Built Not Born

Ken Rusk is the best selling author of Wall Street Journal Best Seller "Blue Collar Cash". Ken Rusk is a blue-collar construction entrepreneur who has launched multiple successful endeavors for over thirty years. He now is teaching others to do the same.

Ken got his start digging ditches for a basement repair company in Ohio.

Rusk has extensive experience in hiring, training, and developing first-time job seekers, particularly those without college degrees.

He lives in Toledo, Ohio, where he runs Rusk Industries, Inc., which specializes in various forms of construction.

Ken is a blue-collar advocate showing that there’s no degree required for comfort, peace, and freedom.

Connect with Ken Rusk:

• Website: Ken Rusk
• IG: Ken Rusk Official
• Book: Blue Collar Cash (WSJ Best Seller)
• Course: BUILD THE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode112



Nadine Kelly, MD. grew up on the South Side of Chicago as the eldest daughter to Haitian immigrants.

Dr Kelly spent 7 years as a practicing pathologist before being diagnosed with major clinical depression.   She then reinvented herself, her career, and her mission.

Dr Kelly started taking yoga, got her Yoga teacher certification and became an ACE Certified Health Coach. 

In 2018 she took up podcasting and became the host of the YOGI MD podcast.  

Nadine had finally found her calling by empowering women through yoga, to maintain healthy minds and bodies so that they may live life on their own terms.   

Dr Kelly's work also includes teaching yoga to special populations with physical and mental abilities, including dementia.

Dr Kelly and I discuss why she believes that good health cannot be constrained by the simplistic formula of diet and exercise alone and why she helps her patients and podcast listeners to expand their definition of health to include not just physical, but mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual well-being. 

Dr Kelly and I also discus why we first have to first become the best version of ourselves, so we can be the best possible person for the people who rely on us most. 

We also discuss the power of podcasting, and how starting the YOGI MD podcast helped her let go of a lifelong struggle of perfection and become brave enough to share creative work with her community.

Connect with Nadine Kelly, MD:

• Website: NPK Health Integration
• IG: NPK Health Integration
• LinkedIn: Nadine Kelly, MD
• Favorite Book: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey)

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode111

Javier Vazquez is a 5th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, former professional MMA fighter and veteran of the UFC, WEC, ELITE XC, SHOOTO, KOTC, EBI, & ADCC.

Javier is the creator of the groundbreaking JVOS curriculum. Javier discusses why his "The Master Plan" is a complete training system of self-defense that will revolutionize how BJJ is taught.

Javier describes how JVOS addresses the limitations of traditional training, sharing insights into JVOS' inception and the impact its having in the BJJ community.

Javier's story goes beyond the mats. He opens up about his fierce battle against stage 3 colon cancer and how he defied the odds by implementing Gerson Therapy, against his physician's wishes, and cured himself of stage 3 colon cancer.

Javier and I discuss why he is on a mission to reshape Jiu-Jitsu as we know it. He discusses his vision for revolutionizing the art of BJJ, challenging the traditional norms, and inspiring practitioners to embrace innovation to "Change Jiu Jitsu Forever."

The JVOS (Javier Vazquez Operating System) is at the forefront of this movement, and through Javier's stories and insights, we glimpse a future where BJJ evolves and empowers a new generation of fighters

Connect with Javier Vasquez - JVOS:

• Website: JVOS Jiu Jitsu
• IG: @TheRealJavierVazquez
• IG: @JVJiuJitsu
• Twitter: @JavierShowtime
• YouTube: JV Jiu Jitsu

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode110

Episode #109

Built Not Born is back after a 2 week late summer pause.

In today's episode, I read a blog post I wrote after meeting the one and only Jocko Willink.

My son and I attended Jocko's "The Decisive Engagement" in Philadelphia.

Amazing experience to meet someone who's work I have admired from afar for almost a decade.

Also, the podcast has a new website (links here & below) and a new Substack newsletter.

Please sign up below.

Thank you for listening!

