On this week's episode, Chad Prevost has a conversation with Ben Katt focused on Katt's recently released, The Way Home: Discovering the Hero's Journey to Wholeness at Midlife . Find out more about Ben Katt here . Click here to reach out to Chad to book a call for workshop training or coaching, or contact him at chad@bigselfschool.com. Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify ! Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or...
Oct 22, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Carter Fowler and Chad Prevost connect on how they found a home in Chattanooga, and especially how Fowler discovered unbelievable success with Totem . They may be just QA testing right now, but sales have exploded--and all from a single viral video. Totem has found a need the world over--a hardware device meant to be worn when you're going to big social events where you need to stay connected--and sometimes your devices don't work well at these huge events. He also discusses his meditation and h...
Oct 15, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Michael Thompson discusses his new book Shy by Design , which outlines 12 timeless principles for standing out quietly. He shares his journey from stuttering and shyness to embracing his imperfections and leveraging his unique qualities. Thompson highlights the importance of curiosity and authenticity, drawing from his experiences in sales and his work with clients. He emphasizes the value of living in the 90s-like pace of his current town, Palamos, and the balance between creative work and fina...
Sep 30, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 32
The discussion today centers on David Brooks' book The Second Mountain , which explores the transition from self-interest to a moral life. Daniel Lucas, Nick McLain, James Dawson join Chad Prevost in sharing personal insights, emphasizing the importance of overcoming ego and embracing vulnerability. They highlight the challenges of the second mountain, which involves qualitative, non-quantifiable growth, and the necessity of community and empathy. The conversation also touches on the role of suf...
Sep 23, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 31
It's another episode for the What Makes This Book Great?! mini-series. This time, Chad Prevost and Phil Mondy discuss Atomic Habits by James Clear, highlighting its success with over 3 million copies sold and its cultural impact. The duo explore the book's key principles, such as making habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying, and breaking habits by making them invisible, unattractive, difficult, and unsatisfying. Phil shares his experiences with habit formation, including morning routi...
Sep 16, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 30
On today's episode, Chad is visited by Charlie Moss, Richie Daigle, Chris Collins, and Matt McLelland to discuss an interesting choice: Jonathan's Krakauer's Into the Wild. Why is it an interesting choice for The Humanist? Well, on the surface it might seem like the adventure-seeking Chris McCandless's tragic story might not be the subject matter for our discussions. Yet it is when seen through the interpretive lens of life decisions, good and bad decisions, reactions and responses in compliance...
Sep 02, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 29
For this week's episode we have return guests and friends of the show, Matt McLleland and Daniel Lucas to discuss Adam Grant's brilliant, Think Again . The discussion on Think Again highlights the book's impact and relevance, emphasizing the importance of rethinking and humility. The book, a New York Times bestseller, encourages readers to approach problems like scientists rather than politicians or salespeople. Key points include the significance of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the balance b...
Aug 26, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 28
For this week's conversation I'm joined by friends of the show and fellow podcasters, Daniel Lucas and Richie Daigle. They generously gave of their time to dive into this big Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act --and then to join me for a wide-ranging and unscripted conversation about it. The idea for this series is to consider a book that has met several hallmarks of cultural success. Whether or not we like or love the book, we consider the features of the book and what has led to its critical an...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Chad Prevost and Reagan Pugh discuss their experiences as Enneagram Type Fours, exploring the challenges and opportunities of emotional intensity. They emphasize the importance of emotional awareness and self-acceptance in overcoming shame and doubt. Also dealing with personal struggles with anger as a coping mechanism. The importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in personal growth and relationships, emphasizing the need to recognize and address emotional issues to improve commun...
