Behind The Human with Marc Champagne

What if the biggest breakthroughs in your health didn’t require more supplements, more routines, or more time… but simply focusing on the right 4%?Marc sits down with entrepreneur and longevity advocate Noah Laith to explore the mindset behind resilience, health, and long-term success.Noah shares the powerful story that reshaped how he interprets life’s challenges, explains why the real pandemic today is distraction, and reveals the simple thinking ritual that has helped him make better decisions in business and life.They also dive into Noah’s 4% rule for longevity — the idea that a small number of habits may deliver the majority of health benefits.This conversation explores meaning, focus, and the hidden frameworks that shape how we live, lead, and grow.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”01:30 — The four areas Noah reviews every year to guide his life04:15 — The Thailand story that changed everything06:40 — Becoming a “master of meaning” in life09:00 — Why entrepreneurs bring their work home10:10 — Learning pattern recognition from Tony Robbins11:20 — The power of mentors and mental models13:00 — Why knowledge is no longer power14:15 — The modern epidemic of distraction15:40 — The thinking ritual that prevents costly mistakes18:20 — Why successful people prioritize thinking time20:30 — How Noah entered the longevity space23:10 — The 12-month focus strategy that changed his career25:30 — The billionaire habit of doubling down27:00 — Why digital real estate matters today28:30 — The “4% rule” for improving health31:20 — The biggest health threats of the modern world34:00 — Why most people need a health mentor36:20 — Choosing your struggle in life38:40 — Lessons from traveling the world41:00 — Balancing focus and diversification43:00 — The future of health and raising resilient children*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geoff Blades explains why most self-help advice fails, how automatic thought patterns dominate our lives, and why mastering your mind may be the single most important skill for the future.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”01:00 — Geoff’s early career at Goldman Sachs and the moment everything changed03:00 — The question that started a 25-year journey: “Is this the life I truly want?”05:30 — Why asking better questions can completely change your life07:00 — The hidden architecture of the human mind08:30 — Reading thousands of self-help books… and still not finding answers10:30 — The problem with most personal development advice13:00 — Why knowing what to do doesn’t mean you’ll actually do it15:00 — Leaving Wall Street and searching for deeper answers17:00 — The trap of “when I get there, then I’ll be happy”19:00 — Discovering hypnosis, NLP, and deeper mental programming20:30 — The shocking reality of 80,000 thoughts per day22:00 — Pattern interrupts: the key to breaking automatic thinking24:00 — Why obsession is necessary for real mental transformation26:00 — The negativity bias and why the world feeds low-vibration thinking28:30 — The three energy systems that drive performance30:00 — Why your internal experience is separate from your external life33:00 — Changing your energy to change your thoughts35:00 — Physical, emotional, and spiritual energy explained38:00 — The Ultimate Day system for managing energy and focus41:00 — The three-step method for building a limitless mind44:00 — Tools for interrupting negative thinking in real time46:00 — “Stop. Wake up.” — the pattern interrupt that changes everything47:30 — Designing environments that support mental clarity48:30 — Why controlling your mind may be the ultimate human skill50:00 — Final reflections on mastering the mind*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the most important chapter of your life hasn’t been written yet?In this rare in-person conversation, Patricia Sands opens up about grief, reinvention, aging, creativity, and the unexpected power of starting late.Patricia published her first novel at 65. Today, at 80, she has written 13 books — many set in France, a country she fell in love with at 21 while backpacking with friends. But before the novels, there was loss. Widowed at 43. Two sons. A life rewritten overnight.We explore how grief shaped her storytelling, why community saved her creative life, how AI unexpectedly helped her research historical fiction, and what it really means to write from intuition.This is a conversation about dignity, aging, reinvention, and why it’s never too late to become who you are.A special shout out to my co-host Valentin Randon. Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — Who Are You, Really?03:00 — From Photography to Storytelling05:00 — Sudden Loss 06:30 — Writing Her First Book at 6508:00 — Dying With Dignity & Difficult Themes12:00 — How Much of Her Is in Her Characters?16:00 — The Power of the Writing Community18:30 — Stephen King’s Advice That Freed Her23:00 — Turning 80 & Questioning Herself32:00 — The Invitation That Changed Everything34:00 — Writing a Novel in Record Time36:00 — Exploring AI for Historical Research41:00 — Intuition vs. Structure in Writing44:00 — France, Culture & Seduction46:00 — The Origin of Her Love Affair with France50:00 — The Real Reward of Writing51:00 — Turning Novels into Real-Life Tours*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is it that we train people to survive under pressure… but never teach them how to come home to themselves?After 20 years serving as a Navy Hospital Corpsman alongside Marines in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, Patrick Nardulli realized something profound: toughness wasn’t the same as resilience.In this episode, Patrick shares his journey from combat medicine to nervous system regulation — including the moment a heart rate variability monitor revealed he was “thriving” on the outside but dysregulated beneath the surface.We explore:The difference between heart rate and heart rate variabilityWhy high performers often live in chronic sympathetic overdriveHow breath becomes the bridge between mind and bodyThe role of coherence in leadership and relationshipsPractical tools to regulate your nervous system in real timeShow Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:02:00 — A guided coherence exercise to settle the nervous system05:00 — Growing up in Chicago and the call to serve07:00 — Combat deployments and the culture of toughness11:00 — The moment he saw resilience breaking in others14:00 — The HRV wake-up call: “I thought the device was broken”18:00 — Why experiential learning beats PowerPoints22:00 — Breath as the bridge between mind and body29:00 — Heart rate vs. heart rate variability explained31:00 — What coherence actually means34:00 — Why most people never intentionally exhale37:00 — Preparation, performance, recovery framework40:00 — When his wife felt his nervous system shift42:00 — Walking into the moonlight: a realignment moment45:00 — Simple practices anyone can start today46:00 — Final message: self-care is not selfish*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is it that we chase longevity like it’s a number, yet ignore the daily behaviors that are aging us from the inside out?Most of us think longevity is about adding years. But what if it’s really about removing what no longer serves you at the cellular level and at the identity level?Renee Fitton — registered dietitian, longevity specialist, and one of the leading voices in fasting-mimicking science (VP at Prolon) — breaks down the biology of renewal… and the psychology that quietly shapes our habits.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”03:00 — Perfectionism, ambition, and living in the imperfect07:00 — Personality tests, self-work, and using tools like ChatGPT for reflection11:00 — Preparing for the Hoffman Process: deep psychological self-work15:00 — How to prepare your body for intense personal growth16:00 — Alcohol, sleep, and energy management before a retreat18:00 — Why plant-based nutrition supports repair and rejuvenation21:00 — Growth mode vs repair mode: the biology behind it23:00 — Autophagy explained: your body’s cellular vacuum cleaner25:00 — What is the fasting mimicking diet?29:00 — Why prolonged fasting (3+ days) activates deep repair31:00 — The mental shifts that happen during fasting33:00 — Behavior change, food psychology, and identity34:00 — Type 2 diabetes study: self-initiated behavior transformation37:00 — Why five days can change your long-term habits39:00 — Why water-only fasting feels harder41:00 — How often should you fast for longevity?44:00 — Gratitude journaling as a daily mental fitness tool46:00 — The power of daily movement for emotional regulation47:00 — Renewal at the cellular and personal level*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if mental clarity, emotional regulation, and better sleep weren’t about adding another practice—but undoing a hidden one?In this conversation, Patrick McKeown reveals how chronic over-breathing quietly drives anxiety, rumination, poor sleep, and brain fog. Drawing from decades of research and lived experience, he explains why breathing less (not more) can improve oxygen delivery, blood flow to the brain, and nervous system balance.This episode challenges modern breathwork myths and offers practical, science-backed ways to retrain your breathing for everyday life.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”01:20 — Living out of the head vs. living life03:10 — How stress, sleep, and breathing patterns intersect05:00 — Discovering breath as a path to presence07:40 — Why The Power of Now actually worked10:15 — Walking away from the corporate world12:30 — The origins of the Buteyko Method14:40 — Why breathing more air can reduce oxygen delivery17:10 — Nasal breathing and brain function19:50 — Rumination, CO₂, and cerebral blood flow22:30 — Why slow breathing isn’t always good breathing25:10 — Everyday breathing vs. breathwork sessions28:00 — Practical exercise: calming the nervous system32:10 — Clearing a blocked nose naturally36:40 — Breathing for performance and public speaking41:30 — How to retrain your breath throughout the day46:00 — Measuring progress: the BOLT score & breath mastery50:10 — Final reflections on calm, clarity, and control*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is it that the stories that change our lives rarely begin with certainty, but with curiosity and risk?Marc sits down with author, ghostwriter, and screenwriter Platte Clark to explore why storytelling isn’t just an art form—it’s a survival tool. From abandoning law school for philosophy, to writing bestselling fiction, to ghostwriting more than two dozen books for thought leaders, Platte shares what he’s learned about creativity, courage, and the quiet mental practices that make meaningful work possible.This episode dives into the tension between art and business, the myth that creativity must be strategic to matter, and why naivety may actually be the greatest creative advantage we have left—especially in the age of AI.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:10 — Discovering the identity of a humanist04:20 — Leaving law behind for philosophy and meaning07:30 — Falling in love with learning (and being a lifelong student)10:15 — Writing the first book without knowing the rules13:40 — Why quitting your job to write is usually a bad idea (and why he did it anyway)17:00 — The bird and the sword: a metaphor for creative balance20:45 — Why writing the book is the easy part24:30 — Ghostwriting, abundance, and unexpected opportunity28:10 — Advice to first-time authors: protect your naivety31:40 — AI, storytelling, and what machines can’t replace34:50 — Mental fitness, breathwork, and creative recovery38:30 — Music, movement, and engineering the creative environment41:20 — Who reads the first draft (and why honesty matters)43:10 — Why every human has a story worth telling45:00 — Final reflections on humanity, story, and meaning*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You Don't Need to Try Harder. You Need to Understand the Patterns Running Your Mind.In this solo episode, Marc breaks down a pattern he’s seen across 500+ conversations, boardrooms, and personal turning points: capable, intelligent people who know what to do, yet still feel overwhelmed, stuck, or out of alignment.This episode introduces a practical framework for designing a Mental Fitness Blueprint. A system that helps you understand your mental operating pattern, align your practices to what you’re actually building, and recover faster when life gets messy.Think of this as a blueprint for your next 90 days, not just what you’ll do, but how your mind will support you along the way.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — Why this solo episode needed to be said01:40 — The pattern Marc kept seeing across 500+ interviews03:10 — Why insight alone never creates change04:40 — The hidden cost of running life without a mental system06:30 — Why most mental fitness advice doesn’t work09:00 — The three things every mental fitness system must do10:50 — Mental operating patterns (and why none are “wrong”)13:40 — Designing your next 90 days from the inside out15:30 — Daily rituals that actually match how you work16:40 — The reset protocol: Pause, Reset, Re-enter18:10 — How this expands your operating range over time19:40 — Why self-knowledge is becoming the ultimate advantage21:00 — Building your own system vs. using the Blueprint23:00 — The real risk of doing nothing*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if grief isn’t something you heal from…but something that teaches you how to love differently?Marc sits down with medium and spiritual guide Michelle Murphy to explore grief not as a problem to solve, but as an experience that reshapes identity, presence, and love itself.Michelle shares what she’s learned from over 20 years of guiding people through loss—why grief lives in the body, why time doesn’t “fix” it, and how moments of joy after loss often arrive wrapped in guilt. Together, they unpack the difference between missing someone and missing their presence, the danger of spiritual bypassing, and how love continues even when form disappears.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:00 — Being a medium: why it’s not something you can turn off04:30 — Grief as an embodied experience (lungs, breath, nervous system)07:15 — Why grief isn’t linear—and never really ends10:30 — The isolation of grief and the healing power of being seen13:45 — The four-year cycle: anniversaries, acceptance, and new reality17:20 — “Grief is the price we pay for love”20:10 — Why joy after loss often brings guilt23:40 — Missing someone vs. missing their presence27:00 — Spiritual bypassing and toxic positivity in grief30:15 — What actually helps people who are grieving34:50 — Love as continuity, not absence38:30 — Final reflections on patience, presence, and living forward*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the thing you spend your life trying to avoid (uncertainty) is actually the skill that determines whether you thrive or collapse?Before the success, before the book, before the impact — there was a moment where certainty disappeared, and Scott Stirrett had to decide whether to retreat… or step forward anyway.Scott shares his journey from leaving a high-certainty career at Goldman Sachs to founding Venture for Canada, raising over $80M, and supporting nearly 15,000 young people across the country. The conversation goes deeper into Scott’s lived experience with uncertainty during his OCD diagnosis, the 4:00am walk that marked his lowest point, and how learning to stop seeking certainty transformed his relationship with fear, ambition, and identity.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:45 — Leaving certainty behind at Goldman Sachs06:30 — The emotional paradox of excitement and anxiety09:50 — Why uncertainty holds so many people back13:20 — OCD, anxiety, and fear of the unknown17:40 — The 4:00am walk and hitting rock bottom21:30 — Exposure therapy and learning to stop certainty-seeking26:10 — “The only way out is through”30:45 — Relationships as a resilience system35:20 — Strong ties vs. weak ties in an uncertain world38:50 — Designing recovery after intense life sprints42:10 — How Scott wants to feel in his next chapter*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if success isn’t personal at all — but mathematical?Kyle Austin Young reveals why so many intelligent, capable people fail to reach their goals — even when they do everything “right.” Drawing from his own experience of repeated layoffs, personal burnout, and rebuilding his life through consulting, Kyle introduces a powerful framework for rethinking success through probability rather than motivation.Kyle explains how overwhelm, survival mode, and mental clutter don’t just affect our wellbeing — they distort our ability to make good decisions. Together, Marc and Kyle explore how success diagrams, probability hacking, and intentional reflection can radically improve the odds of achieving meaningful goals — personally and professionally.This is a conversation about slowing down, reclaiming agency, and learning how to design success instead of hoping for it.Show Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”03:10 — From layoffs to consulting: redefining security07:05 — The treehouse moment: why we miss what’s right in front of us11:30 — Presence, overwhelm, and the cost of survival mode15:20 — What is a success diagram?18:45 — Why motivation lies and math tells the truth23:40 — The danger of averaging probabilities28:50 — Probability hacking: reducing risk creatively34:10 — Why most advice is actually harmful39:30 — Designing goals instead of chasing validation44:00 — Mental fitness, clarity, and decision-making47:30 — Non-negotiable practices for a clear mind50:00 — What makes life meaningful now*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How would your life change if you trusted that consciousness itself is guiding this next chapter of humanity?Marc sits down with Anna Severina to explore motherhood, consciousness, ancient civilizations, AI, fear, and the future of human awareness. Together, they examine how raising conscious children, reconnecting with the Earth, and developing inner stillness may be the real preparation for what’s coming next.Show Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”00:02 — Motherhood as a portal to identity and contribution00:05 — Why homeschooling became an intuitive choice00:09 — Teaching children discernment, not conformity00:12 — Raising “polite rebels” in a structured world00:15 — The documentary: consciousness, Earth, and ancient sites00:18 — Pyramids, sacred geometry, and lost technologies00:20 — AI, silica, and the evolution of intelligence00:24 — Cycles of collapse, rebirth, and forgotten history00:26 — Fear, health, and the splitting