RYB 840: The ROAD To SUCCESS and The CNBC Show “The Profit” with Amber Mazzola

00:00 I traveled a lot. I had long hours. I worked with a lot of different executives on different shows, multiple seasons, you know, so I think I was in the trenches with people for so long that people saw how hard I work.

00:14 Hey, Hey, Hey, what's up, everyone. Welcome to the rock, your brand podcast. I'm your host, Scott. Bowker a serial entrepreneur on a mission to help you.

00:23 This show is designed to teach you, to inspire you, to motivate you, to take massive action and build a future proof business. So whether you're just starting out or taking your existing business to the next level, this is your home. Now, if you're ready, I'm ready. Let's rock your brand.

00:45 Yo, what's up guys. Welcome back to the podcast. This is episode eight 40 and today I have got an amazing guest that I can't wait to share with you. And there's a lot of great golden nuggets here, but also you may just be like me and want to know how does someone actually get to where they are today? You might look at that person and go, wow, they're super successful. It was probably, well, it was probably easy or maybe they fell into something and that's not usually the case. And today I'm excited to have on the show, Amber Mazola and Amber is actually the executive producer for the show, the profit. Now, if you've ever watched the profit, you know, Marcus Limonus and you know that him and her are on the show together at times, going over the businesses that Marcus has that's had on the show.

01:39 And so what I want to do is I wanted to get her on the show and actually my wife reached out to her privately and set that up and she decided to come on and share everything because I said to her, I go, you know, I want to hear about your story. I want to hear about how does someone like you get started and find your way to where you're able to land a TV show, like the prophet. And then the other show that she was part of is back in the game with Alex Rodriguez and that story you're going to want to stay tuned for that because we almost missed that story. And she reminded me, cause I, I reminded her in the beginning. I was like, can we talk about that? And she's like, yeah. And then I almost forgot. And she's like, Hey, don't you want to know about that Alex Rodriguez moment?

02:18 And I go, yeah, that's right. I do. So we went a little bit longer because of that, but you're going to see that whenever you look at someone that's successful in any way, now she has a business, she has a brand. So part of me having her around is like, okay, how did your brand even become a thing? And you'll hear also her take action moment was really around not really thinking that she could do what she's doing right now. And she talks all about those, those fears and the thoughts and the self doubts. And you'll also hear about how she was eight months pregnant and then taking her a pilot DVD, rushing it across town to get it there, to the network so they could see it, uh, so they could possibly accept it. So you're gonna hear all about that, but if you are like me and you just like to hear how people got from where they started to, where they are and also where they're going, you definitely want to stay tuned.

03:11 This is an awesome interview. And it's just really cool to hear the ins and outs of how the TV business works, but also how you build a brand inside of this type of market. And you're going to also hear about some of the stories. Well, while they were recording the profit and it's not always easy. So you're going to hear all of that as well. Now, some of the shows that she's worked on, I wanted to mention these back in the game, Alex Rodriguez, you're going to want to hear how that actually happened. It's it's crazy how that happened. The prophet of course, then wags on E network and then, uh, pretty wild. And then also the dance scene E network. And then her first one, I believe it was her first one was treasured detectives, CNBC, and then dirty soap. It was another one of her, uh, more, um, you know, one of the ones that she's did in the, in the very beginning when she got started.

04:03 But again, her company is called machete productions. She got that name because she doesn't take no for an answer. And you'll hear her say that in here. And that is why she is successful, but it's not all been easy. And she's going to share with you exactly what that looked like. And also it's fun just to kind of hear behind the scenes of what we don't hear in that short little window of time that they have on that TV show the profit. So sit back, relax and enjoy this interview with my new friend, Amber Mazola. Well, Hey Amber, this is awesome. I finally get to meet the woman behind Marcus and the profit and all of that stuff. And I get to watch you on TV. And now we get to get to talk to you and kind of hear a little bit of behind the story as far as your story, but thank you so much for taking time out of your day and, uh, and coming on the podcast. Thank you so much. How's it going then? Yeah, it's going well, you mean in general? In general? Yeah. In general, how we're all locked up in our houses. It's going really well. It's a lot of family time.

05:11 Yeah. And I, I kind of want to dig into that a little bit later. We'll talk about like what this has done for like the production, like of a show, because I mean, there's, there's some shows that we've watched my, my wife and I, Lisa, who you, you, uh, we've been in contact with, she's the one that reached out to you. Um, but uh, you know, we've been a fan of the prophet and we've been a fan of other just shows, you know, like in general we started watching one that's on Netflix, it's, uh, uh, Virgin river. Um, it's a great, it's a great show. And we're like, Oh, we're waiting for the next season. And they're like, we're going to have to pause recording because of this, you know, the COVID-19 and I'm like, Oh my gosh, I've gotta wait even longer. You know, I want to hear about that stuff.

05:50 But more importantly, I wanted to hear not just about Marcus. I mean, everyone kind of knows Marcus, they know his backstory and all stuff, but you've become a, a pretty, I think, big role in this show. And you guys doing like the recaps and kind of like digging into like what it's been like going through that business, hearing some stuff that you didn't hear on the show. So I want to hear more about you. Like, how does Amber know get a show that's broadcast on national TV and that's, you know, like with Marcus Limonus and a rod, and like all of these things, give us a little bit of a, of a backstory on Amber. And then I want to dig into some of the, some of the climb that it's been to get to where you are.

06:33 Sure. Well, you know, it is, uh, the irony of this all is, is that I am never, I never balanced a checkbook before I started working on CNBC shows. So it, me and business was never, uh, was never put in the same sentence before these shows. Um, but yes, I, you know, I've had an odd sort of, you know, path I was, everyone does in business. I think it's never, usually just a straight shot. That's clear and stays the course always, you know, I started, I started in scripted a long time ago. Um, you know, it was a PA worked my way up to a writer's assistant and a writer. Um, and then there was this big writer strike and I was not a work writer and I hated it. I was like, I can never be out of work. This is awful. And that is kind of when the reality unscripted boom hits.

