He coached Michael Chang and Wes Welker, co-founded the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, and built one of the most decorated careers in sports science.

Then a hospital bed, a broken relationship with his father, and a mountain in Africa taught him what none of the trophies could. This is Dr. Jack Groppel's story of achievement addiction, faith, and fatherhood.

Dr. Jack Groppel has operated at the highest levels of human performance for four decades. Co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, Hall of Fame tennis coach, author of The Corporate Athlete, and coach to legends like Michael Chang and Wes Welker, his professional resume reads like a highlight reel.

But in this conversation, Jack takes us underneath the resume. He talks about growing up under a demanding father, using achievement as a way to prove his worth, and building a career on that pattern for decades before it caught up with him.

He shares the hospitalization that forced him to confront who he actually was, the faith journey that followed, adopting his son from China at nearly 60 years old, and the moment on Mount Kilimanjaro when the two of them stood at the summit together.

This is a conversation about ambition, identity, fatherhood, and the difference between a life that looks successful and a life that feels well lived.

Key Takeaways

1. Achievement can become an addiction when it's used to prove worth rather than pursue purpose

2. Facing truth about yourself is its own form of conflict and often the harder one

3. Writing a personal mission statement gives you a filter for every decision that follows

4. Journaling by hand has research behind it for actually rewiring the brain around old stories

5. The question "what matters most right now" is a daily calibration tool, not a one-time exercise

6. Breaking a generational pattern requires naming it out loud before you can choose differently

Guest Bio

Dr. Jack Groppel is an internationally recognized authority in human performance and well-being. He is co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, a former professor, and a trusted advisor to organizations ranging from Fortune 50 companies to global policy groups.

He is a Hall of Fame tennis coach and sports scientist, a fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the American College of Nutrition, and has presented his work at the United Nations and before Congress.

He is the author of the landmark book The Corporate Athlete and the new memoir Mountains Within, an account of achievement, loss, fatherhood, and faith. He has coached Hall of Fame players including Michael Chang and Stan Smith, and worked with NFL veteran Wes Welker.

Connect with Jack

Website: jackgroppel.net

LinkedIn: @JackGroppel

Book: Mountains Within (available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover, audiobook narrated by Jack himself)

Connect with Kevin

https://linktr.ee/kevinmcnulty

Book: The Gap Between Two Worlds

#growyourself #JackGroppel #MountainsWithin #humanperformance #CorporateAthlete #personalgrowth #fatherhood #faith #resilience #leadership #tenniscoach #TheGapBetweenTwoWorlds

Most people spend years chasing success... only to discover it doesn't satisfy the deeper questions of life.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Kevin McNulty sits down with entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and author Larry Kesslin to explore a different path—one built on joy, purpose, service, and authentic human connection.

Larry shares the experiences that transformed his life—from leaving corporate America, to life-changing trips to Africa, to discovering what he calls The Joy Molecule.

Together they discuss:

- Why success often leaves people feeling empty

- The difference between happiness and joy

- Identity, purpose, and meaning

- Human connection in an AI-driven world

- Why serving others changes us more than them

- How our thoughts shape our lives

- What it means to truly "wake up"

Whether you're successful but still searching... or simply wondering what matters most, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the idea of living with joy and living well.

Connect with Larry

Website: https://5-dots.com

LinkedIn: @larrykesslin

Email: [email protected]

Book: The Joy Molecule - https://a.co/d/0fGWebWu

Connect with Kevin

https://linktr.ee/kevinmcnulty

Watch on YT: https://youtu.be/YXID0iCYJjQ

The job search isn't broken because you're not trying hard enough. It's broken because nobody told you the rules changed. Eric Woodard spent 25 years inside the White House, State Department, and Smithsonian. Here's what he knows about trust, AI, and getting hired in 2026.Kevin sits down with Dr. Eric Woodard, ICF Master Certified Coach and founder of Win at Work, who spent over 25 years inside the White House, U.S. State Department, and the Smithsonian. Eric has coached job seekers in over 70 countries.Kevin and Eric dig into why the hiring system feels broken, how AI is already screening candidates before a human ever sees a resume, and why staying human is the real competitive edge in 2026. Eric breaks down the difference between professional and formal, why trust beats skill in every hiring decision, and how making an interview about the employer instead of yourself changes everything.If you're job hunting, recently laid off, or mentoring someone starting their career, this conversation gives you a new way to think about the whole process.Key Takeaways

