Zen & Callsigns

Catalina Robledo's journey begins in Colombia, winds through London's economics programs, Geneva investment firms, global development work, and corporate leadership roles across three continents. By every conventional measure she was succeeding. Yet beneath the achievements sat a growing sense of disconnection that eventually culminated in depression. What followed was not a rejection of s...

Theo van Dort joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation that starts in childhood and moves through performance, entrepreneurship, media, spirituality, and men’s mental health. He talks about growing up between Dutch and English family roots, being sick as a child, wanting to act from an early age, and being told by teachers he would never amount to anything. That path led him through drama sc...

Will Travis joins Zen & Callsigns for a conversation that moves far beyond branding and business. What starts as a story about creativity, advertising, and global agency success becomes something deeper: grief, reinvention, fatherhood, masculinity, failure, resilience, identity, and the long road back to authenticity. Will reflects on losing his father as an infant, growing up in a house full...

In this episode of Zen & Callsigns , Blake sits down with Prashant Aggarwal for a wide-ranging conversation on discipline, leadership, risk, entrepreneurship, and the deeper search for meaning behind success. Prashant shares the story of growing up in New Delhi, surviving a serious undiagnosed illness as a teenager, and how that experience taught him the value of time. From there, he walks thr...

In this episode of Zen & Callsigns , Blake sits down with Dr. Matt Segall , professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, for a wide-ranging conversation on philosophy, spirituality, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Segall reflects on his path from journalism and cognitive science into philosophy, the psychedelic experience that radically altered his spiritual traje...

In this episode, Blake sits down with Anatoly Spektor —business consultant, programmer, podcaster, father, and endurance athlete—whose journey from post-Soviet Latvia to Canada, Ironman competitions, and Bali’s entrepreneurial scene reads like a series of inflection points. Anatoly shares how growing up in Latvia left him aimless, how one cocky comment at a party in Toronto jolted him onto a new p...

I sat down with Thom Beers, legendary producer behind Deadliest Catch , Ice Road Truckers , Storage Wars , Monster Garage , and more, for a sweeping life story that moved from his theater roots and time with icons like Lee Strasberg to his early documentary years under Ted Turner, scripting Captain Planet , and working with Jacques Cousteau. He recounted near-death moments on crab boats, career se...

Sarid Harper sits down to tell the story of a life driven by curiosity and contradiction. He opens with a vivid teenage UFO sighting outside Billings that shattered familiar narratives and seeded a contrarian mindset. From there we follow his path through London, Montana, Copenhagen, Berkeley, and Bali — learning Visual Basic, assembler, FreeBSD, and offensive security; building exploits and testi...

In this episode, Ty Smith, a retired Navy SEAL, shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood in East St. Louis to becoming a Navy SEAL and entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of resilience, mentorship, and leadership, as well as the impact of 9/11 on his military career. Ty reflects on the intersection of luck and skill in combat, the lessons learned from his experiences, and t...

In this conversation, Miles Bolden and Blake Fisher discusses the profound impact of breath on mental health, performance, and overall well-being. They emphasizes the importance of breathwork as a tool for managing stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation, particularly for veterans facing mental health challenges. Miles shares various breathing techniques and their applications in athletic perfor...

In this episode, Dr. John Cordle shares his journey from a military upbringing to becoming a human factors engineer, focusing on the critical role of sleep in military operations. He discusses his experiences at the Naval Academy, the challenges of fatigue in the Navy, and the importance of sleep hygiene. Dr. Cordle emphasizes the need for cultural change within the military regarding sleep awaren...

In this conversation, Luis Lopez shares his journey from Tijuana to becoming a successful documentary filmmaker. He discusses his early life, education, and the influences that shaped his career. Luis reflects on his experiences in film school, his time in New York, and the challenges of documentary storytelling. He highlights the evolution of documentaries in the streaming era and shares insights...

