The Determined Society with Shawn French – Details, episodes & analysis

In this heartfelt episode of The Determined Society, host Shawn French welcomes his good friend Sharon Orval to pay tribute to the late fitness influencer Jaxon Tippet. The conversation navigates through emotional memories, genuine struggles, and Jaxon’s lasting impact on both their lives and the broader community. Sharon shares touching stories about Jaxon’s mission to spread kindness and authenticity, while Shawn reflects on his own journey and the unanticipated influence Jaxon had on him. This episode is both a celebration of Jaxon’s life and a powerful reminder of the importance of genuine human connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "The Determined Society," host Shawn French converses with accomplished real estate professional Joe Pavich Jr. The episode highlights how sports backgrounds prepare individuals for success in other fields, the challenges of managing work-life balance, and the joy found in seemingly difficult moments. Through personal anecdotes and candid reflections, Shawn and Joe offer advice and insights for achieving long-term success and happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Determined Society Podcast, host Shawn French sits down with Clay Gravesande, a multifaceted entrepreneur and former reality TV star, best known for his appearance on season six of Love is Blind. Together, they delve into Clay's extraordinary journey, from his early struggles and triumphs in athletics to his current ventures in business and the impact of his reality TV fame. The conversation explores deep themes of validation, identity, and resilience, capturing the complexities of navigating life's challenges. Along the way, Clay and Shawn share candid reflections on relationships, personal growth, and the importance of living authentically. This is an episode packed with inspirational insights and raw, unfiltered dialogue, sure to resonate with listeners from all walks of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Siegel is a successful entrepreneur, Author, and podcast host of Harder Than Life. Over the last 20 years, he has been the CEO of an IT Security Company, National Technology Management (NTM) and is now applying everything he has learned in life and business to helping become their best selves. All too often in life we succumb to certain mind-altering substances such as alcohol and drugs. Kelly Siegel is no stranger to that fact. He was the life of the party and if he was there, YOU knew it. Kelly is larger than life and he partied as such. Four years ago on New Year's Eve, he cut it loose one last time. Once Kelly rang in the New Year he set his drinking chalice down for the very last time. He is now alcohol and drug-free and living his ultimate life. Listen in as Kelly chronicles his journey to living a more enriched and fulfilled life with the focus on the ones he loves the most. Key Highlights: Becoming available and creating space Kelly's road to sobriety Discussion about the release of his podcast, Harder Than Life (January 2023) Kelly's Book, Harder Than Life (coming soon) How to live EVERDAY Being grateful Removing the chip on your shoulder to achieve true happiness Meditation's role in his life How having a busy mind affects your sleep and everything else Connect with Kelly Siegel: Instagram: @kelly.siegel.71 Website: Harder Than Life Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: The Shawn French Twitter: Shawn French YouTube: The Shawn French   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many people are not even aware of the constant cycle of self-sabotage that they are in. They end up lying to themselves about their situation, leading to internal turmoil because of the misalignment with their inner warrior and conscience. Today’s guest helps men that are complacent in their marriage, fitness, fatherhood, and life in general, and turns them into literal “Superhuman Fathers”, by leading them down a path of massive personal development.  Kyle Carnohan started @superhumanfathers as an Instagram account a few years ago to hold himself personally accountable to stop the ongoing cycle of self-sabotage in his life. He found himself being short with his kids, sarcastic with his wife, and lazy around the house. He would use excuses to get out of being his best self. “I'm stressed from work” “I need a break.” “I have anxiety and depression”, the list continues. Sound familiar? Through sharing his struggles and journey through Instagram, Kyle began connecting with other fathers with the same shortcomings. Through his transformation to becoming his best self, other struggling men began to ask Kyle for advice out of frustration with their own lives, and thus Kyle’s coaching practice “SuperHuman Fathers” was born.  In this episode, Kyle shares his passion for his mission to help men ditch the darkness in their lives that is affecting their relationships, their family, and their disappointment with the person in the mirror. Lying to ourselves puts us in a state of being at battle with our best-self, leading to self-doubt, anxiety, and depression. We were made for so much more than that. Learn to face the truth, and completely transform your mind, body, and spirit. Tune in for more!   