IgKnight the King

Michael Diamond sits down with Tom Sheltad, founder of Inner Guide Expeditions and 30-year veteran of youth development work, to explore the profound challenges facing today's generation. Tom shares insights from 15 years of leading transformational wilderness expeditions, revealing how disconnection from self and community has become the core struggle for modern youth. They dive deep into the magic of the 72-hour digital detox, the PLUMBER framework for connecting with teens, and why lighthouse parenting beats helicopter parenting every time. Tom explains how wilderness accountability creates unshakeable confidence, why parents who save their kids from struggle actually harm them, and how intentional rites of passage can change the trajectory of a young person's life. This episode is essential listening for any parent, mentor, or adult who cares about raising empowered, connected, and purposeful young men and women. From practical parenting tools to the neuroscience of vulnerability, this conversation offers a roadmap for bridging the gap between generations and helping youth discover who they truly are.

Chapters:

1. (00:00:00) - Opening: The Power of Wilderness and Accountability
2. (00:01:00) - Community Support Through Challenges
3. (00:02:00) - Working with Youth: 30 Years of Experience and Rites of Passage
4. (00:03:00) - The Core Question: "Am I Okay?" and the Struggle with Enoughness
5. (00:06:00) - The 72-Hour Digital Detox: Why It's Magic
6. (00:10:00) - Disconnection After COVID: How Youth Lost Connection Skills
7. (00:12:00) - Creating Safety: The Four Guidelines of Circle
8. (00:16:00) - Mirror Neurons and the Power of Witnessed Vulnerability
9. (00:19:00) - Why Wilderness? Accountability, Wonder, and Building Confidence
10. (00:23:00) - Overcoming Mental Resistance: The Ice Bath Principle
11. (00:25:00) - The PLUMBER Framework: Connecting with Teens (Part 1)
12. (00:30:00) - PLUMBER Framework Continued: Listen, Meet, and Bring Inquiry
13. (00:36:00) - Empower: Don't Save Kids from Learning Experiences
14. (00:42:00) - Lighthouse Parenting vs Helicopter Parenting
15. (00:45:00) - Integration: Supporting Youth After Expeditions
16. (00:49:00) - Summer Adventures and Custom Family Expeditions
17. (00:54:00) - Closing: Intentional Parenting and Future Collaborations

Links And Resources:

1. Website
2. Tom Shelstad on LinkedIn
3. IgKnight the King
4. Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
5. IgKnight the King on Facebook
6. Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram
7. Dr. NaniLea Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Alex shares his journey from achievement-driven tech sales leader to founder of Alluviance, a movement bridging high performance with deep personal work. After helping grow a company from $25M to $250M in revenue while leading top-performing teams, Alex discovered that external success wasn't filling the void inside. He opens up about his struggles with anxiety, depression, and the achievement paradox—where hitting every goal left him asking "what's next?" within minutes. Alex reveals how he transformed his sales teams by introducing breath work, meditation, and mental health practices alongside traditional sales training, creating a culture where people didn't want to leave. He breaks down the "inner game" of sales, explaining why 93% of influence comes from tonality and energy rather than words, and shares practical strategies for connecting with yourself before connecting with prospects. From naming his insecure parts to embracing vulnerability as strength, Alex demonstrates how doing the deep inner work doesn't just make you a better person—it makes you exponentially more effective in business and life.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Welcome and introduction to Alex Kremer
• (00:01:33) - Alex's journey from tech sales to founding Alluivance
• (00:03:42) - The achievement paradox and filling the void
• (00:06:48) - Combining conventional success with conscious leadership
• (00:09:00) - Introducing breathwork and mental health to sales teams
• (00:12:43) - The importance of self-connection in sales
• (00:15:00) - The 7-38-55 rule: How you really influence people
• (00:19:00) - Finding your North Star and vision
• (00:22:00) - Building capacity through discomfort
• (00:25:13) - The shift from corporate identity to essence-led living
• (00:28:00) - Commission breath and genuine connection
• (00:33:42) - Meeting your shadow parts: Herbert and emotional wholeness
• (00:37:00) - Vulnerability as strength in leadership
• (00:42:00) - The sacred formula: Community, craft, and self
• (00:46:00) - Real results and transformations from Alluviance

Links And Resources:

• Website
• Alex Kremer on LinkedIn
• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Dr. Michael Diamond sits down with Tom Shelstad, founder of InnerGuide Expeditions, to explore the profound impact of wilderness rites of passage on teenage development. Tom shares his journey from juvenile correctional officer to wilderness guide, revealing how teens discover their authentic selves when unplugged from technology and immersed in nature. The conversation dives deep into the screen addiction epidemic affecting both parents and children, the transformational 72-hour threshold that occurs in wilderness settings, and why modern society desperately needs intentional rites of passage for adolescents. Tom and Michael discuss their collaboration on Ignite Junior, a program designed to help fathers guide their sons through this critical transition to adulthood. This episode is essential listening for any parent who wants to stay connected with their teenager and help them develop lasting confidence and self-awareness.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Welcome: Why This Conversation Matters for Your Journey
• (00:00:14) - Reclaiming What's Been Lost: The Power of Rites of Passage
• (00:00:41) - Meet Tom Shelstad: From Juvenile Officer to Wilderness Guide
• (00:01:32) - The Crisis We're Ignoring: Why Unplugging Changes Everything
• (00:03:13) - Inside InnerGuide Expeditions: Where Boys Become Men
• (00:05:24) - The Screen Addiction Epidemic (Parents: You're Not Exempt)
• (00:07:05) - The 72-Hour Threshold: Digital Detox to Analog Awakening
• (00:12:59) - Building Your Legacy: Ignite Junior and Next Steps

Links And Resources:

• Website: https://tinyurl.com/mr9vc926
• Tom Shelstad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-shelstad-36754633/
• IgKnight the King: https://igknighttheking.com/
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond: https://calendly.com/drmichaeldiamond/30min
• IgKnight the King on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igknighttheking/
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiamond42

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this powerful episode, Michael sits down with Francis Piché, founder of The Knight Club men's group, for a deep dive into authentic men's work and personal transformation. Francis shares his raw journey from a corporate photocopier salesman to a men's work facilitator, including the pivotal moment when he nearly ended his life and how his brother's intervention changed everything. They explore the psychology of fear versus excitement, the courage required to step into the unknown, and why most men wait for a "truck" to hit them before making necessary changes. Francis introduces The Heroic Code - a framework built on humility, excellence, respect, optimism, integrity, and courage - and explains why being the "lighthouse" in turbulent times is essential masculine energy. The conversation covers decision-making, the power of "I am" statements, the illusion of the pro/con list, and why 95% of our behavior is controlled by subconscious programming. They discuss the critical difference between goals that drain you versus goals that excite you, the importance of constant spaced repetition in rewiring the brain, and why your focus determines your reality. Francis shares the staggering statistic that your chance of being alive is one in 400 trillion - making life itself more miraculous than winning the lottery 300,000 times - and challenges men to use their unique gifts fully. This episode is a call to action for any man feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or ready to step into his highest potential.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - The Raw Truth About Men's Work: Why Most Men Stay Stuck (And How to Break Free)
• (00:02:15) - Fear vs Excitement: The Same Physiology
• (00:05:42) - Francis's Origin Story: From Montreal to Vancouver
• (00:12:28) - Choosing Money Over Heart: The Four-Year Mistake
• (00:18:35) - Walking on Fire with Tony Robbins
• (00:21:10) - The Heroic Code: Six Values That Build Unstoppable Men
• (00:29:47) - I Am the Lighthouse: Standing Solid in the Storm
• (00:35:20) - Decision Before Clarity: Making the Leap Into the Unknown
• (00:42:18) - Your One in 400 Trillion Chance to Be Alive
• (00:46:52) - The Knight Club: Building Brotherhood and Legacy

Links And Resources:

• Connect with Francis Piche and The Knight Club: https://www.francispiche.com/
• Francis Piché on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francispiche/?originalSubdomain=ca
• IgKnight the King: https://igknighttheking.com/
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond: https://calendly.com/drmichaeldiamond/30min
• IgKnight the King on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igknighttheking/
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiamond42

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Michael Diamond sits down with Alok Appadurai to unpack real-world rites of passage, the power of acknowledgment, nervous system regulation, and upgrading the "invisible operating system" that silently runs a man's life. You'll learn a simple, powerful rite of passage you can run this month, the three A's (Awareness, Acknowledgment, Action), how to "repeat to imprint" so your words land deep, why asking for help is strength not weakness, nervous system regulation for fathers, partners, and leaders, and how to upgrade your Invisible OS across spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, and relational mastery. Expect practical frameworks you can apply with your son, your partner, your team, and yourself.

- 00:00:00 – Welcome

- 00:07:35 – The backstory: sobriety as a father's first rite of passage

- 00:10:10 – Designing a rite of passage with AI… then trusting presence

- 00:21:37 – The ceremony: chairs, sage, sunlight, acknowledgment

- 00:22:10 – Pouring in without pumping ego: "repeat to imprint"

- 00:25:00 – Say what your father didn't: sex, body, money, women, power

- 00:29:20 – Men are parched for acknowledgment: how to water the soul

- 00:34:00 – Taming ego while building a sturdy core self

- 00:40:50 – Invisible Operating System: finding and removing malware

- 00:47:30 – Asking for help fast: rewiring the lone-wolf myth

• Alok Appadurai -Founder of The Uplift Millions School
• IgKnight the King - Next Immersion November 13-16

In this solo episode, host Michael Diamond takes listeners deep into the Shadow Warrior archetype, the most destructive of the four masculine archetypes. Exploring both poles—the bully fueled by rage, control, and workaholism, and the coward marked by avoidance, passivity, and self-betrayal—Michael challenges men to reflect on where these patterns show up in their lives. Through raw prompts and powerful reframes, he reveals how intensity is often used to avoid intimacy, how control shrinks freedom, and why betraying one’s truth erodes personal power. By confronting these shadows and stepping into the Sacred Warrior, men can transform rage into strength, control into discipline, and avoidance into authentic leadership.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction: The Shadow Warrior Archetype
• 00:01:58 - The Destructive Power of the Shadow Warrior
• 00:02:25 - The Two Poles: The Bully and The Coward
• 00:03:19 - Deep Dive: The Bully Archetype (Positive Pole)
• 00:04:52 - Bully Question 1: Using Intensity to Avoid Intimacy
• 00:07:09 - Bully Question 2: Addiction to Control
• 00:08:26 - Bully Question 3: Bulldozing Emotions for Productivity
• 00:10:01 - Key Lesson: Emotions as Verbs, Not Identity
• 00:11:25 - Deep Dive: The Coward Archetype (Negative Pole)
• 00:12:50 - Coward Question 1: Avoiding Confrontation
• 00:13:12 - Coward Question 2: Lacking Clear Boundaries
• 00:14:07 - Coward Question 3: Betraying Your Truth for Acceptance
• 00:16:19 - The Ideal: Accessing the Sacred Warrior
• 00:17:15 - Committing to a Mission
• 00:18:21 - Becoming the "Chain Breaker" in Your Family
• 00:19:10 - The Power of Brotherhood and Vulnerability
• 00:20:07 - Conclusion and Final Prompts for Self-Inquiry
• 00:20:41 - Doing the Inner Work for the Next Generation

Links And Resources:

• ALIVE Quantum Chiropractic Care 
• Wild Rose Membership
• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram
• Dr. NaniLea Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Dr. Michael Diamond provides a guide for men to embody the modern-day warrior archetype. He challenges the common cultural view of the warrior as "toxic" or "devoid of feeling," asserting that the modern warrior is, in fact, fully connected to his love. The episode outlines four essential pillars that men must master to show up for themselves, their families, and their businesses. These pillars consist of having a transpersonal commitment, practicing discipline and accountability, understanding the warrior's relationship to other archetypes, and embodying the core roles of the warrior.

The episode is framed with a sense of urgency, referencing the crisis of men taking their own lives and leaving behind "trails of pain". Dr. Diamond concludes that a man's "number one job... is to be alive" and that by asking better questions, men can enter a state of growth and show up more fully in their lives.

