Chris Firinauskas helped build one of Australia's fastest growing burger chains from the ground up, scaling at 20 locations a year while creating a culture that became the envy of the hospitality industry.

But behind the success was a man quietly paying a price most high performers never talk about.

In this episode, Chris opens up about what happens when the armour of high performance stops working - the identity collapse, the relationship breakdown, the moment he pulled over on the freeway and knew something had to change.

We go into the warning signs men ignore until it's too late, what it actually feels like when your entire sense of self collapses, and how Chris rebuilt himself from the ground up.

And what he found on the other side changed everything about how he leads, how he lives, and what it means to be a man.

This conversation is for every man who looks like he has it together on the outside but knows something is quietly breaking down underneath.

(0:01:50) - Chris' story behind leadership

(0:07:30) - Building a culture inside one of Australia's fastest growing burger chains

(0:12:00) - Scaling at 20 locations a year while keeping the culture alive

(0:16:40) - What are the pros and consequences of being a high performer

(0:22:20) - The warning signs of the collapse 

(0:26:40) - The Identity collapse and losing yourself as a high performer 

(0:31:15) - What he wishes he knew then

(0:34:00) - How he started rebuilding

(0:36:40) - Letting go and what it really means

(0:39:45) - His relationship with uncertainty

(0:45:00) - The new direction

Connect with Chris: 

LinkedIn: Chris Firinauskas

Website: oriongrouplimited.com

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Ready to Go Deeper?

If something in this conversation resonated with you, this is exactly the work we do inside The Ascension Brotherhood - a private online community of high-performing men who refuse to keep carrying it alone and ready to lead from their most authentic selves.

👉 Learn More About The Ascension Brotherhood

Work With Evan 1:1 If you're ready to do this work at the deepest level, I work with a small number of men privately. Book your free clarity call below and I'll point you in the direction that best serves you.

👉 Apply for 1:1 Coaching

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

Dan has spent his life being a great talker but struggling to follow through. In this conversation, he arrives wanting ownership, and what unfolds goes far deeper than either of us anticipated.

In this session, I explore with Dan the razor thin line between giving up on life and choosing to fully live it. We go into anger, isolation, faith, identity, and what it actually means to be a man who takes responsibility for himself.

Dan owns what he goes through internally and courageously speaks about things most men never say out loud. His honesty in this conversation will challenge you, move you, and possibly change you.

You'll hear the raw, unfiltered process of a man forgiving himself and stepping back into his life in real time.

Please note, this episode contains honest discussion of men's mental health and suicidal ideation.

This episode was recorded and published with the full knowledge and written consent of the participant, including the sensitive content discussed.

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out: Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (24/7) Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Or speak with a trusted mental health professional or psychologist.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The views expressed are those of the host and participant alone.

(0:00:30) - Episode intro

(0:01:35) - Dan's story

(0:05:10) - The physical and emotional toll 

(0:09:00) - The turning point

(0:013:00) - Finding the fire within

(0:24:40) - The real cost of not owning your life

(0:32:00) - Forgiving myself

(0:38:45) - Embracing myself 

(0:45:55) - A message to every man struggling

_

Ready to Go Deeper?

If this conversation stirred something in you, you're not alone. This is exactly the work we do inside The Ascension Brotherhood.

If you're a high-performing man who's tired of carrying it alone, ready to stop talking and start owning your life, and you want to be surrounded by men who refuse to settle, this is your next step.

👉 Learn More About The Ascension Brotherhood

Work With Evan 1:1 If you're ready to do this work at the deepest level, I work with a small number of men privately. Reach out directly.

👉 Apply for 1:1 Coaching

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

Loneliness is one of the biggest challenges men face today. When men try to do life alone, grinding, pushing, carrying the pressure in silence... it often leads to stress, mental health struggles, and relationships that suffer.

But what if the very thing you’ve been avoiding: connection and brotherhood... Is the key to your growth? To your success? To improving your mental health?

In this episode of The Heart-Led Man, I’m joined by my regular guest Matt, a high school teacher, sports coach, founder of The Brave Movement, and a member of The Ascension Men’s Community. 

Together we dive into the lone-wolf mentality, why isolation kills growth, and how men thrive when they step into a space of accountability, support, and brotherhood.

You’ll discover:

• Why so many men isolate themselves (and the cost of carrying everything alone).
• How loneliness impacts mental health, relationships, and leadership.
• The power of a brotherhood: belonging, challenge, healing, and accountability.
• Matt’s personal story: what his life was like before The Ascension, and how his confidence, relationships, and leadership transformed since joining.
• Practical ways you can start building more connection and brotherhood in your life, even if you’re not part of a men’s group yet.

Men thrive in brotherhood, not isolation.

Disclaimer: This episode briefly mentions suicidal thoughts. If you are struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please know you are not alone. In Australia, you can call Lifeline at 13 11 14. If you’re elsewhere, please seek support through your local crisis line or emergency services right away.

___

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re at a stage in life where you’re no longer willing to settle for mediocrity, hiding from your potential, or repeating the same routines hoping for new results, it’s time to step up...

Inside The Ascension Men’s Community, you’ll be challenged, supported, and activated by other high-performing men who refuse to settle. This is where deeper relationships, unshakable confidence, and true leadership are forged. Not every man is ready for this, but if you are, join us now and step into the brotherhood.

👉 Learn More about the Ascension

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

You’ve built success in business, sport, or your career, but maybe you’ve hit a plateau. At work, in your leadership, or in your relationship, it feels like something’s missing.

I get it. I’ve been there. I know what it takes to push through plateaus and reach the next level.

Before I became a Master Certified Coach, I played AFL my whole life before switching to rugby in 2015, eventually competing internationally. 

And it was through sport that I discovered the mindset, habits, and environments that create true mastery, lessons I now bring into my coaching and leadership work with men.

In this episode of The Heart-Led Man, I share six lessons international sport taught me about mastery, and how you can apply them to your own career, business, relationships, and leadership.

You’ll discover:

• Why a clear, compelling vision is the fuel that pulls you forward.
• How stepping into a new identity accelerates results.
• Why trusting the process and improving just 1% daily creates exponential growth.
• How setbacks expose weaknesses and give you the chance to build what’s missing.
• The power of an elite environment to raise your standards fast.
• Why you must be obsessed with your vision and the process if you want true mastery.

These lessons shaped me as both an international athlete and one of the small percentage in the world to achieve the MCC coaching credential. More importantly, they’re the blueprint for high-performing men who want to find their edge, lead powerfully and achieve their biggest goals.

(0:00:00) - Welcome back + my journey from AFL to international rugby

(0:03:24) - Lesson 1: Vision

(0:14:13) - Lesson 2: Identity

(0:20:00) - Lesson 3: Trust the process

(0:24:56) - Lesson 4: Setbacks

(0:34:45) - Lesson 5: Elite environment

(0:41:28) - Lesson 6: Obsession

___

Ready to Go Deeper?

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

If this resonates and you’re a high-performing man who’s hit a plateau, in performance, leadership, your relationship, or life itself, and you know you’re capable of more…

My private 1:1 coaching is where we unleash your fire, sharpen your edge, and strip away what’s been holding you back, so you can perform, love, and lead at your true peak under pressure.

I only work with a select few men at a time, and spaces are limited.

👉 Apply now

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

You’ve built success in your career or business… but at home your relationship feels different, your partner doesn’t fully relax with you.

Maybe she’s guarded, always questioning, pulling away, or doesn’t trust your leadership. Deep down, you feel it... you’re not showing up in the way you know you could.

In this episode of The Heart-Led Man, I reveal the #1 reason I reveal the #1 reason women don’t feel safe to relax in relationships with high-performing men, and more importantly, how to shift it so you can create a relationship full of safety, trust, and intimacy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why high-performing men often collapse at home even if they lead powerfully at work.
• The hidden cost of being stuck in “performance mode”, and why it leaves her feeling unsafe.
• My personal story of how performance pressure sabotaged my past relationships.
• The shift from performance → presence that transforms how she feels with you.
• Practical tips on how to ground your nervous system, own your triggers, and lead with calm strength. To step into being the present and masculine leader in your relationship.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Why doesn’t she soften or trust me?”, this episode will show you where to start.

(0:02:00) - The struggle 

(0:05:07) - The #1 reason she can't relax with you

(0:11:30) - My stories 

(0:18:55) - The shift and how to change it 

(0:23:57) - Practical tips to help her relax

___

Ready to Go Deeper?

