Episodes
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We were promised that more data would give us more control. Somewhere between the sleep score and the blood panel, many of us stopped asking how we actually feel.
After stepping away from the demanding executive career that had shaped much of her identity, physician and healthcare leader Dr. Nasim Afsar was forced to confront a deeper question: Who are you when the role, schedule, and story that defined you are suddenly gone?
In this conversation, Nasim and Marc explore identity beyond achievement, the danger of trying to fix every uncomfortable emotion, and the growing anxiety surrounding wearables, supplements, testing, peptides, and longevity protocols. They also examine how unified health data and artificial intelligence could create a more personalized and human healthcare system—provided that people remain the owners of their information and the centre of every decision.
This is a conversation about becoming whole, trusting how you feel, and remembering that no technology can replace sleep, movement, purpose, community, and a life you genuinely want to live.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:41 — Leaving the career that had become part of her identity
04:23 — What story are you telling yourself about who you are?
06:32 — Becoming a more whole human being
08:21 — What a Valentine’s Day disappointment taught Nasim about pain
11:14 — Why fixing the problem can prevent us from understanding it
13:16 — Letting discomfort teach you instead of managing it away
15:38 — How medical training conditioned doctors to disconnect emotionally
18:36 — Feeling difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them
20:03 — Why high-stress professions must teach people how to process trauma
22:17 — The connection between human context and intelligent health
23:47 — The patient labelled “non-compliant” whose real story was being missed
26:06 — Why clinical care represents only part of what shapes our health
26:44 — The three pillars of intelligent health
28:53 — Why modern health optimization has become overwhelming
30:12 — When wearable data disconnects you from how you actually feel
31:58 — The psychological cost of forcing yourself through “healthy” routines
33:34 — The anxiety and stress hiding inside the longevity movement
35:33 — A healthier, seasonal approach to wearables and tracking
37:56 — The simple fundamentals shared by people who live well
39:12 — The dangerous side of rushing into unverified health treatments
40:32 — Returning to the fundamentals before chasing the latest protocol
42:01 — Why fragmented health data prevents personalized care
45:15 — Where to begin when health information feels overwhelming
46:06 — Baseline testing, trusted practitioners, AI, and health-data privacy
47:38 — Why no peptide can replace the foundations of health
48:18 — The personalized health future that may be closer than we think
49:55 — Reclaiming autonomy without chasing every health trend
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Most people are functioning but very few are thriving and we all deserve to thrive more days than not.
In ten minutes, Marc walks you through the 7 pillars of the Mental Fitness Assessment — Clarity, Adaptability, Emotional Agility, Focus, Sleep & Recovery, Rumination, and Stress Load — and shows you how to self-score honestly across all seven. More importantly: what the relationship between your highest and lowest pillar actually reveals. Not a weakness to fix but your single biggest opportunity for the season ahead.
This is episode one of a 7-part series teaching you how to build your own 90-Day Mental Fitness Blueprint by hand. Or — if you'd rather have yours built for you based on your actual answers — that option takes about 15 minutes.
Have your plan built for you in 15 minutes → blueprint.mchampagne.com
Use code POD50 for 50% off while this series airs.Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Missing episodes?
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How would your life change if every setback wasn't blocking your path—but redirecting it?
A devastating warehouse fire. Years of uncertainty. A company that nearly didn't survive.
For Barrett Ersek, CEO & Founder of Holganix those moments became the foundation for a mission that's now transforming agriculture, helping farmers regenerate soil, improve profitability, and remove carbon from the atmosphere.
But this conversation goes far beyond business.
Barrett shares the deeply personal experiences that reshaped how he leads—from a life-changing lesson on gratitude to an extraordinary psychedelic journey where he believes his late mother revealed a completely different way to build companies, lead people, and live.
Together, Marc and Barrett explore entrepreneurship, purpose, family, resilience, regenerative agriculture, leadership, intuition, and what it truly means to live in "flow."Whether you're building a company, raising a family, or simply navigating uncertainty, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that your greatest obstacles may be preparing you for your greatest contribution.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — "Who are you?" beyond the title
02:15 — Building culture instead of hierarchy
06:10 — The 80th wedding anniversary vision
07:00 — Annual entrepreneurial family retreats
08:45 — Family board meetings and raising entrepreneurial kids
11:30 — Why Barrett believes entrepreneurs can change the world
13:00 — Healthy soil creates healthy people
15:45 — The warehouse fire that changed everything
20:00 — Choosing gratitude in the middle of disaster
23:30 — How losing everything accelerated innovation
27:00 — Betting everything on a new idea
30:00 — Why overnight success actually took 17 years
32:30 — Staying mentally strong through years of uncertainty
34:30 — The psychedelic journey that changed his life
37:30 — Meeting his late mother
38:15 — The lesson of "Flow"
40:15 — Why leaders must focus on what they're FOR
42:00 — Becoming the dolphin
44:30 — Richard Branson unexpectedly enters the story
49:00 — The unforgettable Necker Island moment
51:30 — From pushing rocks uphill to effortless growth
54:00 — The dolphin appears at his son's wedding
56:00 — Gratitude, pilgrimage, and living in flow
59:00 — Why entrepreneurship is one of the world's noblest professions
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Leo Rossi spent decades behind the scenes with legendary artists including Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Brian Wilson, Prince, Chaka Khan, and many of the musicians who shaped modern music.
