Toughness

Police, Pressure & PTSD *Part 2* - Lane Douglas Hunt (Police) + Brian Willis (Training)

After a traumatic event or devastating loss, can people ever get back to their previous levels of performance? Lane Douglas-Hunt is proof that you can actually be even better. Picking up where we left off in part 1 of this 2 part special, former police officer Brian Willis dives into how we can all help if we suspect someone close to us is “mentally injured” like Sergeant Douglas-Hunt was following her attack, and the steps she took to not just ‘return to work’ but go to a whole new level. 

Police, Pressure & PTSD *Part 1* - Lane Douglas Hunt (Police) + Brian Willis (Training)

When a day starts like any other but almost ends your life, you can pretend it doesn't affect you - but some trauma won't go away by ignoring it. Lane Douglas-Hunt, a Sergeant with decades of experience in multiple roles across the Victoria Police Department in BC Canada, survived a near fatal attack while on street patrol - only to discover down the track that hidden scars don't heal by themselves. Thankfully she crossed paths with Brian Willis, a former policeman who now specializes in training officers to prepare for, deal with, and recover from critical incidents in chaotic environments, and this is their story. In this first of a 2 part special episode, we talk about the incident that started it all, the unspoken trauma that it led to, and the definition of what a hero can really mean, to anyone in any situation.

Belief Is A Big Deal - Shaquille O'Neal (NBA)

There are few bigger personalities than Shaquille O'Neal, and even fewer performers with a list of achievements as long as his: his 4x NBA Champion status speaks for itself, but he stood alone as one of the most dominant athletes in history during his prime, at one stage winning the regular season MVP, All Star MVP, and Finals MVP all in the same year. It wasn't always like this for Shaq though: in this exclusive interview he openly admits he's got lots of practice at overcoming challenges, having found himself as the low man on the totem pole in different arenas - from sports to music to business - multiple times along the journey. Recounting his childhood growing up in a military family, from the projects of New Jersey, and then through Germany and Texas, this chat goes deep into the Big Aristotle's philosophies on learning, leadership and living your best life.

High Stakes? Poker Face 😐 - Jorryt Van Hoof (Poker Player) + Jared Tendler (Performance Coach)

What does it mean to go "all-in" on something important, whether it's a high stakes hand in poker, or a big decision in life? Professional poker player Jorryt Van Hoof knows both examples well: he went all-in on his career early - selling his business and dropping out of school - but it more than paid off given he's finished 3rd in the World Series of Poker, and amassed career earnings totaling over $5 million so far. Jared Tendler, a performance coach in poker, e-sports and finance, joins us for this in depth chat about the intense psychology of competition when life changing money is on the table, and how these same skills and approach can help navigate those times - at work or in life - when you're dealt a bad hand. 

How To Fly Through Fear - Waldo Waldman (Fighter Pilot)

When a surface-to-air (SAM) missile is tracking your aircraft in hostile territory, its tough to stay focused, calm and connected with your wingman - but you need to if you want to stay alive. Waldo Waldman knows, having been shot at multiple times over a span of 65 combat missions, and he has some incredible stories and unique perspective to show for it. A retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who overcame massive claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a decorated fighter pilot, he shares some simple but powerful lessons he's taken from the cockpit of his F-16 fighter jet that he now applies to business, his work as an author and speaker, and life as a husband and father.

The Drive to Thrive - Jesse Iwuji (NASCAR Racing)

Well before he began to climb the ranks within NASCAR it was clear for all to see: no matter what challenge he takes on, Jesse Iwuji leaves nothing in the tank. From achieving his dream of playing D1 college football, to becoming a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, to being one of only two African Americans competing at NASCARs national levels of racing, he's the living embodiment of the racing truism “what’s behind you doesn’t matter” as he attacks every new challenge in front of him. In this fast paced chat he talks about some of the unexpected turns on his journey so far, and shares with us all how he ensures he’s ready to go when the rubber meets the road - putting him in pole position to make his dreams come true in any arena.

Tough Cultures vs Tough Leaders - Mike Erwin (West Point) + Dan Coyle (Author)

With a track record of graduates that include multiple presidents, astronauts and other leaders, West Point Military Academy is considered one of the top leadership development centers in the world. But is it the individuals themselves - or the culture around them - that lead to such consistently outstanding performance over time? Mike Erwin should know as a graduate himself, having gone on to serve on three combat tours and now as Assistant Professor in Leadership at West Point. He's joined here by bestselling author Dan Coyle, whose books on culture and talent development have redefined entire industries. From one of the simplest definitions of what defines a tough culture - "a set of connected people who can do shit together" - through to tips for how to grow one of your own, this is a must-listen for leaders at any level.

Focus Through The Fire *Part 2* - Jason Brezler (FDNY) + Jonathan Fader (Psychology)

In this second part of an extended conversation with two leaders in their respective arenas - with so many takeaways that we had to split the conversation over two separate listens - we call out the old-school BS and jump straight into the real questions about what's most important: does training our mental performance impact our FAMILY? If so, are there things we can do that will help us improve both at work AND in day to day life?

Jason Brezler knows this type of training intimately, not only from his current role as FDNY Lieutenant in the 1st Division of New York City, but also as an officer in the U.S. Marines leading combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He's joined here by Jonathan Fader, a psychologist who drew on his years of experience with pro sports teams in New York - the Mets (MLB) and the Giants (NFL) - to help shape the FDNY's approach to mental performance. 

**Note - if you haven't listened to Part 1 of this conversation (literally the previous episode of this series) do that first!**

Focus Through The Fire *Part 1* - Jason Brezler (FDNY) + Jonathan Fader (Psychology)

For some people, "facing the fire" isn't just a slick corporate metaphor - it's a real life part of their daily work. Jason Brezler knows this experience intimately, not only from his current role as FDNY Lieutenant in the 1st Division of New York City, but also as an officer in the U.S. Marines leading combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He's joined here by Jonathan Fader, a psychologist who drew on his years of experience with pro sports teams in New York - the Mets (MLB) and the Giants (NFL) - to help shape the FDNY's approach to mental performance. We talk about how the work started with some of the toughest performers in one of the toughest cities in the world - in a conversation so good we split it over two episodes! - and simple ways they learned to make it stick when the pressure was at its highest.

Coping With Chaos in Critical Care - Sara Marrello & Dr Al'ai Alvarez (Emergency Medicine)

When the decisions you make each day are literally the difference between life or death for a stranger, a bad day at work takes on a whole new meaning. Imagine carrying that weight into an Emergency Department at one of the biggest cities in America, where anything can (and does) happen without any warning. As a critical care nurse in the Stanford Emergency Department, Sara Marrello knows this scene all too well, and has learned to operate effectively amidst the chaos - she was named Nurse of the Year in 2019 - while making sure others on the team doesn't skip a beat. Alongside her both in the ER and also on this episode, Dr Al'ai Alvarez - Assistant Residency Program Director (APD) at Stanford - shares his insights on how he develops those same skills in young doctors, in ways that can be applied across any teams that have to deal with high stakes consequences.