Shows
Chris & FriendsChris & Friends EP16: Searching for Identity w/ Flo ZurkindenIn this episode I sit down life coach Flo Zurkinden. This was a fun episode with a friend who I first heard about years ago as she finished second place in something aptly titled The Death Race! Flo and I discuss her childhood in Switzerland, her start in running, and how as a young adult she was searching for an identity and being "a runner" became that. From there she went on to pursue many other athletic endeavors in the race world (half marathons, full marathons, ultramarathons, etc.) and had success in all but at one point...2024-05-021h 18Chris & FriendsChris & Friends EP15: Talking Sport & Mindset w/ Dr. Megan Cannon!This episode focuses on a topic I am deeply passionate about and that is having a healthy relationship with sport. As we all know, sport provides a wonderful outlet for children to learn many great life lessons but over the years, it is as if we have lost sight over what is truly important as youth sport has become a billion dollar industry! In this episode, we discuss anxiety, working alongside parents in trying to create a healthy sport environment, the accessibility of sport and the resources associated with it (access to good coaches, sport psychologists, fields...2024-04-1656 minChris & FriendsChris & Friends EP14: Talking Wrestling & Life w/ Ben Chunko!In this episode I sit down with a former coach of mine and someone I consider to be a friend and mentor Ben Chunko. Ben is the owner and head coach at Grit Mat Club located in Bethlehem, PA. We touched on so many great topics and I think it is an episode all parents of athletes should listen to. One of my big takeaways was the importance of showing kids how to act. It is not "do as I say" but rather "watch what I do". If you can show the kids how to win, how...2024-04-071h 03Chris & FriendsChris & Friends EP13: Lucky Number 13 w/ Marisa Mangiameli!In this episode, Marisa and myself tackle many subjects over the course of this 75 minute episode. We break down what exactly Marisa’s credentials, you get a glimpse of my “skill” in avoiding uncomfortable topics, parenting, getting berated by a coach, and so much more! I hope you enjoy!2024-04-021h 13Chris & FriendsToday I have no friends... but I do have Shingles!Hello everyone, welcome to the 12th episode of the Chris & Friends podcast! In this episode, I share about my experience of getting shingles, break down the highlights from the past five guests, and share a story about the American Civil War that asks the question: Can we have peace without forgiveness? I hope you all enjoy this episode!2024-03-2122 minChris & FriendsChris & Friends EP11: "Living in Multiple Rooms" w/ Molly SunderlinOne of the perks of doing this podcast is taking 75 minutes to sit down with a friend and just explore a variety of conversations. Molly and I live in the same neck of the woods but often times when we see each other, it is usually in passing or the conversations are rushed as we are doing something else. But not this time! A recurring theme is in this conversation is that life has many stages. For Molly, she was a Division 1 runner who nearly ran the Olympic qualifying time for the marathon, then an educator, then...2024-03-211h 08Chris & FriendsChris & Friends EP10: No Safety Nets w/ Jason BraderIn this episode, I meet with the man who gave me my first job in the world of Strength & Conditioning, Jason Brader. His resume is very impressive. He was one of the first guys in the area who really focused on building high level athletes and over the course of his career, has worked with thousands of high school, college and professional athletes. If you can sum up Jason's life in one way it is facing and overcoming hardship. From working a newspaper route 7 days a week as a teen, to losing both parents as a high...2024-03-051h 02Chris & FriendsChris & Friends EP9: You have the Power to Change w/ Haley MartinezEarlier this year I had the opportunity to meet Haley at one of our wonderful barn events. As the day was coming to a close, a few people stuck around to chat and this is where the conversations started to get a little more interesting. It is also where I got to know Haley. To say this women is multifaceted would be an understatement. She is a kindergarten teacher, a bodybuilder, a personal trainer and most recently, she added holistic health practitioner to her resume with a focus on breath work. We covered a lot of topics...2024-03-051h 11
The Chris Voss ShowThe Chris Voss Show Podcast – Transforming Your Sales Strategy: Hiring Dynamic Sales Teams: Build a High-Performing Sales Team through Cultural Alignment and Modern Hiring Practices by Theodore Fluck
Transforming Your Sales Strategy: Hiring Dynamic Sales Teams: Build a High-Performing Sales Team through Cultural Alignment and Modern Hiring Practices by Theodore Fluck
Amazon.com
Dynamicsalesteams.com
Discover the secret to supercharging your sales strategy in “Transforming Your Sales Strategy: Hiring Dynamic Sales Teams” – Build a High-Performing Sales Team through Cultural Alignment and Modern Hiring Practices. This comprehensive guide reveals the strategic blend of evaluating company culture, setting precise sales needs and goals, and establishing a streamlined hiring process that yields high-performing sales teams.
