Dr. Wayne "Dr. C" Chappelle is a licensed clinical psychologist and board‑certified specialist with more than two decades of experience helping people perform, lead, and thrive under extreme pressure. He currently serves as the Team Psychologist for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, where he supports elite athletes in strengthening their mental resilience, emotional regulation, and competitive mindset.

​

For over 20 years, Dr. Chappelle has been a trusted psychological consultant to some of the most demanding military and government agencies —including Presidential aircrew, Special Operations forces, and senior military leadership. His work has included assessing and preparing personnel for high‑risk missions, briefing Pentagon officials on the psychological impact of dangerous operations, and shaping programs that strengthen the mental health and resilience of service members fighting terrorism across the globe.

​

In private practice, Dr. C works with executive leaders, high‑pressure professionals, and U.S. Olympic‑level athletes, helping them build the emotional, relational, and behavioral skills required to excel in the most competitive and consequential environments.

​

He is also featured in Heal Your Hurting Mind alongside pastor and best-selling author Craig Groeschel, whose personal candor and biblical insight pair with Dr. C's psychological expertise to offer a powerful, hope‑centered path toward healing and resilience.

​

At the center of his work is a simple mission: to help people adapt, grow, and stay grounded through life's most intense challenges. Known for his clarity, warmth, and practical wisdom, Dr. C blends deep clinical expertise with real‑world experience supporting individuals who carry extraordinary responsibility.

​

When he's not working with high-performing teams or speaking on leadership psychology, Dr. C spends his time with family and close friends—recharging through meaningful conversation, shared meals, and the kind of laughter that keeps life grounded. He believes strong relationships are the foundation of resilience, and he brings that same warmth and presence to the people he cares about most hope‑centered path toward healing and resilience.

Takeaways:

1. Profile of a Hero: Dr. Chappelle's study revealed some great traits in terms of what makes a hero. I liked all of his elements, but some of my favorites are:

   1. Passion with purpose - having a strong WHY is essential to carry through tough challenges. And most of the time – if not all of the time, those whys that are bigger than ourselves seem to help us endure more than any other. I like how he used the word conviction – such a strong word that describes the commitment to the WHY that will override anything that comes along which is uncomfortable. He mentioned the medic's motto of "so that others may live" which is about as strong a why as there is. Passion is great, but passion with a purpose is what will get us over the tough challenges. Let's all strive to have strong whys and then get truly convicted to them so that we can attack our pursuits with all we have.

   2. Tenacity – the notion of getting comfortable being uncomfortable. If you can get here, you can get to the level of unstoppable.

   3. Self-sacrifice – I like how Dr. Chappelle pointed out that life is about the impact we have on the world around us. Playing and living like this is an essential part of being elite.

2. Diamond – Dr. Chappelle reminds us that a diamond is only a diamond if/when it endures intense heat and pressure. The result is something hard, tough, and beautiful. If we want to be elite, we need to lean into pressure instead of taking the easy way and avoiding it. I just heard Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow talk about this in a press conference as he challenged his team to take on pressure – mentioning that he LIKES pressure. He hasn't won a Super Bowl yet, but he's 5-2 in the playoffs so far…and this is a big reason why.

3. Do ordinary with excellence every day: This goes to the consistent theme of intentionality with regard to the essentials. Dr. Chappelle tells the players on the Thunder to take care of their main tool – their bodies - with diet, rest, exercise, and recovery. We need to do the same with our bodies and as Dr. Chappelle says, add that same intentionality and pursuit of excellence with the mind and spirit as well. If we do this on a consistent basis…our potential is limitless.

4. Heal Your Hurting Mind:

   1. The label: Instead of labeling ourselves with anxiety or other similar labels that have become way too common these days, I like how Dr. Chappelle provided us with the way we should all label ourselves – I'm a human with strengths and vulnerabilities and I'm in control.

   2. Spirituality: Last episode, Damon West said that we all need to be intentional about mind, body and spirit. Dr. Chappelle backed that up when he talked about his personal routine. His work supported this idea as well as he mentioned that when he studied two groups of special ops performers, those who had a greater sense of spirituality performed better. This added benefit of having something greater than themselves allowed them to perform better and cope with things that would break others. More proof that we need to be intentional about mind, body, and spirit if we want to truly pursue our complete and best selves.

Links:

Website: https://www.drchappelle.com https://psyoptimal.com/our-team

Instagram: @dr.waynechappelle

Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, internationally known keynote speaker and 3 x Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His bestselling business book, The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change, was listed by Forbes' in the "Top Twenty Books You Need to Read to Crush 2020."

His autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, vividly tells how he transformed the pot of boiling water that is a Texas maximum-security prison into a pot of coffee.

At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career ending injury. He turned to hardcore drugs to cope with disappointments of life. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stockbroker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit.

After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today.

The Coffee Bean message has inspired thousands. Damon's clients include hundreds of companies, such as Walmart, State Farm, Wendy's, Stryker, and sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Timberwolves, Clemson, Alabama and Georgia. The U.S. Army has even incorporated the #BeACoffeeBean mindset into their resilience training. Damon's story has been featured both nationally and globally.

He is passionate about the Coffee Bean message and loves sharing how it changed his life and how it can change yours, too.

His most recent book, national bestselling Six Dimes and a Nickel, Life Lessons to Empower Change, introduces the principles and stories that allowed Damon West to rewrite his narrative and become one of the greatest underdog triumphs of all time.

His Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Locker Room: How Great Teams Heal Hurt, Overcome Adversity and Build Unity, is being optioned for film adaptation.

His children's book, The Coffee Bean for Kids, is the genesis for Coffee Bean Clubs being started by students at schools all over America.

Today, Damon lives a life of recovery and service, sharing his story all over the world. Of all the hats Damon wears, however, the two most important to him are being a husband to Kendell and a stepfather to Clara.