In this episode of Zen and Callsigns, Dr. Megan Mercer shares her journey from a devout Christian upbringing in Southern California to navigating the complexities of neurodivergence, academia, and personal growth. She discusses her experiences with faith, the challenges of being a gifted individual, and the impact of her education on her worldview. Dr. Mercer also explores the intersection of writ...

In this conversation, Aengus Boyle shares his journey as an artist and marketer, discussing the evolution of his creative process, the influences that inspire his work, and the challenges of pricing and valuing art. He reflects on the role of AI in the art world, the importance of relentless positivity, and the intersection of luck and skill in achieving success. Aengus also shares insights on bal...

In this episode of Zen and Callsigns, host Blake interviews artist Filippo Giusti, who shares his journey from a young man in Italy to a successful painter in Mexico. Filippo discusses the societal pressures he faced, his struggles with identity, and the pivotal moments that led him to embrace his passion for art. He reflects on the importance of vulnerability, the power of belief, and the signifi...

In this episode, Blake Bolden shares her inspiring journey as a trailblazer in ice hockey, discussing her experiences as the first woman of color to play professional women's ice hockey and her transition into broadcasting. She reflects on the challenges she faced in a male-dominated sport, the importance of representation, and the resilience required to overcome setbacks. Blake emphasizes the sig...

In this episode of Zen and Call Signs, host Blake interviews Chris Quilty, a prominent figure in the space industry. Chris shares his journey from a desire to fly to becoming a financial analyst focused on the space sector. He discusses the evolution of the space industry, the impact of SpaceX on launch costs, and the challenges faced by NASA. The conversation also delves into emerging technologie...

In this episode of Zen and Callsigns, Blake interviews Rob Sweetman, a former Navy SEAL turned sleep scientist. Rob shares his journey from entrepreneurship to military service and the profound impact of his experiences on his understanding of mental health and sleep. He discusses the importance of sleep for veterans, coping mechanisms for trauma, and the role of breathwork and psychedelics in per...

In this episode, Bryan Stern, CEO of Grey Bull Rescue, shares his unique journey from a non-military background to becoming a key player in military intelligence and humanitarian rescue operations. He discusses the qualities necessary for success in counterintelligence, the challenges faced during crisis situations, and the innovative approaches taken by Grey Bull Rescue to save lives in dangerous...

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Tara Deliberto shares her journey from a clinical psychologist to spirituality, discussing the importance of mental health, the impact of social media on eating disorders, and the role of AI in therapy. She emphasizes the need for authentic connections in healing, the significance of community, and her personal practices for maintaining balance. Dr. Deliberto als...

Mark Dawes shares his journey from a military career to exploring the realms of quantum thinking, mindfulness, and meditation. He discusses the transformative power of NLP, the importance of community, and the impact of thoughts on health. Mark emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and the potential for healing through intention and meditation. The conversation also touches on the role o...

In this conversation, Blake and Bryce discuss a range of topics from health practices like cold plunges and sun exposure to the challenges and processes of being an artist. They delve into the role of art in society, particularly in relation to political discourse and the military-industrial complex. Bryce shares his experiences with art shows and the difficulties of engaging an audience, while al...

In this episode, Blake and Walker delve into their long-standing friendship, exploring themes of spirituality, authenticity, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of radical transparency in relationships, the impact of self-image on reality, and the influence of technology on humanity. The conversation also touches on conspiracy theories, the nature of reality, and the quest for truth,...

In this conversation, Blake and Lamberto Maturin discuss Lamberto's journey from Panama to the Marine Corps, his experiences at Officer Candidate School, and his various leadership roles throughout his military career. They delve into the challenges of recruiting, the importance of mental health and vulnerability in leadership, and reflect on the Afghanistan pullout. Lamberto shares his aspiration...

Blake and Isaac "Whisky" Lee discuss his journey from the Marine Corps to becoming a successful author and leader in the civilian world. They explore themes of writing as a therapeutic outlet, the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, the importance of leadership and trust, and the impact of combat experiences on personal and family dynamics. Isaac shares insights o...