The High Performance Life

In this week's episode, I am joined by Rene Rodriguez!

We break down the Amplify methodology, the power of storytelling, and why movement—not confidence—fuels progress.

Rene shares powerful insights on the narrative gap in leadership, how our brains fill in missing pieces with assumptions, and why leaders must reclaim their stories to guide their teams effectively.

We also explore the importance of self-awareness, overcoming a victim mentality, and the role of psychological safety in strong organizations.

René is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and transformational speaker coach.

For the last 27 years, René has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change.

As an entrepreneur and CEO of multiple companies, René integrates a practical business approach that inspires his audiences to take action.

Through his keynote, boot camps, workshops and proprietary AMPLIFII™ course, he helps us own our backstory to build the frame for not only our unique value propositions but also a beautiful picture of life.

He is the author of WSJ Best Selling Book, Amplify Your Influence, which was selected as a Best Business Book 2022 by Summary.com.

René has also shared the stage with Ed Mylett, Tony Robbins, Jon Gordon, Gary Vaynerchuk, Ryan Holiday, and many more.

Key Points

Influence is everywhere

Movement creates confidence

The brain fills narrative gaps with assumptions

Psychological safety is key

Reframing changes reality

Self-awareness fuels growth

To learn more about Rene: https://www.meetrene.com/

In this episode, I dive into the double-edged sword that is our phones.

On one hand, they offer incredible convenience, but on the other, they can harm our personal connections and relationships.

I talk about how phones can become addictive, distract us from real-life interactions, and even affect the quality of our relationships—especially for younger generations.

I share my thoughts on the importance of being present, fostering deeper connections, and finding balance between embracing technology and nurturing the people around us.

Let's explore how we can create more meaningful interactions and bring creativity back into our lives.

Key Points

• Overuse of phones hinders connections.

• Presence lost to smartphone screens.

• Social scrolling can numb the soul.

• Phones vs. personal goals for youth.

• Intimacy matters more than screentime.

Best Quotes

01:57 - 02:01

• "The number one thing the phone takes away from in our lives is personal connection."

03:19 - 03:29

• "The trap of social media scrolling is, is deadening. I mean, our souls just leave our body during this experience."

04:11 - 04:18

• "But if I'm learning incessantly, I'm not taking a break to think, I'm not taking you a break to actually be present where I'm at."

09:43 - 09:49

• "There's nothing lonelier than than sitting with this phone because it's just you and it."

12:55 - 13:03

• "Nothing can replace the connection we feel between each other. Nothing can replace how we feel when we're laughing with friends in person."

In this week's episode, I talk about my journey from chasing the wrong things in life to surrendering to a bigger purpose.

I share stories from my career, including the mindset shift that inspired me to create a charitable wine festival, which completely redefined my goals.

I highlight how letting go of material desires and aligning my work with a greater purpose has brought me both personal fulfillment and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my community.

Key Points

• It's impact over income for genuine success

• Surrender to purpose yields life's riches

• Charitable visions can multiply into millions

• Realizing self-worth trumps net worth

• Serving others becomes the ultimate goal

Best Quotes

02:04 - 02:11

• "I can remember my mom telling me that if I could just put a thousand dollars in my checking account and forget it, I would never bounce a check."

05:53 - 06:02

• "The impact that we just made was a hundred thousand dollars to the cancer center and, and $75,000 to other charities."

07:24 - 07:35

• "I started to reframe the way that I actually looked at things, surrendering, knowing that there's something bigger than me, that God's guiding me and I just made an impact that I hadn't dreamed of."

08:54 - 08:58

• "I was chasing impact, I had the confidence to bet on myself."

13:36 - 13:44

• "You have to detach yourself from the result and attach yourself to the work. You have to reevaluate your goals."

14:32 - 14:41

• "It's really a matter of finding what you're great at and building towards that, knowing that you're going to build towards something that's gonna make an impact on the world."

In this weeks episode, I am joined by EMMA SEPPÄLÄ, Ph.D Emma is a best-selling author, Yale lecturer, and international keynote speaker.

She teaches executives at the Yale School of Management and is faculty director of the Yale School of Management's Women's Leadership Program.

A psychologist and research scientist by training, her expertise is the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and social connection.

Her best-selling book The Happiness Track (2016) has been translated into dozens of languages.

Her new book is Sovereign (2024).

Seppälä is also the Science Director of Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.

