In this episode of The Core of Connection, we sit down with Edy Herrera, a passionate teacher and leadership mentor at SurrenderNetwork.com
, to explore what it truly means to lead from a place of humility, faith, and purpose. Through his work with the Surrender Network, Edy helps individuals and organizations release control, embrace growth, and cultivate leadership rooted in service and authenticity.

From guiding emerging leaders through life’s challenges to helping teams rediscover their “why,” Edy’s teaching reminds us that real influence begins not with power—but with surrender.

Tune in as we unpack:

• Why the golden rule doesn't work and what to do instead 
• How surrender becomes a superpower in leadership
• Lessons from teaching through adversity
• The balance between confidence and humility
• Why leading with heart changes everything

✨ Whether you’re a CEO, creator, or community builder, this conversation will inspire you to lead with grace, courage, and conviction.

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

When life and business throw curveballs, the difference between struggle and success comes down to how you adapt. In this episode, Nicole Campbell shares her journey of embracing change, both personally and professionally, and how those shifts pushed her to elevate the way she serves others. From real estate to relationship-building, Nicole reveals the strategies, mindset, and resilience that helped her not just manage change, but thrive through it. Tune in for an authentic conversation on growth, adaptability, and redefining what service really means in times of transition.

To learn more about Nicole and her work visit: https://thalhimer.com/marketwatch/our-blog/thalhimer-welcomes-nicole-campbell-to-the-commercial-brokerage-group-in-hampton-roads/

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

Greg sits down with sits down with Navy SEAL veteran and entrepreneur  @Mitch_Aguiar   to go over the discipline, habits, and mindset he's adopted to grow multiple companies and brands based right here in Virginia.

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

The traditional education system is under pressure—and parents are searching for answers. In this episode, Greg Tomchick sits down with Crystal Goins, Founder of Heartwise Scholars Microschool and The Resilient Teacher Mom, as well as an Education Consultant with Teachers As Partners. Specializing in relationship-based classroom management, social-emotional learning, and restorative practices, Crystal is leading the charge for micro schools in Chesapeake, VA. Together, she and Greg unpack the challenges families face with today’s schools, the influence of AI and social media on our children, and what parents are actively weighing when selecting the best path for their child’s learning needs.

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

In this episode of the Connected Mindset Podcast, host Greg Tomchick sits down with Christina Kimbrough, founder of Free Life LLC, to explore the powerful intersection of sobriety, mindfulness, and authentic connection.

Christina opens up about her personal journey, the challenges of embracing sobriety, and how mindfulness became a guiding force in creating balance and purpose. Together, Greg and Christina unpack how living with intention not only transforms your own life but also deepens the way you connect with those around you.

💬 Whether you’re on a journey of sobriety, seeking more mindfulness, or simply curious about building stronger, healthier relationships, this conversation will inspire you to pursue a freer, more connected life.

👉 Tune in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories of resilience, growth, and transformation.

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

On this episode of The Connected Mindset, host Greg Tomchick flips the script and gets interviewed by Joseph Trahan Host of Discover Virginia Podcast Greg shares his journey in entrepreneurship, leading in Cyber Security, and his role as the host of the Connected Mindset Podcast.

Greg opens up about his journey from professional baseball to building businesses, creating community impact, and helping leaders unlock their full potential. You’ll hear how his story of resilience, adaptability, and mindset shifts shaped not only his career but also his mission to empower others.

Tune in as Greg shares:
✅ Lessons from life on and off the baseball field
✅ How he transitioned into entrepreneurship and cybersecurity
✅ Why he launched the Connected Mindset Podcast
✅ His vision for inspiring leaders and changemakers in Virginia and beyond

This is a candid conversation that goes beyond business—into purpose, growth, and the heart of what it means to lead.

📌 Discover Virginia Podcast: @discover_virginia

#DiscoverVirginiaPodcast #GregTomchick #ConnectedMindset #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #VirginiaBusiness #mindsetmatters  @discover_virginia ​

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

On this episode of the Connected Mindset Podcast, host Greg Tomchick sits down with Danielle, owner of Sky’s the Limit Yoga Co., to uncover how yoga and mindfulness can transform both individuals and communities.

Based in Norfolk and with a new location in Cape Charles, Danielle has built a yoga studio dedicated to making movement and mindfulness accessible for everyone. With her passion for wellness and community, she shares how yoga isn’t just exercise—it’s a way to unlock clarity, resilience, and authentic connection.

