Chasing Excellence

What if the most powerful thing you could do for your child's confidence takes less than five minutes a day? In this short episode, we revisit a conversation with mindset coach Mark England that sparked something big — the idea of a wins journal — and we explore how one simple question before bed can reshape the story your kids tell themselves about who they are. We dive into why most of us have a...

Are you unknowingly losing your edge — not in one dramatic moment, but through a thousand small, quiet compromises? In this episode, we diagnose the 10 forces of modern life that pull us toward what we call "the pool of dysfunction" — and, more importantly, we explore the countermeasures to swim against the current. Discover why drift is the true villain in the pursuit of health, happiness, and he...

Most of us were raised with only two options for dealing with difficult emotions: act them out or stuff them down. In this conversation with Margaret Cullen, author of Quiet Strength , we explore a powerful third door — equanimity — and learn how to fully feel our emotions without being hijacked by them. Discover why equanimity isn't about dulling your feelings — it's about deepening them while st...

What if the secret to lasting fulfillment isn't adding more to your life, but letting go of your attachment to the things you're chasing? In this conversation with NOBULL co-founder Marcus Wilson, we explore the reverse bucket list — a powerful framework for breaking free from the endless cycle of wanting more so you can actually enjoy what you already have. Inspired by Arthur Brooks and Simon Sin...

Can technology finally fix our nutrition struggles — or is it just adding more noise? We dive into why calorie trackers, wearables, and AI-powered diet tools consistently miss the mark, and discover the surprisingly simple, old-school method that actually gives you accurate, personalized results without any of them. In two powerful conversations with EC Synkowski , we explore why the friction of w...

What if the biggest barrier to your fitness isn't a lack of willpower — it's a set of hidden biases working against you? In this conversation with sports medicine physician Jordan Metzl, we uncover the science of motivation and why people who rarely miss a workout aren't more disciplined — they've just learned to lower their cost to act. Discover the knowledge-belief-emotion framework that transfo...

Ever wonder why your perfectly planned 15-step morning routine keeps falling apart, or why that expert advice feels like it's missing the mark? In this episode, we explore seven powerful universal laws — from Gall's Law to Hanlon's Razor — that reveal the hidden patterns shaping our decisions, our confidence, and our capacity to grow. We break down why simplicity always beats complexity, how your...

Are you ready to stop making excuses and start taking ownership of your life? We explore 10 hard truths that separate those chasing excellence from those stuck in blame—uncovering why we complain, defend our egos, and chase things that will never make us happy. We unpack the frameworks that reshape how you approach your relationships, priorities, and growth: learning to focus on changing yourself...

What drives the most successful people to their greatest achievements—and sometimes their darkest moments? Alongside writer and philosopher Rebecca Goldstein, we explore the mattering instinct - the fundamental human need to justify why we deserve attention in our own eyes - and discover how identifying your mattering project transforms this universal longing into a meaningful life path. We unpack...

Can you stay relentlessly disciplined without becoming the person nobody wants to be around? Alongside the WWE’s Ivy Nile (aka Emily Andzulis), we explore how true discipline becomes a source of motivation for those around you, and how choosing to do hard things every single day compounds into a life of genuine satisfaction. We unpack the framework of non-negotiables with extreme flexibility - rig...

What if everything modern culture tells us about fulfillment is wrong? In this compilation episode, we explore the two foundational lies that drive much of our dissatisfaction and drift: the belief that chasing fame, wealth, and power will make us happy, and the belief that if we're comfortable, we're somehow doing it wrong. Discover how these lies shape the decisions we make, the ladders we climb...

Where do you feel most alive, and with whom? In this conversation with Daniel Coyle, author of Flourish, we explore why the most powerful experiences of our lives aren't about individual achievement—they're about shared, joyful, meaningful growth. Discover how to shift from chasing success alone to building the communities that make us feel deeply connected, fully present, and truly ourselves. We...

