Explore every episode of the podcast Be Better Tribe

Some leaders chase the spotlight. Others just show up every day and become the person everyone trusts.

That’s Eric Branagan-Franco.

In the latest Be Better Tribe Podcast episode I sat down with my former Cal Poly teammate, captain and goalkeeper. Someone I’ve been lucky to call a friend for over 20 years. We talk about pressure, leadership, and how the lessons from competing at a high level carried into his career as a physical therapist and now opening his own practice.

Proud to share a conversation with someone who has always set the standard.

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This episode is with someone who, in many ways, was the original creator of “Be Better." Coach Paul Holocher set a standard for me long before there was a podcast, a brand, or even discussions on mindset.

He was modeling it through discipline, consistency, and the expectation that you could always raise the bar.

In this conversation, we did not focus on the highlight reel or the surface level wins. We talked about the long arc and how early influences shape who we become, how standards are set through behavior rather than words, and how success evolves as our priorities change. The older I get, the more I realize that “Be Better” is not something I invented. It was something I was shown consistently over time.

This one is about honoring the people who quietly shape our standards and challenge us to grow, sometimes without even realizing the imprint they are leaving.

If you have ever had a coach, mentor, or leader who set that standard for you, I think this episode will resonate.

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I recorded a podcast episode this week that I wish I didn’t have to.

It was supposed to be an interview with my uncle.
We talked about it. Planned it.
I thought we had more time.

We didn’t.

He grew up picking strawberries in the fields, broke track records that stood for 20+ years, went to law school, and served the County of San Diego for 25+ years.

But, what I’ll remember most are the 5am fishing trips, the movie theater jokes, the books he gave me, and the conversations about life.

If there’s someone you’ve been meaning to call, interview, thank, or learn from — do it.

Tomorrow isn’t promised.

Over and out. 🫡

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This episode is a special one.

I sit down with Austin Swift, one of my closest friends and someone I’ve been connected to for over 30 years. We grew up together, shared childhood experiences that shaped who we are, and have stayed connected as life, careers, and definitions of success have evolved.

Our conversation dives into friendship, values, growth, and what success really looks like over time. We talk about how early experiences leave a lasting imprint, why community matters more than ever, and how consistency, discomfort, and chasing meaningful experiences have guided both of our paths.

This isn’t about highlight reels. It’s about the long arc—showing up, growing up, and appreciating the people who’ve been there from the beginning.

Takeaways:
- Childhood friendships and shared experiences shape who we become
- Success changes as we grow and our priorities evolve
- Consistency, discomfort, and seeking meaningful experiences compound over time
- 30+ years of connection is something worth honoring

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Midway through life is a crazy thing to think about. It really highlighted that I think I know things, but really I don't know shit. 

The Podcast will hopefully take a bit more of a comedic approach, while still instilling some lessons, stories, and things that have impacted me. Being 39, when the average life expectancy is 78.4 is an interesting place to be.

The bulk of the Podcast is shifting perspective from 'have to' to 'get to' and the impact it has on one's outlook. Finally, the discussion explores the equation E + P = O (Event + Perception = Outcome) and its significance in shaping one's life experiences.

Takeaways

• Reflection on Midway Point
• Shifting Perspective from 'Have To' to 'Get To'
• E + P = O (Event + Perception = Outcome)

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In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Moran, the first boss who took a chance on me and helped shape the leader I am today. From giving me my first cold calling role to trusting me with managing a team early on, Stephanie’s belief changed the trajectory of my career. At MINDBODY, she built programs that didn’t just hit numbers, they built people, many of whom went on to become VPs, founders, and entrepreneurs. This conversation is about leadership that compounds over time, the power of belief, and what it really means to build others up. The very first interview of the Be Better Tribe Podcast starts here.

Takeaways:

• Connect with people.
• Be Coachable.
• Work Ethic.

At the end you'll here us discuss you don't "have" to you "get" to. This one simple shift in words changes everything. We'll focus more here another time.

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This episode is about the books that have shaped how I approach growth, adversity, leadership, and meaning. These weren’t just good reads, they challenged my assumptions, reframed how I see obstacles, and reminded me what actually matters when things get hard.

Each book offered something different: discipline, perspective, resilience, humility, and clarity. Together, they’ve influenced how I show up at work, at home, and in my own head.