But this conversation isn't really about rock and roll.
It's about purpose.
Leo shares remarkable stories from inside music history, the lessons he learned from creative geniuses, how one decision at 15 years old altered the course of his life, and why losing his son ultimately led him toward a mission that's impacting children around the world.
This is a conversation about legacy, generosity, faith, and living the magic of every moment.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — "I'm the luckiest guy on Earth."
02:00 — Why authentic conversations create deeper connections
04:05 — Accidentally finding a career backstage
06:15 — Touring with Black Sabbath, The Who and rock legends
08:05 — How working for free led to Fleetwood Mac
12:10 — Why he walked away from the music industry
13:00 — The real story behind Knights of Rock
17:15 — What people misunderstand about classic rock
20:00 — Why everything starts with the song
22:05 — Brian Wilson's extraordinary creative genius
29:45 — The one word that summarizes an unbelievable career
30:40 — Losing his son and discovering a new purpose
35:10 — Building bridges that change lives
38:30 — Why kindness compounds over generations
41:10 — Watching "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac being born
44:30 — Why he believes magic found him
46:00 — The biggest poverty in the world isn't money
49:00 — One small act can change everything*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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For years, we've been told burnout is something individuals need to fix with better habits, stronger resilience, or another meditation app.
But what if we've been asking the wrong question?
In this episode, former Deloitte Chief Well-Being Officer and author of Hope is the Strategy, Jen Fisher shares why burnout is often the outcome of broken workplace systems—not broken people. Together, we explore hope as a practical leadership strategy, why organizations continue admiring the data instead of changing behavior, how AI is reshaping humanity at work, and why the next generation may be our greatest reason for optimism.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: "Who are you?"
01:25 — Burnout forced Jen to redefine success
03:40 — Becoming one of the world's first Chief Well-Being Officers
08:00 — Why every large organization needs someone responsible for well-being
12:00 — We've collected enough data. Now we need strategy.
16:15 — Why AI can't replace hope
17:00 — Hope isn't wishful thinking
20:15 — The three components of Hope Theory
23:00 — Burnout is becoming a systems problem—not an individual problem
26:00 — What employees can actually control
31:00 — Building the business case for well-being at Deloitte
36:45 — Which industries are making progress
41:00 — Jen's non-negotiables for mental fitness
42:15 — AI, humanity and the future of work
45:00 — Why young people give Jen hope
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Special props 👇
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Why is it that some ideas spread effortlessly while others disappear, even when they're objectively better?
Colin Hodge joins Marc Champagne to explore the psychology behind startup growth, customer behavior, identity transformation, and the lessons learned from building successful companies over the last decade.
They discuss why empathy is the foundation of sustainable growth, how entrepreneurs become trapped by their identities, the surprising role journaling and reflection have played in Colin's success, and what separates products people try from products they keep coming back to.
Whether you're building a business, launching a creative project, or simply trying to create meaningful change in your own life, this conversation offers a powerful framework for understanding how people think, decide, and grow.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: "Who are you?"
02:00 — Entrepreneurship, humor, and surviving difficult seasons
04:30 — The versions of ourselves that must die to grow
08:30 — Identity, self-worth, and the danger of attaching yourself to your work
10:00 — Gratitude, journaling, and facing fear directly
12:30 — Why reflection creates clarity and better decisions
13:30 — The surprising journey from entrepreneur to author
18:00 — The psychology behind startup growth
21:00 — Empathy: the foundation of every successful product
23:00 — Why understanding your users changes everything
24:00 — The mistake most founders make when defining their audience
25:30 — Marc's Mental Fitness Blueprint and the challenge of behavior change
29:00 — Identity shifts that unlock lasting habits
32:00 — The power of daily questions and micro-moments
33:00 — Mapping customer emotions and finding "magic moments"
35:00 — Why frustrated users may be your biggest opportunity
38:00 — The reality of writing and launching a book
42:00 — Turning marketing into a game of experimentation
46:00 — What Colin would do differently if launching another book
48:00 — USA Today Bestseller lessons and book launch strategy
50:00 — The power of endorsements, relationships, and persistence
52:00 — Playing to your strengths when growing anything
54:00 — The concept of "magic moments" and why they matter*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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How would your life change if you could see the patterns running your future before they became your reality?
