The Eternal Optimist

What happens when you lose 100 pounds, humble your ego on the jiu-jitsu mat, rebuild your marriage through intentional listening, and take the helm of one of the cleanest plant-based brands in America?

In this episode, Matt sits down with Jason Bronstad, CEO of MALK Organics, to unpack his radical transformation. From facing unemployment in early 2020 to turning it into a season of health, family growth, and professional alignment, Jason shares the lessons that reshaped his life. They dig into why feedback is a superpower, how family core values can anchor decision-making, and why you should always “turn it around” to check your ingredients. Whether you’re a leader, a parent, or simply someone hungry for better living, this conversation will fuel your next move.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 – A Big Hello + Matt’s Book Drops with a Surprise Offer
• 00:00:45 – Step Into the Eternal Optimist Vibe
• 00:01:42 – Meet Jason Bronstad: CEO, Dad, Game-Changer
• 00:02:17 – From 315 Pounds to Purpose: Jason’s Radical Reset
• 00:05:18 – Tooth Fairy Tales, Peso Jackpots, and Parenting Wins
• 00:07:03 – When Unemployment Opens the Door to a New Mission
• 00:09:58 – Ego on the Mat: Lessons from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• 00:13:47 – Why Feedback Might Be Your Greatest Superpower
• 00:24:47 – Counseling, Connection, and a Marriage Reinvented
• 00:25:06 – How Match.com (and a Mother-in-Law!) Made the Match
• 00:26:02 – Hard Truths, Tough Lessons, and Turning Points
• 00:28:12 – Breaking Old Patterns and Sharing the Load at Home
• 00:30:22 – Sponsor Spotlight: Take a Breath & Be Cool, Baby
• 00:31:35 – From Food & Bev to Finding Passion in Pure Quality
• 00:33:23 – Saying “Yes” to MALK Organics and Its Clean-Label Cause
• 00:40:03 – What Your Gut Really Wants: The Case for Natural Ingredients
• 00:41:57 – Building a Family “BRO Code” to Live By
• 00:45:52 – How to Discover the Values That Drive Your Life
• 00:46:51 – Final Nuggets + Where to Find Jason Online
• 00:47:43 – Tournament Glory: Jiu-Jitsu, Grit, and Kids in Your Corner
• 00:49:31 – Wrapping It Up with Gratitude and Optimism

Links And Resources:

• Connect on Linkedin
• Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement
• Front Row Dads
• Malk Organics
• Malk Organics Instagram 
• Malk Organics Facebook

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

When Damon Mitchell lost the ability to do a single pushup, it triggered a reckoning—not just with his body, but with his identity as “the strong guy.” In this raw and reflective episode, Damon opens up about the neurological injury that sidelined his body but awakened something deeper. He shares how sobriety, self-trust, and intentional brotherhood became anchors through pain, disconnection, and uncertainty. Now a coach for men navigating the relationships that matter most, Damon offers hard-earned insights on leadership, masculinity, and what it means to fight for something real. If you’ve ever questioned your worth when you couldn’t perform, provide, or push through—this conversation is your invitation to show up anyway.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Meet Damon Mitchell: Real Talk Begins
• 00:00:51 - Iguanas, Engagements, and Unlikely Adventures
• 00:01:41 - From Trainer to Coach: Damon’s Backstory
• 00:02:16 - Dogs, Loyalty, and Emotional Anchors
• 00:03:09 - Drinking Days and the Sobriety Decision
• 00:04:40 - Pain, Pride, and Pushing Through
• 00:06:28 - “Something’s Not Right”: The Body Breaks Down
• 00:08:25 - Misdiagnosed, Misunderstood, and Running Out of Options
• 00:10:05 - Surgery, Survival, and Mental Battles
• 00:17:51 - Airports, Breakdown, and Emotional Exhaustion
• 00:20:23 - Climbing Back: The Physical and Mental Recovery
• 00:20:55 - “What Can I Fight For Now?”
• 00:21:58 - Regaining Strength—and the Will to Be Independent
• 00:25:05 - Freedom, Movement, and Meaning
• 00:26:29 - Puzzle Pieces and the Nature of Addiction
• 00:28:42 - The Real Story Behind Getting Sober
• 00:30:32 - Business Pressure Meets Personal Pain
• 00:31:01 - Taco Bros Day: Healing Over Tacos
• 00:33:50 - Building Tolomen: Brotherhood with Intention
• 00:39:59 - Lightning Round: What Fuels Damon’s Fire

