Episodes

A strong team isn’t built by having the best people. It’s built by making better decisions together. Professor Ricardo Valerdi, engineer, sports scientist, and University of Arizona professor, shares how leadership, trust, and team culture shape decision making. Drawing from his book, The Five Tool Team, he explains why complementary strengths matter, how data and intuition work together, and what separates a group of people from a team that delivers results. We also explore his FLASH method ...

Sometimes the hardest seasons of life become the moments that shape us most. In this personal episode, we explore why Spirit of Gratitude was created and how adversity, resilience, and gratitude became the heart of YoggNation. From a daughter navigating Tourette syndrome and severe bullying to finding comfort through writing, these experiences show how strength can grow in the moments no one sees. We also talk about gratitude through health challenges, family, faith, and the support syste...

Pressure often shows up when something really matters to you. Elite performance coach Seth Pepper joins us to break down what happens in the mind and body when the stakes get high. We explore the difference between pressure and stress, why discomfort can fuel growth, and how Seth’s own journey toward the Olympics shaped his approach to resilience and mental toughness. The conversation gets practical with tools for managing nervousness, reducing resistance, staying present, and performing ...

Championship teams are built long before they ever step onto the field. Coach Mike Candrea, one of the most accomplished leaders in Division I sports and a longtime force behind University of Arizona softball and Team USA, shares what it really takes to build a championship culture. From an elbow injury that changed his career to growing softball into a nationally recognized sport, Coach Candrea explains why relationships, trust, character, and consistency matter most. He also opens up about ...

What happens when a company goes from rapid growth to survival mode, and how do leaders keep people together when everything is uncertain? Tom shares lessons from navigating a major dot-com era collapse, including difficult decisions around layoffs, crisis communication, company culture, and rebuilding trust. He explains why honest leadership matters most when the news is difficult, and how the same principles of resilience and accountability apply to your career, team, and everyday life. ...

Addiction is often reduced to a lack of willpower, but the story becomes more complicated when you look at the environment surrounding it. Nutrition and addiction behavior researcher Adam Sud shares his journey from drug use, depression, and chronic illness to rebuilding his life and understanding addiction through a more compassionate lens. Adam explains why shame rarely creates lasting change, how vulnerability and personal agency support recovery, and why treatment needs to address the li...

Being called “ugly” can stay with a child long after the words are spoken. Angela Garcia, mother and founder of the Ugly Foundation, is turning that hurtful word into a message of confidence by redefining UGLI as Unique, Gifted, Loved, and Individual. Angela shares how bullying and cyberbullying affect children today, why kids need trusted adults and supportive peers, and how UGLI school clubs encourage students to become upstanders instead of bystanders. 🧠 What you will learn: How to ...

What happens when you see Earth from space and realize every person you love is living on one small planet? Col. Edward "Mike" Fincke, NASA astronaut, shares what he learned from four space missions, nine spacewalks, and 549 days in zero gravity. From seeing the Milky Way without atmospheric distortion to looking back at Earth from 17,500 miles per hour, Mike explains how space changed his perspective on gratitude, teamwork, responsibility, and what truly matters. 🧠 What you will learn: ...

What if a strict classroom could actually make students feel safer, supported, and more motivated to learn? Mr. Roberto Hernandez shares a practical look at classroom management, student motivation, bullying prevention, and teen mental health. From setting clear expectations to using small moments of connection, he explains how structure, trust, and consistency can help students feel seen and supported. 🧠 What you will learn: How clear boundaries can create a healthier classroom cultur...

What if success is built by the work no one sees? Kareem Grimes shares the reality behind a lasting acting career, from side jobs and rejection to finding breakthrough opportunities and staying grounded through it all. Best known for playing Preach on All American, Kareem explains why consistency, gratitude, and showing up every day matter more than chasing overnight success. 🧠 What you will learn: How consistency and daily habits create long-term success Why taking side jobs...

What if gratitude isn't a feeling, but a framework for getting through life's hardest moments? Chris Carls and Melissa from Cirrus Visual join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the rebrand of YoggNation's Spirit of Gratitude. Together, we explore how a podcast's message, identity, and visuals can reflect a deeper purpose, showing that gratitude is built through awareness, resilience, courage, appreciation, and humility. 🧠 What you will learn: How strong branding creates trust and build...

What if the most empowering truth is realizing that no one is coming to save you, and that's exactly what sets you free? Manish Shah, founder and CEO of Maya Tea, shares how he went from rock bottom to building a nationally recognized tea company by embracing responsibility, resilience, and purpose. His journey reveals that success is less about luck and more about creating value, doing the inner work, and showing up consistently. 🧠 What you will learn: How to overcome self-doubt and bu...

