Alignment First Podcast

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Gord Nicodemus to talk about building real freedom on top of the foundation you already have. We dive into chasing a dream job that paid less than boxing groceries, walking on at Oregon State two days after tearing his MCL, teaching entrepreneurship through lemonade stands and engineering investments in his rental car business that return 50 perc...

In this episode of Alignment First , I sit down with my Marine brother Aaron Williamson: founder of Mission Ready, celebrity trainer, and Marine Corps Body Bearer who carried fallen brothers to their final rest at Arlington National Cemetery. We go deep on the most humble duty in the Corps, the chaos he ran through in Hollywood, the homelessness that forced him back into fitness, and the Ibogaine...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Zach Ratashak, founder of Tactical Mind Business Coaching and Navy veteran, to talk about what it actually means to lead people before you lead a business. We dive into building people-first systems, the mindset shift from military service to entrepreneurship, and the courage it takes to walk away from security to bet on yourself. We break down r...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Jayce Boyd — Under Armour All-American, 19th round MLB draft pick, Florida State alum, and College World Series champion — to go deep on what happens when elite performance meets unaddressed shadows. We dive into financial stewardship for young athletes, the ego traps that block growth, the two lies that nearly cost him everything, and how radica...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Bailey Crawford, founder of The Crawford Collective, to talk about what it really takes to build something from nothing; without a roadmap, permission or apology. We dive into the power of authentic connection, rewiring automatic negative thoughts, and why your next easiest step is always enough to keep moving. We break down real, actionable ways...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Anna Redmond, founder of BRAAV and AllCoin, to explore what it actually means to earn your place — and why recognition only lands when it's real. We dive into how she's taking the military challenge coin tradition digital, why belonging requires a bar, and how preserving the stories of those who served might be one of the most important l...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with DJ Barton , co-founder and CEO of ELYT Travel, to talk about what it actually takes to build a life, not just a lifestyle. We dive into losing his father early in life, finding purpose through fatherhood, the power of proximity, and why divorcing your past is the only way to marry your future. Real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader po...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Keira Brinton — the People's Publisher and founder of JOA Publishing — to explore what it really means to stop refusing your muse. We dive into channeling your gifts, the power of surrender, and what it takes to go from $5K to millions as a single mother of five and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible throug...

In this episode of Alignment First , I sit down with Eryk Anders — UFC veteran, fighter, and founder of Ya Boi Fitness Academy in Vestavia, Alabama — to talk about what it really means to walk away on your own terms and build something that outlasts the fight. We dive into identity, legacy, coaching the next generation, and why the most dangerous thing you can do is let your environment do your gr...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Steph Strine — Naval Academy grad, Marine veteran, yoga instructor, and fitness coach at Equinox and Soto Method — to talk about what happens when the uniforms come off and you're forced to rediscover who you are. We dive into identity loss, sobriety, service, and the real work of turning your hardest chapters into your greatest superpowers....

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mollie Gray — Olympic-level rugby athlete, army veteran, wedding photographer, world traveler, and finder of self — to unpack what ten days of radical silence revealed about identity, presence, and what it means to stop running and finally come home to yourself. We dive into her Vipassana meditation retreat experience and break down real, actiona...

In this episode of Alignment First , I sit down with Eric Coonrod , founder of E. Coonrod & Co. and author of The Preparation Principle , to break down the real truth behind selling a business. We dive into the hidden friction of M&A, the psychology of founders during exit, and what it actually takes to prepare for a successful transition—before, during, and after the deal. Key Takeaways M...

What if your leadership ceiling isn’t a strategy problem…but a health and self-awareness problem? In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Pat Boulogne — chiropractor, acupuncturist, entrepreneur, and executive mentor — for one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversations I’ve had on the show. From selling lemonade at four years old to building and exiting a high-vol...

Dr. Ruth N. Faucette, PhD is a relationship-driven psychotherapist and executive leadership consultant who built her foundation in medical academia at Virginia Tech and went on to train physicians in holistic care and leadership development. In this episode of Alignment First, we unpack the Four Ps quietly sabotaging high performers: perfection, proving, pleasing, and performing. If you’re a drive...

Most leaders don’t have an information problem. They have an adaptation problem. In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Logan Gelbrich — founder of Deuce Gym, creator of the Hold The Standard Summit, and author of Going Right — to unpack the difference between technical challenges and adaptive ones… and why that distinction changes everything about how you build teams, culture, and ca...

Bella Vasta didn’t stumble into systems, hiring, or AI. She earned them through necessity. From building a six-figure pet sitting business in Scottsdale to navigating NICU nights, divorce, and reinvention, Bella’s story is a masterclass in resilience, identity, and intentional infrastructure. In this conversation, we unpack why most business owners resist systems until crisis forces their hand, ho...

This episode is a deep, honest exploration of what happens after the uniform comes off . I got to jam with Ed Lubowicki—former Notre Dame lacrosse player, ex–Deloitte consultant, and founder of Lubowicki Performance Advisory—to unpack the identity shift athletes face when sport ends, and how to intentionally transcend and include the best parts of that chapter into the next one. Ed shares insights...

In this episode, I sit down with Rita Hudgens , holistic mindset life coach and founder of Transform University , for a grounded, coach-to-coach conversation on identity, flow, healing, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned, not just impressive on paper. What began as a reconnection through shared space at the gym evolves into a deep dialogue on mountaintops and valleys, hust...

In this episode of Alignment First , Mycal sits down with Corbin Smith , a 30-year coaching veteran, founder of MTTS Sports Group , author of More Than the Scoreboard , and host of the More Than the Scoreboard podcast. Corbin shares the raw reality of transitioning from athlete to coach, navigating loyalty in the coaching profession, and why self-leadership is the foundation of every great team, f...

In this episode of Alignment First , I sit down with Joseph Cancilla , founder of Hana Events & Experiences , United States Marine Corps veteran, and experiential architect creating emotionally resonant events at scale. What begins as a shared Marine Corps bond evolves into a deep conversation about grief, empathy, nervous system regulation, and what it actually takes to lead with presence ins...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Jessica Depatie—producer, podcaster, shadow work educator, and branding consultant—for a deep conversation on identity, harmonics, and why true alignment matters more than marketing tactics. We explore how inner coherence shapes outer expression and what it really means to lead, and brand, from integrity. Key Takeaways 1. Niching down fails when...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Christalyne Causey, former burned-out healthcare worker turned medspa owner and performance-focused health strategist. We unpack why burnout isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a hormone and nervous system problem. From stress chemistry and dopamine addiction to sleep deprivation and modern lifestyle design, this conversation delivers practical insi...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mo Fitzgerald — former NWSL player, strategist, facilitator, and founder of Play Street Studio — to explore why play is not a distraction from performance, but a catalyst for it. We unpack the loss of identity athletes experience after sport, the isolation of leadership and entrepreneurship, and why modern workplaces are starving for connection,...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Madeline Davis Tully — former Princeton rowing athlete and rowing coach at Stanford, Ohio State, and Boston University, national champion, and founder of MDT Leadership. We unpack what it truly means to transition from competing for championships to creating champions, the parallels between elite sport and executive leadership, and how identity,...

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Christian Ponder — NFL veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of The Post, a community built to elevate athletes long after sport. We dig into identity, fatherhood, leadership, boundaries, and how to create systems that keep you aligned while building something bigger than yourself. Christian breaks down the misconceptions about athletes in transitio...