THE FORTITUDE FORUM

Bill interviews author, speaker, and mindset coach Amberly Lago, returning after a failed first recording, as she shares her story of surviving a Harley accident 16 years ago that left her with a shattered leg, severed femoral artery, a coma, and a 1% chance to save her leg. After 34 surgeries and a later diagnosis of incurable complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), she faced permanent-disability predictions, tried extensive medical treatments, and even requested amputation, which her doctor warned could worsen CRPS; his compassion helped her reframe her scars with gratitude. Lago describes resilience as choosing to move forward with joy, not “bouncing back,” emphasizing gratitude, radical honesty, clear vision, daily action steps, and not doing it alone. She discusses coaching others to find their “superpowers,” upcoming retreats, frequent speaking travel, and her Dallas-based podcast studio.

00:00 Welcome Back to Fortitude

01:11 Amberly’s 34 Surgeries

03:07 The Harley Crash

05:02 Coma and Amputation Call

07:04 CRPS Diagnosis Shock

08:39 Grit and Connection

10:36 Gratitude in the Hospital

13:01 When Pain Breaks You

15:44 Redefining Resilience

18:42 Don’t Do It Alone

20:18 Breakthrough Advice

22:51 Vision and Daily Steps

24:19 What’s Next for Amberly

25:57 Final Thanks and Wrap

Bill welcomes Matt vandenBerg, president of Ohio Wesleyan University, who recounts how failing at a pre-med path in college led him to discover his calling through mentorship and student government leadership. vandenBerg discusses early-career imposter syndrome, viewing failure as an “honest mirror,” and treating fear as fuel while “playing to win.” He shares a defining moment from his third day at Ohio Wesleyan when he had to close the library, then leveraged the crisis into a vision for the first fine-arts-infused library and raised $45 million in three months, including a $20 million gift. He explains building trust through actions and storytelling, a “rebellion” against broken higher-ed norms centered on boldness, kindness, and innovation, and peak-performance habits like delegation, communication discipline, family time, and daily workouts. He aims to create a blueprint other liberal arts colleges can follow.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:52 From Pre Med to Purpose

04:59 Mentors and Early Struggles

07:03 Fear as Fuel

11:02 Honeymoon Over as President

11:44 Library Crisis to Fundraising Win

14:58 Building Trust Through Story

19:30 Rebellion in Higher Education

22:25 Energy and Decision Discipline

26:27 Ambition Versus Patience

28:39 Team Standards and Nonnegotiables

31:09 Legacy and Closing Thanks

Bill welcomes faith-based entrepreneur, speaker, and author Stephen Scoggins, who shares his journey from a period of homelessness to building and exiting a company he started from “trash piles,” scaling it to just under nine figures in top-line revenue with a 400-person team across three states. Despite outward success after selling the company in 2023, Stephen describes feeling empty in 2024 and traces his transformation to becoming an “integrated leader” rooted in authenticity, identity, strength, and humility. He recounts pivotal influences including his grandfather’s advice to become “one part lion and one part lamb,” and mentor Steve Myrick, who gave him a second chance after Scoggins lost early wealth due to arrogance and poor stewardship. Scoggins explains the contrast between “immature lamb” (people-pleasing and self-abandonment) and “immature lion” (control and aggression). He outlines five leadership constraints—arrogance, ignorance, impatience, fear, and insecurity—and their antidotes: humility, teachability, presence/patience, pursuing truth through intentional faith, and compounded confidence. He also discusses practices for balance and presence, including a morning routine and mantra, and how he helps high achievers move from striving to “being,” reconnect identity from the inside out, and pursue meaning through service. The episode concludes with Scoggins sharing upcoming plans for 2026, including the Integrated Leaders Lion Den, increased speaking engagements (including Create Conference in Atlanta the weekend of January 27), and inviting listeners to take a free 10-minute leadership assessment at stevensgoggins.com/leader, along with a 30–40 page PDF, and connect with him on Instagram.

00:00 Welcome to The Fortitude Forum + Meet Stephen Scoggins

00:45 From Homelessness to Building Companies: The Big Mindset Shift

03:13 The ‘Lion and Lamb’ Lesson from Grandpa Silver Fox

04:20 Saul vs. David: Identity, Approval-Chasing, and Integrated Leadership

07:42 Rock Bottom at the Gym Mirror: Dropping the Mask

11:20 Limiting Beliefs & the Mentor Who Gave a Second Chance

15:12 Do the Pushups: Why We Don’t Execute (and How Mentorship Mirrors Us)

17:37 When to Be Lion vs. Lamb: Daily Practices to Lead from Presence

20:56 Why Businesses Really Fail: It’s Behavior, Not Tactics

21:36 Arrogance → Humility Without Self-Abandoning

22:05 Ignorance → Teachability (and How to Find What You Need)

23:03 Impatience → Presence: “Be Where Your Feet Are”

24:01 A Hard Lesson in Presence During Divorce

25:48 Fear of Success/Failure → Pursuing Truth & Intentional Faith

27:07 Insecurity → Compounded Confidence & Living Forward

28:42 Helping High Achievers Feel Whole Again: From Striving to Being

30:48 Identity After the Exit: Why Success Can Feel Empty

32:09 Legacy, Service, and Building Identity From the Inside Out

34:33 Workshop: Rewriting Identity After Sports (Host’s Story)

38:33 What’s Next: 2026 Vision, Free Assessment, and Where to Connect

In this episode of The Fortitude Forum, Bill welcomes Michael McFall, co-founder and co-CEO of Biggby Coffee, which boasts 454 locations and over $350 million in annual revenue. Mike dives deep into his personal journey, discussing formative experiences like sailing around the world at 15, studying in West Africa, and leadership positions in high school sports. He emphasizes the power of love and focus in leadership, revealing how his business philosophy has evolved over 30 years. From starting as a minimum-wage barista to co-owning a thriving coffee franchise, Mike shares invaluable lessons on entrepreneurship, visioning big goals, and the importance of people-centered leadership. Listeners will also hear about Mike's moonshot ambition to own the Detroit Red Wings and his ongoing efforts to positively impact youth sports culture. 00:00 Introduction to the Guest: Michael McFall 00:55 Formative Experiences: Sailing and Studying Abroad 03:21 Athletic Background and Family Influence 04:24 The Birth of Big B Coffee 07:26 Franchising and Business Growth 13:14 Entrepreneurial Philosophy and Leadership 20:57 Defining Leadership vs. Management 21:45 The Role of Enterprises in Social Change 23:44 Creating Superheroes in the Workplace 27:15 The Importance of Youth Sports 32:51 The Power of Visioning and Big Dreams 39:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Fortitude Forum, Bill interviews Coach Michael Burt, a former basketball coach who has transitioned to the business world. Michael discusses his unique career path, spanning sports and business, and shares insights from founding The Greatness Factory and authoring multiple books. He delves into his concept of 'Prey Drive,' the importance of mental toughness, and his philosophy on leadership and motivation. Michael also discusses raising $30 million and his ambitious plans for building 'Greatness Factories' across the country, emphasizing the significance of playing the 'biggest game in business.' 00:00 Introduction to The Fortitude Forum 00:57 Coach Michael Burt: From Sports to Business 03:20 Early Coaching Journey and Leadership Lessons 05:18 Transitioning from Sports to Corporate Coaching 12:51 The Concept of Pray Drive 15:25 Activating and Sustaining Motivation 17:46 Pressure Packed Situations and Elite Decisions 18:17 Attributes of Top Performers 18:34 The Importance of Repetition and Muscle Memory 18:47 A Coaching Lesson in Boldness 21:34 Rewriting Identity for Peak Performance 25:03 The Concept of the Big Table 26:37 Trigger Moments and Quantum Leaps 30:46 Raising Capital and Building Greatness Factories 32:46 Future Aspirations and Quantum Leaps 33:43 Connecting with Coach Michael Burt

In this episode of The Fortitude Forum, Bill welcomes Bryce Henson, CEO of FitBody Bootcamp. Bryce shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to leading a fitness empire. They discuss the principles of resilience, mental toughness, and leadership that have shaped Bryce's approach to life and business. Bryce also talks about his upcoming book, 'Turn Adversity to Advantage,' and provides insights into his daily rituals and the importance of moral authority in leadership. The conversation highlights key lessons and advice for anyone looking to overcome adversity and achieve success.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:00 Early Life and Overcoming Adversity