If this hits home, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide called - How to Be the Man She Can Finally Relax With.

Inside, I walk you through my 5-Trait Framework that shifts her nervous system from guarded → open. 

You’ll also get:
✅ A Weekly Relationship Check-In Kit to bring connection back fast
✅ Bonus tools my private clients use to turn arguments into intimacy
✅ A simple checklist you can follow to make immediate changes with her

This isn’t theory, these are proven tools I use with high-performing men who were stuck in cycles of distance, pressure, and disconnection, and who now enjoy relationships full of respect, attraction, and ease.

👉 Grab the guide now → Access Here

___

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

In this special episode of The Heart-Led Man Podcast, I sit down with a friend, former client, and member of the Ascension Men's Community, Matt Vacirca, a High School teacher at an all boys school. This is the first of a new series where Matt and I dive deep into the conversations men need most.

We explore:

• Why performance alone leaves so many men burnt out, anxious, or empty
• The transition from performance to purpose, and how to find your true “second mountain”
• Matt’s powerful 4-Day Training Framework and why sprinting may be the most essential form of movement for men
• How to simplify health, training, and purpose with an “essentialism” approach

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Is this all there is?”, or you’re looking for a sustainable way to train your body while reclaiming deeper meaning in life, this episode will hit home.

Tune in and join us as we kick off this new series of raw, real discussions for men who want to lead with strength, presence, and heart.

___

Start here: 

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

Join The Ascension Men’s Community

The training ground where high-performing men reclaim their edge. Inside you’ll access regular workshops, men’s circles, a comprehensive training library, direct coaching with me, and a brotherhood that challenges you to rise higher and hold you accountable to the man you’re meant to be.

👉 Join us here 

___

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

Feel like you’re falling behind in life?

Like you should be further ahead by now, more accomplished, more secure, more certain, but deep down, you’re wondering if you’ve missed your chance? Or worse, you may think something is wrong with you.

I know that feeling all too well. In my mid-30s, I looked around and saw most of my friends with families, homes, great wealth, and steady careers, while I was still carving my own path. The comparison turned into shame, and the shame kept me stuck.

This episode is for the high-performing man quietly carrying that same weight.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• Why “being behind” is the biggest lie you’ve been sold
• 7 empowering truths to break free from comparison and shame
• How to trust your own timeline and create a life that’s truly yours
• The reframe that turns delays and detours into your greatest advantage

If you’ve been measuring your worth against someone else’s path, this conversation will anchor you back into power, perspective, and peace.

Alignment is the only timeline that matters.

You’re not behind, you’re just on your timeline.

(0:02:00) - The painful narrative we carry 

(0:06:00) - Truths: You're allowed to want what you want 

(0:08:35) - You're allowed to move at your own pace 

(0:09:24) - You're allowed to change paths, even late in the game

(0:11:55) - We all mature at different speeds 

(0:14:58) - You’re not broken for not fitting the mould

(0:16:30) - You’re exactly where you need to be to learn what your soul came here to master

(0:20:29) - The man who lives from alignment never truly falls behind

____

Start here: 

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

Ready to go all in?
My private 1:1 coaching is for high-performing men ready to step out of the shadows and into their true leadership. If you’re done hiding, done doubting, and ready to embody the man you know you’re meant to be, apply here.
👉 Limited spots → Learn More

_____

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

There’s a hidden side to many high-performing men that rarely gets spoken about, sensitivity.

In this powerful episode of The Heart-Led Man, I open up about my own journey as a highly sensitive man. For years, I believed it made me weak… unmanly… broken. I spent most of my life hiding it, behind performance, people-pleasing, anger, or pretending not to care.

But what if your sensitivity isn’t your flaw?

What if it’s actually your greatest strength?

This episode is for the man who’s always been the achiever, the leader, the one who seems to have it all together… yet behind closed doors, he’s overwhelmed, feeling "too much", and silently questioning his worth.

We explore:

• What does it mean to be a sensitive high-achieving man?
• The childhood roots of male sensitivity
• Why so many high performers secretly feel too much and the impact of hiding it
• How emotional depth can become a superpower in leadership and relationships
• The practical steps to owning, integrating, and leading with your sensitivity

You’ll also hear how I’ve worked with countless successful men, business owners, athletes, creatives, who quietly carried the same shame… and finally found freedom.

Whether you’re a man navigating this journey yourself, or someone who loves a sensitive man, this one’s for you.

(0:00:20) Intro / My story of sensitivity

(0:08:10) What does it mean to be a sensitive high-achieving man?

(0:09:55) 4 ways men become highly sensitive

(0:15:15) How does sensitivity manifest as an adult

(0:17:05) The hidden strengths of sensitivity

(0:23:10) How we own our sensitivity and integrate into the next most powerful version of ourselves

Featured Tools Mentioned in This Episode:

• Guided Meditation for Emotional Release:
  https://youtu.be/Fwxgcs-C_VU?si=u60laBHjqo3BZ1Ql
• Guided Breathwork for Men:
  https://youtu.be/9pw5sE54qtI?si=iRC8s9fXVnIoSczU

Let this episode be a permission slip to stop hiding… and start leading from your truth.

____

Start here: 

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

Ready to go all in?
My private 1:1 coaching is for high-performing men ready to step out of the shadows and into their true leadership. If you’re done hiding, done doubting, and ready to embody the man you know you’re meant to be, apply here.
👉 Limited spots → Learn More

_____

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

We’re halfway through the year and if you’re a high-performing man who’s built success but feels stuck, disconnected, or unmotivated... this episode is for you.

In my work with leaders, business owners, and men inside The Ascension Men's Community, I’m seeing a pattern:

• Goals have stalled
• Energy is low
• Focus is scattered
• And the fire that once drove them feels distant

But the answer isn’t more hustle.
It’s learning to let go of what’s weighing you down.

In this episode, I share the 5 habits I’ve helped men release, had to let go of myself, and the solutions, to unlock a new level of clarity, confidence, and momentum:

(0:03:30) Instant Gratification
(0:08:30) Being Too Serious
(0:11:18) Hiding Yourself
(0:15:55) Complaining
(0:20:05) The Lone Wolf Mentality

Letting go of these patterns can reignite your leadership, drive, deepen your presence, and help you finish 2025 stronger than you started, both in life and love.

—

Start here: 

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

🔥 Ready to rise with a group of high-performing men?
Join The Ascension Men’s Community, a powerful brotherhood for leaders ready to master themselves and create lasting change. Q3 intake is now open.
👉 Click Here to Learn More 

_____

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo

Are you constantly stuck in your head overthinking, second-guessing, and silently battling a voice that tells you you're not enough?

In this episode, I break down what I call "The war in your head", the internal chaos so many high-performing men face behind the scenes, and why more success, more discipline, or more productivity won't fix it.

You'll hear:

• My personal story of internal conflict, burnout, and self-sabotage
• The invisible patterns I see in high-achieving men who look successful on the outside but are spiraling inside
• The 6-step Inner Fire Method I use with clients (and myself) to finally break free from the cycle

This isn’t just theory, I give you real tools, reflection prompts, and practical steps you can implement right away to shift from self-judgment to self-leadership.

(0:00:44) What the War in Our Heads mean

(06:50) My Story 

(0:12:50) The Patterns I see in Other Men

(0:15:15) Introduction of the 6-step Inner Fire Method

(0:15:50) Step 1 - Wake

(0:18:15) Step 2 - Feel 

(0:21:55) Step 3 - Face 

(0:25:05) Step 4 - Heal

(0:30:25) Step 5 - Rise

(0:32:10) Step 6 - Lead

____

Want to go deeper?

🎁 Download the free 6-Step Integration Worksheet to apply everything from this episode:
👉 Click Here is Access

Join the weekly email:

Real insights for men who lead. Every week I share what I’m learning, living and coaching through, the unfiltered stuff that doesn’t make it to social media. 

👉 Join the List

Join The Ascension Men’s Community

The training ground where high-performing men reclaim their edge. Inside you’ll access regular workshops, men’s circles, a comprehensive training library, direct coaching with me, and a brotherhood that challenges you to rise higher and hold you accountable to the man you’re meant to be.

👉 Join us here 

_____

🎧 The Heart-Led Man Podcast is hosted by Evan Spargo, Master Certified Coach and Men's Performance Coach specialising in post-breakdown transformation. Evan helps high-performing men turn their pain into gold and rise as the leaders they were born to be.

Your breakdown is your biggest breakthrough.

Website: www.evanspargo.co

Instagram: @evanspargo