Ferocious Ambition

What happens when a physician is just as curious about the human story as he is about the science?

Dr. Avraham “Avi” Cooper is a pulmonary and critical care physician at The Ohio State University, an educator, writer, poet, and co-host of The Curious Clinicians podcast. But this conversation goes far beyond medicine.

Avi shares the story of growing up in the shadow of his late father — a brilliant physician with a photographic memory who died climbing Mount Kilimanjaro when Avi was only six — and how that legacy helped shape both the doctor and the man he became.

We talk about why curiosity may be one of the most important skills a physician can have, what our medical system gets wrong when it doesn’t allow doctors time to ask “why,” the incredible resilience of the human body, and why literature may have made Avi a better physician.

And near the end, Avi reads his poem Hymn for a Dying Girl — written after one of his early experiences caring for a critically ill young woman in the ICU. It leads us into a beautiful conversation about death, dignity, family, and what it means to meet patients exactly where they are.

We also get a preview of Avi’s upcoming book, Why Doesn’t Your Stomach Digest Itself? Tales of the Human Body’s Remarkable Resilience, co-written with Dr. Tony Breu. Avi will be back on Ferocious Ambition in March for Part Two, when we’ll dive into the book.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Avi's website: https://www.avrahamcooper.com/

The Mountain — Avi’s essay about his father: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(24)00286-1/fulltext

The Curious Clinicians — a medical podcast that asks “Why?”: https://curiousclinicians.com/

Hymn for a Dying Girl — Avi’s poem published in CHEST: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)30266-6/pdf

Pre-order for his book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324117117/about-the-book/reviews

Pastor Russ Moore came back to Ferocious Ambition to talk about his third book, Fire Breather: How Your Words Create Your World.

And then we went somewhere neither of us planned.

Yes, we talk about the extraordinary power of words...the difference between saying “I failed” and “I am a failure,” how we speak to ourselves, how we navigate conflict, and how our words can either connect us or divide us.

But I also challenge Russ with some of the harder questions.

If we believe God spoke through burning bushes and visions, what do we do with intuition, psychics, Eastern philosophy, and experiences we can't easily explain? Where do prayer and manifestation intersect...and where don't they? Can faith leave room for curiosity? Can we pursue truth without losing grace? And can two people challenge each other's beliefs without needing to make the other person wrong?

We even wander into politics, religion, culture, fear, connection, and why we seem to have forgotten how to disagree without becoming enemies.

This isn't a sermon. And it isn't a debate.

It's two people sitting across from each other, asking bigger questions, occasionally pushing back, laughing, thinking out loud, and proving that curiosity and conviction don't have to be opposites.

Russ says, “Your life comes from your lips.”

So maybe the question for all of us is this:

What kind of world are your words creating?

Listen to this one with an open mind. You may not agree with everything either of us says—and that's exactly why I think it's worth the conversation.

Fire breather book: https://a.co/d/0gRaHUxL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussMoore7/

https://thex.church/our-team/

Brock Everhart came back to Ferocious Ambition because you asked for him.

After his first episode, I kept hearing the same question from listeners:

What happened at Cocodona?

Well...he went back.

253 miles. More than 40,000 feet of climbing. Nearly 110 hours from start to finish. And this time, Brock didn't just meet the physical brutality of Cocodona—he met every demon we'd talked about the first time he sat across from me.

He started the race already injured. By mile 15, he was questioning whether he should even be there. He later discovered he'd partially torn his calf. His back began giving out. His body was breaking down.

And at mile 159, Brock decided he was done.

He started counting down the miles until he could quit.

Then, somewhere inside his own head, Brock remembered explaining that decision to quite to one of the young athletes he coaches—and she asked one question:

“But coach, were you still moving when you quit?”

And he kept going.

This conversation became about so much more than running 253 miles through Arizona.

We talk about grief and Brock's late father. Fear so intense it nearly paralyzed him before the final climb up Mount Elden. His wife Sarah, daughter Bailey, coaches, pacers, friends and complete strangers who carried pieces of this race with him. We talk about the strange place where your body says no, your mind says no...and somehow you find one more step anyway.

And we revisit something Brock told me during our first conversation:

The demons have realized they're not going to get me to quit. They're just going to drag me through the deepest, darkest hell they can.

This time, they showed up.

We also talk about gratitude, vulnerability, the people watching us when we don't even realize it, and something Brock's coach told him that may sum up this entire experience:

It wasn't the race you wanted. It was the race you needed.

This isn't an episode about becoming an ultrarunner.

It's about what happens when life doesn't look anything like you planned, progress is painfully slow, fear gets loud—and you decide you're still moving.

Because sometimes forward doesn't look impressive.

Sometimes it's one step.

One cup.

One more lap.

Just don't quit while you're still moving.

