Today’s guest is Louisa Nicola. She is a trained clinical neuroscientist, the founder of Neuro Athletics and works one on one with professional NBA, MLS and NFL players to enhance peak brain performance.    I am not sure which is more inspiring: her wealth of knowledge and expertise or her incredible story. Louisa grew up training competitively as a triathlete in Australia.  One day while she was on her bike training for the triathlon world championship, a car struck her leaving her knee ruptured and shattering her dreams of competing. She was told by a doctor that she would never walk again.  But that didn’t stop her from making a comeback. Louisa ended up crossing paths with a special mentor that taught her the importance of the mind-body connection. This ultimately changed her life and gave her the superpower to not only walk again, but to compete again.    We go in depth about this extraordinary accomplishment and how it set the tone for the work she does today as a neuroscientist. Louisa and I have a detailed conversation on managing emotions, fear, stress and the entire nervous system. What you will learn is that the biggest trick to coping with all of these things is optimizing how you sleep. She shares some shocking information on the negative impacts of poor sleep including how it affects your memory, emotions, immune system, and genetics.  It can even alter your brain. But don’t worry, she also shares practical tips that you can do to improve your sleep as well as some innovative ways to train your mind, thrive under pressure and much more!   Topics discussed:   Louisa's incredible backstory and how she survived a near death accident    How she recovered and was able to compete at triathlon world championship    Managing stress, emotions and nervous system   Embracing fear   Why sleep is so important for physical, mental and emotional health   What qualifies as good sleep?   The dangers of poor sleep   How to optimize and improve sleep   Innovative ways to train the mind    Connect with Louisa:   Website: https://www.neuroathletics.com.au/founder-bio   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thediamondboss_/?hl=en   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louisanicola/   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188     More on Earth Echo Foods/Cacao Bliss:   www.earthechofoods.com/dougbopst   Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 15% off your order   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many aspects of our daily lives depend on our outlook and mindset. How do you respond to challenges, mistakes and negative situations? Do you view them as problems or opportunities? Do you let your adversities define your life? Do you pass up opportunities out of fear of failing?   My guest on today's episode Glenn Stearns believes you should use failure and adversity as a catalyst for change and not a reason to quit.    Glenn was born to alcoholic parents, diagnosed dyslexic, and failed 4th grade. He became a father at age 14 and graduated high school in the bottom ten-percent of his class. A major turning point of his life came after finishing  college when he decided to take his destiny in his own hands following another night of partying. Ironically, he made this choice at a local bar that I used to frequent back in the day in Towson, MD.    He then moved to California in search of opportunities to rise above his humble beginnings.   At 25, after working as a loan officer for 10 months, Glenn formed his own mortgage company, Stearns Lending LLC. By 2010, Stearns Lending LLC reached nearly $1 billion in monthly funded loan volume while experiencing record growth. Stearns not only survived the 2008 mortgage-lending crisis, it emerged as one of the top lenders in the country. Since 2010, Stearns Lending LLC has funded over 30-billion dollars in loans. In 2015, Glenn sold a majority of Stearns Lending to Blackstone and embarked on a hiatus with his family on his yacht. You would think that things would be “smooth sailing” from this point on. However, the tides turned and Glenn faced another major storm, cancer, which he beat twice. This coupled with an innate hunger to reinvent himself again was the inspiration for the show “Undercover Billionaire” in 2019. In the subsequent seasons that followed, Glenn has remained on board as an advisor and executive producer and now has started yet another mortgage company with his wife Mindy which we talk about.   Glenn shares his entrepreneurial journey, how he built one of the most successful mortgage companies in an industry that is highly competitive. He reveals some secrets that can apply to anyone who’s interested in becoming resilient in the thick of uncertainty.  We also talk about his story of cancer survival, why you shouldn’t solely chase money, and why he wasn’t happy when he sold his company.   Topics Discussed   Glenn's life before California   How Glenn was inspired to start his own company and how he did it   Weathering the stormy '2008' financial crisis and how it applies to today's struggles   Glenn's advice to those on the verge of despair and how to build resilience   How Glenn fought cancer twice and the lessons learned from it   How the hit show "Undercover Billionaire" got started   What keeps Glenn inspired and "hungry"   Why you shouldn't solely chase money   Glenn's hacks to building a sustainable business   GLENN'S HACK TO BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Success is not overnight. Quit chasing after materialism and focus on building a strong organization and quality leadership. Figure out what your goal is and never be in a haste to get to your destination or put a deadline on your success. Enjoy every moment you have to build and grow. It's not about having your game plan all mapped and then freaking out when it doesn't go as planned because it won't. It's about being a problem solver. That's what you are as an entrepreneur.   