03:04 Developing Resilience and Leadership

05:04 Work Ethic and Early Jobs

10:55 Fitness Journey and Transformation

15:44 Inspiring Transformations and Leadership

19:59 The Essence of Self-Leadership

20:39 From Fitness Enthusiast to Business Owner

23:21 The Importance of Moral Authority in Leadership

26:01 Facing Uncertainty and Setting Big Goals

28:30 Advice to My Younger Self

33:01 Daily Rituals for Success

35:38 Future Plans and Projects

In this unique episode of The Fortitude Forum, Bill diverges from the usual guest format to discuss a crucial insight observed in high performers: how one emotion can ruin success. Through a personal story and lessons from Coach Nick Saban and a sports psychologist, the episode reveals how feeling this emotion can lead to complacency, ultimately undermining sustained success. The host urges listeners to channel the feeling into continuous momentum and adopt a mindset of relentless pursuit, distinguishing between rewarding oneself and becoming complacent. Listeners are challenged to stay focused, maintain high standards, and keep asking 'what's next?' to achieve enduring greatness.

00:00 Introduction to The Fortitude Forum

00:28 The Dangerous Emotion of Relief

01:36 A Personal Story: Lessons from Coach Saban

03:10 The Impact of Relief on Success

04:48 Strategies to Overcome Relief

06:36 Conclusion: Stay Relentless

Bill welcomes Matt Morizio, a former professional baseball player, founder of Reconstructing Wealth, and father of seven. Morizio shares insights on life with a large family, the importance of homeschooling for his children, and intentional parenting. The discussion delves into his journey from a scarcity mindset to financial literacy, and how education and emotional detachment from money reshaped his financial outlook. Morizio emphasizes the role of generosity in financial freedom and offers practical advice for listeners to improve their financial literacy. He also provides avenues for connecting with him for further resources and guidance. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:20 Life with Seven Kids 01:19 Homeschooling and Family Dynamics 03:28 Deathbed Perspective on Decisions 04:41 Earliest Money Memories 13:12 Breaking the Scarcity Mindset 16:35 Financial Fortitude and Emotional Detachment 23:33 The Importance of Generosity 28:01 Conclusion and Contact Information

Bill welcomes James Moore, a Vietnam War veteran turned estate planning attorney and business succession expert. James shares his journey from a troubled youth to a determined Marine Corps officer, detailing how sports and military discipline shaped his mental toughness. He discusses his decision to pursue law, the challenges he faced, and the importance of integrating wisdom with wealth in estate planning. James also emphasizes the value of being coachable and the role of structured environments in developing leadership qualities. The episode is packed with insights on personal development, leadership, and effective financial planning. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:46 Early Influences and Sports 03:39 Military Service and Bootcamp Experiences 14:08 Transition to Civilian Life and Law School 19:20 Estate Planning and Business Succession 25:46 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Contact James: https://mooreandkerbawy.com/

In this episode of the Fortitude Forum, Bill welcomes Albert Thigpen, former athlete and operating advisor at Nautic Partners, to discuss his multifaceted career and the invaluable lessons learned from playing under Coach Nick Saban. Thigpen shares captivating anecdotes from his time at Toledo, emphasizing the rigorous conditioning practices under Saban's leadership, which instilled discipline and a focus on minute details—principles he has carried into his business career. The conversation also delves into Thigpen's extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, highlighting the importance of culture, leadership, and adaptability in successful integrations. Thigpen also touches on the personal resilience needed to navigate complex business environments and offers advice for emerging leaders. The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of healthcare and Thigpen's vision for making it more affordable and accessible. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:28 Early Days with Nick Saban 01:18 Winter Conditioning and Discipline 04:35 Learning the Game's Details 08:21 Leadership Lessons from Saban 16:56 Mergers and Acquisitions Insights 25:57 Personal Resilience and Leadership 35:52 Future Goals and Healthcare Vision 39:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts