Explore every episode of the podcast Midlife Male by Greg Scheinman

In this episode of Midlife Male, I am joined by entrepreneur and best-selling author Jason Wachob. Jason Wachob is the founder and co-CEO of mindbodygreen, the leading independent media brand dedicated to wellness He is also the host of the popular mindbodygreen podcast, the author of Wellth: How I learned to build a life, not a resume, and the co-author of The Joy of Well-Being which he wrote with his wife, co-founder and co-ceo, Colleen. He has been featured in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, Vogue, The Megyn Kelly Show, and The Skinny Confidential. He has a BA in history from Columbia University, where he played varsity basketball for four years.

In today’s conversation, we discuss how to make major life decisions, determine your core values, and how loss sometimes brings a greater perspective. We talk about how Jason and his wife started mindbodygreen, what has changed in their health philosophy and business strategy along the way, and why they got into the supplement business. We also get an inside look at Jason’s daily routine and how he manages stress.

Brought to you by:

Plunge—The best home ice baths. Save with code MidlifeMale https://plunge.com/

Sisu Sauna—My go-to barrel sauna. Save with code MidlifeMale https://sisulifestyle.com/

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In this episode, we cover:

(05:21) Welcome Jason Wachob

(06:12) Why Jason and his wife relocated to Miami and chose a co-working space

(11:11) How Jason and his wife make major life decisions

(14:44) Jason and Colleen’s values

(18:49) What Jason learned from the tragic loss of his father at the age of 19

(23:30) Why Jason went into finance after getting out of Columbia

(25:24) Advice for transitioning from a safer career to finding more purpose

(29:10) How Jason’s healing journey led to founding mindbodygreen

(32:23) The evolution of mindbodygreen's business strategies and philosophies

(38:10) The hard parts of running a business

(39:27) What it means to walk the walk—a day in the life of Jason Wachob

(43:00) Why Jason doesn’t have much time for friends at this phase in his life

(47:50) How to build an inner circle and the importance of quality over quantity

(49:30) Why Jason believes he says no too often

(51:23) The future of mindbodygreen

(53:15) Why Jason and Colleen got into the supplement business

(57:19) Why Jason chose to partner with Frank Lipman

(1:02:14) How Jason manages stress

(1:04:44) Greg’s conflicted feelings on therapy

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Where to find Jason Wachob:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonwachob/

X: https://twitter.com/JasonWachob

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wachob/

Where To Find Greg Scheinman:

Website: https://midlifemale.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregscheinman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-scheinman-b442004/

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/

I'm thrilled for this special episode of Midlife Male, where I have the incredible honor of sitting down with three-time Super Bowl champion and all-around legend Troy Aikman. Together, we peel back the layers to reveal the man behind the myth, delving into his struggles with fame, divorce, and social anxiety. Troy opens up about his relentless drive, why he considers himself in the prime of his life, and how meditation has helped unlock a new level of growth. He shares his daily routine and habits that keep him in the best shape of his life, his thoughts on fatherhood, the importance of defining your priorities, and so much more!

Brought to you by:

Plunge—The best home ice baths. Save with code MidlifeMale https://plunge.com/

Sisu Sauna—My go-to barrel sauna. Save with code MidlifeMale https://sisulifestyle.com/

—

In This Episode, We Cover:

(06:06) Welcome Troy Aikman to the show

(07:23) An inside look at Troy Aikman’s winning routines

(10:34) How Troy sets boundaries to protect his time

(15:17) Why Troy truly feels that he’s in the best shape of his life

(19:44) How Troy’s definition of success keeps evolving

(24:20) Troy’s meditation journey

(29:33) How Troy’s relationship with fame has shifted

(32:38) Balancing family with professional life and self-care

(36:32) Why Troy still questions if he could have done more

(39:02) How Troy feels about having daughters

(43:10) Why Troy calls his divorces his biggest failures

(45:20) Troy’s inner circle

(47:58) Why Troy launched his own beer brand, Eight

(53:08) Troy’s biggest struggle, learning to relax and be content

(57:47) What Troy is looking forward to

(59:08) Troy’s favorite music

(59:50) What Troy is driving currently

(1:00:10) Troy’s favorite sleep technology products

(1:01:02) Troy’s thoughts on saunas and cold plunge

(1:02:44) How long Troy’s routines take daily and how he multi-tasks

(1:04:55) The importance of organizing your life around your priorities

(1:07:38) The value of writing and why Troy aspires to build a writing practice

(1:10:22) Why using a calendar/schedule is important

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Where to find Troy Aikman:

Eight Beer: https://eightbeer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troyaikman

X: https://twitter.com/troyaikman

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@troy.aikman Where To Find Greg Scheinman:

Website: https://midlifemale.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregscheinman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-scheinman-b442004/

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/

This is a re-air of episode 163 with Bobby Maximus, originally released on October 10th, 2021. 