The books:

Atomic Habits – James Clear

You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero

The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

Mindset – Carol Dweck

Grit – Angela Duckworth

The Energy Bus – Jon Gordon

The Obstacle Is the Way – Ryan Holiday

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris

Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch

Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom

La Tienda - Felipe Munoz

Takeaways

- Small habits, repeated daily, shape who we become.

- How we interpret challenges often matters more than the challenge itself.

- Meaning, purpose, and perspective can carry us through even the hardest moments.

If you’ve read any of these, or have a book that changed your perspective, I’d love to hear which one and why.

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This is about my personal journey of walking the Camino de Santiago, reflecting on the physical, mental, and spiritual challenges, as well as the impactful conversations and life lessons I experienced along the way. It taught me the importance of cherishing time and making meaningful decisions in life.

Takeaways

• The Camino de Santiago is a transformative journey that encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual challenges.
• Impactful conversations and experiences on the Camino can lead to valuable life lessons and insights.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Structure
• 07:42 The Decision to Walk the Camino
• 13:23 Impactful Conversations on the Camino

Julian Alvarez shares the motivation behind starting his podcast, 'Be Better Tribe', and discusses the inspiration behind the name. He also outlines the purpose of the podcast and the topics he plans to cover in future episodes.

Takeaways

• Be Better Mentality
• Inspiration from Books

In this episode of the Be Better Tribe Podcast, I open up about some of my all-time financial L’s… and yeah, there are a few 😅

From missed investment opportunities to real estate decisions I’d love a do-over on, this one is part storytime, part therapy session, and hopefully part lesson for you so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.

Because the truth is… most of us don’t learn money from wins. We learn it from the moments that make us say, “what was I thinking?”

Here are a couple takeaways that stuck with me:

• Financial responsibility is not optional… it compounds just like your investments
• A long-term mindset beats short-term emotions every single time

If you’ve ever made a money move you regret, you’re not alone. The goal isn’t perfection… it’s progress.

Be better today than you were yesterday.

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In this episode of the Be Better Tribe Podcast, I talk about one of the books that has had the biggest impact on me, Atomic Habits by James Clear.

I also share a personal story from my marathon training where I came up short of my goal. It reminded me that big outcomes rarely come from one moment. They come from the small habits we repeat every day.

Three ideas from the book that have stuck with me:

• Small habits lead to massive results over time
• Identity drives behavior and shapes the actions we take each day
• Designing your environment makes good habits easier and bad habits harder

If you are trying to improve your health, career, or mindset, remember that progress comes from consistent small wins.

As James Clear writes, you do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.

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In this episode, I reflect on three simple but powerful lessons my dad taught me growing up that still guide how I live today.

• Show up
• Be respectful
• Work hard

Through a few personal stories, I share how he modeled these values every day and how they shaped me as a parent, leader, and teammate. Sometimes the most important lessons are not complicated. They are consistent.

Show up. Stay consistent. And always remember to be better.

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In Episode 13 of the Be Better Tribe Podcast, I sit down with Brandon Roberts to talk about mindset, growth, and what it really looks like to invest in yourself over time.

Brandon’s story is especially meaningful to me because I originally hired him early in his career. Years later, he became my leader. That kind of journey does not happen by accident. It happened because Brandon stayed intentional about his development and committed himself to learning, especially through reading and continuous self improvement.

In this conversation, we talk about his transition from minor league baseball into sales leadership and the lessons sports taught him about discipline, preparation, and resilience. We also talk about how mindset shapes results and why the people who grow the most are the ones who stay curious and keep building their skills over time.

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is simple: Your ceiling is what you choose.

If you are early in your career or working toward your next level as a leader, Brandon’s story is a great reminder that growth compounds when you stay consistent and keep learning.

Show up. Stay consistent. And always remember to be better.

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In this episode of the Be Better Tribe podcast, I reflect on the powerful lessons from The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and why its message still resonates today.

This episode explores what it means to stay connected to your childhood dreams, push through the brick walls that test your commitment, invest in helping others succeed, protect your time, and think intentionally about the legacy you are building every day.

Inspired in part by the message behind the song Daydream by Lily Meola, this conversation is a reminder that it is easy to lose sight of what once mattered to us, but it is never too late to reconnect with it.

