Kit Perez | Grey Cell Systems is a mother, wife, counterintelligence and deception analyst, liberty activist, trauma counselor, teacher, homesteader, writer on Substack of The Shepard Scale, host of Change the Game podcast, co-author of Basics of Resistance and author of The Mindset of Resistance. She holds two master’s degrees, one in Intelligence and the other in Trauma Counseling and Crisis Intervention. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Counterintelligence with additional studies in Criminal and Intelligence Profiling.

Kit is one of the most brilliant writers and speakers I know. She developed Grey Cell Protocols to assess human conditions and systems to detect vulnerabilities and opportunities. While her work and all of her credentials are impressive, it’s the experiences behind them that make her truly interesting, credible, and inspiring.

In this conversation, Kit shares the history behind her Why. From the military, to abuse, loss, militias, the dark web, reorientation, transformation, and faith, she doesn’t hold back. We discussed trauma, healing, growth, vulnerability, validation, weirdness, communities, and interconnectedness.

Kit’s story demonstrates the power of resilience and how adversity can be used to elevate your purpose and life. Anything is possible for those who are willing to endure, explore, and evolve.

On April 30th, Kit’s newest book she co-authored with Donald Vandergriff, a retired US Marine and Army Officer who specializes in military leadership, decentralized command, and maneuver warfare, will be released. It is titled Mission Command & The Grey Cell Protocols. Pre-order here.

Kit’s Substack and podcast will sharpen your thinking and orientation to reality. I highly recommend both.

Some of her recent written work includes:

* The Discipline and Process of Synthesis

* Spotting Deception Under Pressure

* Orientation is the System

* Why I’m Leaving the Three Percent (a powerful article she wrote ten years ago)

* Why Good People Become Infiltration Vectors

* Personality vs. Pathology

* Pornography and Orientation: An Operational Hazard

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Patrick Van Horne co-authored one of the best books I’ve ever read — Left of Bang. Since it was released over a decade ago, he has continued to evolve his company and work to create and apply this powerful concept at an organizational and team level.

Now offering Left of Bang Strategic Briefs and advisory work focused on preparedness as a capability, he has made getting left of bang actionable beyond military operations.

In this conversation, we discuss his strategic framework for getting left of bang, preparedness vs. readiness, experience-based vs. proactive preparation, patterns in preparedness, the value of projects, personal preparedness, and much more.

Patrick Van Horne is one of the best writers and speakers on applying strategic thinking.

Being a paid member of The CP Journal has been one of the best investments I’ve made over the past two years.

Use links below to access his work that inspired this podcast:

* Preparing the Organization You Will Need

* The Three Levels of Left of Bang

* The Four Preparedness Personas: Where Your Organization Fits

* The Individual Readiness Playbook

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Chris DeMuth Jr is an incredibly successful hedge fund manager for Rangeley Capital, the investment company he founded in 2007.

As impressive as he is in the financial realm, it’s his personal life that makes him truly remarkable. A husband, father, mixed martial arts practitioner, fitness enthusiast, outdoorsman, writer, and interviewer, Chris invests in all domains of life.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Presence

* Enjoyment vs. competition

* Cross-training

* Continuous improvement

* Passion paired with curiosity

* And much more

The interview series Chris conducts through Vale Tudo, his Substack account, is outstanding. Highly recommend checking out all of his work to include investment strategies to improve your life financially and in every other domain.

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Vicente Júnior is a 5th degree Black Belt, IBJJF World Champion, and multiple time IBJJF Pan American Champion. At 15 years old, Gabriel Silva is a 3x IBJJF Pan Kids Champion, 3x European Kids Champion, and a AJP Abu Dhabi World Youth Pro Champion. In 2023, Gabriel was ranked #1 in the IBJJF Kids Gi rankings followed by being ranked #1 in the Kids NoGi rankings in 2025. Both are widely regarded as two of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitors and coaches in the world. They’re also father and son.

I’ve had the chance to learn from and train with these two exceptional human beings for the past four and a half years. As you’ll hear in our conversation, their wisdom extends far beyond the mats.

In this conversation, we discuss:

* A champion’s mindset

* Knowing your why

* Managing pressure

* Setbacks vs failure

* Lessons from BJJ for life

* Curiosity

* Transcendence

* Remaining good while becoming great

* And much more

To become the best in the world at anything requires significant time, effort, and intention. While you need to be willing to make sacrifices to become great, you never need to compromise your character.

The stories and perspectives VJ and Gabriel share in this podcast can be applied to any life domain to become the best version of yourself. Find your path and use it to live life to the fullest.

Find more from VJ and Gabriel through their gym - Conquest.

More of VJ’s story and competition history can be found on BJJ Heroes.

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Lara ”LJ” Johnson is the founder of the Global GRIT System, a published author of the bestselling book “Hunt or be Hunted,” an international keynote speaker, a competitive Hyrox athlete, an executive coach, and a 9x Stevie Award winner to include “Woman of the Year,” “Female Executive of the Year,” and “Female Entrepreneur of the Year.”

What she has overcome in her life, however, is even more impressive than what she has achieved.

In this conversation, we discuss:

* Lara’s incredible story

* Grit components and types

* Pillars of health

* Adversity and trauma

* And much more

As a gift, Lara offered her Global GRIT Guide for free if you text “GRIT” to 33777.

LJ has one of the best personal websites I’ve come across. All of her resources and offerings can be found at: https://officiallaraj.com/.

She’s also very active on LinkedIn.

Her book, “Hunt or be Hunted,” outlines her Global GRIT System while delivering practical strategies to improve yourself and the teams you operate within. An easy read packed full of wisdom, I can’t recommend it enough.

Her passion is intoxicating and it spans beyond her direct work with GRIT Global. She’s a board member of Warrior Rising, a nonprofit organization focused on veterans transitioning out of military service, and a committee member of Dignity Health’s Foundation “Heaven Hummingbirds,” a program that offers various kinds of support for parents who have lost children.

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Shane Copeland is the writer behind the fantastic Substack newsletter - In Contrast. A man who has lived through many of life’s extremes, his work illuminates the benefit of the fulfilling middle between self-indulgent chaos and rigid order, specifically in the areas of fitness and nutrition.

As entertaining as he is wise, Shane understands the nuance. I constantly look for knowledge from experts who can simplify concepts while creating practical applications. Shane thrives in this area while also being hilarious.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* His powerfully transformative story

* Embracing life through exploration

* Leaving your comfort zone

* Limitations of discipline

* Intentionality

* Alignment

* Effective coaching

* And much more

I can’t recommend Shane’s platform, In Contrast, enough. In it, you will find thoughtful essays on practical approaches to fitness, nutrition, and life.

I brought up one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to between Shane Adam PT. Find it here:

The website Workaway was mentioned several times in our conversation. This is an online community that anyone can use to find exchange, volunteer, and/or house sitting opportunities around the world. Embracing life’s unknowns and using this platform led to Shane meeting his wife and becoming the man he is today. More info here:

Some of my favorite posts from Shane:

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Chris Wojcik is a professional jiu-jitsu athlete, published author, and extremely wise man.