Takeaways:

1. The Darkest of Dark. Hopefully, none of us will ever have to face the type of environment that Damon had to face. In such an environment, survival would be an admirable goal. But remember all that Damon did in prison. He kicked a strong drug habit, he confirmed and brought his faith to a new level, and he sought to transform the environment around him – ALL while having to fight his fights while feeling the fear every single time. This goes to show that even if we've completely lost our way and find ourselves in a dark spot, anchorless – we can ALWAYS fight the good fight, get super intentional and turn things around – for ourselves and for those around us.
2. The Uncommon Anchor. I think Damon did a good job of describing his uncommon anchor in the teaser at the start of this episode. He told us that we had to be intentional on a daily basis about our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Damon was also clear that his parents had given him this anchor with a solid upbringing. Damon didn't maintain it and so he lost it – leading to drugs, crime and eventually a life sentence. As we saw, Damon rebuilt his anchor. And so can we. But it's far better to avoid having to rebuild it by being massively intentional about our mental, physical, and spiritual selves on a daily basis. It may feel like we don't need it – like everything is good and going our way. That's exactly when we need to double down on strengthening our inner anchor based on the right things. So, when life punches – and it WILL punch – as it did with Damon's football career unexpectedly coming to an end – your anchor will be strong enough to keep you on a good path, instead of going sideways like Damon did for that rough period of his life.
3. The Coffee Bean. First, what a great life lesson given by Damon's jail friend, Muhammad about being the coffee bean – doing the work to transform yourself for the better and then truly becoming the coffee bean by doing the same for those around you, despite the hot boiling water of adversity surrounding you. This message has influenced millions through Damon's books and speeches. Almost as important was what Damon said about Muhammad himself and the lessons he learned from him. Damon learned so much from this new friend because he was willing to listen to him – despite all the differences between the two including race, religion, and more. As Damon said, if we close ourselves off to people who are different than us, we risk missing these messengers in life from whom we can learn so much. The Coffee Bean lesson has positively impacted millions of lives, starting with Damon's – and none of it would've happened if Damon had refused to listen to somebody because he was different.
4. Fighting your Fights. In addition to the Coffee Bean lesson, Mohammed shared another great life lesson with Damon as he tried to prepare him for prison life. "You don't have to win all your fights, but you must fight all your fights," he told Damon. This is simply a great mantra for life. We all know we won't win all of the challenges that come our way…but, to really live…to truly pursue our most complete and best selves – we need to FIGHT all of our fights…all of the challenges that come our way. If we live like this, no matter our record for all of our fights, we will have built a deep and strong anchor inside us, rooted in confidence, fulfillment, and the peace that comes with an unlimited belief in who we are and how we can handle all that comes our way.

Links:

Website: https://damonwest.org

Instagram/X: @damonwest7

Amy Morin is a licensed psychotherapist, a mental strength trainer, keynote speaker, award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast, and an international bestselling author of six books on mental strength, including the globally acclaimed 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do. These books have sold over one million copies and have been translated into more than fifty languages. Her 7th book, The Mental Strength Playbook, just released in April of 2026.

Her expertise has been featured by major outlets such as Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, Tamron Hall, and BBC and her TEDx Talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, has been viewed over 24 million times.

Amy's passion for teaching mental strength stems from a personal place. After enduring almost unimaginable loss of three loved ones in her twenties, she realized the traditional tools of therapy weren't enough to manage her grief. She's practiced therapy for over twenty years, and she's a sought-after speaker whose Ted Talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong" is one of the most viewed talks of all time, with more than 25 million views. Amy lives on a sailboat in the Florida Keys.

Books:

• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do.
• 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don't Do.
• 13 Things Mentally Stron Parents Don't Do.
• 13 Things Strong Kids Do.
• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Workbook.
• 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do.
• The Mental Strength Playbook.

Takeaways:

• Keep. Moving. Forward.: One of my favorite movie lines is from the last Rocky movie where the aging boxer tells his son about how life isn't about how hard you can hit – it's about how hard you can GET HIT and keep moving forward. Amy's hits were about has hard as life can punch. Losing a loved one is difficult. Losing THREE in a relatively short period of time, at a relatively young age, is almost unimaginable. Not only did she keep moving forward, but Amy also made a CHOICE to be mentally strong about it – and now she's as good a model of that as there is – and millions have benefitted from it.
• Life hits everybody. As Amy tells us, she seemingly had it all figured out and was set up for a great life path. Great parents. Solid faith. Solid education and training. Her own family off to a great start. Life would be "easy" right? The problem is – we are ALL susceptible to life's hits. Life doesn't discriminate when it takes its swings at people with adversity. What we CAN control is the extent to which the adversity affects us – and how long those effects stay with us. If we are ANCHORED to the right things, we will have the ability to handle the adversity and keep moving forward. When asked what made her sit down and write that list of 13 things mentally strong people DON'T do, Amy pointed to her parents and her faith – two very strong anchoring elements. When life punched – and kept punching Amy, "why me" was an option. This is an always-available option for all of us. However, if we want to keep moving forward – that's not going to help us. As we just discussed, it's a choice – and if we have the right anchor inside us, that choice will be easier to make.
• Mental strength. Amy explains mental strength as how we think, feel, and behave. She then went on to share that we have control over all of these. As Amy said, we can REFRAME our negative thoughts, we have WAY MORE control over our emotions than we think, and we can ALWAYS take ACTION – even when we don't feel like it. Amy also says this is a life-long thing – it's a PURSUIT. So, we have to be consistent with this choice. Finally, I love how Amy tells us to coach ourselves which is very empowering for ALL of us. One of the main aspects of this self-coaching is being intentional about assessing ourselves – how are we doing? How did I do today? You might even ask – did I win this day with class? Or did this day strengthen or weaken my ANCHOR? So, mental strength is within our control – and every day matters.
• Know your values and priorities. I liked how Amy challenges herself by asking – if people saw a snapshot of my life, would they know what my priorities are? This is a great takeaway for all of us. If people look at our lives will they know our values and priorities? Our standards? So, the first step is to explore and define your standards and priorities. Then, the second step is to LIVE according to your standards and priorities. As Amy showed us, as long as we're living our lives according to a strong set of standards and priorities – and we become anchored to them - we can live and even thrive no matter what life throws at us.
• The 13. You need to go get Amy's book so you can really dive into the full list of the 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do and we hit on them briefly in our discussion. Some of my favorites: Mentally strong people don't get stuck in self-pity. We all get in ruts – the secret is to not STAY there. Also, mentally strong people don't live in the past and related to that, they don't repeat mistakes. We are all human and we all screw up and have bad patches in our lives. However, as Amy says, there is really very little in life we can't UNDO. We just need to learn from our experiences and then choose, as Amy did, to be strong and move forward. Lastly, a theme that covers a couple on the list – mentally strong people aren't afraid to take the time to be intentional about building and preserving their inner peace. This is what we're all chasing and we can all get there – but, we have to be intentional with our time and attention to ourselves – putting the phone and other distractions to the side and checking in with ourselves, figuring out what that inner peace looks like based on our values and priorities, and then pursuing that on a consistent basis.
• The choice is clear: To sum it all up, as Amy says in her book, "When you become mentally strong, you will be your best self, have the courage to do what's right, and develop a true comfort with who you are and what you're capable of achieving." Sounds like a pretty good way to live an anchored, winning with class life. So, let's coach ourselves every day to be mentally strong. It worked for Amy despite severe and very real, life adversity. And it will work for us too.

Links:

Website: amymorinlcsw.com

Instagram: @amymorinauthor

X: @AmyMorinLCSW

Podcast: Mentally Stronger, with Therapist Amy Morin

Massachusetts head basketball Coach Frank Martin was named the 23rd head coach in men's basketball history in March of 2022. Martin brought 15 years of head coaching experience to Amherst after spending 10 seasons prior as the head coach at South Carolina, where he led the Gamecocks to the program's first ever NCAA Final Four in 2017. Martin began his 10-year run in Columbia, S.C. prior to the 2014-15 season and went on to match the program's record for wins in a season as his team finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 25-9 record. The squad rose to as high as 15th in the USA Today Coaches Poll following the Gamecocks' best start since the 1933-34 season. Under Martin, South Carolina broke the record for wins in a single season with 26 in 2016-17 on the way to the best NCAA Tournament run in program history. Martin led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1973 and to the program's first-ever Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four. The No. 7-seed squad defeated No. 2 seed Duke in the round of 32 and earned wins over Baylor in the Sweet 16 and Florida in the Elite Eight before falling to Gonzaga in the national semifinals. He was named the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year. The Gamecocks were ranked in the AP Poll for nine weeks and the Coaches Poll for 10 weeks and finished as the No. 6-ranked team in the final USA Today Coaches Poll. Sindarius Thornwell was named a CBS Sports First-Team All-American and the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player. Martin got his first head coaching opportunity at Kansas State in 2007-08 and brought the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in four of his five seasons at the helm. He guided the Wildcats to their first win over rival and No. 2-ranked Kansas since 1983 and took the team to its first NCAA Tournament since 1996. In 2009-10, Martin led Kansas State to a 29-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance. The Wildcats earned their first win over a No. 1-ranked team in Texas since 1994 and finished the year ranked inside the top 10 in both major polls. Kansas State went into the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed and defeated North Texas, BYU and Xavier in postseason play. He was recognized as the Big 12 Coach of the Year. A Miami, Fla. native, Martin began his coaching career in the high school ranks in Miami, earning his first head coaching job at North Miami High School before moving to Miami Senior, where he led the team to three straight state championships. His first collegiate coaching job came in 2000 as he was named an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern University. From there, he joined Bob Huggins' staff at Cincinnati and was part of Huggins' coaching staff at Kansas State during the 2006-07 season. A fixture off the court and in the community, Martin and his wife, UMass track and field alumna Anya (nee Forrest), have hosted numerous philanthropic events and have been key investors in the UMass women's track and field program. In 2019, Martin was introduced into the Naismith Coaches Circle that was created by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to recognize coaches who have impacted their communities, players, other coaches, and society in a positive manner. Martin earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Florida International in 1993. He and his wife, Anya, have three children: Brandon, Amalia and Christian.

Takeaways:

1. Coach's anchor. From listening to him, it's clear to see what makes up Coach's anchor or internal foundation. Family – starting with his grandmother, a rock-solid work ethic, his faith and, related to and largely gained from his work ethic – a clear knowledge of how to treat people. It's not hard to see how Coach is so admired and respected.
2. Don't worry about what you don't have. What a great lesson for us all. This one started with his grandmother – the source for a lot of his lessons as you heard. Coach Martin mentioned it in the context of telling young coaches to just take care of the job they have and not to worry about chasing that next job. He also mentioned that this came from growing up and building furniture with his grandmother, noting that they didn't have much at all – but they didn't know it because they just appreciated what they DID have. What a great lesson for all of us – especially in today's comparison world led by social media. We all need to stop, appreciate what we DO have and take care of the people around us NOW. Like Coach said, it's far better to do it this way and more often than not, ascension up that mountain will come. And, even if it doesn't, the genuine peace and fulfillment that comes from enjoying the journey and the people around you are worth it.
3. Spirituality and the Pursuit of Complete. As you heard, Coach had a couple of amazing experiences that made it very clear to him that God has a plan for him. It's now very clearly a part of his life's pursuit of complete – a main part of his set of priorities - as he continues to impact lives. Another great reminder to, at the very least pay attention to the spiritual side of ourselves as we build and maintain our own pursuit of our complete selves.
4. Culture. This one is hard to beat. Coach Martin mentioned that his culture is based on four building blocks - honesty, loyalty, trust, and love. I love how he explained how each building block built off the previous one. I also love how he started with honesty and the truth as the first building block, or foundation, for it all. Then, if you get to love – that's when you arrive at a family…and, if you get there, you can deal with the storms. When it comes to culture, it's hard to say it all any better than that.
5. Winning + Class. Coach Martin described this by saying it's about how we should strive to focus our energy on uplifting the lives of those around us. As coach said, when we can show up the next day excited regardless of the previous day's outcome because we're inspired this way, that's winning with class. It's clear that Coach lives this notion and it's a great one for all of us to follow as well.