Emma's research has been published in top academic journals and featured in major news outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and CBSNews. She speaks and consults internationally for Fortune 500 companies like Google and Facebook and contributes to Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, Psychology Today, and TIME among others.

A repeat guest on Good Morning America, Emma also spoke at TedX Sacramento and TEDx Hayward. Her research on breathing for military veterans with trauma was highlighted in the documentary Free the Mind. She is also featured in documentaries like The Altruism Revolution, What You Do Matters, and Bullied.

Emma is the recipient of a number of research grants and service awards including the James W. Lyons Award from Stanford University for founding Stanford's first academic class on the psychology of happiness and initiating other well-being programs for Stanford students.

Key Points

• Life's joy lies in compassion balance.

• Discover inner freedom & sovereignty.

• Intuition & awareness are happiness keys.

• Downtime sparks genius and intuition.

05:30 - 05:38

• "When you do take time away from the stimulation, you actually access your innovative potential, your greatest sort of genius ideas." 06:39 - 06:49

• "So in a way, you know, being in a meditative place, whether you're doing meditation, which I highly recommend given all the research on it, but, or downtime where you're, you know, we used to sit in the bus and just stare out the window."

13:23 - 13:27

• "So charismatic people make you feel like you're the only one person in the room. Like, how do they do that?" 32:43 - 32:53

• "That's loyalty. Loyalty comes out of a, a deep human connection with another person who had your back, who was, who positively inclined towards you."

32:59 - 33:06

• "And, and those moments, you know, after food and shelter, our greatest need is for positive social connection, like you said, those micro moments of upliftment."

44:56 - 45:09

• "It's so painful, you know? And then also with the, you know, in my neighborhood, like all the teens are just on their phone waiting for the bus, going home, walking on the phone, and not looking up at the trees and the birds and nature."

This week, I am joined by Judah Taub! Judah is the Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Hetz Ventures.

Before founding Hetz, Judah was Head of Data at Lansdowne Partners ($20B London-based Hedge Fund) as well as advising multiple young start-ups. Judah was also elected as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2020.

It's no secret that AI is everywhere (55% of Americans use AI daily), and there is growing concern about AI taking jobs and helping students cheat.

However, 60% of teachers use AI in their curriculum and say it helps them with their efficiency. CNBC sites that AI skills help you land a job and get promoted so why wouldn't schools take the opportunity to prepare students?

In his new book, How to Move Up When the Only Way Is Down, Judah discusses how we can face complex decisions, or overcome obstacles to personal or professional goals. The book is designed to transform readers' decision-making by recognizing Local Maximums and skill building based on lessons from AI.

Key Points

• AI's dual-nature impact on society

• Overcoming 'local maximums' for growth

• Optimism in AI's advancement

• AI's impact on education

• Tools simplifying life's complexities

Best Quotes

03:32 - 03:47

• "AI prevents, it presents a real opportunity to take some of the good things even further. And at the same time, it could be used and it probably will also be used in some negative ways."

07:44 - 08:01

• "I think of it as impact, and we talked about this in the beginning. I think of it from the impact that you can make and every time you can elevate your stage and you could create a larger impact on the world, it's really powerful. And I, I see that in AI and I think I'm like you, I just wanna see the optimistic side of it."

12:22 - 12:43

• "So the basics of computers start off with if not, and while these are the basics of every computer, and what happened was we humans taught computers, human logic, we taught computers how to think, and computers have now gotten so good at certain types of problems..."

30:08 - 30:23

• "It's a great question. I feel very confident in my high level approach, which I will describe. And when it comes to the practical sort of day-to-day, I can give you a direction, but I think that comes down to the teachers."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Shawn Harper! Shawn Harper knows what it feels like to face unfathomable circumstances and still make it through to the winning side.

Imagine graduating last in your class with a 1.62 GPA, being voted most likely to fail, yet finding your way to the NFL and becoming a successful business owner.

Shawn never settled for failure. While attending Indiana State University, he set his mind on playing in the NFL. After graduation, he was immediately drafted, beginning a 7-year career as an offensive lineman with the LA Rams, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and NFL Europe.

Shortly after his NFL career, Shawn founded his thriving multi-million-dollar security firm, American Services and Protection. He translated the skills and disciplines he learned from the NFL into success in corporate America.

Known as "The Winologist," Shawn is now one of the nation's leading motivational speakers. He breaks down elite strategies used by professional athletes into simple concepts to help others win in business and life.