• The hiring system isn't fair or logical. Since it's not, you don't have to play by rules that don't exist
• Trust, not skill, is the real reason anyone gets hired
• Hiding details (age, gaps, language) destroys trust faster than revealing them does
• AI is useful for fixing mechanics (grammar, tense) but soulless for anything relational
• Being human is the competitive edge in an increasingly automated hiring process
• Make the interview about them, not you. Curiosity beats credentials
• Early career is the time to run experiments and build real experience, not chase passion

Dr. Eric Woodard is an ICF Master Certified Coach and founder of Win at Work. He spent over 25 years inside the White House, U.S. State Department, and the Smithsonian, working directly for Hillary Clinton and later serving as Director of Fellowships and Internships at the Smithsonian. He has coached professionals and job seekers in over 70 countries and is the author of Your Last Day of School and The Ultimate Guide to Internships.Connect with EricWebsite: winatwork.ioConnect with Kevinhttps://linktr.ee/kevinmcnulty#CareerGrowth #JobSearch #AI #SoftSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment

Most personal development focuses on habits, discipline, and mindset.

But what if the real obstacle isn't what you do… it's how you see yourself?

In this conversation, award-winning photographer Gregory James Thelian explains why lasting transformation begins with self-perception. Drawing from over a decade of helping clients through a unique three-day portrait experience, Gregory shares how identity, neuroscience, and even art can reshape the way we think, feel, and live.

Topics include:

• Why self-help often falls short
• The neuroscience of identity change
• Self-perception and confidence
• Trauma, healing, and personal growth
• Why people need proof—not just encouragement

Key Takeaways

• Identity drives behavior.
• Self-perception shapes confidence.
• Encouragement alone rarely creates lasting change.
• Physical reminders reinforce new beliefs.
• Art can become a catalyst for healing.
• Growth happens when we stop believing outdated stories about ourselves.

He Flew a Real Jetpack, Broke His Neck, and Rebuilt His Life | Dan Schlund the Rocket Man.

Dan Schlund spent a decade flying a real rocket belt across six continents, becoming one of only eleven people in history to do it professionally. He also survived a training crash that burned 185 square inches of skin off his leg, and a Guinness World Record attempt that broke his neck and ended his career. Kevin talks with Dan about fear, identity, faith, and why his motto is "don't let your last experience be a bad one."

Kevin's childhood hero wasn't Superman. It was Rocketman, the real one, the guy who flew across stadiums on live jet propulsion. Decades later, Kevin found himself performing at the same Super Bowl halftime show as the original Rocketman, and now sits down with Dan Schlund, one of only eleven people ever to professionally fly a rocket belt.

Dan flew across six continents for a decade. Along the way, a training accident left him with severe burns and three skin graft surgeries. Years later, a Guinness World Record attempt ended in a crash that broke his neck and closed the door on his career. He lost his identity, struggled with painkiller dependency, and went through a divorce, all while trying to figure out who he was without the persona that had defined him.

This conversation moves through Dan's stunt career, his years as a paramedic, the physics and danger of rocket belt flight, and how he eventually rebuilt his life and his business from the ground up. He and Kevin talk about faith, managing fear with logic, and the central message of Dan's book, The Last Rocket Man: it's okay to pivot in your 40s and 50s, and you might not just survive it, you might thrive.

Key Takeaways

Dan is one of only eleven people to ever professionally fly a rocket belt, a technology that dates back to 1961

A training crash burned 185 square inches of skin off his leg and required three skin graft surgeries. He chose to fly again rather than live with the regret of quitting

His personal motto, "don't let your last experience be a bad one," came from his stunt background and shaped every comeback in his life

A Guinness World Record attempt ended his professional rocket belt career when a fuel malfunction caused a crash that broke his neck

He lost his identity, struggled with painkiller dependency, and divorced during the fallout, then rebuilt through his paramedic and medic-staffing business

His three-part framework before taking any risk: Am I trained? Is the equipment safe? Do I have a proper crew?

His book, The Last Rocket Man, centers on one idea: it's okay to pivot in your 40s and 50s, and that pivot can lead to thriving, not just surviving

Final advice: don't live your life with regrets, and remember that trying something and deciding it isn't for you is a decision, not a regret.

Guest Bio

Dan Schlund is one of only eleven people in history to professionally fly a rocket belt, performing across six continents over a decade-long career. Before that, he worked as a Hollywood stuntman, playing characters including Batman and Indiana Jones, and spent years as an EMT and paramedic in Los Angeles and Dallas.

