

Behind The Human with Marc Champagne
Marc Champagne
Unpacking the stories and mental fitness practices of people living at the top of their game personally and professionally.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 5, 2025 • 48min
Sacred Spaces for Modern Minds (Ft Michael Dellios)
What if the sanctuary you’re looking for is one you build with your own two hands?In this episode, I sit with Michael Dellios, artist, builder, and co-founder of Sip Saunas. From growing up on job sites with his father to becoming a lifelong entrepreneur, Michael shares how following his curiosity led him from advertising to furniture-making to creating spaces that restore health, connection, and presence.We dive into sauna culture, rituals that quiet the mind, and why creating sacred spaces—whether it’s a chair, a mug, or a sauna—can transform the way we live.This is a conversation about creativity, resilience, trusting your gut, and building not just structures, but experiences that last for generations.Timestamps:00:00 – Who is Michael Dellios? A beautifully imperfect human02:00 – The peace of building with your hands04:00 – Growing up with a builder father and learning artistry through design05:30 – The entrepreneurial journey: from grass-cutting to marketing to music to furniture07:00 – Feeling unfulfilled and searching for deeper meaning in work09:00 – The pivot: from psychotherapy dreams to building saunas11:00 – The first sauna project and the impact it had on community14:00 – Trusting your gut and finding clarity in silence18:00 – Building the first SIP sauna and commitment to sustainable materials22:00 – Saunas as ancestral sanctuaries: slowing down and reconnecting26:00 – Rituals with Lisa: breathwork, stretching, and sacred boundaries29:00 – Morning routines that rebaptize the mind daily31:00 – Handling anxiety, doubt, and the practice of dots forming a line36:00 – Practical advice for buying or building a sauna40:00 – The importance of testing saunas before investing42:00 – Creating sacred spaces beyond the sauna: chairs, mugs, and rituals44:00 – Vipassana, plant medicine, and new edges in mental fitness46:00 – The joy in everyday rituals and final reflections ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 28, 2025 • 48min
Repatterning the Brain: What Near-Death Taught Lisa Garr About Living Fully
What if a single accident could forever change the way you see life, fear, and possibility?In this powerful conversation, Lisa Garr—broadcaster, entrepreneur, and near-death experiencer—shares how a mountain biking crash opened a door to another dimension of awareness. From navigating memory loss and brain healing to building a career amplifying voices of transformation, Lisa reveals how imagination, intention, and perspective can unlock flow and possibility in all our lives.Timestamps:[00:01:00] The accident that changed everything—Lisa’s near-death experience and the pine tree lesson.[00:05:00] The fear that shut her voice down—and two years of recovery through meditation and neurofeedback.[00:12:00] Why imagination is the golden key to unlocking miracles.[00:17:00] Flow states, awareness, and how we can experience “near-death insights” without trauma.[00:23:00] Fear vs. presence: why fear only exists in the past and future.[00:25:00] The Bali story—helping a friend hover between worlds.[00:30:00] Discovering her service through broadcasting and healing frequency.[00:33:00] Kindness as the new normal: why these conversations shouldn’t be “woo-woo.”[00:41:00] Setting powerful intentions and finding alignment with new work and purpose.[00:45:00] Lisa’s non-negotiable: saying no, resting, and avoiding burnout.[00:47:00] Final reflections: perspective, imagination, and embracing possibilities. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 snips
Sep 21, 2025 • 45min
Human + AI: Unlocking the Next Era of Work and Connection (Ft Lamees Butt)
Lamees Butt, founder of Riser and startup builder, shares her journey from childhood Lego play to redefining hiring practices with AI. She candidly reflects on overcoming personal loss and addresses the confidence crisis many jobseekers face. Lamees discusses the importance of visualization and planning, along with practical tools for mental reset, such as spin classes and meditation. She emphasizes why cultural fit matters over skill and how Riser's innovative video hiring model fosters human connection in recruitment.