Links And Resources:

• Official Website – Intentionalize My Life
• Tolomen's Group
• Substack – Live Happier
• Damon Mitchell on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Matt Drinkhahn sits down with longtime friend and business coach Daniel Patrick Andrews for a raw and inspiring conversation about personal transformation, grief, and the business of building meaningful relationships. Daniel shares how he went from being a self-described “recovering people pleaser” who was “better in small doses,” to becoming a top-tier relationship coach who helps professionals master the art of asking the right question from the right person for the right introduction. Through deeply personal stories—like the painful loss of his brother to AIDS and navigating the emotional aftermath with his father—Daniel unpacks how struggle, faith, and sheer willpower shaped his philosophy. This episode is a must-listen for growth-minded professionals who value grit over talent, results over ego, and relationships over transactions.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kickoff: The Eternal Optimist Energy
• 00:01:06 - Meet Daniel Andrews: Real Talk Begins
• 00:01:35 - The Cutco Vector Hustle Story
• 00:03:00 - Mastering the Art of Connection
• 00:14:22 - Breaking Through Life’s Hardest Challenges
• 00:23:04 - A Family Clash That Changed Everything
• 00:23:56 - Grief, Healing, and Life Lessons
• 00:25:06 - Why True Relationships Stand the Test of Time
• 00:26:50 - The Heartbreak of Losing a Parent
• 00:28:44 - Apologies, Forgiveness, and Rebuilding Bonds
• 00:33:36 - From Pain to a Powerful Career Path
• 00:34:43 - Smart Networking & Business Growth Hacks
• 00:40:59 - Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Links And Resources:

• Daniel Patrick Andrews's Website
• Daniel Andrews on LinkedIn
• The Two Critical Questions

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

From chance gas station encounters to building an empire brick by brick, Dedric & Krystal Polite share how they rose from generational poverty to create generational wealth — and lift others as they rise. In this candid conversation, they reveal how getting fired and evicted sparked their Airbnb hustle, how a betrayal at 19 fueled their mindset that failure isn’t final, and why mentorship is the ultimate cheat code. This is a real-world blueprint for building something that outlives you — for anyone ready to believe it’s gotta work or it’s gotta work.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Step Into the Mindset of Eternal Optimism
• 00:00:59 - The Unexpected Power Couple: Meet Krystal & Dedric Polite
• 00:03:38 - From Struggle to Strength: Their Personal Turning Points
• 00:09:18 - Betrayal at 19: Krystal’s Defining Moment in College
• 00:17:09 - Fired Up: How Losing Jobs Sparked Their Entrepreneurial Fire
• 00:21:43 - The Real Estate Hustle Begins—With Nothing But Grit
• 00:22:58 - The Questions That Changed Everything
• 00:23:36 - A Leap of Faith to North Carolina
• 00:23:57 - Flipping the Script: Enter Real Estate
• 00:24:24 - The Mentor Who Collapsed Their Learning Curve
• 00:25:07 - Hustle Mode: Wholesaling Without a Roadmap
• 00:26:03 - $16K Risk, Massive Reward: The Mastermind Move
• 00:28:50 - Scaling Up: The Real Estate Breakthrough Moment
• 00:32:13 - What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Hear
• 00:35:11 - Want In? Here’s Where to Start
• 00:38:56 - Lightning Round: Grit, Growth, and Grace in 60 Seconds

Links And Resources:

• Official Website of Dedric and Krystal
• Polite Wealth Portal
• Dedric’s LinkedIn
• Krystal’s LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

In this enlightening episode of the Eternal Optimist, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Thomas Power, a visionary thinker in the realm of AI and community building. They delve into the transformative power of AI, the emergence of intimate community groups, and the potential business models that can sustain these groups. They also explore the intersection of big corporate transactions and intimate connections, offering a glimpse into the future of human-machine integration.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Discussion on influential books that shaped the teenage years
• 00:05:08 - Reflection on navigating challenges and finding inspiration amidst adversity during the comeback years
• 00:10:27 - Sharing the journey from pain to progress, unveiling the joy of a comeback journey
• 00:15:56 - Building a community of support and success, filling the void left by COVID
• 00:21:11 - How a community of 100 caught the attention of big corporations
• 00:22:11 - Unleashing the power of Chat GPT: Creating top 100 versions for companies and beyond
• 00:25:14 - Navigating the blizzard of innovation and the potential business model for small, intimate groups
• 00:31:44 - The future of perfect matches: Finding ideal partners, suppliers, clients, employees, and investors made easier with AI
• 00:35:00 - Unlocking the power of AI: Matching perfect scenarios and unveiling hidden connections
• 00:39:20 - Revealing social media presence and answering lightning round questions

Links And Resources:

• Website
• Thomas Power on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Justin Williams — founder of Millionaire University — reveals what really happens when you “make it.” From quitting college with one semester left to racking up $120,000 of debt and raising a baby who slept in a closet, Justin’s path to flipping hundreds of homes and building multiple seven-figure businesses wasn’t overnight. But the hardest season? It came after the big payday — when he realized money means nothing without vision and family. Together with Matt, Justin unpacks what it really takes to build your “money machine” without losing what matters most.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Meet Justin Williams: Breaking the Rules
• 00:00:38 - From College Athlete to Risk-Taker
• 00:01:38 - Family vs. Business: Finding True Balance
• 00:03:50 - How to Build Your Money Machine
• 00:07:21 - Struggle, Success & Real Fulfillment
• 00:09:49 - The Moment Everything Changed
• 00:13:25 - Hard Lessons That Paid Off
• 00:16:33 - Small Wins, Big Momentum
• 00:17:28 - Beating Doubt & Debt
• 00:18:23 - Big Goals? Here’s How to Start
• 00:20:29 - Stop Learning — Start Doing
• 00:22:22 - Focus, Action & What Really Works
• 00:24:51 - Family, Purpose & What Matters
• 00:25:32 - Pay It Forward: Sharing the Journey
• 00:26:47 - Books & Podcasts That Shape Success
• 00:28:28 - Music, Passions & Staying Human
• 00:30:01 - One Last Word on Optimism

Links And Resources:

• Website
• Podcast & YouTube: Search “Millionaire University”
• Email Justin Directly
• LinkedIn: Justin Williams

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

What happens when you abandon the pitch, lead with vulnerability, and treat sales as a sacred conversation? In this powerful crosspost episode from I Made A Podcast, Matt Drinkhahn—host of The Eternal Optimist—flips the script on traditional business-building. He shares how one emotional moment in a sales meeting (yes, he cried) unlocked a radically honest and high-performing coaching practice. From cold calls and high-pressure quotas to $1M+ in revenue with zero paid ads, Matt dives into the principles of radical ownership, clarity-driven leadership, and relationship-first growth. Whether you’re a recovering perfectionist, a mission-driven entrepreneur, or a leader seeking smarter systems, this conversation is your wake-up call to build with integrity—and win.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - What Is the Eternal Optimist Really About?
• 00:00:43 - How to Land World-Class Podcast Guests
• 00:01:45 - What Makes ‘I Made a Podcast’ Different
• 00:02:20 - Who Is Matt Ham (and Why You Should Care)
• 00:03:37 - How This Podcast Was Built From Scratch
• 00:06:22 - Why the Name ‘Eternal Optimist’ Almost Didn’t Happen
• 00:10:49 - Behind the Mic: Favorite Guests + Big Lessons
• 00:17:08 - The Smart Way to Build a Dream Guest List
• 00:24:10 - The Ultimate Pre-Interview Prep Ritual
• 00:25:00 - Tools That Make Guest Booking Effortless
• 00:26:01 - Unlocking the PR Machine: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
• 00:29:53 - Real Talk: How to Build Authentic On-Air Chemistry
• 00:36:17 - Mistakes, Lessons & Growth: The Real Podcast Journey
• 00:45:30 - If You’re Thinking About Starting a Podcast… Listen to This

Links and Resources:

• I Made a Podcast on Instagram @IMadeaPodcast
• I Made a Podcast on Facebook ⁠⁠@IMadeaPodcast