Links:

Website: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mensbasketball/roster/coaches/frankmartin/2452

Instagram: @frankmartinumass; @umassbasketball

Nick Lavery is the founder and CEO of Precision Components LLC, where he and Team Machine train, advise, enable, and inspire organizations and individuals to unlock capacity and increase capability. He is also the best-selling author of Objective Secure – the battle-tested guide to goal achievement. Nick is a warrior, leader, teammate, and most importantly, a proud husband and father of two boys. Nick enjoys reading, writing, lifting weights, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and shooting. Most significantly, however, he enjoys building forts, Legos, getting dirty, drawing and reading with his sons and traveling, eating dinner, and watching movies with his wife. Nick founded MCHN to build a community that embodies these same principles – where discipline, leadership, and resilience aren't just taught, but lived.

Nick, born and raised in Massachusetts, is an active-duty Green Beret within The United States Army Special Forces. The Green Berets perform critical missions including direct action, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare. Nick is currently serving as a Special Forces Chief Warrant Officer and is widely recognized as an experienced subject matter expert in special operations, intelligence fusion, mission planning, and complex problem solving across all operational continuums. He is also the first amputee in military history to complete the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification course, the Special Operations Combatives Program Instructor course, and the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification course.

In 2013, while deployed in Afghanistan, Nick and his detachment fell victim to an attack that ultimately resulted in the amputation of his leg. Following a year of surgeries and initial recovery including the use of a prosthetic at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, he returned to his unit. Refusing military medical retirement, Nick set his sights on returning to operational status. In 2015, at the conclusion of a challenging, comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate Nick's abilities to operate, he returned to his detachment and was subsequently deployed once again to Afghanistan conducting full spectrum combat operations. Nick is considered the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee in military history.

Nick's awards include the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, Bronze Star with "V" for valor, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, the OSS Society Peter Ortiz Award, the Bruce Price Leadership Award, and the Special Operations Command Excalibur Award.

Takeaways:

1. How YOU Livin? When I hear Nick's story – the bravery, the courage and all the selfless sacrifice that he has endured and continues to endure for our country, this simple question comes to mind. "How you livin'?" The simple challenge that comes along with it is this: are we living in a way that is worthy of all that Nick has gone through? Would Nick be able to look at our lives and say to himself – "yep, that life is worth fighting for" or "yep, I'm proud to fight for him or her and the way they're living." This one is for all of us and it's especially good right now. There's a lot going on in this country – I think it's a great time for all of us to look in the mirror both individually and collectively and ask this question…and KEEP asking it to keep our pursuits on a good path.
2. Character Reps. I like how Nick went out of his way to point out that he was not always the massive 6'5" warrior that he is today. In fact, for most of his childhood, he was the small, weak one who got picked on. However, he mentioned that each patch of difficult time served as a character rep that ended up adding to the toughness that embodies so much of who he is today. So, no matter how we struggle at times, let's remember that life has a way of throwing us these character reps – and if we can see it this way, we'll be stronger in the long run.
3. TEAM First. Nick's story brings so many examples of an intense and high-level TEAM FIRST mindset. From the way he handled all of his injuries – refocusing his mission to that of getting back to his unit as fast as humanly possible, to the way he helped his teammate put his eye back into socket as he was bleeding from his own face, to the way he watched with pride when he thought he was dying as his young teammates fought off the enemy…It's just endless with Nick. And it shows that great things happen when we put the TEAM first.
4. GRACE/FORGIVENESS/PERSPECTIVE. I thought it was a very powerful story regarding Nick getting his blood transfusion. After all he had survived on the battlefield, he almost died due to a blood transfusion that resulted in him getting the wrong type of blood. Not only did Nick go quickly to GRACE in terms of handling this mistake – forgiving the doctors – but he also took it a step further by saying that he was grateful that his experience led to a change in protocols that could have saved lives like Nick's down the road. In a world of me first and who can I sue when mistakes are made, this is incredibly refreshing. Nick knew his medical team was doing all they could to help him and immediately went to a "mistakes happen" mentality, especially under that much pressure. He then took that "team first" mentality, thinking about how his suffering hopefully saved lives in the future. More great lessons from Nick.
5. I WILL Mindset for Adversity. Nick clearly had and maintained an "I WILL" mentality throughout all he faced both in battle and recovery. Getting back to his unit after each injury, getting through his rehab, getting through training after learning to walk again with his new leg, having endured 35-40 surgeries…There was no "I think I can" or "I'll try" or anything else less than complete "I WILL" in his head. These are two extremely powerful words to guide us in our pursuit. Things may happen along the way that are out of our control and take us off path, but if we keep the words "I WILL" at the forefront, we will never have to doubt whether or not we gave it all we could along the way. Nick certainly does not have to wonder about this in all that he did.
6. PURSUIT of COMPLETE: Nick's description of winning with class is a great one. He likens it to the climbing of a mountain and talks about how getting to the top just isn't right if you haven't done it the right way – leaving others behind or stepping on them to get to the top, etc. And is there a better warrior than Nick to remind us that this is NOT just a "soft" or "cheesy" notion? As he said, winning with class is by far the harder and tougher road to take. Let's all follow his lead and get to the top of the mountain with the great feeling and positive IMPACT that comes along with taking the challenging pursuit of complete that is based on bringing winning AND class into all that we do.

