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Earnest (CPT Retired) is a native-born Floridian with Caribbean heritage from St. Kitts. He graduated from West Point and went on to serve in the military for 7 years. While in the military, he deployed twice to Iraq and his last assignment was commanding a 114 Soldiers and 3 Civilian unit company that provided secure satellite communications for the President of the United States and Joint Chief of Staffs.

He has been married to his wife, whom he met in the 6th grade, for 14 years and has 3 kids and a Bichon Friese which we dig into in this amazing conversation. Sit back and get ready for a raw and deeply moving interview with coach Chris Wilson and our guest and good friend Earnest.

"The demons were in the basement working out and they flexed and it took me out... back home, not at war. Peace is what took me out." -Earnest Smith

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

3:14 – Get to know Earnest Smith and his mission to prevent veteran suicide

7:14 – Earnest shares his deep love for Batman and how it inspired his mission

13:57 – Earnest opens up about his struggles with mental health

19:15 – Battling the invisible scars of war

22:43 – Earnest on dealing with psychological pain

27:44 – The importance of focusing on what you can control

33:37 – Setting boundaries: What is it and why is it important

40:09 – The cost of bottling up your emotions

45:09 – The language of emotions

48:13 – The power of taking action

50:36 – Growth mindset: How your thoughts control your life

53:54 – The importance of having a support system

1:00:04 – How to treat each day as a bonus

1:05:52 – Surviving a mental health crisis: The importance of asking for help

1:13:33 – Where you can go to connect with Earnest

1:19:50 – Discover Earnest’s ‘L.I.F.T.’

Resources

EarnestLiving.Blog

Connect w/ Earnest:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Direct Email: [email protected]

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Randy grew up in a poor working-class family that always struggled living paycheck to paycheck. He discovered at the age of twelve, being a business owner could be his ticket to escape his family’s financial struggle.

Fast forward several years, his self-managing, self-improving businesses that ran on autopilot continued to have healthy growth and huge profits whether he was there or not.

In addition to building his empires, silently, Randy worked with other ambitious entrepreneurs consulting, advising, and creating strategies for them, while seeking to always find a better way.

He has helped:

• 196 struggling/brink of bankrupt business owners become multi-millionaires.
• 27 business owners grow from seven figures to mid-level nine figures.
• 28 billionaires.
• 19 celebrities and high-profile icons.
• Trained more than 10,000 small businesses.

After selling his last business, he took a five-year sabbatical to gain a vision what he wanted to do over the next twenty-five years to make a huge difference in other people’s lives. As a result, he developed an initiative he calls the Bootstrap Billionaire.

The Bootstrap Billionaire requires that Randy place 100% of his assets and income in a trust and not have access for ten years.

He cannot have access to resources or relationships built up to this point. He must start at zero, no income, no assets, no resources, no previous relationships.

He can only tap into the knowledge and experience he has acquired over time. Today on Strong by Design co-host Mike Westerdal speaks with his mentor about his beginnings in business and what it takes to REPEAT success over and over again.

"We all have unique gifts and one of the gifts I had was being able to find and attract really awesome people." -Randy Davis

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

2:08 – Randy Davis shares his entrepreneurial journey and how it all started

7:32 – Randy on what makes his businesses different

11:50 – The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people

13:58 – Discover the things that contribute to business success

19:14 – Why it is important to work on your business, not in your business

27:05 – The benefits of working smarter instead of harder

32:48 – Randy recounts his experience with business planning

37:39 – The Bootstrap Billionaire: Everything you need to know

42:05 – Why growth mindset matters

45:00 – Where you can go to connect with Randy Davis

Resources

• RandyDavisCoaching.com

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Jim Carrey famously commented,

"I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer."

Even self-help gurus are moving away from the idea of pursuing "happiness", talking instead about meaning or fulfillment.

Listen in on today's Strong By Design podcast as Mike Westerdal and Chris Wilson discuss this endless pursuit of happiness in a material world filled with distraction, anxiety and depression with Bob Brubaker and John Trebino from the PowerBreak podcast.