Uncover the crucia...2023-08-2947 minChris & FriendsEP185: This Week, I Was a Little Nervous! This week I took on a new role and let me tell you, I was feeling a bit anxious about starting. As I was preparing for the sessions, I realized I can only control so much. I created a plan, I took the equipment necessary to carry out the plan, and then did my best to execute the plan. After each session, I asked myself four questions to help evaluate how things went and areas to improve in the future. These four questions are listed below! Did you accomplish your objective? Were the drills appropriate and organized? Did they have fu...2023-02-0304 minChris & Friends184: Volunteers are the Backbone of Youth Sports!The world of youth sports is reliant upon volunteer coaches. The great football coach Chuck Noll once said, “The mercenaries will beat the draftees but the volunteers will crush them both”. Coaching sports and going to war are two different things but the idea behind volunteering remains the same: The volunteers choose to do it! They aren't paid to show up (mercenaries) and they are not forced to do it (draftees). Anyone who volunteers is an asset and in the world of youth sports, more of this is needed. If you run an organization, SUPPORT YOUR...2023-01-2704 minChris & FriendsEP183: An Interview with Coach Ben Chunko!In this episode, I sit down with my friend, former coach and current owner of Grit Mat Club Ben Chunko. In this episode, we touch on a variety of topics including coaching wrestling, being a parent, what the word Grit means, creating a culture for his club, and so much more. Over the years, Ben has always been a great example of always learning, always willing to help, and most importantly, always coaching to help kids reach their full potential. He is an asset to the local community and the sport of wrestling and I...2023-01-211h 05Chris & FriendsEP182: Coach Them All!Nothing seems to grind my gears more than sport environments that cut kids or discourage them from trying out. In this climate, where physical activity and resiliency is lacking in our kids, to remove something like athletics from their life is doing them a huge disservice. We as coaches have an opportunity to play a huge role in the development of the child and need to take this job seriously. We can be the coach that lights a fire under them to partake in physical activity for the rest of their life or be the...2023-01-1808 minChris & FriendsEP181: The Best Conditioning Program I've Ever Done!Last week I was doing some farm work and found myself to be extremely winded. The task I was doing was difficult but I thought my conditioning was a bit better than what was on display. Due to this unfortunate feedback (aka sucking wind while working), I decided to start implementing a change in my cardiovascular training. Enter the 4x4 Interval Program. My favorite types of programs are the ones that practically have the directions in the name. The 4x4 program requires you to perform four-four minute intervals. It is simple in theory, but hard in practice...2023-01-1504 minChris & FriendsEP180: Skill + Effort = AchievementBehavioral psychology tells us that the environment can and will shape human behavior, for good or for bad. As coaches, parents and/or teachers, what we focus on and reinforce with the kids that we work with will be the actions that they will choose to follow in the future. If we prioritize and celebrate touchdowns, goals, points or victories, then the child will believe those are the things that matter and strive to light up the stat sheet. But, as Angela Duckworth points out in her book Grit, talent and skill are only a small part...2023-01-1403 minChris & FriendsEP179: A Winning MindsetDo you view your talent, skill and intelligence as something that can be improved upon or do you view it as something that is innate? How you answer that question will make or break you!2023-01-1104 minChris & FriendsEP178: An Interview with Dr. Becca Eberly!In this episode, I sit down with my friend, and physical therapist, Becca Eberly! Over the course of 60 minutes, we discuss everything from horses, to being a parent, to overuse injuries, proper footwear, pain and much more! The recurring theme around all of these topics is the importance of taking a holistic approach to everything that you do, especially when it comes to your body and pain. Factors like sleep, hydration, stress, and activity levels can all play a role in that hamstring feeling tight, the back being sore or the shoulder pain you experience...2023-01-0855 minChris & FriendsEP177: Parents of Athletes, Stop Doing These Things!By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore. If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy! In this video, I share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience!2023-01-0705 minChris & FriendsEP176: Keep Hope Alive!In the 1950's, researcher Curt Richter conducted a study. The intent of this study was to find out how long rats would be willing to swim in a jar that they couldn't escape. The first couple of rats placed in the jar didn't fight too long. They swam around on the surface and shortly after, they packed it in and called it a day. They lost their will to fight fairly quick. Then, Richter tweaked the experiment. As he watched some of the rats swim nearly to the point of giving up, he would pick them up and hold...2022-12-2104 minChris & FriendsEP175: Kids Will Call Your A$$ Out! After viewing a video sent to me by a friend, I scrolled to the next one and it snapped me to attention. I felt like this video was talking directly to me and it woke my rear end up! In it, the man shares how kids will call you out. If you want them to be kind but you're not, they will let you know. If you tell them not to bad mouth someone, but that is something that you do, they will call you out. If you tell them to be gracious in defeat but whine like a little b...2022-12-1902 minChris & FriendsEP174: Fitness Training for Life!Need help planning out a fitness program for the year? Don't worry, this episode has it all covered! The plan is broken down into a few different concepts: 1. There will be periods throughout the year where you work towards accomplishing a goal. 2. Cardiovascular training is important if you want to live a long and healthy life. Don't skip it! 3. Variety is the spice of life. Just like the seasons change, so too should your exercise selection! 