This episode is a little different.
Instead of hosting, I sat down with my good friends Brennon Poynor and Josh Hissong for their podcast If Not Now, When?—and what came out of that conversation surprised even me.
We talk about growing up in Spokane, what martial arts taught me about failure, and how rejection shaped some of the biggest pivots in my life. I also open up about things I haven’t shared publicly—stories about identity, fatherhood, and the pressure to perform that I’ve carried for a long time.
Josh and Brennon created the kind of space that pulled these stories out of me, and I’m grateful for it. This one’s real, it’s reflective, and at times… it’s raw. But if you’ve been listening to Navigating No, you know that’s exactly the point.
Let me know what resonates—and if you’ve got your own story of turning rejection into purpose, I’d love to hear it.
00:00 The World Owes You Nothing
00:45 Introduction to the Podcast Episode
01:37 Starting the Conversation
02:57 Growing Up in Spokane
03:38 Martial Arts Journey Begins
03:50 Facing Bullying and Finding Strength
05:09 The Karate Kid Story
09:33 Lessons from Failure
14:57 Early Entrepreneurial Spirit
19:56 College Rejections and Persistence
26:48 Life Lessons from Mentors
30:11 Finding Mentors and Building Confidence
31:32 Overcoming Bullies and Life Lessons
35:14 Experiences in Japan and Personal Growth
37:15 Career Shifts and Personal Training
42:42 The Journey to Becoming a Teacher
52:17 Public Speaking and Modeling Challenges
01:00:11 The Journey to Writing a Second Book
01:00:46 Defining Personal Success
01:01:06 The Importance of Family and Relationships
01:02:47 Embracing Challenges and Growth
01:11:12 The Power of Mentorship
01:18:10 A Life-Changing Encounter
01:23:37 Returning to Spokane
01:25:42 Final Thoughts