Bobby Maximus is a man of many talents. He’s a former UFC fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion who has built a successful career as a trainer, fitness influencer, actor, and author. Bobby’s work is regularly featured in Men’s Health magazine, and his no-nonsense training methods help elite athletes, military personnel, and everyday people take their fitness to the next level. Known for his impressive physique and straight-talking style, Bobby is also a family man who has learned to manage his time effectively and maintain a sustainable and productive work-life balance.

Doug Sanders is the founder of Sanders Sports and Entertainment (SSE), a brand management company that crafts and grows the brands of high-profile professional athletes. Doug’s clients include some of the most notable and recognizable names in the NFL and the NBA, and he currently works with NFL All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell “T.O.” Owens, and NBA Champions Channing Frye and Nick “Swaggy P” Young. Doug’s goal is to help his clients make an impact in the areas they’re most passionate about and create legacies that last far beyond their playing days. When he’s not working, Doug enjoys reading, sampling wine from Channing Frye’s Chosen Family Wines label, and spending time with his wife and two young children.

Jon Finkel is a sportswriter whose latest book, 1996: A Biography-Reliving The Legend-Packed, Dynasty-Stacked, Most Iconic Sports Year Ever, celebrates the achievements of the athletes who made that year so remarkable. Jon has written cover stories and feature articles for GQ, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, and The New York Times, and he’s the award-winning author of Hoops Heist, The Life of Dad, Jocks in Chief, The Athlete, and “Mean” Joe Green. He currently lives in Florida, where he works out in his garage gym and produces a weekly Books & Biceps newsletter featuring book recommendations, author interviews, and workouts.

Adrian Koehler is an executive coach and leadership engagement expert who specializes in guiding leaders through their feelings of frustration and isolation towards a sense of greater clarity and connection. He’s the founder and Senior Partner at Take New Ground, a leadership coaching company based in LA, and the co-host of Raising The Bar, a business podcast he presents with Alli Webb. Adrian is super-transparent about the challenges he’s faced in his own life and demands honesty and authenticity from his clients.

Dean Sheremet is a former professional dancer turned chef, cookbook author, TV personality, and wellness expert. Dean grew up in Detroit, and as a child, he excelled at athletics and dance. At the age of eighteen, he moved to LA to pursue his dream of becoming a dancer, but within a few years, he was married and devoting his energy to supporting the career of his famous wife. When his marriage ended, Dean moved to New York and set about turning his love of cooking into a career. After graduating from culinary school, he worked at Nobu and the Michelin-starred Jean-Georges restaurant. In 2015, he wrote Eat Your Heart Out: The Look Good, Feel Good, Silver Lining Cookbook. Dean continues to provide inventive recipes and practical cooking tips through the videos he posts on Instagram. He’s perpetually curious about the world, and he’s super-excited about the next stage in his life, which he plans to dedicate to meeting new people, learning new things, and looking for new adventures.

Geof Rochester has had a long and distinguished career in marketing. Prior to founding his own company GRC Advising, Geof was the Senior Vice President of Affiliate Marketing at Showtime Networks and the Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer for the Nature Conservancy. Today, he advises non-profits, social enterprises, and corporate brands on marketing strategy. As the son of a diplomat, he was interested in social and political issues from an early age, and he remains excited about the opportunity to help others and make a positive difference in the world

Zach Morgan is a fitness coach and wellness guru who works for Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk as his personal trainer and chef. Zach grew up in Kansas City and studied International Business and Finance in England for three years before returning to Kansas and enrolling in culinary school. When Zach’s health started to suffer from working long hours in the high-stress environment of a restaurant kitchen, he decided to get back into shape and transitioned from being a chef to being a trainer. He met the guys from Queer Eye when they were filming in Kansas City, and they joined the gym where he was working as an instructor. After Bobby offered him a job in L.A., Zach moved from the Midwest to the West Coast with his wife and their dog Marco. Zach is a super-fit and stylish guy who is a brand ambassador for Whoop and Rhone. At the moment, he’s on location with the cast of Queer Eye in Austin, where he’s making an effort to fit in his triathlon training and having fun exploring the city by bike.

