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“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” — Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

This week on the pod JT is joined by Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and cultivator of curiosity, Van Lai-Dumone. You would be hard-pressed to find another story that encapsulates the above quote as much as the story of Van and her family. In the final days of the Vietnam War, Van and her family fled their native country of Vietnam (Van’s father was a pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force) and ended up in California with little more than the clothes on their backs. What follows is an unbelievable story of sacrifice, triumph, and the power of kindness. Van’s family went on to eventually become a trailblazer in an industry valued at 8 billion dollars!

How does a family that on all accounts seems to have everything working against them?... The answer is creativity and the courage to overcome the fear of failure. That mindset was something that Van incorporated into her business plan when she founded WorksmART Advantage. WorksmART Advantage is a team of creative rebels (MBAs can be rebellious, too!) who help transform a company into a place nobody wants to leave through unapologetically unleashing creative thinking at all levels of an organization.

Van Lai-Dumone on Linkedin
WorksmART Advantage
 
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This week JT is joined by Celebrity Chef, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, Robert Irvine. Robert is best known as the host of multiple hit Food Network shows to include, including Restaurant Impossible and Kitchen Expedition. What isn't as well known is his unwavering support for the veteran and first responder communities. 

JT and Robert discuss Robert’s childhood and how he ended up serving in the British Navy at age 15, his time supporting the military and our first responders, the importance of work ethic and leadership, and the power of food, sharing a meal, and laughter. 

Robert Irvine Foundation | Instagram | Website
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“I had to change the question of how did I get here, to what am I going to do about it” – Mark Pattison

This week JT is joined by former NFL wide receiver, podcaster, mountaineer, and entrepreneur Mark Pattison. If you couldn’t already tell from Mark’s impressive titles…. the man knows a little something about the impact of positive habits.

Mark and JT discuss the role habits have had in reaching the highest level of professional football, climbing the seven summits, and becoming a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Mark was extremely candid by not only about his triumphs in life but also the struggles he’s had after leaving the NFL.

Mark also gives a detailed account of his accent of Mt. Everest, the final climb to complete his epic adventure to scale the Seven Summits. After an 18-hour grueling climb up and back, Mark completed a long-held dream. Along the way, he also raised awareness and funds for Epilepsy Foundation in honor of his daughter Emilia, as well as Higher Ground, an organization that supports veterans. An NFL film crew followed Mark’s epic last climb, and in 2021 the documentary Searching For The Summit was released by NFL360.

For more on Mark, check out his Finding Your Summit podcast and his social links below.

Mark Pattison Instagram | Twitter
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“If you don’t choose a worthy struggle, struggle will choose you. And when it does, it will do far worse damage than the pain you will inevitably feel on the journey to greatness.” ― Akshay Nanavati, FEARVANA: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness

This week I’m joined by United States Marine veteran, speaker, entrepreneur, ultra runner, and author Akshay Nanavati. Akshay is a man who has lived on both sides of the habit spectrum throughout his life. He’s battled drug addiction, PTSD, alcoholism, and survivors’ guilt from his time serving in Iraq. Since then, he has built a global business, run ultramarathons like a 24-hour run and a 50 miler around a cul-de-sac, written a book endorsed by the Dalai Lama, conducted humanitarian work in post-conflict zones, spent seven days in darkness, silence, and isolation, and explored the most hostile environments on the planet, from mountains to caves to polar icecaps.

Having explored the extreme edges of the human condition, both within and without, Akshay has figured out exactly what it takes to tap into the limitlessness of the human potential and unleash the inner warrior that lives within us all.

Fearvana Instagram | Website
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This week JT is joined in studio by his friend and Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist at the Counseling Associates of Delaware, Wes Jones. 

Wes has 20+ years of experience as an LCSW working with youth and young adults. Wes joins JT to discuss the 30 day “digital diet” they have organized with the help of SL24: Unlock the Light Foundation. This event takes place at Sean’s House (see below for more information about Sean’s House). All participants are either current students or recent graduates of the University of Delaware.

 What is a digital diet, you ask? It’s a 30-day experience designed to explore the connection between the types of digital content we consume, the frequency we consume it, and how its addictiveness can impact our ability to cultivate a fuller life experience. They've designed this “digital diet” to take inventory of the participants' affiliation with digital media and remove them from it for some time. By doing this, they can have an honest understanding and assessment of its impact on their lives.

 How it works:

First, the participants take inventory of what digital content is deemed necessary and required for work/school and personal safety. If it didn’t fall into one of these categories, then it was categorized as unnecessary, and it was made part of your “digital diet.” This also included gaming systems and video streaming services when applicable.

 The goal of the diet is to advocate for the intentional use of digital media and the awareness of when the participants have drifted into the realm of non-useful consumption and brain candy scrolling that lacks nourishment substance and only acts to stimulate the user. 

 Sean’s House

Sean’s House is a free resource for young adults ages 14-24. It is a space designed to help members of our community improve their health and wellbeing and connect with their peers in a safe and confidential environment. Support is available 24/7 for young adults to talk about mental health or substance use challenges with other young adult Peer Specialists who have lived experience with similar challenges. These services aim to improve wellness, empower members of the community, and connect young adults to resources and communities of support that meet their specific needs. See here for more information or to help support Sean’s House.

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"Your clock is ticking. You will die. Start betting on yourself right now — at this very moment — or no one else will.”

 This is a direct quote from Joey Bowen. After reading this quote, I realized two things: 1st, I need to get these guys on CoH …and 2nd, this company stands for more than selling cool shirts.

Drew and Joey discuss how the self-entitlement and shortcut-seeking they witnessed in society motivated them to create a brand for those willing to embrace hard work.

 These guys have created a company that not only provides world-class apparel but they’ve also built a community of like-minded men and women who appreciate and understand the consequences of positive habits.

In This Episode:

Few Will Hunt Website | Instagram
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When does chasing your personal goals and achievements become bigger than just you?

This week I’m joined by active-duty Green Beret and military mountaineering instructor at the Special Operations Mountain Warfare Training Center, Jason Howell. Jason is a guy who isn’t afraid of a little suffering. If his day job description didn’t make that completely evident, Jason also spends his off-time training as a competitive ultra runner, boasting an impressive top 10 finish at the Moab 240. 

This Spring, Jason will be attempting to climb Mount Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen in an effort to bring awareness to the fallen service members of our country and the hidden issues of PTSD, TBI and suicide which are now afflicting far too many of our military service members and veterans. See the below link to find out more about Jason and to support his Everest expedition.  

 https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Gbreverest

 Instagram: @jcmjay

Green Beret Racing

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This week I had the unique opportunity and privilege to interview a US Olympic athlete from the Winter Olympic venue in Beijing, China. This week’s guest, Kelly Curtis, represented the US during the Winter Games in more than one way: first as an active-duty Airman with the United States Air Force’s World Class Athlete Program (WCEP), and second as a member of Team USA competing in the sport of Skeleton. Add to that, she’s the first black woman to represent the United States in Skeleton. 

Kelly and I discuss how she went from a standout collegiate heptathlon athlete who doesn’t like cold weather, to sliding down an ice track face first at 80mph and representing her country on the biggest of world stages. Kelly describes some of her habits of success and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Checkout the links below to see more about Kelly and to follow her journey to the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

 Instagram: @kellycurtisusa

Twitter: @KellyCurtisUSA

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When is being brainwashed not a bad thing? At what point in a person’s life should they surrender to the fact that their way of living isn’t working and change is the only way forward?  
This week I’m joined (in person) by professional heavyweight MMA fighter Patrick Brady. To look at Patrick now, it’s hard to imagine that just 4 years ago he had both literally and figuratively reached rock bottom due to a drug and alcohol addiction. It was at this point that Patrick decided to flip the script on his life, and through hard work and determination, he began the massive transformation that would eventually become the Patrick Brady you see now.

Patrick and I discuss his journey and how he went from his rock bottom, to becoming a professional MMA fighter on the cusp of making it into the UFC. Patrick describes the emotional challenges he faced because of his addiction, as well as the physical ones…including a titanium plate in his face, 8 screws in his back and another 2 in his ankle. Patrick is extremely candid about his struggles and what it took to completely rewrite the narrative of his life. 

 Be sure to see Patrick in action as he headlines Art of War 23, on April 1st at Philadelphia Live Casino. For more on Patrick Brady, checkout his social link below:

Instagram: @hevweightbrady

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I’ve been hosting the Consequence of Habit Podcast for close to two years now, and one of the reoccurring themes I continually hear from guests is something that Marcus Aurelius described over 2,000 years ago when he wrote “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” 

 This week I sat down with US Army Chief Warrant Officer, Nick Lavery. Nick is an active duty member of the United States Special Forces (Green Beret), an author, and amputee who lost his right leg while serving in Afghanistan in 2013. Now ask yourself, how could a self-proclaimed knuckle dragging Green Beret who enjoys kicking in doors, lifting weights and blowing stuff up, evolve into an improved and well-rounded Special Forces operator BECAUSE of his injuries? Because “what stands in the way becomes the way” -Marcus Aurelius.

 In our conversation, Nick describes his experience of losing his leg (and potentially his identity) and the physical and mental habits he needed to become the first amputee to return to a Special Forces unit. Nick also discusses how his injury forced him to embrace the aspects of his profession that hadn’t come naturally and how that process has helped him become a more well-rounded Green Beret. 

 If you want more from Nick, be sure to order his upcoming book Objective Secure, or check him out on his social media links below.

 Instagram: @nick.machine.lavery

LinkedIn: Nick Lavery

Twitter: @nick_lavery_