At only 28 years old, he’s had success at the highest level in the biggest grappling competitions, recently was on the winning team of a $1M tournament, is known to be one of the best leg lockers in the world, and even has a move named after him - the Woj Lock.

You rarely find an elite athlete, especially one still on the rise with the success he’s already had, that is willing to be as open, honest, and vulnerable as Chris.

For as talented as he is, it’s his character and curiosity that make him most impressive.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* His evolution as a professional grappler and writer

* The power of consistency

* Mental health

* Resilience

* Skill development

* Success through failure

* Fear

* Lessons for life from the mat

* And much more

I’ve been a paid member to his Substack for over a year and have received tremendous value both from his content on grappling and writing. Highly recommend checking out his work:

His book, A Grappler’s Diary, is outstanding. For anyone who enjoys or is interested in jiu-jitsu, this book is an easy and insightful read.

Some of my favorite posts of Chris include:

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Dr. Julie Gurner is one of the world’s leading executive performance coaches. With more than 15 years in the arena, she has become a credible expert who helps high performers become exceptional.

In this conversation, Julie delivers insights as powerful as her writing. We discuss:

* Her origin story

* Clinical psychology concepts on the spectrum of performance

* The importance of caring

* Prioritizing commitments

* Emotional intelligence

* Cognitive flexibility

* Resilience training

* Psychological pain tolerance

* Compatibility

* Premeditation of future adversity

* Organizational resilience

* And much more

I’ve been a paying member of Dr. Gurner’s Substack account “Ultra Successful” for over a year and it has produced an incredible return on investment in both my personal and professional life. Her weekly posts will transform your mindset, strategies, and skills for approaching all aspects of life for anyone committed to growth. I can’t recommend it enough:

She also has an enormous platform on X where she shares more of her wisdom from over a decade of supporting the most successful people in the world:

Some of my favorite posts from Ultra Successful:

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Some conversations will stay with you for a lifetime. I just had one with one of my favorite living authors, Donald J. Robertson. No one is better at explaining the connection between ancient philosophy and modern, evidence-based psychotherapy.

There are levels to understanding and integration of concepts just like there are levels to writing. In this discussion, Donald demonstrated why he’s at the top of the heap in both.

Some of the topics we covered include:

* Human resilience

* Stoicism and CBT

* Stoic virtue and core values

* Limitation of strategies without an aligned identity

* Self-awareness and self-efficacy

* Social support

* Impressions of externals and yourself

* Dichotomy of control

* Voluntary hardship/intentional stress

* Acquisition vs application of skills

* Cognitive flexibility and coping flexibility

* Anger and fragility

* Emotional anger vs rational aggression

* Being the example as a parent

* Expressing your feelings and the why behind your actions

* Process vs outcome related goals and feedback

* The benefit of emotional labeling

* And so much more

If I hadn’t had to get my children to swimming lessons, I could have talked to this man for the rest of the day. I feel like he delivered five different master classes relating to resilience in the span of ninety minutes.

A conversation I’ll be listening to again to take notes in order to capture the pearls of wisdom he dropped in each sentence.

Donald is one of the primary reasons I came to Substack in the first place. His account continues to be an endless source of knowledge that I do my best to turn into personal wisdom. Can’t recommend it enough:

Several of his books rank among my favorite. Each one brings its own angle and insights. They’re all worth adding to your bookshelf if you read philosophy in any way:

Here are some of my favorite posts of his on Substack:

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Danny Cieniewicz is my brother-in-law and a man who has significantly impacted my perspective and life in countless ways.

His energy, passion, faith, character, and love of life continuously motivate me to be a better man.

I’ve written on an experience with a close friend who lost his daughter as well as my own experiences with losing babies through miscarriage that have changed me.

Danny and his incredible wife, Carly, have their own devastating yet inspirational story of loss that illuminates the power of family, faith, and fortitude.

This was one of the most impactful discussions I’ve ever had.

Danny courageously reflects on the most difficult trial in his life while providing perspective-setting insights we all can consider before our own inevitable trials.

Along with his personal story of losing his stillborn son, we discussed:

* Family and support systems

* Trauma response

* Signs

* Love

* Faith

* Connection

* Grief

* Gifts

* Limitations of preparation

* Compatibility

* Presence

* Control over your story

* Perspective

We can’t change the past but we can definitely choose how to frame it.

We can’t control the future but we can definitely prepare to meet it.

This episode provides mental, physical, and spiritual considerations to both frame the past and effectively meet the uncertain future.

Danny provides insight and wisdom that can help anyone resiliently respond to life’s most challenging forms of adversity.

I will cherish this conversation for the rest of my life.

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John Dailey epitomizes the power of the mind, body, and spirit. At 56 years old, he continues to pursue feats that demonstrate how vast the human capacity can be.

Following his remarkable military career as a Marine, John began serving as the Director of Training and Education for the Marine Raiders - the special operations unit of the Marine Corps. He continues operating in this role today while simultaneously writing books, operating two Substack accounts (Walking Point and R.T.F.U.), managing a performance and leadership consulting company, and volunteering as the Senior Editor of the Lethal Minds Journal.

Coming up on 40 years of service to our military both in uniform and as a civilian, John sets the standard of human excellence in service of others.

In this powerful conversation, we discussed:

* Ultramarathon running, trail running, rucking

* Doing hard things on purpose with other hard people

* Experience as a teacher

* Exploring edges

* Ancestral wisdom for modern hardship

* Human capacity

* Framing

* Power of a good attitude

* Becoming task focused

* “It doesn’t keep getting harder”

* Orienting to the next landmark

* Reflecting on past trials

* Becoming comfortable with what originally made you uncomfortable

* Mentorship and his 5 Cs:

* Clarity

* Commitment

* Courage

* Consistency

* Curiosity

* Creating an internal culture of excellence through unifying stories/self-talk with standards and systems

* Identity

* Dual meaning behind Ruck The Fuck Up

* Mental toughness

* The Ruck 2025 Challenge

I can’t recommend checking out his work enough. It continues to impact my life in multiple domains. Subscribe John Dailey’s on Substack here:

There is still time to sign up for the Ruck 2025 Challenge. Not only does it provide detailed programming on how to progressively build the capacity to ruck 20 miles with 25lbs of weight on your back, it supports an incredible cause to raise money for a rare illness impacting children. Improve your life while supporting others. You can join and me and John in this effort by signing up here:

In 2024, John released his memoir “Tough Rugged Bastards” that tells his story and pivotal role in the creation of the of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). In his 2004 deployment, John was a leader within Detachment One (Det-1), a pilot program which provided the concept that Marines were essential to the success of special operations.

