The Connected Mindset

What does it mean to command chaos when the identity you built your life around starts to change? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Alex Rogers, a former Navy SEAL, performance coach, father, and founder of Alex Rogers Coaching. Alex spent twelve years in one of the most demanding communities in the world. But this conversation is not just about being a SEAL. It is a...

Greg Tomchick’s journey to building Valor Cybersecurity began with a problem he had experienced firsthand: an earlier business of his suffered a cyberattack, leaving him without the kind of partner he wished he could call when his own “house was on fire.” That experience helped shape the opportunity he eventually saw in protecting other businesses from the same kind of pain. In this collaboration...

What happens when the thing you built your identity around starts to change? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Chase “The Weapon” Walden, a professional Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, coach, referee, and combat sports leader with more than 20 years of experience. Chase’s journey has taken him from amateur national champion to fighting professionally in Thailand, compe...

What does it really take to change and stay changed? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Robert “Brix” Glover, a Norfolk-based health coach, transformation coach, and content creator whose work helps people rebuild their relationship with their body, mindset, and long-term wellness. Brix’s story is about weight loss, but the conversation goes much deeper than the numbe...

What if the way we were taught to understand science is limiting the way we practice it? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Alex Vawter, founder of Heterodox Labs and the Heterodox Research Society, for a conversation about science, AI, experimentation, and what it means to challenge the systems that shape discovery. Alex is a Virginia Beach native whose path into sci...

Greg sits down with Jenny Telford for a conversation about bodybuilding, motherhood, personal transformation, grief, resilience, and the discipline required to reclaim your life. Jenny’s story moves through several defining seasons. The major season was her weight loss journey as a mom that led to professional bodybuilding. What started as a physical transformation became something much deeper. It...

What if rest was not something you earned after burnout, but something you built into the way you live? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Sav for a moment to reflect on a world that fights us to obtain one our most precious resources, our rest. Sav shares how her practices focuses on the individual and her practice work blends massage, facials, cupping, hot stones, a...

Some conversations explain where you're going. Others help you understand where you've been. In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Kali Luthra for one of the most personal conversations in the show's history. As someone who played a behind-the-scenes role during the early development of the podcast, Kali brings a unique perspective to the origins, evolution, and deeper p...

In this part of the conversation with Emily Britton of Earth Healthkeepers, The Connected Experience moves beyond a traditional podcast interview and into something more experiential. Sitting on the ground together, Greg and Emily take part in a cacao ceremony during the episode as a way to slow down, become more present, and connect with the ground beneath them. The moment shifts the energy of th...

What happens when a podcast conversation moves out of the standard setup and into something more present? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Emily Britton of Earth Healthkeepers for a conversation about grounding, presence, earth connection, and what it means to live with deeper awareness. This episode was recorded differently. Instead of sitting across from each othe...

Liz Chandler joined us for our latest episode of The Connected Experience where we took a different approach to the conversation and recorded while seated on the floor. We spend most of our time in the gym, behind a desk, or driving to and from various scheduled events so to actually sit down on the ground and have a conversation made for a surreal experience both for me and my guest Liz Chandler....

What does connection actually feel like? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Liz Chandler for a conversation about the body, vulnerability, nervous system awareness, and the practices that help us reconnect with ourselves and others. This conversation also takes place in a different kind of setting. Instead of the traditional podcast setup with chairs, a table, and a s...

What happens to purpose, leadership, and human connection when artificial intelligence starts changing the way we work? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Jeannine Bennett for a conversation that moves beyond the surface-level conversation around AI and into something deeper: what it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world. Jeannine is an AI workplace strategi...

This is the moment in the episode Aimee opened up about her journey through rediscovering what mattered most after losing her child at a young age.

Some stories are difficult to put into words, but they need to be heard. In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Aimee Darby of the Eliza Hope Foundation for a conversation about grief, motherhood, purpose, and the kind of love that continues to move forward even after unimaginable loss. Nearly ten years ago, Aimee lost her daughter, Eliza. In the years since, her story ha...

What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan? In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Michael Weatherly for a conversation about finding your path in the middle of uncertainty, transitions, and unexpected opportunities. Michael's story isn't one of a carefully mapped-out career. It's a journey shaped by curiosity, faith, and a willingness to take action before eve...

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Terri Bowden, founder of VB Harmonic in Virginia Beach, to explore a different approach to wellness—one centered on restoring balance through sound, light, rest, and spiritual alignment. Built around the show’s framework of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, the conversation dives into how modern life has pulled people away fr...

This solo episode marks a turning point for The Connected Experience. After spending time studying some of the most impactful voices in the podcast space, Greg began to see new opportunities—ways to make conversations more focused, more intentional, and ultimately more meaningful for listeners. In this episode, he shares what’s been shaping that perspective, what he’s learned from creators who tru...

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Lance Hurdle—former professional basketball player, coach, and founder of Excel Basketball in Virginia Beach—to break down what most people get wrong about growth: practice isn’t just repetition, it’s identity, discipline, and the foundation of who you become. Through the lens of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, Lance shares...

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Michael Berlucchi to talk about what it really means to build the future of a city—one decision at a time. From infrastructure and development to leadership under pressure, Michael shares a real look into how today’s choices shape tomorrow’s outcomes for Virginia Beach. This conversation goes beyond policy—it’s about perspective:How...

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Caitlin Johnson—CEO and founder of a fast-growing cyber, IT, and talent solutions company built on solving mission-critical problems through strong teams and leadership. Together, they break down what it really takes to lead with intention using four core pillars: Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection. Caitlin shares how her journ...

Real connection doesn’t come from trying to impress people—it comes from being fully yourself. In this episode, Chef Tony shares the deeper recipe for connection—one built on authenticity, personal growth, and the courage to show up as who you really are. While many people spend years trying to fit expectations, Tony reflects on what happens when you stop performing and start living with honesty a...

Growth doesn’t always start with a new opportunity—it often begins with a new way of thinking. In this episode, Megan Blacksmith joins the conversation to explore what it truly means to expand your mindset. From challenging the assumptions that quietly shape our lives to embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth, Megan shares how shifting perspective can unlock new possibilities in both life a...

What happens when the business you built becomes the identity you’re known for… and then you feel called to evolve? In this episode of The Connected Experience, we sit down with Tony DiSilvestro — entrepreneur, restaurateur, media personality, and keynote speaker — to unpack the deeper layers behind success, reinvention, and connection. Many know Tony from building iconic hospitality brands like Y...

Connection isn’t lost in big moments. It erodes in the small ones. Spencer returns for his second episode to unpack a hard truth: most of us aren’t struggling to communicate — we’re struggling to truly connect. With a background rooted in technology, innovation, and navigating complex transitions, Spencer brings a sharp lens to the human side of progress. In fast-moving industries and high-perform...