The Art of Manliness

First responders and members of the military have physically and mentally demanding jobs. To tackle those jobs effectively, they need to be in shape physically and mentally. But most first responders have erratic schedules that make working out difficult, so that many don’t, and consequently suffer from injuries and poor health. My guest today is a former Navy SEAL on a mission to solve that problem. His name is Adam La Reau, and he's the founder of O2X, an organization dedicated to training tactical athletes.Adam walks us through the unique challenges soldiers and first responders have when it comes to physical fitness and explains his philosophy on training “tactical athletes.” We then discuss insights civilians can take away from how first responders train, including making time for working out on an erratic schedule, managing stress, and making recovery a priority.We end our conversation discussing the other organization Adam founded called One Summit, which pairs children who have cancer with a Navy SEAL mentor who helps the kids gain greater resilience through rock climbing.Get the show notes and resources at aom.is/O2X.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the United States. It’s a holiday dedicated to gratitude, and one in which we often trot out expressions of thankfulness.But how much is gratitude a part of our lives the other 364 days of the year? And even when we do think about gratitude at other times, does it admittedly often take a fairly superficial and fleeting form?On today’s show, we’re exploring the deeper, "harder" side of gratitude with my guest, Dr. Robert Emmons. Robert is a bona fide expert in his field -- a professor of psychology at the University of California Davis who pioneered much of the research on the science of gratitude. Robert explains what gratitude is, its benefits, and how to cultivate more of it in our lives. He also shares why much of the content out there about gratitude is what he calls “gratitude lite,” and he makes the case that we need to see gratitude as the ancients saw it—as a human virtue that requires a lifetime of intentional cultivation. We then explore the myths of gratitude out there, like the idea that counting your blessings can make you complacent. We end our show with some suggestions on how to nurture your gratitude daily, including some specific ideas to try on Thanksgiving.Get the show notes at aom.is/gratitude.

Your time on earth is finite and once you use it up, it's gone forever. Thus on the AoM podcast, we talk a lot about how to maximize your time -- how to use it more effectively to be more productive. But is it possible to be too concerned about managing your time? Should you also make space for chucking out all the to-do lists and schedules and just being kind of idle?My guest would say yes. His name is Alan Lightman, he’s a physicist and writer, and the author of the book In Praise of Wasting Time. Today on the show Alan forwards the sort of countercultural argument that intentionally wasting time isn't a vice but a virtue. We begin our conversation by discussing what Alan means by wasting time, and then get into how wasting time benefits our psyches, creativity, sense of mental self-reliance, and even, ironically enough, our productivity. We end our conversation discussing the difference between chronos time and kairos time, and how wasting time allows us to spend more time in the latter state.Get the show notes at aom.is/wastingtime.

The podcast features Craig Groeschel, founder of Life.Church, discussing leadership insights like balancing innovation with stability, relinquishing control for growth, and showing appreciation to team members. He also shares tips on work-life balance, avoiding administrative duties killing creativity, and handling criticism.

Experts debunk myths about spotting athletic talent in children and the effectiveness of specialized coaching. They emphasize the importance of diverse sports participation, engaging training practices, and strategic communication between parents and young athletes in achieving success in sports.

How you start something is often how you finish it, and that couldn't be truer than for the trajectory of each of your days. When your mornings feel chaotic, rushed, and fragmented, the rest of your day often does too. But when you start off with a centering, invigorating morning routine, that feeling follows you the rest of the day.If you've been wanting to improve or simply start your own morning routine, then this episode is for you. My guest is Benjamin Spall and he’s the co-author of the book My Morning Routine, which shares insights taken from the morning routines of dozens of entrepreneurs, leaders, and creative folks.On today’s show, Benjamin walks us through how to craft the perfect morning routine, including how to make time for it in your schedule, what activities to include, and how a successful morning routine starts with what you do the night before. We also discuss how to adjust your morning routine while traveling and when you have kids. Along the way, Benjamin gives us a peek at the morning routines of several influential people to give us some inspiration for our own routines.Lots of actionable advice in this episode on creating a morning routine that works for you and sets you up for a productive day. After the show is over, get the notes at aom.is/morningroutine.

Professional magician Nate Staniforth shares his journey into magic, becoming disillusioned, and rediscovering wonder in India. He talks about the transformative power of travel and the importance of finding enchantment in everyday life.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses the leadership traits of US presidents who navigated crises. She explores their ambition, personal setbacks, and unique skills during turbulent times. Are great leaders born or made? Dive into the makings of impactful leaders in this insightful conversation.

Daniel Modell, a former NYPD officer with a Master's in philosophy, discusses the essence of being a warrior. He shares insights on the lessons of Spartacus, the necessity of violence for peace, and the importance of leadership over bureaucracy. Modell emphasizes that civilians also need to understand the way of the warrior.

Author Neal Bascomb discusses the audacious prison break attempts of British POWs in WWI, highlighting their daring escape plans and the conditions they faced in German camps. He talks about Germany's infamous POW camp, the prisoners' elaborate breakout plan, and the heroic exploits of these men. A fascinating look at a slice of history.