Aug 05, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Chad Prevost and Chris Heuertz discuss the Enneagram, a personality typing system that aims to help individuals understand themselves and others better. Chris provides insights into its history and practical applications. They highlight its ability to help individuals understand their motivations and behaviors. They also discuss the importance of vulnerability and community in using the Enneagram effectively, and explore the overlap between psychological and spiritual practices. Later, they delv...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Matt Mclleland, discuss the significance of choice in shaping our identity and life outcomes, with a focus on self-awareness, conscious decision-making, and overcoming unconscious patterns. What is the impact of social media and technology on mental health? What are the challenges of balancing innovation with risk aversion in various industries? Whatever the answer, you need courage, authenticity, and leadership in navigating complex dynamics. High Notes Opti...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today's conversation revolves around the importance of practicing gratitude, self-care, and radical optimism in the face of adversity. Ashley Jones shares her story of unexpectedly becoming a young parent and then navigating the diagnosis of their child, Skyler's, rare condition. Ashley tells us about our culture's comfort level with talking about grief. She also sees a great, big need for creating space for grief and healing through conversation, and highlights, among other things, the importan...
Jul 15, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Chad Prevost and Frederik Pferdt discuss the importance of developing a mindset that can navigate and shape an uncertain future. Pferdt emphasizes the need to move away from fear and uncertainty and instead focus on creating a better future through radical optimism, living in the present, and embracing the unknown. They also explore the power of reframing challenges as opportunities for growth, cultivating a positive mindset, and valuing authority while cultivating a beginner's mindset. Througho...
Jul 11, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Chad discusses the growing pressure of stress in modern society and the need to develop mindfulness practices to manage it. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and interrupting compulsive thinking patterns that reinforce negative emotions and emotional reactivity. Chad introduces the "stop one minute breathing space" technique to help you pause and take stock of your body, feelings, and associated thoughts, all through the lens of modern neuroscience in understanding this phenomenon. Hig...
Jul 08, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Chad discusses the concept of stress in today's fast-paced world, exploring its impact on the human body and mind. He highlights the importance of understanding and managing stress to improve overall well-being. He presents a counterintuitive perspective that stress can be beneficial when viewed as a positive force. Later, he explores the interplay between stress and social isolation, emphasizing the importance of social support in managing stress. Embrace stress as an opportunity for connection...
Jul 04, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Chad Prevost and Chris Collins discuss the importance of building strong communities through authenticity and inclusivity. They emphasize the role of small businesses in fostering a sense of community and the need for people to feel welcomed and included. They also share personal experiences and insights on balancing parental responsibilities and personal aspirations, maintaining focus and setting structure to achieve productivity goals, and the significance of chiropractic care in identifying a...
Jul 01, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Chad Prevost and John M. DeMarco discuss their paths to coaching, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, trust, and connection in their practices. They also explore the evolving nature of careers and skills, particularly among younger generations, and highlight the need for intentional training, experience, and learning agility to navigate this landscape. And what about the importance of clarity in intention, mindfulness, and coaching, and the interconnectedness of physical, emoti...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Chad Prevost and Ben Albert discuss the importance of authenticity and resilience in entrepreneurship, sharing personal experiences with maintaining these qualities in the face of challenges such as burnout, financial struggles, and personal growth. They emphasize the need to be honest about one's struggles and to showcase vulnerability in marketing and storytelling, while also acknowledging the importance of self-awareness and adaptability in navigating these challenges. They also explore the c...
Jun 17, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Chad Prevost and Charles Moss discuss their experiences in creative freelancing, sharing personal struggles with imposter syndrome and financial stability. They emphasize the importance of persistence, resilience, and community support in navigating these challenges. They also discuss their experiences in the music industry, finding a balance between creativity and financial stability. Finally, they share strategies for maintaining focus and productivity in a highly distracted world, including t...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Chad Prevost and Adam Hergenrother discuss practical approaches to personal growth and fulfillment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of outer work and inner growth. Adam shares his experiences in real estate and prioritizes both aspects of life. He explores the concept of awakening and breaking free from the cycle of self-driven desires by becoming aware of the ego and true nature of thoughts and emotions. Chad highlights the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset and focusing on inner...
