The Sean Trace Show

I sat down with Derrick Kinney, a former financial advisor turned communication coach, to unpack why so many talented people struggle to explain what they do and lose the clients they want most. 

Derrick shares practical communication skills for entrepreneurs, advisors, and anyone building toward their first million: connect with a relatable pain point, ask deeper questions, practice active listening, and embrace the power of silence. 

We talk about why return on relationship beats return on investment, how to become more referable, and how putting your brain on the payroll can spark better ideas. 

What is one limiting belief about money or success you picked up growing up?

Are we raising kids who are too comfortable to handle the real world?

In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I welcome back Jimmy May, a retired Navy SEAL with 22 years of service and six combat deployments, for a powerful conversation about fatherhood, parenting, discipline, and raising resilient kids.

We dive into why modern parenting might be making children less prepared for life's challenges, the dangers of overprotective parenting, and why teaching kids to do hard things is essential for building mental toughness and independence.

Jimmy shares how his experiences in the Navy SEAL teams shaped his approach to fatherhood, from leading by example and developing daily habits to understanding why being present matters more than simply providing. We also explore the impact of smartphones and social media on children, the importance of community in building resilience, and the Navy SEAL philosophy of "Mission, Team, Self."

Beyond parenting, Jimmy opens up about his mission with Beyond the Brotherhood, helping former Navy SEALs find purpose, connection, and support after military service.

What's one tough lesson you believe every parent should teach their kids before they grow up?

I sat down with five-time entrepreneur, athlete, and author Chris Walker, who built Refine Labs into a $20 million business and now explores human potential, self-trust, and mindset. 

We talk about how AI and a tough job market are pushing us through the third major economic transition in history, and why entrepreneurship may be less risky than the traditional 9 to 5. 

He explains invisible contracts like the productivity contract and the beauty contract, and shows how limiting beliefs and identity hold us back far more than missing skills ever will. We also dig into how to define who you are, build real self-trust, and stop following someone else’s map. 

What’s one belief about yourself that you’ve never actually questioned?

I sat down with life purpose coach Karl Klausewitz to unpack why so many high achievers look like they have it all together on the outside while feeling lost on the inside. 

We talk about success as a costume, and why burnout often starts with self-abandonment rather than hard work. Karl shares three warning signs you’re heading toward a wall, why succeeding at something that doesn’t matter to you can be more dangerous than failing, and what changes first when someone moves from burnout to alignment. 

What’s one thing you’re doing out of “should” right now that you’d stop doing if you were completely honest with yourself?

I sat down with Amani Roberts, a fractional artist manager, professional DJ, author, and music professor based in Las Vegas, to unpack the fear, low self-worth, and perfectionism that hold creators back. 

We talk about how to build creative courage, why there’s no such thing as overnight success, and how a growth mindset turns every “no” into fuel. Amani shares practical advice on how to monetize your passion without guilt, and why done is always better than perfect.

What’s one creative project you’ve been holding back on? 

What happens when your 10-year-old daughter decides your podcast needs a K-pop makeover? You say yes. 😂

In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, Ailani decided I needed a completely different look, and apparently that meant transforming me into a K-pop star. But underneath the ridiculous makeup, this episode became about something much bigger.

Life is short.

We spend so much time working, planning, worrying, chasing goals, and taking ourselves seriously that sometimes we forget to actually enjoy the moments happening right in front of us.

Sometimes happiness is saying yes when your daughter wants to give you a K-pop makeover.

Sometimes it’s doing something completely outside your comfort zone.

Sometimes it’s being willing to look ridiculous, laugh at yourself, and create a memory with someone you love.

I recently received some heartbreaking news about a friend who passed away, and it reminded me again that none of us know exactly how much time we have. So have some fun. Do something different. Make the memory.

And if your kid wants to turn you into a K-pop star… maybe just let them.

Subscribe for more episodes of The Sean Trace Show as I explore happiness, personal growth, family, challenges, new experiences, and what it actually means to build a life worth living.

When retired Navy SEAL officer Marty Strong sat down with me, we got into why so many of us wait for a crisis before we start improving ourselves. 

Marty has also managed high net worth portfolios, worked in counterterrorism consulting, and served as a CEO, so he brings a rare perspective on leadership under pressure. We talk about the biggest mistakes leaders make when the heat is on and why smart teams end up solving the wrong problem. 

Marty shares his Lean Six Sigma lesson on root cause analysis, a story about a leader who was secretly the arsonist, and how scenario-based training builds calm decision-making before disaster hits. 

What's one area of your life where you're still waiting for a crisis to make a change?

I sat down with ultramarathon runner and bestselling author Dean Karnazes, and he completely shifted how I think about motivation, fear, and personal growth. 

Dean has run over 300 marathons across all seven continents, and he shared the mindset that keeps him going when everything hurts. We talked about why so many people believe they're too old, too fragile, or too late to chase a big dream, and why that conditioning is often the real barrier.

Dean explained how staying present, focusing on your very next footstep, and quieting the noise in your head can carry you through almost any challenge. 

What is one thing you've been telling yourself you can't do?

I sat down with Kelly Leonard, the legendary creative executive behind Second City, the theater that launched Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Stephen Colbert.

We dig into the real origins of "Yes And," tracing it back from a social worker teaching immigrant kids in Chicago all the way to boardrooms and FBI hostage negotiators. Kelly breaks down why our default setting as humans is to say no, and why that instinct is quietly killing our creativity, our careers, and our relationships. 

We talk about the Keith Jarrett Köln Concert story, the science of why introverts feel better acting like extroverts, and why the biggest barrier to innovation isn't failure, it's success. 

What's one "no" you regret saying?

For a long time, staying busy made me feel like I had control. Five podcasts in a day, constant projects, always working, it felt like I was moving forward.

Then I slowed down and realized something uncomfortable: being busy and making progress are not the same thing. And when the work stopped, some of the anxiety I had been outrunning came right back.

I’m still figuring this out. For now, the goal is simple: control the things I can control and learn to let go of the rest.