For more than twenty years, Dave has used journaling as a tool for clarity, growth, and self-discovery. What began as a simple writing practice evolved into Reflection, a platform helping people capture their thoughts, identify patterns, and better understand themselves.
In this conversation, Marc and Dave explore why self-awareness is becoming one of the most valuable skills in a rapidly changing world, how reflection can help us navigate uncertainty, and why the future of AI may be most powerful when paired with deeper human insight.
They also discuss journaling as a thinking partner, the surprising lessons hidden in old journal entries, emotional intelligence, parenting, mental fitness, and how small reflective practices can create extraordinary long-term change.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — Who are you when the titles disappear?
00:45 — Dave's definition of a meaningful life
01:46 — Presence, craftsmanship, and living intentionally
03:02 — Why self-awareness may be today's greatest superpower
04:43 — The story behind Reflection
07:10 — Leaving Holstee to pursue a deeper calling
09:21 — How journaling first entered Dave's life
11:44 — The self-development books that shaped his thinking
13:02 — The six-month email experiment that changed everything
16:06 — Why we forget how far we've come
18:06 — Experience stacking and building confidence through evidence
19:12 — The future of journaling in an AI-driven world
20:17 — How AI can help provide perspective
22:11 — The emerging relationship between journals and intelligent agents
24:49 — Digital clutter, mental clarity, and organized thinking
26:09 — Using personal patterns to predict future obstacles
28:51 — Mental fitness practices beyond journaling
29:02 — The underrated power of cleaning your environment
31:12 — Identifying and eliminating energy leaks
32:35 — Dave's daily journaling routine
34:13 — Three questions for better sleep and recovery
35:32 — Voice journaling and capturing insights in real time
36:45 — Clarity in the moment, perspective over time
37:18 — Why emotional intelligence is becoming a leadership advantage
39:12 — Making reflection a sustainable habit
40:08 — Escaping mental funks and reversing negative momentum
41:54 — Building a personal toolbox for resilience
42:27 — The power of weekly and monthly life reviews
44:15 — How reflection creates a personal PhD in your life
46:17 — Why Dave is optimistic about the next generation
48:14 — Choosing hope, opportunity, and a better perspective
49:12 — Friendship, collaboration, and helping people flourish
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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This is a conversation about fear, obsession, and what happens when a scientist decides to rebuild the limits of human creativity.
Marc sits down with Alex Mehr (scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Famous Labs) for a conversation on mental resilience, entrepreneurship, and the future of AI-assisted creativity. Alex opens up about leaving his dream role at NASA, the emotional volatility of building companies, and the practical mental tools he uses to navigate fear, anger, desperation, and uncertainty.
Make sure to check out Famous AI, the platform I used to build the Mental Fitness Blueprint!
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:00 — Alex’s transition from NASA scientist to entrepreneur
03:00 — Why curiosity alone isn’t enough in business
04:00 — The joy and politics of life inside scientific research
06:30 — How Silicon Valley changed the trajectory of Alex’s life
08:00 — The addictive freedom of entrepreneurship
09:00 — Fear, uncertainty, and the emotional realities of building companies
10:00 — Why anger can become one of the most useful emotions
12:00 — The difference between destructive emotion and productive action
14:00 — Using sleep and reflection to channel difficult emotions
15:00 — Desperation, long walks, and finding clarity
18:00 — The beach walk in Puerto Rico that changed everything
20:00 — The breakthrough idea behind Deal AI
22:00 — Why walking has shaped thinkers, founders, and leaders throughout history
23:00 — Alex’s “aluminum foil” method for deleting intrusive thoughts
26:00 — Mental clutter, consciousness, and creating space in the mind
29:00 — Why mastering the mind matters more than ever in the AI era
30:00 — The vision behind Famous Labs and AI-powered entrepreneurship
33:00 — Solving the “last 10% problem” in software creation
36:00 — How AI helps turn vague ideas into scalable products
39:00 — The future of AI-assisted execution and creativity
42:00 — Why most people never fully commit to their ideas
45:00 — Fear-based AI narratives vs. human creative potential
46:00 — The trait shared by history’s greatest creators and inventors
49:00 — Why mental fitness and AI must evolve together
50:00 — Final reflections on creativity, execution, and the future of humanity
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Lately, I’ve been feeling like more and more people are quietly asking the same question: Is there something more going on beneath the surface of everyday life?
