Selfless purpose drives you to do things you never thought possible. This week US Marine Veteran Rob Jones explores how his life-altering experience of a double amputation created a clarity of purpose that his desire to seize opportunities every day. Listen in as Rob and I discuss how to push yourself, even when you’re unsure of the outcome, why you can’t move on from something until you accept it, and how there are times when the pursuit of a goal dominates everything. Rob also shares how his w...
Mar 08, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 138
How do you know if you’re bound for greatness? This week Melissa Priieto joins me to discuss the science behind the performance of athletes and how you can use data to measure and predict your own success. Listen in as Melissa and I explore the biggest misconceptions of having a trainer, how stress and sports impact the body, and why strength and conditioning can create variables that influence long-term performance. She also shares how she’s breaking through barriers within her industry, how sh...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 137
Understanding human nature is critical for mastery. This week I’m exploring the lessons of Robert Greene and what he can teach us about emotional states, crossroads, and getting more by doing less. Listen in as I share the most profound lessons from his books and how you can apply them to utilize the power of seduction strategy in your own life. Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, and The 50th Law. Hi...
Feb 22, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 136
What could your mind do with just a few moments of silence? This week Robert Greene explores the liberation that comes from practicing enlightenment through silence, and how recognition of death tragedy help him manage adversity in his daily life. Listen in as we discuss why manipulation is part of our makeup, why recognizing our failings makes us better people, and how a near-encounter with death changed his perception of adversity. Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers ...
Feb 15, 2023•54 min•Season 4Ep. 135
Holding onto our current circumstances can prevent us from living life to our full potential. This week The Captain, Kyle Creek, shares the difference between discipline and motivation, what it really takes to write a book, and how to deal with criticism while protecting your mental health. Listen in as Kyle and I explore how to deal with a victim mindset, how he embraced the possibility of building a new career, and why we never truly eliminate fear. Kyle Creek, also known as The Captain, calls...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 134
Being ready to defend and protect doesn’t mean a guarantee of violence. This week Rocky Twitchell shares how his career of martial arts mastery is helping other increase their awareness and protect themselves and others from adversity. Listen in as we dive into how martial arts builds self-confidence and helps you avoid violent encounters through discipline. Rocky discusses the value of situational awareness, using what works for you, and his advice for avoiding violence in the real world. Rocky...
Feb 01, 2023•55 min•Season 4Ep. 133
Stoicism is a philosophy and a toolkit that can help us to both be happier and to live better lives. This week author and cognitive behavioral therapist Tim LeBon shares how Stoicism can help you manage your emotions, develop a positive mindset, and create sustainable habits. Listen in as Tim and I explore the dichotomy of control, why SMART goals don’t work, and what you can learn from the Stoic three ghost exercise. Tim is a cognitive behavioral therapist who has worked in the NHS and in priva...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 132
This week Josh Perry shares how leaning into adversity creates opportunities for courage and sustained success. Listen in as Josh and I dive how Josh faced the long-term adversity challenges of brain tumors and injuries by committing to the process, and focusing on the end goal. He shares how he helps others to focus on the most basic steps to move forward after injury, and why humans are “meaning making machines.” We also discuss why adversity only carries the meaning we give it. Josh Perry is ...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 131
This week I’m breaking down why those who want to be high performers find a coach. If you’ve ever considered hiring a coach or mentor to help you accomplish your goals, you won’t want to miss this episode. Listen in as I explore the most compelling reasons athletes and leaders keep coaches close, and how consistent coaching could impact the average person’s time and revenue potential. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading ...
Jan 11, 2023•10 min•Season 4Ep. 130
A true indicator of peak performance is experiencing joy even in the most challenging moments. According to Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Emily Kwok, the moments she spends enjoying her time on the mat with her opponent are indicators of her success. This week Emily returns to the podcast to share how her definition of peak performance and athleticism has changed over the years as she experienced parenthood, COVID, and a shift in perspective. Listen in as Emily shares insights into the diff...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 129
How can you create a recipe for happiness? According to Chris Cavallini, it begins with moving forward. This week Chris is sharing how his past filled with legal issues, drugs, and trauma inspired him to help others improve their happiness through health and fitness. Listen in as Chris and I explore why he’s committed to helping others improve, even by one percent. He’ll also explain how he looks for blind spots in business and in life, what military life taught him about habits and consistency,...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 128
What could you achieve if you weren’t afraid of being laughed at? Today I’m sitting down with author and speaker Steve Sims as he shares the secret to building community, establishing authority, and taking calculated risks to achieve new levels of success. Listen as Steve and I explore why being author is an opportunity for more things, learning to lean into your community, and how to accept the fact that there will be turmoil in order to achieve your goals. For more than two decades, Steve Sims...
Dec 21, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 127
“Enlightenment isn’t a magical state you achieve once, it’s a dynamic state that’s constantly moving.” – Daniele Bolelli On today’s episode, Daniele is sharing his views on Daoism, enlightenment, and radical kindness that bring greater understanding. Listen in as Daniele and I explore what happens when we romanticize the concept of religion and philosophy, how Daoism teaches you to get back up, and how creating his own understanding of actions and philosophy led to less anxiety and greater peace...
Dec 07, 2022•59 min•Season 3Ep. 125
You’re in control of less than you think. It’s how we utilize the control we do have that truly matters. On today’s episode, Jon Macaskill shares how uses his experience in military leadership to teach organizations how to apply mindfulness strategies to optimize performance. Listen in as Jon and I discuss how Jon honed his mindfulness practice while looking for a way to improve his performance, starting with a simple breathing exercise that led to new levels of control over his mind and body. J...
Nov 30, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 124
“What are you willing to do now? What are you willing to do consistently, tomorrow?” On today’s episode DJ Dolan shares how his experience in the military and law enforcement created a foundation for helping others balance strength and peace in daily life. Listen in as DJ and I discuss why multitasking is glorified inefficiency, the importance of being able to fall back on habits and training, and why leaders end up creating unnecessary friction. DJ also reveals how to invest in your team and ut...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 123
What are the most important lessons you would share in your final moments? Today I’m breaking down lessons from Samurai master Miyamoto Musashi and why The Book of 5 Rings is renowned in martial arts, leadership, business, and politics. Listen in as I explore the history of Miyamoto Musashi and how early exposure to death and violence impacted his mindset toward combat. Learn why warriors can be seen as psychopaths, the importance of Zen meditation to Miyamoto Musashi’s journey, and how you can ...
Nov 16, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 122
On today’s episode Tetiana Gaidar reveals the winding road of rejection, grit, and personal motivation that became the force behind her career as an actress, dancer, and tactical trainer in Hollywood. Listen in as Tetiana and I discuss sustaining a busy schedule with many different roles, how she discovered her passion for acting, and why she has dedicated her time to teaching others the art of tactical training. Tetiana also shares how she stays rooted in action and how you can move past being ...
Nov 09, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 121
On today’s episode Brady Pesola explores how practical stoicism applies to facing adversity and using it to understand our emotions. Listen in as Brady and discuss how practical stoicism is woven naturally into military life, the importance of focusing on what you can control, and how prioritizing emotions can help you face micro adversities in everyday life. We also dig into finding motivation, and experiencing emotions over acting upon them. Brady Pesola of the Gray Man Project is a US Marine ...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 120
On today’s episode Ed Latimore shares how he found mastery in simplicity and the lessons you can learn from adversity, humility, and pushing forward. Listen in as Ed and I explore his ability to understand and appreciate the future, how he uses analogies to communicate important lessons in his writing, and why simplicity is the pinnacle of mastery. Ed also explains how understanding physics makes him a better and why overdelivering can convolute your message. Ed Latimore is a former professional...