✅ Danielle’s journey to creating Sky’s the Limit Yoga Co.
✅ How mindset and movement go hand-in-hand
✅ Practical ways to bring mindfulness into your daily life
✅ The power of community in transformation

📌 Learn more: https://skysthelimityogaco.com/

https://thecaffeinatedyogi.com/links?fbclid=PAdGRleAMZ3B5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp8OPgpTtQ-7pBYOQdyiybGd-qq52ku0sJkaM9pcLnnEW-KDHcwbMdzlTSSiv_aem_kAM_3_CNDwo6s1-8IEN4_w

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

What does it really take to lead with heart? In this episode of the Connected Mindset Podcast, Greg Tomchick sits down with Emily from Surrender Network, a leadership consultant with a powerhouse background in marketing, nonprofit leadership, and transformational coaching.

Known for her high-octane creativity and instant connection with people, Emily brings an unshakable belief in the power of clarity, courage, and authentic momentum. Whether she’s energizing a room or building strategy behind the scenes, she’s helping leaders rise—not just in their careers, but in their lives and families.

Discover:
✅ Why the best leaders lead themselves first
✅ How to inspire courage in those you lead
✅ Practical tools to unlock clarity and build momentum
✅ The role of vulnerability in powerful leadership

If you’re ready to step into your full potential as a leader—in business, at home, or in your community—this conversation will give you the mindset and tools to make it happen.

📌 Connect with Emily & the Surrender Network: https://www.surrendernetwork.com/team

🎙 Special Thanks to Our Studio Host
A huge thank you to Jason Witt and the incredible team at Waters Edge Winery for hosting this episode in their beautiful space. Their warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere made for an inspiring and comfortable conversation.

📍 Visit Waters Edge Winery: https://wewnorfolk.com/
🍷 Stop by to experience their handcrafted wines and amazing community vibe!

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

Guest: Domenick “Dibz” – IFBB Pro, Coach, Author, Entrepreneur 

In this powerful episode of the Connected Mindset Podcast, we sit down with Domenick “Dibz”, a 4x NPC champion, IFBB Pro competitor, published author (First Call-out), and respected bodybuilding, lifestyle, and posing coach.

From the discipline behind his elite training to the mindset it takes to thrive in bodybuilding, business, and life. Domenick shares what it really means to rewire strength from the inside out. Whether you're pushing through a physical plateau or battling mental barriers, this conversation is your blueprint for building a life based on consistency, clarity, and inner power.

We dig deep into the why behind hard work, the art of posing, and how discipline shapes every decision, on and off the stage.

🔥 Connect with Domenick:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dibz_ifbbpro
📖 Book: First Call-out
Instructor: Iron Asylum Gym, Norfolk Va

📍Special thanks to our studio partners at Cooking with Greens, conveniently located in the heart of the Selden Market in Norfolk, VA: https://www.cookingwithgreensfamily.com/

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...

In this episode, Greg sets out to speak with Carly Jones at Waves of Change Coalition in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to explore how sounds can connect us.

Carly is a licensed clinical social worker, sound healer, and founder of Waves of Change Coalition. With over a decade in the mental health field—including time spent in the ICU and ER at Stanford Healthcare—Carly brings deep wisdom and compassion to the way we talk about trauma, healing, and human connection.

Greg explores how sound healing, somatic therapy, and community-based mental health care can reconnect us to ourselves and each other. Carly shares how she blends science with ancient wisdom to support people in releasing outdated beliefs and stepping into their most empowered, authentic selves.

If you’ve ever struggled with trauma, disconnection, or the pressure to “go it alone,” this episode offers grounded insight and real tools for healing through connection.

🔗 Learn more: wavesofchangecoalition.com
📲 Follow Carly: @wavesofchangecoalition

About Greg Tomchick

Greg Tomchick is a former professional baseball player turned cybersecurity entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Valor Cybersecurity, Greg leads a mission-driven team helping defense contractors and mid-sized companies navigate the complex world of compliance, cyber risk, and CMMC readiness.

With a background in military communities and a firsthand experience surviving a cyberattack on a previous venture, Greg brings a unique lens to cybersecurity—one that combines mindset, leadership, and technical resilience. Through his “Connected Mindset” philosophy, Greg coaches leaders to build trust from the inside out—helping over 250 organizations close compliance gaps and protect their most valuable data.

Greg is also the host of The Connected Mindset Live Show, where he interviews top performers in business, leadership, and security. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fox News, and ABC, and is a sought-after speaker at events like the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo London.

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@gregtomchick
🌐 Website + Free Tools: gregtomchick.com/links
💼 Company: Valor Cybersecurity
📣 LinkedIn: ...