What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

Eight years ago, I had Boyd Varty on the podcast for the first time. At the time, I knew I resonated with his work. But I don't think I fully understood the role it would go on to play in my life. Since then, Boyd's book The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life has become one of those rare books I return to again and again. It's one I've gifted countless times. The first time I read it, I remember feeling...

Chris Begg is the founder and CIO of East Coast Asset Management and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches Security Analysis in Ben Graham's seat. This is one of the most original and wide-ranging conversations I've had on this podcast. Read the full written distillation: whatgotyouthere.com/the-distillation-of-chris-begg In this conversation we go deep on gr...

On this episode of Beneath the Surface , Sean DeLaney shares the foundational lessons he hopes his kids absorb not from what he says, but from how he lives every day. For parents who want to live intentionally, this episode shows how to model an authentic path, love with full attention, and give kids both roots and wings. Interested in working together? https://seandelaneycoaching.com Stay Connect...

In this soul-stirring episode of Beneath the Surface , Sean DeLaney invites you into a deeper conversation about something every human must face— suffering . Unlike most self-help content that offers quick fixes or tips to "overcome" pain, this episode cuts through the noise. It won't give you shortcuts. Instead, it guides you into a new, more powerful relationship with suffering—one that can awak...

In a world that tells us to measure our worth by what we do, it's easy to confuse our roles, titles, and achievements for who we are. But what happens when the job changes, the title disappears, or the success fades? Who are you beneath all of that? In this episode, we go beneath the surface to explore the truth about identity—why tying your self-worth to external success creates a fragile life, a...

We live in a world desperate to be seen, but rarely do we slow down enough to truly  see one another. In this soul-stirring episode, Sean DeLaney explores the quiet, transformative power of presence, attention, and attunement. You'll discover that seeing others isn't just a relational skill, it's a transformative act. One that can heal, connect, elevate, and awaken the humanity in us all. We'll ex...

In this powerful episode, Sean DeLaney goes beneath the surface of what confidence truly is and what it isn't. From earned self-trust to emotional fluency, from identity clarity to the quiet strength of presence, this episode will dismantle the myths you've been sold and rebuild your understanding of real, lasting confidence. We'll explore: Why confidence is contextual, not universal How self-trus...

Too often, we think of art as something we create outside ourselves. But what if the most meaningful art you'll ever make… is your life? In this episode, Sean DeLaney goes beneath the surface and explores what it means to shift from passive participant to intentional creator and to live not by default, but by design. You'll hear why your thoughts, your presence, your choices, all of it, are brushs...

This episode is about the impact you make, even when you don't realize you're making one. Every thought. Every word. Every choice. It all sends ripples outward and inward. In this episode, we explore the unseen yet undeniable ripple effects of our lives. You'll learn: Why the smallest moments often carry the deepest impact The powerful truth that your presence speaks louder than your words Why eve...

So many of us live with the illusion that there's a final moment of arrival—a place where the striving stops, the doubt fades, and we finally become enough . But what if that place doesn't exist? In this episode of Beneath the Surface , we're unraveling the myth of arrival. We explore the subtle ways this illusion robs us of presence, poisons our progress, and keeps us from experiencing the richne...

Your life expands with every act of courage.  In this episode of Beneath the Surface , we explore one of the most essential, misunderstood, and transformational inner capacities: courage. We're not talking about the kind of courage that looks heroic or loud. We're talking about the kind that shows up in unseen moments. The courage to tell the truth. To make a hard change. To say "I love you" first...

In this episode of Beneath the Surface , we explore the foundational force that sits quietly beneath every transformation: awareness . Without it, we're just rearranging surface symptoms and never addressing the root. You'll hear about: Why awareness is the beginning of every habit, relationship, pattern, and belief shift The difference between mental recognition and embodied awareness How unconsc...

The question hit me at a funeral: If I keep living exactly as I am… what will my life add up to? This episode isn't here to give you answers. It's here to help you ask better questions. How are you measuring your life? Are you chasing a scoreboard someone else created? Or are you living in alignment with what your soul knows to be true? You'll hear reflections from the Stoics, wisdom from David Br...

