Five Star Life with Coach Seth

By Seth Maust

Change your mindset. Change your future.

Welcome to Five Star Life with Coach Seth, the podcast dedicated to our core mission:

Transforming students' lives by c

... more

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FAQs about Five Star Life with Coach Seth:

How many episodes does Five Star Life with Coach Seth have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.

Five Star Life with Coach Seth episodes:

May 22, 2026The Friendship Crisis Nobody Wants to Talk About - With Coach Mia
Why are so many kids—and adults—surrounded by people, yet still deeply lonely? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack the growing social disconnect happening in our culture and reveal why technology, fear, and unhealthy habits are quietly destroying authentic relationships.
From vulnerable conversations about loneliness and social anxiety to practical lessons on loyalty, accountability, emotional intelligence, and communication, this episode dives deep into the skills required to build long-lasting friendships in a disconnected world. Coach Seth also shares why hands-on learning environments are transforming struggling students, why many kids have been mislabeled for years, and how meaningful connection—not performance—is ultimately what people crave most.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why America is becoming one of the loneliest countries in the world
The “5 Habits” of long-lasting friendships taught inside Five Star Life schools
Why vulnerability is the first step to authentic connection
“Stab Them in the Front” — the powerful communication principle changing relationships
How phones and technology are rewiring kids’ social development
The dangerous difference between loyalty and manipulation
Why some students labeled “slow” are actually brilliant learners
How innovative hands-on education is helping students rediscover confidence and purpose
The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
58min
May 15, 2026The Lie About Work That’s Destroying This Generation - With Coach Mia
What if your exhaustion isn’t coming from work… but from the way you think about work? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack one of the most dangerous lies in modern culture: that hard work is something to avoid instead of something that develops you.
From powerful student testimonies to deep conversations about mindset, anxiety, integrity, parenting, goals, and belief systems, this episode reveals how your internal narrative shapes your future. Coach Seth explains why thriving at work starts with vision, why most people never reach their goals, and how the process of growth—not comfort—is what creates confidence, purpose, and fulfillment. This conversation will challenge the victim mindset, redefine success, and help you understand why “choosing your hard” may be the key to transforming your life.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The shocking student testimony about how integrity eliminated anxiety and changed his relationship with his parents
“Choose Your Hard” — the mindset shift that changes how you view work, discipline, health, and relationships
Why most people never reach their goals (and the critical mistake they make)
The hidden danger of lowering kids’ dreams instead of helping them believe bigger
How visualization, belief, and self-talk create momentum toward the life you actually want
Why successful people become obsessed with the PROCESS instead of the outcome
The connection between family conversations, emotional health, and long-term thriving
How parents, teachers, and mentors unknowingly shape children’s beliefs about work, identity, and success
The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
57min
May 08, 2026The Quiet Branding: How Your Reactions Define Your Reputation - With Cherri Kulp
Are you reacting to your wounds, or responding from your values? In this powerful episode, Coach Seth welcomes back Cherri Kulp (Executive Coach & Founder of Internal Garden Coaching) to discuss why your internal state is the ultimate predictor of your external success.
Cherri breaks down the "Internal Garden" philosophy—the idea that our minds are fertile ground where we either cultivate fruit or allow weeds like bitterness and fear to take root. From handling obnoxious public confrontations to teaching fifth graders how to "Box Breathe" under pressure, this episode provides a roadmap for anyone looking to increase their EQ and reclaim their peace.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The 3:1 Ratio: Why it takes three positive thoughts to overcome one negative "weed" in your mind.
The Conflict Quadrants: A deep dive into Daniel Goleman’s EQ framework: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management.
Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn: Identifying how your nervous system protects itself and how to give others "Grace for Space" during a freeze.
The Mayor Pete Story: Cherri shares a real-life example of how self-awareness prevented a public "crash out" and protected her professional branding.
Givers vs. Takers: Why "Givers" are the only ones who truly experience a 5 Star Life.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Cherri Kulp, ACC is the Principal Coach and Founder of Internal Garden Coaching & Leadership Solutions. As a Certified Personal and Executive Coach, she acts as a Mindset Architect and Leadership Optimizer, helping individuals "silence their inner critic" to grow confidence, clarity, and resilience.
Instagram: @UnearthedCC
C#: 574-213-2143
E: [email protected]
W: https://www.internalgardencoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherrikulp/

The mission at Five Star Life : Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
58min
May 01, 2026The Social Arena: Mastering Your Nervous System for Better Relationships
Are you actually in the game, or are you a passive spectator of your own life? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack the "Arena" lesson—a transformative concept taught to over 20,000 students weekly. They dive deep into Polyvagal Theory, simplifying the science of the nervous system into three actionable levels: the Dorsal (isolation), the Sympathetic (anxiety), and the Ventral (peace and connection).
Coach Seth shares the "Doorway Hack"—a powerful tool for intentional living that ensures you show up as your best self for your family, your team, and your community. If you’ve ever felt "stuck" in a cycle of stress or felt disconnected from those you love, this episode provides the mirror you need to make the small tweaks that lead to a 5 Star Life.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Life in the Eyes: The physical transformation of students like Brady, moving from suicidal ideation to becoming a "giver."
The 3 Levels of Your Nervous System: A practical guide to identifying when you are in "Flight or Flight" vs. "Social Engagement" mode.
The Doorway Hack: How to use physical thresholds to reset your emotional state before entering your home or office.
The EQ Gap: Why the average adult has the emotional intelligence of a middle schooler—and how to grow past it.
Breaking the Cycle: Advice for a student who doesn't want to "become like their father" and how to rewrite your internal script.
The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
57min
April 24, 2026The Mirror Effect: How to Rebuild Your Identity from the Inside Out
Who are you when the titles, the clothes, and the followers are stripped away? In this powerful episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia dive into the most core topic of the Five Star Life mission: Identity. We are entering an era where AI will master the "hard skills," making the "soft skills"—social intelligence, critical thinking, and emotional resilience—the most valuable assets on the planet.
Coach Seth introduces the "Mirror" analogy used across Five Star programs to help kids and adults identify the discrepancy between who they are today and their "True Ideal Self." We explore the biology of habit, explaining why you can't just "delete" a bad mindset, but must instead starve the old programs to build new neural pathways. Whether you are a parent looking to connect with your child or a leader seeking to master your own internal world, this episode provides the blueprint for lasting transformation.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The AI Premium: Why social skills and emotional intelligence are the future of the workforce.
Innovative Learning: How 400 acres and "neutral" activities (like blacksmithing) rebuild a child's confidence.
The Mirror Exercise: A practical tool for identifying your ideal self vs. your feared self.
Starving the Virus: The biological reality of how to "untrain" negative thoughts and habits.
The Power of Thresholds: Using doorways as a psychological reset to show up intentionally.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store. Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead. Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
58min
April 17, 2026The Silent Epidemic: Reclaiming the Mindset of a Generation - With Coach Mia
For 20 years, Five Star Life has been on a mission to transform students' lives by challenging the way they think, act, and lead. But how did it all begin? In this foundational episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia return to the "Why." From the staggering data of the "dropout epidemic"—visualized as 12 Empire State Buildings filled with students—to Seth’s own medical journey of discovering "root causes," this episode is a deep dive into what it truly takes to move the needle for the next generation.
We move past the "woo-woo" and into the hard science of the Polyvagal Theory. Coach Seth breaks down the three states of the nervous system: the clarity of the Ventral Vagal, the mobilization of the Sympathetic (Fight or Flight), and the isolation of the Dorsal Vagal. Learn why your "stomach issues" or "anxiety" might actually be a physical state of being rather than a character flaw. Discover "the greatest pharmacy in the world" built directly into your biology and how tools like breathwork, mindfulness, and the Five Star Life App can help you—and your children—climb the ladder from survival to thriving.

IN THIS EPISODE:
The 12 Empire State Buildings: The data that fueled a 20-year movement.
Root Cause Medicine: How Seth’s health crisis changed the way we look at education.
The Vagus Nerve: Understanding the "Polyvagal Ladder" and why kids "check out."
Human Beings vs. Human Doings: Why we must prioritize feeling over performance.
Innovative Learning: Moving beyond the desk and into real-world application.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
59min
March 13, 2026 Stop Rescuing Your Kids: How Overparenting Is Killing Resilience - With Coach Mia
Are you raising a child who can survive the world, or a child who is afraid of it?
In this deep episode of Five Star Life, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack what they believe is the #1 mistake parents are making in this generation: protecting children from adversity instead of teaching them how to thrive through it. We live in a culture driven by fear and the desire to give our kids the childhood we never had—but by removing every obstacle, are we inadvertently telling our kids they aren't strong enough to handle life?
Coach Seth and Coach Mia introduce the "Success Sequence" for families and the launch of the new Five Star Life App, a tool designed to put parents back at the center of the family conversation. They discuss the critical difference between protecting a child from harm versus protecting them from discomfort, and why every child needs a "Support Team" of three specific voices: someone who listens, someone who walks with them, and someone who guides and challenges them. Whether you’re a parent feeling the "stiff arm" from your teen or an educator looking for ways to bridge the gap between home and school, this episode is a masterclass in building identity, independence, and legacy.
The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
37min
March 06, 2026 The Crisis of Boys: Why We Can’t Ignore Men’s Mental Health Anymore - With Cherri Kulp
Are we failing our boys by forcing them into a box of silence? In this episode of Five Star Life, Coach Seth welcomes back Cherry Kulp of Unearth Coaching to discuss a topic that is often ignored in today’s cultural climate: the specific psychological and emotional needs of men and boys. Cherry shares insights from her work with the White House’s "My Brother's Keeper" initiative and her current research into how society limits male emotion to only two options—stoicism or anger.
Coach Seth and Cherry explore the "Father Wound" and the staggering statistics of incarceration and college graduation for those in fatherless homes. They break down the three primary drivers of the male purpose—to protect, provide, and procreate—and how understanding these drivers can transform marriages and communities. From polyvagal theory and co-regulation to the practical art of creating a "safe space" at home, this episode is a blueprint for anyone looking to support the men in their lives and raise the next generation of resilient, emotionally healthy leaders.
ABOUT OUR GUEST: Cherri Kulp is the founder of Unearth Coaching, dedicated to helping individuals and organizations unearth their potential through emotional intelligence and strategic leadership.
Instagram: @UnearthedCC
Location: 2043 S. Bend Avenue #203, South Bend, Indiana 46637
Phone #: 574-213-2143
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherrikulp/
Website: [Website Reveal Coming Soon!]

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
...more
36min
February 27, 2026Stop Making Excuses: How Frankie Built a Business at 12
What’s stopping you from reaching your potential?
In this episode of Five Star Life, Coach Seth sits down with 12-year-old Frankie Martinez, a young man who is redefining what it means to "thrive." What started as a simple 4-H project in a backyard garden has evolved into Frankie’s Spicy Farm—a fully FDA-approved hot sauce company with a nationwide reach.

Frankie isn't your average seventh-grader. He’s navigating sophomore-level biology, playing competitive soccer, and managing a scaling business—all while voluntarily limiting his own screen time. Coach Seth and Frankie dive into the "Entrepreneurial Spirit," the discipline of self-management, and the critical role of "Proactive Parenting."

You’ll hear the story of the "Success Sequence" in action: how a simple "Yes" from his parents opened the door to a journey through the Department of Agriculture, co-packaging partnerships in Ohio, and "Pepperpalooza" in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re a student looking for inspiration or a parent wanting to champion your child’s potential, this episode is a masterclass in work ethic and vision.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Frankie Martinez is a 12-year-old entrepreneur and student-athlete dedicated to building a national brand through self-discipline and an innovative spirit.
Website: https://www.frankiespicyfarm.com/
Instagram: Frankiespicyfarm
Facebook: Frankie’s Spicy Farm
Youtube: @FrankieSpicyKitchen

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple:
Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
32min
February 20, 2026 How to Stop Letting a Bad Season Become a Bad Life — With Coach Mia
"I failed" is an event. "I am a failure" is a lie.
In this transformative episode of Five Star Life, Coach Seth and Coach Mia tackle the "Toxic Rumination Loop"—the dangerous habit of replaying our mistakes until they become our identity. Using the "Railroad Track Theory," they explain why joy and adversity are parallel constants in our lives, and why your brain is biologically wired to "Battery Optimize" by keeping you stuck in survival mode.
Coach Seth shares his personal journey of overcoming his own "adversity" with running, illustrating how to teach your brain what thriving actually looks like. They dive deep into the science of Learned Helplessness and provide a practical "Success Sequence" to help you reclaim your power. You'll learn why we must Normalize Failure (not accept it) and how "Micro-Wins" can rebuild the confidence shattered by a hard season.
Whether you’re a parent trying to help your child navigate a setback or an adult feeling like you’re stuck in an emotional "middle school," this episode is your blueprint to ensure a bad season doesn't turn into a bad life.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.
Our mission at Five Star Life is simple:
TO CHANGE THE FACE OF CULTURE BY CHANGING THE MINDSET OF KIDS.
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife
...more
31min

FAQs about Five Star Life with Coach Seth:

How many episodes does Five Star Life with Coach Seth have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.