Episode #109 - Jocko Willink Does Not Have Time - Links:

• Built Not Born Blog: JoeCiccarone.com
• Built Not Born Website: BuiltNotBornPodcast.com
• Jocko on Tim Ferris: Tim Ferris Show (Sept 2015)
• Jocko Online Platform: Extreme Ownership Academy
• Jocko's Book: Extreme Ownership

"Life is Built, Not Born".

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode109

Cam F. Awesome, formerly known as Lenroy Thompson, is an American amateur boxer best known for winning the US Boxing title in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014.

Cam won the Golden Gloves in 2009, 2011 and 2013 at Super Heavyweight.

Cam is a 6x National Champion, 6 Ringside Champion, 4x Gold Gloves and competed at 3 Olympic Trials.

Cam ended his Boxing career with an amazing record 326 wins to only 30 loses.

Cam is featured in the 2017 Netflix documentary, "Counter Punch".

Cam frequently fought in pink to show his commitment to and involvement with the Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

Cam is the Athlete Director on USA Boxing Board of Directors.  

Cam and I discuss how being bullied as a teen led him to the boxing ring, how he became a stand up comic and why he promotes a vegan lifestyle.

Cam now tours the nation educating students on cultural awareness and anti-bulling.

Connect with Cam F. Awesome:

• Website: Cam F. Awesome
• IG: Cam F. Awesome
• Facebook: Cam F. Awesome
• Netflix: Counter Punch

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode108

Henry Akins is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the legendary Rickson Gracie and a former instructor / manager at Rickson’s academy in Los Angeles.

Henry is the founder of Hidden Jiu Jitsu and regarded by many as one of the best black belts produced by Rickson.

Henry and I discuss him growing up in Oklahoma, what it was like training with Rickson and what makes Hidden Jiu Jitsu so effective.

Connect with Henry Akins:

• Website: Hidden Jiu Jitsu
• IG: Henry Akins BJJ
• Facebook: Henry Akins Hidden Jiu Jitsu

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode107

Matt Seabrook is the owner of Dresher Physical Therapy. Matt founded Dresher PT in 2001 and has built it into two highly respected community-based rehabilitation centers in suburban Philadelphia.

Matt discuses what he and his wife Chris calls “the most challenging thing we ever went through in our lives", when their first child was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Hurler’s Syndrome.

Matt also describes how he signed his first lease for his PT Clinic a few weeks after 9/11 in a location that was notorious for having one failed business after another. 

We discuss Matt's leadership principles, the book he keeps going to when he needs to clear and refocus his mind and why he created a family mission statement

Matt also talks about what it was like to lead a small business through the COVID-19 shutdown and the opportunities that COVID opened up for his business. 

• Matt's PT Clinic: Dresher Physical Therapy (Dresher, PA)
• Matt's IG: Dresher PT
• Book: The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode106

Donald Robertson is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist and best selling author of "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor:The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius." & the graphic novel "Verissimus".

In Part 2, Donald and I continue our discussion on Stoic Philosophy and the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. We also discuss Epictetus, Seneca and Socrates.

Donald describes how he approaches the creative process and how he came up with his best selling book, "How to Think Like A Roman Emperor."

Connect with Donald Robertson:

• Website: Donald Robertson
• Book: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
• Book: Verissimus: A Graphic Novel
• IG: Donald Robertson
• Facebook: Donald Robertson

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode105

Donald Robertson is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist and best selling author of "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor:The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius." & the graphic novel "Verissimus".

In Part 1, Donald and I discuss Stoic Philosophy, the difference between lower case stoicism vs UPPER CASE Stoicism, Marcus Aurelius and The Meditations.

Connect with Donald Robertson:

• Website: Donald Robertson
• Book: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
• Book: Verissimus: A Graphic Novel
• IG: Donald Robertson
• Facebook: Donald Robertson

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode104



Maliq Harris is the founder of King's Corner Boxing located in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Maliq empowers his clients to overcome life's challenges in and out of the ring through Boxing.

Connect with Maliq Harris & King's Corner Boxing:

• Website: King's Corner Boxing
• FaceBook: Maliq Harris
• IG: King's Corner Boxing
• BNB #26 Maliq Harris - Boxing for Life

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode 103