

RISING KINGS
RISING KINGS
Helping Men Level Up in Fitness, Family & Discipline. The RISING KINGS® Podcast is for men who refuse to settle. It’s for those who push themselves daily and want more from life - as a father, husband and high performance man. Hosted by Ben Salkeld - father, husband, and men’s performance leader - each episode delivers simple, direct strategies to help you reclaim your edge and lead with confidence.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 16, 2025 • 41min
Why Men Over 40 Should Think About Death (And How It Improves Life) - Ep #212
What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan? In this powerful episode, Ben is joined by long time guest Dino as they dive deep into how to stay grounded, resilient, and aligned—even when you’re forced off the path you thought you were meant to walk.They unpack how stillness, personal accountability, and following your inner compass can help you turn life's setbacks into sacred pivots. From saying “no” with clarity, to embracing personal charm and redefining masculine identity - to tackling the topic no one wants to talk about - death and why thinking about it can actually improve life. Connect with Dino:We Evolve Together Podcast Instagram FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jul 9, 2025 • 7min
The Silent Crisis Destroying High Performers (And How to Stop It) - Ep #211
Most high-performing men don’t crash because they’re lazy — they crash because they’re operating from an identity that no longer fits the life they’ve built.In this episode, Ben reveals the hidden force silently sabotaging men over 40 — a force more dangerous than burnout, and more common than you think. It’s called Identity Drift, and it's the real reason successful men feel stuck, disconnected, and off-course... even when everything looks fine from the outside.If your calendar is full but your soul feels flat — this episode will wake you up.You’ll discover:The 5 warning signs you’re drifting (and how they show up at work, at home, and in your own head)Why most productivity hacks and mindset shifts don’t stickThe “Have-More Trap” and how it keeps driven men stuck in a cycle of overworking and under-livingThe exact blueprint that’s helped 1,400+ founders, execs, and high-level men reclaim their clarity, energy, and edgeThis isn’t a motivational pep talk. It’s the mirror you’ve been avoiding.And it might just be the most important conversation of your decade.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jul 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
The Controversial Method That's Making Men Over 40 Dangerous Again - Ep #210
Why are high-performing men hitting a wall in their 40s? Why are so many silently struggling—with marriage, fatherhood, leadership, identity—and still pretending everything’s "fine"?In this powerful conversation between Dino from WeEvolv3 and RISING KINGS Founder Ben Salkeld, they unpack the transformative methodology that’s helping men reclaim clarity, edge, and purpose. This is the method men don’t talk about publicly... but can’t stop talking about once they’ve experienced it.Expect raw truth, shared challenges, and a no-BS conversation about what it really takes to lead your family, your business, and yourself as a man today. From emotional armor to burnout, lone wolf thinking to real brotherhood, this is the conversation high-performing men need to hear.Whether you’re a husband, a father, or simply a man who knows there’s more inside you waiting to be unlocked—this episode is your call to rise.What You'll Hear Inside ✅ Why most men tap out at 40% of their real potential ✅ The hidden cost of lone wolf leadership ✅ What happens inside CODE BLACK—and why it breaks men open (in the best way) ✅ Why clarity—not hustle—is the real gamechanger ✅ What makes RISING KINGS different from “just another” men’s group ✅ How to build a brotherhood that actually holds you accountableIf you're a man who refuses to settle—this is your edge. Your best years aren't behind you. They're just getting started.Connect with Dino: We Evolve Together | Podcast on SpotifyInstagram @weevolv3FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jun 25, 2025 • 9min
What No One Tells You About Fatherhood Over 40 - Ep #209
“Your kids don’t follow your words. They follow your energy.” If you’ve ever walked into your house and felt like a stranger to your own kids…If conversations feel forced, and deep down, you feel like you’re failing at the one job that truly matters… This is the episode you didn’t know you needed.You’ll discover:The 3 critical shifts every father over 40 must make to reconnect with their kids before it’s too lateWhy being the “nice guy” or the “drill sergeant” are both reactive — and both failing your kidsHow to stop leading with fear, and start showing up with clarity and presence.Why your state as a man is the thermostat for your entire householdWhether you’re successful in business but silently drifting at home, or you’re just tired of walking on eggshells around your teenager — this episode will give you a clear path forward.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jun 18, 2025 • 52min
[RE-RUN] The Episode That Woke Fathers Up Across the Country - Ep #208
This one hit hard for a reason…Back by demand, this is the episode that had fathers messaging us weeks later saying, “This changed how I show up as a man.”In this powerful conversation, RISING KINGS Founder Ben Salkeld sits down with long-time RK brother Ryan Baddock ("Bads") — a father, husband, and business owner who chose to rewrite his story.Inside this episode:✅ The real reason your kids are following your example, not your advice ✅ How to rebuild trust and connection when you’ve been emotionally distant ✅ What happens when you raise your standards—and never lower them again ✅ The cost of drifting through life as a man (and how Ryan turned it around)Whether you’re a father feeling stretched thin… a husband stuck in “function mode”… or a leader carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations — this is your wake-up call.Listen now and see why this episode continues to resonate with high-performing men ready to lead at home, not just at work.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jun 13, 2025 • 8min
Stuck in Life? You're Asking the Wrong Questions - Ask This 1 Instead - Ep # 207
Overwhelmed. Burnt out. Distracted. Most high-performing men think they have a productivity problem. But what if the real issue is identity?In this episode, Ben Salkeld breaks down why every productivity system fails the ambitious man who's lost sight of who he is — and the 1 question that cuts through the noise to bring focus, clarity, and control back fast.You’ll learn:✅ The hidden reason high achievers drown in pressure ✅ 3 types of questions killing your clarity and freedom ✅ How to use the Olympic “Boat Rule” to reclaim your calendar ✅ The real reason checklists and routines stop working ✅ Why drift happens — and how to stop it at the sourceThis isn’t about mindset hacks or waking up earlier.It’s about rewiring your identity so you become the man you promised yourself you’d be — in business, at home, and within.Whether you're:Working 12-hour days and still feeling behindTorn between building the business and being there for your familyStruggling to feel present no matter how hard you try...This will shift everything. Because if you’re sprinting up the wrong mountain, speed won’t save you. This 1 question will.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

Jun 4, 2025 • 7min
3 Hidden Habits That Destroy Marriages (And What to Do Instead) - Ep #206
The real reason your marriage feels stuck has nothing to do with communication, date nights, or intimacy. It runs deeper - into your identity as a man.In this episode, Ben reveals the three unconscious habits that quietly destroy marriages from the inside out - and what to do instead if you want to rebuild connection, respect, and desire without forcing your wife to “work on it too.”You'll discover:Why your marriage might be drifting and you don’t even know itThe habits of comparison, keeping score, and defensiveness — and how they show upHow your identity determines every fight, eye-roll, and silent dinnerThe truth about “trying harder” (and why it makes things worse)A new way to fix this at the root - without guilt, blame, or beggingIf you're a high-performing man who feels like a stranger in his own marriage, this might be your wake-up call. It’s not about doing more - it’s about becoming more aligned with the husband & partner you said you’d be.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

May 29, 2025 • 10min
EMPTY DISCIPLINE - Why Your Hard Work Isn't Paying Off – Ep #205
You're disciplined. You're productive. You're hitting every goal. So why do you still feel exhausted and empty?Here's the uncomfortable truth: Most high-performing men don't suffer from a lack of discipline—they suffer from Empty Discipline. It's productivity without purpose, hustle without clarity, and results without fulfillment.In this episode, Ben Salkeld reveals why traditional discipline advice falls short and shares the proven four-step framework (IDENTITY C.O.D.E.) used by over 3,000 successful men to escape the emptiness and finally align discipline with direction.You’ll learn:The hidden reason disciplined men feel disconnected at home.Why more hustle won't fix the emptiness (and what actually does).How to regain clarity, reconnect with your family, and restore true motivation.The four pillars (Clarity, Optimisation, Discipline, Engagement) that transform effort into meaningful results.Stop spinning your wheels. Discover what disciplined men like you are missing, and reclaim the purpose-driven life you’ve been chasing.Hit play to transform Empty Discipline into unstoppable clarity.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

May 21, 2025 • 9min
Identity Drift: Why Your Success Feels Empty - Ep #204
You built the business. You built the family. You ticked every box. But why does success still feel empty?What you're feeling isn't burnout or stress—it's Identity Drift.In this episode, Ben Salkeld exposes the hidden force silently pulling successful men away from fulfillment, connection, and genuine happiness.If you secretly wonder, “Why aren’t I happier after everything I’ve achieved?”—this is the answer you've been looking for.You'll Discover: ✅ The invisible cause behind empty wins and chronic exhaustion ✅ How Identity Drift silently erodes your marriage, family connection, and motivation ✅ The powerful CLARITY framework to immediately pinpoint your true direction ✅ A simple, proven system to reverse drift and regain your passion and presence ✅ Why productivity hacks and quick fixes always fail—and what to do insteadBrother, it's not about paddling harder—it's about paddling intentionally in the right direction.Ready to reclaim clarity, confidence, and connection? Press PLAY to reclaim your clarity and reconnect with what matters. FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast

May 14, 2025 • 6min
The Hidden Habit Keeping Successful Men Stuck - Ep #203
You built the life:The business. The family.The home.But somewhere along the way… you lost yourself.In this episode, Ben Salkeld reveals the unseen force quietly taking high-performing men off track: Identity Drift — and what you can do to stop it before it costs you what matters most. If you're doing everything right on paper… but still feel like something’s missing — this is the wake-up call.You’ll discover:✅ The real reason success feels flat (even when you’re winning) ✅ How Identity Drift steals presence, purpose, and connection ✅ 5 warning signs you’re drifting without knowing it ✅ A 3-minute tool to pinpoint how far off course you are ✅ The first step to realigning with who you’re meant to beThis isn’t burnout. This isn’t stress. It’s a silent disconnect from your identity — and it only gets worse if ignored.If you're tired of drifting… this episode gives you a paddle.FREE MIDLIFE DRIFT ASSESSMENT👉 https://www.risingkings.co/drift?podcast=PodcastTHE 9 WEEK RISING KINGS EXPERIENCE 👉 https://www.risingkings.co/rkx?podcast=Podcast