A Swift Kick In the Ass

Hannah Dalby — Founder and Lead Human Integration Practitioner at The Jungle — on why high performers get trapped in the cycle of collapse, recover, push again, and how nervous system patterns, emotional suppression, childhood experiences, and unresolved trauma feed burnout. In this conversation with John Curren, she explains Human Integration, nervous system regulation, somatic processing, emotional safety, co-regulation, and self-trust — and how becoming more connected with your body can break old patterns. Listen and subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346 Be a guest: [email protected]

Kevin Yoder — founder of Infinite U — on identity-based transformation: the idea that the biggest obstacle to growth isn't a lack of knowledge, effort, or motivation, but the identity you've built over time. Kevin explains how childhood experiences, long-term programming, beliefs, and self-image shape adult behavior and performance — including why people hit invisible ceilings and self-sabotage — and why true growth requires becoming a different version of yourself, not simply doing more of the same. In this conversation with John Curren, they talk about becoming the observer of your thoughts, being present instead of living in the past or worrying about the future, and how journaling, reflection, and meditation create space for better choices. Learn more: https://www.infiniteu.com Self-Image Course: https://yournextimage.com Listen and subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346 Be a guest: [email protected]

Tommy Dorfman — founder of Juice Entertainment — on his journey from New Jersey house parties as a teenager to major EDM events, and his long-running battle involving Live Nation and Ticketmaster after a major EDM festival at the Meadowlands. In this raw conversation with John Curren, Tommy talks about the challenges facing independent concert promoters, rising ticket prices and dynamic ticket pricing, and his vision for a fan-first organization focused on affordable ticket prices, transparency, and independent promoters and artists. His story is ultimately about resilience, keeping your word, learning from failure, and continuing to fight when the odds seem impossible. Listen and subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346 Be a guest: [email protected]

Dave Rossi — Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author of Alphas Die Early — on what happens when the success you worked your entire life to achieve starts costing you your health, relationships, identity, and happiness. Dave shares his journey from building successful companies and living the traditional "Alpha" version of success to losing almost everything — at one point down to $16 at age 46 — and rebuilding his life from the ground up. He explains the difference between performative masculinity and authentic strength, and introduces the Omega Man mindset: self-awareness, accountability, emotional mastery, courage, vulnerability, authenticity, and conscious decision-making. In this conversation with John Curren, they talk burnout and ego, meditation as a leadership skill, men's mental health, surviving vs. thriving, "funeral wisdom," and rebuilding identity after loss. Dave Rossi's books: https://daverossi.onlinepresskit247.com/ Listen and subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346 Be a guest: [email protected]

Jonathon Klem joins host John Curren on A Swift Kick in the Ass to break down the real challenges gym owners, martial arts instructors, and studio operators face when running membership‑based businesses. From billing headaches and CRM chaos to waivers, automations, and member retention, Jon explains how better technology can eliminate admin overload and help owners focus on teaching, coaching, and building community. John and Jon also dive into martial arts as a vehicle for resilience, discipline, family connection, and personal reinvention. If you run a gym, dojo, or studio — or you're passionate about personal growth — this episode delivers practical insights and mindset shifts to help you grow with less friction. Learn more at managememberships.com.

00:00 – Opening & Introductions John welcomes Jonathon Klem and sets the stage for a conversation about gym tech, martial arts, and resilience.

01:42 – Why Gym Owners Struggle with Admin Work Jon explains the hidden operational challenges behind gyms, dojos, and studios.

05:10 – The Problem with Billing, Waivers & CRM Chaos How fragmented systems create friction and hurt member experience.

09:33 – What ManageMemberships.com Actually Solves Jon breaks down recurring payments, waivers, CRM, automations, and access control.

14:20 – Automation as a Retention Engine Why automated reminders and follow‑ups reduce churn and increase engagement.

18:55 – The Fear of Switching Systems Vendor lock‑in, payment processing anxiety, and migration myths.

23:40 – Data as a Business Superpower John highlights how reviewing data exposes inefficiencies and lost opportunities.

28:12 – Martial Arts as Personal Transformation Stories about discipline, confidence, and training with family.

33:45 – Building Resilience in Business & Life How technology and martial arts both help navigate constant change.

38:50 – Family, Purpose & Reinvention Jon and John connect martial arts to fatherhood, health, and identity.

43:17 – Practical Advice for Gym & Studio Owners Simple steps to reduce admin friction and improve member experience.

47:05 – How to Get Started with ManageMemberships Jon shares contact info and the easiest way for owners to explore the platform.