He has been on several phenomenal podcasts discussing this time in his life. Two of my favorites are:

We also discussed the incredible cool shirts, hats, and patches he has created with his son for his brand, Ruck The Fuck Up. Check it out here:

Some of my favorite posts from John:

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Mark McGrath | OODA Strategist epitomizes a continuous learner. What I like to call a savage student, he is a man who isn’t afraid to be authentic while always looking to improve.

Mark is the Chief Learning Officer at AGLX, a global consulting and coaching group that specializes in strategy, development, and performance of teams within any organization. In short, they teach companies how to be more resilient in a VUCA world - one full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

Essentially nothing in life is linear or absolute. Using John Boyd’s strategic frameworks, Marshall McLuhan’s creative perspectives, and his detailed analysis of history, Mark provides cognitive systems to thrive in any environment.

In this conversation, Mark and I took a deep and wide dive into the various areas he writes on, talks about on his podcast, and teaches for a living. Some of the topics we discussed include:

* His evolution from US Marine Corps Officer to John Boyd strategist

* OODA loop sketch intent vs misapplications

* Linearity vs nonlinearity

* Impact of inputs and the environment shaping perception which influences reality

* The 5T Protocol for Information Warfare to assess the message within the medium

* Uncertainty

* Curiosity

* Resilience

* Discomfort as a requirement for growth

* Self-applications of OODA and 5T

* John Boyd’s paper, “Destruction and Creation”

* His favorite books and documents that contributed to his systems

Mark’s primary Substack publication is called, “The Whirl of ReOrientation.” A clever spin on the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA) loop sketch developed by John Boyd, Mark intentionally highlights how the OODA loop was meant to be nonlinear with continuous opportunities for reorientation.

Mark has another publication called CONTRA FRAME where he demonstrates the skill of curiosity and the power of reframing. There are countless ways to view a person or circumstance and CONTRA FRAME will help anyone consider alternate perspectives to common narratives.

Furthermore, Mark and his business partner, Brian Rivera, host the outstanding podcast “No Way Out” where they examine applications of the strategic systems they study and teach alongside recognized performers throughout the world.

Mark is a machine who constantly puts out valuable content on multiple mediums.

I can’t recommend his work enough to enhance the mental frameworks you use to assess the world and yourself.

More Links and Resources

Mark and I discussed the book sitting behind me throughout the podcast, “Warfighting” - a short, easy read that outlines the U.S. Marine Corps philosophy toward action in all endeavors. As Mark explains, this book is free and can be applied to any life domain for those looking to thrive.

Shout out to Sam Alaimo and Adam Karaoguz, two of our favorite writers on Substack who came up a few times throughout the conversation. Sam and Mark had an excellent podcast earlier this year that I highly recommend:

Another document that Mark brought up that is available for free is on the AGLX website is John Boyd’s “Conceptual Spiral” which outlines Boyd’s philosophy on how to keep learning and adapting in order to thrive. There are plenty of other outstanding resources on AGLX:

Some of my favorite posts from Mark:

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Peter Maguire is a bestselling author and influential, independent writer/editor. The experiences that led up to the creation of his books and profession as a writer, however, are what make him truly fascinating.

In this conversation, we discuss many of the interesting aspects of and lessons from Peter’s life.

After nearly drowning as a one-year-old, Peter’s mother forced him to learn how to swim by the age of two. Despite wealthy parents and access to privileged societies, Peter was drawn to the water and the life of a surfer. Traveling the world, involvement in marijuana trade, learning to fight, near death experiences, heartbreak, and forced blue-collar labor led Peter to pursue a doctorate in history in New York. It was here he became committed to serving others. As a war-crimes investigator and professor of law and war theory at Columbia University, Peter began publishing books based on his work:

Law and War

Facing Death in Cambodia

Thai Stick: Surfers, Scammers, and the Untold Story of the Marijuana Drug Trade

Peter trained various martial arts throughout his life earning black belts in multiple disciplines, including one from the greatest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter of all time - Rickson Gracie. Through their friendship, Peter authored both of Rickson’s books, which are two of my favorites:

Breathe: A Life in Flow

Comfort in Darkness: The Invisible Power of Jiu Jitsu

Peter continues to write and mentor in many domains, including his Substack, Sour Milk.

To continue his life of service, Peter founded The Fainting Robin Foundation which provides financial support to independent scholars, writers, and thinkers whose work falls outside the mainstream.

To hear more about Peter’s interesting story, check out his appearance on the Jocko Podcast. As a longtime Jocko Podcast fan, Peter’s episode remains one of my favorites.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Lou Tamposi is an equally unique and beautiful writer that regularly demonstrates the power of presence. Lou has a gift of drawing you into his world through the written word. His posts illuminate the subtle beauties of his developed skill to notice them in everyday life.

As I told him on our podcast, reading his essays regularly brings me peace and makes me want to live more presently.

In our conversation, we discussed alignment, noticing as a skill, writing to slow down your mind, conscious living, authenticity, finding what you care about, cultivating meaningful experiences, internal and external distractions, informed eating, community, failing in public, fatherhood, embracing discomfort in all domains, and much more.

It was interesting how everything we talked about came back to the themes of alignment and presence. These are the exact themes that persist throughout Lou’s powerful writing.

Just like his contemplative writing, our conversation today gave me so much to chew on as I continue to strive toward radical presence in the meaningful tasks I take on each day.

Shout out to some of our favorite writers Jeff Lund, Erik Hogan , Jesse C. McEntee, James Freitas, and Erin Miller who came up at various points throughout the podcast.

Subscribe to Lou’s Substack for weekly reflections on living presently and fully:

A Cartoon Depiction of Lou

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Like me, Craig Kasper is an Audiologist - a clinical doctor of hearing and balance. Unlike me, Craig is one of the top experts in the world on tinnitus.

With over 25 years of experience, he has become a spokesman for our field appearing on Dr. Oz, Katie’s Take with Katie Couric, and every other major news outlet in existence.

He founded New York Hearing Doctors (NYHD) Institute for Hearing & Balance where he is the Managing Director. More recently, he co-founded Modern Tinnitus - a company focused on revolutionizing tinnitus care by integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative treatment approaches to enhance the quality of life for those affected by tinnitus.

In this episode, Craig and I discuss tinnitus, what it is, how it’s assessed, and solutions to manage it.

15% of the world’s population experiences bothersome tinnitus. As you will hear, there are opportunities to significantly decrease this prevalence.

Like stress, tinnitus is inevitable. Everyone will experience it at some point in their lives for various reasons. Also like stress, enhancing your understanding and strategies to control your response to this perception prepares your mind and body for resilience.

Craig provides us with a masterclass on tinnitus management demonstrating it is a brain-derived phenomenon that can be effectively managed with whole body health.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

More information on Modern Tinnitus can be found at: https://moderntinnitus.co/about-us.

More information on NYHD: Institute of Hearing & Balance can be found at: https://www.newyorkhearingdoctors.com/team/craig-a-kasper-au-d-ccc-a-faaa/.

