Jodi Izzo is one of the strongest, most incredible women I’ve ever met. She comes from a military family of some of the toughest warriors, but she had no idea she would also have to become a warrior. Her husband, Roman, had it all. He was a strong, talented, smart, good looking Army officer with a bright future ahead… until it was all taken away in an instant. He was given a 1% chance of survival, and Jodi instantly became a full-time caregiver to him for over 5 years while raising their 4 young...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 97
I've decided to take a risk with this episode of Unbeatable . As any great warrior knows, sometimes the enemy is so overwhelming that you must lock arms with another battle buddy to survive. I have a passion for seeing people thrive in the face of difficulties. That's one reason why I created this podcast in the first place. From across America, 1,200 emerging leaders recently gathered in Washington, DC, to join in a live discussion at the Student Leadership University conference. In this episod...
Jul 14, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 96
Dexter Pitts is a proud Army veteran, police officer, and former US Border Patrol agent. He served with the 10th Mountain Division right after 9/11 and was awarded a Purple Heart after suffering injuries from an explosion in Iraq. Through a long, grueling recovery, he could have given up, but he was determined to fight back and serve the Louisville Metro Police Department, where he was right at the epicenter of racial conflict in 2020. No one describes better than he does what it was like to be ...
Jul 07, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 95
Matt had an idyllic childhood. But at age 20, his entire life unraveled when his mother tragically passed away from leukemia and his father quickly re-married. Not knowing how to handle the intense pain and fear he had never experienced before, he turned to alcohol, which slowly stole 20 years of his life. At his lowest point, he came across a Guinness Book of World Records and became fixated on breaking a basketball record. He broke it, but realized that was not enough to fix his life. Then, he...
Jun 30, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Sergeant Major (retired) Kyle Lamb’s 21-year military career can only be described as legendary. He and I served together in the Army, both in Somalia and Iraq. He started in the 82nd Airborne Division but spent most of his career in Special Operations. After retiring, he founded Viking Tactics, Inc. specializing in tactical training and equipment and is highly respected today in both military and law enforcement communities for being THE go-to guy for marksmanship, tactical training, and any qu...
Jun 23, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 93
I’ve been asked about 1,000 times how to write and publish a book. Today’s guest is a brilliant author who has written 52 books, won multiple awards, holds a literary doctorate, and teaches writing at the highest level. None of my fiction books could have been written without him, and there’s no one better to tell you how to go from an idea in your mind to a published book. You’ll hear: What it takes to receive a literary doctorate How he captures someone else’s voice and experiences so well in ...
Jun 16, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 92
Every day in the construction industry in America, 5 times as many workers die by suicide than by job-related accidents. Vince Hafeli, President of AJAX Paving Industries in Florida, is doing something about it. To look at his stellar career, you would think he’s always had his life together. But in 2007, struggling under the weight of personal losses and failures and never talking about it for 20 years, he almost took his life. Now, through his passion and communication skill, he helps industry...
Jun 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 91
Chris VanSant has had more combat experience than almost anyone in American history and even took part in the capture of Saddam Hussein. He’s a retired Special Operations veteran with over 20 years of service in divisions like the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. But seasoned warriors know that performing at that level comes at a cost. Chris has battled failure, mistakes, addiction, physical injury, and psychologica...
Jun 02, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 90
As a warrior in the 2nd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, Johnny served among the elite of the elite. Then for 5 years he was a contractor protecting the US Ambassador to Iraq. In a military environment, he was at home. But when it was time to move into civilian life, he describes it as an extremely arduous transition . Through a long struggle and a divorce, he eventually learned how to use his strengths in new ways. Now, he mentors other men on true manhood and how to move past shame, guil...
May 26, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 89
Less than five years after losing her husband, Chase Maddox, who was killed on duty as a police officer, Alex Maddox learned that lightning DOES sometimes strike twice, in the same place. In 2018, Alex was left with her 7-year-old son Bradin, and her son Bodie, who was born four days after her husband’s death. In 2022, due to complications stemming from a congenital brain abnormality, Bradin tragically passed away. Alex’s pain has been intense, but thanks to Band of Blue – an organization helpin...
