Take it On

In Take 14, the fellas take inventory on what they’ve been Taking On lately, including earlier mornings, changing fitness routines, stress management, and the value of sleep (1:20). After playing Take it On trivia with Reid and Jonah detailing his 3am moment of zen amid finding his car towed (8:42), the guys are joined by Jonah’s rabbi, mentor, and dear friend, Rabbi Yitz Pierce from the University of Michigan’s Jewish Resource Center. Yitz details his unconventional path to Judaism and his rabbinic career (11:10), immediately imparting the connection between spirituality and improved mental health. Rabbi Yitz then outlined his approach to combatting daily sources of anxiety, describes the necessity of embracing calm (15:35) and prioritizing present sources of happiness (20:50). The guys cap off the conversation with a discussion on the Jewish approach to controlling the controllable, the value of your breath (29:30), and the importance of taking care of others on your path to individual purpose. Before signing off, the guys are joined by Olivia Katamanin, the founder of the ASK For Help Foundation, to detail ASK’s mission in preventing men’s suicide, spread greater awareness surrounding men’s struggles with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and share how you can contribute to ASK’s fundraising efforts (50:25).

In Take 13, Reid sets the Take it On tone with his impressive climbing feats, detailing the physical and mental challenge posed by the West Virginian mountains. Jonah somehow connects this to his deep feelings on friendships and relationships (7:10), before the boys are joined by Ben Checketts, co-founder and creative director of Rhone. Ben walks us through his background, his inspiration for Rhone, and the brand’s commitment to mental fitness (12:52). The guys then explore Rhone’s (MEN)TAL HEALTHY campaign, their partnership with NBA superstar Jimmy Butler, and the importance of men striving to be their authentic self (19:45). Ben dives into his experience managing fluctuating weight, body image, and his transformational experience at Gym Jones (31:30). The boys wrap up Take 13 with Ben’s daily wellness practices - including an ice barrel! - and some good ‘ol Take it On Trivia (1:00:00).

In Take 12, the boys are joined by a Take it On celebrity, Glenbrook North head Varsity lacrosse and varsity football coach, and Reid’s mentor, Justin “Geo” Georgacakis. Jonah dives into his recent graduate school ambitions, Reid sets his sights on the West Virginian mountains, and Geo walks through his upbringing and role as Varsity lacrosse coach (5:28). Geo explains his mature coaching style, dedication to teaching life skills that go beyond the field (8:52), and what it really means to be the right kind of man (11:20). Then, the guys explore what Honest Candor means, in an attempt to figure out the most important issues high school students and other young men need to Take On in today’s age (32:25). To finish the episode, the guys play a round of Take it On trivia, which has officially become the first trademarked Take it On segment.

Take 10? TAKE 10! In the 10th episode special, the boys debrief Jonah’s successful half marathon experience and why he can’t take off his medal just yet (2:55). Reid runs though a day he needed some help to Take it On, getting some unexpected assistance and advice from our guest, Colton Horn, Co-founder and CRO of BREINFUEL. Colton runs through his background and journey in launching BREINFUEL (10:53), revealing the essential habits and daily practices he uses to become a successful entrepreneur and high performer (15:00). Then, Colton describes the cognitive benefits of BREINFUEL, his audience of incredible Mental Athletes (26:19), and the ways his BREINWAVE community push each other to Take it On every day (31:21). The guys finish the wisdom-packed episode with a round of Take it On trivia, and a round of thanks for everybody who supported Take it On this far.

Take 9 begins with Jonah reflecting on his Yom Kippur commitments to be a more selfless, less gossiping person (2:05), while Reid reflects on his PSE rush experience with wisdom and maturity beyond his years (6:30) The Boys are then joined by author, entrepreneur, and fellow podcaster, Larry Hagner, the founder of the Dad Edge Alliance and Dad Edge Podcast. Larry jumps right into his inspiration for the Dad Edge, sharing how his experiences shaped his motivation to learn the skills and behaviors necessary to become the best husband and father possible (15:28). Larry reveals the 4 pillars of any successful relationship (20:24) and explains strategies young men can practice to hone their emotional resilience (24:40). Before Jonah jumps to a business call, he dives deep with Larry about ways us young men can become more appreciative and loving sons to our badass dads (38:07). Reid an Larry wrap up Take 9 with some Take it On Trivia covering Larry’s current tunes, reads, movies, and quotes (43:40). Jonah jumps back on following his call to talk about his upcoming race (57:25). Take 9 concludes with the guys looking forward to Take 10 and the new Transparent Labs partnership (59:40).

On Take 8, Kevin Curry - author, chef, and social media icon behind FitMenCook - joins the guys for a life-changing conversation on food and nutrition. They begin with Kevin’s discovery of clean cooking (2:30), the transformative power of food on your mental health (8:00), and techniques for young men to develop a healthy relationship with food (15:00). The guys dive deeper into Kevin’s life, charting his journey from Half-Priced Books to a brand with millions of followers (25:00), some of his daily wellness practices using a familiar mirror test (33:00), and what he’s currently reading and listening to (40:00). To wrap up, Jonah can’t help but bring up his most recent runner’s high and Kevin shares some valuable nutrition tips for athletic performance (44:00).

In Take 7, Reid walks us through his experience trying out for the club golf team and the importance of an ambitious mindset (:45). Jonah then opens up about a challenging week, feeling stuck in a rut, and how he embraced practices from “Take it On” to climb out of it (2:30). The guys are joined by the winner of Jimmy Fallon’s Songwriter’s Challenge, artist behind “Tomorrow” and “Just Friends”, and Northbrook’s own pop star sensation JORDY Shulman. Jordy takes the guys through his background and ride to stardom, emphasizing the importance of his identity and upbringing in achieving his dream (10:53). Diving deeper, Jordy draws on his experience grappling with middle school bullies and social expectations in order to embrace your identity and wear it like armor (21:30). The boys conclude the conversation with thoughts on therapy, treating the mind as a muscle, and a special shout-out to the Moms (43:00).

On Take 6, Jonah and Reid mix things up and Take On a new episode segment entitled “Bros and Beers,” where the guys each invite a friend and fellow member of the Take it On community to engage in a free flowing conversation about what’s going on in their lives, some of the content from previous episodes, and provide an example of what it looks like to Take it On practice. To start the episode, Jonah can’t stop gushing about his new romance with running (2:30) and the importance of implementing the mirror test in daily life. This leads to an important conversation about alcohol, with Isaac sharing a powerful, life-changing experience (10:15). Then, Reid and Gabe stress the importance of self-discipline, both in the gym and in the dentists office (16:30). After a fire alarm at OSU (classic buckeyes), the guys conclude the conversation with discussions on learning from failure (29:50), positive social media content, the power of routine, and what tunes they’re rocking out to.

On Take 5, Reid and Jonah walk through their work, school, and goals with a little help from How I Met Your Mother (3:15) and the power of scheduling (5:00). The guys are joined by Scott Simon, practicing surgeon, mental performance coach for the San Diego State men’s basketball team, and certified bad ass. Scott explains his philosophy of developing mental fortitude on and off the court (13:00) and provides examples of techniques—like the mirror test (16:00)—for young men to cultivate positive feedback loops, defeat sabotaging beliefs, and unlock their latent potential (29:10). The guys walk through some of these exercises with Scott, propelling Reid on his path to straight As and PRs, and Jonah to become an Excel wizard.