Normal 40: The Podcast

At some point, the chaos gets too loud to ignore. In that moment, you will break down or raise up. In Part Two of Brandon Meyer’s story, we start the exploration about what really matters and how you chase it. This episode is about the people who show up when you stop pretending. The friends who bet on you before you bet on yourself. The quiet acts of rebellion that help you remember who you were...

Brandon Meyer was born three months premature with cerebral palsy. Doctors said he’d never walk. He walked at three. They said he’d never live on his own. He left home, earned degrees, became a husband, a father, and a corporate leader managing $50 million a year. They said he’d never play sports. He played. They said he’d never be free. But the day he broke his leg brace and threw it on the floor...

What happens when you reach the pinnacle of your career only to realize it’s no longer the life you want? In this episode, Lon Stroschein sits down with Parker Hays, a physician who spent 33 years in emergency medicine before making the courageous decision to leave and build a life of purpose and impact. Parker shares his journey, from a pivotal moment in his youth that inspired him to pursue medi...

You did everything right. You put in the years, made the sacrifices, and built a career most people admire. But now, there's a feeling you can't shake—one that whispers there's something more for you. But there you sit...waiting. Judgment starts at the moment you even consider doing something new or more. From colleagues, from society, from that inner voice that says, you should just be grateful f...

What happens when life throws you one curveball after another? How do you rise, rebuild, and find your true purpose? In this episode, Lon Stroschein sits with Kevin Hoover, an elite performer whose life has been shaped by pivotal moments of triumph and heartbreak. From humble beginnings in Mooresville, North Carolina, to a whirlwind career in hospitality, coaching, and real estate, Kevin shares hi...

Burnout is everywhere. It's in our board rooms and courtrooms. But now, more than ever, it's also in our operating rooms and emergency rooms. Something has to change.  In this episode, Lon Stroschein sits down with Dr. John Shufeldt — a physician, entrepreneur, attorney, and pilot — to explore his unconventional career journey. From overcoming academic struggles to founding multiple successfu...

What if you had the chance to reclaim your family’s legacy, resurrect a once-iconic brand, and bet everything on a dream?  Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey’s Corporation, joins Lon Stroschein to discuss her unexpected journey from law and public service to buying back an iconic brand her grandfather start in 1937. “You never know when opportunity will knock—but when it does, you have to be w...

Do you find yourself constantly chasing work, stuck in a cycle of stress addiction, and yearning for a different life? You're not alone -- and I'm going to prove it. Meet Tim Klimchock, a one-time corporate executive and CPA, who mustered the courage to finally trade his W2 income for a chance at chasing something bigger. Tim shares the hardships he has faced since leaving a year ago and how he ha...

What happens when successful individuals reach the pinnacle of their careers only to feel trapped and dissatisfied? You become a psychotherapist, of course. Join me, Lon Stroschein, and Dr. Nicholas Samstag, as we embark on an eye-opening journey of midlife transition and self-discovery. We dive deep into the emotional and psychological struggles faced by those who've achieved much but still yearn...

Are you living up to your potential, really? This episode gives hope to anyone wrestling with impostor syndrom. Lon Stroschein's co-host Adam Eaton returns to the airwaves to share his raw and insightful experiences with personal adversity and transformation. Adam shares some of the pitfalls that can find any of us who are on the Normal 40 highway. Adam shares his struggle with self-doubt and the...

Ever dreamed about quitting your job to chase a dream? Well, meet Dan Mayer. Dan Mayer is a seasoned sales expert who resigned from his VP position and is starting his own venture -- NEXT WEEK! This ramble offers a wealth of insights into this life-changing decision. Through his personal experiences, including family challenges, a Wrigley's Gum commercial, and a stand-up comedy stint, Dan articula...

Have you ever thought hiring a coach was a waste? Lon Stroschein did, until ... Join Lon as he sat (back) down with his first coach, Brendan Burns, to discuss his transformation from a public company executive to a lifestyle engineer and career coach on a mission to inspire others. This candid conversation touches on Lon's journey of leaving a successful career, the power of LinkedIn, the importan...