4. Take time to practice and learn new skills. Your brain and body will...2022-12-1416 minChris & FriendsEP173: It's Just One of Those Days!Did you ever just wake up one morning and feel like you were in a funk? Nothing seems to be going right and you say things like, "it's just one of those days?" Well, I had one of those days last week and it happened to occur on the morning after watching the aforementioned documentary. When Stutz was a child, he and his father were on a plane and as they were taking off, Young Stutz was a little uncomfortable. The plane was surrounded by dark clouds and he worried that they might have to deal with it for...2022-12-1206 minChris & FriendsEP172: Jesus in Disguise?Over the past decade-plus, I have been fortunate to meet people from all walks of life. There have been members of both political parties, atheists, churchgoers, high income earners, low income earners, various ethnicities and more. I have learned that if you treat people reasonably well, they will most likely reciprocate. If you act is if everyone you encounter is a friend, life seems to become a little more pleasant. In this episode, I share a story I heard recently involving Mother Theresa. During her life, she served the poorest of the poor, the infirm, the homeless...2022-12-0705 minChris & FriendsEP171: Active Communities do Better!The Aspen Institute's Project Play does a great job researching trends in physical activity levels in children in an effort to build healthy communities through sports. It is their belief, and quest, that active communities do better and they have the data to support it. Need proof? Active communities have lower obesity rates, less smoking, less heart disease, higher property values and lower unemployment. So how do we get these benefits and improve the health of our communities? Physically active children are usually associated with being influenced by physically active adults. If you are a parent, teacher, coach...2022-12-0509 minChris & FriendsEP170: The NEED to Conquer the World vs Conquering One's Self This week I was reminded of a powerful Linkin Park song titled One More Light. This reminder led me down the rabbit hole known as Youtube where I found a heartfelt live performance of this song dedicated to one of his close friends, singer Chris Cornell, who committed suicide the previous day. Two months after that performance, Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington took his own life. On the surface, it appeared these men had it all. They were known throughout the world for their voice and had crowds eating out of the palm of their hands. Their talent allowed t...2022-12-0307 minChris & FriendsEP169: Healthy Body, Healthy MindLast week a friend recommended a documentary called Stutz. In it, director Jonah Hill discusses some of his long standing mental health struggles and how his meeting with psychiatrist Phil Stutz changed his life. A few minutes into the documentary they began discussing mental health in three ways. One, is our relationship with our body, ie are way taking care of our health. Two, involves our relationships with people and three is our relationship with ourselves. Numbers two and three fall outside of my skill set but number one is something that I care deeply about. 2022-12-0115 minChris & FriendsEP168: Creepy Russian Toys & Skill AcquisitionThere is something about this time of the year that makes me think of those weird little Russian nesting dolls. You know the ones, they are those wooden toys that when you open them, they contain another exact replica of the doll, but in a smaller form. You can do this a few times before you get to the final layer, a very small version of the original. As I was driving home the other morning, those toys came to mind and I started thinking about how that concept relates to developing talents or skills. You start...2022-11-3011 minChris & FriendsEP167: One Decision, One Day, Can Change Your Life ForeverDid you ever just sit back and wonder why things happen in life? How one decision leads to another which leads to another, which eventually takes you to where you are right now? In this episode, I share a story from one of my favorite movies/books Mystic River, the importance of surrounding yourself with great people, the butterfly effect, and how every decision that you make in the here and now impacts your future self.2022-11-2708 minChris & FriendsEP166: I've Been Duped!Last week I sat down and read what appeared to be a letter written from Albert Einstein to his daughter. In it, he discussed a universal force that could change the world for the better. He told his daughter that this force is inside all of us. This force that he wrote of was love. I thought the letter was beautiful and I read the entire thing for a podcast. Prior to posting the video, I decided to double check the accuracy of it to see if, indeed, Einstein wrote it. As it turns out, it was...2022-11-2209 minChris & FriendsEP165: A Different Approach to BullyingI hear stories weekly of how cruel kids can be to one another. A local newspaper just wrote that 10% of teens studied attempted suicide, and on top of that, an emergency room physician once told me that the pediatric ER is filled with suicidal teens. It is sad and it is scary. These past few weeks I have been thinking, maybe our approach to things like bullying has been flawed. Maybe instead of casting blame on the other child's parents or the schools lack of intervention, we can look at improving our own child's resiliency. But first, a story abo...2022-11-1909 minChris & FriendsEP164: Building Physically Resilient ChildrenLast week I had a moment while training some kids that there seems to be a few old school skills that are lacking in today's youth. More often than not, kids play a variety of sports every weekend but can't seem to jump rope, do a forward roll, perform a proper lunge or hit a few pushups. These gaps in their development will eventually show up in the form of injury or burnout. These are two things that we want to avoid! When building a solid structure, it is important to lay down a proper foundation. There...2022-11-1608 minChris & FriendsEP162: The Cobbler & The GeneralMark Twain once told a story about a man searching for the world's greatest general. The man searched his whole life until one day he died and met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. The man told St. Peter he was looking for the world's greatest general. Fortunately, St. Peter said he could help. He led the man to another inhabitant of heaven and introduced him as the world's greatest general. The man who had