May 19, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 88
Alex Chandler may be young, but the bravery he’s shown in the face of danger – both as an Army National Guardsman and as a member of Clayton County Police Department’s SWAT team – has already earned him multiple medals and awards. Despite losing 2 close friends on the job and fearing he might not be able to continue working as a police officer after an injury, Alex still serves boldly on Clayton County’s SWAT team and sees it as his mission to protect people. You’ll hear: What made him decide to...
May 12, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 87
Robert “Bob” Baumgartner is a normal, regular guy who was a history teacher and track coach in New Jersey, first at the high school level, and now he teaches at the college level. However, he has persevered through health crises in a way that is far from “normal”. Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 20 and getting back-to-back cancer diagnoses just a few years later, he has developed an outlook on life that is inspiring to everyone around him facing incredible adversity. You’ll hear: Why he de...
May 05, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 86
As the oldest of 3 boys in a competitive family in Australia, Jamin Heppell developed two passions very early in life: athletic excellence and leadership. After founding several businesses and hitting severe burnout, he completely changed course and co-founded an incredibly successful company called Mountains and Marathons, allowing people from all walks of life to experience transformative adventures in unique locations all over the world. Despite having endured 2 knee reconstructions and 4 art...
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Award-winning Nashville country music singer Jay Allen wrote a song called “Blank Stares” in honor of his mom who passed away from early-onset Alzheimer’s that went viral with over 500 million views. The song has not only raised over $100 million for Alzheimer’s research and support of families dealing with this disease, but it also helped Jay discover the legacy he feels his mom left him as he helps to shed light on Alzheimer’s. Getting to this point in his career has been filled with hills, da...
Apr 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 84
Byron Morrison is an in-demand author and speaker in England (not London) and founder of the "Evolved CEO" coaching and consulting program. He’s helped CEOs in 15 different countries upgrade their mindset AND performance so they can become the leaders they need to be to take their businesses to the next level. Byron learned the hard way that there’s a big difference between leading in business and being the boss, the CEO. But while he speaks mostly to CEOs, he also has advice for everyone who fe...
Apr 14, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 83
When Dr. Ed Newton was growing up, he never dreamed he’d ever have the title “Dr.” In fact, he wasn’t even sure he’d go to college, being told he “wasn’t college material”. As a hearing son of 2 deaf parents, Ed was their mediator to the outside world and defender. He understood what it meant to be an underdog from watching his parents and navigating his own major learning challenges. As an adult, he spent 13 years with his family on the road traveling to churches around the country as evangelis...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 82
“Life is not a GPS; it’s a compass,” says Speaker, Coach, and Author Travis Thomas. Remembering that has helped him navigate scary things like not having a job when his three children were young and discovering his calling of using improv comedy to inspire others to have a “yes, and” mindset in life. As a leadership coach, he helps individuals and companies live with purpose and authenticity. He’s worked with elite athletes around the world, like the U17 National Soccer Team and NFL and NBA Comb...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 81
If anyone’s ever had the deck stacked against them from birth, it’s Nelson Tressler. In fact, his book is even called The Unlucky Sperm Club. But because of his incredibly harsh beginnings, he was determined to make something of his life. As an adult, he moved up from being a window washer in Las Vegas to becoming one of the top real estate agents in the US, closing over $1 billion in transactions and founding over 10 businesses! He has a reputation for being able to monetize anything, and he no...
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 80
When Brittany gave birth to her son, she thought she was healthy … until she had a heart attack immediately afterward. The downhill spiral from there – medically dying of heart failure 6 times, being among 1% of women who need a heart transplant, and diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer within a year after finally receiving her long-awaited transplant – turned into a catalyst for Brittany to accomplish more with her life than she ever thought possible. She earned a master’s and PhD during the most stre...