Craig also hosted a phenomenal podcast on resilience after being diagnosed with Type I diabetes years ago. His mission was share stories of resilience to educate and empower others to meet inevitable adversity in life. The website he created, guests he brought on, and episodes he put out are outstanding. His work related to this project can be found at: https://www.thebravestlife.com.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ed Latimore

Ed Latimore is a father, husband, professional heavyweight boxer, published author, and influential figure for anyone interested in transforming their lives.

His story is as powerful as his punching skills which he recently used to put away a 258lb man via a body shot in the first round after stepping away from boxing for many years.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Ed’s evolution as a fighter, writer, and man

* His insights from overcoming alcohol addiction

* Benefits of the military

* Being liked vs respected

* The power of community and support systems

* Accountability and empathy

* Fear of failure vs others thinking you’re a failure

* Picking your pain

* Skill acquisition

* Fatherhood and much more

Ed’s online presence is as dynamic as his mind and life. He can be found on Substack, Youtube, X, and Medium where he shares lessons learned and perspectives on making the most out of life regardless of circumstance. His website contains links to all his channels, products, and free resources that he has created:

As you will hear at the beginning of the podcast, his book, “Not Caring What Others Think is a Superpower: Insights from a Heavyweight Boxer,” was the first book I purchased from an account on Substack after joining. Offering his perspectives on different aspects of life followed by actionable advice, it reads like a daily meditation book for badasses.

His most recent book, “Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business,” is more of a memoir where Ed chronologically provides the wisdom he has gained from fighting that can be applied to life.

Ed is just as insightful and entertaining on the mic as he is with the written word. Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did (If not, I’ll embrace Ed’s wisdom and not care what you think…).

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Erik Hogan is one of the best photographers on Substack. The only thing that’s maybe more beautiful than his pictures is the writing about his adventures that he composes.

Erik embodies artful living. Looking for synergy between all of his pursuits, he will backpack deep into the woods on multi-day camping trips in order to take unique pictures and videos of remote wilderness landscapes and plants.

I regularly joke that reading Erik’s work from the comfort of my couch on Sunday mornings must produce something close to the evidence-based benefits of being outdoors. He has a way with words and editing of his pictures to enhance the beauty of nature.

We discussed his origins outdoors along with his evolution as a writer, photographer, and philosopher. We also explored the concepts of convergence, fatherhood, awe, expectations, presence, solitude, inner peace, different art forms, purposeful hiking, backcountry footwear, some unique products he’s recently created, and much more.

Erik’s work is shared both through his outstanding Substack account, Field Notes, and through his website. If you enjoy nature, art, and/or philosophy, I can’t recommend following him enough.

Some of my favorite posts of Erik’s:

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Scott Shetler

If you are in any way interested in being healthier and stronger, Scott Shetler is a must follow. He has been one of my favorite resources for strength-based knowledge for over a year.

Scott has the energy, passion, and appearance of a 30-yr old combined with the experience and wisdom of a man his actual age which is a fresh 50. His posts are practical, informative, evidence-based, and hilarious. A strength history buff and personal trainer for over 27 years, Scott’s story on what led him into becoming a strength coach is incredible. He’s worked with and learned from legends throughout his career yet still possesses the curiosity and spirit of someone just getting started.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Scott and hearing about his evolution as a coach and athlete himself. As you will hear, he is the real deal - a wealth of knowledge that can apply to any age, fitness level, and/or background.

We discussed his entertaining origin story: training with and learning from Louie Simmons; strength throughout the lifespan; various systems for strength training such as the conjugate method; overtraining vs under recovery; the benefit of variation within a particular movement pattern; getting the most out of a training schedule; the power of 90%; movement snacks; what a week of training typically looks like for him; mobility within strength; barefoot training; focusing on smaller muscle groups; barbell vs trap bar for deadlifts, and much more.

Scott has an incredible paid tier on Substack where he offers specific technique videos and information to get the most out of your training. Furthermore, he recently created an online coaching platform and community that he will be offering through Discord.

All of the information and paid tier options are available through his website:

Scott mentions Conor Heffernan, a strength historian and wealth of information for all things physical fitness, who is now on Substack. He stated that Conor’s book, The History of Physical Culture, is his favorite resource for the history of strength:

Some of my favorite posts from Scott:

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The most important skill for self-defense is situational awareness. In an ever-changing world, detecting threats before an event occurs is essential for an effective response.

Patrick Van Horne co-authored the book Left of Bang more than a decade ago to provide insights from the Marine Corps Combat Hunter program that trained warfighters to have a proactive mindset and recognize anomalies in any environment. “Bang,” as Pat explains in our conversation, is any event a person or organization wants to be prepared for before it occurs. The extraordinary success of his book has caused the concept of “left of bang” to evolve in its applicability to preparedness across life domains.

The invaluable knowledge in his book and Substack account, The CP Journal, can prepare anyone for uncertain events.

Today, we discussed the history of the Marine Corps Combat Hunter Program; situational awareness as the most important skill in preparedness; defining “bang” across domains; threats vs anomalies; pre-event indicators; evolution of “left of bang;” being reactive vs responsive vs proactive; understanding baselines to detect mismatches; conceptual vs technique-based teaching; benefits of pre and post-meditation; application of his work to personal resilience; the online training he created for organizations and/or people available on his paid tier; and much more.

The concepts he teaches apply across time and space. Regardless of your circumstance, the skill of situational and self-awareness can be trained to encourage thriving despite adversity.

We cannot solve problems we are unaware of. Left of Bang teaches you how to either plan for or detect problems before they occur.

Proactive contemplation and training establish readiness.

I cannot recommend Pat’s work enough. It can optimize your response to any form of adversity and literally save your life.

Some of my favorite articles from The CP Journal:

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At age 45, Gwendolyn Bounds heard an older man ask a young girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. Despite being a successful journalist and published author of a popular book, hearing that question ignited a fire in her soul. She went home and googled, “what is the hardest thing someone can do?” The answer that jumped out at her - Spartan racing.

What followed was an inspiring nine year journey about skill development, mental resilience, and personal growth that led to her becoming one of the best obstacle course racers in the world for her age category. It also created one of my best books I’ve ever read - Not Too Late.

In one of my favorite conversations I’ve ever had, Gwendolyn and I discussed the midlife assassin, crystallized intelligence, equalizers, finding time for what matters, mental states vs physical states, performance mindsets in multiple domains, innate signals as opportunities, dreams, flow, combating aging, community, family, communication, fulfilled living, and much more.

Her book and Substack account transcend obstacle course racing - they’re about pursuing your calling through the willingness to embrace unique challenges.

It’s never too late to listen to your soul.

Links to both of her powerful books:

Some of my favorite posts by Wendy:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Andrew Perlot is a writer and practitioner of philosophy across many life domains. Having used philosophical principles to overcome obesity, depression, and manage ulcerative colitis for decades, he is a living example of the power of curious and virtuous living.

