In this raw and cinematic episode of The Axel Axe Show, we dive deep with Eric Guilmette—a man who has mastered the art of the pivot.

From being a summa cum laude mathematics graduate and professional bodybuilder to becoming the "Vertical Legend" of digital drama and a #1 Amazon bestselling poet, Eric’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity and reinvention.We explore the duality of his life: the high-pressure world of Hollywood acting and romance novel modeling, contrasted with the quiet, vulnerable practice of writing poetry. This isn't just a talk about fame; it’s a conversation about the "Whys" behind our lives and the courage required to "die and be born again" in the pursuit of purpose.Inside the Episode:The Power of "Why": Eric reveals his secret weapon for acting and life—constantly questioning the intent behind every action.The Digital Revolution: Why Eric embraced "Vertical Dramas" and how he became a trailblazer in the short-form mobile cinema space.Sex & Oatmeal: A deep dive into his debut poetry book and why vulnerability is the sexiest thing a man can wear.The Romance Novel Phenomenon: What it’s like to be the face of over 200 romance novels and the responsibility of being a "vessel for desire" for millions of readers.Modeling vs. Art: Transitioning from being seen as an "object" (fitness/bodybuilding) to being heard as an artist.The Discipline of the Artist: How his background in math and sports created the structure for his creative success in Los Angeles.

I sit down with Guillermo Zapata—actor, producer, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind the iconic West Hollywood landmark, SUR.

Guillermo’s story is the quintessential Los Angeles epic. Arriving from Argentina at 22 with no English and only $500, he embodies the "die and be born again" spirit required to survive and thrive in this city.

We discuss his new film, Clouds (directed by Eduardo Pinto), the "Law of the Soul" in acting, and how he balanced the cutthroat world of Hollywood with the brutal logistics of the restaurant business.

The Argentinian Soul in LA: Building a Legacy from Zero

Guillermo doesn't just talk about success; he talks about the discipline of desire. We explore why he chose to start as a dishwasher despite being an established actor in Argentina, and how he used the "character" of a happy worker to fuel his ultimate rise.In this episode, we cover:

The Anamorphic Life: Exploring the "Angel vs. Devil" themes in his film Clouds.Dying to be Reborn: Why you must leave your old personality behind to succeed in a new country.

The "Ambassador" Mindset: How Guillermo used the restaurant business to connect with powerful people without ever "asking" for a favor.

The Zapata Legacy: The complex relationship with his famous father and the choice to never "push" his own daughters into the industry.

The Science of Style: Why presentation is a form of respect and the launch of his new brand, City Of.

Longevity Secrets: How to stay "handsome" and energized in your 50s through internal brain-heart connectivity.

Episode Chapters

0:00 The light at the end of the tunnel

0:42 Exploring the "Angel vs. Devil" in the film Clouds

1:45 The electricity of a one-page synopsis

2:50 Independent Filmmaking: Finding the right team

3:50 Dying and being born again: Surviving LA

5:13 22 years old with zero English and 10 days of vacation

6:31 Leaving your old personality at the border

7:44 "This is my home": That first Manhattan Beach sunset

8:33 The Dishwasher Era: Why reality is the best fuel

10:45 Creating the "Happy Character" to survive the grind

11:50 Accelerating English: Exiting the comfort zone

13:30 The "Ambassador" Strategy: Networking with powerful people

15:00 The Kitchen is the Heart: Lessons from restaurant management

18:10 "Directing is my passion, but I don't want to be broke"

18:41 What I learned about money: "You are the money"

20:34 The Zapata Legacy: Growing up with a famous father

22:00 Being a Father: Why I refuse to "push" my kids

24:14 Going back to Argentina to film Clouds

25:17 Transitioning from Actor to Producer: Managing the weight

26:40 The Chef vs. The Director: The parallels of leadership

28:00 Mental Health and childhood trauma in Clouds

31:16 The future of cinema: Following your heart over the algorithm

33:55 The secret to staying young: Discipline and desire

35:43 Style and Presentation: Why looking good matters

36:38 City Of Star: A tribute to the people of Los Angeles

38:00 Finding the right partner: Marriage and destination

41:00 Advice for the fall: Standing up stronger

Sponsored by:Red Axe Media: https://www.redaxemedia.com/servicesContndr: https://contndr.com/r/axelAlphagvrd: https://alphagvrd.com/?aff=34Connect with Guillermo ZapataTHE CLOUDS: https://youtu.be/c3qXbg5FPB0?si=PhnJskvO9-5MJHNGImdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0953180/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gzsur/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GZSur/SUR Restaurant: https://www.surrestaurant.com/ Vanderpump Rules: https://www.bravotv.com/vanderpump-rulesPress: https://ebbymagazine.com/guillermo-zapata-succeeds-through-resilience-and-perseverance/Connect with Axel Axe:https://www.instagram.com/axelaxeofficialhttps://twitter.com/AxelAxeOfficialhttps://www.facebook.com/heyaxelarzola/https://www.tiktok.com/@axelaxeofficialhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm5399415/

Most people spend their entire lives learning how to earn money, but they never spend a single day learning how to protect it.

I sat down with Mark Lewis, a master of corporate strategy and asset protection, to discuss a reality that hits me deep. As an immigrant who escaped communism with $70 in my backpack, I came to America to build a legacy. But as Mark pointed out in our conversation, if you don't understand the "Rules of the Game," the system is designed to keep you in a cycle of "legal theft."

Here is the breakdown of how to move from a "sharecropper" to a true entrepreneur.