So for this special roundtable episode, I sat down with Erin Maechler and Valentin Randon for a deep conversation on consciousness, intuition, meditation, altered states, remote viewing, and the future of human potential.
We explored why so many people feel a shift happening right now, how consciousness may extend far beyond the brain itself, and why topics once dismissed as “woo-woo” are now being studied through science, performance, and human optimization.
From the Monroe Institute and Joe Dispenza to telepathy studies, visualization, and peak performance, this conversation challenged even my own assumptions about what may actually be possible.
Whether this world feels completely familiar to you or totally new, my hope is that this episode simply opens the door to more curiosity, deeper questions, and a new perspective on what it means to be human.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — Why this conversation on consciousness felt important to have now
01:07 — “Is that all there is?” The question that started Erin’s journey
03:40 — The feeling that humanity is going through a collective shift
05:08 — Valentin explains the Monroe Institute and the “hard problem” of consciousness
07:39 — Erin on working in AI and bringing consciousness into the workplace
10:00 — The Techskis conference that revealed how many people are already exploring this
12:06 — Why optimism may not be naïve after all
14:15 — “Materialism is dead” and the future beyond purely physical reality
15:47 — The HeartMath & Joe Dispenza studies on collective intention
18:28 — How meditation began changing Erin’s relationship with fear, work, and identity
19:08 — Marc on journaling, intuition, and asking better questions
21:02 — The challenge of balancing spirituality with everyday responsibilities
22:14 — How binaural beats and brain entrainment work
25:18 — Valentin’s surreal experience leaving a deep meditation retreat
28:09 — The power of creating small moments of expanded awareness
30:00 — Coincidences, synchronicities, and feeling connected to something larger
31:25 — Why consciousness exploration can simply make life more joyful
33:44 — The surprising truth: science itself is built on assumptions
35:14 — How leaders can create aligned, conscious workplaces
36:43 — The question that expands everything: “Who am I?”
39:30 — Why introducing these ideas in business settings can be difficult
44:35 — Why forcing these conversations on others rarely works
46:38 — Using visualization and meditation to unlock creativity in teams
49:05 — Remote viewing, telepathy, and consciousness research that stunned governments
52:35 — The experiments suggesting telepathy and precognition may be real
54:42 — How other countries are already teaching consciousness practices to children
56:30 — What excites each of them most about the future of consciousness
58:59 — A vision for a future podcast entirely dedicated to consciousness exploration*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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This is a conversation about the invisible emotional weight people carry into work every single day and what happens when someone finally makes space for it.
I sat down with Courtney O’Brien (HR leader and community builder) to explore the hidden emotional world inside modern workplaces. We unpack psychological safety, anxiety, spirituality at work, powerful questions, collective healing, and why humanity may be the most overlooked leadership skill of our time.
From fear of flying and nervous system regulation to AI companionship and emotional intelligence in corporate culture, this episode challenges the idea that professionalism requires disconnection from ourselves.
Courtney shares why she believes work can become a spiritual teacher, how shame silently shapes human behavior, and the simple practices that help people reconnect to themselves—and each other.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — “Who are you?”
01:18 — Growing up highly sensitive and learning to articulate emotions
02:43 — Loss, spirituality, and feeling connected to those who came before
03:22 — Why HR became Courtney’s “spiritual practice”
05:02 — Bridging humanity and corporate systems
06:34 — Leading with vulnerability at work
07:23 — Why most people secretly want deeper conversations at work
08:55 — Small experiments that change team culture
10:12 — Using psychological safety exercises in meetings
11:32 — The surprising reaction people have when given permission to share
13:09 — Relief, humor, and connection in the workplace
14:33 — The power of better questions
15:52 — Why powerful questions changed Courtney’s life
16:30 — “What do we owe each other?”
18:23 — Grace, challenge, and collective tension
19:53 — Why mentally fit teams operate differently
20:24 — Shame, judgment, and emotional healing
20:59 — Courtney’s nervous system reset practices
22:21 — Learning to care for yourself without disconnecting from the world
23:18 — Why healing practices became simpler over time
24:28 — The grounding practice Courtney uses daily
26:36 — The wisdom of the body and collective consciousness
27:08 — Overcoming a fear of flying through physical regulation
28:51 — How posture changes emotional states
29:34 — AI, consciousness, and intuitive leadership
31:53 — Translating “woo-woo” for corporate culture
33:16 — Why spiritual thinkers and tech founders sound increasingly similar
34:33 — Using AI for self-reflection and deeper questioning
35:08 — The rise of AI companionship and emotional projection
36:53 — The danger of judging conversations too quickly
37:52 — What gives Courtney hope for the future
39:19 — “What It Takes to Heal” and collective belonging
40:10 — Why anxiety points toward what matters most
41:20 — Final reflections on humanity, healing, and meaningful work
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What if the life you’re searching for is hidden inside the things you’ve stopped noticing?