We discussed lessons from Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Epictetus, Musonius Rufus, and Seneca; the idea of common stock/collective knowledge; virtue applied individually vs collectively; benefits of religion, philosophy, and cognitive behavioral therapy; labeling of yourself and others; self-experimentation, living through virtue; partner acrobatics; the power of surrender and communication; and much more.

There are levels to all things. This conversation confirmed the depth and breadth of understanding Andrew has on philosophy which comes across in his exceptional writing.

I can’t recommend his work enough.

Some of my favorite posts of his:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Michael Woudenberg of Polymathic Being has become one of my favorite sources for continuous learning. A writer and researcher who approaches topics from all angles, the man is a cognitive explorer. His professional background, experience, and personal interests make him well-suited to be an investigative writer exploring all aspects of the human condition with depth and breadth.

We discussed what a polymath is and how it relates to mixed mental arts, philosophy, emotionality vs rationality, emotions vs feelings, empathy vs sympathy, importance of definitions, resilience vs antifragility, limitations of binary thinking and creating unnecessary tribes, living through agency, embracing challenge, his fascinating science fiction novels, and much more.

Polymathic Being is one of the most interesting and dynamic accounts on Substack. Mike demonstrated during this podcast that his mind operates just like his insightful posts. One I’ll be coming back to just to reflect more on his perspectives.

Free Giveaway

The first book in his novel series is titled, “Paradox.” It is a fictional story that explores humanity throughout the advancement of artificial intelligence. We discussed this book during our conversation and I was excited to hear he weaves his non-fictional posts into this science fiction story. Mike has graciously offered to give away five digital copies of his book in a raffle.

Rules for entry:

* Like this post

* Restack it

* Write a comment: What is your favorite takeaway from our conversation?

Five names will be randomly drawn from everyone who enters in one week on August 24th. Winners will be announced in the comments and then contacted individually.

To purchase or learn more about Mike’s books, visit:

For more offerings, visit his website:

Some of my favorite posts of his that were mentioned in this conversation:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Patryk Piekarczyk has been a Nutrition and Performance Coach for 8 years. A constant practitioner of his own methods, he walks the walk and talks the talk.

His Substack is one of my favorite resources of practical knowledge for improving your health in the kitchen and gym.

We discussed physical activity vs exercise vs training, simplicity in nutrition, benefits of having a coach, removing choices when initially pursuing change, the myth of time availability, functional fitness, high frequency training, as well as neural plasticity in movement patterns, muscle recruitment, and all other skills.

This conversation demonstrated how Pat is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

His Substack also has the best welcome email I’ve seen. Packed full of free and discounted resources to include:

* Performance Nutrition Manual

* The Art of Training: How to Read Programs

* A Beginner Gainz Program

* Body Composition For Strength Sports Manual

* Lean for Life Playbook

* Protein Packed Power Recipe Manual

* A Kettlebell Conditioning Program for $1

* Several discounted fitness programs

* Free 15-minute consult with him

Do yourself a favor and subscribe to his awesome resource, The Weekly Flex, if you have any interest in improving your nutrition and fitness.

Some of my favorite posts of his:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

William C. Spears is a US Navy Submarine Warfare Officer with over 25 years of service and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy. It is one of the best modern interpretations of Stoicism I have read.

As a husband, father, and military leader, Will has grown to use virtue — excellence of character grounded in reason — as a core standard for all actions within each role of life.

In this conversation, we discussed the history, principles, and practical insights from Stoicism in extreme environments and everyday life. We also cover teaching virtue, cosmopolitanism vs. military duty, moral clarity, eclecticism, attitude, and much more.

This was one of the best conversations I’ve had on philosophy. Will has a unique ability to make concepts actionable based on his understanding of philosophers throughout history.

If you enjoy Stoicism, I strongly recommend getting his book. Military or civilian, Will’s writing makes Stoic principles relevant to all roles in life: Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy

Will just began writing on Substack. His first on James Stockdale, who we also discuss in this episode, is well worth your time. Get more from Will on Substack at: Officium: Stoicism and Military Service

You can also find him on LinkedIn.

Two must-reads from James Stockdale released through the Naval Academy:

* Stockdale on Stoicism I: The Stoic Warrior’s Triad

* Stockdale on Stoicism II: Master of My Fate

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Erin Miller is my favorite source of parenting wisdom, period.

Unafraid to be unpopular, she highlights paradoxes, counters cultural pressures, attacks unfounded myths, and empowers parents to cultivate resilience in themselves and their children.

In our conversation, we discuss some of the most common myths of parenting, the power of uncertainty, physical vs psychological safety, defining your roles, flexible approaches to parenting while still remaining consistent, pros and cons of different styles of parenting, connecting over controlling, facilitating independence over reliance, and much more.

The beauty about parenting wisdom is that it can be equally applied to any relationship or form of leadership.

Erin’s posts encourage how to be an effective guide over an ineffective micromanager. They regularly update my mindset and make me a better parent, spouse, and person.

Empowering perspectives allow for improved action. This conversation delivered on all fronts.

For more from Erin, I can’t recommend her account (un)popular PARENT enough:

Some of my favorite posts of hers:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Personal stories are what provide credibility behind empowering knowledge.

Anne Marie Chaker is living proof of the power of intentionally training and maintaining a healthy diet. A chance encounter in a hotel fitness center with a woman preparing for body building competition led to a life-transforming journey that pulled her out of depression following postpartum challenges, a divorce, and the death of her father.

Anne Marie’s book Lift isn’t your standard book on the benefits of strength — it’s a detailed analysis of why women are and were meant to be strong.

We discussed her story, book, training methodology, mindset on her upcoming competition, and much more.

Couldn’t have enjoyed this conversation more.

As Anne Marie writes on beautifully, lifting intentionally allows you to live fully.

Link to her book:

Link to her Substack:

Some of my favorite posts of hers:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

From SEAL to shrink, Jeff Boss’s life has been exploring edges of performance and health. After 13 years as a Navy SEAL with eight deployments, Jeff transitioned to the private sector. After five years of battling grief and finding his place in civilian society, he did something he thought he’d never do - ask for help.

In this powerful conversation, Jeff explains his philosophy behind becoming a warrior which is accessible to anyone, his mission as a clinical therapist primarily supporting first responders, and his approach to life.

We discuss effective forms of help, self-care, the skill of awareness, benefits of experiencing emotions, empathy vs sympathy, using stress advantageously, and much more.

Jeff writes beautifully on nuance within words and dichotomies within concepts. Getting to learn about his story and philosophy was an extremely enjoyable experience that offered numerous actionable strategies we can all take to start becoming a warrior in our own lives.