What if the biggest obstacle to growth is not your ego, but the fear hiding behind it? Malek Ben-Musa, championship soccer coach and player, shares how identity, belonging, and adversity shaped his approach to leadership on and off the field. Drawing from his experiences growing up as a Libyan Texan and coaching elite youth athletes, Malek explains how great teams are built through trust, accountability, and genuine care for people. 🧠 What you will learn: Why fear often disguises itself...

What if fear is not a weakness, but useful information? Bear Fiorda shares how even elite fighters deal with anxiety and why the goal is not to eliminate fear, but to train your response to it. Through years in mixed martial arts and his nonprofit work helping kids and adults access free training, Bear offers a practical framework for confidence, discipline, and resilience. 🧠 What you will learn: How fear shows up as freeze, flight, or fight Why simplifying high-pressure situations ...

What if gratitude could become one of the most practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, and everyday challenges? Dr. Ish Major shares how gratitude, mindfulness, and intentional thinking can help calm anxious thoughts, strengthen self-worth, and build emotional resilience. Drawing from years of experience in mental health, Dr. Ish offers simple techniques you can use when life feels overwhelming. 🧠 What you will learn: How gratitude can help interrupt anxiety and panic in the mome...

What if the hardest thing you ever go through becomes the reason you're able to help others keep going? Shay Eskew shares the story of being burned over 65% of his body at age seven and how that life-changing event shaped his mindset, resilience, and purpose. Rather than letting trauma define him, Shay learned to use adversity as fuel for growth, endurance, and service. 🧠 What you will learn: How to develop resilience during life's most difficult challenges Why mindset shifts...

What if letting go of a dream is not failure, but the first step toward something more aligned? Yessi Sanchez shares her journey through the realities of pursuing a creative career, navigating rejection, uncertainty, and the pressure to keep chasing success. From performing as a child to building a life in Los Angeles, Yessi offers an honest look at what happens when the path you planned no longer feels right. 🧠 What you will learn: How to navigate career uncertainty and creative burnou...

Money stress doesn’t just hit your wallet. It hits your confidence, your choices, and how you see your future. We open with the reality many people avoid: living paycheck to paycheck, missed bills, and the quiet pressure of feeling stuck. From there, we shift into practical steps that actually move things forward, starting with small decisions that rebuild control instead of waiting for a perfect reset. 🧠 What you will learn: Why financial stress is often driven by mindset, not just nu...

What if success is not the finish line, but the thing keeping you from finding real joy? Dr. Tiffany Moon shares how growing up in an immigrant family shaped her drive for achievement, and why she eventually realized that performance, perfectionism, and external validation could not deliver lasting happiness. Her story offers a powerful perspective on burnout, resilience, parenting, and the pursuit of joy. 🧠 What you will learn: How perfectionism and high achievement can lead to burnout...

What if music is not just something you learn, but the first place you learn who you are? Stacy Ryan shares how band-based music education helps kids and adults rebuild confidence, find belonging, and develop a voice that fear, bullying, and self-doubt often silence. Through her work at School of Rock, she has seen shy students transform into performers who lead, collaborate, and step into their own identity. 🧠 What you will learn: How learning music in a band builds confidence and comm...

What if the people laughing at your first tryout have no idea who you’re about to become? Ryan Thompson walked into a soccer tryout wearing church shoes, got laughed at, and still kept showing up. He went on to become the first Jamaican to play in the UEFA Champions League, Jamaica’s number one goalkeeper, and founder of RTG Academy. His story is a powerful look at resilience, belief, and what it takes to keep going when others doubt you. 🧠 What you will learn: How athletes build confid...

What if one library card could change the direction of a life? Mychal Threets, known online as one of the internet’s most beloved librarians, shares how public libraries create more than readers. They create safety, belonging, learning, and connection for people who need it most. From growing up as a “library kid” to becoming an advocate for literacy and mental health, Mychal explains why libraries still matter deeply in the digital age. 🧠 What you will learn: How libraries support ment...

What if gratitude is not a soft emotion, but a tool you can use when life gets hard? Yogesh Patel, host of YoggNation’s Spirit of Gratitude podcast, shares the story behind the mission and how gratitude became a daily practice shaped by personal challenges, family, and purpose. From growing up between cultures to raising a neurodivergent child and facing health struggles, he explains why turning stress into strength is not theory, it is lived experience. 🧠 What you will learn: How grati...

What if the fear of AI replacing your job is actually a signal to evolve, not retreat? Dave Melillo, a former touring musician turned data professional, shares how he rebuilt his career from the ground up and what it really takes to pivot when passion and income no longer align. From scanning invoices to working in high-performance data environments, his story shows how small steps and consistent learning create real momentum. 🧠 What you will learn: How to transition careers by starting...