been searching replied, "That's not the world's greatest general. That man was a cobbler on Main street in my hometown!" St. Peter responded, "But...2022-11-1405 minChris & FriendsEP161: Coaching is Not Telling & YellingThe world of youth sports is crazy. You can go to a sport field on any given weekend and see great examples of coaching and you will also see poor examples of coaching. If I had to break down three areas of improvement that come up often with coaches and parents it would be the following... As coaches, we need to develop a holistic approach and focus on building great human beings. When we emphasize qualities like being a good teammate, having a good attitude, and playing with great effort, good things are going to happen. You...2022-11-1312 minChris & FriendsEP160: We Can do Better (A Call to Action)This week I spoke with a few nurses and these conversations shed light on the state of our countries health, the hospitals ability to handle a never ending supply of patients, and a profession that is seeing people leave in droves. One hospital, for example, was short staffed 8 nurses for a shift. The job by itself is a tough one. Nurses have to deal with lack of sleep, stress, death, illness, conflict and a bunch of other things associated with that kind of work. When work is fully staffed, it is a very demanding job. When short staffed, the d...2022-11-0713 minChris & FriendsEP159: Three (or four) Rules for Being a ParentOver the past couple of years I have learned a few things about being a parent. Some of these lessons were easy, and others, not so easy. At the end of the day, I feel that if you can offer your kid love and give them some freedom to become the person they want to be, life seems to get a little bit easier for all involved!2022-11-0309 minChris & FriendsEP158: The Role of Play on LearningEarlier in the week I came across a post from The Global Matrix 4.0 which represents the largest compilation of information related to physical activity in children in adolescents. Their report states that there is "a global pandemic of youth physical activity" as only 27%-33% of youth meet physical activity guidelines. This is an alarming trend and what makes this even potentially more dangerous is that those who participate in physical activity, it is usually done in a structured setting lacking variety. Last week I spoke on why play is important for socioemotional reasons. If you need a rem...2022-10-2908 minChris & FriendsEP157: I Did Something I Never Thought I’d Do…One beautiful morning in Cape Cod, my family and I went out for some breakfast. As we pull up to the restaurant, we were all surprised by what we find. As I prepared for this episode, I thought back to the saying that as a parent, it is your job to prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child. Well, in this case, I think it was the other way around as my child had me do something I never imagined doing!2022-10-2808 minChris & FriendsEP156: Why are Kids so Anxious and DepressedFor the past few months, I have been doing a thought experiment on why it seems kids are more anxious and depressed then ever. After speaking with a few professionals, reading articles and books on the topic, I came to the conclusion that this problem is multi factorial and one in which has slowly been occurring over the past few decades. This episode has complex ideas, experiences from my own life and some thoughts I have never shared before.2022-10-2714 minChris & FriendsEP155: Today, We Remember. Today, We Shoulder the Burden and Act!October 16, 2022. Just another day for some, but for me, it signifies what would have been my brothers 39th birthday. As I look back on the almost ten years without him here, I often times think about could have been different. Is there anything that I could have done that could have gotten him on the right path? Psychologist Carl Rogers once said that, "it was impossible to convince someone to change for the better. The desire to improve was the precondition for progress." In sum, it means that the individual will never improve unless they want to...2022-10-1606 minChris & FriendsEP154: "Hi, I'm a Parent and I'm Struggling"A few weeks ago we were at a party for a relative and it was a great time. While there, we got to catch up with a lot of people we haven’t seen in awhile. As most conversations seem to go these days, when you’re a parent, the topic of kids always seem to come up. I was amazed at the stories I heard about hardships they, or mutual friends, have faced or are facing with their children. Poor sleep, allergies, mood disturbances, the list can go on. While all this is going on b...2022-10-1305 minChris & FriendsEP152: Have a Meaningful Convo Everyday!Coaching Q&A Episode! It seems no matter what the level, from 6 year olds to the high school level, coaches are experiencing some hard times with their athletes. In this video, I share some ideas on how to stay ahead of some of these issues by building trust, communicating effectively, and constantly working on creating a strong player-coach relationship. Do you want to know the best way to do this? Have a meaningful conversation with each kid everyday!2022-10-1208 minChris & FriendsEP151: Hypocrisy in SportI can't believe I am saying this but baseball actually caught my attention this week. As one Yankee slugger (Aaron Judge) passes another (Roger Maris), talk of who the real single season home run king has made its rounds on social media. Is it the juiced up players of the 90's or the non-juiced players? This is, of course, assuming those who never tested positive for a banned substance would never take anything to enhance performance. Wink wink ;) Because of this story, I was reminded of an interesting book I read back in the day titled Cooperstown...2022-10-1010 minChris & FriendsEP150: Malicious ReflectionsIn this episode, I share a few quotes from the founding fathers in reference to truth, freedom of thought and liberty to speak one’s mind. In addition, I also discuss an example from the ACLU and some historical perspecitve from another part of the world where this area has gone from a booming intellectual haven to a restricted society. As Franklin said hundreds of years ago, “when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter”. In order to find truth, both sides should have an equal...2022-10-0706 minChris & FriendsEP149: 12 Years With a WhistleIn this episode, I share a few of my experiences as a high school football coach (both good and bad) and also read a few passages from Bill Walsh’s classic book Finding the Winning Edge. If you are involved in coaching, having an identity and being clear and concise with your messaging is of the utmost importance. Your drills, your strategy, or your plays could be the greatest thing the world has ever seen but if you cannot get your players to execute them, it doesn’t really matter.2022-10-0609 minChris & FriendsEP148: Politicking with my friend Kevin Branco!In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Branco who is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131. Over the 60 minute conversation we cover a lot of topics and information. The main points that we discussed involved having trust in our government, the lack of bipartisan compromise, term limits, the founding fathers and much, much more! This was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!2022-10-041h 02Chris & FriendsEP147: Weight Loss Story & Diet AdherenceI ran into a guy this week who experienced a huge weight gain during the lockdowns. This man had a slight frame and went from 130-something to over 180 pounds. Packing on 50 pounds (roughly 40% of his initial bodyweight) during a 1-2 year period is quite alarming. He described his body as "looking like the letter D" and decided it was time for a change. During this time, he visited Europe (I forget where to be exact) and came to the realization that food tastes better over there and as a result, he felt better. He decided he was g...2022-10-0107 minChris & FriendsEP146: Small Gains Lead to Big GAINZZZIn this episode, I detail how a somewhat scrawny 8th grader turned himself into a Division I football player. Do you want to know the secret? He showed up and trained consistently. This kid made small improvements week after week, month after month, year after year. Over time, these small improvements turned into some big time gains!2022-09-2908 minChris & FriendsEP145: Wise Words from the Man who Harnessed Lightning!In this episode, I share four principles outlined in the Ben Franklin biography written by Walter Isaacson. These four principles stand the test of time and can be summed up in the following: Get out of debt, be honest, work hard in whatever you decide to work on and be kind with your words! I hope you enjoy!2022-09-2807 minChris & FriendsEP144: An Eating Approach that Lasts!In this video I share a quick story from a conversation that I had with my friend Frank Donley ( @Anti Frail and @Frank Donley ). As we both experiment with different ways to boost our health and overall wellness, we discovered that following a time restricted eating protocol serves us both really well. The rules are quite simple: whenever you consume your first calorie, count 8-12 hours past that point and that will be your eating window. Do not consume anything outside of that window for a few weeks and see the effect it has on you.2022-09-2304 minChris & FriendsEP143: Childhood Friends are the Best Kind of Friends!In this video I share my thoughts on the bonds that are created in childhood will most likely last a lifetime. Your childhood friends have you seen at your worst, have seen you at your best, and went through all the trials and tribulations right by your side. It is why you can go years without seeing someone and when you get back together, it’s as if you have never skipped a beat!2022-09-2110 minChris & FriendsEP142: "Still Doing the Health Thing, Huh?"In this episode I share a conversation that I had with a friend recently regarding eating. While at a party I was asked, “still doing that health thing, huh?” I answered yes, I believe I am and from there began discussing how small changes over time turn into huge lifestyle changes over the years. I believe in human beings and I believe that we all have the ability to change. Small, incremental gains over time have the ability to really become something huge if given the necessary time.2022-09-1514 minChris & FriendsEP141: Is Social Media Killing Youth Sports?In this episode, I share some research data from The Aspen Institute in regards to sport participation in our country. Since 2012, a large percentage of kids stopped playing sports. During this time, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok have blown up in popularity. Coincidence? I think not! Let me know what you all think on this matter. I try to use the podcast to kickstart some discourse so if you have any thoughts on the matter, please feel free to share.2022-09-1209 minChris & FriendsEP140: Prepare Your Child for the Road“Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child”. In this episode I share a little bit of the sadness I’m feeling sending our daughter off to school while at the same time trying to keep things in perspective. It’s on us as parents to expose our kids to situations so that they can become strong, resilient and confident in anything that they do.2022-09-1005 minChris & FriendsA Conversation with Strength & Conditioning Coach Steven RoseWith every conversation, I feel that Steven's list of credentials expands. He is a former NCAA athlete who currently serves as a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at East Stroudsburg University. There, he is responsible for overseeing many of the sport programs the university has to offer. At the conclusion of this conversation, I sent Steve a message asking how he would sum up this podcast. He responded in the following, "Don't be an a-hole. Have goals that you train towards. Don't yell at people". That sounded good to me. I hope you enjoy!2022-09-071h 04Chris & FriendsYou Become What You Give Attention To You Become What You Give Attention To In this episode, a share a story about a friend whose child was struggling. They were hitting those middle school years and due to circumstances going on in their personal life, found themself looking for attention in the wrong places. Enter the horse farm (not ours for the record). This teen was able to get their life back in order because they chose an environment that brought peace into their life. If you surround yourself with good people in good places, you will see those positive influences carry over into your everyday life! 2022-09-0305 minChris & FriendsHorses & MotivationLast week I read a great story from an author who visited a world class equestrian training facility. As he went to view a training session of these beautiful thoroughbreds, he thought he was going to see examples of intense training and discipline. Instead, what he saw, was what looked like play. When he asked the world