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Are you tired of feeling stuck in a rut, wondering if real change is possible for you? In this episode, we'll explore the concept of personal transformation and discuss options for getting ourselves “unstuck”. Whether you're seeking to become more physically fit, overcome self-doubt, build confidence, or simply create a more fulfilling life, this episode is for you. We’re discussing the human brain and how it works against us when it comes to self improvement. Discover the power of change and start your journey towards a brighter, more purpose-driven future.

Resources from this Episode:

1. Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome
00:12 - Introduction
01:04 - Tragic Story of David Foster Wallace
03:27 - We Are Unhappy With Ourselves
07:08 - We ALL Have Internal Struggles
14:06 - How to Train an Elephant
28:25 - Listener Question
32:19 - Closing Thoughts

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People dream of getting rich - fancy vacations, luxury toys, never ending fun. Sounds perfect, right? But what if we told you that chasing wealth might just make you miserable? Because, the real question isn’t so much HOW to build wealth - it’s WHY you want it in the first place.

We start this episode with a tale of Two Millionaires. One was living a flashy lifestyle financed by debt who lost everything. The other was a simple man who lived a humble life and he died with $8M in the bank.

Join us for an exploration of the human psyche and how our emotions drive behavior. 

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome
00:12 - Introduction
04:39 - The Lure of Fast & Easy Money
08:17 - Loving the Trappings of Wealth
20:47 - Understanding How Humans are Built
32:01 - Closing Thoughts 

Resources from this Episode:

• Millionaire #1: Ronald Reed 
• Millionaire #2: Richard Fuscone 
• The Mind-Heart-Body Connection

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Here's the shocking truth about Retirement in America: 

• Many Americans hit retirement age scrambling for financial security
• 8.2 Million adults over the age of 65 are living BELOW the poverty line.
• Over 10 Million people over the age of 65 are still working, double the amount from 1985 

This is reality, but it’s not all doom and gloom - there’s still hope, and the solution is simpler than you might expect.

In this episode, we start with the story of a retired couple who burned through their retirement savings, forcing the husband to go back to work at age 71. We then delve into the historical events that led up to our current state and the proposed solutions from Pundits & Politicians. 

00:00 - Welcome

00:12 - Introduction

00:49 - Tom Croomer's Story

03:37 - Shocking Retirement Statistics

06:43 - How Did This Happen?

27:22 - How to Avoid Poverty in Retirement

48:28 - Closing Thoughts

Reference Material:

• 80 Years Old and Unable to Retire
• Scandinavian Socialism: The Truth of the Nordic Model
• Sweden's Experiment with Socialism

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Poverty is NOT a choice. It’s a Trap! And the way out isn’t what you think. Forget everything you know about poverty. In this episode, we’re going to challenge assumptions and discuss the traps that keep millions stuck in a cycle of desperation. We start with the story of an 11 year-old girl named Dasani who was the oldest of 8 children. Her parents were addicts and that landed the family  in a dangerous homeless shelter in Brooklyn, NY. 

We discuss some very common poverty traps in America and we try to answer this burning question: Is there a way to break the cycle? 

Reference Material: Dasani's Story, New York Times, by Ruth Fremson, Dec 9, 2013.

Chapters
00:00 - Welcome
00:12 - Introduction
00:44 - Story of an 11 Year-Old Homeless Girl
03:21 - Financial Poverty Traps
14:00 - Behavioral Poverty Traps
16:06 - The Biggest Contributor to Poverty
18:56 - Poverty Traps that Impacted Dasani
23:20 - Pundits & Politicians at Odds
24:25 - Group A
26:11 - Group B
28:52 - Does a Silver Bullet Exist?
38:04 - How To Break the Cycle of Poverty
48:37 - Closing Thoughts 

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If you've ever faced the bitter disappointment of failed New Year Resolutions, you're not alone! Have you ever considered that sheer willpower is not enough to create lasting change in your life? On this New Year's Eve, we discuss alternatives to annual resolutions, introducing concepts like Neuroplasticity, Coherance Therapy, and Meditative practices that help us rewire the circuits in our brain.  

Resources from this Episode:

1. Self Authoring Suite
2. Stoa Meditation App
3. Day One Journaling App
4. Coherence Therapy

00:00 - Welcome
00:12 - Introduction
02:01 - Biggest Dreams for 2024
05:33 - Embracing Truth About Ourselves
09:47 - Neuroplasticity
18:21 - Coherence Therapy
20:14 - Mastery State vs Sympathy State
25:05 - Stoic Meditations
34:47 - Episodes from 2024
35:48 - Gratitude
40:08 - Serendipity
45:39 - Goals for 2025
48:36 - Closing Remarks

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This is Part 2 of our Interview with Chris Wilkens, Commander of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines during the 2nd Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Our discussion begins on the battalion's arrival on the outskirts of Fallujah and Chris walks us through his platoon's deadly skirmishes through that very kinetic battle of the war in Iraq.

The 2nd Battle of Fallujah (aka Operation Phantom Fury) was fought over a 6 week period beginning on Nov 7th, 2004. It was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war and also the heaviest urban fighting for US Marines since the Battle of Hue, Vietnam in 1968.

Connect with Chris Wilkens:
    Instagram
    LinkedIN

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Operation Phantom Fury, also known as The 2nd Battle of Fallujah, was fought over a 6 week period beginning on Nov 7th, 2004. It was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war and also the heaviest urban fighting for US Marines since the Battle of Hue, Vietnam in 1968.

As we remember the 20th Anniversary of the battle, we have a special guest, Chris Wilkens, who served as the Commander of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. This is Part 1 of our interview where Chris talks about growing up in New York, becoming a Marine Corps Infantry Officer, Deploying to Iraq with 1/8, and the Battalion's actions leading up to Fallujah.

Connect with Chris Wilkens:
    Instagram
    LinkedIN

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Winning BIG in the lottery often ends in tragedy. In this episode, we take a look at the story of Jack Whittaker and how his family was destroyed after winning a $313M PowerBall jackpot. Along the way, we discuss why lottery winners go bankrupt, what you should do if you win big, and the political wranglings surrounding State Lotteries where we're often told, "Buy lottery tickets! It's for the children!!!"

Episode Resources

1. Tragic Story of PowerBall Jackpot Winner
2. Why Lottery Winners Go Bankrupt
3. NC Education Lottery Spending Data
4. The Cons of Georgia's Hope Scholarships
5. The Lottery: Poor People Play, the Rich Win

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When considering leadership, we have a tendency to focus on the workplace and how leaders operate in that sphere of influence. The reality is EVERYONE needs leadership skills to create a fulfilling life. Specifically, we need the ability to look out for our own personal welfare and that of others. 

If you're an individual responsible only for yourself, these skills will enrich your life tremendously. If you're a leader of an organization, these skills will have a very positive impact on your team and the bottom line of your business.   

For this episode, we discuss the vital leadership goal of Human Welfare, touching on these areas:

1. Physical welfare
2. Mental/Emotional Wellbeing
3. Personal Development & Growth
4. Financial Health

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome
00:15 - Introduction
03:17 - Vital Objective #2
04:51 - Mission Accomplishment vs Human Welfare
09:05 - Physical Welfare
20:16 - Mental/Emotional Welfare
34:38 - Development & Growth
40:55 - Financial Security
50:18 - How to Measure Impact
62:50 - Closing Thoughts

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What is the Most important Goal of Leadership? This episode digs into that one simple question. When you say the goal out loud, it sounds so basic and obvious that it's almost TOO simple. The fact is, we humans struggle in this area of leading ourselves and others. The chaos of life often steers us away from our objectives. Distractions, In-fighting, Drama, and Friction conspire to take us in the wrong direction. 

This episode starts by identifying the #1 Goal of Leadership and then we break it down into a Simple, 4-Step Action Plan to help deal with chaos and stay on the path. 

00:00 - Welcome
00:13 - Introduction
03:16 - Vital Objective #1
04:37 - Define the Mission
17:03 - Plan the Mission
35:31 - Execute the Mission
40:48 - Measure Results
48:54 - Closing Thoughts

Resources for this Episode:

1. The Ultimate Guide to S.M.A.R.T Goals
2. 30 Events that Shaped Cisco Systems in 2011
3. Why "Visionary Leadership" Fails
4. 13 Notorious Examples of Strategic Planning Failure
5. CEO Shares Top 3 Red Flags She Sees in Employees

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