Sep 14, 2025 • 57min
Journaling as Inner Alchemy (Ft Oliver Mann)
What if the most honest conversation you’ll ever have is the one you write to yourself?Depression cycles, chasing highs, and the quiet power of contentment — Oliver Mann shares a practical journaling approach that actually creates change: Reveal → Reclaim → Rewrite, plus the underrated technique of dialogue writing (a Jung-inspired way to talk with parts of yourself) and why community turns a private practice into real-world transformation. We also explore “success compounds, mistakes disappear,” how to stop outsourcing self-worth, and why you don’t need perfect handwriting to heal.Show Notes00:00 – 03:15 · Who is Oliver? From cyclical depression to contentment; “success compounds, mistakes disappear.”03:16 – 05:45 · Catching yourself “hunting for highs” vs living from contentment; decoupling self-esteem from external validation.06:00 – 08:30 · Journaling as “self-interrogation” and why the medicine tastes sour before it helps.08:31 – 12:10 · What journaling isn’t: against “tick-box” diaries and mechanical gratitude.12:11 – 15:59 · Beyond polarization: journaling → self-awareness → empathy.16:00 – 19:30 · Jung’s psychological alchemy: blackening → whitening → “golding” → (redness).19:31 – 23:40 · The hard part: leaving dopamine insights for uncomfortable behavior change.23:41 – 31:30 · Owning dualities (greed and generosity); honest self-ownership without ego spin.31:31 – 41:00 · Reveal → Reclaim → Rewrite framework; curiosity prompts and rewriting with kindness.41:01 – 46:30 · Dialogue writing 101 (active imagination roots), set-up, and the “7 minutes of BS.”46:31 – 51:10 · Make journaling normal; building community (Barcelona Journaling Festival).51:11 – 55:59 · Spiral, not circle: process over “the one truth.” Close: be curious, be honest, be kind. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 7, 2025 • 42min
Stay Curious, Seek Joy: How Huckberry’s Kate West Builds Stories You Can Feel
What if your next great story isn’t scripted—it’s discovered? Director and storyteller Kate West (Huckberry Presents) takes us from the Beijing Paralympics to the mountains of Wyoming and into the making of Huckberry’s hit series “DIRT.” We unpack how breaking the fourth wall, leading with curiosity, and lacing scenes with “tidbits” of education keeps viewers glued to the screen—and inspires families (Marc’s included) to explore the world togetherShow Notes00:00 – Who is Kate West? Athlete, mom, storyteller, and the Huckberry Presents lead.01:00 – Origin story: Beijing Olympics and falling in love with Paralympic narratives.02:30 – Imposter syndrome, film in NYC, and choosing the brand route.04:00 – Brand storytelling vs. ads; why lifestyle matters more than slogans.05:00 – “Stay curious, seek joy”: the motto Kate shouts to her kids—and her crews.06:00 – Breaking the fourth wall and showing the crew: making BTS part of the story.07:00 – Joy as a production value; mental fitness and presence on set.08:00 – Creative bandwidth and nervous system management; perspective as a tool.10:00 – Why “DIRT” hits: family-friendly, human-first stories and authentic impact.11:45 – What Huckberry is, and how “DIRT” & “Shop Class” came to life.12:30 – The seed: Pacific Northwest adventures with Josh; food + nature + people.14:00 – Not Bourdain—on purpose: humility, hosts, and characters as the focus.16:00 – Script what you lived: post-shoot writing and place-based reflection.17:00 – Trusting subjects, rolling with surprises (goodbye horses, hello Mossy).20:00 – Food as universal connector; the “tidbits” method to keep watch-time high.21:00 – Most viewers watch on TV, not phones—why that changes the craft.24:00 – Asking boldly: access, case studies, and selling the vision early.25:00 – Quiet mind in nature (especially with kids) and the Teton reset.27:00 – Rituals by phase: exercise to spark words, calendar-blocking for flow.30:00 – Strategy in the morning; busywork in the afternoon (creative hygiene).31:00 – Teasers: Mexico, a domestic chapter, Europe—and six episodes next year.33:00 – Uncharted places (including Canada!) and traveling fast with a lean team.35:00 – What Kate’s mind needs now: resets and positive energy from all sides.40:00 – What makes her smile: the superpower of female friendships. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 31, 2025 • 50min
Premonitions, Paris Kitchens, and a B12 Breakthrough (Ft Vikki Krinsky)