49:30 – Closing Thoughts & Episode Wrap‑Up John previews upcoming ASKITA content and distribution across YouTube, Libsyn, and socia

John W. Curren and movement expert Eileen Kopsaftis challenge the belief that pain and decline are inevitable parts of aging. They explore why pain often comes from somewhere other than the place that hurts, how the body compensates in hidden ways, and how strength, mobility, and nutrition protect long‑term independence. A practical, empowering conversation for anyone who wants to stay strong and functional as they age.

Your retirement plan was probably built on 10% annual returns. Vanguard now projects roughly 3.5–5.5% for the decade ahead. John Curren talks with financial planner John Grace, president of Investor's Advantage in Thousand Oaks, about what quietly breaks when the old math stops working — and the defensive, loss-limiting playbook that replaces "set it and forget it."

You'll hear: • Why Grace plans around acceptable losses first — and how moving to cash kept his clients' 2008 losses under 20% while the market fell about 40% • The silent squeeze of withdrawals, RMDs, taxes, inflation, and longer lifespans on a plan built for 10% • Why Yale's endowment holds only about 3% in US stocks, and what real diversification means inside a 401(k)

Connect with John Grace: https://whybepoor.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aswiftkickintheassshow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346

A Swift Kick in the Ass is a personal growth podcast built on one idea: the beliefs you inherited are keeping you stuck — and it's time to disrupt them. Host John Curren has raw, honest conversations with people who rebuilt after setbacks and built lives on their own terms. No guru talk. No toxic positivity. Subscribe — and get your ass moving.

What if your teenager could go to college — and you didn't have to go broke doing it?

College planning expert and founder of College Ready, Shellee Howard, joins John on the ASKITA Podcast to break down exactly how families can take control of the college planning process before it's too late.

Named Global Educational Consultant of the Year by the FLUXX Awards, Shellee has helped thousands of students earn millions in scholarships, gain acceptance to top universities, and graduate with significantly less debt than they thought possible. She's been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, U.S. News & World Report, and MarketWatch.

In this conversation, John and Shellee dig into:

• Why starting your college plan early changes literally everything

• How to navigate FAFSA, the Student Aid Index, and financial aid award letters

• Where to find scholarships — and how to actually win them

• Choosing a major that aligns with your teen's strengths AND long-term career goals

• The long-term strategy most families completely overlook

• How to avoid the most common (and most costly) college planning mistakes

Whether your teen is in 7th grade or staring down senior year, this episode will challenge you to think bigger — and plan smarter.

Connect with Shellee: CollegeReady.com | Podcast: Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?

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John W. Curren talks with identity and relationship strategist Riana Malia about why high-achieving people often struggle in love despite success in other areas of life. Riana explains how unconscious patterns, emotional wiring, and old identity stories shape recurring relational outcomes — and how her Clear to Create framework helps people clear old narratives, dissolve destructive cycles, and claim a new identity aligned with extraordinary love.

They discuss the danger of focusing on what's not wanted, the power of meditation and intentional thought replacement, and how values, non-negotiables, and desires guide better choices. Riana shares her 72-hour mindset rewiring exercise, the Extraordinary Love Index (ELI) diagnostic, and her Clarity Codex process. John reflects on personal experiences with past relationship struggles, meditation breakthroughs, and meeting his future spouse after releasing old beliefs.

Riana shares her Clear to Create methodology — a process for clearing old stories, dissolving destructive cycles, and claiming a new identity that supports extraordinary love, confidence, and aligned relationships.

Together, John and Riana explore:

• Why high performers repeat the same relationship patterns

• How the unconscious mind clings to old stories, fears, and expectations

• The danger of focusing on what you don't want

• Meditation, awareness, and intentional thought replacement

• Values, non-negotiables, and desires as decision-making tools

• How identity shapes romantic, personal, and professional outcomes

• The "Clear to Create" framework for building a new relational identity

Riana also shares her 72-hour mindset rewiring exercise, including the "Away vs. Toward" lists and the rubber-band pattern interrupt that helps break negative loops in real time.

John opens up about past relationship struggles, meditation breakthroughs, and how letting go of old beliefs made space for meeting his future spouse.

If you're a high achiever who feels stuck in love, or you're ready to rewrite your relational identity, this episode will hit home.

00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Why high achievers struggle in love 05:40 – Identity, unconscious patterns & emotional wiring 11:10 – The danger of focusing on what you don't want 16:55 – Meditation & interrupting negative loops 22:30 – Riana's "Clear to Create" framework 29:45 – Values, non-negotiables & desires 36:20 – The 72-hour mindset exercise 42:10 – John's personal story on letting go 48:55 – Extraordinary Love Index (ELI) 52:40 – Clarity Codex & North Star 56:10 – Closing thoughts & future collaboration