"All of this pursuit of happiness is meaningless without God." (King Solomon)

-Mike Westerdal

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guests on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

3:11 – What does it really mean to be happy?

7:12 – Happiness vs. Joy: What’s the difference?

14:35 – The joy of serving God

21:40 – The spirit of gratitude

24:31 – Why you should celebrate small wins

27:50 – Understanding the difference between Sanctification and Justification

32:34 – Why discipline is the highest form of love

41:58 – Bob and John talk about the prosperity gospel

47:47 – The power of reading the Bible

52:15 – The importance of trusting God’s way

57:58 – The joy of walking with God

1:04:36 – Where you can go to connect with Bob Brubaker & John Trebino

Resources

• Bob’s Blog: BobBrubaker.com
• The PowerBreak Podcast

Connect w/ Bob and John:

• Direct Email: [email protected]

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If you have not yet heard about out, or seen the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy … you will probably be hearing things about it very soon.  Especially with Earth Day upon us.

Seaspiracy is a documentary that looks in the deeper issues of the environmental impact of the commercial fishing industry.  And as with all documentaries, this one is certainly getting its’ fair share of raised eyebrows as far as the accuracy of the facts presented in the film.

In this episode Mike Westerdal, Samantha Harrison & Coach Tonya sit down to discuss some of the highlights and issues this documentary brings to light.  No one here is a marine biologist, marine scientist or environmental scientist. No one here is, or has, any ties to anyone in the commercial fishing industry.  However, we all watched the episode and have our own opinions, as I’m sure you will as well.

Is commercial fishing killing our oceans?  Is the only solution to this problem to get people to remove fish from their diet entirely?  Join us as we talk about these questions and much more.

"We can't fix commercial fishing, that's corporate greed, we need food to eat and people need jobs... there's only so much you can do to regulate it." -Samantha Harrison

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

1:15 – ‘Seaspiracy’: What is the documentary about?

4:23 – ‘Strong by Design’ hosts Tonya Fines, Mike Westerdal and Samantha Harrison share their honest thoughts about ‘Seaspiracy’

8:44 – Understanding Bycatch: What is it and how does it work?

14:40 – The truth about sustainable fishing

18:43 – The importance of protecting coral reefs

24:25 – Wild fish vs. farmed fish: Which is better?

30:15 – Simple ways you can do to save the oceans

32:45 – Do fish have feelings?

35:00 – Tonya Fines on fish farming in Florida

41:11 – Key takeaways from the episode

Resources

• Seaspiracy

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Eating disorders are a serious illness that are debilitating and if not treated correctly, can be fatal.  And it seems as though much of the attention with eating disorders largely falls to the female population … why is this?!

Dave Mathas was an Army Combat Vet, he was a front-line defender, he loved being a soldier and he believed he had it all together and had his life under control.  But Dave was spiraling out of control … he was anorexic and he was brilliant at hiding it from everyone around him.  In Dave’s mind, nothing was wrong with him and he DID NOT NEED HELP!

By all accounts Dave Mathas should not be here today, but he is, and his story is nothing short of amazing and one of the most inspiring I’ve ever heard.

Today Coach Tonya sits down with Dave Mathas, BioLayne coach and Author, to talk about his journey from near death to stepping back into life with not only a healthy body, but a healthy mind and a very joyful and fulfilling life.

"I knew what I was doing was not good but I couldn't control myself. It's very debilitating and that's how I felt for many years." -David Mathas

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

1:49 – Get to know Physique and Strength Coach Dave Mathas

7:00 – Dave opens up about his struggles with mental health and severe eating disorder

11:30 – Dave on how he dealt with anxiety, OCD, depression

16:03 – Understanding the relational dimensions of the human being

23:11 – Dave shares what it's like to live and cope with anxiety and eating disorders

28:23 – Dave on building a wall between himself and the rest of the world

31:05 – Road to recovery: How he overcame his mental health issues and eating disorder

40:00 – The power of Faith

45:22 – Dave on coaching and helping others achieve their health and fitness goals

52:52 – Why taking action matters

56:15 – The stigma of male eating disorders

1:07:32 – The effects of stress on the body

1:08:57 – Where you can go to connect with Dave Mathas

Resources

• CoachDavidMathas.com

SConnect w/ Dave:

• Instagram
• Facebook personal 
• Facebook business

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The words you use when you speak to yourself matter immensely.

