Skull Sessions Podcast: The Art and Science of Kickin' A$s Between the Ears

In this episode of Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise takes a seat on the other side of the microphone as co-host Nate Last dives into the experiences that shaped Andy's journey as a leader, father, soldier, mental performance coach, and lifelong student of resilience. From growing up as the hardworking kid who relied on effort over talent, to overcoming adversity at West Point, serving in the...

In this episode of the Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with Daniel Roby , CEO of Austin Street Center, one of North Texas' largest emergency shelters serving people experiencing homelessness. Daniel has spent his career working on the front lines of one of society's most complex challenges, helping thousands of people find stability, dignity, and hope. Daniel shar...

In this episode of Skull Sessions, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with retired Navy SEAL Master Chief and co-creator of the U.S. Navy’s Warrior Toughness Program , Stephen Drum, for a raw conversation about mental toughness, leadership, emotional regulation, resilience, and performing under pressure. Stephen shares lessons from 27 years in the Navy SEAL Teams, including BUD/S training, combat l...

In this episode of Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise sits down with co-host and mental performance coach Nate Last for a raw and honest conversation about failure, pressure, identity, resilience, and the mental battles that high performers often fight in silence. Nate shares his journey from walking off a golf course during a state tournament at 15 years old to discovering sport psychology in col...

In this episode of the Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with Valerie Alston, a mental performance expert who has spent over 16 years helping soldiers, athletes, and leaders build resilience, mental toughness, and high-performance habits. Valerie shares her journey from college athlete to working with the U.S. Army, where she applies sport psychology principles in high-stak...

In this powerful episode of Skull Sessions, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with Patty de Vries (“Oma”), founder of Living Well USA, to explore what it really means to master your mindset and create a life aligned with who you truly are. Patty shares her deeply personal journey—from high-level athletics at Stanford to transformational breakthroughs in mindfulness, neuroplasticity, and self-aware...

In this episode, host Andy Riise sits down with Theresa Larson, a Marine Corps officer turned physical therapist, entrepreneur, and leadership wellness expert. Dr. Larson shares her powerful story of overcoming trauma, battling an eating disorder during deployment, and learning how true resilience comes from self-leadership, vulnerability, and choosing your hard. The conversation explores mental t...

In this episode of Skull Sessions, Ryan Johnson, founder of Bugle , shares how mental toughness, self-talk, leadership, and scalable processes helped him move from wrestling mats and West Point boxing to Special Forces and startup leadership. Andy and Nate unpack founder burnout, confidence under pressure, sustainable performance, and the mission to make volunteering easier across America. If you...

In this episode of  Skull Sessions , Andy Riise and the team sit down with  Jay Long , a West Point graduate and Army officer-turned FinTech startup co-founder (Parlay), and deep thinker on leadership, performance, and innovation, to explore what it really takes to go from  zero to one . Jay breaks down why  mental skills are foundational for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone navigating uncertain...

Skull Sessions kicks off with coach, entrepreneur, and dad of five, Sean Stringham. We dig into building Olympus Aquatics from scratch, launching Game On Live Studio in a pandemic, high-performance parenting, and the mental skills—grit, self-talk, and belief—that help athletes, leaders, and families kick ass between the ears.