Jun 10, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Chad Prevost and Daniel Lucas discuss personal growth through ultrarunning, coping with life's challenges, and fulfillment in the digital age. They discuss the importance of resilience, mental toughness, and self-awareness in achieving success in ultra-distance running and in life. Daniel shares his experiences as an innovation specialist and discusses the challenges of driving innovation and growth within an organization. They explore the challenges of deep work and productivity, emphasizing th...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Chad Prevost and Juan Aguinaga discuss the potential of public education to transform society through innovative approaches and collaborations. Juan shares his personal experience with a mentor, Jeremy Beard, who helped shape his belief in himself and his peers. Chad highlights the work of Chatt Prep, an all-boys public charter school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is achieving remarkable results through its focus on academics, data analysis, and collaboration with other schools. The conversat...
Jun 03, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Chad Prevost and Jonathan Fisher discuss the interplay between courage and heart health, exploring how fear and lack of courage can negatively impact heart health. They share personal experiences and scientific insights, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and working with fear to strengthen courage and promote better heart health. The conversation also touches on the complexities of the medical profession and the interconnected dimensions of the human heart, including physical, emotion...
May 30, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Chad Prevost and Dale Woodfin discuss their experiences with managing creativity and focus in the digital age, sharing personal anecdotes and insights on prioritizing deep work and setting aside distractions. They also discuss the challenges of pursuing a creative career, including balancing artistic vision with financial stability, and the significance of dreams and authenticity in both art and life. Dale emphasizes the importance of trusting the creative process, paying attention to dreams, an...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Chad Prevost and Ben Cake explore the complexities of authenticity in various contexts, including personal relationships, marketing, and conflict resolution. They emphasize the importance of understanding the intent of others, simplifying complex ideas, and fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding. They also discuss the value of authenticity in their respective fields, while acknowledging the challenges of balancing sincerity with the need to make promises and guarantees. Throughout t...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Chad Prevost explores personal growth and authenticity through various discussions, delving into the unconscious realm and examining the personal and collective unconscious, archetypes, and the hero's journey. He shares insights on navigating power dynamics and integrating conscious and unconscious aspects for personal growth. Prevost also discusses the complex relationship between individuation and personas, and the importance of acknowledging and integrating one's shadow self for personal grow...
May 20, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Today's conversation revolves around the role of creativity and entrepreneurship in shaping culture, the importance of belief and support in creative collaboration, and the challenges of bringing creative visions to life. Taylor Jones and Eric Brown emphasize the need for a holistic approach to culture building that prioritizes both individual and organizational well-being, and highlights the potential drawbacks of remote work while acknowledging its benefits. They also discuss the dangers of se...
May 16, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Richie Daigle, discuss their experiences with identity and purpose, exploring the complexities of being identified by one's profession. Richie shares his struggles with being defined solely as a professional baseball player after his playing career ended, and what he did upon graduating during the economic recession of 2008. They delve into the idea that our actions and experiences offer glimpses into our character, and emphasize the importance of embracing f...
May 13, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Chad recounts his terrifying experience during a whitewater rafting trip. What is the difference between giving up and surrendering when it comes to how we live our (extra)ordinary lives? Tune in and find out. You'll be glad that Chad lived and what you can takeaway from his harrowing experience. High Notes:The concept of surrender and letting go. Surrender and giving up, with personal stories of loss and grief.Drowning experience, thoughts of mortality, and a miraculous escape.Near-death experi...
May 10, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Today's conversation centers around the importance of addressing stigmas associated with men's mental health and the need for supportive resources and community engagement. Chad and friend of the show, James Dawson, emphasize the interconnectedness of mental health and wellness, and share their experiences with men's mental health retreats and breathwork practices. They discuss the evolution of masculinity and the need for men to reconnect with emotions and vulnerability, and highlight the impor...
May 06, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 5