Matt Hranek — founder of WM Brown, bestselling author, and storyteller — joins Marc for a conversation about curiosity, craftsmanship, ritual, and the beauty of slowing down in a world addicted to speed.
From photography and magazine culture to watches, coffee, saunas, and storytelling, this episode explores how presence and observation can completely reshape the way we experience life.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
01:00 — Becoming “the world’s most interested guy”
02:00 — How Matt’s father shaped his eye for observation
03:00 — The first camera that changed everything
04:30 — Studying photography and art history in Europe
06:00 — The energy of 1990s magazine culture
07:30 — Why Matt knew digital photography would change everything
09:00 — Transitioning from photographer to editor and storyteller
10:00 — Why photography permanently changes how you see the world
12:00 — Developing a visual language and creative instinct
13:00 — The tactile beauty missing from modern life
15:00 — Analog rituals in a digital world
17:00 — Why Matt doubled down on print magazines
18:30 — Creating magazines people would never throw away
20:00 — The emotional philosophy behind A Man & His Watch
22:00 — Why every great creative project starts personally
24:00 — Funding the first magazine after a tree crushed his car
27:00 — Building distribution one relationship at a time
29:00 — Why creative critique is essential for growth
31:00 — Matt’s process for creativity and ideation
33:00 — Why enthusiasm matters more than expertise
35:00 — Sleep, coffee rituals, and protecting mental clarity
36:00 — Why Matt sees himself as a “field agent”
38:00 — Curiosity as a mental fitness practice
40:00 — Why inspiration already exists where you live
42:00 — Observation, storytelling, and everyday life
45:00 — The challenge of commercial storytelling
47:00 — Sauna culture, ritual, and slowing down
50:00 — Why rituals force us to become present
52:00 — The deeper ripple effect of slowing down
*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
📷 by Peter Millar
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Former YouTube leader David joins Marc to break down the psychology of great content, what most creators misunderstand about the platform, and what he learned helping build monetization products for creators at YouTube. The conversation also explores burnout, mental health, identity shifts after parenthood, and how David walked away from a high-pressure career at YouTube to build a business aligned with his purpose.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life
Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — “Who are you?”
02:22 — Why structure, simplicity, and consistency matter more than ever
04:35 — The real reason Marc wants to relaunch Behind the Human on YouTube
05:18 — David’s early fascination with YouTube and creator culture
08:09 — The pressure of leadership, parenthood, and burnout at YouTube
10:22 — David opens up about depression and taking mental health leave
11:18 — The conversation that changed his entire career path
13:48 — Why health and fitness became his true calling
17:39 — The biggest misconception creators have about YouTube
20:04 — Why thumbnails and titles matter more than most people realize
23:50 — Can creators grow without fear-based clickbait?
29:48 — Why the first 30 seconds of a video determine everything
31:40 — Marc explains the deeper mission behind “mental fitness”
34:16 — How to find your unique positioning on YouTube
37:50 — The power of niching down through personal story
40:32 — The simplest content strategy for podcasts on YouTube
45:47 — How creators stay motivated before the numbers show up
50:24 — Why community matters more than vanity metrics
51:49 — The myth that creators need millions of followers to succeed
54:24 — Where YouTube is betting big over the next decade
56:51 — David’s mission to amplify better voices in health and wellness
58:10 — Why communication may be the most important health tool of all
*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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There’s a moment in every life when what once worked stops working and you have to decide what to do next.
Cecily Mak explores the space most people live in—but rarely talk about: the in-between. Not addiction, not crisis but the awareness that something in your life no longer feels aligned.
Through her journey of stepping away from alcohol, Cecily discovered that the real work was about listening. Listening to intuition, to patterns, to the subtle negotiations we make with ourselves every day.
