Harder Than Life

When Brandon Burns says he works out every day, he does not mean "most days" or "sometimes." He just gets up and DOES THE WORK every single day. That's the discipline it takes to make it as a keynote speaker, coach, and influencer at 26. Today, he joins Kelly to talk about the mentality behind his success. Highlights include: Brandon is the right hand man of Eric Thomas. Hear how Brandon hustled f...

This may be the best episode of Harder Than Life yet. This week, we explore the fascinating life of Jillian Riddell, an ER nurse and podcaster with a crazy story. At age 17, she started college while 9 months pregnant. As a child, her dad hid her from her family. Through all that, Jillian has kept her promise to "be the light" to those around her. We are so excited to share this conversation with...

Matt Williams once heard his wife tell him: “I can’t tell if you’re playing or working.” THAT is the kind of infectious energy that podcaster and badass Matt Williams is bringing to this episode of Harder Than Life. Matt, who has used his positive mindset to successfully launch the Fro Pro Snacks line, is 13 years sober. He and Kelly dive into how Matt overcame addiction and found success, and tal...

If you ask Greg Scheinman, the there is no EASY way to do anything well. Living a better, healthier life is SIMPLE, but 'simple' ain't easy. Through his books, podcasting, and coaching, Greg is trying to teach people how to maximize middle age. Instead of dreading mid-life, Greg is changing the narrative to help people live their best life as they grow older. Today, Greg jams with Kelly about how...

Adam was once described as a “lotsaholic.” Everything in his life - from his best habits to his worst decisions - is cranked up to 11. For the longest time, Adam thought of his struggles as a fight against himself. It wasn’t until he learned to surrender that be became Harder Than Life. This week features a team-up worthy of its own crossover comic. Adam, a Best-selling author, Inspirational Keyno...

If you ask McKenna Reitz what it is like to live with alopecia, she will tell you she never has a bad hair day. This week, Kelly welcomes the bold and beautiful McKenna Reitz to the Harder Than Life podcast! Despite losing every hair on her body in 2015, McKenna’s attitude and confidence are better than ever. What she went through, and how she grew through it all, is a story that will inspire you....

David Meltzer has won and lost (and won again) more money than most of us will see. If you listen to this podcast, you almost certainly know him as the Kevin Bacon of the personal development space. As an author, businessman, podcaster, and philanthropist, David is never more than six degrees away from your favorite motivator. Today, he joins Kelly for a ferocious conversation about staying intere...

99% of what makes a good business partner happens outside the office. If their goals, attitude, and lifestyle are aligned with your own, chances are their work will mesh with yours too. Kelly met Aaron Opalewski by chance on a flight to Nashville, kicking off a friendship and business partnership, and the two have been winning together ever since. Being the humble son of a pastor turned entreprene...

If you ask him, Julian Hayes will tell you that being a pastor was always his calling. Today, he’s known as “Pastor Ju,” a man of God whose passion for his community is infectious. However, the road Julian had to walk was not an easy one. The improbable story of how it all happened, and how Julian learned to live into his purpose, is at the heart of this week’s episode. Tune in to hear Pastor Ju s...

Renee Vardouniotis & Angie Leitnaker want to change the way we think about education. After several years of working within the traditional school system, they came together to develop the CAPE (Compassionate, Aware, Purpose-driven, and Effective) Movement. CAPE teaches children both practical skills and emotional intelligence, which Angie and Renee both found to be lacking in traditional curr...

Chef Chris has lived an interesting life or three. Seriously, it would be easier to list the things he hasn’t done. Chris grew up in a Buddhist monastery. He was a competitive cheerleader. He’s cooked fine meals for Russian oligarchs. He found and then kicked drugs and is now an Executive Chef at KYU NYC. Dude is only 35 and his story is already incredible. Now sober, happy, and about to become a...

Unlike most, Ryan Jaros started early. His entrepreneurial mind led him to not only create the Pursuit of Perfection brand, but also led him inward, to face his learning disabilities and overcome them. He and his fantastic mustache are absolutely Harder Than Life, and we are excited to share Ryan's story with you! Show Links Each and every episode is sponsored by National Technology Management. Th...