Chapters:

• 00:01:00 - Welcome to IgKnight King Podcast
• 00:02:15 - The Four Pillars of the Warrior
• 00:03:45 - Pillar 1: Transpersonal Commitment to a Mission
• 00:05:30 - Pre-Deciding What You're Willing to Die For
• 00:07:20 - Pillar 2: The Strategy of Discipline and Accountability
• 00:09:25 - Radical Ownership and the 'AAA' Framework
• 00:10:40 - Why Pain is an Essential Signal for Growth
• 00:12:10 - Pillar 3: Integrating the Four Masculine Archetypes
• 00:13:45 - The Roles of the Lover, Magician, and King
• 00:15:45 - Pillar 4: The Three Core Roles of the Warrior
• 00:16:30 - The First Role: The Provider
• 00:17:30 - The Second Role: The Protector
• 00:19:40 - The Third Role: The Procreator
• 00:20:30 - Recap and Actionable Self-Reflection
• 00:22:30 - The Power of Asking Better Questions
• 00:23:40 - The Crisis of Men's Suicide and the Mandate to Live

Links And Resources:

• ALIVE Quantum Chiropractic Care 
• Wild Rose Membership
• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram
• Dr. NaniLea Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this solo episode, Dr. Michael Diamond unpacks two of the most powerful teachings from the recent Lover Immersion: desire and commitment. He explores how true masculine strength is rooted not in suppressing emotions but in aligning with deeper, God-given desires and devoting fully to sacred commitments — especially in relationships. Through personal stories, spiritual insight, and even the comeback tale of cycling legend Greg LeMond, Michael shows how living with desire and honoring commitment can transform love, family, business, and legacy. This is a call for men to slow down, reclaim authenticity, and embody the kingly presence that fuels fulfillment in every area of life

Links And Resources:

• ALIVE Quantum Chiropractic Care 
• Wild Rose Membership
• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram
• Dr. NaniLea Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Dr. Michael Diamond breaks down why comfort is the true enemy for men seeking growth, presence, and purpose. Drawing inspiration from David Goggins’ relentless mindset, Michael exposes how high-achieving men plateau when they settle for “good enough” and slip into what he calls the Groundhog Day trap — living the same day on repeat while their soul goes numb. He challenges you to confront the poison of energy neutrality, reclaim the Lover archetype’s vitality, and step back into the discomfort that fuels the Warrior’s edge. If you’re ready to destroy complacency and ignite your masculine power, this wake-up call will shake you awake.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 – Stuck in the Loop? This Is Your Wake-Up Call
• 00:01:25 – David Goggins Was Right: Comfort Is a Lie
• 00:03:05 – The Hidden Epidemic: Comfort Is Killing Masculinity
• 00:05:07 – The Lover Archetype: How to Feel Fully Alive Again
• 00:05:49 – Meet the Shadow Lover: Addicted, Impotent, and Checked Out
• 00:08:28 – Break the Cycle: Escape the Numb, ‘Meh’ Life
• 00:20:57 – Masculine Legacy Starts Here: Why Men Must Rise Now
• 00:26:17 – Choose Growth Over Comfort — Or Watch Your Fire Die

Links And Resources:

• ALIVE Quantum Chiropractic Care 
• Wild Rose Membership
• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram
• Dr. NaniLea Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Michael talks about the difference between responding and reacting to the battles men face in life, pointing out the energy and mindset men bring to every circumstance. Michael discusses how perception shapes outcomes, why men must move through emotions rather than avoid them, and how energy precedes form in both personal and professional growth. This is your call to live with intention, embrace purpose, and navigate life’s storms with the clarity of a warrior.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Trading Health for Wealth: A Dangerous Bargain
• 00:00:54 - Welcome to Ignite the King: Your Next Bold Move
• 00:00:58 - Warrior Energy Unveiled: Rising Above Circumstances
• 00:01:48 - The Fork in the Road: Respond or React?
• 00:02:28 - Energy and Perception: Your Invisible Guides
• 00:04:21 - The Emotional Compass: Navigating Stormy Waters
• 00:08:41 - Unlocking SRI: A Portal to Self-Connection
• 00:10:30 - Energy First: Practical Shifts That Change Everything
• 00:23:26 - Emotional Mastery: The Hidden Key to Growth
• 00:27:55 - Living Intentionally: Crafting a Life on Purpose
• 00:30:36 - Closing Reflection: Harnessing Your Inner Warrior

Links And Resources:

• IgKnight the King
• Book a Call with Dr. Michael Diamond
• IgKnight the King on Facebook
• Dr. Michael Diamond on Instagram

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to IgKnight the King? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!