We can be our own best friend or worst critic. And before anyone else in the world can make a difference in our lives, WE have to realize it all begins with the relationship we have with ourselves.

What we tell ourselves, what we see in the mirror and how we truly feel about our bodies counts more than anyone else. It holds far more weight than most of us realize.

Yet we are quick to blow that off as if it’s not critical to our own well-being and instead focus on the words and feelings of others. Ultimately this approach backfires as we begin to believe what we see and hear from the world around us.

Today coach Chris Wilson sits down with fat loss coach and former fitness model Becky Fox to tackle the topic of self-love and how we speak to ourselves.

"The more we tell ourselves negative things the more we're going to believe it." -Becky Fox

Time Stamps

0:24 - Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

4:24 – Get to know Fat Loss Coach Becky Fox

8:01 – Extreme exercise: Why too much exercise may be a bad thing

14:28 – Becky shares fitness journey, struggles with weight-loss

21:10 – Self-talk: Why you must be careful about what you say to yourself

26:00 – The importance of having a support system

29:40 – The power of baby steps

35:55 – Becky on helping women look and feel their best through fitness and nutrition program

42:30 – Discover the secret to fitness success

50:10 – Becky on how does age affect your fitness

1:00:07 – Connect with Coach Becky through her social media channels, official website

Resources

• BeckyFoxFitness.com

Connect w/ Becky:

• Instagram
• Facebook

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Life is crazy busy and filled with distractions of all kinds.

And in this daily grind we all need easy decisions that help us move closer to the muscular physique and optimal health we desire. But how do we make it sustainable and lasting?

Today coach Chris Wilson speaks with Fit Father Project creator Dr Anthony Balduzzi about the many pitfalls and success stories he sees every day with FFP.

Dr Anthony understands the demands of life and realizes that through structure based on our own individual needs we can all have the body and life we dream of. His passion for family and fitness is evident in this fantastic conversation on Strong By Design.

"People need a system, a set of routines and behaviors that fits into your life uniquely." -Dr Anthony Balduzzi

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

5:38 – Dr. Anthony Balduzzi recounts how he got into health and fitness

8:28 – How the loss of a loved one pushed him to start the Fit Father Project and Fit Mother Project

13:48 - Dr. Anthony on what makes their nutrition and exercise program successful

21:01 – Why good nutrition is the most important part of fitness

30:53 – Dr. Anthony on what are the most important aspects of a successful weight loss program

36:56 – The power of the pen: Why you should write things down

42:40 – Dr. Anthony on helping busy parents to get healthy, lose weight through nutrition and exercise plan

47:45 – How to turn your struggles into triumphs

49:27 – Learn more about Dr. Anthony’s Fit Father Project and Fit Mother Project: official website and social media channels

Resources

• Fit Father Project

Connect w/ Dr Anthony:

• YouTube
• Facebook

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• CriticalBench.com
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We experience the world using mostly physical touch and our minds but our connection to life as a whole goes much deeper than that.

Dr. Chrisna Botha-Ravyse is a seasoned academic researcher, educator and consummate professional speaker.  Known by her clients and as “Dr. Chris”, she is a nationally recognized wellness expert and Podcast Host. 

She earned a PhD in Human Movement Science, has written multiple research publications in the field of nutrition, physical activity and health education. Her health, wellness and coaching organization teaches clients revolutionary strategies that empower them to achieve optimum health performance.

In today’s podcast with holistic health practitioner Tonya Fines, Dr Chris talks about what a healthy mindset looks like, her wellness philosophy, good and bad daily lifestyle habits, and what is optimal weight loss.

"Whenever you embark on a health journey, you need to do the mind work as well... it's why most people who lose weight fast gain it all back." -Dr Chrisna Ravyse

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

1:42 – Wellness coach and physiologist Dr. Chrisna ‘Dr Chris’ Botha-Ravyse recounts how she got into the health and fitness industry

8:43 – Dr. Chris on helping people transform their lives through coaching

11:08 – Dr. Chris talks about her wellness philosophy

14:05 – Why it’s important to celebrate small successes

17:23 – Fear of success: What it is and what to do about it

20:04 – Why Dr. Chris relates herself to a ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’ plant

23:55 – The art of living in the moment

28:00 – The power of taking responsibility

31:39 – Dr. Chris dives deep into expendable habits

37:00 – Why consistency is key to success

40:50 – Where you can go to connect with Dr. Chris

Resources

• LehChaim

Connect w/ Dr Chris:

• Facebook
• Instagram

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• Youtube
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• CriticalBench.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com

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Achieving financial freedom is easier than you’ve been led to believe.

In fact, just about anyone, regardless of income can reach financial freedom through the principles discussed in today’s conversation with retired athlete money manager Eric Ortiz.

Getting out from under debt, saving for the future and still enjoying the lifestyle you want is 100% possible. It all comes down to taking the right small steps coupled with consistency and trusting in God along the way.

Co-host Chris Wilson is face to face with today’s guest Eric Ortiz who is a regular at the Critical Bench Compound for weekly workouts and some much-appreciated financial advice and strategies.

"If you master these 4 things then you're gonna reach financial freedom." -Eric Ortiz

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

5:32 – Eric Ortiz recounts how he got into financial coaching

10:40 – The importance of having a budget

16:15 – Saving strategy: Pay yourself first

19:22 – Eric on why investing is important

23:17 – Where you can go to learn more about investment strategies

28:18 – How to live a debt-free life

34:49 – Why financial freedom begins with life insurance

40:25 – Host Chris and Eric on money as an instrument for blessing others

49:55 – Eric on what does the Bible say about saving and investing

57:30 – The power of trusting God with your finances

1:05:13 – Connect with Eric Ortiz through his social media channels

Resources

• Primerica

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What can your eyes tell you about your health? Well, you’d be surprised…

Dr. Travis Zigler is an optometrist and philanthropist. He is the founder of Eye Love, whose mission is to heal 1,000,000 dry eye sufferers naturally and to end preventable blindness.

Dr. Travis and his wife, Dr. Jenna Zigler, use the profits from Eye Love to fund free and low-cost clinics in Jamaica and in the US. 

Co-host and Holistic Health Practitioner Tonya Fines has a profound conversation with Dr. Travis that will forever change your thinking about the link between eye care and your health.

"Just because you can see okay doesn't mean you're healthy. Most people overlook their eyes." -Dr Travis Zigler

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

1:44 – Get to know Dr. Travis Zigler and his mission to end preventable blindness

9:15 – Dr. Travis shares about his memorable mission trip to Jamaica

13:02 – Learn more about the Eye Love Cares Foundation and how you can support their mission

14:23 – The relationship between eye health and nutrition

17:35 – Dr. Travis discusses the struggles he faces in his mission

23:28 – Discover Dr. Travis' approach to eye health and dry eye

32:24 – Why eyelid hygiene is important

42:08 – The importance of annual eye exams for children and adults

50:05 – Dr. Travis on why you should wear sunglasses when outdoors

52:37 – How blue light affects eye health

55:49 – Dr. Travis gives tips on how to keep electronics out of the bedroom, and sleep better

1:00:27 – Connect with Dr. Travis through his social media channels, official websites

Resources

• Eye Love

Connect w/ Dr Travis:

• Facebook
• Instagram

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• CriticalBench.com
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