07:27 Um, and I, you know, I did a show, it was sort of half script. It was called girls behaving badly with Chelsea handler. Um, and it was a hidden camera crank shop. And I would basically just write all the pranks for it. Right. All that. Yeah. And it was fun. It was a lot of fun. I did that for five years, five seasons. Um, uh, and you know, at the end of that, it was in this weird sort of state, do I continue to write or do I kind of launch into the unscripted world? And I went, you know, for course unscripted.

07:57 Mm.

07:58 And that's, yeah, that's a little bit of the backstory. I mean, you know, I, I had an English major and thought that I was maybe going to be a teacher or a lawyer, so I never really thought I was going to be a pretty smart. Um, but I knew that when I saw my friends go through law school, I was like, you know what, that's not for me, that's too, that's way too much studying and work. And, uh, I knew I didn't want that, but

08:23 yeah. So, okay. So like, when you like, know you're 18 years old, the world is like yours, what does Amber set out to be? Right.

08:34 Ooh. Um, what does he ever set out to be? Well, okay. So, yeah, I, you know, I went to an all girls school for high school, you know, so when I left that bubble of this private, all girls school, and I got into the real world, I just kind of wanted to travel and get out there and do stuff that I haven't done. So I moved to New York. Okay. And I worked for a show called Cosby. It was on CBS and it was a bill coffee, not the Cosby show. I'm not that old, but it was the second one he did. Mmm. It was also with, uh, with Felicia Rashad and Madeline Kahn. And it was based off a British to compile one front of the grave, but it was a great show that went for seasons. But I started there as a PA in New York city, just doing all the grunt work, getting coffee, and doing runs in the city in Manhattan. And, you know, just sort of, I guess, you know, nothing, you certainly need a college degree for, but, but just to prove yourself and to work hard and show people, you want to move up

09:36 and do you look back at that time as being like something that has added to what you're, you know, somewhat of like your, your thread, I guess, or like what you are doing now in a sense of like, did it teach you anything going through that, that what you're taking from that to where you are now?

09:54 Yes, for sure. I mean, for one, as far as all the PA work I did, you know, is getting coffees and getting lunches. Like I'm the type of person that even in even running my own company, if I'm at Starbucks, I'll send a text to 10 people and say, Hey, what do you want to hear? What can I get you? I think that those people's skills and the skills of, um, never been too good for anything, uh, definitely carry through my whole career, you know, because I never, I sort of never had this arrogance. I think that, that I was better than anybody else.

10:27 Um, and that's, that's, that's a huge deal. And it's like, what's the book, how to win friends and influence people. It's like, you know, do good for others and doesn't matter how high you make it up on the ladder. It doesn't mean that you treat people differently. You kinda always remember where you come from. Um, so that's, yeah. That's, that's interesting. So, so you go to work here and are you starting to see the business side of it now? Or are you starting to see, like, are you starting to maybe see like what you would want to do at that point now you, I mean, you're young at that time, right? I mean, you're young now too. I mean, so am I, I'm going to be 48. I'm always going to be young. Right. So, um, but when you're there, it's like, you know, I mean, when I go back to when I was 18, 19 years old, I was working for my father's construction company. Thought I was gonna own that company one day. I did not go that path. My path is when, like so many zigs and zags, but it's taught me so much. Um, but like going through that, where was your, where was your first, like, I guess, move to where you thought that that was going to be your thing. You were like, okay, this is the direction for me.

11:29 Um, as a company owner, would you say, or just in general with the business?

11:33 Yeah, I would say like, because, I mean, like you said, you've, you've taken so many zigs and so many zags probably to get to where you are. Was there something that you were doing that, and maybe that was it right, like there, but I guess what was your next thing that you did after that?

11:47 Yeah, so I, I love the creativity of it. You know, any, any facet of the business I did, whether it was scripted, unscripted, you know, I loved, you know, being creative. I love being a freelance producer cause I would go from job to job. And even though sometimes it was scary in the middle of like, what's my next job. I sort of liked it, that thrill. And I loved working for different productions and different people and meeting a lot of people. I am a people person and I do find that part of, um, I love that part of the business. I think that's probably why for me as a writer, I didn't necessarily, I didn't stay that course because I felt writing to be, I don't know. I felt at a time just to be like a little, like, I don't know, lonely is the right word, but you, I mean, you have to really, you know, sit in a room and, and commit to like writing a script.

12:35 And for me, I would rather be interacting with people, talking to people and interviewing people and, um, and just sort of out in the field, I guess, doing more then, um, you know, sitting in a writer's room and writing and telling jokes and, um, it's hard to do. It's really hard to do. Um, and so I, you know, when I'm morphed into, into reality, um, I had, you know, I, again was a freelance producer working on many different shows for many different networks. I was working for E entertainment for a long time and doing a lot of different shows for E um, years ago, years, and over 10 years ago, maybe 15. And there was a woman, the head of the network, Lisa Berger, who took a liking to me and had said, Hey, have you ever thought of doing this on your own and doing, and having your own company?

13:25 No, it was the answer I had never I'm like, no, I mean, she goes, well, you're kind of doing it. You know, you're working for all these other companies, but you're doing all the work, you know, you're, you're producing the pre production, you're doing the casting, you're helping with the budgets. You're, you're out in the field shooting. It you're editing it. You're, you're kind of doing it all. So she gave me a shot, um, and you know, gave me a nugget of kernel, that idea that I helped to develop. And it became my first series. So really it was a woman at E that really sort of launched my production company helped launched me.

14:05 Yeah. That's, that's a, it's really a good point though, because you did something, you didn't actually see it in yourself and someone pointed it out to you and then you're like, wow, I guess I am kind of doing this. I guess it's just not my company, but I'm doing it for someone else.

14:19 Right, right. That's interesting.

14:23 And so now I'm starting to connect the dots. So you're like, you're, you're working, you're doing your thing. You're enjoying, you know, the production side of things and everything, but it, wasn't your idea to start your own company ever. And then you're like, now this woman that you kind of look up to and she's already doing it and she's like, Hey, you should do this. You're pretty good at it. And you're already kind of doing it.

14:40 Right. Right. Right. So at that point,

14:45 what was your first production? You're your first on your own? Like your first thing you're like, Oh my gosh, I'm going to do this.