class trainer about this, the response he got was, "A horse that loves to run will beat a horse that's compelled, every day of the week". This identifies the power and value of intrinsic motivation. The horse doesn't...2022-08-3003 minChris & FriendsFinding Purpose with Pastor Matthew GorkosIn this episode I chat with a childhood friend Pastor Matthew Gorkos. The discussion we had centered around finding purpose and creating positive environments for everyone that we encounter. For Matt, it is in the church. For me, it is at the gym. In addition to that, we discussed the power of story, Rage Against the Machine, the value of sports, George Orwell, the origins of Christianity, and much, much more. We hope you enjoy! About the Guest: Matthew Gorkos is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has served...2022-08-251h 24Chris & FriendsAnother Small Town DeathThe small town where I grew up, the school that I attended and the place where I spent years coaching, has had to deal with a lot of loss. For me, it is the loss of peers. The loss of a few friends. The loss of my brother. And now, the loss continues in the lives of athletes I once coached. I believe that everyone can find redemption in their life if given enough time. Unfortunately for some, their time ran out before finding it. If you are in a mental funk or...2022-08-2208 minChris & FriendsStop Cutting Kids from Sports!In a country where sport participation and physical activity is plummeting, why are we cutting kids from team sports? Take a look around at the sidelines of the next high school game you go to. You will notice those teams look a little smaller than they used to. You will also notice the teams with the most kids are usually the most successful. When building a program, the focus should be on getting kids out for your sport at a young age. Then, you should focus on keeping those kids out for the sport. Lastly...2022-08-1709 minChris & FriendsThere's A Crisis Going OnThe great Martin Luther King Jr once said that there is a civil war going on inside all of us. There is the fight between doing what’s right and doing what is easy. In the same light, there is a personal crisis going on in everyone’s life. For some it could be big, for others it could be small, but either way, it exists. The best way to address this crisis is with the company of others!2022-08-1703 minChris & FriendsAn Alarming Conversation with an 8 Year Old"I just want to see what it is like to kill someone" Alarming words out of the mouth of anyone but when you hear an 8 year old say it, it really makes you scratch your head and wonder. There is the old saying that "you are what you eat". In addition to that, I believe you become what you consume. If you take in negative stories or surround yourself with negative people, those traits will start to rub off on you. The inverse of that is also true. If you surround yourself with goodness and...2022-08-0607 minChris & FriendsSpeed Training Past Your PrimeIf you are anything like me, sometimes you just have a need for speed! In this episode, I share some ideas on how to add sprints into your current training program. There may come a time in your life when you have to move fast. It could be running towards a situation to lend a helping hand or running away from danger in an effort to stay safe. Either way, what gets trained gets improved. Adding speed training into your current program is a fun way to improve your health an increase your capacity to...2022-08-0117 minChris & FriendsDad TalkIn this episode I share a few topics of discussion that got brought up this week at the gym. Most of these talks revolved around doing the best we can as dads trying to juggle parenting, work, your significant other and all other aspects of life. Topics covered: Going to work is the easy part, raising a child is hard. When you are home, be present Be careful what you value. If it’s expensive things, booze and partying, they will most likely value the same. Choose wisely. Lastly, I share a st...2022-07-3008 minChris & FriendsShrinking the Gap!When we take an honest look at our lives, our community, our nation, we can see that there are strengths and there are weaknesses. The quickest, most impactful way we can make a change is to raise up our weak points. It is not to tear down our strengths!2022-07-2903 minChris & FriendsThree Takeaways from Top Gun: MaverickIn this episode, I share my three biggest takeaways from the hit movie Top Gun: Maverick!2022-07-2802 minChris & FriendsWho Has More Free Time: Your Child or a Prison Inmate?In this episode, I discuss the value of prioritizing free time for our children. In a nation where activities are in abundance, often times kids have less free time to explore their interests than those wearing an orange jump suit. In an effort to combat this, there are three steps we can take to help foster a play enriched environment: 1. Let your child lead play based off their interests 2. Don’t interject when they claim to be bored 3. Show them how to engage in play in the most unstructured way possible2022-07-2707 minChris & FriendsTraining for the UnpredictableIn this episode, I discuss the idea of being physically able to be useful in emergency situations. If a dog is attacking someone, are you able to sprint and offer your hand? If you have to cross a creek to help someone, are you able to balance on the stones to cross and get to them? If you have to help carry a friend who injured their leg, are you going to be able to? These are all questions we don’t think much about until we find ourselves in situations th...2022-07-2510 minChris & FriendsSomething’s Gotta GiveIn this episode, I discuss a parenting topic that came up recently with a local business owner. When you have a child, there is one thing to keep in mind: Something has to give. It may be your work schedule, it may be your “drinks with the boys”, or it may be that hobby you absolutely love doing. There is only so much time in the day and something’s gotta give. I meet a lot of parents and they always discuss how fast kids grow up and that they miss having theirs around. I ha...2022-07-2404 minChris & FriendsOne Bite at a Time!The great Desmond Tutu once said, there is only one way to eat an elephant, a bite at a time. What he is implying here is that some things cannot be rushed. In this episode, we take this idea and apply it to our nutrition. There are a few actionable steps we can all take right now to get us moving in the right direction and transforming into a healthier version of our current self.2022-07-1714 minChris & FriendsThinking Without ThinkingIn this episode, I discuss a way to help take your training to the next level. This idea has been around for a long time and it is what helps make athletes like Drew Brees excel on the football field and enables some of the greatest weightlifters to reach their goal of moving more weight. This idea is known as Ideomotor Training and it is something that can be done by everyone!2022-07-1609 minChris & FriendsWhen Does a Religion Become a Cult?I just wrapped up watching a four part series titled Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey about the FLDS which is an offshoot of the Mormon religion. I remember first hearing about this group in the early 2000’s when their leader Warren Jeffs was arrested and later in the incredible book Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. In this episode, I discuss four characteristics associated with cults and how to avoid being manipulated or brainwashed by certain ideologies.2022-07-1518 minChris & FriendsParenting & PuzzlesIn this episode, Chris shares a piece of advice he received recently that deals with working with kids. It is our job as parents, teachers, coaches, etc. to set the puzzle pieces out, then step away and let the child sort through them and put them into its proper place. The most permanent way to learn is through doing. So remember, set the puzzle pieces and let them get to work!2022-07-1316 minChris & FriendsA Few Words from Frederick Douglass on the 4th of JulyIn this episode, I share an excerpt from Frederick Douglass’s famous speech “What to the slave is the 4th of July” delivered on July 5th, 1852 in Rochester, NY. In it, Douglass shares his thoughts on the present state of his country, the hypocrisy that surrounds it, and the revolution that needs to take place to address and fix what he seems to be the biggest problem since 1776: slavery. I love the courage he had to deliver this speech in the face of oppression. As a country, it is important for us to never forget our tr...2022-07-0715 minChris & FriendsWe’ll See…In this episode I share an old story about a farmer. For this man, many unpredictable things happened to him. The people in town reacting emotionally. They said things like “how fortunate” or “such back luck” and his response was always “we’ll see” We can’t control everything that happens to us but like Viktor Frankl said in Man’s Search for Meaning, we control how we respond to situations. The freedom to choose your response will never be taken from you. Your response is yours, and yours only. Do what you feel is best and continue pushing f2022-07-0706 minChris & FriendsThe 90/10 Principle (Q&A)In this episode, Chris shares a coaching technique he has learned over the years regarding getting your message across. Too often coaches lead with an iron fist without first making a connection with the child. There is the old saying, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. The 90/10 principle epitomizes this idea. 2022-07-0703 minChris & FriendsBuilding the Brakes (Q&A)Most sports require athletes to accelerate and decelerate hundreds of times over the course of a game. While preparing for sport, most of our time focuses on accelerating but if you want to take your game to the next level, you have to focus on building the brakes. In this video, Chris discusses a training concept that he uses with his Middle School and High School athletes2022-07-0306 min
Who Makes A PodcastRunning a Podcast Network and Interviewing Sports Legends with D.J. FluckPodcast Quick Start Checklist: https://www.whomakesapodcast.com/start/
Full Show Notes: https://www.whomakesapodcast.com/e13/
My guest today is D.J. Fluck, the co-founder of Stadium Scene, a sports podcast, publication and networking company with a customer base of over 200 blogs, podcasts, and video producers. We talk about how to build a collaborative podcast network, why staying committed to your podcast is vital to success, how to conduct a great interview, and so much more. There's so much to learn in this episode.2022-06-291h 04Chris & FriendsIf Not YOU, then WHO?In this episode, I share a few takeaways from my conversation with Chad Shirk and find parallels in a conversation I had that same day with a pediatric emergency room physician. If I had to sum up these conversations into three key points it would be this… 1. Remove your ego 2. Always evaluate what you are doing 3. Speak up because if you don’t, who will?2022-06-2815 minChris & FriendsA Conversation with PIAA Wrestling Coach of the Year Chad Shirk!In this episode, I sit down with one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever been around, who also happens to be a friend, Chad Shirk. In this episode, we discuss his career as a coach at Saucon Valley, the ups, the downs, the success, the failures, and all the other craziness that comes with being a coach for 20+ seasons! In addition, we discuss why most wrestlers stink at basketball, growing up in and around the sport of wrestling, raising kids, and much, much more!2022-06-231h 02Chris & FriendsOur Guest Did the Unthinkable…In this episode, employee of the month Steven Rose and myself discuss youth training, the value of intention in our training, and the importance of reading. Spoiler alert: I don’t like what Steven has to say in this one!2022-06-1858 minChris & FriendsLife Without Music Would be a MistakeIn this episode, Chris discusses the important role music plays in regards to fitness training as well as in life. Like the great Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Life without music would be a mistake”2022-06-1309 minChris & FriendsConditioning Concepts for Everyone!this episode, Chris shares a story from the gym and how to improve your cardiovascular system. It doesn’t matter if you are a Division I athlete or a beginner, the principles remain the same. Set a goal, create a plan, and start chipping away!2022-06-1215 minChris & FriendsThe Power of a StampIn this episode, Chris shares a story from his daughters gymnastics gym and the similarities it shares with one of Napoleon’s maxims from the early 1800s!2022-06-0407 min
Chris & FriendsWar is a Racket by Smedley ButlerIn this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the book War is a Racket by Smedley Butler. Written in 1935, this short book has many truths that ring true today. Butler, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General and two-time Medal of Honor recipient, shares his opinion on the military, those who make decisions, the profits of war, and more!2022-06-0418 minChris & FriendsMemorial Day Speech (1931)In this episode, Chris shares a speech that was delivered in 1931 by Medal of Honor recipient Smedley Butler2022-05-3105 minChris & FriendsIf you ain’t first your last with former NCAA athlete Steven Rose!In this episode, Chris and Steven discuss findings from the The British Journal of Psychology that identified something that led students to have a 4.5 times greater likelihood of being in the top 20% of their class, 11% more likely to occupy leadership roles in their school, a 20% reduction in counseling for academic or behavioral issues, a 50% reduction in being identified as having ADHD by their teachers, and the increased likelihood of making it to professional sports. In addition, there are a few quips on losing, Jocko-isms, defining success and more!2022-05-3141 minChris & FriendsHow long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?” - EpictetusIn this episode, Chris discusses his thoughts on pursuing great things in life. On our personal voyage toward whatever our goals may be, many of us stop before the going gets good. We throw in the towel when we face a little bit of difficulty and stop chasing what we want. This is a mistake. Through determination and learning the lessons from those who already walked the path, we can get closer to what we want in life and ultimately, arrive at the desired outcome.2022-05-2214 minChris & FriendsBully’s Suck!In this episode, shares his thoughts on bully’s (spoiler alert: he doesn’t like them!) and how one can overcome actions done to them by an unruly peer. In addition, he shares a study that found a magical antidote to being down in the dumps but you’ll have to watch to find out what it is! The audio of this episode is available on any major podcast listening platform!2022-05-2015 minChris & FriendsThere are no atheists when your child is sickIn episode 105, Chris discusses a recent health scare with his daughter, the difficulties of having a sick child and much, much more!2022-05-1519 minChris & FriendsBuilding Athleticism in a Younger PopulationIn this episode, I discuss ten fun and easy ways to build athleticism in the younger population. Every human being can be an athlete in one form or another. Qualities like strength, balance, and agility carry over to everyday life. If you want your child to be more active, this episode is for you!2022-05-1413 minChris & FriendsAn Ode to all the Mothers Out There!In this episode, Chris shares a story from one of his favorite books of all time Gates of Fire. In it, 300 Spartan men were assigned a mission that proved fatal. Prior to them leaving, one of the ladies asked the King why did he choose not only her husband but also her son. Why must she deal with the double burden of losing both men? He said I chose them because I knew you could handle it. Spartan society was built by strong women. They challenged their men to be better, raised strong children, and created a...2022-05-0604 minChris & FriendsInventing Anna & The PersonaThe persona is “a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual” -Carl Jung In this episode, Chris discusses the Netflix series Inventing Anna and how her life reminded him of a pro wrestling gimmick! In todays world, many of us focus on too much on societal norms, familial pressure, and other unrealistic standards. This is flawed. We must eliminate our focus on external judgment and shift our attention to the self.2022-05-0611 minChris & FriendsThe Cupcake ChroniclesIn this episode, Chris shares his weakness for cupcakes, creating positive reward systems in our children, the value in using a wearable device like Fitbit, and one crucial component in cardiovascular training: INTENSITY!2022-05-0118 minChris & FriendsYou Still Haven’t Met all the People Who are Going to Love YouIn this episode, Chris shares a personal story involving the loss of his older brother Ryan. Over the course of everyone’s life, they will encounter a hardship. They may lose of a loved one, have a sick child, get diagnosed with a terminal illness or worse. Chris believes it is our job as humans to share personal problems that we may have encountered in an effort to help others who may experience something similar in the future.2022-04-2821 minChris & FriendsThe One Guest that Never Leaves: Fat Cells!In this episode, Chris discusses the one thing that we all can’t stand: fat cells! Research out of Yale suggested once fat cells are in the body, they never go away. They can grow, they can shrink but they do not leave. Over the course of this episode, Chris gives you a few ways to prevent fat cells from appearing and the importance of keeping them at bay!2022-04-2520 minChris & Friends“Atleast I ain’t lead no hum-drum life”In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on country living, a rant on the book version of Forrest Gump, and a few valuable lessons he picked up along the way while reading the fictitious account of the man Forrest Gump!2022-04-2320 minChris & FriendsLessons from the OG in Education“Those who ignore the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them” -George Santayana In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the history of teaching, how those lessons apply to coaching, and why we neglect to remember successful methods from the past. It is as if everyone wants to reinvent the wheel but the wheel doesn’t need to be fixed.2022-04-1725 minChris & FriendsWhy Should You Workout? Because Your Life Matters!In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the biggest failure in the fitness industry, scary trends in the overweight/obese statistics, and the role of individual responsibility in regards to training adherence.2022-04-1514 minChris & FriendsLessons from the G.O.A.TIn episode 95, Chris discusses the book Coan: The Man, The Myth, The Method. For those that don’t know, Ed Coan may be the most dominant athlete that I have ever written about! Over the course of his career, there are a few central tenets that drove his success. These same tenets can help anybody better themselves in any field they desire. The first, ask yourself prior to any action, “Does this help or hinder my pursuit of the desired goal?” If it doesn’t, don’t do it! The second, consistent, regular practice o...2022-04-0617 min
What, So What, Now WhatWSWNW - German Elections with Dr Udo FluckDr Udo Fluck discusses the outcomes of the German elections, coalition building and why this matters to America.2021-10-2411 min