentor and a proven model.
Why the “hustle” mindset can be dangerous without the right strategy and how to shift from just “doing” to “building.”
Vito’s powerful philosophy of “reach up, but reach back”—seeking mentorship while also helping those who are on the climb behind you.
How to handle the daily emotional struggles of entrepreneurship and find joy and gratitude even when things get tough.
If you’re ready to move beyond the romance of your idea and build a truly sustainable and profitable brand, this conversation is your roadmap. Pour yourself a glass and get ready to crush your assumptions and climb toward a smarter future.
Connect with our Guest:
Winery: La Fata Cellars
Website: www.lafatacellars.com
Instagram: @lafatacellars
Follow Crush and Climb:
Instagram: @CrushandClimb
Facebook: @CrushandClimb
Website: www.crushandclimb.com
Follow Jason McClain:
Instagram: @jasoncmcclain
Facebook: @jasoncmcclain
Website: www.jasonmcclain.com
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