If this were your last lecture, what would you want people to remember?

Show up. Stay consistent. And always remember to be better.

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In this episode of the Be Better Tribe Podcast, we explore what it really means to grow through consistency, belief, and empathy.

Inspired by lessons from Ted Lasso and insights from The Dip by Seth Godin, this conversation focuses on why consistency often beats talent, why belief has to come before results show up, and how choosing curiosity over judgment can change the way we lead and support the people around us.

Growth rarely happens overnight. It happens when we stay steady, believe longer than others expect us to, and take the time to understand each other better.

If you are leading a team, building confidence in yourself, or simply trying to take the next step forward in your life, this episode is a reminder that becoming better starts with how we show up each day.

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In this episode of the Be Better Tribe Podcast, I sit down with Mike Moriarty, founder and CEO of Arsenal Pulse and former Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Dropbox, to talk about the kind of leadership that shapes people far beyond org charts and job titles.

I share how Mike showed up for me during a pivotal time in my career at Google, even though he was not my manager, and how that experience shaped the way I think about mentorship and building a coaching tree. We talk about investing in others, creating opportunities for people around you, and what it really means to lead through encouragement, belief, and consistency.

If you are trying to grow in your career, support others, or become the kind of leader who creates lasting impact, this conversation is for you. Show up, stay consistent, and always remember to be better.

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I had the chance to sit down with Brian LaManna to talk about something that shows up in almost every strong career path I’ve seen: Taking the leap before you feel ready.

Brian’s journey from SDR to enterprise seller in just a few years didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of consistency, learning from the right people, creating systems that support his goals, and maintaining a strong bias toward action rather than waiting for perfect timing.

One thing that stood out in this conversation is how growth often comes from saying yes early and figuring things out along the way.

We also discuss how top performers manage their time and energy, why learning from people ahead of you accelerates everything, how building your voice on LinkedIn can open unexpected doors, and advice for anyone early in their career or navigating what’s next.

If you’re thinking about making a move or pushing yourself into something new, this episode is for you.

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I sat down with one of my best friends, Peter Balla.

This is the longest episode I’ve done, and for good reason. Peter is one of my longest standing friends, and this conversation really captures what Be Better Tribe is all about… real conversations with people who have shaped your life.

We go back to our childhood in Santa Cruz and how those early years influenced who we became. From there, Peter shares his journey into architectural engineering, what it takes to stay committed to long term projects, and how to navigate big career decisions.

We talk about growth, pressure, and the realization that fulfillment isn’t just about having fun, but about doing meaningful work you’re proud of.

More than anything, this episode is about friendship. Growing together, showing up for each other, and why that matters more over time.

No back house stories were shared… we’ll save those for another time.

If you’re thinking about your next step or the people you want in your corner, this one’s for you.

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I sat down with Elena Winters to talk about what it really takes to build a meaningful career over time.

We start with her early days as a Sales Associate and how those foundational experiences shaped the way she approaches leadership today. Elena was actually the one who referred me into that role, which changed the trajectory of my career and is a real reminder that your network matters more than you think.

From there, Elena walks through her journey across companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Meta, and now VP of International Business at Elea Data Centers & Co-Founder of Women’s Tech Forum.

A big theme throughout this conversation is growth through discomfort. Elena shares how stepping into the unknown, taking on new challenges before feeling ready, and surrounding yourself with the right people can accelerate everything.

We also spend time on the role of mentorship and community. From the people who helped guide her early on to her work co-founding the Women in Tech Forum, it’s clear that success isn’t built alone.

If you’re early in your career, navigating a transition, or thinking about what’s next, this episode offers a real look at how to grow with intention.

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I sat down with Conor Begley to talk about the reality of entrepreneurship, betting on yourself, and what it takes to keep building through uncertainty.

Conor shares his journey from Cal Poly to co-founding Fathers Brewing, along with the lessons that came from launching businesses, learning through failure, and continuing to evolve as an entrepreneur.

We talk about persistence, staying focused when things don’t go as planned, and how long-term success is often built through consistency and commitment rather than quick wins.

Conor also opens up about relaunching software products, learning from past mistakes, and the mindset shifts that helped shape both his career and personal growth.

If you’re navigating a career transition, thinking about starting something of your own, or trying to figure out your next step, this episode has a lot of value packed into it.

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