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Dr. Michael Brabant—transformational psychologist, spiritual guide, and Co-Founder of Candor & Coherence—for a deep dive into what it truly means to lead with clarity, coherence, and heart. Drawing from his journey through trauma healing, academia, and integrative spiritual practice, Michael reveals why traditional leadership tactics often fall short—and how cultivating psychological safety, embodied presence, and radical honesty can unlock authentic transformation in both life and business. If you’ve ever felt the tension between performing and truly being, this episode offers a powerful reframe on how real leaders grow.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Step Inside The Eternal Optimist
• 00:00:14 - Meet Dr. Michael Brabant: Depth Meets Clarity
• 00:00:52 - A Childhood Gift: Curiosity Meets Sensitivity
• 00:02:57 - Turning Sensitivity Into a Superpower
• 00:05:24 - Healing the Past to Lead the Future
• 00:08:58 - How Internal Validation Changed Everything
• 00:12:21 - Finding the Self Beneath the Layers
• 00:16:40 - Building Unshakable Trust Within Yourself
• 00:21:45 - Why Self-Esteem Isn’t Optional
• 00:24:56 - Facing Your Inner Critic Head-On
• 00:25:26 - Feedback as a Catalyst for Growth
• 00:29:14 - Vulnerability: The Gateway to Authentic Leadership
• 00:32:36 - What Is Internal Family Systems, Really?
• 00:36:47 - Practicing Empathy Without Losing Yourself
• 00:38:36 - Why Leaders Must Do the Inner Work
• 00:41:38 - Tools and Wisdom for the Growth Path
• 00:45:29 - Parting Words on Presence and Possibility

Links And Resources:

• Candor & Coherence Website
• Dr. Michael Brabant on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

What happens when your lifelong dream shatters at 22—and you’ve got no Plan B? In this raw and real conversation, Matt sits down with Damon Lembi, former pro baseball player turned CEO of Learnit, to explore how identity, leadership, and imposter syndrome collide in high-stakes moments. Damon unpacks the four-step framework he built to overcome self-doubt—Label Your Fear, Work Hard, Practice Deliberately, Learn and Let Go—and shares how it’s helped him evolve from hitting home runs in the College World Series to upskilling over 2 million professionals globally. With vulnerability, grit, and a healthy dose of humility, Damon reveals how failing publicly, receiving tough feedback, and embracing setbacks have been the fuel behind his leadership journey. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or ambitious professional, this episode is your playbook for turning adversity into mastery—and doing it with integrity.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Eternal Optimism
• 00:00:29 - Meet Damon Lembi: From Dugout to Boardroom
• 00:01:28 - Baseball Dreams, Big Setbacks
• 00:05:28 - When Self-Doubt Takes the Mound
• 00:10:04 - The 4 Steps That Saved My Confidence
• 00:16:03 - From Receptionist to CEO: Earning It the Hard Way
• 00:23:08 - The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
• 00:23:48 - Losing Vision, Gaining Clarity
• 00:24:37 - Brotherhood, Mentors, and Support That Stuck
• 00:25:01 - Leading with Humility (and Hair Gel)
• 00:28:06 - Why Podcasting and Connection Fuel Growth
• 00:32:02 - Must-Read Books for Real Leaders
• 00:39:31 - Music, Memories, and the People Who Shape Us
• 00:43:30 - Final Wisdom and a Hopeful Sendoff

Links And Resources:

• Website
• Damon Lembi on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Matt sits down with endurance athlete, Harvard-trained lawyer, and father of six, Shawn Hoyt—a man who’s not just defying age, but redefining it. From sitting the bench in soccer to completing an Ironman and running a marathon at age 55, Shawn shares how hitting personal and professional rock bottom—divorce, job loss, and doubt—became the unexpected catalyst for a profound reinvention. This conversation dives deep into mental toughness, physical transformation, and the power of showing up with intention. If you’ve ever questioned whether it’s too late to start over or aim higher, this episode is your blueprint for rising stronger—with purpose, poise, and relentless positivity.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Optimism & Energy
• 00:00:50 - What Eternal Optimism Really Means
• 00:02:39 - From the Midwest to Medford: Shawn’s Roots
• 00:04:21 - When the Fitness Spark First Ignited
• 00:06:15 - Breaking Limits, Facing Pain, and Getting Stronger
• 00:14:28 - When Life Falls Apart—and How to Rebuild
• 00:16:46 - Networking That Saved His Career
• 00:22:44 - Getting Back in the Game, One Mile at a Time
• 00:24:06 - Inside the Grit of a Half Ironman
• 00:25:50 - Crushing Self-Doubt and Mental Roadblocks
• 00:27:23 - Training Through the Boston Cold
• 00:28:12 - Injuries, Setbacks, and Refusing to Quit
• 00:30:57 - Race Day Gratitude and Going the Distance
• 00:33:24 - Becoming the Role Model He Once Needed
• 00:37:01 - Finding Love, Healing, and Starting Again
• 00:42:45 - Books and Music That Fuel the Fire
• 00:47:47 - Eternal Optimism, Defined Through Experience

Links and Resources:

• Website: shawnhoytstayactive.com
• LinkedIn: Shawn Hoyt on LinkedIn
• Instagram: @shawnhoytstayactive

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!