Two hundred episodes. I’m still not chasing charts—I’m chasing change. In this milestone episode, I pull together the 10 biggest lessons from every interview, solo riff, on-stage presentation, and conversation with YOU. If you’re new here, you picked the perfect moment to jump in.

Here’s the heartbeat:

Follow the community on Instagram at @IDareYouPod and grab my Friday email at idareyoupod.com.

The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding. Let’s go.

Plus: Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod

TikTok: @idareyoupod

Tony Miltenberger is a pastor, Army veteran, executive coach, podcaster, and author of Wisdom in the Wound: How God Uses Your Past to Shape Who You’re Becoming. 

Tony brings over 15 years of leadership experience in non-profit leadership and is the creator and host of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, with over 400 episodes recorded to date.

His message blends real-world grit with spiritual wisdom and practical tools to help you live a better life.

Tony is a devoted husband and father who draws strength and inspiration from his family. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Karen, for over 20 years, and together they are raising three incredible children, Connor, Caleb, and Shiloh.

Plus: Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Connect with Tony:

www.follow2leadcoaching.com

Instagram: @follow2leadpodcast

Instagram: @twmilt

For high achievers who are tired of being everything for everyone, this episode is your permission slip to stop over-explaining and apologizing for setting boundaries in life.

My special guest, Dr. Jen Fry, is a TEDx speaker, conflict expert, and author of a dynamite new book, “I Said No: A No-BS Guide to Boundaries Without the Guilt.”

She owns JenFryTalks and also owns Coordle, a B2B tech company tackling youth sports travel chaos.

Jen understands how conflict within athletics, corporate, or professional settings can impact a team. Jen wants to help you build the skills you need to navigate those hard but essential conversations and come out on top. 

She is a veteran coach with over 15 years of experience at the collegiate level with coaching stints at Elon University, University of Illinois - 2011 National Runner-up, Washington State University, and Norfolk State University. 

She received her PhD in Sports Geography from Michigan State University.

Connect with Dr. Jen Fry:

www.jenfrytalks.com

Instagram: @jenfrytalks

In this solo episode, I challenge everything you thought you knew about leadership and communication. Are you being "nice" or are you actually being kind? Spoiler alert: there's a massive difference, and it's costing you credibility, power, and results.

I reveal why people-pleasing is sabotaging your leadership and provide a clear framework to become a Kind, Clear, and Assertive Leader: You'll learn:

Whether you're leading a team, managing up, or navigating personal relationships, this episode gives you the tactical tools to stop avoiding hard conversations and start having them with dignity, respect, and results.

This episode will fundamentally change how you show up at work and in life.

The I Dare You “Kind Framework”: (Kind, Clear, Assertive)

Step 1: Prepare the truth (Give specific evidence)

Step 2: What is the impact? (Deliver in a calm, clear, and kind manner)

Step 3: Make the assertive ask (specific request - no fuzzy agreements)

Step 4: Set boundaries (Clear next steps / decisions of what happens next)

Step 5: Reinforce respect (affirm them / thank them)

Plus: Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod

TikTok: @idareyoupod

Feeling stuck in the midlife drift? In this powerful episode, Jason Smith—fitness coach, owner of Fit in Midlife, and Men's Fitness Magazine cover star—shares his incredible transformation from corporate burnout to thriving in his 50s. 

Discover how he escaped 30 years of neglecting his health, the real dangers of alcohol that nobody talks about, and why "safety in numbers" kept him trapped for so long. 

Jason reveals practical insights on recognizing when you're drifting through life, the connection between alcohol and declining health, and how prioritizing fitness became the foundation for transforming not just his body, but his relationships, career, and entire outlook on life. 

If you're over 40 and ready to reclaim your energy, vitality, and purpose, this conversation will inspire you to take action today.

Plus: Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Connect with Jason:

www.fitinmidlife.com

Instagram: @fitinmidlife

TikTok: @fitinmidlife

Amanda Goetz is a 2x Founder, CEO and 4x CMO. She is an inspirational writer and content creator captivating millions of people every month through her social insights and newsletter “Life’s a Game”. 

Amanda’s new best-selling book, Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and (actually) Love What You Have, is a rally cry about thriving without the grind.

Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to lead marketing teams at Ernst & Young, The Knot and still advises as Fractional CMO to multiple startups. 

She started her last company, House of Wise, during the pandemic in her garage, raised two rounds of venture capital and sold it in 2022 all while homeschooling three young children as a single mom. 

She found love again and lives with her partner and 3 kiddos in Miami, FL after a decade dodging hustle culture in NYC.

Plus: Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Connect with Amanda:

Instagram: @theamandagoetz

www.amandagoetz.com

January is overrated. In this solo episode, I flip the cultural script and make a compelling case for starting your goals in October. You’ll learn why the next 90 days create natural urgency without panic, how to use “fresh start” effects that stack in your favor, and the simple weekly ritual that makes progress feel easier, not heavier.

What you’ll learn:

Plus: Grab 3 free custom PDFs (Effortless visual synopsis, workbook, and Be At Ease worksheet) at idareupod.com.

Follow @idareyoupod and share this episode with someone who wants their best year to start now.

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod

TikTok: @idareyoupod

On this episode of the I Dare You Podcast, we welcome Alfred Brenner, a former Marine Corps K9 Handler whose life took a dramatic turn in 2010. After completing Marine Corps Boot Camp at Paris Island, Alfred's path led him to Military Police School and eventually to become a K9 Handler, training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas.

While deployed in 2010, Sgt. Brenner was severely injured by an IED explosion that tragically took the life of his K9 partner, Grief. Through numerous surgeries and months of physical recovery, Alfred discovered that the emotional pain of losing his partner far outweighed his physical wounds. It was during this healing journey that he found his new purpose.

Before medically retiring from the Marines, Alfred made one final contribution by helping train the next generation of handlers. Today, his mission has transformed into sharing his powerful experiences as a handler and inspiring others with his message of resilience and how to "Survive with Grief".

Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners, be part of The Dare Club and get your FREE Thrive visual synopsis, Thrive worksheet, and Well-Being Assessment PDFs!  Simply go to www.idareyoupod.com

Connect with Alfred:

Social: @sgtbrenner

[email protected]

www.survivingwithgrief.com

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Corinne Low, Associate Professor at the Wharton School and author of "Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours." Dr. Low shares her groundbreaking research on the modern challenges facing working mothers and why women often find themselves "winning the bread and baking it too."

Drawing from 15 years of original research and her personal journey as a working mother, Dr. Low reveals startling data about gender roles at home versus the workplace. Discover why mothers today spend twice as much time with their children as previous generations, how female breadwinners still do twice the housework of their male partners, and why the explosion in parenting time since the 1990s has created a "perfect storm" for working women.

Whether you're juggling career and family or simply interested in the data behind gender dynamics, this conversation offers both validation and practical insights for creating more balanced lives. Don't miss this compelling discussion about the structural challenges women face and how we might reimagine what "having it all" really means.

Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners, be part of The Dare Club and get your FREE Thrive visual synopsis, Thrive worksheet, and Well-Being Assessment PDFs!  Simply go to www.idareyoupod.com

Connect with Dr. Corinne Low:

www.corinnelow.substack.com

www.corinnelow.com

Instagram: @corinnelowphd

What’s the ONE thing that separates success from failure? In this powerful episode, I reveal why consistency is the ultimate secret weapon of high performers.

Discover the Dare Consistency Blueprint - a proven three-step system that will transform how you approach your goals and help you push through the ‘murky middle’.

Learn why doing hard things first thing each morning can revolutionize your productivity, how to master the critical ‘murky middle’ where most people quit, and the surprising research about consistency in leadership that you can’t afford to ignore.

Whether you’re starting a new project or stuck in the middle of one, this episode provides the practical tools you need to join the top 1% in whatever matters most to you.

Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners, be part of The Dare Club and get your FREE Thrive visual synopsis, Thrive worksheet, and Well-Being Assessment PDFs!  Simply go to www.idareyoupod.com

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod

TikTok: @idareyoupod