14:52 And I guess also, what did that feel like? Was it scary doubting yourself? Like, cause we deal with a lot of self doubt just in business or in life. And I'd like to hear your thoughts on that. Oh, for sure. Well, for one, I was about eight months pregnant with my first kid and it was, um, it was wild. I remember, you know, in what we do is when we, when we put a pilot together, you know, we basically put not a whole show. We put it sort of a tease tape. Um, I would say it's about maybe it's 20 minutes, half the length of the show together and sort of, it's a little mini recreation of like what a show would look like. Right. And we send that to the network and the network, all the, all the executives get in a big room and they screen all of the shows that, you know, have been produced to see what they want to pick for the next season.

15:47 And it's usually like one or two or three shows that they pack. So we were done, we were done with the edit. We were like laying off our DVDs. And I remember just like, you know, I was like, so pregnant. And so, and just like driving this DVD to the screening because, you know, we have given it to them the night before, and I got this call from another executive saying, Amber, the DVD is play and yours is going to be first out. And I'm like, Oh my God. So I was just, I think I made other other copies. I was driving like 80 miles an hour down the freeway just to get them and you know, the T a DVD. And they were like stopped on drive so fast, like baby on board, baby on board. And I was like, career on the line, like, no, I gotta get you this tape.

16:32 So it turned out that that was like, they ended up because it was late showing it last. Um, and it went over really well. And it was like the one or two, uh, shows that were picked up for the whole season. So that was, um, that was really quite an accomplishment my first time out doing it because it was, you know, I mean, for what it's worth is all these big companies, you know, um, that are showing their tapes. And here I am, it's like, you know, mom and pop shop. I don't even think there's a pop part of it yet. You know, it's just me and someone doing budgets for me and another person helping me produce. So once I, you know, I got that call that it was like greenlit. I remember them saying Greenland. Basically they picked it up and it's going to go to series was a show called dirty soap.

17:18 And it was so proper stars, um, for eat. So it was fine. We had a couple of girls from, uh, days of our lives on it, a couple of girls, um, Oh gosh, you know, a few other ones, the bold and the beautiful, you just, um, some different general hospital. Um, and it was fun. It's like a docu soap, um, following the lives of these, you know, few different girls in their relationships that are on different soap opera. So it was a fun show. And, um, yeah, it was, I mean, it was a crazy time because here I was like, all of a sudden now I instantly had to build a company, you know, and I just had a baby too.

17:57 That's nuts.

17:59 So it was wild.

18:01 Wow. That, that I can you get, you've painted a pretty good picture. They're going 80 miles an hour with a DVD and a trying to get their pregnant. And, uh, yeah, that seems like a wild time, but probably exciting too. And then when you get the green light, you're like, wow, is this really happening? But then you probably thought, Holy crap, now we got to produce this thing and we got to actually make this thing happen.

18:24 Right. Right. And I remember, um, I mean, thank God for Lisa Berger. Who was it? Who was it? Who was a woman who gets it? Because I remember, um, I remember I then ended up having a C-section and it was like, I don't know. Let's just say it was a Thursday. They called and said, congratulations, your show has been picked up. We want to have a call on Monday to like, have a big launch. And I said, Oh great. That's awesome. I'm I'm having my baby tomorrow on Friday. I'll be on the call Monday. And Lisa was like, if you get on that call, I will pull the show from you. You will absolutely not get on this call. You are building a company, you are hiring people, you trust, they can take the call. And I was like, Oh, so, you know, look, I mean, there's been a lot of lessons that I've had in business besides building one. It's also been hiring people that you truly trust and not being a micromanager. Cause I was, I was probably a really great micromanager open.

19:26 Yeah. It's hard to let go. And like of those things, especially when, you know, like you think you're the only one that can do it as good as you. Right. But there's probably other people that are better. It's just hard to let off the reins. And especially in a time in your life that you were, you know, you landed something that's big. I mean, for you and for, you know, like this potential company that you're building, uh, so you land this deal, uh, and you get that up and running. Let me just back up though. So from what I'm hearing is like, you're, you were able to, I always try to paint back the pit, you know, kind of paint the picture and kind of put the pieces together. So what I'm hearing is, you know, you started working in the industry, you showed off your skills that you started learning someone pointed out that you should probably own your own production company.

20:11 You said it. Okay, what the heck? We'll go ahead. And we'll, we'll pilot something, you pilot something and you get it. But also, and the thing that I, I don't want to gloss over is like, I'm sure that I can't just walk in right now and go, I'm going to launch something as a pilot to something I'm just going to go launch it. There's gotta be connections there. There's gotta be networks there. There's gotta be people that you've built relationships with over the time that you can do this unless I'm wrong because you're in the industry, you know, people now, how do you get to be able to pitch something when someone off the street just can't walk in and just say, here are executive producers or, or, um, you know, network, you know, uh, people go ahead and look at my stuff. Is, is that true? Or is there just a channel that you go through to do that?

20:56 Well, look, I mean, I think a lot of people have pitched up off the street for sure. And there's been those crazy stories. No, for me, I definitely, as I was a producer working my way up through the ranks, I, well, I haven't, you know, there's a lot of sweat equity. I traveled a lot. I had long hours, I've worked with a lot of different executives on different shows, um, multiple seasons, you know, so I think I was in the trenches with people for so long that people saw how hard I worked. Um, and again, back to my PA days, I think they saw that I was a person that would kind of do anything. And I was like, good to go and able to pitch it and not say no. And Mmm, I dealt really well with talent, um, you know, throughout the years.

21:41 And so I think the executives start to see that. And as you start to work on, you know, I worked on three Bravo shows, for example, you know, when you work on million or matchmaker for Bravo, and then you work on Kathy Griffin for Bravo and you do Taurian Dean for actually that was oxygen, but you keep working with these savings executives', you know, and then ultimately by the way, these executives moved to other networks. So an executive it's at Bravo, one days at oxygen in it. And just being in the business, I think for so long, you get to, you get to work with these same people and really they become your little family. You know, I say now that like so many people that I've grown up with in this business are they're kind of everywhere. There are multiple different networks. So that's personally how I was able to like open doors to pitch, um, and to get in there and to show, you know, my skills.