paths of society00:29 — Mental fitness as a bridge through uncertainty00:31 — Insights from Zach Bush00:35 — Encounters, synchronicity, and soul recognition00:36 — Conversations with Steven Greer00:39 — Death as transition, not ending00:42 — Children, DNA activation, and future leadership00:45 — Why this moment in history matters00:48 — Choosing curiosity over fear00:50 — Earthlings, community, and what’s coming next*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is it that in the face of the most powerful tool humanity has ever created, so many capable people feel overwhelmed instead of empowered?Marc sits down with serial entrepreneur and AI consultant Mike Schwarz to explore what’s really happening beneath the AI conversation.This isn’t a discussion about tools or trends — it’s about fear, acceleration, mental overload, and the growing divide between those who adapt and those who freeze. Mike shares what he’s seeing inside the top 1–5% of AI adopters, why most people are stuck using AI at the surface level, and why mental fitness may be the defining advantage of the next decade.Show Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”00:02 — Mike’s journey from dot-com entrepreneur to AI founder00:06 — Why most AI adoption is still surface-level00:09 — The growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else00:13 — Neurodivergence, hyper-focus, and rapid adaptation00:17 — Fear, stress, and overwhelm as the real blockers00:20 — AI as a change-management problem, not a tech one00:24 — Automation, professional services, and job displacement00:29 — The runaway train metaphor for AI acceleration00:33 — Leadership responsibility during massive uncertainty00:37 — Mental fitness as a survival skill00:39 — Using AI to free time, not erase meaning00:41 — Final reflections on adaptation and humanity*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the strategies that built your success begin to hollow you out?Judi Holler shares the story she never planned to tell: how building a seven-figure business, listening to too many “experts,” and chasing the next level led her into burnout, disconnection, and a spiritual reckoning.This conversation explores identity loss after success, the danger of outsourcing self-trust, the role of spirituality and human design in self-leadership, and how awareness (especially discomfort) can become your most powerful signal back to alignment.Judi's Soul Dives - https://stan.store/HOLLAVERSE/p/soul-dive-with-judiShow Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:30 — Why success can make identity more fragile, not stronger05:10 — The moment external advice drowned out inner knowing07:45 — “I was going bankrupt internally while everyone else got rich”10:30 — The dark spiral: money loss, confidence loss, self-loss13:00 — The difference between brain safety and soul truth15:20 — Practical self-leadership when you still have bills to pay18:40 — Scheduling spirituality instead of waiting for stillness22:10 — Finding peace inside chaos (even Times Square)25:30 — Human Design as a map back to alignment29:00 — Why bitterness is a warning signal, not a flaw32:15 — Projectors, decision-making, and riding emotional waves36:40 — Why most leadership cultures block creativity40:00 — Improv, failure, and psychological safety at work44:30 — Recreation as the fastest path to reinvention48:00 — Who Judi is becoming now50:00 — Final reflections on self-trust and expression*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How different would your life look today if you stopped preparing for “good enough” and started preparing for “extraordinary”?In this conversation, entrepreneur, investor, author, and extreme-preparation evangelist Randall Kaplan opens up about the surprisingly painful origins of his work ethic: childhood bullying, a debilitating stutter, and a long journey toward becoming a clear, confident communicator.Randall shares the exact mental frameworks he used to transform his life — from landing a book deal through a cold email, to becoming a TED speaker, to interviewing some of the world’s most accomplished leaders on his podcast.We explore extreme preparation, the habits that separate average performers from exceptional ones, and why “no” is often just the beginning of the road to “yes.”Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:00 — How photography and beaches shaped Randall’s creative identity04:30 — Building Sandee: cataloging 100,000+ beaches around the world06:15 — How a cold email landed Randall a book deal08:00 — Childhood bullying, stuttering, and the start of extreme preparation10:30 — The breakthrough moment at the McDonald’s drive-thru14:00 — How speech therapy reprogrammed his mind and confidence15:30 — The emotional weight and triumph of giving a TED Talk17:00 — Studying the top TED Talks and dissecting what works19:00 — Cutting a 70-minute keynote into 18 minutes21:15 — Why the painful story had to stay in the talk22:00 — The team behind the TED Talk: coaches, comedians, voice experts26:00 — The Roger Love experience and knowing when not to change28:00 — The balance between outside coaching and trusting your intuition30:00 — Extreme preparation in interviewing: The EPT “torpedo question”32:00 — Why most people aren’t prepared — and how to stand out instantly35:00 — Randall’s research process: thousands of pages, distilled37:00 — “If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late.”38:00 — When life derails your plans: broken schedules and mental resets40:00 — Gratitude walks and the 40,000-foot reset42:00 — Never send an email when angry — Randall’s practice46:00 — Why AI should assist your preparation, not replace it47:00 — The small details that cost people opportunities50:00 — A coaching story: preventing a $3M mistake52:00 — The doctor who went from zero net worth to $10M in a year54:00 — The difference between success and stagnation: making a plan56:00 — Closing wisdom: “Why you must do what no one else does”****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Humble the Poet (Kanwer Singh) opens up about the years nobody saw — the debt, the failed deals, the fear, the self-judgment — and how these became the foundation for his creative success and his powerful new book, Anxious. We explore his 90-day nervous system reset, what anxiety really is (and isn’t), how to stop outsourcing your safety, and why progress is simple but never easy. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or tangled in your own thoughts, this episode will feel like a blueprint for reclaiming your mind and building real inner capacity.This is mental fitness at its most practical, honest, and human.Timestamps:00:00 — Who are you?01:00 — Humble breaks down the mechanics of words, poetry, and meaning02:00 — Childhood creativity: the first book and early signs of a writer04:00 — Performing for the first time and peeling off the layers of insecurity06:00 — The four-year tunnel: debt, denial, and rebuilding from zero10:00 — Extreme frugality and the financial habits that changed everything14:00 — Fear, creativity, and learning to feed the wallet vs. the ego17:00 — Discovering business as a creative art form23:00 — Harmony vs. balance: reframing how creatives work25:00 — Curiosity as courage: shifting away from fear-based judgment27:00 — How anxiety blocks opportunity — and why the pendulum has swung too far30:00 — Why anxiety is a signal, not a disease32:00 — The 90-day nervous system reset: dopamine, abstinence, and awareness37:00 — Identifying real addictions: validation, reassurance, overthinking42:00 — Sitting with discomfort: the foundation of mental fitness45:00 — Redefining freedom and building inner capacity49:00 — The burn of real growth — and why Humble sticks with it51:00 — The simplest mental fitness practice: sit quietly for 10 minutes54:00 — Simple vs easy, slow progress, and compassionate self-talk****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What changes when you stop looking at someone for what they’ve done—and start asking who they are?Marc sits down with Diane Kahn, founder of Humans of San Quentin, who has interviewed more than 3,000 incarcerated individuals around the world. Diane shares how a single question—“How are you?”—can break open years of silence, shame, and survival.Together, they explore the unseen stories behind incarceration, why nearly everyone she meets inside was a victim first, how media narratives distort our understanding of “criminals,” and what it truly means to approach another human being with compassion. This episode challenges assumptions, expands empathy, and reveals the healing power of being seen.Timestamps:00:00 — “Who are you?”01:00 — From teacher to prison educator04:00 — The moment her perception of “prison” shattered05:45 — Who we’re really locking up07:00 — Why the media is feeding us the wrong story10:00 — The power of asking: “How are you?”15:00 — Building trust inside a hyper-surveilled environment17:00 — Planting seeds of change18:00 — Lives saved through storytelling20:00 — Teaching empathy to the next generation22:00 — The big lesson: We are all kinder than we think28:00 — Holding space for thousands: Diane’s mental fitness practices35:00 — The final message: vulnerability and second chances****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens to a society that forgets how to be surprised — and how do we rebuild our capacity to truly see one another?Andy Mills, award-winning journalist and master storyteller explores the search for meaning, the role of curiosity in modern journalism, and why culture — not legislation — may be the single most powerful force shaping our future.We talk about Andy’s early years in ministry, his transformative time reporting in South Sudan, and the worldview that emerged from witnessing both the best and hardest parts of humanity. Then we dive into his groundbreaking AI series The Last Invention (Apple | Spotify) and why he believes this moment represents a hinge point in human history.This episode blends philosophy, journalism, mental fitness, and cultural critique — ultimately reminding us that even in times of rapid technological change, the most important tools we have are still profoundly human.Timestamps:00:00 – Identity & Meaning02:00 – Leaving Religion & Finding Story05:00 – The Storyteller’s Role08:00 – Curiosity as a Superpower10:00 – Reporting Across Extremes14:00 – The Editing Ethics Test15:30 – South Sudan21:00 – Shrinking Global Concern24:00 – Culture as the Lever29:00 – Birth of The Last Invention33:00 – AI Debate: Three Camps40:00 – What Media Misses48:00 – Beyond Chatbots52:00 – Tech, Loneliness & History56:00 – Mental Fitness & Pressure59:00 – Crying, Laughter & Processing1:02:00 – Passing the Torch****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do when the world starts changing faster than your ability to make sense of it?Do you hold tighter to what you know… or do you learn how to evolve, let go, and redefine who you are?In this episode, I sit down with legendary investor and True Ventures partner Tony Conrad, a man who has helped shape some of the most influential companies of the past two decades — and who is now in the most reflective stage of his life and career.We talk about the quiet side of leadership, the inner work required to stay relevant, why the AI revolution is forcing everyone to rethink their value, and how a surreal moment in a deportation jail in India woke him up to the fragility of everything we take for granted.Timestamps:00:00 — Who is Tony Conrad? Identity beyond job titles02:00 — Building True Ventures & the early days nobody saw05:00 — The J-curve years: failure, doubt, and patience08:00 — AI: the biggest shift of Tony’s lifetime10:00 — How True Ventures stays mentally fit as a team12:00 — Culture > ego: why they avoid the Midas List14:00 — Travel, awareness & seeing the world clearly again17:00 — The India deportation jail story20:00 — Japan, America & the truth about cultural contrast22:00 — Why Tony stayed in San Francisco through every cycle25:00 — Reinventing his role: from “points on the board” to empowering others27:00 — Being public vs staying private: how the VC world has changed30:00 — The ancient teachers question & who Tony would speak to33:00 — Shackleton, survival & the greatest leadership example he knows****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if one small, curious decision could ripple across generations and change the world?In this heartfelt episode, Marc sits down with Lindsay Mattick, creative director, entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling Finding Winnie — the true story that inspired Winnie the Pooh. Lindsay shares how her great-grandfather’s compassionate act of buying a bear cub for $20 during WWI led to one of the most beloved characters in literary history.Their conversation unfolds into a masterclass in creativity, storytelling, and the art of slowing down. From starting her own agency to balancing motherhood and meaning, Lindsay explores how we can all find connection, courage, and calm in a world obsessed with speed — and why she still walks every morning at sunrise to clear her mind and reconnect with her creative flow.Timestamps:[00:00] – Who is Lindsay Mattick? Mother, entrepreneur, and creative storyteller.[02:00] – The leap into entrepreneurship and learning to take risks.[06:00] – The incredible true story of her great-grandfather and the real Winnie.[11:00] – Turning family history into Finding Winnie, and the journey to publishing.[16:00] – The serendipity of finding the perfect illustrator.[20:00] – Feeling connected to her great-grandfather through storytelling.[23:00] – How storytelling shaped her creative agency, Pomp & Circumstance.[28:00] – Lessons from brand storytelling: emotion, depth, and meaning.[31:00] – Thoughts on AI, creativity, and the importance of humanity.[38:00] – The art of curiosity: raising kids and thinking deeply in an AI world.[39:00] – Morning walks and the rituals that spark creative clarity.[44:00] – “What would Winnie do?” — Finding wisdom in simplicity and calm.****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠 x 💪 x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.