Chasing Curiosity

081 - Alan Stein Jr: The Fundamentals of Success

Alan Stein Jr., a renowned keynote speaker and author. At his core, he’s a performance coach with a passion for helping business leaders change behaviors. He spent 15+ years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant).
This episode is a masterclass on how to get the most out of yourself. 
Alan's LinksWebsiteRaise Your Game BookSustain Your Game BookTimestamps01:14 Kevin Durant's Legacy03:18 LeBron James: Sustaining Greatness07:24 Steph Curry's Resilience08:49 Jayson Tatum's Role and Future12:34 Leadership in Basketball18:08 Nature vs. Nurture in Leadership27:49 Choosing Positive Narratives30:01 Simplifying Success33:31 The Importance of Fundamentals40:42 Measuring Progress Objectively and Subjectively43:54 Grace and Self-Compassion51:39 Lighting Other People's Candles

080 - Paul Anleitner: Culture, Religion, & Living a Meaningful Life

Paul Anleitner is a Pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis, MN.  He has a Master in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary and writes and speaks on the intersection of theology and culture, science, philosophy, and meaning-making.
In this episode, we talk about the complex influence of religion on culture, the relationship between human nature and cultural expressions, and pop culture's impact on society's perceptions.Pauls LinksPodcastTwitterSubstackYouTube
 
Timestamps00:33 Exploring the Intersection of Culture and Religion02:32 The Role of Religion in Modern Society06:03 Sports as a Modern Religion10:52 Decline of Traditional Religion in the West20:33 Resurgence of Religious Interest28:34 Personal Journey to Faith41:01 The Role of Church in Finding Life's Purpose42:11 Significance Beyond Status: Lessons from Jesus45:20 The Radical Claim in Revelation50:31 The Importance of Community55:54 A Life of Service and Meaning57:45 The Appeal of Eastern Orthodoxy01:02:58 Pop Culture and Spirituality01:08:28 The Influence of Historical Narratives on Modern Stories

079 - Shane Larson: Ayahausca, Christianity, Hedonism, & Noble Aims

This is a dual episode with Shane Larson who hosts the Shane Larson Podcast. 
We both share our journey's of personal development over the past few years stepping away from a pursuit of materialism and hedonism and instead aiming towards God.
 
Shane's LinksPodcastInstagramTwitter
 
Timestamps
01:28 Ayahuasca Retreats and Spiritual Awakening03:18 Materialism, Hedonism, and Personal Transformation07:44 Challenges and Reflections on Faith10:58 Intellectual and Emotional Pursuits15:31 The Role of Ayahuasca in Spiritual Growth17:47 Health, Wellness, and Spiritual Practices30:05 The Impact of Tim Keller's Teachings41:14 The Ceremony Experience42:50 Exploring Jordan Peterson's Influence44:09 The Chaos of Postmodernism45:52 The Importance of a Noble Aim47:47 False Gods and the Search for Meaning55:47 COVID's Impact on Personal Growth57:50 Christianity and Intellectual Curiosity01:08:51 Comparing Religions and Personal Beliefs01:25:26 The Role of Faith in Standing Firm01:31:59 Society's Relationship with Alcohol01:34:53 The Importance of Grounding and Personal Development01:37:44 Social Consequences of False Beliefs01:40:21 Bitcoin and Government Control01:44:19 Faith, Religion, and Personal Relationships01:52:19 The Role of Community and Personal Growth02:06:14 Navigating Modern Challenges with Faith02:11:10 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

078 - Alex Neist - Building a Brand That People Care About

Alex Neist the founder and CEO of Hostage Tape - a mouth tape company that helps people reduce snoring and sleep better.  Mouth taping at night might seem crazy, but our bodies are built to breathe through our noses. Research suggests that many people breathe through their mouths while sleeping, which increases the risk of sleep apnea and other health issues. By applying a flexible and breathable piece of tape, you can prevent mouth breathing and potentially decrease these complications.In this conversation, we talk about how Alex built the company that has grown to $50M+ in sales and having sponsorships with the UFC and Joe Rogan in only 3 years. Alex's LinksHostage Tape WebsiteAlex InstagramAlex TwitterTimestamps
00:18 Identifying the Problem: Mouth Breathing
03:18 Building the Brand: Hostage Tape
09:06 Challenges and Lessons Learned
20:09 Marketing Strategies and Facebook Ads
28:27 Bootstrapping and Financial Strategies
33:47 The Importance of Strategic Planning
37:12 Navigating Early Business Challenges
41:30 Entering the Retail Market
45:10 Building a Brand vs. Selling a Product
48:33 Partnering with UFC and Major Brands
59:53 Lessons from Football and Entrepreneurship

077 - Andy Schoonover: Burning Down The Healthcare Industry

Andy Schoonover is the CEO of CrowdHealth - a platform & community that empowers you with a crowdfunding tool and a wealth of resources to efficiently manage your health care costs.Andy shares the perverse incentives that plague healthcare, the disturbing overlaps with the food and financial systems, and how CrowdHealth seeks to provide an alternative by fostering a community-based, cash-driven model.Andy's LinksCrowdHealth SiteCrowdHealth IGCrowdHealth TwitterPersonal TwitterTimestamps00:23 The Need to Overhaul Healthcare03:42 Historical Context and Systemic Issues08:23 Personal Experiences with Healthcare11:44 The Birth of CrowdHealth27:02 How CrowdHealth Works35:31 Crowd Health's Mission and Philosophy37:35 Challenges in the Healthcare System48:05 Health Education and Incentives51:59 Future Plans and Personal Insights