Are you an asset to the people around you, or are you unknowingly becoming a burden? In this conversation with Chris Irwin and Mark England, we explore the surplus value mindset—the difference between those who add more than they take and those who don't. Discover how to become the person everyone wants on their team, in their family, and in their community. We break down the simple question that...

What if you could train your body to stay calm under pressure the same way Navy SEALs do? In this conversation with Level 3 Wim Hof Method instructor Brandon Powell, we explore the three-pillar system of breath work, cold exposure, and mindset training that elite athletes and military operators use to control their stress response and perform when it matters most. You'll discover how cold exposure...

What if the aches, stiffness, and limitations you've been accepting as "just part of getting older" aren't inevitable at all? In this conversation with Scott Hogan, author of Built from Broken , we explore the five root causes of feeling physically broken — from posture and movement patterns to tendinopathy and muscle imbalances — and the one mindset shift that changes everything: refusing to acce...

Why do the best athletes train less intensely than you might think — and still get better results? In this episode, Ben, Cole, and Jamison break down the seven training principles that separate elite performance from burnout: warming up like you mean it, lifting with intention instead of ego, and understanding that pacing is the actual secret to getting fitter. You'll discover why training at 60%...

What if the real problem with America's health crisis isn't a lack of guidance — but too much noise? In this special crossover episode from The Consistency Project podcast, EC Synkowski joins us to break down the latest USDA dietary guidelines and FDA labeling rules, revealing why neither will actually move the needle on public health. You'll discover why the government keeps getting nutrition gui...

What if the greatest threat of AI isn't economic — it's emotional? In this conversation with Zack Kass, former head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI and author of The Next RenAIssance , we explore why work will change too frequently to anchor your identity, and what that means for living with your heart on fire. You'll discover why the future belongs to those who anchor on mission but adapt their methods...

What if the challenges that knock you down could actually make you stronger? In this episode, we sit down with Brian Johnson, founder of Heroic and author of Arete, to explore the concept of anti-fragile confidence—the ability to use life's hardest moments as fuel for your growth. You'll discover why your protocol matters more than your motivation, and how to forge the kind of confidence that gets...

Most people drift through life reacting to whatever comes their way. But what if you could stop drifting and start directing — building a life that moves toward something meaningful instead of just away from discomfort? In this episode, we walk you through the three-part system that makes that possible: your vision (where you're headed), your anti-vision (what you refuse to become), and your core...

The three factors that get deprioritized most often - mindset, sleep, and connection - are the ones that quietly determine everything else. In Part 2 of our Year in Review, we tackle why winning your morning actually starts the night before, how to build emotional resilience by returning to center faster, and why deepening friendships as an adult requires the same intentionality you'd give to trai...

After 20+ years of focusing on health, you might think we'd have it all figured out. But the truth is, the best gains still come from small, strategic tweaks - not dramatic overhauls. In Part 1 of our annual Five Factors Year in Review, we explore why structured intensity beats "just go hard" training, how mobility might be the unlocking factor you're ignoring, and why the simple nutrition habit o...

What if the pressure you feel before a big moment isn't a lack of confidence - it's proof you're alive and engaged? Most of us wait to feel confident before we act, but elite performers know the truth: confidence isn't a feeling, it's a choice you make through your actions. In this conversation with Laura Ianello, head women's golf coach at the University of Texas, we explore the practical mental...

As we close out 2025, here's the question that matters most: do you have both the map and the crew for the year ahead? In this benchmark episode, we revisit two of our most foundational conversations from early 2025—the complete framework from daily habits to peace of mind, and why the people around you determine 95% of your success or failure. You'll learn how health gives you freedom, why contex...

If you've ever felt like raising kids and staying healthy are competing priorities, this episode will change how you think about both. We're bringing together six of our most powerful conversations on parenting — from applying the Five Factors to family life, to helping kids navigate adversity, to designing environments where healthy choices happen naturally. Last week, we published an essay calle...