Strong By Design Podcast

Send us a textWhen you think of God or Jesus, what first comes to mind? Creator of the Universe, Son of God, Lord and Savior, Holy Spirit… possibly Father and Son? These are all good things and certainly true however it’s not the only way He wants us to think of Him. How about friend? Having a healthy relationship with God is also about friendship and companionship. Experiencing each other as friends do every day. The feelings associated with friendship are powerful and very real for us… and they should be with the Creator and Sustainer of life. Today on Strong By Design, host Jared Haley speaks with his friend, Dave Powers, a brilliant singer and songwriter from the Denver area who has a deep connection with the Holy Spirit.   “God gave you one mouth and two ears so you can listen twice as much as you talk.” -- Dave Powers   Time Stamps 0:53 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast 03:45 - Get to know today’s special guest, Dave Powers 11:42 – Discover the preparations Dave made to hear God’s voice 21:37 – Dave shares his conversation with God 25:51 – Dave on what does it mean to be friends with Jesus, and what does that friendship look like 34:02 – The power of talking to Jesus through prayer 46:35 – Dave on developing an intimate relationship with Jesus 59:55 – Dave’s words of encouragement to those who want to grow a friendship with Jesus    Resources: Mountain City Worship and the Word Rolig: Ambient Music   Connect w/ Dave: Facebook Instagram   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text Everyone longs for a hero to save the day and most people all over the world love a good Superhero movie.  So then, what are the characteristics we associate with a hero that make them so powerful and amazing?  Well, heroes are brave, courageous, strong, and fearless.   Yes, those are great but what about this list of attributes… loving, compassionate, truthful, devoted, humble, meek, patient and oh yes, sacrificing.  While the first list gets the attention at the box office, the second list is the foundation of any great Superhero at his or her core.  And those attributes are also associated with the ultimate hero, Jesus of Nazareth. He is often the star of the movie, whether people realize it or not.  In his 3rd time on the Strong By Design podcast show, Frank Turek shares his insights about his latest book, Hollywood Heroes with host Chris Wilson.    “We all want to have a hero come in and save us and take us to a place of bliss… That’s what Jesus actually does.” - Frank Turek    Time Stamps   01:01 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  03:02 – Meet Frank Turek, speaker and award-winning author  05:30 – Frank discusses his new book, ‘Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God’  12:40 – Captain America vs. Iron Man: Discover their respective unique characteristics and how it relates to Jesus  20:50 – Frank reveals how Harry Potter points to the ultimate hero, Jesus  27:53 – Frank deep dives into the Star Wars saga Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text Most people will never run 26.2 miles. Only a very small percentage of the population are willing to push themselves to that extreme level of endurance.  Not only is that distance intimidating physically, the mental demand may be even more jaw dropping for any aspiring competitive athletes.  Today’s guest, Dave Frazier, is a longtime friend of SBD host, Jared Haley, and shares some sound advice when it comes to taking control of your health and training for the world’s most popular foot race, a marathon.    "The key is to just go slower… If you feel like 'ugh, I’m not just gonna make it' -- you're either going too fast or you've been going so long that you need some fuel to keep going."- Dave Frazier    Time Stamps   0:40 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  01:26 – Get to know today’s special guest, Dave Frazier  06:36 – Dave shares the major changes he made in his diet and nutrition  10:21 – Importance of having a healthy relationship with food  12:00 – Dave recounts his journey toward fitness  17:40 – What training for a marathon looks like  26:47 – The importance of proper nutrition, hydration, and following a training plan  34:17 – Dave talks about lessons learned from the new marathon training plan  42:29 – Discover the challenges he faces as a marathon runnerStart the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text  God says over and over again.  Fear not!  Do not be afraid.  Be strong and courageous.  Trust me.    Why?  Fear doesn’t seem like the most serious of vices, it’s not one of the 7 deadly sins, nor is it the object of church discipline.  So why does God tell us to stop being afraid more often than he tells us anything else?    It’s not to spare us from emotional discomfort.  Rather it is because fear sabotages flourishing.  Fear keeps us from following God wholeheartedly.  