"If you did the work and didn't quit on yourself, you'll be fine." - Forrest Griffin

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, The Ultimate Fighter winner, and UFC Vice President of Athlete Development Forrest Griffin shares the mindset that carried him through the highest highs and toughest setbacks of his career.

From getting knocked out in front of the world to rebuilding his confidence and eventually becoming a UFC champion, Griffin explains why failure never defined him.

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"The gold in our lives lies just beyond where we're afraid or unwilling to go." - Aaron Taylor

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Super Bowl champion, CBS Sports analyst, and College Football Hall of Famer Aaron Taylor shares the moments that tested his resilience long before he reached the NFL.

From overcoming childhood trauma, addiction, and self-doubt to nearly walking away from football after a devastating first practice, Taylor explains how faith, courage, and a willingness to keep showing up changed the course of his life. He reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the lessons he's learned as a father, and why the greatest rewards are often found just beyond the places we're most afraid to go.

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“Failure is only something that sits on your resume when you settle for it." - Tiki Barber

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber reflects on the setbacks that shaped his career and the mindset that helped him overcome them.

From nearly losing his starting job after the Giants repeatedly brought in his replacements to building a second career in broadcasting, Barber shares why resilience comes from embracing small wins, surrounding yourself with honest people, and refusing to stop trying. He explains how the lessons from his mother, his coaches, and his teammates helped turn moments of doubt into a foundation for long-term success.

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"We had two or three weeks of runway left." How do you keep believing when everything says it's time to quit?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, entrepreneur Gino Cafiero reflects on the journey of building Bear Flag Robotics and the pressure of nearly losing it all. He shares how purpose, relationships, and embracing discomfort helped him navigate setbacks, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately build a company that was acquired by John Deere.

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"I thought I had to do everything myself." What if asking for help is the thing that changes your life?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Dylan Smith, founder of D is for Dyslexia, shares how growing up with dyslexia, being adopted twice, and struggling to find his place ultimately shaped the person he is today. For years, Dylan believed success meant figuring everything out on his own. But after finding mentors, letting go of his ego, and learning to ask for help, his life and career began to change. Today, he's an author, speaker, and advocate helping others see that their greatest challenges can become their greatest strengths.

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"I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny." — Bart Berkey never expected a heart attack, a global pandemic, and the loss of his 16-year career at Ritz-Carlton to completely change his life.

Founder of Most People Don't and keynote speaker Bart Berkey joins Nik Agharkar to share how those setbacks pushed him to build a business centered on purpose, kindness, and resilience. From running out of savings to rebuilding his confidence one day at a time, Berkey explains why remembering your "why," serving others, and embracing what he calls "humanality" helped him create a more meaningful life than the one he left behind.

This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship, it's about choosing to keep going.

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"I lost confidence in myself." — What happens when the thing you've always relied on suddenly disappears?

Scott Kleckner, owner of Olive Wood Pizza, shares how 18 months of unemployment forced him to confront something he'd never faced before: self-doubt. After decades leading turnarounds and managing restaurants, stadiums, and entertainment venues, he suddenly found himself questioning whether the skills that built his career still mattered.

Instead of continuing the search for another corporate role, Kleckner took a risk and bought a small catering business in Southern California. The transition wasn't easy, but it reminded him of a lesson he'd learned long ago: work ethic can carry you through almost anything.

This conversation explores confidence, leadership, identity, and why resilience is often less about avoiding setbacks and more about getting back to work when things don't go according to plan.

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"I committed a federal crime." — What happens when one bad decision changes the course of your life forever? 

Tom Hardin, international corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and former Wall Street analyst known as "Tipper X," shares the story of how insider trading led to an FBI investigation, public disgrace, and the loss of the career he spent years building. From secretly wearing a wire for the FBI to seeing his name on the front page of major newspapers, Tom explains the personal toll of shame, accountability, and rebuilding after a very public failure.

But this is not just a story about breaking the law. It is about accepting responsibility, finding purpose through service, and learning that resilience is often less about bouncing back and more about laying one honest brick at a time. Tom shares how volunteering, family support, and a willingness to forgive himself helped him create a life that ultimately became more meaningful than the one he was chasing before everything fell apart.

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“You’ll move faster by slowing down.” - How do you stay calm when everything around you is collapsing?

Jason Bishara, lead of financial practice at NSI Insurance Group, shares the story of losing control of a venture-backed company during a brutal market shift, the pressure it placed on his family, and how he rebuilt both his career and perspective through one of the hardest periods of his life. From losing years of income to restructuring a business without bankruptcy, Jason explains why resiliency is less about motivation and more about staying calm enough to keep moving.

This is not just a story about business failure. It is about controlling emotion during chaos, learning from the people around you, and understanding that some of life’s biggest setbacks can quietly become your biggest blessings.

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"I thought we were buying our future. Instead, we bought a disaster.” 

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Angie Callen shares how buying the wrong business spiraled into lawsuits, bankruptcy, and financial collapse. After losing nearly everything, Angie and her husband moved into a gutted school bus in the mountains of Colorado and rebuilt their lives one coaching client, one networking event, and one step at a time. But this conversation is about more than failure. It is about resilience as a learned skill. 

Angie explains how childhood adversity shaped her mindset, why having “no way back” forced her to adapt, and how refusing to quit helped her build a successful coaching business from scratch. From sleeping in her Subaru between networking events to finding her first client through LinkedIn, Angie’s story is a reminder that resilience is often built long before the breakthrough arrives. 

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