After a Guinness World Record attempt ended his rocket belt career with a broken neck, Dan rebuilt his life, launching a medic-staffing business for film and television productions. He is the author of The Last Rocket Man and the subject of an upcoming documentary. Dan lives by the motto "don't let your last experience be a bad one."

Connect with Dan

Website: rocketman.tv

Book: The Last Rocket Man, available on Amazon and anywhere books are sold

Documentary: coming later this year or early next year

Connect with Kevin

https://linktr.ee/kevinmcnulty

#growyourself #DanSchlund #rocketman #reinvention #resilience #personaldevelopment #TheLastRocketMan #stuntperformer #paramedic #podcast #Faith #secondact #IdentityAfterLoss #doitafraid

For decades we were told there was one path:

• Go to school.
• Get a good job.
• Work hard.
• Stay loyal.
• Climb the ladder.

But today's workplace doesn't operate by those rules anymore.

In this most excellent conversation, career strategist Sam Alvita explains why so many capable people feel stuck...and how we can navigate today's changing world with more clarity, confidence, and purpose.

One of my favorite takeaways: Don't wait for opportunities. Create them.

If you've ever wondered whether there's a better way to think about your career, this episode is for you. Thanks Sam for being such a terrific and thoughtful guest.

Success doesn't always look the way we think it does.

From the outside, Jasper Calcara looked like he had it all—a thriving career, professional success, and the respect of those around him. But beneath that success were hidden cracks: pressure, anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional wounds that no one else could see.

As a structural engineer, Jasper knew that buildings don't suddenly collapse. First come the cracks. And if those cracks aren't identified and repaired, collapse isn't a possibility—it's only a matter of time.

After spending nearly 30 years building businesses and leading teams, the tragic loss of his business partner and the end of his marriage forced him to confront the very cracks he'd ignored for years.

In this powerful conversation, Jasper shares how he rebuilt his life from the inside out—and why the strongest foundation you'll ever build isn't beneath a building, but beneath your own life.

Whether you're leading a business, navigating a major life transition, or simply feeling the weight of trying to hold everything together, this episode offers practical wisdom for building a life that's not only successful—but resilient, authentic, and built to last.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why success can hide unresolved emotional struggles
• The "internal cracks" that quietly undermine high performers
• How personal collapse can become the beginning of lasting growth
• The engineering principles that apply directly to building a stronger life
• Jasper's practical framework: Be Good. Do Good. Evolve.

If this conversation encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that true strength begins beneath the surface.

#PersonalGrowth #Leadership #SuccessMindset #Resilience
#GrowYourselfPodcast

Why craving safety keeps you trapped, fear of change psychology, navigating life transitions, messy middle personal growth.

In this powerful conversation, Kevin McNulty sits down with transition coach Hillary Spiritos to explore why our brains seek familiarity during times of uncertainty—and how that instinct can keep us stuck.

Discover how to navigate the messy middle of personal change, distinguish other people's fears from your own truth, and develop the courage to move forward even when life feels uncertain. Learn why passion is built through practice, why growth requires discomfort, and how to stay grounded in your adult self during life's biggest transitions.

If you're feeling stuck, anxious, or uncertain about your next chapter, this conversation offers practical wisdom for embracing change and reclaiming your agency.

Why Your Craving for Safety Is Keeping You Trapped | Hillary Spiritos | Grow Yourself👍 Like the video💬 Share your thoughts🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mindset, growth, and personal transformation.⏱️ Suggested Chapters:00:00 – Introduction 08:00 – The Messy Middle16:00 – Fear & Familiarity24:00 – Why We Go Back32:00 – The Illusion of Safety40:00 – Adult Agency 💡48:00 – Family Projections56:00 – Fear vs Truth01:04:00 – Navigating Change01:12:00 – Identity & Growth01:20:00 – Closing ThoughtsGuest BioHillary Spiritos is a transition coach who specializes in helping individuals build courage, clarity, and momentum when traditional life and career paths no longer align. Moving fluidly across higher education, live event production, and the creative arts, she brings an intellectually curious and grounded approach to guiding clients through the complex process of sustainable identity shifts and self-discovery.CONNECT WITH HILLARYWebsite: https://batouttahell.net/Instagram/TikTok: @bat.outta_hellEmail: [email protected] WITH KEVINhttps://linktr.ee/kevinmcnultywhy your craving for safety is keeping you trapped, fear of change psychology, navigating life transitions, messy middle personal growth, adult agency explained, overcoming fear of change, emotional growth and healing, self awareness and identity, finding purpose after transition, passion is built not found, psychology of change explained, growth through discomfort, personal transformation journey, identity and authenticity, building emotional resilience, self improvement podcast, life coaching podcast, mental health and growth, motivation and mindset, grow yourself podcast, hillary spiritos, kevin mcnulty podcast#personalgrowth #selfimprovement #mindset #motivation #lifeadvice #mentalhealth #psychology #healing #purpose #growth #selfawareness #transition #authenticityAsk

