TOUGH TALKS: Conversations on Mental Toughness

In December of 2019, Sal Ponzio was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the esophagus, liver, stomach, intestines, and lymph nodes. He was given three months to live and was told to sell off his assets and prepare to live the best he could for those 3 months.   After spending one of those months in disbelief, he had an epiphany and he made a decision, "I'm not going out like this." He has been r...

"A world without waste." That's what he said in response to what he's creating these days. That was actually only PART of what he said. He said a LOT! And it's all good!   His name is David Katz and he's the founder and CEO of an AMAZING company called Plastic Bank. The company exists to stop ocean plastic and simultaneously improving the lives of those who help collect it. How good is that....

This woman has endured unthinkable abuse and trauma. It started when she was an infant and continued on into her adult years. And she makes it abundantly clear that although she was victimized, she is NOT a victim. She had many wounds and now has many scars. And the scars have stories that she uses to inspire people to grow from and create from their own pain.  Her name is Dr. Bridgette Coope...

It’s one thing to beat stage 4 ovarian cancer (a less than 5% probability). It’s another thing to choose to leverage that experience to take a deep long look inside yourself, take a bold inventory and then do the real work of healing and transformation. Our guest today, one of the most accomplished actresses in Bollywood history, Miss Manisha Koirala, takes us through both of those healing journey...

His name is Steve Sims and he's been called "The Real Life Wizard of Oz" and "The Guy Who Gets Shit Done."   There are several things I dig about this guy. First of all, he's just plain cool. He talks about "The Chug Test" with respect to only hanging with people you can see yourself chugging a beer with. He passes my Chug Test with flying colors.   Also, he thinks big. Weird big. Like,...

ABRACADABRA! Do you know what that word actually means? I didn’t either until our guest broke it down for us in today’s “Magical” conversation.  His name is JP Morgan. He’s a Philosopher. Yeah, you heard it. A Philosopher. When’s the last time you met a Philosopher?   Has anyone ever told you to, “Watch your mouth!”?? JP is going to tell you to do that in a way that you have NEVER been t...

WOW! What a special treat! We get the complete insider's perspective on what it's like to prepare for, execute and learn from a 100 mile Ultramarathon from the RaveRunner, Ultramarathoner, Ryan Lange!   --- Ryan is back for a sequel on Tough Talks but this time we don't just talk ABOUT his experience with these absurdly long runs - we join him IN it!   --- We break it up i...

We got him back! Live and in-person this time! The infamous, internationally acclaimed coach, author, and speaker Devon Bandison.   This time we are discussing a topic that Devon has really been diving very deeply into recently – Normalizing the Miraculous. Here’s what that means…   You could argue that pressing a button on a remote control and having the result be that a channel changes...

When Helen Appleby was a kid her dad told her, "girls can do anything boys can do." But what he didn't tell her about (because he didn't know - because he was a man) were all the unwritten rules about being a woman in leadership.  She's here to educate us upon those rules and what women in leadership roles, or who are aspiring to be, need to know in order to navigate their own leadership jour...

Play this one in slo-mo, Folks. Really. Endless mic drops. I couldn’t take notes fast enough. I asked him to repeat himself about 15 times but wanted to do so about 45 times. Brian Bogert is our guest today and he teaches us how to be moved by tragedy into profound action AND how to avoid suffering by embracing pain. Buckle up! --- More about Brian: Website: https://brianbogert.com/ FB: https://ww...

What does Sexual Health have to do with Mental Toughness? Or, what does Mental Toughness have to do with Sexual Health? And which comes first? These are just a few of the several fascinating questions we explore in today’s episode of Tough Talks with our guest, anti-aging and regenerative medicine physician, Dr. Amy B. Killen.   --- More about Amy:   website: https://dramykillen.com/ IG:...

HEADS UP!!!: In keeping with my perpetual commitment to offer you opportunities to apply the Mental Toughness Tools and Techniques that we cover in these badass Tough Talks episodes, I encourage you to head into this episode with a couple of my favorite mantras in mind: “Ain’t bad; Just is.” And, “The Problem is The Gift.”  Why am I saying this? Well, as fate would have it, I had some microph...

Yes, you CAN have it all!   --- Walt Hampton is a former litigation attorney turned high-altitude mountaineer, ultramarathoner, author, speaker, and Executive Coach.   --- He has the highest vibe EVER! His enthusiasm is childlike and contagious. You CANNOT listen to this guy for any length of time and not feel PUMPED!   --- He insists that we each have totally unique gifts and that...

Dr. Daniel Harner is a former traditional Psychotherapist who has shifted to what he refers to as Psycho-Spiritual Mentoring. --- A couple of the things I love about Daniel is his genius and his ability to dumb it down for us. He even acknowledges that a huge part of his work is to make conversations about "Spiritual Nourishment" accessible and understandable for 5 years olds. --- Daniel is that r...

30 years as Commander and 4500 SWAT Operations in his career prepared Jeff Nyce to respond with infinite Mental Toughness when told he has terminal cancer and one year to live.   Now at 62 years old and in phenomenal physical and mental condition, he teaches us the 7 Prinicples for surviving a terminal diagnosis, and his 3 Declarations that have him continue to thrive and create excellence. &...

Most psychiatrists want to push meds on people to treat their trauma. Not this guy. He wants to help folks activate their internal pharmacy to help them not only survive but to ultimately thrive.    His name is Dr. Mark Goulstin and he is the author of the famous book, Just Listen, which has become the #1 book in the world on listening and has been translated into 26 languages.  &nb...

While on Holiday in Iceland in 2016, a blood vessel in Jason's brain erupted and almost killed him. It did partially paralyze him, but it sure as hell didn't stop him from creating a life of service as a result of it.   He shares details of his story with us today that he doesn't always disclose. And he reminds us that every set of circumstances - no matter how difficult - can be leveraged to...

This guy has been training his mind since 2003 when he was a competitive golfer. --- He has never had a job (unless you count the half of a shift he worked at a soft-serve yogurt joint) and instead has always followed his bliss. From pro-golfer to surf instructor to 8-year stint in the Coast Guard and now to professional Conscious Musician – he trusts the organizing intelligence inherent within hi...

She defines Resilience as the ability to allow any challenge to ENHANCE you. She enlightens us to three myths about Resilience and clarifies the truth for us. She also describes for us the 5 Practices of Particularly Resilient People (based on her research). --- And a quick heads up, if you use the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason,” do some deep breathing before watching because she’s gonn...

Want to learn how to do “Psychic Downloads” and access “Divine Intelligence”? I recommend you do, because by the sounds of it, skill sets like these can make life a helluva lot easier and simpler. --- She was diagnosed with cancer at age 14 and refers to it as a blessing. And it sure didn’t happen “to her.” It didn’t even happen “for her.” It happened “AS her.” She’ll explain. --- Her definition o...

They say that The Green Berets are the smartest and most lethal fighters in the world. Our guest today is one of them and he’s here to tell us why connectedness, of all things, is critical to success in Guerrilla Warfare and in Executive Leadership (he has a Ph. D. in that, by the way). --- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-joseph-e-long-9021821a/ Cool Article on Green Berets: https://www.b...

Today we get to hear what Mental Toughness means from Deb Lewis, a retired Army Colonel who was in the first class at West Point that ever accepted women, survived the 9/11 attack on The Pentagon, and teaches people (predominantly, but not exclusively women) how to leverage stress. --- Website: www.mentallytoughwomen.co m LinkedIn: mentallytoughwomen --- https://christopherdorris.com/chainsaws-tra...

This week we have put together another highlight reel from 9 more of our amazing guests who blessed us with their presence and amazingness on the show. --- Have a look/listen, and take some tools or tips or reminders away from it that can help you continue to strengthen your mind and build more Mental Toughness. --- Links to Full Episodes in Order Kelly Noonan Gores John Toomey Gary Mahler Chuck B...

What if you didn’t need anything to be different in order to be a Micahel Jordan or a Richard Branson? What if you could simply CHOOSE to be that personality and act the way these winners act and create excellence for yourself from that way of being?! Dre is here to inform you that you can. --- Website: http://www.mirrorofmotivation.com Facebook: WorkOnYourGame IG: @drebaldwin YouTube: https://www...

Some people use the term “soft skills” in reference to certain leadership competencies. Meredith Bell makes fun of that term. “There’s nothing “soft” about having the courage to have challenging conversations and proactively asking your people for their input on how you can more effectively lead them! --- If you’re a leader, this one’s for you! --- Website: https://growstrongleaders.com/ Facebook:...