The Risen Fallen Podcast

What can a man using a leaf blower during a violent windstorm do about his messy lawn?   What can a man using a leaf blower during a violent windstorm teach us about productivity, stress, and personal growth?   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark explores why being busy doesn’t always mean making progress. When life becomes chaotic, our instinct is often to panic, reach for the neare...

Why do some Monday mornings feel calm and productive while others begin in complete chaos? The difference often comes down to what happened the night before.   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark explores how preparation, personal accountability and better habits can reduce unnecessary stress. From filling the gas tank and organizing your tools to planning materials and closing out t...

Everyone wants to feel understood—but how often do we make the effort to understand someone else?   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we explore the uncomfortable irony of empathy: when we hear that people should be kinder, more patient, and more compassionate, we often think about what other people should give us—not what we could offer them.   Why do we judge ourselves by our circumst...

After six months of shoulder surgery recovery and physical therapy, Mark is finally back on the jiu-jitsu mats. That return sparked a reminder: even when a difficult season feels endless, the way we experience it can change.   In this episode of the Risen Falling Podcast, Mark talks about staying consistent through injury, doing what you can when progress feels slow, and seeking support when you n...

How do you build self-trust and create lasting change in your life? It begins by keeping promises to yourself, developing daily discipline, and asking a powerful question: “What do I need to give to get what I want?”   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we explore how the principle of “equivalent exchange” applies to personal development, mental health, fitness, relationships, career gro...

Most of life isn’t about getting the thing — it’s about learning how to maintain it.   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we talks about why relationships, fitness, mental health, home ownership, work, and personal growth all require constant attention. Getting in shape is one thing. Staying in shape is another. Finding a relationship is one thing. Learning how to communicate, compromise...

It’s easy to go through a difficult season and start believing that season is who you are.   You’re not just “out of shape.” You’re in a season where your habits have changed. You’re not just “bad with money.” You’re dealing with financial circumstances that can be improved. You’re not permanently stuck, broken, lazy, or incapable just because that’s how life feels right now.   In this episode of...

What does it actually mean to be a good father?   In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Binyamin Rothstein, family physician, father of eight, and author of A Real Man's Guide to Becoming a Terrific Dad, for a conversation about fatherhood, parenting, family, and the responsibility men have to truly show up for their children.   We talk about what children really need fr...

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t doing everything — it’s simply showing up. In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about why running one block is better than never leaving the couch, why action can create motivation, and how that same idea applies to the people we love.   The people in our lives don’t always need us at our best. They don’t always need advice, solutions, energy, or som...

Most of life isn’t made up of huge breakthroughs, perfect routines, or life-changing moments — it’s made up of ordinary days. In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about why learning to make the boring days your best days can completely change the way you approach your health, mindset, and life. I also get into my own tendency to look for “the one stretch” or “the one exercise” that...

In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark sits down with bestselling author and certified mindfulness instructor Aaron Hendon for a deep conversation about mental health, purpose, and reclaiming control over where we place our attention. We explore how easily life can become driven by stress, distraction, fear, and outside expectations—and why mindfulness is about far more than simply calm...

We are more digitally connected than ever, yet more people feel isolated, lonely, and disconnected from real human relationships.   In this episode, I talk about why so many adults no longer have a true community outside of work and home. Whether it is a jiu-jitsu gym, church, art club, running group, sports team, fishing group, or regular gym, we all need somewhere we can consistently show up, se...

In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about what it really means to advocate for yourself in everyday life.   Whether it is asking for better treatment at work, communicating your needs in a relationship, addressing tension in a friendship, or pushing for answers in healthcare, too many people stay silent and expect others to understand what they are feeling.   That silence often tur...

Mike Smith joins me to talk about ADHD, sobriety, addiction recovery, and learning how to adapt when life does not go according to plan.   After recently reaching one year sober, Mike shares what recovery has taught him about discipline, identity, mental health, and facing hardship without falling back into old habits. We also discuss the recovery-focused app he is developing to connect people wit...

In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I sit down with Corporal Brad Savage, an RCMP officer who speaks openly and honestly about mental health, PTSD, trauma, and the realities that come with serving in law enforcement.   Brad brings a powerful perspective on what it means to carry the weight of the job, the importance of speaking up, and why mental health conversations matter — especially f...

We often think peace will come once life finally calms down — once the pressure lifts, the bills are paid, the relationship is easier, work slows down, or the season changes.   But if peace depends on having no problems, peace will always be temporary.   In this episode, I talk about why peace is not the absence of problems, but the ability to stay grounded in the middle of them. Real peace is not...

In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about the idea that love and peace are not things we simply find — they are things we build.   We live in a world where everything feels replaceable. Don’t like something? Upgrade it. Order something new. Swipe to the next person. Find a better job. Move to a better house. Chase the next version of life.   But that mindset can slowly train us to...

In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about the difference between overthinking and avoidance. Sometimes we convince ourselves we are planning, processing, or waiting for clarity, when really we are avoiding the action we already know we need to take.   I break down how overthinking can become a form of procrastination, why clarity often comes after movement, and how fear disguises i...

In this episode, I talk about why words are not violence, and why being offended should not give us permission to lose control of ourselves.   After seeing people react violently to things said online, protests, opinions, and disagreements, I wanted to dig into what it says about us when someone else’s words can pull us so far out of character.   This episode is about emotional discipline, persona...

People love to talk about dopamine like it’s the enemy.   Dopamine addiction. Dopamine detox. Cheap dopamine. Instant gratification. Chasing the high.   And while there is truth to all of that, I think we sometimes miss the bigger picture.   Dopamine is not automatically bad. It is your body’s natural reward system. The real issue is not that we like feeling good — it’s what behaviours we are rewa...

In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about the trap of constantly waiting for a breakthrough.   A lot of us want the perfect plan, the big moment, the emotional shift, the viral post, or the sudden burst of motivation that finally changes everything. But most real growth does not happen that way.   Real change usually happens in the boring, repetitive, quiet work that nobody sees.  ...

After shoulder surgery, I’ve been working with my physiotherapist on rebuilding my range of motion, strength, and confidence. But during one of our conversations, he said something that hit way deeper than just physical rehab.   He talked about the importance of building confidence in the range of motion I already have before trying to force more. In other words, my nervous system needs to learn t...

In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark Henriksen talks about what it means to keep moving forward when life breaks down.   Using the analogy of a broken-down vehicle, Mark explores the idea that if it’s got wheels, it can still roll forward — even if you have to push it.   Whether you’re struggling in business, fitness, relationships, addiction, mental health, or personal development, t...

Mikail Maillet returns to the Risen Fallen Podcast for a powerful conversation about the mind, presence, purpose, meditation, martial arts philosophy, and personal freedom.   Mikail is the author of Your Mind or Your Life, a book focused on helping people reconnect with their true self, rise above distraction, cultivate inner peace, break free from limiting beliefs, and live with more clarity and...

In Episode #199 of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark explores a simple but powerful idea: what if the things you complain about are actually pointing directly at your blessings? We complain about work, bills, responsibilities, relationships, being busy, being tired, and having problems to solve — but often, those complaints are connected to things we would be devastated to lose. This episode is not a...