Takeaways   When faced with life's challenges, understand that 'This too shall pass.' Nothing stays constant, not even crisis.   If you must build a sustainable business, surround yourself with great people of like interest and passion. Learn to communicate at the verge of despair.   Prioritize family. Make sure they're happy because there's a lot more currency than money. There's happiness currency, health currency and there's joy currency.   Connect with Glenn:   Website: http://www.glennstearns.com   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlennBStearns/   Watch "Undercover Billionaire" on Discovery:   https://www.discovery.com/shows/undercover-billionaire   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188   More on Legion Athletics:   buylegion.com/doug and use code "Doug" at checkout for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've Been Brain Washed, Here's How to Fix It!!!   Today you will finally find out why you continue to make choices that aren’t aligned with your goals and the person you want to become in the future. What I believe you will discover after listening to this is that you’ve been “brain washed.” I don’t mean this necessary in a manipulative way. It’s more or less referring to the pivotal role your environment plays in all areas of your health. It also is closely related to our ability to make decisions, fight inflammation, build meaningful relationships, and manage stress.   Father and son duo, Dr.’s David and Austin Perlmutter join me on the show today. Dr. David Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and five-time New York Times bestselling author. He serves on the Board of Directors and is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.   Dr. Perlmutter received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine where he was awarded the Leonard G. Rowntree Research Award. He serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition. Austin Perlmutter, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician and New York Times bestselling author. He received his medical degree from the University of Miami and completed his internal medicine residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Austin’s focus is on helping others to improve decision-making and quality of life. He is also interested in methods of understanding and reducing burnout in the medical field.   Ultimately, they are both here to help you understand where this massive disconnect between our goals and our decisions stems from and how your brain is being trained to behave impulsively based on environmental patterns, habits, and the daily choices that we make. The good news is that we talk about the path forward so that you can begin to rewire your brain to make better decisions, achieve your goals, optimize your health and become the best version of yourself.    Topics discussed:    Environmental factors that impact decision making   The role of neuroplasticity and how it influences our choices   How social media and technology affect brain health, cognitive function, relationships and stress   Can we use technology in a healthy way?   Implementing the acronym "T.I.M.E." when it comes to assessing social media and technology use   How empathy improves our health and brain function   Why do we make impulsive decisions?   How things like inflammation and nutrition influence all areas of our health   The path forward so that you can rewire your brain to strengthen relationships, reduce stress, improve your health and become the best version of yourself (including a 10 day bootcamp).       Connect with Dr. David Perlmutter:    Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidPerlmutterMd   Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidperlmutter   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ADavid+Perlmutter+MD&s=relevancerank&text=David+Perlmutter+MD&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1   Connect with Dr. Austin Perlmutter:    Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/austin-perlmutter-bio/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinperlmutter/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinperlmuttermd/   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Wash-Thinking-Relationships-Happiness/dp/0316453323/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1618453199&refinements=p_27%3AAustin+Perlmutter+MD&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Austin+Perlmutter+MD   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188     More on Earth Echo Foods/Cacao Bliss:   www.earthechofoods.com/dougbopst     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take These Steps To Develop a Miracle Mentality, Believe in Yourself, and Make a Comeback!!!   More often than not, what holds you back isn’t the obstacle or setback itself, it’s the lack of belief in yourself to overcome it.   With that said, this podcast is going to give you the exact steps needed to get you through hard times, develop belief and confidence in yourself and create the ultimate comeback.    My guest today is Tim Storey. Tim is an author, pastor, speaker, and renowned life coach and is known for inspiring and motivating people from all walks of life. In the course of his 30 years as “The Comeback Coach”, Tim has helped countless people including well known creators like Robert Downey Jr., Kanye West, Quincy Jones and so many more.   Today we discuss things like how to develop a “miracle mentality” so that you can get through the toughest of times and achieve anything you want in life. We talk about what you can do to help yourself when you are spiraling downward and not exacerbate the situation. Tim shares the importance of having well defined principles and a purpose as well as the role they play in helping you get through life’s challenges.   Our conversation also takes a deep dive into the topic of one’s inner circle and what to do with those people that no longer add value to your life. Essentially, this episode contains a wonderful combination of motivation, inspiration and game changing advice to help you use adversity to your advantage and become your best self.   Topics discussed:    Staying grounded in Faith during the good and bad times   Tim's insights on Purpose and Principles   Why it's not the problem that breaks us, it's our response to it   What you can do to help yourself when you are spiraling downward and not exacerbate the situation   Tim's thoughts on the "miracle mentality" and where it comes from   What disrupts the "miracle mentality"   Different states of life that we can end up living in: mundane, messy and madness   Steps that you can take to embrace the "miracle mentality" during times of struggle   A deep dive into the topic of one’s inner circle and what to do with those people that no longer add value to your life     Connect with Tim:    Website: www.timstorey.com   Instagram: www.instagram.com/timstoreyofficial   Buy Tim's new book "The Miracle Mentality" here:   https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Mentality-Source-Magical-Transformation/dp/0785236724   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188   Our sponsors:   Earth Echo Foods/Cacao Bliss:   www.earthechofoods.com/dougbopst   Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 15% off your order   Legion Athletics:   buylegion.com/doug and use code "Doug" at checkout for 20% off     Athletic Greens:    www.athleticgreens.com/doug to get your free year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs!   My Go To Electrolyte Drink     Drink LMNT replaces essential electrolytes with no sugar, no coloring, no artificial ingredients, or any other junk. As a member of our community, you can a free LMNT Sample Pack to try all of their flavors through this link: DrinkLMNT.com/DougBopst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Blueprint to an Effective and Sustainable Workout Program!!!   There is a lot of noise in the fitness industry about what works best with regard to weight loss, muscle building, and transformation. There are so many different workout programs, cleanses, and information that it can be challenging to decipher between what actually works long term and what doesn’t    With that said, I wanted to have a conversation with someone that is one of the most knowledgable, respected, and successful experts in this space. Today’s guest is Mike Matthews. Mike is the best selling author of books like “Bigger Leaner Stronger” and "Thinner Leaner Stronger." He is also the host of the "Muscle for Life Podcast" and founder of the #1 best-selling all-natural sports supplement brand, Legion athletics.   More importantly, Mike is a “go to” for all things muscle building, fat loss, and body transformation having helped tens of thousands of people change their lives via health and fitness. Check out his IG page for some of these before and after photos. It’s quite inspirational. Believe it or not, most of his clientele is the normal everyday person who is “unfit” and looking to become “fit” that doesn’t have hours upon hours to spend at the gym everyday. So if you are that person who is struggling to get started, keep “starting and stopping,” have hit a plateau, or just looking to up your fitness game then this episode is for you.   This episode is going to provide you the blueprint for a workout program that is effective, sustainable and help you create the ultimate health transformation.    We chat about the staples that are necessary for a successful fitness program that includes what to eat, what to do in the gym and the importance of protein. Mike and I discuss other things like how to not fall into the trap of making your body an idol or your identity, how to break through a plateau and how much time is REALLY necessary to spend in the gym to get results and how to maximize it.   We chat about the staples that are necessary for a successful fitness program that includes what to eat, what to do in the gym and the importance of protein. Mike and I discuss other things like how to not fall into the trap of making your body an idol or your identity, how to break through a plateau and how much time is REALLY necessary to spend in the gym to get results and how to maximize it. We also talk about why he thinks so many people quit on themselves and more!    Topics discussed:    The common themes of successful health transformations   What to eat to optimize your health and body   How to allocate time in the gym and what to do   How much cardio is necessary?    How to get started if you "start and stop" often   Why is protein is so important?   Why starting small leads to big changes   How to not create an identity around your body   Why people quit on themselves so soon   The importance of results   Connect with Mike:   Website: https://legionathletics.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muscleforlifefitness/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muscleforlifefitness   Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/muscle-for-life-with-mike-matthews/id671863400   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188     More on Earth Echo Foods/Cacao Bliss:   www.earthechofoods.com/dougbopst   Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 15% off your order       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Nation That's Being Held Hostage By Addiction!!!   Today’s episode is not only timely but truly one of the most impactful and informative conversations that I’ve ever had. The topic is one that is near and dear to my heart and the hearts of many.    Why you may ask?   Because we are talking about addiction and why and how our nation being held hostage by it.    Do you think I am kidding?    A recent CDC study stated that between May 2019 and May 2020 there were over 81,000 drug overdose deaths.  My fear is that these numbers will continue to climb in the next coming year. It is also estimated that 1500 kids per day will try taking prescription drugs for the first time to get high.   If you are the parent, relative, friend or spouse of somebody that could be struggling with addiction, you’re probably asking yourself a lot of questions.    What do I do? How will I know? How do I find a good rehab? What if they don’t listen to me? What about pot? Do I just kick them out? How do I get them to be honest with me?   Here is some good news. Today we are going to answer these questions. On the show today, I have Heather Hayes, one of the most highly respected and prominent authorities in the addiction field. She has over 30 years of experience as an interventionist and has completed over 3000 interventions.  95% of these have ended with the subject agreeing to go to treatment.    You may recognize her from A&E’s hit show “Intervention” where she was a featured interventionist in 2018 and 2019 or from her appearances on Dr. Oz, CNN and other media. Did I forget to mention that she’s also a trained hostage negotiator?   During our in depth discussion, Hayes provides step by step instructions on how to know if someone is suffering from addiction and how to ask the right questions. We cover how to support someone in recovery, how to deal with the trauma, shame and guilt of being a parent of an addicted child and how to have conversations about drugs.  We talk about boundaries, tough love and enabling.   She’ll reveal what she is seeing on the front lines regarding what types of drugs are most popular as well as the staggering statistics the country is facing.   We also take a deep dive into cannabis and whether kids should be smoking it.  Does it help with anxiety and is it a successful form of harm reduction?   Finally, Hayes explains how to find the right treatment center and what she thinks is the solution to this massive problem we are facing.     Topics discussed:   Why addiction is very similar to a hostage situation and also potentially more complicated.    Heather's background and what sets her apart    How to know if someone is struggling with addiction and how to ask the right questions   How do you support someone in recovery?   How do you deal with the trauma, shame and guilt of being a parent of an addicted child and how to have conversations about drugs?   Boundaries, tough love and enabling   What she is seeing on the front lines   The staggering statistics that the country is facing   We take a deep dive into cannabis   Should kids be smoking cannabis?   Does it help with anxiety and is it a successful form of harm reduction?   How to find the right treatment center   What does Heather think the solution is?   Connect with Heather:    Website : https://www.heatherhayes.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherrhayes/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRHayesInc   Connect with Doug:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188   Our sponsors:   Earth Echo Foods/Cacao Bliss:   www.earthechofoods.com/dougbopst   Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 15% off your order   Legion Athletics:   buylegion.com/doug and use code "Doug" at checkout for 20% off     Athletic Greens:    www.athleticgreens.com/doug to get your free year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs!   My Go To Electrolyte Drink     Drink LMNT replaces essential electrolytes with no sugar, no coloring, no artificial ingredients, or any other junk. As a member of our community, you can a free LMNT Sample Pack to try all of their flavors through this link: DrinkLMNT.com/DougBopst   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Easter! I am wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday and hope you are spending it with those that you love either in person or virtually.  For those that aren’t celebrating, I am wishing you a day full of peace, love, and happiness as well. We have a “special episode” today. Traditionally, I don’t release three episodes per week. But, given the context of this particular conversation and how it relates to Easter, I thought it would only be fitting to release it today.   Many of you will recognize my guest because he is one of the most accomplished college football coaches of our lifetime.  Today we dive into parts of his journey that you may not be as familiar with, specifically his childhood and what led him to become a Christian.   Clemson Football Head Coach Dabo Swinney joins me today on the show. For those of you who aren’t sports fans, since taking over as head coach in 2008, he has won 5 conference titles and two national championships. His team is consistently in the running for winning the national championship every year. What I believe sets him apart is his commitment to making his players not just better athletes, but better humans as well.   We discuss his upbringing, his faith, and of course his coaching career. He explains how his positivity and motivational nature was something that he created in reaction to adverse circumstances. He shares the secret recipe he gives his players to get out of a rut and which players have impacted him. I hope you find my conversation with Coach Swinney as inspiring, encouraging and surprising as I did. Happy Easter!     Topics discussed:    Coach Swinney's upbringing and what inspired his motivational and positive nature   How his childhood helped shape him   Why age 16 was pivotal for him   What led him to become a Christian and what that has done for him   The major role faith plays in his life   How staying positive and focusing on what he could control helped him get through hard times   How to get through challenging times   His coaching career   How he is able to relate to his players   Which players have had the most impact on him   Advice he gives to players that are in a "rut"   Connect with Doug   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest on the show is Arielle Lorre. You might recognize her from her hit podcast, The Blonde Files Podcast, or from her popular Instagram page, where she shares mouth-watering recipes, as well as incredible health and wellness tips.   What really inspires me about Arielle is her recovery journey. After nearly losing her battle with addiction, Arielle decided to turn her life around by relentlessly pursuing health and happiness and by sharing what she learned along the way. Arielle just recently celebrated 7 years of sobriety.   I am sure you are anxious to learn more about Arielle’s rise to success, but you will have to listen to the episode to hear the full story. But what I will say now, is that her addictions led her to being arrested for a DUI, she had multiple grand mal seizures, and she ended up blacking out periodically for several months before finally getting sober.   Arielle opens up in detail about what led her down that destructive path, and more importantly, she shares her comeback story. We will also discuss how meditation, fitness, and community have helped her with her sobriety, and how she currently manages her anxiety in a way that is healthy and supports her recovery.   Topics discussed:    Arielle's childhood and early stages of addiction   How drinking socially led to a downward spiral that included abusing other drugs, getting a DUI, multiple rehab visits, and grand mal seizures   The role of shame in trying to get sober   Arielle's "rock bottom" moment that came after blacking out for a few months prior   What helped Arielle in recovery?   The role of community   The power of meditation (and which she prefers)   Arielle's fitness journey and how it helped her build confidence   How does Arielle manage anxiety in a healthy way?   The advice she would give to her younger self   Connect with Arielle:    Website : https://theblondefiles.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariellelorre   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariellelorre/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariellelorre   Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blonde-files-podcast/id1458992375   Connect with Doug   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188   More on Athletic Greens:    www.athleticgreens.com/doug to get your free year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simple Tips to Improve Your Health, Feel Great and Lose Weight!!!   Today is going to be an in depth conversation covering topics like mental health, weight loss, healthcare and COVID 19. We will be talking about managing these and more importantly you will learn simple steps to achieve optimal health.    So with that said I am excited that Dr. Rangan Chatterjee joins me today.   Dr. Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.   He hosts the most popular health podcast in the UK and Europe called “Feel Better, Live More.” He has written 4 books that have been Sunday Times Bestsellers including his latest “Feel Great, Lose Weight” which is set to be released tomorrow in the US & Canada.    We talk about what led Dr. Chatterjee down the path of focusing on a more proactive approach to healthcare, the chronic consequences of the pandemic that aren’t being measured and his advice for surviving isolation. He explains why you must focus on managing your stress, developing self-awareness and knowing “why you eat” in order to lose weight. He also shares simple tools to improve your health in just a few minutes and of course, we chat about his new book “Feel Great, Lose Weight” which is a must-read. Topics discussed:    How Dr. Chatterjee manages his schedule and sanity   What led Dr. Chatterjee down the path of having a proactive approach to healthcare    What's going on in the UK with the pandemic and the chronic consequences of the pandemic that aren’t being measured   Dr. Chatterjee’s advice for people on how to make the most of the isolation so that they can be healthy in the best way possible   Why it's so important for people to address that they're who they are at the core when it comes to being able to lose weight.   Dr. Chatterjee’s freedom exercise: Feel, Feed, and Find   The importance of changing the rest of your lifestyle when it comes to achieving optimal health   Dr. Chatterjee talks about the “toolbox” and how people can apply that to how they're living today   Get Dr. Chattterjee's new book "Feel Great, Lose Weight" here:   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1953295053/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=drchatterjee-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1953295053&linkId=935ffcaf0ab876e4c36fb485eacd54c3   Connect with Dr. Chatterjee:   Podcast: https://drchatterjee.com/blog/category/podcast/   Website: https://drchatterjee.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChatterjee/    Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDnwlb3IQDPJtFysPUJbDFQ/videos   Connect with Doug   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   More on Legion Athletics:   buylegion.com/doug and use code "Doug" at checkout for 20% off   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest on the show is relationship expert AJ Harbinger and co-host of the highly popular podcast, The Art of Charm which has over 200 million downloads and has featured guests such as myself, Tim Ferriss, Jay Shetty, and Kobe Bryant, and many others.    AJ has helped thousands of men and women from all around the world to overcome social anxiety, master conversation, develop social capital and build genuine relationships of the highest quality, as well as breakthrough large personal and professional mental blocks.   Like many, success did not come easy for AJ. Identifying as an introvert and Growing up without a Mother, this all quickly ignited some insecurities, pain, and anxiety, and struggled socially in school. As you can imagine, he felt a bit lost as a young adult and took a sabbatical after his undergrad for some self-discovery.   Encouraged by his father to get a job to stay motivated, he decided to take a job at a research lab and after having a research project go sideways unexpectedly, he was forced to make a decision.   He could either continue down this path of consistent disappointment or take a chance on himself to do something that would help him and others find fulfillment long term. On a mission to develop and cultivate true social skills and confidence, he co-founded the Art of Charm almost 15 years ago.   This of course didn’t come without challenges as his Father passed away shortly after, whom he was incredibly close to and his Father also doubted his ability to make it in the podcast world.   He shares his incredible story of overcoming all of these hardships that came along before and after starting the podcast and of course chat about social skills.   Let's face it...developing confidence, emotional intelligence, and relationships are tough and take hard work. But, it can be done and there is an art in doing this. Today, you are going to learn tactical skills that you can apply right now to ensure that you are doing everything you can to improve your self-worth, build deep connections, and of course charm.    Topics discussed:   AJ’s upbringing growing up with a single parent   How AJ’s childhood affected his mental health   How AJ pivoted that adversity into something positive to help so many people   AJ’s insight about being authentic, being real, and being yourself   AJ’s advice for somebody who's thinking about doing something for the wrong reason   Struggles AJ faced without having his mom around   The types of things AJ started doing to cultivate confidence within himself when he started the show, The Art of Charm   What are the things that AJ does every single day that are non-negotiable for him to get himself feeling good   What AJ and his co-host do when the ratings of their program is not as high as they expected   What are a couple of non-negotiable things that people can do to be able to cultivate a deep, meaningful, in-person relationship with someone in 2000, as we're entering 2021?   AJ’s advice for people when approaching someone at an event, at a seminar, or asking a guy or a girl out   What are some things people should say or not say, to get the other person to be more engaged with them   The top lessons AJ learned from someone: Who was it and what was the lesson? Takeaways:   “Look at any venture that you start and ask yourself, “How am I going to feel about this 10 days from now? How am I gonna feel about this 10 months from now? How am I gonna feel about this 10 years from now?” And if the answer is yes, excited, pumped. 10 months or 10 years later, then you've hit a goldmine. You've hit something that you're gonna have the passion, the motivation, and the drive to fulfill.” - AJ Harbinger   “We really made it a focal point to celebrate all the small victories along the way.” - AJ Harbinger   Your confidence is like a skyscraper.   Start out with a positive view of the day, and end your day with gratitude.   The difference between success and lack of success is between your ears.   You are constantly training your mind to focus on things whether you like them or not.   “If you’re feeling like, ‘Wow. You know, I've had so many setbacks.’ I would challenge you to pick up the phone and reach out to the people in your life that you care about.” - AJ Harbinger   Appreciation is actually telling people what you love about them, why you love having them in your life, why you really enjoy that relationship that person has brought to your life. And acceptance is actually inviting them to participate in your life.   The key ingredient in this formula is curiosity -- genuine curiosity.   The simplest way is to approach with gratitude and appreciation, and share with them.   “Who you surround yourself with, and the intentionality of your habits, your lifestyle, is what unlocks these extraordinary levels of success that we look up to.” - AJ Harbinger Connect with AJ Harbinger:   Website: https://theartofcharm.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofcharm/    Twitter: https://twitter.com/theartofcharm   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS2wqxYdqjnHkkfc90g169g   Connect with Doug   Instagram: www.instagram.com/dougbopst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbopst   Website: www.dougbopst.com/   Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/690686891674188 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices