At an age when many people start slowing down, Rich Ruohonen made it to the Olympics.

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with Rich Ruohonen - Olympic curler, accomplished trial lawyer, and one of the oldest U.S. Winter Olympians - to talk about perseverance, discipline, pressure, and what it really takes to keep chasing a dream.

Rich shares what it was like to compete on the Olympic stage, how he balanced elite curling with a demanding legal career, and why the lessons from sports and business often overlap: preparation, practice, confidence, listening, adaptability, and learning from mistakes.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that getting 1% better has no age limit. Whether you are leading a team, building a career, navigating change, or pursuing a long-term goal, Rich’s story shows what can happen when you keep showing up.

#1PercentBetter #OlympicMindset #HighPerformance

Health is where getting 1% better starts.

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with Justin Juntunen, founder of Cedar & Stone Sauna, to explore the ancient practice of sauna and why it continues to matter in modern life.

Justin shares the cultural roots of traditional Finnish sauna, the difference between sauna and infrared, and why heat, recovery, ritual, and consistency can support both physical and mental wellbeing.

The conversation also goes beyond health benefits and into what makes sauna so meaningful: slowing down, disconnecting from screens, creating space for real conversation, and reconnecting with family, community, and tradition.

This episode is a reminder that improvement is not always about pushing harder. Sometimes, getting 1% better starts with recovery, rhythm, and restoring the foundation.

If we’re trying to get 1% better every day, one question matters most: better toward what?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with Mitch Larson, author of The Power of Purpose, to explore how purpose gives direction to personal and professional growth.

Mitch shares the life experiences, books, mentors, and observations that shaped his own journey — and explains why purpose is often found by paying attention to what energizes us, what we’re naturally drawn to, and where we feel called to contribute.

The conversation also explores the role of habits, attitude, association, fear, belief, and self-talk in helping — or preventing — us from living with greater intention.

The key takeaway: purpose doesn’t always arrive as one big epiphany. Often, it’s discovered one step at a time.

Why aren’t more people getting better, despite more access to health information than ever?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen speaks with Sue McKinley, a certified homeopath who specializes in helping individuals navigate complex and chronic health challenges.

Sue introduces the concept of “load” - the cumulative impact of stress, toxins, environment, and life experiences - and how it overwhelms the body’s natural ability to heal.

She explains why the nervous system plays a central role in recovery, why root cause matters more than symptom management, and how small, sustainable changes can create meaningful progress over time.

The key takeaway: healing isn’t about doing everything - it’s about reducing load, increasing capacity, and supporting the body to do what it’s designed to do.

In the wake of the 2026 Winter Olympics, what can we learn from elite performers beyond the medals?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen speaks with Patrick “Packy” Mader, a retired teacher, author, and interviewer of Olympians and athletes.

Packy shares the patterns he’s seen across high performers, including perseverance, humility, discipline, and a strong commitment to giving back. He also reflects on how early life experiences and a love of the game shape long-term success.

You don’t have to compete at the highest level to live at one.

That’s the core idea behind this conversation and a reminder that these principles apply to leadership, work, and everyday life.

#OlympicAthletes #PeakPerformance

What does it mean to treat AI as a team member?

In this Fast 15 episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen speaks with Trissential’s Robert Wallace about a new mindset for working with artificial intelligence.

Rather than viewing AI as a simple question-and-answer tool, Robert explains how organizations can integrate AI into teams by giving it specific roles, personas, and context. From acting as a coach during interviews to challenging assumptions in meetings, AI can help teams think differently and improve decision-making.

The conversation also explores how AI learns through feedback, why organizations should “trust but verify” AI outputs, and how leaders can help teams adopt AI more effectively.

#AI #FutureOfWork #Teamwork

What does it truly take to compete at the Olympic Games?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with John Benton, 2010 U.S. Olympic curler, to explore the mindset, preparation, and resilience required to perform on the world stage.

John shares what the Olympic experience is really like - from the adrenaline and media spotlight to the grind of preparation and the importance of team chemistry. He explains why consistency matters more than one great performance and how athletes manage pressure when the entire world is watching.

This conversation offers powerful lessons for leaders, teams, and anyone striving to improve 1% every day.

#PeakPerformance #OlympicMindset #Leadership #USAOlympics #OlympicCurling #Olympics

What do Hollywood thrillers, the FBI, and leadership development have in common?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, host Craig Thielen sits down with Zad Vecsey, CEO of ALEAS Simulations and a longtime collaborator of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the creator of Flow. Together, they explore how flow state psychology shows up in real-world leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the future of learning.

Zad shares how flow theory moved from academic research into business, immersive simulations, and even Hollywood-style interactive films — revealing what leaders actually do when the stakes are high. The conversation spans leadership development, experiential learning, decision-making under stress, and why performance can’t be forced — only enabled.

This episode is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, and organizations thinking differently about how people learn, grow, and perform in an increasingly complex world.

#LeadershipDevelopment #FlowState #FutureOfWork

In this episode, Craig Thielen flips roles as guest while Paul Batz (Author, CEO and Founder of Good Leadership) hosts a deep dive into three years of inspiring conversations.

Discover the top themes that emerged - purpose, mindset, and community, and hear powerful stories of perseverance, growth, and authentic leadership.

Craig shares lessons learned from over 50 episodes and previews what’s next for Season 4, including new formats and platforms.
🎧 Tune in for insights on leadership, personal growth, and why being 1% better every day matters.

Keywords: leadership podcast, growth mindset, personal development, purpose-driven, community building, perseverance, authentic leadership, season recap, 1% Better Podcast

How do you truly engage people - whether it’s students, teams, or entire organizations? In this Fast 15 episode of 1% Better, Craig Thielen talks with Chad Harlander, Director of the REACH Program, about the power of authentic relationships and culture.

Chad shares:

• Why you have just 26 seconds to make a lasting impression
• How vulnerability and presence build trust
• Why creating a safe, supportive culture drives engagement at scale
• Practical tips for applying these lessons in business and education

🎧 Listen now and learn how genuine connection can transform engagement.

#Leadership #Engagement #CultureMatters #1PercentBetter #REACHProgram #football #Authenticity