In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with Kevin Stark, a retired Navy SEAL with 22 years of military experience who now leads men’s retreats and does leadership consulting and coaching. 

We talk about why grit alone eventually breaks you, and how sustainable high performance really comes from learning to pulse your energy through life, push hard, recover on purpose, then come back stronger. Kevin explains arete, the Greek idea of excellence through virtue, and how building an ethos, values, and simple tools like breathwork, mantras, and staying centered can help you lead with clarity when life gets loud. We connect it to martial arts and judo, that idea of flowing with pressure instead of resisting everything, and we get real about fatherhood, identity shifts, and the hidden fear most people carry, am I good enough, and what will people think of me. 

If you are a founder, executive, veteran, or parent trying to stay grounded while carrying a lot, this conversation is about mental toughness with wisdom, calm strength, and building a life that actually feels meaningful.