At one point Jeff Sabins was the most blown-up United States Marine in service. Meaning, no Marine wearing a uniform faced as many IEDs as him. But we don’t talk about that . Because Jeff sees himself as more than a warrior. He sees himself as a loving father of a child recovering from a brain tumor; and as an author who just finished his first book, The American Terrorist. This is Jeff's story.

Josh was prescribed medications that were supposed to help. But soon the pills that eased his pain after each back surgery, started transforming his mind. One surgery, turned to two, turned two, turned to six. Each op brought with it copious amounts of pain killers. They were soon his only medicine, and Josh became addicted to opiates. This is his story of coming and staying clean. Happy eight years, Josh!

After a raid gone awry while overseas during his time in the Marines, Kionte lost his right leg. Though he recalls the moments after in a matter-of-fact tone, the truth was the Kionte lost more than just his leg that day. 

He lost his self confidence, his self esteem, his ability to ever walk into a room and not be looked at twice. 

What followed were bouts of emotions he never faced before: melancholy, depression, and suicidal thoughts. 

How has Kionte defeated depression? Befriending it.

Cobey’s life has been defined by fighting, from his early days of fighting against the influence of drugs in his closest circles, to dedicating his childhood and collegiate years to wrestling, Cobey has, in all areas of his life, fought for who he is today.

He's also fighting for the kids back home. Back home the story goes: star athlete busted for drug abuse. Who could show the next generation of kids that they could train hard and not give their live to drug abuse? Queue Cobey.

Growing up, Mario seemed normal, even average. Some of his labels were inherited. As Mario so intimately recalls, he was told that “no one in the family is good at math.” So he wasn’t either, he thought. No one in his immediately family had graduated college (let alone an Ivy League), fought in U.S. Special Operations, or started the application process to become an astronaut at NASA either. But Mario has since done all these things. But How?

In this episode, I speak with Mary Foss, one of the entrepreneurs making Pflugerville - a suburb of Austin and the 3rd fastest growing city in the USA - such a desirable place to call home.

Her and her husband Josh founded West Pecan Coffee + Beer, soon it became the epicenter for town. A place for bible studies and business meetings; where locals work remotely, and people gather to talk about their new lives they’re starting down the road after moving - most likely - from California

Risto Miikkulainen is a professor of neural and evolutionary computation at the University of Texas, Austin. As a researcher of artificial intelligence, his life’s work has ushered in findings and technologies that are aiding in the goal to make machines autonomous. What does this have to do with resilience? Risto gives a few illuminating examples where AI thrives under adverse conditions. In fact, he argues that high-pressure environments are an essential element to the development of AI.

Miguel Leon has overcame homelessness and drug addiction. He’s escaped from gangs. He is born and bred from the streets. To many, his story can feel flat. Because we love the Hollywood arcs. We love a plot line that moves from struggle to a clean victory. But that victory isn’t so clear with Miguel.

As I think about Miguel’s story I’m genuinely curious to know, what - to you - makes a person resilient?

I think it’s about the fight in them, not the victories behind them.

Katie K is a management consultant known for coming out at work. In short time, her message became something of a buzz among business professionals. Her story was shared in a recent  feature in the Financial Times and in the June Print Issue of Oprah Magazine.

Matt Young is the author of Eat The Apple, which has been called the “Iliad of the Iraq War.” His memoir received glowing - and not-so-glowing - remarks from critics. The reason for the latter lies in Matt’s vulnerability. Though equipped with the pen, Matt chooses not to write himself as a hero in his own book. Instead, he degrades his existence. Sparring no detail, Matt describes his infidelity toward his then fiancée, his obsession with masturbation, and abuse toward junior Marines.