More from Jeff Boss

Jeff published a book called Navigating Chaos: How to Find Certainty in Uncertain Times. Highly recommend this read to gain insight into using high performance skills in everyday life:

Jeff’s account on Substack is titled Healing Warriors Within and is one of my favorites on this platform:

Some of my favorite posts by Jeff:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

After struggling with depression in her younger years, Nadia was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 29. She would then be medically managed for 11 years which prevented her ability to have children. When her diagnosis was finally modified to ADHD after an extensive process of re-evaluation, she weaned off of all medications attempting to reset and start anew. She soon realized she needed support in cultivating a productive identity before succumbing to the weight of life and the unproductive habits she had developed over the years.

After finding Chris Lee and pursuing one-on-one coaching, she began turning her life around from the inside out. Quickly becoming the healthiest she had ever been mentally, physically, and spiritually, her biggest trials were still ahead of her. After losing a substantial amount of weight, she found a lump on her chest representing an extremely rare and fatal form of breast cancer. What followed was 18 months of brutal treatment, surgeries, and physical changes. Simultaneously, she went through a divorce and continued work in managing daily life stressors.

With every reason in the world to throw in the towel, Nadia actively decided to make her trials catalysts for growth. Drawing wisdom from Chris Lee with her own individuality sprinkled in, she transformed unimaginable adversity into opportunities to build a resilient identity.

This conversation is packed full of her wisdom and empowering perspectives that will encourage the skill of resilience in any circumstance.

Strap in for this one, it’s worth listening to every minute.

Link to Chris Lee’s book you will hear us discuss:

For more info on Chris Lee and his services:

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill you train. In this episode, Kyle Shepard, a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, resilience instructor, Guinness World Record holder, and writer on Substack, dives deep into the power of intentional stress and why controlled discomfort is the key to growth. He shares his journey of pushing physical and mental limits, how he trained for a world record in burpees, and the mindset shifts that allow you to respond—not react—to life’s toughest challenges.

Kyle doesn’t just write about resilience—he lives it. His Substack is packed with insights on mental toughness, stress training, and personal growth, making him the perfect guest to break down how to train your mind like a muscle.

Topics Covered:

* Why resilience is a skill, not a trait

* The science of stress & how to use it to your advantage

* Intentional stress challenges for mental & physical toughness

* How to train your mind like a muscle

* The lesson behind “I’m not okay, but I will be”

Listen now and start training your resilience today

We can use intentional stress to build resilience and why that is such an important part of taking care of your mental health and preventing stressors from controlling your life. On a recent episode of the NAVAIR AirWaves Podcast, I discussed the power of intentionally causing stress with prepared strategies to train the skill that is resilience with Mikel Lauren Proulx.

Stress management doesn’t have to be challenging. If anything, you want it to be straight-forward and simple so effective and efficient strategies can be implemented as soon as one becomes aware of the stress response. On a recent episode of the NAVAIR AirWaves Podcast with Mikel Lauren Proulx, I discussed simple, energy-free strategies to help anyone reduce stress, stay sharp and avoid burnout.

In this illuminating conversation, Kyle Shepard shares his journey as a military audiologist who has transformed personal challenges into a pathway of service through stress management and resilience training. With remarkable candor, Kyle reveals how a painful pregnancy loss nearly ended his marriage but ultimately strengthened it, teaching him powerful lessons about intentional communication and emotional regulation that now form the foundation of his work with others.

Through practical wisdom, Kyle explains how understanding our stress responses can transform how we show up in business and life. His approach to "intentional stress"—deliberately exposing ourselves to manageable challenges to build resilience—offers a refreshing framework for personal growth. Kyle's insights on transitioning from emotional to rational states and finding alignment between our values and actions provide valuable tools for entrepreneurs seeking to navigate uncertainty while staying connected to their deeper purpose.

Show Notes:

[00:00] - Kyle's Professional Journey

* Background as a military audiologist

* Evolution into resilience training and stress management

* Current research role focused on human performance

[00:15] - Personal Transformation

* Experience of pregnancy loss in Guam

* Near-separation from his wife and rebuilding their relationship

* How becoming a father changed his approach to life

[00:30] - The Convergence of Passions

* Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fitness coaching

* Military resilience instruction

* Writing on Substack about stress management

[00:42] - Sacred Business Philosophy

* Finding convergence between different life domains

* The difference between job, profession, and calling

* Bringing intention to any role regardless of title

[00:55] - Understanding Stress Response

* The 90-second physiological stress response

* Differentiating between emotions and rational thought

* Practical tools for managing stress in the moment

[01:05] - Intentional Stress Training

* Progressive overload concept applied to personal growth

* Specific adaptations to imposed demands (SAID principle)

* Building resilience through manageable challenges

[01:15] - Breathing Techniques

* Focus on exhale for calming the nervous system

* Using breath as an anchor during stressful situations

* Creating space between stimulus and response

[01:25] - Balancing Action and Non-Action

* When to act versus when to accept

* Making rational rather than emotional decisions

* Finding harmony between different approaches

Key Quotes:

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It's the understanding of the fear response and acting anyway, because you know it's important, aligns with whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish." - Kyle Shepard

"There's no physiologic difference between anxiety and excitement. It's just how do we label it. So distress and eustress. Same exact physiology. It's just a different perspective, a different mindset." - Kyle Shepard

"We have two controllables: the interpretation of our thoughts... and the subsequent action, whether that's internal intention or of course my words, my behaviors, my actions." - Kyle Shepard

"The days feel like years and the years fly by." - Kyle Shepard (on parenthood)

Resources Mentioned:

* SAID Principle (Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands)

* Progressive Overload concept from exercise physiology

* The 90-Second Rule (Dr. Jill Bolt Taylor)

* Concept of Intentional Stress

* Energy-Free Stress Management Strategies

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kyle Shepard who is a military resilience instructor, author of Resilient Mental State, fitness coach, and father → to dive deep into what it really means to build and sustain a resilient identity. Kyle shares lessons from 12+ years of serving in the U.S. Navy, training service members to overcome extreme stress, and his personal journey of overcoming hardship, loss, and emotional setbacks.

We explore:

* The difference between building resilience and sustaining it through life’s highs and lows

* How past adversity, strong support systems, and intentional strategies forge true resilience

* Why asking for help is a powerful sign of strength, not weakness

* How unmanaged stress becomes a silent liability in modern life and what you can do about it

* The danger of confusing coping mechanisms with true recovery

* How ancient wisdom from Viktor Frankl, stoic philosophy, and modern psychology all point toward one truth: resilience can be trained

This is a must-listen if you're looking to strengthen your identity, overcome setbacks, and thrive no matter what challenges you face.

What does it take to raise resilient kids in a world full of pressure, milestones, and constant comparison?

You may know Kyle from his powerful episode on Mindset Lessons from the Field, but this time, we focused on parenting.

And wow... it hit home.

Kyle shared how resilience went from a “collateral duty” in his military role to a personal mission the day he became a dad. Suddenly, he wasn’t just responsible for himself—he had little eyes watching. And that’s where the truth really landed:

Our kids learn resilience by watching us live it.

