Claim OwnershipChasing Excellence
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© Ben Bergeron & Patrick Cummings
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Looking to build more than just physical fitness? Join Ben Bergeron and Patrick Cummings as they explore how daily practices create the foundation for lasting peace of mind. Through practical frameworks and honest conversations, discover how deep health unlocks the freedom to chase what truly matters. Learn the five essential factors - training, eating, thinking, sleeping, and connecting - that transform fleeting moments of clarity into a life of sustained fulfillment. If you're ready to move beyond quick fixes and build peace of mind, this is your guide.
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What if the challenges that knock you down could actually make you stronger? In this episode, we sit down with Brian Johnson, founder of Heroic and author of Arete, to explore the concept of anti-fragile confidence—the ability to use life's hardest moments as fuel for your growth. You'll discover why your protocol matters more than your motivation, and how to forge the kind of confidence that gets stronger under pressure.We dive into the ultimate game of life—living with arete, or virtue—and how closing the gap between who you could be and who you're actually being creates deep fulfillment. Learn why rule number one of a heroic life is that it's supposed to be hard, and how dominating the fundamentals (eating, moving, sleeping) drives both your physiology and psychology. This is about building anti-fragile confidence: knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you have what it takes to respond with excellence.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Most people drift through life reacting to whatever comes their way. But what if you could stop drifting and start directing — building a life that moves toward something meaningful instead of just away from discomfort?In this episode, we walk you through the three-part system that makes that possible: your vision (where you're headed), your anti-vision (what you refuse to become), and your core values (how you make decisions in between). You'll learn how these three elements work together as an integrated framework for clarity, intention, and direction.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here📝 Read Excellence is a Direction You Face, Not a Destination You Reach❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The three factors that get deprioritized most often - mindset, sleep, and connection - are the ones that quietly determine everything else.In Part 2 of our Year in Review, we tackle why winning your morning actually starts the night before, how to build emotional resilience by returning to center faster, and why deepening friendships as an adult requires the same intentionality you'd give to training.We explore what it means to make health your organizing principle in a culture where the default path leads to dysfunction, and why 70-80% of people now live with at least one chronic disease.You'll learn the daily practices that keep us grounded - from check-in questions to Sunday brain dumps - and why connection through service strengthens relationships more than grand gestures ever could. Being healthy today isn't about optimization - it's about swimming against the current just enough to not drift downstream.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After 20+ years of focusing on health, you might think we'd have it all figured out. But the truth is, the best gains still come from small, strategic tweaks - not dramatic overhauls.In Part 1 of our annual Five Factors Year in Review, we explore why structured intensity beats "just go hard" training, how mobility might be the unlocking factor you're ignoring, and why the simple nutrition habit of 30 grams of protein before 9am can transform your consistency.You'll discover why the Five Factors aren't independent pillars but ingredients in a stew - when you adjust one, you have to rebalance everything else. We break down the essential 20% across all five factors that deliver 80% of the results, and why going deeper into any single area actually works against you. This is about continuous refinement, not arriving at perfection.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!📣 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSSurfshark - VPN for online privacy and securityCrowdHealth - Community-funded healthcare alternativeFunction Health - Comprehensive lab testingMomentous - Science-backed performance supplementsBetterHelp - Online therapy and mental health supportSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the pressure you feel before a big moment isn't a lack of confidence - it's proof you're alive and engaged?Most of us wait to feel confident before we act, but elite performers know the truth: confidence isn't a feeling, it's a choice you make through your actions.In this conversation with Laura Ianello, head women's golf coach at the University of Texas, we explore the practical mental skills that separate those who perform under pressure from those who collapse.You'll learn a simple four-step protocol to recenter yourself when the stakes are high, why losing can be exciting, and how to build routines that carry you through moments when motivation fails.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!📣 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSMonarch - Personal finance platformLMNT - Electrolyte drink mixSKIMS - Comfortable men’s underwearAura Frames - Smart digital framesFunction Health - Comprehensive lab testingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
As we close out 2025, here's the question that matters most: do you have both the map and the crew for the year ahead?In this benchmark episode, we revisit two of our most foundational conversations from early 2025—the complete framework from daily habits to peace of mind, and why the people around you determine 95% of your success or failure.You'll learn how health gives you freedom, why context-independent peace of mind is the only destination worth chasing, and why surrounding yourself with the right people isn't optional — it's the difference between theory and transformation.This is both the map and the crew you need for a great 2026.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!📣 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSShopify - Build your online businessOur Place - Toxin-free cookwareOneSkin - Science-backed skincareAura Frames - Digital photo framesFunction Health - Comprehensive lab testingMizzen+Main - Stylish, comfortable menswearSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If you've ever felt like raising kids and staying healthy are competing priorities, this episode will change how you think about both.We're bringing together six of our most powerful conversations on parenting — from applying the Five Factors to family life, to helping kids navigate adversity, to designing environments where healthy choices happen naturally.Last week, we published an essay called Your Ceiling Becomes Their Starting Point— a complete guide to building healthy family habits.This compilation episode is the raw material behind that essay: years of conversations about how to raise resilient kids while maintaining your own health.We explore the frameworks, tactics, and daily practices that transform abstract principles into real family culture.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if every triumph and disaster you face is just a temporary imposter - neither defining you nor derailing you?In this episode, we explore Rudyard Kipling's timeless poem "If" and uncover how emotional intelligence, resilience, and warrior-like composure can help you navigate life's highest highs and lowest lows with grace.We dive into the mindset that lets you stay centered when others panic, rebuild humbly when things crumble, and risk freely without being attached to outcomes - so you can live with intentionality and purpose no matter what comes your way.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jamison Price returns to discuss his new guide on self-mastery, "On Dragons, Lions, & Wolves."He shares three metaphors that define the path from inner transformation to outer impact: facing your dragons (the shame, addiction, and fear within), chasing your lions (the external threats that demand courage), and taming your wolves (integrating strength and wisdom to belong).This conversation explores why self-actualization isn't the end goal—it's shared-actualization, becoming someone dangerous to darkness and dependable in the light.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the problem isn't your problems — it's how you're categorizing them?In this episode, we share a five-category framework for complaints (from drizzle to hurricane) that will change how you respond to life's challenges. Learn how to calibrate your emotional responses, stop suffering from small stuff, and build the resilience you need when real storms hit.The wisdom is in the calibration. Most things don't matter at all, and the things that do matter matter a ton. Learn the difference.👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Discover how to unlock your capacity to learn anything and break free from limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.You'll learn why combining a growth mindset with the right approach to stress creates the foundation for lasting change in every area of your life. Trevor Ragan from The Learner Lab shares the neuroscience of neuroplasticity, the three building blocks for developing a growth mindset, and the Pygmalion Effect, which shows how our beliefs about others can become reality. Learn the powerful equation for reframing discomfort, why the learner identity beats the knower identity, and how exposure to challenges is a trainable skill that transfers across all domains. 👉🏼 Get the full Listener's Guide here❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Discover how clarity in questioning can unlock better outcomes and transform your mindset. In this episode, we explore Kidlin's Law with Mark England: any question sufficiently worded and written down is half answered. You'll learn practical techniques to draft, craft, and supercharge your questions, leading to greater clarity and actionable insights in your personal and professional life. 👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here ❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club 👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Over the past year, Chris Irwin — retired Navy SEAL and creator of RareSense — has walked us through his complete framework for training your mind like you train your body. In this supercut, we're bringing all four conversations together to cover the five MindKillers (oblivion, storytelling, suppression, fear, and stagnation) and their countermeasures — the specific tools you can use to stop sabotaging your mental fitness. 👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here ❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club 👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Alongside Robert Glazer, we explore the importance of identifying and living by your core values to create a fulfilling life and make better decisions. You'll gain practical insights and exercises to help you articulate your values and align them with your personal and professional choices.👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here ❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club 👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With Dr Rich Joseph, we delve into the concept of performance medicine and how it promotes resilience and proactive healthcare before issues arise. You'll learn practical strategies to monitor your health, identify early signs of dysfunction, and implement lifestyle changes for improved well-being and longevity. 👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here ❤️🔥 Free Newsletter & the Chase Club 👋 New to Chasing Excellence? Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here Alongside Jamison Price & Spencer Nix, we delve into the importance of self-awareness and systems thinking in health and fitness coaching, exploring how identifying personal bottlenecks can lead to meaningful transformation. Learn practical strategies for engaging with your own health journey, including how to recognize your crux and take the minimal effective steps toward change.
[[]---[]] Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:· Subscribing to our newsletter to get our free posts and upgrading to our Chase Club to receive exclusive content.· Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.· Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here With Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, we delve into the theme of individualism versus collectivism and examine how our connections within groups influence our lives, happiness, and overall well-being. You'll gain practical insights on how to enhance group dynamics, promote psychological safety, and harness the power of community to achieve your personal and collective objectives.
[[]---[]] Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:· Subscribing to our newsletter to get our free posts and upgrading to our Chase Club to receive exclusive content.· Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.· Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here We explore the idea that embracing your uniqueness and prioritizing health over societal norms can lead to a more fulfilling life. You'll gain practical insights on how to resist the default path and make conscious choices that elevate your well-being, even if they feel weird to others.
[[]---[]] Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:· Subscribing to our newsletter to get our free posts and upgrading to our Chase Club to receive exclusive content.· Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.· Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here We explore the paradox of navigating health information amidst the noise of social media, with a particular focus on TikTok and its impact on our understanding of wellness. You'll walk away with practical strategies to harness social media for your benefit, including how to set boundaries, prioritize the basics, and cultivate a disciplined approach to your health journey.
[[]---[]] Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:· Subscribing to our newsletter to get our free posts and upgrading to our Chase Club to receive exclusive content.· Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.· Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here In this episode, EC Synkowski joins us to explore the lessons learned from both Michael Easter’s "The Comfort Crisis" and Netflix's documentary "The Biggest Loser." We examine the impact of modern comforts on our lives, the challenges of sustainable weight loss, and the importance of understanding your relationship with discomfort.
[[]---[]] Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:· Subscribing to our newsletter to get our free posts and upgrading to our Chase Club to receive exclusive content.· Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.· Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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I wish there was a plan available for such routines 😅
the "processed crap" statement is very broad and could potentially be harmful. it does not give any context or useful information, it can be anything. there is nothing wrong with pasta, bread, cereals etc. and there are plenty good nutrients in there. please consider your words better.
Have just re-listened to the 5 Ps of decision making. I am a small business owner, and work as a solo practitioner as a rural horse vet. I am trying to decide whether or not to stop offering after-hours services due to the negative impact and pressure it puts on all of my principles (health, connection, business success, growth, and explore). The ONLY principle that offering after hours services may feed is the “business success” principle, however when I have a late night call out I end up working 18-20 hours a day with emergencies and then that is impacting my next few days of regular business, as well as my health! So I can’t see any way to validate why I put myself through it, except for a fear of losing business or clients. Help??
cheet meals kann man auuch mal einen burger oder pommes nehmen?
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I dont know why I'm always surprised to see that people have the same life questions, fears and wants as I do. Thanks for recognizing those and exploring them on your podcast. It really helps me stay focused and refocus on my own goals. Another successful episode.
audio dropped out at 17 min?????
you don't care about your profits or your bank account because you have enough already
Can you elaborate on the central nervous system? When I listen to podcasts or vlogs, that term is thrown out and I would like details...
This is (so far) my favourite episode.