AI is getting smarter. The question is whether we are.In this conversation, Kevin sits down with best-selling author and teacher Derek Rydall to explore one of the most urgent questions of our time: what does it mean to stay fully human as artificial intelligence reshapes nearly everything around us?Derek argues that this moment isn't just a technological shift. It's an evolutionary inflection point, one that will force us back to what the great teachers, philosophers, and wisdom traditions have always pointed toward: know yourself. And that the people who do that inner work won't just survive the AI age. They'll be irreplaceable in it.This is a conversation about inner intelligence, what we risk giving away in the name of convenience, the neuroscience of challenge and growth, and why self-knowledge might be the most important skill anyone can develop right now.In this episode:- Why AI will force a return to ancient self-knowledge- What children miss when technology removes struggle and friction- How convenience is quietly eroding cognition, meaning, and resilience- The difference between outer success and inner development- Why your most authentic self is your greatest competitive edgeDerek Rydall is the author of A Whole New Human, Emergence, and The Abundance Project. His work bridges psychology, spirituality, and human development and has been recognized by some of the most respected voices in personal growth.CONNECT WITH DEREK RYDALL:Website: derekrydall.comBook: derekrydall.com/wholenewhuman/Facebook: @DerekRydallIG: @drydallYouTube: @DerekRydallLinkedIn: derekrydallCONNECT WITH KEVINhttps://linktr.ee/kevinmcnultyGrow Yourself is a long-form podcast about human dynamics, resilience, identity, and the kind of growth that actually changes you.

In this episode of Grow Yourself, Kevin McNulty sits down with Kyle Merrick for a powerful conversation about identity, belonging, adoption, authenticity, and the hidden ways people lose themselves trying to fit into the world around them.Kyle shares how growing up adopted shaped his search for identity and why so many people unconsciously become versions of themselves they never intentionally chose. This conversation explores emotional honesty, social conditioning, approval-seeking, individuality, self-awareness, and the courage it takes to think for yourself.This is not about rebellion for the sake of chaos. It’s about consciously questioning inherited identity long enough to discover who you truly are underneath it all.Anarchy For A Day: What Happens When You Stop Obeying Who You Were Told To Be 😳| Grow Yourself👍 Like the video💬 Share your thoughts🔔 Subscribe for more deep conversations⏱️ Chapters :00:00 – Introduction03:00 – What Is “Anarchy For A Day”? 🔥07:00 – Identity & Social Conditioning11:00 – Growing Up Adopted16:00 – The Need for Belonging 💭21:00 – Approval-Seeking Behavior26:00 – Emotional Honesty & Authenticity31:00 – Why People Lose Themselves36:00 – Self Awareness & Individuality41:00 – Breaking Inherited Identity 🔄46:00 – The Courage to Think Differently51:00 – Finding Your True Self55:00 – Final Thoughts 57:00 – Closing MomentsGuest BioKyle Merrick is a Denver-based actor, voiceover artist, entrepreneur, and creator of AnarchyForTheDay.com. Through his work, Kyle explores individuality, identity, tactical differentiation, and the human tendency to conform. Drawing from personal experiences including adoption and sobriety, he combines humor, emotional honesty, and unconventional thinking to help people better understand themselves and the world around them.Connect with KyleInstagram: @anarchyforadayWebsite: AnarchyForTheDay.comConnect with KevinX: @kevinspeaks2uLinkedIn: @kevinmcnultyspeaksFacebook: @kevinrichardmcnultyInstagram: @kevinmcnultyspeaksLinktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/kevinmcnultyidentity authenticity 2026, social conditioning exposed, who were you told to be, adoption identity search, conscious interruption mindset, emotional honesty growth, individuality conformist world, self awareness journey, approval seeking behavior, inherited identity questioning, think for yourself, kyle merrick grow yourself, personal growth podcast, authenticity self discovery, anarchy for a day meaning, belonging vs fitting in#GrowYourselfPodcast #AnarchyForADay #KyleMerrick #IdentityAuthenticity#SocialConditioning #GrowYourself #WhoAreYou#Authenticity #SelfAwareness #Adoption#ConsciousLiving #Individuality #ThinkForYourself