This conversation goes far beyond habits. It’s about identity, self-awareness, and the courage to create space in a world designed to keep you distracted.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life
Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
02:00 — A dream, a council of elders, and messages from lineage
06:30 — Dream vs. visitation: when insight feels real
09:30 — Why writing becomes a tool for healing and clarity
12:30 — The unexpected path to writing Undimmed
15:00 — Following curiosity vs. forcing purpose
18:00 — Why most people can’t hear their intuition
21:00 — The moment Cecily stepped away from alcohol
24:00 — Exploring family history and unresolved trauma
28:00 — Why your first book looks back—and your second looks inward
30:30 — The “in-between” relationship with alcohol most people live in
32:00 — The spiral of self-negotiation and quiet shame
33:30 — The concept of self-grace: “How human of me”
35:00 — Awareness as the real starting point for change
38:00 — Conscious choice vs. “fuck it” decision-making
39:30 — Busyness as a socially accepted addiction
41:30 — Weekly, seasonal, and quarterly life audits
43:00 — The power of solitude and intentional retreats
46:00 — Why most people don’t prioritize recovery for the mind
49:00 — You don’t need a mountain—you can create space anywhere
50:30 — Micro-pauses as a daily superpower
51:30 — What Cecily hopes readers feel after finishing the book
*
Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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He grew up without limits—roaming forests, facing pain, and learning what it means to be human before the modern world could tell him otherwise.
Csaba Lucas shares a radically different perspective on what it means to be human—shaped by a childhood in socialist Hungary, years of elite athletic training, and decades spent living with tribal cultures across Africa, the Amazon, and beyond.
From learning meditation through pain… to understanding the human body through survival… to witnessing how modern systems disconnect us from ourselves, this conversation challenges nearly every assumption we hold about health, longevity, and identity.
Csaba breaks down why most modern “optimization” is missing the point, how we’ve become disconnected from our natural intelligence, and why the future will reward those who deeply understand themselves.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
02:00 — Why most people don’t actually know who they are
05:00 — Childhood in Hungary: freedom, forests, and early awareness
10:00 — Discovering meditation through pop culture and intuition
14:00 — Training in a brutal athletic system and learning through pain
20:00 — Why struggle and “edges” are essential for growth
26:00 — Moving from socialism to capitalism—and seeing both clearly
32:00 — The question that changed everything: what does it mean to be human?
38:00 — Living with tribes across Africa, the Amazon, and beyond
45:00 — What tracking animals reveals about the human brain
52:00 — Why modern life disconnects us from our natural intelligence
58:00 — The truth about running, movement, and human design
1:05:00 — Why most fitness and longevity advice is flawed
1:12:00 — The danger of modern “optimization” culture
1:18:00 — How technology and AI can either free you—or control you
1:24:00 — Why knowing yourself is no longer optional
1:30:00 — The biggest mistake people make in health and longevity
1:35:00 — Why most people follow instead of thinking for themselves
1:40:00 — Final reflections: reclaiming agency in a modern world
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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She spent years mastering the game of business… only to realize the real work was learning how to let go.
Julie Meyer spent decades building a global consulting firm, working with some of the world’s biggest brands.
Julie opens up about the reality behind high performance—the patterns, pressure, and identity tied to achievement—and what it took to step away from it all.
From becoming a “recovering hustler” to embracing a slower, more intentional chapter of life, Julie shares what it means to rebuild from the inside out.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:00 — Julie’s current chapter: joy, intention, and awareness
03:15 — The perspective shift that comes with life experience
05:00 — “Recovering hustler”: her early identity and self-doubt
06:30 — Failing school, rebelling, and finding her own path
08:30 — Only child mindset and entrepreneurial imagination
10:50 — Leaving corporate life and starting her first business at 24
13:30 — Moving to China and building a business from scratch
15:00 — The minivan sales story that sparked Eat Well Global
17:30 — Building a global consulting firm with major clients
20:00 — Mental fitness during high-growth years
22:00 — The hidden challenge: needing variety vs. staying focused
24:30 — When success starts to feel misaligned
25:30 — The moment things started to break internally
29:40 — Getting sober and confronting deeper patterns
31:00 — Letting go of identity and external validation
32:00 — Following “green flags” into a completely new chapter
33:30 — Becoming a professor (and why it surprised her)
34:00 — The inner voice of pressure and how she calms it
38:00 — Journaling, fear mapping, and mental resets
40:00 — The “living under a bridge” mental trap
42:30 — Why everyone is struggling more than they show
43:30 — What she’s learning from the next generation
45:30 — Teaching, boundaries, and leadership lessons
47:00 — Creating space and protecting energy
49:00 — Finding joy outside of work (pickleball + play)
50:30 — What truly makes her smile today
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Before the whisper, it looked like a life of meaning—until a subconscious message exposed everything underneath.
Ben Katt shares the moment that forced him to confront a truth most people avoid: you can build a life that looks meaningful on the outside—and still feel completely disconnected on the inside.
After years as a pastor serving others, Ben hit a breaking point that exposed how much of his identity was built on achievement, expectation, and performance. What followed was a journey into the unknown—through burnout, self-inquiry, and ultimately a radical redefinition of who he was.
This episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary path of shedding old identities, sitting in uncertainty, and learning how to reconnect with something deeper.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
02:00 — The identity trap: defining yourself by what you do
04:00 — “I lost my way”—how even meaningful work can disconnect you
05:30 — The call to adventure: when your current life stops working
06:30 — The moment everything changed: “If you don’t have your heart, you have nothing”
08:00 — Burnout, fear, and the uncomfortable truth beneath it all
10:00 — The first step: slowing down and facing yourself
11:00 — Why journaling stopped working—and what changed
13:00 — The illusion of change vs. real transformation
14:30 — Practices that actually create inner clarity
15:30 — Rewilding: why nature reconnects you to yourself
18:00 — Stillness as the gateway to insight
20:00 — You don’t need to escape your life to transform it
21:30 — Microdosing solitude: how to start right now
22:00 — The power of subtraction (and why more isn’t the answer)
24:00 — Identity fasting: letting go of who you think you are
26:00 — The masks we wear—and why they eventually break
28:00 — Gratitude and grief: the dual process of transformation
29:00 — Why modern culture lacks real rites of passage
31:00 — Creating your own rituals to mark change
34:00 — Clarity vs. tests: why growth never feels stable
36:00 — “It’s all real”—how to trust your inner shifts
37:00 — The myth of timelines in personal transformation
39:00 — The 4 questions that help you integrate change
40:00 — “What remains in the mystery?”
41:00 — Learning to live in the unknown
43:00 — Why your personal growth isn’t just about you
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Anna Gudmundson, CEO of Sensate, explores the intersection of technology, nervous system regulation, and human potential.
From growing up in Northern Sweden with a deep curiosity for systems, to building a career in early-stage tech, Anna shares how she began to see her own behaviors as patterns—“bugs in her code”—that could be understood and improved.
But everything changed when years of stress led to a complete breakdown in her health. What followed was a deep journey into functional medicine, meditation, breathwork, and nervous system awareness—ultimately reshaping how she lives, works, and leads.
This conversation explores how to regulate your internal state in a chaotic world, why most people are operating far below their potential, and how combining ancient practices with modern technology may be the key to a more resilient future.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
01:00 — Growing up in Northern Sweden: math, music, and systems thinking
02:30 — “I saw bugs in my code” — the mindset that changed everything
04:00 — Early influences and discovering personal growth
05:00 — Finding Qigong and learning to balance internal energy
07:00 — Why “woo-woo” practices are becoming a competitive advantage
09:30 — When the nervous system became impossible to ignore
11:00 — The 10-day silent meditation that rewired everything
12:30 — The health breakdown: stress, gut issues, and missed diagnoses
14:00 — Functional medicine and rebuilding from the inside out
16:30 — The hardest part: accepting a new way of living
17:30 — Running a startup while protecting your nervous system
18:00 — Reframing challenges: growth vs punishment
19:30 — The non-negotiables: sleep, recovery, and self-awareness
21:00 — How to actually “check in” with yourself
22:00 — Meditation practices for different mental states
24:00 — Automatic journaling and accessing the subconscious
26:00 — Breathwork as a reset for mental overwhelm
28:00 — Inside alchemy breathwork and altered states
32:00 — Integrating logic, spirituality, and identity
34:00 — What Sensate is and how it works
36:00 — Why nervous system regulation matters more than ever
38:00 — The global stress crisis and what it’s costing us
40:00 — Meditation vs tools: what works when your mind is overloaded
42:00 — Building a “mental fitness system” for your life
44:00 — Bringing these practices into company culture
46:00 — Why startups aren’t for everyone (and that’s okay)
48:00 — Leadership, stress resilience, and the future of work
50:00 — The future of health: sound, frequency, and personalization
52:00 — Final reflections: embracing complexity and being “just weird enough”
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Sleep isn’t just rest—it’s the foundation of your memory, attention, emotional stability, and decision-making.
In this conversation, Dr. Michael Breus, “The Sleep Doctor,” breaks down why sleep is the true currency behind mental fitness—and why most people are unknowingly operating at a massive disadvantage.
From debunking popular trends like mouth taping and blue light blockers to explaining why the 5AM club doesn’t work for most people, this episode cuts through the noise and brings you back to what actually matters.
You’ll walk away with simple, science-backed ways to improve your sleep, sharpen your thinking, and take back control of your energy. Make sure to take your Chronoquiz!