They don’t just hear our words—they mirror our actions.

He opened up about how parenting changed from child one to child three (with number four on the way!). What stuck with me most was his reminder that every child is different. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to raising confident, emotionally strong kids.

The most powerful thing we can offer?Presence, intention, and acceptance.

We also touched on how hard it can be to let kids fall—especially when you love them so deeply. I shared how I’m helping raise my nephew and how tough it is not to swoop in when he struggles and right now it is with speech. But I know: growth lives in the struggle.

Kyle said something that really stayed with me:

If we lean too far into protecting them, we might accidentally prevent them from building the strength they need.

That reminder—paired with a story I shared from Nick Lavery’s episode—was everything. Nick’s parents didn’t take adversity away. They gave advice… then sent him back into the world to face it. That’s how you build real resilience.

If you’re a parent, educator, or involved aunt/uncle like me, this is for you.

Let them fall. Let them rise. Be there when they do.

Chris Lee is a former Army Green Beret of ten years specializing as a Combat Medic. Embracing the wisdom he gained from this decade of experience, he transitioned into the private sector to become an entrepreneur, coach, and author. His first book, Beyond The Battlefield, is one of the best modern self-improvement books I’ve read. He’s also one of the best guys I know.

Chris is uniquely skilled in making the conceptual practical. He’s open-minded, curious, and deeply passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves to live a fulfilled life.

In this conversation, we dig into spiritual growth, internal excavation, differentiating calm and peace, the connective power of vulnerability, reframing the word surrender, and much more. Chris explains how his philosophy has continued to evolve since publishing his first book which is now becoming a trilogy.

Beyond the Battlefield is a quick and outstanding read. There is also a link at the end of the book for a free call with Chris. This is how we initially met and I’m grateful I made that choice.

For more from Chris, check him out on Instagram and MCHN Mentality.

He also published a 90-Day Performance Workbook titled Legacy Forged full of challenges, journal prompts, and operating systems to take ownership of your life.

The podcast I first heard him on was Gina Casazza’s Mindset: Lessons from the Field episodes 13, 29, and 53. It was listening to Chris talk on this show that prompted me to buy his book.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Parenting is the greatest crash course in resilience you’ll ever take. In this powerful conversation with Kyle Shepard—dad of (almost) four and fierce advocate for emotional intelligence—we got real about what it means to raise kids who are both kind and tough in today’s overstimulated world.

Here’s what we unpacked:

Emotional Intelligence Isn’t Taught in the MeltdownKyle dropped a truth bomb early on: “No one learns well in the middle of a meltdown.”We talked about the importance of managing our own fire before helping our kids with theirs. It’s not about shutting down big feelings—it’s about slowing down, breathing together, and showing up with presence.

Your Kids Are Watching You More Than They’re Listening to YouThey might not remember what you said… but they will remember how you acted.From watching Kyle’s kids climb poles (literally) to watching how he responds when things go sideways, the lesson was loud and clear: Model the behavior you hope to see.

Literacy Is ConfidenceAs an author and founder of EmpowerLit, I shared my own experience with remedial reading—and how books became my lifeline. Kyle reminded us that reading isn’t just a skill, it’s a gateway to confidence, independence, and resilience.“The data doesn’t lie,” he said. “Literacy is a volume game.” The more they read, the better they get—and the more they believe they can.

Failure Is the Playground of GrowthFrom backward shirts to botched drawings, Kyle embraces imperfection at home. He encourages independence—letting his kids pay for things at the market or dress themselves—because ownership breeds resilience.As he put it: “We don't need to protect them from failure. We need to equip them to recover from it.”

Safety Means HonestyOne of the most powerful moments? Kyle talking about how his kids trust him with their secrets.Not because he demands respect. But because he’s earned it—through empathy, presence, and letting them know they’re never alone.

A Bonus Perspective: Mary Kate’s Take on EmbarrassmentAfter our conversation, Kyle’s wife Mary Kate (who’s an incredible mom and trained speech pathologist) listened in and loved it. She mentioned one thing she’d like to add—especially around how to help kids deal with embarrassment.

Here’s her brilliant, heart-centered breakdown:

🔹 Label it first. Help kids name the emotion and associated feelings—like “I feel alone,” “I think people are laughing at me,” or “I feel left out.”🔹 Ask how it feels in the body. Maybe it’s a tight chest, trouble breathing, or cloudy thoughts.🔹 Normalize the emotion. Let them know it happens to everyone—sometimes even adults.🔹 Tell them your story. Share your own embarrassing childhood moment (or a recent one!). Kids connect deeply to stories—and knowing you’ve been there too makes them feel less alone.🔹 Practice and prep. Help them rehearse the activity that triggered the embarrassment. Use strategies like mantras (“I’m brave enough to try”), reframing, and calming techniques like breathing.

Why This Conversation Matters:We’re living in a world where kids are overstimulated, under confident, and often misunderstood.But with the right tools, the right models, and the right support—we can raise a generation that knows how to feel, how to fail, and how to get back up stronger.

And it starts with us.

As Kyle mentioned in the interview is all very much inspired by the book Good Inside and child psychologist Becky Kennedy!

A hunter-philosopher, Jesse C. McEntee of Next Adventure on Substack has become one of my favorite writers on any platform. Applying his creative and reflective perspectives, Jesse is a master at using nature as a reference for living to the fullest.

His writing on fatherhood also ranks with some of the best wisdom I’ve found which is why a good amount of this conversation was spent discussing the beauty of being a dad.

Other topics we discussed: nature as a classroom, answering your calls, phases of life, reflecting on the past and future, showing up, staying human in a digital world, artificial intelligence as a tool while maintaining your skills and authenticity, active philosophy, and much more.

I intended on asking him many questions about hunting and maybe sharing a few stories but never got there. Amazing how time flies during a good conversation.

Looking forward to doing it again sometime!

You’ll hear us discuss AdventureStack, a collection of accounts that Jesse has put together to highlight adventure-themed writers. If you are interested in seeking your own unique adventure, I couldn’t recommend checking out this directory of incredible writers who I have received tremendous value from:

Some more of my favorite posts from Jesse’s account include:

Enjoy and never stop seeking your next adventure.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

22 years in the SEAL Teams to high performance coaching, Kevin Stark lives the philosophy behind his company The Arete Path - human excellence in the service of others.

I came into this conversation already a fan of Kevin’s and left an even bigger one.

Listening to people speak from the heart without any preparation is an excellent way to assess authenticity.

No surprise, Kevin is the real deal. He exceeded my already high expectations for this discussion in every way.

Credibility of character proven.

Conversations like this fuel my fire to continue getting after it to better myself while serving others.

Some topics we discussed: will as a skill, excellence in life, the value of service, authenticity and community, the benefit of pursuing challenges for growth, free will, death contemplation, managing transitions in life, fatherhood, empowering mantras, and Kevin’s mission with The Arete Path.

Just as he does in his posts and through his company, Kevin provided wisdom that can improve anyone’s life in any domain.

Conceptually, the path to excellence in life is pretty simple. Specifically, it requires a lot of individual work.

Give this conversation a listen to gather some perspectives and strategies that can contribute to the endless life mission of making it count.

Excellence is achievable for anyone willing to pursue it.

You will hear me bring up an article by the powerful Adam Karaoguz about one of Kevin’s recent retreats. Read it here:

Some of my favorite articles from Kevin:

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From SEAL Teams to the classroom at Columbia University, Sam Alaimo of is a legitimate warrior-philosopher.

Just as good live as he is with his weekly essay on What then?, Sam has become one of my favorite modern writers. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about him and his empowering perspectives in this conversation.

We discussed life philosophy; Stoicism; war; adversity in transitions; challenging the mind, body, and spirit to enhance performance; and much more.

You will hear us refer to an older post on Socrates and the impact war must have had on his philosophy. This was my first introduction to Sam on Substack and he has since become one of my favorite modern philosophical writers. Read it here:

Another one of my favorite posts by Sam relates to our discussion about forced meditation. Sam continuously explores the extremes to relate them to the mundane. In this essay, he writes about how being a combat diver teaches the skills of presence and mindfulness.

Sam is outstanding at weaving ancient philosophy, modern hardship, and his unique experiences together into a weekly hard-hitting post. I get better every time I read his work and this conversation did the same thing.

His podcast, No Bell, is another source of valuable knowledge that he is continuously evolving. My favorite listen so far, which I rank among the top 5 podcast episodes I’ve ever heard is:

I can’t recommend his account or podcast enough.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I had a great time talking to Kirsten Breidenbruch aka The Girl Stoic yesterday. Her story about starting as an intern at BlackRock and quickly becoming Vice President before the age of 30 is incredible in and of itself. What she decided to do once she realized she wasn’t living the life she had hoped for is even more impressive.

In relation to her story, we discuss resilience, authenticity, life purpose and fulfilled living in any domain.

Kirsten is the real deal. Her posts and notes, both on Substack and LinkedIn, are always insightful. Getting to talk to her for 90 minutes was an absolute pleasure and the conversation adds so much credibility behind her great accounts.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Two moms making whole foods, regular exercise, and healthy habits cool. Anne, a Registered Dietitian, and Avery, a Certified Health Coach, exemplify fulfilled living doesn’t have to be complicated.

Their account Noos Substack provides simple, practical strategies to improve your relationship with food, movement, and other behaviors without being miserable.

I really enjoyed talking to them and discussing their mission in relation to mine.

Conor Heffernan is a professor of the sociology of sport at Ulster University in Ireland, a historian specializing in physical culture and fitness, and the author of several books including The History of Physical Culture in Ireland, The History of Physical Culture, Indian Club Swinging and the Birth of Global Fitness, and When Fitness Went Global. He is also the writer behind the outstanding substack - The Physical Culture Study.

Conor’s work focuses on the origins of fitness including the prominent figures, equipment, supplements, and programs that influence today’s fitness culture. Willing to be brutally honest, open-minded, and hilarious, his writing reveals there is often much more to history than we assume.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Definitions mattering

* Adaptation specificity

* The fitness industry

* Good enough metrics

* Progressive variability

* And much more

Conor is as entertaining as he is brilliant. This was such an interesting, fun, and funny podcast. He’s been on many more shows diving into the fascinating personalities, systems, and origins of fitness and they’re all great. Search his name on Apple and they’ll pop up.

Shout out to Scott Shetler, my favorite personal trainer, whose name came up several times throughout the podcast.

Read a fantastic interview of Conor by my buddy Chris DeMuth Jr here.

If you’re interested in learning more about historical figures and programs, Conor recommended visiting strongmanproject.com which is an online library of resources and articles focused on the origins of strength training.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

James Freitas is a writer, photographer, birder, and outdoorsman. It’s these passions, along with support of loved ones and medical professionals, that saved his life.

On January 14th, 2022, James Freitas’s car was hit by an 18-wheeler forever altering the course of his life. Suffering a diffuse axonal brain injury, a severe form of traumatic brain injury causing tearing of nerve fibers throughout the brain, James had to relearn all the basic functions most take for granted. Rather than succumb to his condition, he progressively reclaimed his life through his love of birding.

James embodies resilience and his story demonstrates some of the most beautiful aspects of life can be found in response to unexpected adversity.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Capacity

* Gratitude

* Slowing down

* Vulnerability

* Acceptance

* Leaning into discomfort

* And much more

As you will hear in this podcast, James has and continues to overcome significant hardship. His inspirational experience only adds power to his beautiful writing and photography.

Adaptation is always possible.

Purpose provides perspective to overcome life’s greatest challenges.

For more of James’s work, I highly recommend checking out his Substack Rock & Hawk, as well as his website www.james-freitas.com.

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Sarah | Profound Autism Mom is one of the most powerful voices and writers in the realm of neurodiversity. Rebelling against the common, linear milestone system for development, her Substack and podcast are called Inchstones.

Progress is unique to us all.

Mother to one typically developing child and two profoundly autistic, non-verbal children, Sarah has experiential wisdom to back her deep knowledge of neurodiversity and the culture around it.

Always willing to share her story and empowering perspectives, Sarah inspires curiosity, authenticity, and resilience.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Atypical progress

* Choosing your perspective

* Behavior as communication

* The benefit of difficult conversations

* Responding to hard days

While her mission is to be the voice of radical acceptance for mothers and caregivers of children with profound autism to encourage fulfilled living, her work inspires calm, gratitude, and joy for anyone in all domains of life.

Inchstones on Substack

Inchstones Podcast

My appearance on the Inchstones Podcast

Sam Alaimo is my favorite living writer. His exploration of the human condition through stories of extraordinary individuals in extreme conditions throughout time encourage deep and uncomfortable reflection.

Rather than provide how-to guides, Sam digs into what is possible despite adversity of all kinds. Leaving readers with questions, not specific answers, he allows us each to grapple with our own potential Why? and subsequent What?

If I was forced to recommend only one account on Substack to subscribe to, it would be his.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Suffering

* Perspective

* Contemplating death

* Reframing adversity

* Self-command

* And much more

Find more from Sam at What then?

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Michael D. Ostrolenk has been working in various fields of resilience development for over 30 years. Founder of Resilience Optimized, he is continually exploring and applying methods for individuals, couples, and businesses to build physical, mental, social, and spiritual resilience.

In this conversation, we discussed:

* Domains and pillars of resilience

* Nuance

* Pursuing productive discomfort

* Abstract vs concrete

* Resilience vs Antifragility

* And much more

As demonstrated in this podcast, Michael is a wealth of knowledge with perspectives and strategies to build resilience in any domain of life. Check out his work to learn more:

Resilience Optimized Website

Resilience Redefined Podcast

Michael’s Substack

Michael on LinkedIn

Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.