Rich Kleiman is Kevin Durant’s manager and business partner. He’s also the co-founder of Thirty Five Ventures, which encompasses the pair’s joint enterprises in sports, technology, and philanthropy. Through their media company, The Boardroom, they produce video series, podcasts, newsletters, and long-form articles focused on the culture and business of sport. Their Boardroom University program delivers seminars on sport and entrepreneurship to college students, and the short film they produced was recently awarded an Academy Award. Before he worked with Kevin Durant, Rich was VP of Sports at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Rich is a born entrepreneur and a natural networker who values his friendships and believes in working hard and having fun.

Jonathon Catherman is the founder and director of the 1M Mentoring Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing mentoring resources to young people. He’s also the author of The Manual to Manhood, The Manual to Middle School, and the co-author of The Girl’s Guide to Conquering Life and The Girl’s Guide to Conquering Middle School. Jonathan’s most recent books, Guiding the Next Great Generation and Becoming the Next Great Generation, have just been released and are intended to help parents pass on important life skills and values to their children and support teenagers as they develop into confident and capable adults.

Mark England is the founder of Procabulary, a company that helps people harness the power of language to change how they perceive themselves and create more positive opportunities in their lives. After leaving college, Mark decided to move to Thailand to complete his kickboxing training. He hoped to turn professional, but after sustaining two serious knee injuries, he took a post as a sports teacher at an American school in Bangkok. He spent a further five years working as an emotional detoxification counselor in the island resort of Koh Samui. Mark loves freedom, adventure, and language. He knows that the stories we tell about ourselves matter, and with Procabulary, he has created a system that encourages us to overcome our negative self-talk, challenge our limiting beliefs, and process our most traumatic memories.

Greg Patterson is the CEO of the Advisory Group, an independent financial advisory firm based in San Francisco which manages over one billion dollars in assets. He’s also an incredible athlete who recently qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Greg helps his clients identify their life goals and designs financial plans that make it easier for them to create the lifestyles they want. He believes that many of the lessons he’s learned from triathlon training can also be applied to financial planning, and he encourages his clients to think ahead, challenge their limiting beliefs and commit to achieving their ‘impossible’ goals.

This is a re-air of episode 191 with Jacob Zemer, originally released on June 26th, 2022. 

Jacob Zemer is a weight loss specialist, high-performance coach, and public speaker who helps ex-athletes, business executives, and men like you and me look, feel, and perform better. Last year, Jacob’s highly effective, no-nonsense approach to diet and training helped over 200 people lose 20 pounds. His advice is sought after by celebrities and media outlets, and he currently works with and trains Brian Mazza, the founder of High-Performance Lifestyle Training.

Brian Peters is an NFL veteran who played in the Arena League and the Canadian Football League before joining the Houston Texans as a linebacker. Brian is a formidable athlete and an intrepid biohacker who uses cold exposure, contrast therapy, and Wim Hof breathing to optimize his health and performance. He believes that exposing the body to stressful environments (such as extremes of hot or cold) builds physical and mental resilience, and he can often be found meditating in his cold tub or sitting in an icy lake. Brian is always looking for new ways to push himself and, in his capacity as Strength and Leadership Coach for the MindStrong Project, he also helps others work towards their personal and fitness goals. His new podcast, Chasing Edges, which promises to uncover the hacks, habits, and mindsets of high performers, will be available soon.

Sean Garner is the founder of EntreFit, a company that helps fitness professionals optimize their income and scale their online fitness businesses. EntreFit’s business coaching program teaches trainers and coaches how to identify their perfect client, find their niche, and stand out from the competition. It also provides them with the blueprint they need to build a financially successful and emotionally fulfilling career. Sean is an experienced personal trainer and content creator whose workouts and training programs are regularly featured in Men’s Health. He loves to help men feel more confident about their bodies, and through his business coaching, he teaches fitness professionals how to provide the best possible service to their clients. As a husband, father, and entrepreneur, he’s a firm believer in the importance of getting clear on your priorities and developing the self-discipline to work steadily and consistently towards your goals.