Mar 17, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Growing up in what she describes as Zimbabwe’s lowest rung in society, Dr. Mary Ritz was still encouraged by her parents to be a leader and innovator. The lessons Mary and all six of her siblings received have spurred each of them to make a difference in the world. In addition to starting her own consulting business, which now trains business leaders internationally, Mary mentors a group of “under 40’s” … who still struggle to follow their own dreams. You’ll hear: What allowed Mary and her sibli...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 78
Years before their marriage, Scott and Tiffany were high school sweethearts. In April 2005, Scott was injured by a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, that caused him to lose sight in both eyes. Tiffany’s refusal to sign paperwork that would remove her Army Ranger husband from active duty allowed him to continue his career, and Scott went on to receive the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award, among many other accolades. Today, he motivates and inspires leaders everywhere he goes. Tiffany’s...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 77
The level of trauma Landri Peden has experienced most of her life would have crushed most people. But Landri is unusually strong – physically, for sure, but also mentally and emotionally. After surviving many levels of extreme abuse, even to the point of being held at gunpoint, Landri went into hiding for several years with PTSD. Then she found CrossFit, which literally saved her life. The sport gave her the sense of purpose, camaraderie, and safety she needed, leading to a career in powerliftin...
Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 76
In 3 decades of coaching basketball in the NBA, legendary Coach Brendan Suhr worked with top players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, and Larry Bird. He won back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, and with the 1992 “Dream Team,” he won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Today, Brendan is a world-class speaker, specializing in developing effective leaders. He is known for his ability to teach and care deeply about people from all walks...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Eddie Penney spent over 20 years serving his country, first as a US Marine, then as a Navy SEAL. As a SEAL, Eddie was assigned to the highly elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) and was at the forefront of numerous life-threatening missions. His job as a breacher meant he was always the “first guy in the room” in an operation. But despite the incredible odds he overcame as a SEAL, he says his scariest challenge was suddenly having to take on the role of a single dad to his 3 yo...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 74
The songs Bryan Martin writes and sings resonate with listeners on a deep level. And over 13 million streams and 2 million views of his viral TikTok video “Beauty In The Struggle” prove it. It’s not just the words that are powerful; it’s the way he sings them. His Cherokee indigenous heritage, combined with influences from cowboy family members, shows up in many of his songs. But the reason his music resonates with people is because they come from real struggles. Bryan has overcome addiction and...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Ty Herndon has been singing his entire life. His grandmother had her own radio show, and his mother and aunts had a singing group. His roots were in gospel music and bluegrass, but country music made him famous. He’s been nominated for a Grammy, won a Dove award, and has charted multiple #1 hit singles. Despite the fame, though, Ty has struggled with personal demons most of his adult life. The spiritual healing he’s found is something he now tries to pay forward, but his music is just one way he...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 72
In 2015, Dr. Brian Davidson started a company called MindVue that has been revolutionizing the way organizations build leaders. Its mission is to “build hope, grit, and resilience in millions of people across the globe” by teaching mindset skills. Brian has a passion for figuring out what makes people tick and helping them learn how to tear down barriers that block them from reaching their goals. He believes that anyone can succeed when given the right tools. You’ll hear: ● Why and how he starte...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Edie Hand has impacted thousands through her gift of storytelling. She’s a businesswoman, speaker, media personality, filmmaker, and author with a passion for helping women share their stories of triumph through intense life challenges. Inspired by the movie True Grit with John Wayne, she produced a video series called Women of True Grit . She herself has suffered loss and survived cancer 4 times. So, she inspires women with her own grit, as well. You’ll hear: What losing so many loved ones earl...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Brent and his wife knew they wanted to adopt but had to wait over 3 years before seeing that dream fulfilled. Then, just 5 weeks after receiving an email from a child advocacy attorney, they added 3 children to their family, in addition to the 3 they already had! Brent’s passion to make a difference in the world goes beyond his family, though. As Vice President of Student Leadership University, he helps high school students develop leadership skills that radically change their lives – and the wo...
Jan 06, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Almost exactly one month ago, I took part in the Munga mountain bike race across a region called the Karoo in South Africa. The support I received before and during the race was amazing, and I want to share the biggest lessons I learned that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The race didn’t go as planned, and I faced life-or-death challenges, but hopefully what I learned will help you as you tackle bold things in 2023. I also want to introduce you to Jack Black (Jacques Swart) and Da...
Dec 30, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 68