Brock is the founder of Build Pursuits and works with athletes both locally and remotely in running, strength training and performance coaching. His current coaching profile also confirms that he works with athletes ranging from beginners through professional levels.

https://www.buildpursuits.com/

https://www.instagram.com/buildpursuits/

His coaching email is [email protected]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/20ihfidy928Ng6my75Ru3G?si=y1pSY2Y4TUm-kkp4uwnp8Q

Some people change your career. Some people change your life. And then there are the people who saw who you could become long before you had any freaking idea yourself.

That is Mike McBride for me.

I met Mike when I was about 19 years old and became the nanny for his family. At the time, I was convinced I was going to have some fabulous career in marketing. Mike, however, had other plans.

“You belong in sales.”

No, I don't.

“Yes, you do.”

Nope.

This went on for YEARS.

Thankfully, his persistence eventually outlasted my stubbornness—which, if you know me, is quite an accomplishment.

Nearly 30 years later, Mike has been my mentor, my friend, my older brother, my de facto father after losing my own, my career advisor, my occasional bourbon accomplice, and one of the people who has had the greatest impact on who I am today.

And this episode? It's not really an interview.

It's two people who have known each other for almost three decades sitting down with microphones and going wherever the conversation takes us.

We talk about Mike growing up in a tiny Ohio farm town, entrepreneurship, building and losing businesses, getting fired, reinventing yourself, sales, rejection, leadership, risk, mentorship and what he calls the “valley of despair.”

We also somehow get into bourbon, Christmas, my days as the family nanny, his children—who will forever be “my littles”—and the infamous Florida boating incident when Mike nearly killed his entire family AND me.

Mike maintains that I exaggerate this story.

I maintain that he is wrong.

But underneath all the ridiculous stories is something that means more to me than I can explain: the power of having someone in your life who sees something in you before you can see it yourself—and loves you enough to keep pushing until you finally see it too.

At the end, I asked Mike for one last piece of advice about finding your own Ferocious Ambition.

His answer was perfect:

Be curious. Take the risk.

And maybe don't let Mike drive the boat.

CONNECT WITH MIKE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mcbride-11a81a/

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
The Bourbon Bible
https://a.co/d/0flWDApu

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your talent...it's your confidence?

In this episode of Ferocious Ambition, I sit down with entrepreneur, cybersecurity leader, and Yearling Solutions founder Rob Burns for one of the most honest conversations I've had on the show. Before we ever started talking about AI, leadership, or building a successful company, Rob shared a deeply personal story about overcoming a fear that once made speaking in front of coworkers almost unbearable.

From that vulnerable beginning, we dive into entrepreneurship, taking calculated risks, learning through failure, leading high-performing teams, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of business. Rob shares the lessons he's learned from years in technology leadership and why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build.

Whether you're leading a team, growing a business, navigating a career change, or simply trying to become more confident in your own life, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success and what it really takes to achieve it.

Sometimes the most powerful transformations begin with one small decision to step forward—even when you're scared.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rb11/

https://yearlingsolutions.com/

https://yearlingsolutions.com/labs/clausepoint-ai

https://nobius.studio/

Most of us were handed a diploma… but never a playbook for real life.

In this episode of Ferocious Ambition, I sit down with Pastor Tim Moore, founder and lead pastor of X Church and author of Don't Wing It, to talk about the life skills so many of us were never taught. From managing money and using credit wisely to navigating relationships, parenting, taxes, and building a life with intention, Tim shares practical wisdom that can help anyone stop guessing and start growing.

We explore why so many successful adults still feel like they're "winging it," the everyday habits that lead to long-term success, and how intentional decisions—big and small—shape the life you ultimately create.

Whether you're just starting out, rebuilding after a setback, or simply looking for a better roadmap for adulthood, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and timeless advice.

Because the best life isn't built by accident—it’s built on purpose.

https://timmoore.online/

https://thex.church/

https://www.facebook.com/timmoore.online/

What happens when the life you expected turns into something completely different than the one you build?

In this episode of Ferocious Ambition, I sit down with entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Creativate, Michelle Miller, for one incredibly honest conversation about reinvention, risk, resilience, and what it really takes to build a life that feels authentically yours.

Michelle opens up about growing up in a Mennonite community, the values that shaped her, and how those early foundations influenced the woman and leader she has become today. From corporate burnout to entrepreneurship, divorce to rebuilding, Michelle shares what it looks like to keep going forward, even when life does not go according to plan.

Together, we unpack the realities of entrepreneurship, the pressure of leadership, what women in business quietly navigate behind the scenes, and why sometimes the only option is to stop waiting for permission and build your own table.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Taking risks before you feel fully ready
✨ Leaving corporate to bet on yourself
✨ Entrepreneurship, burnout, failure, and resilience
✨ Why authenticity matters more than perfection
✨ The unique realities women face in business
✨ Building confidence and finding your voice
✨ Learning to stop caring what everyone thinks
✨ Why growth often happens in the messy middle
✨ The power of simply choosing to go forward

This episode is honest, funny, vulnerable, and full of the kinds of conversations we need to have more often about ambition, fear, success, identity, and building a life you actually love.

Because sometimes the biggest shift happens when you stop waiting for a seat at someone else’s table and decide to build your own.

Connect with Michelle Miller:
🌐 Creativate: https://www.growwithcreativate.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millermk/

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue bringing bold conversations and incredible stories to the Ferocious Ambition community.

What does confidence really look like… and who gets to define it?

In this powerful and unexpectedly emotional episode of Ferocious Ambition, Monica sits down with Kristi Miller-Nunn, Director of the Ohio America Pageants, to break down the truth behind the pageant world, confidence, and what it means to fully step into your power as a woman.

This is not your stereotype of “beauty pageants.”

Kristi shares her incredible journey from being bullied as a teen, to battling brain cancer at 15, to completely reinventing herself and ultimately winning Mrs. Ohio. What started as a personal comeback became a mission to help women of all ages find their voice, confidence, and purpose.

Together, Monica and Kristi dive into:
• The mindset shift that takes you from “this is bullshit” to taking bold action
• The reality behind pageants and the massive misconceptions people still have
• How confidence is built, not born
• The “letdown effect” after achieving a major goal—and how to push through it
• Why authenticity beats perfection every single time
• How chasing something scary can completely transform your life

This conversation is raw, inspiring, and filled with moments that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, felt like you didn’t belong, or wondered what would happen if you just went for it… this episode is your sign.

Because ferocious ambition isn’t about perfection.
It’s about showing up anyway.

Connect with Kristi Miller-Nunn:

Personal:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristim80/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristimillernunn/?hl=en

Ohio America Pageants:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohioamericapageants/?hl=en

Mrs. Ohio America:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrsOhioAmerica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsohioamericapageant/?hl=en

Mrs. Ohio American:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063704190669
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsohioamerican/?hl=en

Miss Ohio for America:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Missohioforamerica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missohioforamericastrong/?hl=en

This one is different… and you’re going to feel it immediately.

For the first time, I hand over the mic and let Michelle Miller step in as guest host… and she does not hold back.

What unfolds is a raw, fun, and unexpectedly deep conversation where I’m the one in the hot seat. Michelle takes you behind the scenes of Ferocious Ambition and pulls out the layers that didn’t fully make it onto the page. We’re talking about the real emotions of writing a book, the moments of doubt, the identity shifts, and the mindset it takes to actually follow through on something this big.

You’ll hear us laughing like friends… and then, in the next breath, going straight into the kind of honest, unfiltered conversation that makes you pause and think.

In this episode, we dive into:

• What the author journey actually feels like behind the scenes
• The thoughts and emotions I experienced while writing but didn’t always say out loud
• Deeper insights and advice for anyone chasing something bold
• The identity shifts that come with stepping into a bigger version of yourself
• And the moments where ambition meets real life

It’s playful, it’s real, and it’s layered in a way that hits differently.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of someone building something meaningful… this is the episode you don’t skip.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWLV649M?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/Ferocious-Ambition-Monica-Dominic-ebook/dp/B0GHN3Q6TY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1C6H152BBYRPX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VWoj6-zWOXhW9sdsur3HnxI88k2aEtg9P2PU3eqKQmyEJzshGZibKnmlw03U0vLKSE-JTN4h6o9iidGV0f5WRi0DSWps6wClcSvBvXiqQDZlpGcLtMJZ4T_0MQuQP5dIpSbhSMZhoxeRjaQfSJk_aUygkBPXrlgyp4uh8KGhodk.9bGgIIDQvPYmFE8yKJnggpymTbPxNwy8x3nxbf67yjY&dib_tag=se&keywords=ferocious+ambition&qid=1776108821&sprefix=%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2

Two hours flew by in this conversation with ultramarathon runner and coach Brock Everhart.

Brock has run distances that most people can’t even wrap their heads around...250-mile races, 100-mile races, brutal trail runs, and some of the most demanding endurance events out there. But what fascinated me most in this conversation wasn’t the miles.

It was the mind.

We talked about what actually happens when your body starts breaking down, when the voice in your head says you can’t do it anymore, and when every step forward feels impossible.

During his first 100-mile race, Brock hit one of the lowest points of the entire run, maybe life. His wife was pacing him through a brutal section and said something simple:
“Tell me one positive thing.”

And Brock said he couldn’t think of one, he thought of 10.

That moment turned into a powerful lesson about resilience, perspective, and the work it takes to keep going when everything in you wants to stop.

This conversation goes deep into endurance, discipline, mindset, and why the hardest moments in life are often the ones that shape us the most.

If you’ve ever hit a point where you wanted to quit , in business, in relationships, in fitness, or in life, this episode is going to resonate.

We discussed an emotional path to having their precious daughter, changing your career path, chasing your dreams...and so much more.

https://www.buildpursuits.com/

https://www.instagram.com/buildpursuits/

[email protected]