22:31 And that's the, that's the important thing I think for anyone that's either building a business or working themselves up, it's like your story. Didn't like, you didn't start something, then all of a sudden pitch something like you worked your way, you grinded, you did the work, you got your foot in the door, like you said, you'd go get coffee for people. You don't care. Just get me in the room. I just want to be in there with those people and build those relationships. And you're a likable person. So the minute you get in there, you're going to make friends and then you're going to be able to pick people's brains and all of that stuff. And then I believe that your network is your net worth. I mean, I truly do. It's like the people you build a relationship with, it's going to help open doors for you. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's like you worked for it.

23:07 Yeah. And you know what, that's a good point. I mean, I mean, I kind of always, I sort of forget like, Oh, grunt work. I did to get to where I am because it was so long ago, but I don't remember. There was a time where, you know, when I was an out of work writer and by the way, it was great. I was like 24 years old and I was a writer on a sitcom. Um, but then I was out of work and I was like walking John with those dogs for living and like, you know, and it was like, well, okay. I mean, I knew that it wasn't gonna be a professional dog Walker, but I knew that like, this is what I had to do at that moment to like make money and still make connections and get the next thing. So I had a lot of times where I feel like it was, you know, two step forward, one step back. I mean, because by the way, after dirty soap, my very first show, um, it was canceled after one season. And so it, um, you know, and that's when we get into talk about the profit, it's an interesting story of how I got that. But it was, um, yeah, no dirty soap was canceled. And after that I was like, I was like, Oh great. I just built this little company. And now I have no shows.

24:13 That's a great point. And I didn't know that that, that happened. That's why I love doing these kinds of freestyle too. I don't like to do a lot of backs, you know, back checking and seeing like what you've done. I know some of it, but I like to learn that because that's important. You did this thing, you're on a high, you do the thing and then it gets canceled. Then you're like, Oh crap. Oh my God, like I got a company, I got people to feed now. Like if people are relying on me and my company, and now I gotta go find, you know, the next, you know, the next, you know, show or whatever. How did that feel when you were like you found out it's not going to be renewed.

24:49 I feel really awful. You know, especially when you have an executive, you know, it's kind of like a breakup where they're like, it's not, you it's me feels really bad, you know? It's um, yeah. I mean, just sort of get the wind kicked out of you, you know, because it's, um, like you said, you're on this high and you are doing really well and people are like loving what you're doing and seeing, and it doesn't rate well, you know, um, and then advertisers, aren't going to want to buy it if it's not rating well, so then the network cancels it. Um, so yeah, it's a big, it's a big blow to the ego.

25:25 Yeah. But, but you know what, I hear a lot from people that are successful is number one. It's not overnight, not number two. They get back up when they get hit down. Right. I just had John Gordon on that wrote the energy bus and the carpenter great author I had him on. And he said he got 30 nos before someone, I picked up the energy bus, which the energy bus actually created his career that he has now basically, you know, paving the path to get into, you know, being a team leader into like NFL and NBA and all of these big sports network, sports organizations. We've had 30 nos, you know, 39.

26:00 Yeah. I've got a lot of those. And a lot of them I've had a lot of meetings, even before I had a company. I had a lot of, you know, when you're an executive producer, they call you a show runner. Cause you're hired to run the show. Essentially. I did a lot of show runner meetings where I didn't get it, you know, where it was between me and another person. And I did get it. I had a plethora of that. Even when you know, I'm on a network list, let's say a small list of a network puts out and says, Oh, we want to work with these people. You know, I've been on a lot of those lists throughout my life and I still don't get the job. So now even it has a company, older owner and I'm pitching shows like I get a lot of no's. I don't want that show. I don't like that. It's just, you have to hear no quite bit. So if you know, if you don't like the word, no.

26:49 Yeah. Uh, okay. Let's, let's, let's move our way into the prophet. Um, so tell us the story, like, how does this, how does this happen? Uh, how did you come up with the idea or who came up with the idea? How did you bring it to, and how did you kind of set up the show to be what it is today?

27:08 Okay. So I did not come up with the idea at all. So I don't want to take credit for the idea, but I, um, years ago I'd worked for, um, an executive named Jim Ackermann who was overseeing VH1. And I had worked for him, you know, on a pilot and he left each one and went to CNBC to oversee the CNBC at the time. Was it a news network? They didn't have prime time television. So he rents overseas, NBC prime and said, um, you know, I wanna, I want to bring you over here. I have the show. I would love for you, you know, to be the show runner for it. And I said, Oh no, no, no, no, I'm not. Thank you. But I'm not a showrunner anymore. I own my own company. And uh, he said, well, what, you know, what shows do you have?

27:54 And I said, well, I have dirty soap. And he said, is that coming back? And I said, I don't know yet we haven't been told, cause we have meat, we didn't get the official cancel. And he said, okay, well, you know, keep me posted. So I was like, yeah, whatever, you know, I own my own company. Now I need to like sell shows. Like I keep, go back to doing what I did. So he called again and he said, so I heard dirty sofa canceled. Will you run the show for me? And I said, no, I Jim, I can't, I need to work on my own company. He goes, listen, come with work with me, help me launch this network and do a show as a producer. And I will help you build your own company again. I'll help you rebuild your company so well, that was, you know, that's kind of an offer. You can't really refute.

28:39 Yeah. Pretty sweet. Jim's a really good guy, loyal man of his word. And I, so wasn't the profit, by the way, it was a show called treasure detectives. Uh, it was the first show that launched on the network. Um, and it was called treasure detectives. And, uh, that show also only went one season, but it was, um, it was, you know, probably at the time, not really right for CNBC, but it was their first show. It was a great idea was it was authenticating fakes and forgeries. Mmm. And it, you know, um, it, it is what it is, but so I ended up going back and being a showrunner and executive producer for him for that show. And after that was over, he said, okay, I have one more show that I want you to do this with. And, and help me out. I was like, Jim, you know, you said, you'll help me launch my own company.