Key highlights: Shawn’s opinion of scripts What are the dangers of lying to yourself, and how do we stop?  His advice to people that are always focusing on self-love and not the reality of their situation How your energy and darkness affects your kids and wife What does a leader and a man do?  The importance of checking in with yourself that you are doing what you said you would do  Detaching yourself from the results of your life so that your family doesn’t have to worry about getting different versions of you How Kyle learned from the mistakes he made in his marriage and overcame them The importance of having a culture of massive service in your relationship with your partner or anyone Your spouse needs to see continuous improvement so she can respect and believe you Your two options in a relationship are lead or leave How Kyle started his coaching business “SuperHuman fathers”  Kyle’s advice to people that are in a constant cycle of self-sabotage Getting in the “room” with people that can help you Connect with Kyle Carnohan: Instagram: @superhumanfathers Website: superhumanfather.com Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: theshawnfrench.com Facebook group: The Determined Society Twitter: @theshawnmfrench YouTube: The Shawn French Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have heard it before, but often need a reminder: Comparison is the root of unhappiness. With the prevalence of social media, it is so easy to get caught up in comparing our journey to someone else’s when we aren’t seeing the struggle it took to get them there. The world is craving more authenticity, and that is exactly what you will get from this conversation with David Fales. David Fales is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Chicago Bears for 7 years. After leaving his hometown of Salinas, CA, David went to play football at the University of Nevada and eventually made the difficult decision to leave the team and transfer schools. In this episode, David explains what his mindset was like in this transition and what he focused on to continue improving as a football player, eventually becoming drafted into the professional league. David gets honest about navigating life after football and transitioning to the business world. Through sharing his story, David encourages us to focus on what we can control, and choose one thing at a time to improve on. Through doing that, trust the process and know that if you put the time and reps in and do not settle for anything less, you will reach your goal. We all have limiting beliefs that can hold us back from reaching our potential, but it is important to learn to shut those out and realize the opportunities that lie ahead if we put in the work. Tune in for David’s story and inspiring insight. Key highlights: David’s background, his decision to leave his college football team, and his journey to the NFL The importance of focusing on one thing we can control and continue to improve in that area Being yourself and surrounding yourself with people that appreciate you for who you are What are the thoughts and beliefs you are telling yourself that are holding you back? The parallels between life and sports The comparison problem with social media  Knowing your goals and reverse engineering how to get there The power of networking and connecting with people The responsibility we have to be an example to our children and the next generation   Connect with David Fales: Instagram: @fales10 LinkedIn: David Fales Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: theshawnfrench.com Facebook group: The Determined Society Twitter: @theshawnmfrench YouTube: The Shawn French Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All too often, we get into a comparison mindset and analyze our life and accomplishments in regard to what we see other people doing, but what if instead of comparing, we cheered each other on? If you get out of the dark corners of social media, you can meet and connect with people you relate to on deep levels and experience a sense of mutual respect, growth, and learning from one another. That is what you are going to get from today’s conversation with Tyler Todt.  Tyler Todt coaches and leads people to better their habits, health, energy levels, and life. He is a certified trainer that loves helping others reach their goals and create an intentional life full of purpose, energy, and passion. Tyler’s mission is to help others uplevel their life so that we can all win together. As a husband, father, and Christ follower, Tyler knows the significance of being mindful of what we allow into our lives in terms of what we absorb on social media, and who we are surrounded by. In this episode, Tyler and Shawn get real about the fact that our society is too focused on how much money people are making instead of being focused on what kind of person they are. Valuing character, goals, and growth is far more powerful than always being focused on how many digits someone has in their bank account. While finances are a huge part of life, they are not everything, and we all need to take a step back and ask ourselves if our priorities are in the right place. Are we being present and intentional spouses, parents, friends, and members of society? Tyler encourages us all to find our balance and stay mindful of what is important in life. Surrounding ourselves with other people that share these priorities, whether it be in person or even on social media, will lead to a more uplifted society where we all want to see each other win.  