Everything we do on Harder Than Life is for charity. This week, we want to talk about one of the awesome organizations we are partnering with: Variety - the Children’s Charity of Detroit. This small but mighty organization serves more than 20,000 children with special and unique needs every year. At the helm is Michelle Murphy, the former teacher turned Executive Director at Variety Detroit. This...

This week, Kelly is joined by personal and business coach Kristen Cullen! Kristen is a branding expert whose holistic approach to brand-building - and to life - is truly unique. She and Kelly connect on how they are changing misconceptions about what it means to be vulnerable, and why vulnerability is so essential to becoming Harder Than Life. Featured topics include: Success is a choice: are your...

After a destructive relationship with alcohol left him homeless for 18 months, Jim Hernandez embraced sobriety. Today, he’s the man behind the addiction recovery non-profit Valor Rising and the Valor Fitness Clothing line. When he isn’t working as a recruiter, Jim dedicates himself to helping others overcome addiction and build healthier lives. This week, he joins us bright and early from his LA g...

When Michelle Rios says she saw a sign that her life needed to change, she’s being literal. When she most needed it, Michelle saw a billboard for a therapist and decided to prioritize her mental health. Then, her life changed forever. Now, Michelle Rios is an executive and host of the Live Your Extraordinary Life podcast. In this episode, Kelly talks to Michelle about the importance of therapy and...

According to Coach Jeff Forester, we are most qualified to help the people we once were. For Jeff, his past struggles have made him a perfect coach for troubled young adults. This week, Jeff, founder of Hi-Lite Coaching and host of the Pathways to Greatness podcast, joins Kelly for a far-reaching conversation. The two discuss healthier ways for men to communicate, the effects of pornography on you...

Dylan Smith was misdiagnosed with ADHD at a young age and was properly diagnosed with dyslexia at age 16. His response? He resolved to wake up early, stay up late, and grind on his studies to succeed. He chose to be Harder Than Life and today, he joins us to tell his story. When Dylan isn't killing it in the IT world, he is raising awareness through his organization, D is for Dyslexia, and his pod...

* Trigger Warning: This episode includes graphic discussions on the topics of sexual assault, eating disorders, and other distressing subjects. Discretion is advised. Kimberly Riggins wants you to love your naked ass. In fact, that’s the name of her podcast and her coaching academy, where she helps people learn to live without shame. This week, Kim shares her heartbreaking story. From overcoming t...

You have to love you. It’s non-negotiable. This week, Kelly welcomes mindset coach Nicole Frazier to the podcast. Nicole helps people grapple with the private, painful issues that often hold us back from our full potential. Today, she tells her story and shares her outlook on living a more complete life. In this packed episode, Nicole shares: How to be coached, and what you need to know before sig...

Jon Doolen once fired Kelly. Now, they’re closer than ever. Welcome back! In this episode, Kelly reunites with Jon Doolen, his former boss turned executive coach & strategic advisor. Jon’s rich background includes serving in the U.S. military, a civilian career in logistics, and now, he's the man behind Doolen Strategy Partners. The life-changing history Kelly and Jon share is part of what’s m...

Do you ever feel you are unworthy? Philanthropist and influencer Bridjet Morris understands the feeling, which is why she dedicates herself to empowering women and teaching people how to build their confidence. Today, she joins Kelly to share her story and have a vulnerable conversation about self-worth, overcoming obstacles, and living into your purpose. Check out Bridjet’s next event, Worthy Mea...

Superstar motivational coach and host of Entrepreneur’s Habits & Hustle podcast Jennifer Cohen reveals the secrets of her success, and how anyone bold enough can emulate them. Jennifer was recently named " 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness " by Yahoo and ranked #16 " Most Impactful Fitness Entrepreneurs " by Web MD. Upon her TedxTalk amassing nearly five million views, her much...

Mike Diamond has made it his purpose in life to inspire, motivate, and educate people so they can reach their full potential and live their best lives. Over the years, Mike has lived many lives and made a lot of friends by helping them climb out of what some would consider rock bottom. Today, he joins Kelly to share his journey in this powerful episode of Harder Than Life. In this episode, Mike of...

Have you ever wondered why we crave unhealthy food? According to dietician Gina Worful, our fixation on snacks could be related to trauma from our past. In this episode, Kelly is joined by Gina to talk about some of the biggest questions surrounding what we’re eating: how does processed food affect our mentality? Why do we struggle to “trust our gut” when we are trying to choose what to eat? Join...