As John Orberg says, “Fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do.”    Today on the Strong By Design podcast show, host Mike Westerdal sits down with friend and pastor of Skycrest Community Church, Chris Stephens, to discuss the topic of fear and the impact on flourishing.    "Failure is essential because there are some lessons we are not going to learn if we don’t fail... So don’t be paralyzed in fear of making the wrong decision.” - Pastor Chris Stephens      Time Stamps   00:00 – Choosing courage over fear  01:22 - Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  01:45 – Get to know today’s special guest, Pastor Chris Stephens  06:44 – Pastor Chris on what does the Bible mean when it tells us to FEAR NOT  11:58 – The power of decisiveness  15:20 – Pastor Chris dives deep into the types of fear  26:29 – What to do when fear interferes?  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text  Ever wish you had more time to get stuff done?  Time is a constant… the one thing we all get the same amount of each day no matter our level of success, wealth or determination to GSD.  And for many, the feelings of overwhelm and anxiety has reached an all time due to the increasing speed of life. So, what can we do?  In today’s episode, host Chris Wilson discusses the many strategies we can all apply in our lives to create more time, live our best lives and slow down time. (Insights based on an article he recently read).    "I wish we could just press a giant red button and press pause to get done what's in front of us so that we could be prepared for the stuff that's coming."  -Chris Wilson    Time Stamps   00:00 – Do you wish time would slow down?  00:52 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  05:12 – Host Chris Wilson gives tips on how to slow down time  11:02 – Why time slows down when you’re traveling  13:43 – The power of breaking down your goals into manageable pieces  18:18 – Why are new experiences important to our lives?  22:28 – The magic of enjoying the sound of silence  24:40 - Chris on how journaling prompts to slow down time  29:38 – Why it’s important to capture those special moments  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text One thing is for sure, we are all designed differently.  The definition of temperament: a person’s or animal’s nature, especially as it permanently affects their behavior.  In this façade-removing episode of the Strong By Design podcast show, guest Jared Haley and host Chris Wilson discuss what Jared refers to as the BIG ugly: Who we actually are and who we portray ourselves to be in the world.  Both guys reveal their personal Enneagram test results and take a closer look at how to truly know ourselves on a deeper level and understand that God designed us all with a plan and a purpose…     "As you learn about yourself, you learn what your weaknesses and strengths are so that you can develop and get better, and not so you can use it as an excuse." - Jared Haley    Time Stamps   01:09 - Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  05:10 – Temperament: What is it and why it’s important to know your personality type  10:44 – Jared Haley and Chris Wilson on building better relationships by understanding personality types  16:38 – The Enneagram Personality Test: Jared and Chris talk about their experience  20:19 – Jared and Chris share the results of the Enneagram test  26:26 – Discover the 9 Enneagram personality types  34:28 – Advantages and disadvantages of learning your personality type  36:22 – Jared and Chris on our reactions towards others in stressful times  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text  From where we stand, things can "appear" to look better off in the distance.    The famous saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ is often referred to by people pursuing interests other than the ones they’re currently involved with.   However, in reality it’s more like the other famous phrase that goes like this, ‘good from afar but far from good’.   Honestly, how well do we really know other people's stuff? Most people post their highlight reel life and not the day-to-day grind and frustrations but the image they want others to see.    The grass from afar looks perfect, green and full.  However, when you examine it up close you realize it's not so perfect, it's flawed, needs weeding, has dry patches and needs to be cared for just the same as the grass you're standing in.    Remember, the enemy wants us looking backwards... but we are called to look to the present and the future. So, take care of the grass where you are and spend time focused on it.    "The windshield is much larger than the rear window for a reason. Why? Because we need to see where we are headed, more than we need to see where we've been." - Chris Wilson    Time Stamps   00:41 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast 4:29 – Is the grass REALLY greener on the other side?  06:57 – Host Chris Wilson explores why do we compare ourselves to others 10:20 – What does the Bible say about the 'Grass is Greener" syndrome?  14:57 – The importance of living in the moment  16:14 – Chris on why you should focus on your own grassStart the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text  “Real heroes are all around us. They face challenges with fear and grace.” Our special guest today on the Strong By Design podcast show is the embodiment of selflessness, courage, faith, and inspiration.    “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” (Maya Angelou) Matthew Miller, also affectionately known as Superman, shares how God prepared him to do something BRAVE and HEROIC for the sister he prayed God would provide when he was a young boy. His story is inspiring, touching, and educational.    Matt’s incredible story paints a beautiful picture of how God placed him on this earth to accomplish many tasks. One such task was to save his sister. God was developing him for a long time for a unique calling. When God calls, He fully equips you to accomplish His work and will for your life.    You are in for a real treat as Jo Miller interviews her hero and husband Superman. We hope and pray you learn a lot, enjoy the episode, share the podcast, and give it a 5-star review. Thank you for your support.    "She’s family, and I feel so blessed to have been in a position where we didn’t have to have her on the list and wait for months or years, hoping we could find a kidney.”- Matt 'Superman' Miller    Time Stamps   01:20 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  02:41 - Get to know today’s special guest, Matt 'Superman' Miller  06:53 – Matt recalls his first meeting with his wife, Jo Miller  11:33 – What was life like for Matt before the kidney donation  20:03 – Matt shares his experience of the kidney donation process  25:28 – The emotional and mental health support before the surgery  27:35 – What makes hStart the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text What is passion? And are you living a passion filled life?  For our team here at Critical Bench we define passion this way… Passion is a deep love of who we are, what we do and who we serve.  It is one of our 7 core values that guides us, leads us and creates the foundation for our purpose at work and in the world.  Another important question to explore is, “Are you a slave to your work?”   In this episode on SBD, coach Chris Wilson passionately discusses these questions and more based on an article he recently read in Forbes. Remember, you are not a robot, you were designed for greatness and passion is one of the keys to unlocking it.    "When passion is fueling what you do, you will naturally outwork and outlast your competitors." - Chris Wilson    Time Stamps   00:00 – From TGIF to TGIM: Start looking forward to Monday  00:41 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast  4:04 – Host Chris Wilson recounts the creation of the company’s core values  09:06 – Why PASSION is the key to success  14:12 – Do you lose yourself in your work?  17:20 – How PASSION sets you apart from your competitors  25:01 – Discover the 7 Keys to be ‘Strong By Design’  26:02 – How can you identify your passion?  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textIs all of the worry, tension and stress of life festering inside your body? How do we manage our emotional state from one day to the next?  Without establishing healthy outlets to rid yourself of the anxiety of life you will spend your time treading water and fighting for air. Never happy, never content.   Today on SBD coach Chris Wilson talks about the necessity of finding positive ways to deal with the stressors in life. Simple things all people can do to infuse joy and purpose in their lives.  We must discover beneficial habits and routines that can revitalize us while squashing anxiety and worry. Chris covers 15 of his favorite life-giving ways to handle stress.    "I think a lot of us let things overlap and we do a bad job of cutting things off... We let our work life interfere with our personal life." - Chris Wilson      Time Stamps   00:52 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast 2:01 – The importance of understanding and managing life’s stressors 5:09 – Discover the healthy ways to FIGHT stress and anxiety 7:13 – The power of walking 11:10 – Why it helps to put your feelings into words 17:42 – Coach Chris on releasing stress through the power of music, podcasts & audio books 20:00 – The importance of setting boundaries between work and personal life 23:55 – Why date nights matter 31:03 – Coach Chris on how does spending time with your partner reduce stress 33:23 – The power of deep breathing 35:27 – The value in mentoring young kids 37:27 – The importance of planning in life     Connect w/ Chris:  Facebook  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com