Key highlights: Introduction to Tyler and how he and Shawn met Too often men get into a comparison mindset Getting out of the negative and dark places of social media Health is the new wealth Society is too focused on money and how much you make, not how you are working to be a better person Relationship building 1:1 We’re not confined to the people in close proximity anymore because we can find our tribe online now Being mindful of your circle and who you interact with Making the choice to seek out other people that are wanting to go to higher levels Modeling behavior for our kids because they are always watching Giving yourself permission to rest and prioritize balance in what Tyler calls a “b-day” Being mindful and finding your balance so that you are still giving time and attention to the people that matter most The problem with scarcity mindset and feeling like we need to do and respond to everything right away Connect with Tyler Todt: Instagram: @tyromper Twitter: @tyromper YouTube: Tyler Todt TikTok: @tylertodt Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: theshawnfrench.com Facebook group: The Determined Society Twitter: @theshawnmfrench YouTube: The Shawn French Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout our lives, all of us will be presented with opportunities that could be completely life-changing. While some people may find themselves in these situations more often than others, the people that repeatedly win are the ones that are prepared when an opportunity shows up in their lives. Being prepared means having the mindset to do what is required to move forward, and knowing that above all else, integrity and doing the thing matters. The people that win are the ones that want to do right by others, constantly provide value, and put honesty and integrity above monetary gain. Drew Plotkin is an example of what it looks like to do just that, and pay attention to the clues that success leaves behind. Drew Plotkin is an Emmy-nominated journalist, TV news producer, and Founder of Derm Dude, a balls, beard, and tattoo product line with natural and powerful ingredients. Drew found himself in a bizarre series of life-altering events leads that led to him working on mega-commercial brands with huge success and over 1 billion dollars in worldwide revenue. Drew has created and directed award-winning TV broadcast commercials that have included major celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, Cindy Crawford, Ellen Pompeo, Dwayne Wade, Kristin Davis, Jane Seymour, Paris Hilton, Drew Brees, and more. Drew’s life story is a rollercoaster ride in which he developed his own techniques and tools for continuously navigating life’s never-ending trails of valleys and peaks and learning to survive and thrive. In this episode, Drew shares the story of how he landed on death row twice, survived a dangerous mission to Ethiopia to save babies, and what he learned along the way. He talks about his new book, “Under My Skin”, and a little bit about the lessons and stories that can be found inside. Key highlights: Why Drew chooses to live life unfiltered Drew’s story of landing on death row twice Too many people are falling for get-rich-quick schemes Success happens with opportunity meets preparation Why Drew wrote his newest book: “Under My Skin” Drew’s story of going to Ethiopia to negotiate to save babies that were believed to be cursed Why he started his Derm Dude line and what the products do for men You can’t put a price tag on doing the right thing and having integrity Connect with Drew Plotkin: Instagram: @chiefdudeofficer LinkedIn:Drew Plotkin Derm Dude Website: dermdude.com Get Drew’s new book: Under My Skin Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: theshawnfrench.com Facebook group: The Determined Society Twitter: @theshawnmfrench YouTube: The Shawn French --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shawn-french/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you want to start a business, learn a new skill, or just have more meaningful relationships in your life, you need to be relentless in your pursuit of whatever it is that you want. Improving your skills in any area of life requires staying consistent and even being willing to not be very good at first. As long as you know what you want and stay on the path to reaching your goals and finding your purpose, you will get there. Today’s guest is an incredible example of what it looks like to get off the path of destruction and pursue a life of meaning and purpose.   