Teach, Coach, Mentor

In this episode of Teach Coach Mentor, Mike Wish sits down with his sister — the unapologetically real, wildly relatable Melissa Hammerle of Melissa in Chaos. A former teacher turned photographer turned online community builder, Melissa shares how she bootstrapped a successful photography business while juggling babies, bills, and zero formal training.

Together, Mike and Melissa unpack what it really means to learn by doing, the emotional rollercoaster of starting something new, and how to thrive (and occasionally fail publicly) in both business and motherhood. Whether you’re launching a side hustle, feeling stuck in your career, or just trying to survive another day with small children — this episode will speak to you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Melissa taught herself photography using YouTube, grit, and $20 photo sessions
• Why starting messy beats waiting for perfect
• How motherhood shaped her mindset as a business owner
• The dangers of analysis paralysis (especially in the YouTube era)
• The real reason her online community grew to over 50,000 followers
• Why your passion doesn’t need permission — just consistency and courage

Plus:

• Mike reveals his own struggles with learning outside academia
• Melissa shares how her daughter (age 12!) started a mission-led business
• Honest talk about social media pressure, brand deals, and community trust

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
• Melissa’s community: “The Seven Friend Circle”
• Velle Logos – Mike’s new learning platform for students and lifelong learners
• Free access to the Student Better course (now called the Self-Architecture Course) with the code MELISSAINCHAOS. Visit www.vellelogos.com/course/self-architect-learn-design-transform/

If this conversation made you laugh, reflect, or feel less alone —

📲 Subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review.

For more tools to help you learn with enthusiasm and lead with purpose, visit vellelogos.com.

Barry Walton is a producer, award-winning filmmaker, and published author with over two decades of experience crafting impactful stories across platforms. He has led major productions for global networks like NatGeo and Animal Planet, and worked with premier organizations including the NBA and NHL. His Emmy Award-winning work has taken him from the Himalayas to Italy and across the U.S., always with a focus on execution, budget discipline, and measurable results. As the author of The Unknown Adventure and director of four documentaries available on Amazon Prime, Barry blends his narrative instincts with production expertise to create stories that resonate deeply with audiences.

See his producer bio, documentary films, and his book The Unknown Adventurer.

In this episode of Teach Coach Mentor, host Mike Wish sits down with Emmy-winning filmmaker and author Barry Walton for a raw, honest, and unforgettable conversation about what it really means to pursue your dreams—and survive them. From living on a sailboat with a camera and a dream to navigating the brutal truths of failure, Barry shares his personal hero's journey, one defined by adventure, insecurity, resilience, and transformation.

Together, Mike and Barry explore:

• The power of personal narrative: how the stories we tell ourselves shape our futures
• The myth vs. reality of chasing a dream—and what happens when they collide
• Why suffering is often the secret ingredient of growth and clarity
• Lessons from the hero's journey, from failure in 3rd grade to success behind the camera
• What it means to “fail forward” and how to teach that mindset to others
• Barry’s unorthodox approach to filmmaking, generative learning, and sidestepping formal education
• Balancing passion with self-awareness: knowing when to burn the boats, and when to take the safer path

This isn’t just a story about documentary filmmaking or personal development—it’s a conversation about life’s thresholds, how to cross them, and what’s waiting on the other side. Perfect for teachers, coaches, mentors, and anyone wrestling with their next big leap.

🎧 Listen now to learn why failing might just be your best move forward.

🎙️ Episode 001: Learning with Purpose — Tom Hathaway on Experience, Self-Awareness, and Leading Others

Welcome to the first episode of Teach Coach Mentor — the podcast that’s all about learning how to learn, and helping others do the same.

In this conversation, host Mike Wish sits down with Tom Hathaway — a Marine infantry officer, educator, and leadership coach — to explore how we learn, how we teach, and what it really means to grow.

Tom reflects on his journey from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the classrooms of the Naval Academy, where he now teaches leadership and coaches high-performing athletes. The conversation ranges from stories of failure and resilience to the nuanced differences between teaching, coaching, and mentoring.

In this episode, we discuss:

🎬 Why every student plays a different “movie” in their head during learning — and why that matters for teachers

🔍 The power of experience in shaping understanding — and when it leads us astray

🧠 Reframing “boring” topics and teaching with humor, passion, and purpose

📚 The difference between preparing to learn and preparing to teach — and why teaching forces clarity

💡 What it means to coach someone who isn’t receptive — and how to build trust first

🪞 How holding up a mirror (not a lecture) leads to real transformation

🎯 Why chasing achievements won't make you happy — but meaningful pursuit might

🧘‍♂️ How self-awareness is the foundation of leadership, growth, and happiness

Quotable Moments:

“Experience is a different kind of learning. It’s a movie you’ve lived—not one you imagined.”

“You could be miserable anywhere. The flip side is—you could also be happy anywhere.”

“The most important subject you can learn is yourself.”

Resources Mentioned:

The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic by William B. Irvine

Bluey (yes, the kids’ show — with a surprising lesson about ‘boring things’)

About Today’s Guest:

Tom Hathaway is a Marine Corps infantry officer with leadership experience ranging from combat deployments to Arctic operations. He holds a master’s in Security Studies and teaches leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he also coaches the D2 men’s hockey and endurance teams. He’s passionate about unlocking potential through reflection, coaching, and challenge.

🎧 Like what you heard?

Subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with someone who teaches, coaches, or mentors in your world. For more resources and conversations, visit vellelogos.com (still a work in progress!)

Until next time — keep learning, keep leading, and pass it on.