Links:

Book: Objective Secure, The Battle-tested Guide to Goal Achievement

Website: https://mchn.co

Instagram: @thenicklavery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nick.Machine.Lavery?_rdr

Patric Young is a basketball analyst, author, speaker, and philanthropist. Patric played for the University of Florida Gators from 2010-2014, playing for Hall of Fame Coach Billy Donovan, which included a Final Four appearance. Patric then played professionally in the NBA and then overseas from 2014-2020. In 2021, he transitioned into a college basketball analyst for the SEC Network, a position he holds currently.

In the summer of 2022, Patric was involved in a single automobile accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Once a towering force on the court, Patric now had to face new challenges that initially tested his faith, resolve, and the very core of his identity.

In 2023, Patric summarized his inspiring story in his book Sit to Rise, Turning Your Darkest Pain Into Your Brightest Victory. His story now serves as a beacon of hope, proving that in moments of vulnerability, we can discover newfound strength and unleash new levels potential within ourselves.

Four months following his accident and while undergoing intensive therapy and treatment, Patric launched The Patric Young Foundation. With a mission to help those facing life-altering injuries, the foundation works to provide financial, emotional, and physical support to those who need it most.

Determined to make a difference, Patric is working to be the best he can be for himself, his family and his new adaptive community.

Takeaways:

1. The DRIFT. This is a truly great LIFE lesson and one that is consistent with a lot of what we discuss on this show. Patric reminds us that we have to live intentionally, anchoring ourselves to the right identities. Anchoring? Sound familiar? As Patric said, if we don't, then – just like the ocean's tide takes kids playing in the waves – life will take us where it wants us to go, not where we want to go. Soon we end up in unexpected and most of the times, undesired places. We need to establish a strong identity, based on the right standards, principles, and priorities, and then go live a life with intention to maintain all of it every day. It's not easy. Just worth it.
2. Your Reputation. Feeding off the point about The Drift, when we develop a positive identity, and live it consistently, it transforms into a positive reputation. That leads to others being drawn in – and increases our ability to make positive IMPACT, which is something that all humans are wired to seek.
3. Being Coachable. We all need to be coachable. One simple reason is that great leaders and great teams simply don't have time for those who aren't. Patric mentioned how he got his wake-up call when Hall of Fame Coach Billy Donovan had to tell him he was going to have to leave if he didn't become more coachable. We need to always strive to find that balance of contributing our unique talents, while also maintaining the humility that acknowledges that we can always get better and grow – especially when it comes to what the TEAM needs.
4. Success. Speaking of Billy Donovan, his description of success, as Patric relayed in our conversation, is simple, yet powerful. As Coach Donovan said, you "just have to live it." What a great reminder that we need to be thinking about success and our pursuit of it – all the time - in all that we do.
5. Life is where you are. As we discussed, due to an infection, Patric was stuck in the hospital for an extended period of time following his accident. How did he handle it? By deciding that he was going to be as nice as he could possibly be to every single person with whom he came into contact. We have a chance to IMPACT everywhere, all the time. I like how Patric refers to the option of bitterness by saying "I just don't see the point in it." As we discussed, there were a couple of nurses who were positively impacted by Patric – opportunities that would've been lost if Patric had chosen bitterness. Because he chose positive instead, who knows who else may be impacted – through the stories those nurses tell their friends and families and beyond.
6. Living FULL and DYING Empty. What a great way to think about life. This includes the notion Patric mentions of using trials and adversity as tools to develop us. It isn't always easy – Patric admitted there are good and bad days on his journey, of course. But, overall, with each challenge, he's getting better. And that allows him to keep living fully…I have no doubt that when it's all said and done, Patric's tank will be empty – all of it having been spent positively impacting a countless number of people.

Links:

Website: patricyoung.com

Instagram: @patricyoung4

Foundation: py4foundation.org

On March 22, 2025, Molly Miller agreed to join Arizona State University as its next head coach of the women's basketball program. ASU hired a proven winner in Miller who guided Grand Canyon University to a 32-3 record last season which included a 30-game winning streak and GCU's first berth in the NCAA Women's Tournament.

Miller went 117-38 (.760) at GCU and overall is 297-55 (.845) at the collegiate level that also included 180 wins in six seasons at her alma mater (Drury), where she served as an assistant coach and was a four-year letterwinner.

Miller was the most sought after mid-major coach in America with numerous SEC Universities and others seeking her services.

Molly and her husband, Derek have two children, Crosby and Cy.