His paradigm-shifting approach has transformed thousands of individuals and corporations by reframing their mindset from success to winning, activating their greatest potential to compete and dominate at the highest levels.

Author of the best-seller The Winning Edge, Shawn also serves on the board of the King's Ransom Foundation. He is actively involved in his church and is a loving husband, father, and dedicated family man.

Key Points

• Vulnerabilities of high achievers

• Faith as a lifelong guidepost

• Discipline, the backbone of strong leaders

• Teamwork is essential for success

Best Quotes

05:52 - 06:11

• "It's absolutely amazing. And I might say the battle, the battle is remaining Christ remain at the center to fortify, to purify, to electrify all of my motives, actions, and thoughts." 08:29 - 08:37

• "One of the lessons, Jackie taught me was that you always have the proper perspective of what you're doing and where you're at."

17:56 - 18:00

• "When you push yourself to that limit, the breakthrough is like astronomical."

18:50 - 19:00

• "When a bone broke, if it's set, when it heals, if it's set right, man, it comes back even stronger." 26:36 - 26:45

• "Because you'll perform so much that you become a stranger to you. You don't even know who you are to yourself anymore."

30:51 - 31:02

• "If I could be really honest and really, really transparent, and, and, and, and a lot of people might not understand this, but it's okay. It's a slow death."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Mike Foster!

Known as the Mr. Rogers of personal development, Mike Foster is a best-selling author, speaker, and executive coach empowering people to build strong lives by turning their setbacks into superpowers.

Mike is the creator of the Primal Question Framework and is a master-trainer in the model. He is a Certified Experiential Specialist recognized by the International Society For Experiential Professionals.

Like a grace-flavored snow cone on a hot, judgmental day, Mike's chart-topping and highly acclaimed Primal Question Podcast will give you the one-two punch you need to stop making excuses and start living a stronger, better life.

His work has been featured on Good Morning America, FOXNews and the New York Times.

Key Points • Primal questions define our identity

• Parenting influenced by primal needs

• Simplicity is key in personal growth

• Learn the "Primal Question" technique

• Understanding core drivers empowers us

Best Quotes

05:51 - 06:00

• "I think the, the thing that's so exciting about this work is I really believe in just human potential."

11:18 - 11:31

• "And we have, you know, I always say like, personal and doing this work and really understanding the, your primal question, how it drives your life, it's an opportunity to say, I'm on to me, okay." 12:28 - 12:42

• "This is why we have these conversations about kind of the core drivers of our life, understanding what is the need that we have that is asking for us to pay attention to it and start paying attention to it, start working on it."

15:48 - 16:12

• "I've never seen comparison create transformation. I've seen, you know, me actually doing the inner work, me getting honest with myself, me taking ownership of my life, me having wise mentors come alongside and challenge me. I've seen that produced transformation, but never through just straight up deluge of co compare comparing myself to other people."

30:46 - 31:02

• "You know, one of the things that's was really exciting about the research when we say research was five years of research, 6,000 hours of one-on-one interviews, 22 group labs, 32,000 assessments that come up with this framework."

31:50 - 31:57

• "Your whole orientation in relationship is about you helping people be successful."

38:33 - 38:40

• "The whole point of we take our own primal question and we place it over everybody else and assume they're asking the same question."

In this week's episode, I am joined by James Whittaker!

James has interviewed more than 600 of the world's leading change-makers to unlock their secrets to success. His work has been translated into 15+ languages and his book Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy is a modern companion to the bestselling self-help book of all time.

James has personally coached Olympic gold medallists, billion-dollar CEOs, and special forces operators. After a successful career in financial planning where he led an adviser team with $2 billion under management, James began his own entrepreneurial journey.

Today, through his podcast, social content, and media appearances, he helps two million people each month to Win the Day®. With an eclectic background, James' superpower is helping ambitious but frustrated people gain immediate clarity on what they want and giving them a bulletproof plan to achieve it.

He has been featured extensively in television, print, and digital media around the world, including The Today Show, Entrepreneur, Money Magazine, and The Australian. In 2019, James launched the Win the Day podcast that has now amassed 60 million views in 130+ countries.

He is author of the bestselling personal finance and motivation book "The Beginner's Guide to Wealth", named book of the month by Money Magazine.

Obsessed with what separates ordinary people from extraordinary achievers, James has interviewed 600+ of the world's top performers to unlock their secrets to success and in 2022, he was named in the '40 Under Forty in Podcasting' global list by Podcast Magazine.