29:25 And he said, just please do this other show. We have this great piece of talent. Um, and we have a production company that brought him, you know, us, but we don't really know the company that, well, they're not really vetted. I we've never worked with them. They're sort of this new company, um, you know, will you, will you meet this guy? And I was like, Oh, who is it? Like, what is the show? And he's like, Oh, what's this Marcus Limonus, he's like telling you about Marcus. And I'm like, it's a business. No, this is, come on. This isn't for me. Like, I don't go to business. And he's like, no, no, no, we need someone like you because, because you don't do business. So you'll find the human stories in this and you know, the stories and in your storyteller. So I said, okay, so I'll, I'll meet marches. So I remember meeting Marcus. It was like this big party in New York, um, celebrating like the launch of CNBC prime. And here's Marcus like with his like little bow tie. And I'm like, who is this guy? Like, that's how I first met him. And so when he introduced himself, I was like, are you kidding? I couldn't get back.

30:39 And then it was like, you know, we were like a match made habit ever since I made fun of this bow tie. But so I started the very first season of the prophet. It was not my show as a company owner. I was the show runner on it. I was an executive producer, um, still helped with casting and the budget and did everything. Actually. I even formatted the show, um, you know, along with Marcus and the network and it didn't, you know, didn't work out with the production to the production company, um, with the network. It just didn't, it didn't, they didn't jive. So do you ever gave the show then to me, into my company. So from season two on then I was the company behind the show essentially.

31:19 And so what does, what does that mean though? Just cause we're not, I'm not into the, uh, you know, the, the, uh, you know, network in the production. Like, what does that mean? That your, so your company takes over like everything, then that means that you have all of the different parts that make it actually happen.

31:35 Yes. So basically when, yeah, a lot of people don't know this. When is she went to a show is done with a network. It's not a network that does the show in house. They farm it out basically to a production company. And then the production company takes all the responsibility with the legal, the insurance, um, all of that. And so they're the ones that basically take on all the responsibility and then in turn, um, you know, hire the people and do the pre production, the production, and then the post production and the editing and get it ready for air. So, so I was the producer, running the show in the field and doing all the day to day and dealing with the creative and dealing with Marcus and budgets and calendars, but it wasn't my company. So I wasn't the one that obviously held the insurance, um, and you know, the legal risk and everything else that, all the fun stuff that comes with owning a company, all the risks, all threats, the network doesn't want to take the risk.

32:35 That's why they have production companies. So, um, and I just remember at the end of the first season, you know, Marcus and I really formed a really great relationship, you know, through the show. And he began to really trust me and trust the process and, you know, I did as well. And so at the end of that, he was like, well, I'm not doing it without her. And I was basically like, well, I'm not doing it at this capacity again, because again, I'm doing everything. And, um, you know, I want to build my own company again. So, so then back to, you know, our loyal Jim Ackerman, he made it happen. He basically, but then essentially gave it to my company.

33:17 Nice. Yeah, that's really cool. And you can just tell, I mean, I would ask you this question, but I think I already know the answer. Uh, Marcus seems like he is who he is on, on camera. I mean, he's, he's funny snarky, but he seems like a really good guy. You know what I mean? Like, and I think that comes through, you can see sometimes other people, it doesn't, you know, like, yeah, that person isn't really like that.

33:40 Right, right. No. Yeah. With Mark, as it is, what you see is what you get for sure. Yeah. Um, and he is, you know, he always says, he's the man of the people he really is. I mean, he's also gonna, like he does on the show, he rolls up his sleeves and gets his hands dirty. It's that's really true. That's not like the cameras go off and he's like me, the cameras go off and he's actually still doing the works.

34:03 That's funny. Yeah. I just actually watched the other one. You guys just, it just aired, I think with Leno. Uh, yeah. And that was good. That was a good one. And I liked it. Um, I don't know if it was a rerun or not. I thought it was new, but we had a DVR, but, um, but yeah, we watched it and, uh, yeah, that one was, that one was good. It was interesting to hear Leno and put his little spin of comedy on it and stuff. How did you get Leno to do it? Was he just part of the network and then he agreed to it, but was it Marcus? Like how did you guys get, uh, Leno?

34:33 Well, Leno is a show. I'm an at work, um, Jay Leno's garage, I think it's called so, and so one of the executives that is on our show as well as Leno's garage, um, help facilitate it. And so, yeah, it was definitely through CNBC, but also, you know, Jay had a product that he wanted Marcus opinion on and helped with as well, big, big into cars.

34:57 Oh yeah. Like 180 cars. Marcus is like, this isn't a garage. This is a, like a museum. And he goes, I have a garage, it's got two doors, but two cars in it. And this has got like 180 cars.

35:09 It's the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Yes.

35:12 It's insane. Yeah. I like Jay though, too. J J seems good. And I've watched that show every now and then. Um, okay. So let's, let's talk about now, like, okay, you, you, you land the show, you do one season, Marcus is kind of sold on you really? And he's like, I'm not doing it without, without her. And then, so was it instantly renewed or did you guys have to reposition or redo things make, I mean, cause I know you guys learned probably from the first run. Um, was there anything that was adjusted to go moving forward? How does that work?

35:46 Yeah. Well the biggest thing was originally Marcus had kind of moved from Chicago to LA to shoot the show. Cause it was like, okay, the show, we're going to find LA businesses. Um, and it's going to be in LA it'll hit, it'll save on the budget and we won't have to travel all around. Um, then towards the end of the show, we had two businesses that were not in LA to New York businesses. Mr [inaudible] and Parkash both. And so I would say is the biggest shift in the second season was okay, this isn't like, you, you can't dictate what state you're going to be in. Like, wherever people need help is, is where we're going to be. You know, and whatever business we choose is where we're going to be. So that was the big shift in season two and season two, I think we were in Florida, LA, Chicago, New York, um, you know, a bit all over the place. Yeah. There wasn't much of a shift going from company to company because quite honestly, even though it was a different company, I still had hired all the people that I wanted. You know, as far as producers and editors, they were still like kind of all my people that I'd worked with for years. So that meant, you know, nothing changed there as far as personnel.

36:57 And so I got a couple other questions on like the show itself. What types of challenges do you face? Like, and I'm sure you could. I mean, there's probably a plethora of them too. It's like, well there's every day there's something right. But what are some challenges that have been with that, that show? Is it the businesses? And then, you know, basically, you know, cause I mean it looks like it could get pretty ugly.

37:24 Yeah. Yeah. Well, Oh my gosh.

37:33 Where do I start with the challenges? I would say. So one of the challenges while filming these businesses is that because it's really happening and it's really happening in real time and Marcus is really putting his money and we're really doing transformations. We, we don't stay at one business for, you know, a week or two weeks of shooting. We will go to one business for a couple of days and then leave and go start another business and then leave and go start another business. So one of the challenges are when we leave, I think businesses are like, which has happened like Marcus and his crew just like came in like, you know, like a hurricane and, and made some like fast changes and left. Um, that's always been hard for the businesses is that, you know, we always have some, one of our producers that still talks to them when we leave, but it's almost like they don't know like almost like some of them don't know what to do when we leave. You know, they just, like, they didn't know that Marcus was going to leave and come back. They just thought he would just be there. Um, but that's always a challenge I think that we deal with with the businesses.

38:40 Hmm. And so are they, are they reaching back out to you the produce, the other producers? Uh, Marcus himself, like, because I could see that like happening to like Marcus, cause this is we're going to do this. We're gonna do that. I'm in full control, you know, whatever. And then it's kind of like, there's all this stuff. Like, are you guys still there helping to manage and maneuver things or is it really strictly just on them? And then hopefully they got their homework done

39:04 a little bit of both, you know, cause Marcus is really clear on what he wants done when he leaves and what he wants to smooth. He comes back. So he, you know, some of it is definitely on them. Some of it is on us or Marcus, cause sometimes they need money to make it happen. Or we are, you know, daily, you know, multiple times a day communication with them even when we leave. But it's still is always a challenge. When, you know, when Marcus is there, they all feel kind of safe and good and know that like change is happening. But when he leaves, they're like they get a little insecure. Um, another big, big challenges is that Marcus has one person, you know, and Marcus doesn't even have an assistant. So here is a guy that like has not only camping world, but like hundreds of businesses, um, and manages his own count. It's crazy. So that's a challenge cause you know, he, again, he's only one person and,

39:56 and why, why does he choose to do that? I'm just curious. I mean he could get an assistant, right? He can afford one.

40:04 Yeah. Um,

40:08 you know, I like to say at first I'd probably laugh and say, well, he's a control freak. He just told him everything. But by the way, partially, that's partially true. Right. I don't think you're going to be that successful if you don't have a little bit of a control nature to you. Right. But, um, but I also think he likes to, he really in truly likes to be that contact person and likes to know firsthand what's happening. Um, and just feels he can affect change better that way. So it makes sense. It does. I mean, it gets hot and look, it's hard now, you know, we've done Oprah, a hundred businesses on the show and that's just our show. So, you know, he's, he's got other ones besides us.

40:48 Yeah. It was funny. We were watching the car cash one the other night. Uh, the, the followup one. Oh my gosh. Even when I went back and watched it again of the highlights, I don't know how you guys stuck it out with that one brother. It was like,

41:04 yeah,

41:04 this guy is so brutal to his brother and that's gotta, that's gotta kill Marcus. Cause I know he's a people and he's like, you don't treat anyone like that. Oh my gosh. That was a tough one to watch actually.

41:15 Yeah. And that was one of our very first ones, you know, we, yeah, well we aired that first, but it wasn't our, I think we had that first. Um, yeah, it was one of the, you know, the first season. Yeah, no, that's hard. I think about a lot of times that's, I'd say our challenges is that when you get there and you know, present themselves a certain way on a casting tape, right. Then when you get there, there are these different dynamics that might make great TV, but like it does sting a little when you're there and, and yeah, he is a people person and Marcus also doesn't love when family members work together and he has his reasons for that, even though we do a lot of family business.

41:53 Yeah. So, okay. So then, then take, take me through this real quick, the casting process, like, so someone pitches it, how does it work? Like how does that, like, how does, does he select them or does it, you know, does the network, you know, who actually, you know, selects the business?

42:08 Okay. So, so my company actually is in charge of casting as well. And what, what happens is, is every time you see a show, right, there's a slug in a, in an episode that says, if you or a friend of yours has a business need of help, please log on to blah, blah, blah. Um, and so we, we get all of these applications and we have a casting team that goes through all of these applications, thousands of them. And basically, you know, every year there's like a weeding, you read them out depending on various things, whether it's like, okay, this year, we're not doing a pizza business, we've done three or, you know, we're not doing, you know, candles, whatever. So we will, um, we will look for certain criteria that Marcus likes and Marcus wants, and then we present it Marcus and the network and, you know, everyone's sort of weighs in what they like. And Marcus always has the final say of course, cause it's just funny.

43:08 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

43:12 Yes. When it's like a great character. So, you know, cause of course I come at it from a different sure. Angle, like I want good TV. Um, and so if there's someone who I think is going to make amazing TV, I'll always try and push a little harder. Sometimes it works.

43:27 Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Okay. We're going to be wrapping up. I know I've taken up a lot of your time. This is interesting. I always like to hear the backstory number one, thanks for sharing your, your story personally and how you've arrived to where you are. I think it's amazing. I think just for, um, also busy moms out there who are building companies, I think your, uh, your inspiration for that. Um, I do have a question for you on that. How do you balance work and how do you balance family? Because you've got two kids. Yeah. Two kids.

43:57 What are the ages? Two and eight,

44:00 two and eight busy, busy, busy mom. Like how do you bow? How do you balance that? Cause I think I read ma might've been in one of your Instagram posts or like, it might've been like mompreneur day or something like that, where it was kind of like how I struggle with not feeling guilty because I'm not with my kids. And then when I'm with my kids, I'm thinking about something else that I should be doing. And that's a constant struggle, I think for any entrepreneurs kind of like, I want to be present. I also, I'm thinking about everything I want to do. Right. How do you, how do you balance that?

44:30 It's hard. Really. It's really hard. You know, it's a, so it's funny because you're asking me this question now, cause I have a different opinion of how I'm gonna balance it. Moving forward when I get back to work versus how I was balancing it. I mean, you know, I think that like when I have kids, you just have less time for you have less time for things. So you need to like really kind of plan better and plan your day. So yeah, it's funny when you and I were texting earlier, I was on my walk. I was extra, I was hiking because I knew that like, this is my moment in time. This is my moment of the day. And if I don't do it at this window, it's not going to happen the rest of the day because you know, there's just, there's a lot going on.

45:09 Um, I make sure when I travel that I don't travel for longer than 48 hours. Um, that's the longest I'm gone. Otherwise I will take them with me, which is not always practical. Um, but I make sure that as I'm saying this, by the way I have one kid like tiptoeing around here in the background. Um, but yeah, no, I, I try to, I make sure that when I travel for a show, it's, it's a, it's only, um, I'm not gone for very long. Um, I do miss dinner a lot because I work till like seven o'clock. So I come home and dinner and bedtime often, which I don't love. Um, so it's been a hard struggle, especially building a business for sure. There's always something that suffers and you know, it's, it's usually, it's usually my relationships more than, you know, more than my kids or my, you know, my business. Um, but it's funny that you asked that because now in quarantine it started my kids in the background. Right. Okay. Yeah. Right. I know it was a home after this call homeschooling starts. I would say that the, did the change that I'm going to make is, Mmm. I'm going to get to work earlier and I'm going to leave at five o'clock every day because I think that like nothing, nothing amazing happens after 5:00 PM quite honestly. So there's no reason that I can't leave and have dinner and do that time and, and be a part of that and still get all my work done during the day.

46:41 So it is prioritizing. I, um, I'm glad that you brought that up. Uh, it's simplifying and then it's getting your things in order and then getting them done. And uh, yeah, I think if you schedule it, you'll get it done. If it doesn't get scheduled, it won't get done. Uh, but I, I agree. I mean, that workout thing is like important. And like, I think for anybody that's busy, they can't see how you can fit that in, but it might be getting up early. It might be, you know, taking that on your lunch break, whatever, but it's so important. And, and I know that you've really gotten kind of health conscious here lately and you know, you've made a great transformation. So people are watching this. They'll, they'll probably see it from, from the show to where you are now. I just want to congratulate you on that. And it's just a great transformation. You look great. Um, and I'm sure you feel really good too, right?

47:27 Yes. Yes.

47:29 So, yeah, I just, again, I wanted to say, I think it's important for people to get those priorities in place and family is, I don't know for me. And it sounds like for you too, it's really important. I told you I'm 47 gonna be 48. I've got three kids. I've got a 12 year old, 22 year old and a 24 year old. Who's about ready to have a baby. So I'm going to be a grandfather. So I got married when I was young, you know, been married 26 years. So, but that's, that's everything to me when I started my business, it was to make sure that I didn't miss the little league. I didn't miss those things, but it's tough because as an entrepreneur, there's no end. You can keep going.

48:04 Yeah. And that's been important thing by the way. That's one of the reasons I did, you know, I didn't know when I started my business cause I was just pregnant, but now you're right. I mean, I make the little league games and I'm so blessed to be able to do that.

48:17 Yeah. Yeah. We can't, we can't go back in time and fix that one. So yeah. We want to make sure we do that. All right. So I'm going to let you go. I got one other question that I think people are gonna, they're gonna, they're gonna want to know this too. And this is something just kind of random. Do you ever get free advice from Marcus on business

48:36 all the time? Even when I don't want it, you can call it for your advice. I call on him being annoying.

48:44 It really is being annoying just by telling you these different things. You should do this, you should,

48:48 Oh yes. So many opinions got of what I could do, what I could do, different what I, how it mess up, you know what he's, it's funny. Cause I would always say, Oh, you don't know entertainment. You don't know, you don't know what you're talking about, but like he does, he knows what he's talking about. Um, but yes, I get free business advice whether I want it or I don't.

49:11 Yeah. It's kinda like that, uh, that father that just keeps giving you the advice and you're like, I don't need it anymore. And they're like, I'm going to still keep giving it to you. Um, that's so that's so funny. Alright. Last, last thing I promise this. Cause what I always talk about with people, I actually wrote a book called the take action effect that it's basically about the moments in your life that make a difference. Like you, you took a chance, you took a leap of faith. Is there something I'm kind of putting you on the spot here, but is there something that comes to mind that you're like, man, if that never happened, I never would have been where I am. Like, there's that there's like a moment that something has. And I'll just give you an example for me. Like if I never, if I never seen that my father's partnership was going sour, I never would have, uh, asked my wife if we could start a business together years ago and we started a photography business and then that kind of like was a leap of faith, but then that changed our life forever.

50:05 Um, in that, is there something that comes to mind for you?

50:10 Well, I would, yeah, I would say for me, if I never took that step backwards, um, you know, once I am in production company and I lost the show, if I never took that step backwards to be a showrunner again, I would have never gotten this. I would have never had eight seasons of the prophet and over a hundred and built a business. You know,

50:29 that's actually, that's really good that you actually highlighted that. I kind of, I seen it, but I didn't see it. But now I do. So you kind of swallowed a little bit of your ego there for a minute. You're like, wait man, I'm building the company. I'm not doing a show runner thing. I did that before. I'm not doing it. And then you do it. And then that is what got you to where you are. And if you didn't do that, who knows where you'd be. Right? Yeah. I love that. Okay. So thank you so much, Amber, for sharing that, is there any of any other, uh, bits of advice or anything you want to share with anyone before we wrap up? Because I know you're busy and you gotta do some homeschool stuff.

51:05 Oh gosh. Um, you know, I guess you kind of nailed it earlier. I think that the never give up, um, attitude and don't be afraid of the word. No is really, you know, I would say that one of the things that Marcus and I have in common, we have a few things that come in, but one of the things is that we, we don't like the word. No, we're not scared of it, but we don't take no for an answer and you just keep going, you know, you just kind of keep persevering.

51:32 Yeah. Keep, keep going. If you want it bad enough, you keep going. Right. That's the key. All right. Cool. So, um, how can people learn more about you or where would you like to send people if they want to learn more about Amber or,

51:46 I mean, yeah. Um, I, I need to be better at it, but I'm on Instagram, you know, Amber underscore Mazola and I have, um, I'm not very active on Twitter and we have a website machete, tv.com.

52:00 Yeah. I checked that out. Yeah. Nice. It's a nice looking site. Yeah. Awesome. Well, Hey Amber, thank you so much for taking time out of your, out of your schedule. And even though we're quarantined, I'm sure you're busy as ever, just because you've got a lot of plate spinning. So I just want to say thank you so much. Thanks so much for doing the show too. It's uh, it's been amazing and we're, uh, we're avid Watchers and uh, and uh, supporters of the show. We think it's great. And uh, yeah, just wanted to say thank you. And I appreciate you coming out to me. She's great too. Oh, I will. Thank you. And we'll be watching

52:31 of course. Yes.

52:39 Oh, wait a minute. That's right. Okay. Time out. We got to go back in real quick. How did we land a rod here? Cause I'm a Yankees fan. I'm originally from upstate New York. Yeah, we're out. We're outside of, uh, Albany. We're uh, we're basically in Saratoga Springs area. Um, and now we're in South Carolina. We moved about three and a half years ago. Um, but Hey rod, I mean, I've watched him it's when he was with Seattle and then he came over to the Yankees and I'm a Yankee fan. So tell us about a rod.

53:08 Okay. So a rod, a rod was, it's a funny story. I was on, Oh gosh, I was on the show for E another show for E called wags wives and girlfriends of professional athletes. And that was a franchise. And we had this girl at the time that was that dating a, this is way before Jayla. And I remember out too, was Torrie Wilson. I think her name was, she was, and I remember meeting with her and saying, Oh, we want to, um, we'd love to have you on our show. And she said, well, you know, my boyfriend kind of wants to meet with you and talk to you about it and find out the Jeff. So I was like, okay, great. So I met with him and he, he couldn't be bothered. He was like, I remember he had his sunglasses on the whole time.

53:53 He was like, not interested in the show. I mean, why would he be, I get it show about the wives of athletes. And finally he said, so what kind of shows have you done? And I said, Oh, I'm doing a show called the profit. And then all of a sudden he took his sunglasses off and he's like, I love the profit. I love Martin. I went to high school with Marcus. We were different years, but we know each other through friends in Miami. I was like, really? Wow. So long story short, I got this email back, you know, a week later that said, you know, basically Alex's passing on this show, but, um, he loves the prophet would love to talk to you about profits. So I, you know, got been maintaining this relationship for a few years then with Alex. And like, while he was playing, we were talking about, you know, the profit, if there was maybe anything he could do with the profit or maybe his own thing. Mmm. Even had meetings with like Marcus and Alex. Um, and so it turned out that when, you know, we had this other idea for CNBC, which was like Michael Strahan. And I, um, we were like, well, what about Alex? Like he's not playing anymore. And he's this huge business guy and you know, what did I have? And you just like, you know, sort of revamped his image. And, um, and so we, yeah, so that's sort of where back in the game, you know, how it kinda came to me.

55:21 And so is there just the one episode that was done?

55:25 Yeah, no, we did five. We did five episodes.

55:29 Okay. Oh yeah. No. Okay. That's right. I did. I watched it. I watched two of them, but I thought I was waiting for more and I wasn't, they weren't coming in for some reason, but okay. There's five. Okay. I watched Holyfield and then, um, Oh gosh, I forget now it's slipping my mind. The one that I did. Mmm. Was there an Olympic athlete?

55:46 Yeah. So Ryan LaCosse, we did Joe Smith, the basketball player. Um, then we did some Brian Dunkelman and, um, Nicole Eggert.

55:58 Okay. Okay. I'll have to go back and watch them then. Cause I didn't realize that those were, those were, I think I only watched two or three, but I thought it was great. Um, so where are we at with that now?

56:07 Well, we'll probably be doing more of those as well, waiting for a lot of this stuff to get lifted here.

56:14 Yeah. So that's awesome. So how was it working with a rod? Be real, be real, come on.

56:20 Yes. Such a professional. It is he's. I mean, he really is great and it's not bad when you know, J-Lo shows up on set either. That can be amazing. Everyone's scared when she says the plan set, but it's great.

56:35 That's hysterical. Oh wow. And where are you usually filming them? Are they in Miami?

56:40 I some, some Miami again, it's, it's sort of wherever the person is. Most of these athletes or celebrities, we live in like LA Miami or New York. So,

56:50 so again, that, that was led from the show that you were pitching to his girlfriend at the time. Who's not girlfriend with him anymore with J lo and that led you to air out and then a rod loved the prophet and now the profit

57:03 that's a common theme. Nothing ever starts off as, as it, as you think it's going to never does. It never does.

57:12 That's awesome. Well, thanks for bringing that back up. I didn't want to take up more of your time, but seeing that you were willing to share that story. I appreciate it.

57:18 Well, I'm really dreading homeschool. So if at any time you want to talk, just let me know.

57:25 All right, Amber, thank you so much. I appreciate it. I will be tuning in to a, to your shows that you're producing and uh, I just, I'm a big fan of, of Marcus of you and everything that you're creating and uh, yeah, just thank you so much for coming on.

57:40 All right. Thank you.

57:42 All right. Well, I wasn't kidding. Right? She's awesome. It was great to have her on and share some of the behind the scenes, but also more importantly, I just love to hear how someone like that, that you would look at. Oh my gosh, they're on TV. They're super successful. And she is, but you also hear us talk about priorities and how she's, reshifting what she's doing in her life right now. Right? She's got two young kids she's restructuring her schedule and prioritizing because it doesn't have to be that way. And she knows that and she's taking control of that, but you can see, you know, to get there. It's not always an easy, an easy ride and you gotta be able to really just keep showing up and grinding, but you can also do that and have a family at the same time. I just love how she shared the story of her, you know, going 80 miles an hour with her DVD, to her first pitch and, uh, and just the whole thing and how it unfolded, but then also how it seems so great.

58:43 And then all of a sudden it wasn't renewed for the next season. And now she's like feeling like, Oh my gosh, how do I, how do I keep going here? How do I pitch more ideas? I got a company to support now when, before I didn't. So it's just really interesting to see how people are led by the actions they take and it will figure itself out. But you got to keep taking action as Amber did here as well. All right, guys. So hopefully you enjoyed that. That is going to wrap up this interview and this episode of the podcast, as always remember, I'm here for you. I believe in you and I am brooding for you, but you have to, you have to come on, say it with me, say it loud, say it. Proud. Take action. Have an awesome, amazing day. And I'll see you right back here on the next episode. Now go get them.