Takeaways:

1. Positive Energy. For this, you simply need to take a look at Coach Miller's Instagram from the moment she took the job at Arizona State. She was simply everywhere – all the time. On campus. In the community. With current players. Former players and coaches. And more. I'm no expert on coming in to build a program, but I think it looks pretty much like this. And, as we discussed, she talked about how much fun she was having doing it all – it's hard not to follow a leader like this.
2. Culture – This is talked about a lot these days, but that doesn't lessen its importance. I like how Coach Miller referenced culture as being a brand of habits the entire team lives out every single day that should carry over every year. She also mentioned that it was something she could work on quickly upon taking the job. The wins she promised would come, but she could start working on culture immediately – and she clearly did just that. When you do it the way she describes - in genuine way…like a family…the need to recruit your own players lessens. As we discussed, you end up with happy players – who will stay.
3. CHARGE – What a great mantra and acronym that Coach Miller referenced as a foundation of her program. It's also fitting as she mentioned she loved the defensive side of the ball and taking charges is one of the toughest parts of that side. This one covers it all – Communication, Humility, Accountability, Respect, Gratitude, and the Energy, that Coach Miller takes to the next level. Again, this is a rock-solid foundation for Coach Miller's culture – and it sure seems to result in a lot of winning as well.
4. Leadership – Coach Miller's style – a firm hand with a gentle heart as she described it. This seems to be a great way to describe the way she empowers the team by giving them the chance to embrace the opportunity they have to make their own mark on the program so long as they "take CHARGE" as we just described. Do this and she'll have their backs the entire way. She'll listen and do all she can to make their ride as good as it can be for them as individuals and as a team.
5. Four pillars of the program – As a compliment to her CHARGE foundational theme, Coach Miller's 4 pillars further strengthen her program. The notions of teammate, manners, commitment, and communication – four non-negotiables that are essential for lasting success. I especially like the "manners matter" element. Manners really do matter – the seemingly little things of treating people all around you with good solid manners as we discussed – this is the "class" icing on the cake that will make all the winning truly last.
6. Culture check – I love how this is a part of Coach Miller's program. Teams can do all they want in terms of building a great culture, but if they don't keep everybody accountable to it on a consistent basis, it will fade and cracks in its foundation will develop. Coach Miller does a great job of not only pointing out when the team is getting sideways in terms of culture but also explaining why and how it's happening. And her question of "does your audio match your video" is a great one for all of us – are our words matching our actions? And are they both in alignment with our culture? This one is a good one not only for team culture but also for the individual standards we set for ourselves – are we living those standards we set for ourselves? What a great way to stay on track. Finally, on this point – Coach Miller mentioning another fantastic question – are you a drain or a faucet in terms of the team's culture. Great reminder to always be the faucet – be the one who ADDs to the culture. Never be the one who takes away, lessens or drains it.
7. 0-0 Mentality. Coach Miller has clearly had a ton of success in her career so far. One of the main reasons is the way of she's able to maintain a sharp focus for her teams – even when the wins are stacking up - by challenging them to focus as if their record is 0-0. And I love how she mentioned that she is sure to coach them through this process – she makes sure she explains the way behind the method – which makes it much easier to follow. This is another great way to think BOTH in terms of a team as well as individually. On either level, you may be on a great streak – but there are always ways to improve. Celebrate wins? Yes. Then get right back to work as though your record is 0-0.

Links:

Website: https://sundevils.com/sports/womens/basketball

Instagram: @coach_mollymiller, @sundevilwbb

X: @MollyMiller33

Ken Coleman has been called America's Career Coach, he's a 3x Best-selling author (Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You're Wired To Do, From Paycheck to Purpose, and The Proximity Principle), and Ramsey Solutions personality known for his podcast/show, Front Row Seat, with Ken Coleman.

Since the age of 16, Ken had planned a political future that would have him running for office, but that dream slowly died—leaving him confused and lacking confidence about his professional direction. After some deep soul searching and life mapping, Ken decided to get on the path to broadcasting. He didn't have a degree or any experience. His head told him it was too late and too risky to start over and completely change direction at this point, but his heart kept pulling toward the vision he couldn't stop thinking about.

Thankfully, Ken's wife, Stacy, was all in, and they decided they were going to do whatever it took so he could pursue broadcasting. The clarity he had about the direction he was going gave him the confidence to move forward. Ken knew he was going to need to grow personally so he could advance professionally in uncharted waters.

Ken signed up for a six-week broadcast school with people 10 years younger than him, and he covered high school football games on a country station at 11 p.m. on Friday nights. He worked for free several hours a week at a sports-talk station in Atlanta. He fought through imposter syndrome and humbling moments to gain as much experience as possible. He took on public speaking gigs, introduced mimes and balloon artists at a community event, worked on podcasts . . . And when Ken says podcasts, he means back when podcasts weren't cool—and he was doing it from a closet-sized sound booth with no air conditioning in the Georgia heat. Glamorous, right?

Through strategic connections he had made along the way, Ken got an emcee role for a national leadership conference that gave him the opportunity to interview well-known athletes, leaders, authors and celebrities. One of the notable guests he interviewed was Dave Ramsey, which eventually led to their friendship and Ken joining the team at Ramsey Solutions. After three years of serving in multiple hosting roles, Ken got the chance to use all the career strategies he'd learned along the way to write three bestsellers and host a nationally syndicated radio show. And he still regularly co-hosts The Ramsey Show, the second-largest syndicated talk radio show in America. This has allowed Ken to fulfill the dream of broadcasting to encourage and equip people to be who they were born to be.

At this point in his journey, Ken has had the opportunity to interview three presidents, heads of state, some of the top names in sports and entertainment, and a host of other leaders. Between interviewing leaders and coaching over 10,000 people who are working to level up their careers, he's gained a unique perspective on how you can get better, move up, and lead well. Ken wants you to bring the best version of you to work. So pull up your chair and take a front row seat to conversations meant to change the trajectory of your life.

Takeaways:

1. Finding YOUR Path. Ken points out that we all need to find the work – and life – we are meant to live by looking at our TALENTS, our PASSION, and our sense of MISSION. As Ken says, this leads to intrinsic motivation and ultimately to the FLOW he talked about. This should be the goal for all of us. Like hitting that golf ball or baseball as Ken and I discussed – when you barely even feel it – we should aim to get our careers and lives on THAT path…and the resulting potential is truly limitless.
2. Self-awareness as a superpower. We can't reach this FLOW state unless we take a good long look at ourselves. Ken emphasizes figuring out how we're wired first, then building a career and life around that. Clarity is critical. Like Ken says – clarity creates confidence which is essential for us to fully pursue our own unique paths.
3. Building YOUR career plan. For young people – or anybody looking to start a new career path – Ken provides a great way to establish the path and eliminate the fear that holds a lot of us back. We need to go with the four questions Ken gave us – what do I need to learn? What do I need to do to get there? What will it cost? And, finally, how long will it take? You might like the answers, and you might hate them. But, at least, as Ken points out – the fear that causes so many to be frozen or stuck, because they're overwhelmed by the unknown – will be gone.
4. The Proximity Principle. Great summary from Ken for anybody looking to pursue a career path. As Ken said, in order for me to do what I want to do, I need to be around people who are doing it, and the places where it is happening. Basically, get in the game you are chasing by getting to know the people playing it and get on or at least close to the field where it is being played. No time to stay in the stands – get in the game. Great lesson for all of us.
5. General rules for when you get in the game. So, when we do make the jump and get into the game, Ken makes it simple for us in terms of what our focus should be. We need to focus on WHO we need and want to become (not what). As Ken said, we do this by being likeable, coachable, reliable, adaptable, and honorable. As Ken points out, none of these 5 things has anything to do with talent. If we do these, the wins that need to come for us to advance will take care of themselves.
6. Contribution – the ultimate goal. As Ken said, we, as humans, are wired with the desire to contribute. This comes when we've followed the steps Ken provided for us – we've gotten clarity on who we are and how we're wired. We've figured out the best path for us based on that clarity and have shown the confidence to pursue it. Because it's aligned with who we are, we've had success and achievement. Now we GET to contribute to those around us by sharing what we've gained…with our families, our communities, and beyond. The PEACE that comes from this is simply priceless and aligns with all we've ever talked about on this show – this is part of the "why" when it comes to winning with class…

Links:

Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman

Books: Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You're Wired to Do; From Paycheck to Purpose, The Proximity Principle

Instagram, X, Tik Tok, FB: @kencoleman, Ken Coleman

Lexi Johnson has experienced firsthand the necessity of prioritizing your health, as well as what happens when you neglect to make your health a priority. Lexi witnessed her father suffering 4 heart attacks as she was growing up, with the last one happening while she was a freshman in college. Unable to watch the effects on both her father and her family any longer, Lexi wrote her father a heartfelt letter, pleading with him to lead a healthier lifestyle. Inspired and touched by this, Lexi's father changed his ways and lost 120 pounds. With that, Lexi's mother got a better husband, Lexi got a better father, and her entire family was changed for the better. Inspired by this positive impact from healthy living, Lexi was soon on a mission to promote long-term, sustainable changes in health and fitness.

Today, Lexi is the founder of Lexi J Wellness, an online fitness and lifestyle community founded on bringing lifestyle changes, consistency and real confidence to everyday people. She started the business in 2020 while working full-time as a dental hygienist by sharing what was working for her on social media and hoping it could help someone else too. Now as a 1st Phorm Elite Athlete, she leads by example and encourages thousands to take ownership of their health physically and mentally through sustainable practices.

Lexi J Wellness was born in an unfinished basement in 2020 during a time when the world felt uncertain and disconnected. With a set of Facebook Marketplace dumbbells and a dream to make movement feel personal again, Lexi hit "record" — not in a flashy studio, but in her raw, unfinished concrete basement; with the goal of making the person on the other side of the screen feel like they were simply getting in a great workout with a friend.

Lexi's background is rooted in her passion for helping others live well — not through quick fixes or trendy fads, but by building real habits for real life. She created LJW to bring connection, consistency, and confidence to women in every season of life.

Degrees and certifications:

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

NASM Certified Nutrition Coach

NASM Certified Behavior Change Specialist

NASM Certified Women's Fitness Specialist

NASM Certified Virtual Coaching Specialist

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Takeaways:

1. Whatever it takes for Family. Lexi tried repeatedly to tell her Dad he needed to change his ways. Having the maturity to realize that talking to him wasn't working, she poured her heart out in that letter to him – telling him where the next heart attack would likely lead him – along with their entire family. And kudos to her Dad for taking the letter to heart and doing the really tough thing and making changes. Both Lexi and her father showed that when it comes to family and loved ones – the simple rule is whatever it takes.
2. Health's Ripple Effect. When her father changed his ways and lost those critical 120 pounds by taking on a healthier lifestyle, it wasn't just him that benefitted. Like Lexi said, she got a better Dad, her Mom got a better husband, her Dad got a promotion, and so on. Our health is not just ours – it affects everybody around us. We owe it not only to ourselves, but to them as well. We need to choose to live the healthiest lives we possibly can – physically, mentally, emotionally, and beyond. We need to optimize the best health for us as individuals – not what society says the scale should tell us, as we learned from Lexi – but we should seek that best possible healthy version of ourselves for us – so that we can give our best to those around us.
3. Swing Big. As she said, Lexi grew up in a small town and graduated from high school with 20 people. Yet, she described her pursuits as "shoot for the moon" which is clear from all she's done. This is how we should all think – regardless of our backgrounds. We all have time and talents – and it's up to all of us to maximize them. No better way to do this than to "shoot for the moon" as Lexi has done – and the impact when we do this is truly limitless.
4. A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships. Lexi's answer to what winning with class means to her could be one of my favorites. It's creative, spot on and goes perfectly with her story – both about her Dad and the "ships" he raised when he got healthier as well as all of the boats Lexi has raised and continues to raise with her movement. Feeding off what we said about swinging big above – when we maximize our time, talents, and passions to chase greatness – that's winning. Seeking to bring others with us – that's winning with class. And Lexi is as good an example of this as there is.

Links:

Website: https://lexijwellness.com

Social: @lexijwellness

Dr. John Delony, the host of The Dr. John Delony Show and co-host of The Ramsey Show, earned his Bachelor of Arts in humanities and psychology at Lubbock Christian University and his Masters of Education in higher education administration from Texas Tech University. He went on to earn two PhDs from Texas Tech University—one in counselor education and supervision, and the other in higher education administration.

Other qualifications and certifications he's earned over the years include:

• Education Management, Harvard University
• Civil Rights, Title IX Investigator (L1), NCHERM/ATIXA
• Certified Behavioral Intervention Team Best Practice (Not Current), National Association of Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA)
• Group Crisis Intervention, Individual Crisis Assistance, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

After spending over twenty years in crisis response and leading students in higher education (and finding real solutions and freedom in his own wellness journey), John knew he wanted to help as many people as possible heal from their past trauma and live whole, connected lives. He now writes, speaks and teaches on relationships, mental health, anxiety and wellness. He also hosts The Dr. John Delony Show where he answers callers' questions about all of the above, and serves as co-host of The Ramsey Show where he helps unpack the psychology behind finances.

When John isn't working, you can find him hanging out with his wife and two kids on their farm in Tennessee, headbanging at some obscure concert, or obsessing over his new lifting routine.

AWARDS

• Three-Time National Bestselling Author for Redefining Anxiety, Own Your Past, Change Your Future and Building a Non-Anxious Life
• Outstanding Professional in Graduate and Professional Student Services, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
• Emerging Leader, West Texas Counseling Association
• Life Changer Award, Student Bar Association
• Award of Excellence, Black Law Students Association
• President's Leadership Institute, Texas Tech University
• Distinguished Staff Member, Texas Tech University
• Staff Member of the Year, Chi Alpha Delta Tech Law School

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• State Board of Directors, Disability Rights Texas
• Planning and Network Advisory Committee, Lubbock StarCare
• Victim's Services/Crisis Response Team, Lubbock Police Department
• Board of Directors, Texas Boys Ranch
• Professional Wellness Committee, Texas Counseling Association

Takeaways:

1. Anxiety is NOT an identity. John does a great job of describing what anxiety is and what it is not. He describes anxiety as a snapshot and a smoke alarm. He lets us know that it is NOT an identity that is to be taken as a permanent label or something that we "have" all the time. One of the main problems with labeling ourselves this way is that it creates a false governor, as John puts it, on our potential and limits who we can be. If you get a professional diagnosis of anxiety, treat it like the snapshot that it is and move forward to face those issues causing it as John shows us.
2. Listen to your body and act. That tightness in your chest. The restlessness at night invading our sleep. The mind racing. Like John says, our bodies will tell us when things are not well. As he points out, unfortunately, our culture is one that pushes us not to be intentional and resolve issues, but to instead numb ourselves to these signs from the body. Netflix, drinking, over-working, and others as John mentioned, are used to make us forget about the warning signals…all as our body whispers, then talks, and eventually screams at us for action. The good thing is, we can do the opposite of all the numbing and take action. And John's book, as some of our discussion highlighted, does a great job of telling us how to do this.
3. Choose the hard path that brings you to peace. I like how John says we need to choose our hard – or choose our misery. Taking action is hard but will lead to a good place. Doing nothing will end up with hard results. Which one will you pick? As John says, we need to choose the one that brings us to a place that brings peace and a feeling of being whole.
4. 6 daily habits – As we discussed, John's book brings out 6 daily habits that will help us live our lives as opposed to just letting it happen to us…while the alarms start to sound. John lists these not just as habits but as habits we CHOOSE – as he said, intentionality is the key. A few of the habits we touched on in our conversation were:
   1. Reality – I love how John describes this as choosing our starting line – going to each main area of our lives and actually facing where we really are in each. How are your relationships? Your health? Your finances? John likens it to hearing that smoke alarm in the house – anxiety calling us – and then going from room to room in the house and seeing where we are with each and what we need to do to get to a place where we're at peace and at least know that the smoke alarm is real.
   2. Connection – This is a great one given how we've all become so addicted to our devices. They've replaced our real connection - and that is not how we're wired as humans. We need people and real connection – in person connection as John described, with some of his friends – not fake connection we get from social media and texting. As John noted, our body knows it when we have nobody with whom we can connect. And it wants to set off an alarm for you. We can satisfy or avoid these alarms by seeking REAL connection with people. So, we need to put down the phone or iPad and go out to lunch with a friend. We'll feel better and those alarms will stay quiet.
   3. Freedom – As the body knows when you are out of touch with people due to a lack of connection, it also knows whether or not you have autonomy. As John mentioned, if you are in debt, you gotta go to work. It doesn't matter if you have bad boss, you gotta go. But you can choose freedom by living below your means to get out of debt so you can choose where and for whom you will work. This goes for financial freedom, freedom with our calendars as John and I discussed, and more. Like Johns said, we need to look at our lives and ask who is making the decisions in our lives? How would we rate our autonomy? Do the check…then start getting after the pursuit of that freedom that will bring you peace…and you guessed it…less of those alarms.
5. The Cornerstones of Psychologically healthy human. – I love how John listed these - Faith (believing in something bigger than us and how that brings the peace that comes from knowing you don't have to worry about all the problems in the universe – somebody else's got it), fitness, fun, and family – as the cornerstones of psychologically well human. And he followed it up by saying he just doesn't compromise on these things. What a great way to look at the building blocks of our own foundations – and it's hard to top John's as a model. Establish them. Then commit to never compromising on them. Then the peace – and at least LESS anxiety – is sure to follow.

Links:

Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/john-delony

Instagram: @johndelony

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnDelony

TikTok: @johndelony

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnDelony/

X: @johndelony