Chasing Excellence

What if everything modern culture tells us about fulfillment is wrong? In this compilation episode, we explore the two foundational lies that drive much of our dissatisfaction and drift: the belief that chasing fame, wealth, and power will make us happy, and the belief that if we're comfortable, we're somehow doing it wrong. Discover how these lies shape the decisions we make, the ladders we climb, and the regrets we carry into our final days.We unpack the four idols that distract us from what actually matters, why deliberately choosing discomfort builds the capacity for everything else, and what the dying wish they had known sooner. Learn how to recognize when you're being pulled toward the wrong things, how to build a life around what truly fulfills you, and why thinking about death isn't morbid - it's the tool that helps you live fully right now.👉 Get the full Listener's Guide here🤓 Read The Two Lies Everyone Believes❤️ 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.

Daniel Coyle, author of Flourish who studies how communities create shared growth. He explores why aliveness comes from belonging, the two attention systems that shift us from doing to connecting, and simple awakening cues and rituals that nudge presence. He also explains “yellow doors” — saying yes to small risks that build deeper relationships and how leaders can tend groups like gardeners.

Mark England, co-founder of Enlifted who trains coaches in breath and storytelling, and Chris Irwin, naval special-ops veteran turned mental fitness coach, explore the surplus value mindset. They discuss capacity to respond, breath as a baseline leadership skill, entrainment and calm influence, practical moves like slow speech and listening, and how to assess if you add more than you take.

Brandon Powell, Level 3 Wim Hof Method instructor, BJJ black belt, and founder of On Fire, P.H., teaches breathwork, cold exposure, and mindset training to athletes and military. He breaks down the three-pillar system and closed-loop stress training. Topics include breath mechanics, daily cold routines, dopamine and hormonal benefits, performance breathing, and practical starter steps you can try with a cold shower and simple breaths.

Scott Hogan, author and movement/rehab practitioner who helps rebuild joints and connective tissue. He discusses the five root causes of feeling physically broken. He explains why load training heals connective tissue. He stresses refusing to accept pain as normal and making preventive checkups and practical posture and movement habits routine.

They unpack seven training habits that separate sustainable progress from burnout. You hear why thorough warmups and mobility matter and how to use them as practice. The conversation covers lifting with intention, training weaknesses, and why low-amplitude plyometrics restore springiness. Learn why pacing, training at 60% effort, and planned rest are the real secrets to long-term gains.

EC Synkowski, a nutrition expert and founder of Optimize Me Nutrition, joins the discussion to dissect the USDA dietary guidelines and FDA label changes. She reveals how the confusion in nutrition advice is contributing to America's health crisis, emphasizing that whole foods and simplicity are key. Synkowski critiques the new guidelines for lack of impact and clarity and argues that true change requires addressing our food environment rather than relying solely on labels. Her insights aim to empower listeners to make informed dietary choices amidst the overwhelming noise.

In this engaging dialogue, Zack Kass, a 16-year AI veteran and the former head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI, shares his insights on navigating an AI-driven world. He stresses that the biggest threat of AI may be emotional rather than economic, urging listeners to anchor their identities to mission rather than methods. Kass explores the importance of adaptability, the value of learning how to learn, and highlights the need for deeply humanistic qualities in a rapidly changing landscape. He also outlines four principles for thriving amidst uncertainty.

Join Brian Johnson, founder of Heroic and author of Arete, as he shares how life’s challenges can become your greatest allies. He discusses the power of anti-fragile confidence—growth through adversity—and emphasizes that protocols matter more than motivation in achieving excellence. Johnson introduces the notion of closing the gap between your potential and reality, outlines key life fundamentals, and stresses the importance of forging emotional resilience. Discover practical tools to embrace hardship and transform setbacks into opportunities for growth.

Robert Glazer, an expert on values and leadership, teams up with Mark England, co-founder of the Enlifted Method, to explore how to stop drifting through life. They dive into creating a personal vision and anti-vision, leveraging past experiences to define what you refuse to become. Glazer shares the importance of core values as decision-making filters, while England introduces Kindlin’s Law, emphasizing the power of writing clear questions to transform vague worries into actionable insights. Tune in for a roadmap to intentional living!