Key Points

• Embrace 'Win the Day' philosophy

• The impact of intentional living

• Growth through genuine connection • Success is more than money.

• Maximize potential, maximize impact.

• Build your brand with concentrated effort.

Best Quotes

03:15 - 03:23

• "It's really, really important to me that legacy is not something we leave behind. It's something that we build for the present, for the people who depend on us most." 04:53 - 04:58

• "It's such a powerful lesson in concentrated effort when all of these different things come for you."

07:45 - 07:54

• "Every single day, I am just blown away. But I, I wrote down what am I feeling gratitude for this morning was for being consistent with that journal practice."

34:42 - 34:49

• "The poverty conscience will automatically overtake any mind that is not preoccupied with being success conscious."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Dr. Matt Chalmers! Dr. Matt Chalmers is a health and wellness expert, author and speaker who specializes in the areas of long-term wellness, nutrition, women's health, weight loss, athlete wellness and holistic healing.

With a client list that includes professional athletes, business executives, politicians and celebrities, Dr. Chalmers takes a holistic-based approach with patients to identify and treat the source of their issues.

Medical doctors regularly refer patients to Dr. Chalmers when traditional medications and treatments are not working with their patients.

Dr. Chalmers works with patients to identify, treat and manage a wide variety of issues, including weight loss/gain, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, pain, injuries, celiac disease, chiropractic problems, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis.

He also provides patients with hormone therapy guidance and treatment. Dr. Chalmers is the author of the bestselling book "Pillars of Wellness", which helps readers cut through the information overload about wellness, exercise and diet to figure out the actions they can take that will have the greatest impact. Key Points

• Chemistry, not calories, fuels our body

• Testosterone as a healing hormone

• Sleep quality is key for muscle repair

• Cannabis to potentially replace opioids

• Real-life impact of hormone balance

Best Quotes04:04 - 04:08

• "You can have anything you want if you're willing to work for it. That's the thing I learned from sports."

05:42 - 05:59

• "And it's teaching him all these ways to be aware and to be out in front and to learn that at 14, 15 years old versus waiting until you're 27 and your $20 million contract depends upon whether or not your hamstrings running or not is so valuable." 10:08 - 10:15

• "if I can teach you how to be healthy, you parents, you can teach your kids how to be healthy. And now we've started changing the whole, the whole dynamic."

10:16 - 10:22

• "we don't need the drugs, we don't need the labels of a DD, we don't need those things. We just need to get the body chemically healthier the way it was designed to be."

22:57 - 23:05

• "Knowledge should, like the more you know the, the, the difference you, you should have. Like I quit drinking, I quit drinking last year for the, for the bodybuilding thing."

41:46 - 41:49

• "The vast majority of men are primary or secondary love language is physical touch."

On this week's episode, I am joined by Pejman Ghadimi! Pejman is a self-made entrepreneur, philosopher, and author of the best-selling books "Third Circle Theory" & "RADIUS". Pejman is a true "come up from nothing" story. He and his mother escaped as refugees from Iran to Paris when he was a young child, before making their way to America around the age of 12. Over the last 20 years, Pegman has built a multitude of businesses ranging from investment firms to a series of online education businesses! Pejman is the perfect example of how resourcefulness, hard work, and self-education are the most powerful keys to the life you want!

Key Points• The evolution of the American dream.

• High earning skills vs. high wages.

• Insights on self-awareness and business growth

• Financial education vs. outdated systems

• Mindset shifts in education.

Best Quotes

02:41 - 02:48

• "So, you know, the turning point was really nothing more than just realizing that there's work and there isn't work elsewhere."

04:13 - 04:22

• "And unfortunately, you may not have the necessary skills to actually start working on your dreams." 07:34 - 07:41

• "Wealthy people don't want their children to do the exact same thing that they did. They want them to start from a new point."

11:33 - 11:48

• "So, you know, I would say that, you know, today I feel really bad for those people, but I think that just like, I found a way to kind of make ends meet during those times until I was able to receive a green card, until I was able to basically have a normal path going through the process, which did take eight years or so."

12:36 - 12:42

• "So, you know, I I think it's one of these things where there isn't a one size fits all, you know, that where, where there's a solution to this."

48:26 - 48:40

• "And then finally when I became conscious, I looked back again at the entire journey and basically filled in the gap by creating data choice, which was how language is basically the missing component of consciousness that people aren't talking about."