The Upgraded Man

Ever feel like you're grinding harder than ever and still scraping by before the next paycheck hits? You're not bad with money. The world changed — and most men were never handed a plan. In this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with Philip Lanier, a former construction laborer who went from homelessness to selling his own company and now teaches everyday people how to...

You are working harder than ever and the needle still will not move. In this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, host Chris Anderson sits down with Dr. Joseph Drolshagen, creator of the SMT method and a 27-year corporate sales veteran turned subconscious performance coach, to expose the real reason most men stall out in business and wealth building. It is not your strategy. It is not the economy....

What does it really mean when a man says, "That's just who I am"? In this episode of The Upgraded Man, host Chris Anderson sits down with Arky Jones, founder of Personality Peak and a lifelong student of stoicism, to unpack why that phrase is usually an excuse rather than an identity. Born in England and now based in Australia, Arky brings a hard-won perspective shaped by military training, a seri...

At 70 years old, Jeff broke four ultra-distance cycling world records in a single day, and he did it after training for only a few months. On this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, host Chris Anderson sits down with the record-breaking cyclist, former aerobatic pilot, and performance coach to take apart one of the most common excuses men hide behind: a lack of motivation. Jeff makes the case th...

High achievers don't get stuck because they lack effort. They get stuck because they're moving fast in the wrong direction. In this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with high-performance coach Tim Kelly to unpack why so many capable men hit a ceiling and what it actually takes to break through. Tim is a former Navy rescue swimmer, commercial real estate investor, autho...

What does it take to turn 325 acres of Indiana woods into a national spirits brand and an "adult Disneyland" that pulls visitors from across the country? In this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with Jeff McCabe, co-founder of Hard Truth Distilling Co., for a wide-ranging conversation on craft, mindset, family, and the long game of building something that lasts. Jeff i...

In this episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast, host Chris Anderson sits down with Dr. Carla Caturia, a mindset and family relationship expert who has worked with thousands of families to help fathers strengthen their connection with their kids. As the first female guest since the show's rebrand, Dr. Carla brings a fresh, practical perspective to one of the toughest questions dads face: how do I stay...

Welcome to the very first guest episode of The Upgraded Man Podcast. Host Chris Anderson sits down with Dr. Bobby Shelton, a researcher and speaker on self-leadership theory, for a conversation about what it actually takes for a man to like himself again, and why so many high-achieving men are quietly running on empty. Bobby opens up about the morning he sat in a chair for an hour and a half, refu...

In 1910, a former president stood at the Sorbonne and delivered what would become one of the most quoted passages in American history. But Theodore Roosevelt wasn't a polished motivational speaker that day. He was a man who had buried his wife and mother on the same day, disappeared into the Badlands for two years, and rebuilt himself from nothing. That's the man behind "The Man in the Arena" — an...

In this debut episode of the newly rebranded Upgraded Man Podcast, host Chris Anderson lays out the foundation for everything to come. After years of running the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris is honing in on a clear mission: helping men who refuse to stay complacent become better versions of themselves, one day at a time. This solo episode introduces the five pillars that will guide every future co...

This is a milestone moment. In episode 500, host Chris Anderson pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to stay consistent for nearly a decade of podcasting, the relationships that changed the trajectory of his business, and the biggest announcement in the show's history: the Elevate Media Podcast is officially becoming The Upgraded Man Podcast. Chris gets candid about starting in the cor...

Most men don't lose their relationships because they stopped trying — they lose them because they never understood what actually creates lasting attraction and respect. In this episode, Chris sits down with A.D. the Kingmaker Dunbar, a former engineer who invested over $200,000 and years of study into understanding relationship dynamics from every angle imaginable — from Muslim men with multiple w...

Have you been doing everything right — putting in the work, staying consistent — but you still can't break through to the next level? This episode is for you. Chris Anderson shares the timeless "Three Feet from Gold" story from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich and unpacks what it means for every entrepreneur, business owner, and father who's on the verge of walking away. In this episode: 📖 The...

In this episode, Jim Ferry of Volition Capital pulls back the curtain on growth equity — the often-misunderstood middle ground between venture capital and private equity. If you're a founder wondering whether outside capital is right for your business, this is a must-listen. What you'll learn: The difference between venture capital, growth equity, and private equity (and where you fit) The 3 reaso...

Did you know 15 to 20% of the population has dyslexia, yet most schools are still failing these students? In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, host Chris Anderson sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia educator and researcher with over a decade of experience helping students overcome learning differences through a brain-based approach rooted in Yale research. Russell breaks down...

In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with Chanda Coston, business strategist, CEO, and founder of the HEB Foundation, to explore how high-achieving entrepreneurs can regain control of their time and focus on what truly moves the needle. Chanda shares her proven methods for calendar audits, time blocking, task batching, and the “automate, delegate, eliminate” appro...

Are you building a business… or did you accidentally build a job?   In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with entrepreneur and investor Chaz Wolfe to break down how to build a business that doesn’t own you. From mindset shifts to delegation, hiring, systems, and profit planning, this conversation is a blueprint for entrepreneurs who want freedom without sacrificin...

In this episode, Chris sits down with digital marketing expert Shane Barker to break down the real impact of reviews on Amazon and beyond. Shane shares practical insights on managing negative reviews, building brand trust, and why reputation management is no longer optional for modern businesses. Whether you sell on Amazon or rely on online reviews to drive growth, this conversation is packed with...

In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, we sit down with Jon from Fiscal Advocate to talk about why understanding your numbers is non-negotiable if you want to build a healthy, scalable service business. We break down how business owners can get clarity, create a strong financial foundation, and make smarter decisions that support long-term growth.   What we cover: Why most service business...

In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris Anderson welcomes Jeremy Vest, a veteran YouTube strategist. With two decades of experience, Jeremy provides a no-nonsense guide to achieving sustainable growth, moving past the common pitfalls that keep over 90% of creators from even reaching 1,000 subscribers. This is a crucial conversation for anyone looking to build a media company, from aspi...

In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris Anderson welcomes Jay Setchell, a remarkable guest whose life journey embodies extreme resilience. Raised on a farm, a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a corporate leader, Jay has faced and overcome unimaginable challenges, including dying three times, a debilitating accident that left him paralyzed, and 73 surgeries. He discusses how t...

We dive into an honest conversation with Roy Ward, CEO, President, and Founder of Pre-Game Athletics, on why he moved from a 20-year career in the reactive medical device industry to pioneer a proactive movement focused on preparing for peak performance. It’s not about just "warming up"—it’s about committing to a ritual that fuels you mentally and physically. In this episode, we challenge the idea...

Chris Anderson speaks with Dr. Brian McCarley about his journey from a head athletic trainer to a long-time successful chiropractor, guiding entrepreneurs, business leaders, and families. From Athletic Training to Chiropractic: Dr. Brian recounts his career shift, explaining that the late-night, intense lifestyle of an athletic trainer was incompatible with being a newlywed. This led him through a...

What if we told you that the whole concept of work-life balance sets us up for disappointment? Brace yourselves for an enlightening discussion where we challenge the narratives surrounding pursuing a harmonious life and the misconceptions about entrepreneurship. We dive into honest conversations about the grind in reaching our life goals and the sacrifices we need to make for long-term success. It...

In this episode of the Elevate Media Podcast, Chris Anderson sits down with viral marketing expert and AI creator Austin Armstrong to break down the real art of going viral without chasing shortcuts. From posting 20 to 25 times a day on Facebook to building micro SaaS with vibe coding, Austin shares exactly how he has generated billions of views, built multiple seven-figure businesses, and stacked...