We've been taught to sacrifice joy now in hopes of earning it later. But what if that entire model is broken? In this episode of Beneath the Surface , we explore one of the most important truths about performance, presence, and fulfillment: 👉 You don't train joy by training stress. 👉 You don't arrive at peace by living in tension. 👉 The nervous system doesn't wait for success to feel safe — it...

What if the version of you the world rewards isn't the version that makes you feel alive? We've been taught that we have to earn love. Earn rest. Earn our right to belong. But what if the model is backwards? What if Being is the starting point — not the reward at the end of striving? In this episode, I unpack the hidden cost of tying your worth to outcomes, approval, and perfection… and explore wh...

What if the key to your highest performance, deepest peace, and most alive life… wasn't about doing more, but about being more you ? In this episode of Beneath The Surface , Sean DeLaney explores what he calls The Unobstructed Way —a path where your essence, your expression, and your environment come into full alignment. This isn't self-help fluff. It's a wake-up call. A return to truth. A mirror...

We've all been taught that in order to succeed, we need to push harder, grind longer, and sacrifice joy now in hopes of earning it later. But what if that model, the one most high performers live inside, is the very thing keeping us from our best? In this episode, Sean DeLaney unpacks one of the most powerful, paradoxical truths about performance:  You don't perform at your best by gripping harder...

This is Beneath the Surface — a new solo series from Sean DeLaney, creator and host of What Got You There . This series is a place where I bring you the ideas I'm sitting with most — the ones that challenge me, change me, and bring me back to what actually matters. These episodes aren't about adding more to your to-do list. They're about going deeper into what it means to live, lead, and create fr...

Brian Dawkins is an NFL Hall-of-Famer who played 16 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brian is regarded as one of the greatest safeties of all time and during his illustrious career was named to nine Pro Bowls and five All-Pro first teams. Brian was the heart and soul of the Eagles defense and on this episode he discusses what it takes to become great...

Paul Black is Portfolio Manager and Chief Executive Officer at WCM Investment Management. As a member of the Investment Strategy Groups for the firm's global, fundamental growth strategies, his primary responsibility is portfolio management. In more than 30 years in the investment industry, he has served previously as a portfolio manager with Wells Fargo Private Banking Group and Bank of America....

Discover the wisdom behind living a fulfilled life with William Green, the acclaimed author of Richer, Wiser, Happier. In this episode, William shares profound insights and practical strategies on achieving true wealth, wisdom, and happiness. Today on the podcast I'm sharing 2 wisdom rich conversations I had with  William Green !  Over the last quarter of a century, he has interviewed many of the...

Today on the podcast I revisit one of my all time conversations with Adam Robison for our Classics Series! Adam is the Co- Founder of The Princeton Review, a rated chess master, an advisor to large hedge funds and financial institutions. The breadth and depth of Adams knowledge and curiosity is on full display in this conversation! You'll see why he's one of my favorite thinkers! 3 things you'll l...

Christopher M. Begg is the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, and Co-Founder of East Coast Asset Management, Inc. Chris is also currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia Business School where he teaches Security Analysis.  Chris is one of the most thoughtful people I know and I wanted to share his love of learning that comes through. Chris to me is part philosopher, arti...

Brian Holman, the esteemed head coach of the Boston Cannons in the Premier Lacrosse League. Brian, a three-time All-American and NCAA Champion, shares invaluable insights from his storied career, from his playing days at Johns Hopkins to coaching triumphs at North Carolina and the University of Utah. As my mentor during my time at UNC, Brian's profound influence on my approach to leadership, overc...

Today's my 37th birthday and instead of unwrapping gifts, I wanted to share a couple of gifts with you. These are 37 things I want to remember.  I am  Sean DeLaney , the executive performance coach with over a decade of experience working with CEOs, executives, and leadership teams, guiding them beyond traditional definitions of success. I exclusively work with high-achieving CEOs, executives, and...