Oct 26, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 119
On today’s episode, Drew Estell shares how he helps build confidence and resilience through coaching and firearms education. Listen in as Drew and I explore the impact of teaching technique vs. concepts, the influence of the military on Drew’s communication style, and how he uses pragmatic empathy to build up his students and help them face adversity. Drew also shares how implementing techniques consistently builds automated reactions that remove the emotion from the process of learning and crea...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 118
On today’s episode Lance Essihos shares how his traumatic and tumultuous beginnings inspired him to share the lessons and stories of adversity to inspire others to see adversity as a gift. Listen in as Lance and I dive into the true adversity of overcoming yourself, how to see the lessons of challenges in the moment, and why daily actions are the key to growth. Lance shares why he doesn’t call himself a guru or expert, and how he continues to face challenges with alcoholism, addiction with trans...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 117
On today’s episode Michael O’Brien shares how his journey riding his bike across the U.S. taught him valuable lessons about embracing uncertainty and building resilience. Listen in as Michael and I dive into how he dealt with the trauma of a life-altering accident by understanding the difference between resting and quitting, learning lessons from discomfort, and helping others to pause, breathe, and reflect. Michael O'Brien is the author of Shift: Creating Better Tomorrows. He is a former health...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 116
On today’s episode Ian Strimbeck is exploring how society can shift their perspective to be proactive in the effort to protect themselves and their communities. Listen in as Ian and I dive into the topic of self-protection through health, physical skills, and weaponry. Ian shares the impact of understanding the potential harm that surrounds us every day and being open to the wisdom that comes from awareness. Ian shares the complications of self-defense, and the questions you need to ask to feel ...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 115
On today’s episode Gavin Meenan shares how a devastating car accident changed the trajectory of his life and taught him the meaning of self-acceptance. Listen in as Gavin and I discuss why he’s on a mission to help men drop distractions and face adversity in order to work through the pain, trauma, and issues that are preventing them from living a healthy, balanced life. Gavin shares why men are likely to suppress their true selves, common distractions that keep men stuck, and how becoming a pare...
Sep 21, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 114
On today’s episode Zach Pogrob is revealing the keys to assessing and replicating the behaviors that will produce the best results. Listen in as Zach and I discuss how he focused on writing and creating in a way that has cultivated a community over 100k on Instagram, what it means to operate in a flow state, and his best advice for navigating the seasons of behaviors to optimize results. Zach also shares why he’s embracing obsession vs. passion and finds freedom in discipline. Zac Pogrob is the ...
Sep 14, 2022•42 min•Season 3Ep. 113
On today’s episode Lindsay Moran shares how her time as a CIA spy taught her to assess, strategize, and embrace challenges in order to succeed. Listen in as Lindsay and I discuss the advantages to compartmentalizing aspects of life, being able to read people, understanding vulnerability, and how her role as an operative impacted her views of motherhood. Lindsay also explores the impact of human trafficking on women and children and why she’s teaming up with DeliverFund to make a difference. Lind...
Sep 07, 2022•53 min•Season 3Ep. 112
Today I’m breaking down my experience during The Council event with Jocko Willink. Listen in as I discuss my experience learning more about the four laws of combat and how they apply to daily life as well as my thoughts on how you can take your own leadership experiences to the next level and inspire others. I’m sharing my advice on finding the purpose behind the mission, my key takeaways from The Council event, and why all leadership begins with self-leadership. You can learn more about Jocko a...
Aug 31, 2022•15 min•Season 3Ep. 111
On today’s episode James Whittaker shares the key strategies and advice he’s gathered while interviewing successful athletes, authors, and entrepreneurs on the Win the Day podcast. Listen in James and I discuss the success habits and consistency strategies of the world’s most successful people and why a one-size strategy may be keeping you from achieving your goals. We explore the difference between having and wanting, how to create sustainability, and the importance of staying present and groun...
Aug 24, 2022•48 min•Season 3Ep. 110
On today’s episode Rafa Conde returns to the podcast to discuss the new definition of a warrior and how he’s helping men walk the warrior’s path. Listen in as Rafa and I discuss the problem with false humility, why challenges cause us to doubt ourselves, and why plan B is setting you up for failure. He also shares why people are afraid to be in motion an how literally staying on your feet is the key to success. Rafa Conde is a man who has dedicated his life to the resurgence of the warrior mind....
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 109
Today serial entrepreneur Jeff Kirschner joins me to discuss the key ingredients to creating a sustainable business with purpose. Listen in as Jeff and I explore why the world needs to hear stories of embracing adversity, why we avoid challenges – subconsciously or intentionally, and how to work through the discomfort of uncertainty. Jeff also shares leadership insights to empowering your team in order to avoid a performance bottleneck and the importance of pragmatic empathy as a leader. Jeff Ki...
Aug 10, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 108