When was the last time you got quiet enough to hear what your life is already telling you?What powers your best decisions—hustle or quiet? Chef-founder and former actor Vikki Krinsky shares how she turned premonition-level intuition, elite-client kitchen experience, and stubborn resilience into VK Bars, a clean B12 energy bar now landing in luxury hotels—without venture money. From a life-altering choice at 15 to follow her inner signal, to staging in Europe, to cooking for A-listers, to saying “no” to additives and “yes” to athletes, Vikki shows how to stack wins, slow down, and let feelings inform execution. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Vikki? “Fuel” as a life theme; movement, mind, and food as energy.02:00 – Immigrating S. Africa → Canada; early journaling; adversity shaping drive.04:30 – Premonitions as a kid; learning to nurture intuition.07:00 – Pivotal choice at 15: soccer scholarship dreams vs. TV pilot—listening to guidance.10:30 – Industry pressure to get “camera-ready”; shifting into nutrition & training.13:30 – Walking away from acting; backpacking to Paris; invited to stage in elite kitchens.18:00 – Self-taught path, asking for a shot in Swiss & Spanish kitchens.22:00 – Back to LA: Equinox → first celeb client; learning by doing (and owning mistakes).24:00 – Her real edge: empathy + energy with talent under body-image pressure.26:00 – Underpaid → create the VK Method → A-List Appetite food delivery.29:00 – Quiet practices: “staring at walls,” micro-pauses, best-case intention setting.37:00 – “Stack the wins” as fuel.38:00 – Cooking for Seth MacFarlane; caffeine problem → B12 exploration.40:00 – Prototyping energy bites on set; cold-calling manufacturers.41:00 – Everyone says “don’t do it” → she does it anyway; 2020 launch, pause, reformulate.42:00 – Clean label differentiators (rosemary as preservative; no “natural flavors”).43:00 – Door-to-door selling; wins with Four Seasons, Bel-Air, Rosewood; bootstrapping grit.45:00 – New nudge: fueling female athletes with real ingredients. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 24, 2025 • 50min
GOAT Redefined: How to Reach Your Greatest Health of All Time (Ft Tyler Smith)
What if the number that finally got you healthy wasn’t on a scale—but in your biological age?Entrepreneur Tyler Smith shares the gut‑punch test result that said he was “47” at age 39—and how that shock set him on a year‑long quest that became Hundred, a “doctor in your pocket” designed to meet people where they’re at and help them reach their G‑H‑O‑A‑T: greatest health of all time. We dig into baselines before willpower, killing the “sleep is a flex” myth, the power of 100‑day protocols, overcoming siloed health data, and how founders can win more days than they lose. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Tyler, really? Identity beyond the bio; “foodie in training” and restaurant lessons that became life skills.03:00 – Service, speed, problem‑solving. How restaurant work built his entrepreneurial operating system.08:00 – The biological‑age gut punch. “Sleep is irrelevant”… until the test says 47. Family history and motivation.13:00 – Step one: measure everything. Comprehensive bloodwork, genetics, VO₂ max, imaging—what was overkill vs. essential.16:00 – Habits start with evidence. Why baselines spark behavior change; simple first moves that compound.20:00 – Community + accountability. Walk-and-talks, food photos, and stacking small wins.29:00 – Fixing ‘sick care’ and silos. Bringing history, labs, wearables, and protocols into one place.30:00 – The G‑H‑O‑A‑T mission. Meet people where they’re at; a personal doctor in your pocket.37:00 – Why 100‑day protocols work. Supplements, nutrition, movement, and what you should feel by day 100.41:00 – Founder honesty. Sleep tradeoffs, team culture, and “win more days than you lose.”48:00 – Legacy question. What Tyler hopes his daughters say when he’s 47. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 17, 2025 • 48min
The Seeker’s Path: How Curiosity and Relentless Accountability Built One of the World’s Biggest Fitness Brands (Ft Carl Daikeler)
What if the biggest obstacle to your health isn’t lack of motivation—but lack of structure?I sit down with Carl Daikeler, the visionary behind Beachbody (now BODi), the billion-dollar fitness platform that revolutionized home workouts with programs like P90X. Carl shares the pivotal “this isn’t it” moment that changed his career trajectory, the early sparks that shaped his creative approach, and the simple yet powerful system he uses to stay consistent—especially when motivation runs out. We explore the magic of accountability groups, the hidden epidemic of loneliness, and why exercise is more than just physical—it’s the gateway to a longer, sharper, and more connected life. Whether you’re a fitness lover or a reluctant exerciser, Carl’s story will challenge you to rethink how you approach health, discipline, and community. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Carl Daikeler without the titles?01:00 – The creative upbringing that planted the seeds for BODi06:00 – Producing sports TV—and the halftime moment that changed everything09:00 – Discovering the world of infomercials and direct response marketing13:00 – The first spark of connected fitness15:00 – From Power 90 to P90X: Solving his own problems first18:00 – Why structured programs beat random workouts every time21:00 – The magic of doing a program with someone else23:00 – The accountability experiment that transformed a subscriber’s health25:00 – Tackling the loneliness epidemic through fitness groups26:00 – Four stats that can motivate anyone to start moving28:00 – The epiphany that changed Carl’s approach to daily exercise30:00 – Why your “why” matters more than willpower33:00 – Carl’s rituals, mental nutrition, and creative process37:00 – Cold plunges, cooking, and creating space for insights41:00 – The discipline of giving yourself space for ideas to land44:00 – Competing in a crowded industry and finding meaning in the work46:00 – The ripple effect of health and mindset improvements47:00 – Carl’s invitation to listeners: Don’t go it alone—invite others to join ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 10, 2025 • 49min
The Unspoken Medicine: Death, Rebirth, and the Space Between (Ft Hannah Blake)
What if death wasn’t something to fear, but a catalyst for your greatest transformation? Somatic practitioner, dancer, and poet Hannah Blake reunites with Marc to explore how we heal, evolve, and reconnect to the heartbeat of nature. They unpack the journey from performance to purpose, discuss the intelligence of the body, and the importance of death—physical, emotional, and egoic—as a portal to rebirth. Hannah shares her personal journey through burnout, Crohn’s disease, plant medicine, and community building in the Oregon forest. This episode dives into the intersection of somatic psychology, sacred ceremony, and the need for collective healing in a fractured world. Our first conversation can be found here. Show Notes 00:00 – Opening: Who is Hannah today? 02:00 – Revisiting their first conversation and Hannah’s core identity 05:00 – How a cultural dance trip changed her life path 07:00 – Healing Crohn’s and creating the SOM Maya method 10:00 – Dance as spiritual expression, not performance 12:00 – How Hannah blends somatics, plant medicine, and neuroplasticity 14:00 – Her 3-day healing format and care-first approach 16:00 – What burnout taught her about congruence and boundaries 18:00 – Using the body as a compass for truth and discernment 22:00 – Interoception: Noticing what the body knows 26:00 – “So much of our life is dying to our past” 28:00 – Ego death as a fertilizer for new life 31:00 – DMT, surrender, and being ready to die 34:00 – Rebuilding community and regenerative living 36:00 – A beautiful analogy from the Baha’i faith on life and rebirth 42:00 – The medicine of communal healing 45:00 – Closing reflections on questions, community, and legacy **** Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 3, 2025 • 47min
The Invisible Edge: From White Belt Curiosity to Black Belt Confidence (Ft Gina Tucci-Karnisovas)
What if the edge you’re searching for isn’t outside of you—but already within? I sit down with Gina Tucci-Karnisovas—mental strength coach and former competitive athlete—to explore the often-overlooked drivers of sustainable performance: breath, presence, visualization, and grounded confidence. Gina shares how embracing both “white belt curiosity” and “black belt strength” helped her navigate intense performance anxiety and how that mindset now shapes her work with elite athletes and high performers. We get into what real confidence looks like, how to stay calm under pressure, and why mental fitness is just as essential as physical training—if not more. Show Notes 00:00 – The “white belt” mindset: humility, curiosity, and reverence 03:00 – Martial arts, Stoicism, and her evolution into sports psychology 06:00 – Her mom’s legacy: breath, Pac-Man visualization, and mental resilience 10:00 – From performance anxiety to mental strength coaching 12:00 – Discovering breathwork and yoga as transformation tools 18:00 – Why elite athletes still struggle with confidence 20:00 – Breaking down grounded vs. naive confidence 24:00 – How to build confidence through evidence and habit stacking 28:00 – Why mental fitness in sports must come from the top down 32:00 – The stigma around vulnerability in pro sports 36:00 – Gina’s AM/PM bookend routines for mental clarity 40:00 – Mental nutrition: What’s feeding your mind? 45:00 – Reframing negative self-talk and the reps of daily life **** Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.