Erik Allen is a man of integrity, work ethic, and determination. He grew up with a complicated childhood and a broken home. Erik had to raise himself from the age of 14 and unfortunately, found trouble along the way. He was empty and tired of settling for less, and eventually he gave his life to Christ, leading to everything changing for him. He and his wife are committed to breaking the cycles of addictions, depression, abuse, and divorce by continuing to strive for improvement through honest and open communication, gratitude, and goal-setting. Today, Erik is an entrepreneur and host of the Erik Allen Show podcast where he highlights Entrepreneurs, World Changers, & Success Minded People. Erik helps entrepreneurs get known and noticed online and he has a message for you today.   In this episode, Erik shares his chill-inducing redemption story of being kicked out of his childhood home and the path of pain and self-destruction that led him on, and what eventually caused him to turn his life around. He also encourages others to continue to pursue their spouse and what it looks like for him and his wife to set an example of a healthy and loving relationship for their children in an effort to break the painful cycles they were both raised in. Erik offers inspiring words of advice to anyone wanting to pursue a big goal or improve in any area of life, and how to find a work-life balance as a parent on the pursuit of greatness. Tune in for more!   Key highlights: ● Erik’s redemption story ● How he met his life and decided to give his life to Christ ● Erik’s advice to couples to pursue their spouse every day and what it looks like to model a healthy relationship ● How Erik got started in the space and how he helps podcasters and entrepreneurs ● Why numbers don't matter as much as you think when it comes to podcast sponsorships ● Advice Erik received from Ed Mylett: “CANI” - Constant And Never-ending Improvement ● If you want to get good at something that you want to do, you have to be great at what you're doing  now ● Setting big goals: whatever you want to get better at, you need to submerge yourself in it, become obsessed, and be relentless in your pursuit ● Stacking wins and gratitude ● Dealing with guilt as a working parent ● Why you should share other people’s content online ● The importance of surrounding yourself with people that are living the life  you want to live   Quote from the episode: “My desire to be successful is bigger than my desire to sleep.”- Erik Allen   Connect with Erik Allen: Instagram: @erikgallen Facebook: Erik Allen Media Twitter: @ErikGAllen LinkedIn: Erik Allen YouTube: Erik Allen Media Podcast: The Erik Allen Show   Connect with Shawn French: Instagram: @theshawnfrench Website: theshawnfrench.com Facebook group: The Determined Society Twitter: @theshawnmfrench YouTube: The Shawn French --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shawn-french/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Tony Whatley?: Mentor | Entrepreneur | Engineer | Car Fanatic Tony Whatley is a 20+ year entrepreneur of multiple companies, business coach, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker. He is Co-Founder of LS1Tech, an online automotive performance community which grew into the largest of its kind. This website grew to over 300,000 registered members and 150 advertising accounts, and was later sold for millions, in only 5 years. Amazingly… it was just his part-time business! Tony shares his mindset and business strategies within his Amazon #1 best-selling book, Side Hustle Millionaire, and teaches people how to startup, scale, and exit their companies. With his previous oil/gas profession, managing $100M+ international projects, he consults small businesses on how to benefit from his expertise in processes, systems, and leadership. His purpose is to help people gain the knowledge and courage to take action. He strives to help others become the best version of themselves. When not performing the work that he loves, you can usually find Tony and his wife Lisa traveling the world, or racing cars. In this episode: Tony and I sit down for one of the more raw and authentic conversations we have had on the show. You will see very quickly how he is different than a lot of other business coaches and entrepreneurs out there. He has actually done everything he mentors others to do. While working full-time in operations and spearheading multiple International projects he co-found LS1Tech which was an online automotive performance community and it quickly became the biggest of its kind. Tony later sold that company for millions. The biggest thing I enjoyed about speaking with him is his commitment to being 100% REAL. You will hear us get down to the nitty gritty on so many aspects of the coaching business and entrepreneurship. You aren’t going to want to miss this information and fun filled episode with my new friend, Tony Whatley. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shawn-french/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices