COMING SOON: "REAL" BY JACK MCADOO
Jack McAdoo's world shattered when his mom abruptly disappeared from his life when he was just 4 years old.
Jack McAdoo’s life is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the transformative power of belief. Born into a military family, his early years were a whirlwind of adventure and upheaval, shaped by his father’s Air Force career. From Langley Air Force Base in Virginia to the historic streets of Germany, Austria, Berlin, and Prague, Jack and his brothers adapted to a world in constant motion. But at the tender age of 4, his world fractured when his mother vanished from his life without warning, leaving him confused, afraid, and clinging to his father for stability. Five years later, tragedy struck again—his father’s death at age 9 forced Jack and his brothers onto separate paths, setting the stage for a life marked by profound loss and extraordinary redemption.
What followed was a rollercoaster of highs and lows that would test Jack’s spirit and define his purpose. From homelessness to addiction, from making millions to losing it all, Jack McAdoo has lived more lives than most—and emerged with lessons that resonate worldwide. Today, he stands as a global motivational coach, the founder of A Life Illuminated—a lifestyle podcast reaching millions—and the author of a raw, unflinching memoir that lays bare the pain and triumphs that fuel his mission. Through his work, Jack explores the power of belief as the cornerstone of personal potential, offering an inspirational reminder that we all hold the keys to manifest the lives we dream of.
The Early Years
Jack’s childhood dreams of becoming a U.S. Air Force lawyer were derailed by his father’s death, leading him to military school and, eventually, his mother’s native Hawaii. There, a complicated reunion with his long-lost mother ignited a spark of creativity that turned him toward music. In his late teens, he dove into Hawaii’s nightlife as a nightclub promoter, talent agent, and musician, before chasing bigger stages in Los Angeles. Working as a studio and touring musician, engineer, and producer, Jack collaborated with legends like Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Prince. Mentored by filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles after a chance meeting on the set of Whodini’s “Funky Beat” video, he honed his craft in entertainment and film—a foundation that would later shape his entrepreneurial ventures.
But success came with a price. The money Jack earned slipped away on fast cars, designer clothes, and fleeting pleasures. A brief marriage gave him a son, but by his 30s, he found himself in Florida, building a medical equipment company with a partner—only to watch it crumble after a decade, leaving him with nothing but hard-earned wisdom.
Rising from the Ashes: A Life of Impact
Jack’s journey took unexpected turns—organizing charity poker tournaments, becoming a pro poker player, and launching Poker Pod Radio, the first poker lifestyle podcast, which aired on iTunes from 2006 to 2017. In 2009, he debuted Real Talk Live!, a wellness and empowerment podcast that skyrocketed to the top 3,000 websites in the U.S. and top 20,000 worldwide, according to Alexa rankings. His guest list reads like a who’s who of inspiration: actors Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp, psychiatrist Dr. Anna Yusim, NHL star Alex Kovalev, Good Morning America’s Dr. Jennifer Ashton, cannabis attorney Lauren Rudick, kabbalistic astrologer Rachel Schwartz, entrepreneur Rachel Braun Scherl, and celebrity matchmaker Amy Laurent, to name a few.
Yet, Jack’s path wasn’t without stumbles. An unsuccessful run for county office in Florida in 2014, a move to California for love that left him broke, and a near-fatal suicide attempt in 2016 brought him to his knees. Humbled by these trials, Jack found clarity in his purpose: to uplift others through the lessons of his own falls and rises. With renewed faith and the backing of an investor, he founded JJM Media Group, Inc., relaunched his award-winning podcast with a focus on inspiration, and struck a chord with a global audience.
Today & Beyond
Inspired by Difference
Now, Jack McAdoo is the CEO of RealLive TV, a television streaming channel, and a television and film producer with a slate of impactful projects. His work as a motivational speaker and coach bridges his past and present, turning personal pain into universal hope. Whether he’s sharing the stage with luminaries or connecting with listeners through A Life Illuminated, Jack’s message is clear: our beliefs shape our reality, and every setback is a setup for a comeback.
From a boy who lost his moorings to a man who illuminates lives, Jack McAdoo’s story is a living proof that we can all rise, reinvent, and rewrite our destinies—no matter where we start.