Embarking on life's next act can be a treacherous climb, but it's one some of us have braved with vigor. Join us on a transformative journey along the Normal 40 Highway as we welcome the exceptional Dr. Molly Maloof. This candid conversation is all about sparking change and pursuing a life filled with purpose. Listen in as we unpack the pivotal moments that redefine our biological and psycho-spiri...

Have you ever had a calling you could feel in your gut? Have you ever felt called to do something on a whim, and you weren't sure why? Have you ever cut through the irresponsibility of how it feels, and then chased the call simply to see where it goes? Have you ever carved out eight days, flown to a land where you don't speak the language, don't have an event, and don't have a friend to host you?...

Have you ever wondered how different your life could be in a year if there were no sunk costs to taking a bet on yourself? One year ago, Lon Stroschein started writing his book. This podcast was recorded in the recording studio in the moments before he started narrating his book, The Trade, for Audible. This is a conversation with his partner in Normal 40 Publishing, Jeremy Brown. In this podcast,...

Who quits their job as an ER physician to be a middle school science teacher? Well, this guy. There's something magnetic about a story that breaks the mold, and Keith Pochick's leap from the corridors of the emergency room to the halls of a middle school does just that. Join Lon Stroschein as he sits down with Keith Pochick, whose life took an extraordinary turn when he traded his stethoscope for...

It takes trust--an awkward amount of trust--to let things simply unfold before you. To let them play out, to see them untangle, to give them space, and to live in that moment, trusting it. This podcast is a conversation recorded from the streets in Quillabamba, Peru. Join Lon Stroschein on a transformative trek through the heart of Peru, where he is joined by a remarkable guide, Carlos...only 72 h...

Ever felt the weight of a secret life that no one knows about, or found yourself grappling with the stark reality of your own existence? Ever wonder why you don't have clarity for what's next or the energy to chase it? We get it! Join us as we explore the brutal reality of our lives to this point. Lon and Adam have a classic ramble--candidly discussing the spheres that shape our identity and influ...

As professionals, we can get so busy being important to those at work that we miss the cries for help happening around the home. That happened to Lon Stroschein when he missed the calls for help from his daughter, Grace. Learn how an actual call changed everything - for both of them. This is the personal story of Lon Stroschein, founder of the Normal 40 movement and the author of The Trade, and hi...

In the new life Lon has built, he reserves every Friday to work on what he calls "Other Bets," investments that are outside of Normal 40 but also part of Lon's long-term future. Listen in as Lon Stroschein takes you through a transformative journey from a corporate executive to a lifestyle engineer -- and where his interest in cryptocurrency takes shape. Including the time he lost more money than...

Austin is a dude I've never met. Before this podcast, I'd never heard Austin's voice and knew almost nothing of his story. But on a whim, we connected and recorded this episode. And, being honest, you won't believe where it goes. We talk about it all: Mental Health, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Resilience, Transformation, Football Injury, Radio Commercial, Mount Air Iowa, Opioid Addiction, Care...

Ever wondered how life's biggest setbacks can turn into opportunities for growth? Well, you need to meet Paul Reynolds, a guy whose journey embodies this transformation. After losing his wife to cancer and facing the brunt of the pandemic, Paul did the unthinkable - he quit his lucrative executive job to start anew. We navigate this remarkable tale of resilience, uncovering how adversity led Paul...

This is part 2 of a conversation Lon Stroschein rambles with Paul Reynolds, a former public company executive who bravely embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship one year ago. Paul offers invaluable insights about the realities of transitioning from a corporate job to starting your own business, the effects on his family life, and the crucial lessons he's gleaned along the way. If you're contemp...

Have you ever wondered what it would take to leave the comfort of a six-figure income and a high-powered career behind, and set sail on the open seas? Chris and his wife, Renee, did just that! Living proof that it's possible to let go of the corporate world and its trappings for a simpler life, Chris shares how they traded a $500,000 a-year income for a $50,000 one to live aboard a 52-foot ship. T...