076 - Jerremy Newsome: Our Deepest Fear Is That We're Powerful Beyond Measure

Jerremy Newsome is the CEO and co-founder of Real Life Trading whose purpose in life is to enrich others lives with mentally liberating education.We go all over the place in this conversation that ranges from his aspirations to become President of the USA one day, the transformative power of mental and physical challenges, redefining success, and how to become the best version of yourself. Jerremy's LinksWebsiteTwitterInstagramTimestamps
00:45 Jeremy's Political Aspirations
03:40 Moving to California: Challenges and Opportunities
08:27 Endurance Challenges and Personal Growth
18:11 The Power of Integrity and Commitment
26:12 Books That Changed Our Lives
29:11 Biggest Fears
32:01 Redefining Success and Happiness
46:14 Balancing Fatherhood and Professional Goals
50:10 Enriching Lives Through Education
 

075 - Gabe Pluguez: Lessons From Helping 600+ Men Lose Weight

Gabe Pluguez is the Co-CEO of Default Kings, a men's weight loss company that has helped over 600 men lose weight teaching behavior change through biblical principles.
Gabe's LinksTwitterInstagramYouTubeDefault Kings
Timestamps
00:59 The Shift to Christian Entrepreneurs
04:10 Common Struggles in Weight Loss
08:46 A Personal Story: Gabe's Father
14:52 The Healing Journey
24:41 The Power of Sharing Your Story
31:29 The Power of Self-Forgiveness
36:15 Acknowledging the Good
39:07 The Importance of Journaling
47:37 Overcoming Comparison
51:47 The Transformative Power of Health
 
 

074 - Matt Moore: Creating A Community of God Fearing Men

Matt Moore is the founder of Elevate - a community of over 200 men aimed at empowering men through faith, fitness, and entrepreneurship.
We talk about his transition from being a fitness entrepreneur to building Elevate. Matt shares his personal journey, including how his faith has influenced his life and business. The conversation touches on the importance of community, the challenges of maintaining personal growth, and practical steps for building a strong faith in today's world.Matt's LinksTwitterElevate Website
 
00:45 Shifting from Fitness to Community Building
05:40 Maintaining Intimacy in a Growing Community
09:53 Personal Journey and Faith
11:30 Early Life and First Encounter with Faith
16:59 Entrepreneurial Beginnings
18:45 Navigating Faith and Personal Growth
24:34 Challenges and Misconceptions About Faith
27:25 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Leadership
30:13 Personal Reflections on Faith
32:21 Aligning Core Values with Christianity
34:38 The Alternative to Belief
38:01 The Role of Media and Inputs in Spiritual Warfare
42:32 Breaking Free from Negative Inputs
47:44 The Importance of Environment and Community
53:34 Final Thoughts and Personal Mission
 

073 - Joe Kelly: From High Seas to High Tech - Bitcoin, Sailing, & Building Businesses

Joe Kelly is the CEO of Unchained, a leading company in bitcoin financial services.  We explore his extraordinary journey from sailing through the Caribbean and Latin America for 2 years in his teens and how that experience shaped his path, and fueled his entrepreneurial spirit to becoming a prominent Bitcoin entrepreneur.Joe's LinksTwitterLinkedinUnchained WebsiteTimestamps
01:00 Lessons from Living on Sailboat
10:23 Transition to Life After
21:44 Early Entrepreneurial Ventures
26:23 Journey into Bitcoin and Unchained
33:40 Getting the First Customers
38:10 Managing Finances Through Market Cycles
42:21 Personal Hobbies and Mental Health
46:15 Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
52:34 Future of Bitcoin and Adoption

072 - Ryan Benz: Walking 2000 Miles On The Appalachian Trail & Finding Purpose

Ryan is an Award-winning and bestselling Author of the book "Wander", Motivational Speaker and Mindfulness Mentor.In this episode, Ryan discusses his decision to leave a successful career in pharmaceutical advertising and walk the 2,189 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
He reflects on his life before the trail which included struggles with unfulfillment, mental health challenges, and the impact of societal expectations.
Ryan then talks talks about his second life after the trail which is a journey towards mindfulness, the importance of living in alignment with one's values, and impacting others lives. 
 
Ryan's LinksWebsiteBook
 
Timestamps
00:00 The Journey Begins: Walking the Appalachian Trail
07:19 Discovering Mindfulness and Values
14:24 Trail Lessons: Courage, Gratitude, and Kindness
30:39 Hike Your Own Hike: Embracing Authenticity
35:37 Struggling in Silence
37:01 The Power of Vulnerability
42:43 Trail Angels and Kindness
46:50 Youth Mental Health Crisis
54:32 Mindfulness and Meditation
01:07:51 The Journey of Writing a Memoir