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:30 — Dr. Breus on curiosity, education, and simplifying complex science
03:00 — Why sleep impacts every system in your body
04:30 — Memory, cognition, and the real cost of poor sleep
06:00 — “Sleep is the currency of attention” (core framework)
08:00 — Why most people misunderstand sleep deprivation
09:30 — The caffeine trap: masking exhaustion vs fixing it
12:00 — Mouth taping: benefits, risks, and why it can be dangerous
16:30 — Blue light blockers: what the data actually says
19:00 — The “Power Down Hour” and building a runway for sleep
21:00 — Techniques to quiet the mind (cognitive shuffling, 4-7-8 breathing)
25:00 — Why the 5AM Club doesn’t work for most people (chronotypes explained)
28:00 — Dreams, nightmares, and emotional processing
32:00 — The link between nightmares, PTSD, and sleep avoidance
36:00 — How dream therapy can help process trauma
40:00 — Why sleep deprivation destroys decision-making
43:00 — Final thoughts: why sleep is the foundation of everything
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What a conversation with Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton!"
We go inside the mind of a fighter and test pilot who has faced life-or-death decisions in seconds. Where preparation isn’t optional, and hesitation has consequences.
But this isn’t just about aviation.
It’s about how we live.
From growing up through family instability and loss, to becoming an “accidental” fighter pilot, to navigating high-stakes environments where clarity matters more than confidence—this episode explores what it really means to be prepared for life.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:00 — Identity beyond titles: father, husband, servant
02:30 — Young Tucker: leadership, service, and not chasing titles
04:30 — Childhood story: family separation and rebuilding
08:00 — Parents’ sacrifice and redefining “family”
10:30 — His father’s struggles, addiction, and passing at 21
13:00 — Why he started writing (lessons he never got to ask)
15:30 — Becoming an “accidental” fighter pilot
18:00 — Wanting to serve vs not wanting the military
20:00 — Almost quitting pilot training (and why he didn’t)
22:30 — The influence of his wife and trusting the right voice
25:00 — From pilot to test pilot: shaping the future
28:00 — What test pilots actually do (breaking down the role)
32:00 — The edge cases: testing what no one else will
35:00 — The cockpit story begins (F-15 scenario setup)
38:00 — The first problem: landing gear malfunction
42:00 — Low fuel + uncertainty + checklist chaos
46:00 — Final approach: blind landing from the back seat
50:00 — Impact moment: gear collapse and near disaster
53:00 — What actually saved them (decision timing + training)
56:00 — Mental performance under pressure
59:00 — Training the mind before the moment arrives
01:02:00 — Presence vs complacency in everyday life
01:05:00 — Preparation: physical, mental, social, spiritual
01:08:00 — The “last 20%” and why most people never reach it
01:12:00 — Discipline, purpose, and holistic performance
01:15:00 — AI, autonomy, and the risk to humanity
01:18:00 — Losing agency and becoming less human
01:22:00 — Why AI is bigger than people think (beyond chatbots)
01:26:00 — Warfare, drones, and removing humanity from decisions
01:30:00 — The need for conversation, not polarization
01:33:00 — Leadership, empathy, and perspective from Afghanistan
01:37:00 — Seeing humanity even in conflict
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What if the biggest breakthroughs in your health didn’t require more supplements, more routines, or more time… but simply focusing on the right 4%?
Marc sits down with entrepreneur and longevity advocate Noah Laith to explore the mindset behind resilience, health, and long-term success.
Noah shares the powerful story that reshaped how he interprets life’s challenges, explains why the real pandemic today is distraction, and reveals the simple thinking ritual that has helped him make better decisions in business and life.
They also dive into Noah’s 4% rule for longevity — the idea that a small number of habits may deliver the majority of health benefits.
This conversation explores meaning, focus, and the hidden frameworks that shape how we live, lead, and grow.
Show Partners:
Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”
01:30 — The four areas Noah reviews every year to guide his life
04:15 — The Thailand story that changed everything
06:40 — Becoming a “master of meaning” in life
09:00 — Why entrepreneurs bring their work home
10:10 — Learning pattern recognition from Tony Robbins
11:20 — The power of mentors and mental models
13:00 — Why knowledge is no longer power
14:15 — The modern epidemic of distraction
15:40 — The thinking ritual that prevents costly mistakes
18:20 — Why successful people prioritize thinking time
20:30 — How Noah entered the longevity space
23:10 — The 12-month focus strategy that changed his career
25:30 — The billionaire habit of doubling down
27:00 — Why digital real estate matters today
28:30 — The “4% rule” for improving health
31:20 — The biggest health threats of the modern world
34:00 — Why most people need a health mentor
36:20 — Choosing your struggle in life
38:40 — Lessons from traveling the world
41:00 — Balancing focus and diversification
43:00 — The future of health and raising resilient children
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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