Alfred Spellman is a born storyteller. He grew up in Miami Beach and, along with his friend Billy Corben, he’s been making films since he was 15 years old. In 2000 they created their production company Rakontur and their first documentary, Raw Deal: A Question of Consent, premiered at the Sundance Festival in 2001. Since then, they’ve produced 537 Votes, Screwball, Magic City Hustle, Dawg Fight, Cocaine Cowboys, and ESPN’s 30 for 30: Broke, The U, and The U: Part 2. Rakontur’s films have tackled a diverse range of topics from sexual assault to college football to the Biogenesis doping scandal. Alfred’s not afraid to explore the sordid underbelly of society, and as a Miami native, he derives much of his inspiration from the real-life stories of crime, corruption, and hypocrisy that are rife in his hometown.

Greg Funderburk is the pastoral care minister at South Main Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He is also an author whose first book, The Mourning Wave, A Novel of the Great Storm, was published to critical acclaim in September 2020. Greg’s second book, Let It Be Said We’ve Borne It Well, a collection of stories compiled to provide support and encouragement during the Covid pandemic, has just been released by Smyth & Helwys. Greg is inspired by tales of human endurance, compassion, and fortitude, and he believes in finding solace in the small things that bring joy and meaning to our lives. As a former lawyer, Greg has brought his practical problem-solving mindset to his current role as a pastor, and he is committed to helping his parishioners cope with the challenges they face in their lives.

Robby Sansom is the co-founder and CEO/Chief Land Steward of Force of Nature, a company based in Austin, which sells pasture-raised grass-fed meat sourced from farms and ranches that practice regenerative farming principles. Conservation and nature have always been important to Robby, who grew up in the Texas hill country where he learned to hunt and harvest his own meat.Before he co-founded Force of Nature, Robby was the CFO and COO of EPIC provisions, and he has spent the last six years studying regenerative agriculture at ranches all over the world. 
Robby and the rest of the team at Force of Nature are committed to accelerating the creation of a regenerative agriculture system that helps enrich the soil, combat climate change, and make food production more sustainable. They are proud to sell premium quality meat from animals raised in natural grass pastures. With Force of Nature, consumers can invest in environmental regeneration by consuming nutrient-rich meat that is good for them and good for the planet.

Patrick Bolanos’ entrepreneurial journey started four years ago when he lost his job as the CFO of a restaurant group. With no savings to fall back on, Patrick realized he had to make some radical changes in his life. To make ends meet, he worked part-time in a catering company, but his mind was set on becoming an entrepreneur. Listening to motivational videos and podcasts inspired Patrick to take action and, after learning to weld, he set up Trailer King Builders, a company that builds customized food trucks.  

As the company grew, Patrick made the decision to invest in his personal growth and enrolled in the Arete Syndicate and Apex Executives coaching programs. Being around people who have achieved considerable success in business has helped to make Patrick more accountable and enabled him to shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset. Today, Trailer King Builders is thriving, and Patrick has launched his own podcast. He has also set up the Working For A Dream baseball academy in Nicaragua, which helps underprivileged kids to get an opportunity to sign with Major League Baseball teams.  

James Fitzgerald is the founder of OPEX Fitness, a company that specializes in providing fitness coaching education. James grew up in Northern Canada and was a promising football player until an injury put paid to his plans of a professional career. Undeterred, he took up running, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and gymnastics. He also enrolled at The Memorial University of Newfoundland to study kinesiology and biology. Eventually, James discovered CrossFit, and in 2007, he was crowned The Fittest Man on Earth in the inaugural CrossFit Games. Following on from his competitive success, James managed to turn his love of fitness into a lucrative coaching career, and in 2011, he moved from Canada to Arizona to expand his business and establish OPEX Fitness.

Even though he’s super-curious about all things fitness, James isn’t just concerned about the physical aspects of health and wellbeing. He’s a life-long learner and an avid reader who has spent time thinking about some of the big questions, such as how to live a purposeful, moral, and fulfilling life. In today’s show, James explains how he balances family, fatherhood, and business and provides some straightforward suggestions for optimizing health, happiness, and longevity. 

Tom Digan is the president and co-founder of Ladder, a digital fitness app designed to give its subscribers access to elite coaches and provide them with structured workouts, expert guidance, and enthusiastic support from a like-minded community. Prior to his role as president of Ladder, Tom spent 11 years trading credit and equity derivatives for a New York hedge fund. His career on Wall Street started in 2007(just on the cusp of the financial crisis), and for a few months, he was able to witness at first hand the sort of reckless conduct and excessive risk-taking that led up to the crash. 
In 2016, after becoming interested in digital fitness and the idea of democratizing access to personal trainers, Tom decided to invest in Ladder. In 2018, he joined the company full-time as president and relocated from the New York area to Austin. Since then, he has been able to recruit some of the top trainers in the world to be part of his platform. Over the past year, Ladder’s strong community focus and structured programming have helped to keep people fit, motivated, and connected through the Covid pandemic. The company continues to grow and Tom is excited about its future and looking forward to offering Ladder members an ever-expanding range of innovative and fun fitness solutions.

Mark Samuel is a proud dad, a fitness enthusiast, and the founder and CEO of IWON Organics, a health and wellness company that makes super-delicious, high-protein, and gluten-free snacks. Mark is on a mission to make snacking healthy, guilt-free, and fun. He wants people to feel good about what they’re eating and explains that IWON stands for ‘I’m winning on nutrition’. As a matter of fact, Mark wants to help everybody feel like they’re winning, not just in nutrition but in life.

 A firm believer in celebrating the small stuff, Mark’s recently released e-book, 'Small Wins Big Victories', is designed to help us appreciate the small wins we experience along the way. As a single parent who prioritizes his kids and an entrepreneur who likes to work out, Mark aims for balance in every area of his life and he shares his tips for fitting family, fitness, work, and fun into a purposeful and fulfilling life. 

Jamey Rootes joins the show. 

This is a re-air of episode 152 with Robb Wolf, originally released July 25th, 2021. 

The Breadman himself Tasos Katsaounis joins the show.

Jay Galluzzo joins the show.

Keith Lemer joins the show!

For Dr. Frank Lipman, health is more than just the absence of disease: it is a total state of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing. Dr. Lipman is a widely recognized trailblazer and leader in functional and integrative medicine, and he is a New York Times best-selling author of six books, How To Be Well, The New Health Rules, 10 Reasons You Feel Old and Get Fat, Revive, Total Renewal and his newest book, The New Rules of Aging Well.

Revival Strength was founded by Marcus Filly to help clients from diverse fitness backgrounds fall in love with their training. His interest in both athletics and human health and performance eventually led him to CrossFit in 2007. He has gone on to compete at the CrossFit Games 6 times, three times as an individual (2016 12th fittest) and three times as a team member (2012 6th fittest team). Marcus has been a health and fitness coach for 8 years since leaving Medical School in 2009. He was formerly a CrossFit facility owner for 5 years, has completed all 5 of the OPEX CCP courses, and has coached clients remotely from all over the world. He has coached athletes at the CrossFit Games as well as several Regionals athletes. He lives with his wife Megan, and two daughters. He lists his parents, Barbara and Roy, as his role models and drive to succeed in life.

Harry Arnett joins the show!

Mark Hsu joins the show. 

Milo Bryant joins the show!

Dr. Jen Esquer joins the show.

Steve Schlafman joins the show.

This is a re-air of episode 187 with Bob Harper, which was originally released May 22nd, 2022. 

Bob Harper is a renowned fitness expert, a New York Times bestselling author, and the creator of the Black Fire workout program. Best known for his role as the host of The Biggest Loser, Bob started his career working at the front desk of a fitness center in Tennessee. Eventually, his desire to succeed in the fitness industry led him to Los Angeles, where he became one of the most sought-after personal trainers in the city. However, in 2017, a heart attack forced Bob to rethink his approach to fitness. Today, he lives in New York, where he enjoys spending time with friends and compiling bespoke playlists for his hot yoga classes.

Dr. Lars Thestrup joins the show today.

Today, Jon Mitchell joins the show.

Today, Steve Babcock joins the show.

Marc Megna joins the show today.

Robert Tuchman joins the show today.