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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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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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  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    Special props 👇


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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.

  • 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.

  • 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


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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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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”

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.

  • 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 Life

    Connect 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

    *

    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.