#114: Michael Smoak: The Harsh Truth About Love Men Fear To Admit
Big claim: one of my favourite episodes of the year. Michael Smoak (@higherupwellness) returns to the show.
If you liked the first time Mike came on, you wont be disappointed with this one. Completely different conversation, yet an absolute banger.
Something about the synergy we have together is one I’m beyond blessed about.
This episode was all about relationships, love, overcoming hardship, the battles that a man has and so much more.
Follow Michael:
https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
00:00 A man’s biggest challenge
11:00 An explanation of a mans biology
16:00 Defining lust
20:00 What a man and women need to be intimate
29:00 Difference between confidence and ego
35:00 The difficulty of submission when you’re winning
39:00 Inaction is selfish
44:00 The new drug
53:00 Why your body is screaming at you
59:30 Impacts of suppressed emotions
1:06:00 The key to deep connection
1:14:00 Zooming out the time horizon
1:30:00 The gap between you and happiness
1:35:00 Why do we keep suffering on purpose?
1:38:20 Imposter syndrome
1:45:00 Losing someone you gave your all to…
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#113: Todd Anderson: Your Sleep Problem Isn’t Sleep
In this episode, we break down why most people don’t have a sleep problem at all…
They have a stress problem, a purpose problem, or a life-awareness problem.
Todd Anderson is one of the sharpest voices in the world of sleep, human psychology, and high performance.
He’s worked with elite athletes, Fortune 500 teams, and high performers who want to feel better, think clearer, and stop sabotaging themselves.
Key Discussion Points:
Why most sleep problems are actually stress and life-awareness problems
The fear of losing momentum and the psychological cost of high performance
Presence, flow state, and how elite performers access their best self
Childhood patterns, identity, and the hidden roots of adult stress
How to fix your relationship with sleep without becoming obsessive or rigid
Follow Todd:
https://www.instagram.com/toddanderson42_/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Try Dream Recovery and use code GRIFFIN:
https://dreamrecovery.io/
Chapters:
00:00 Why sleep really matters
03:02 The culture shift around sleep
06:18 Morning routines vs efficiency
09:41 Stress disguised as sleep problems
12:28 How life stress stacks silently
15:17 Fear of losing momentum
18:49 Childhood wiring and identity
21:47 Todd’s upbringing and purpose
24:43 Overcoming insecurity
27:36 Why most people never start
31:05 Highs, lows, and perspective
36:42 When optimization becomes harmful
41:20 Presence and flow state
47:50 Why people feel worse than they think
53:40 How Dream Recovery began
58:55 Presence as the real superpower
01:09:26 New recovery tech
01:11:10 Final reflections
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1:12:08
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1:12:08
#112: Chris Petkas: Why The Most Dangerous Men Are The Most Calm
Today’s episode is with Chris Petkas, former Navy Seal turned VC investor. It was a powerful conversation around grit, determination and the willingness to fail.
Chris’ marriage with Codie Sanchez inspires me, Chris’ well rounded success inspires me and Chris’ calm nature inspires me.
I loved this conversation. We also recorded this in a horse stable just out of Austin with 5 real horses behind us.
Key Discussion Points:
Why calm men are often the most dangerous
How military training builds composure under chaos
Naivety as a superpower when starting hard things
The biggest risk in life: choosing who you marry
Jiu-jitsu, humility, and learning through losing
Patriotism, perspective, and seeing the world
Australia’s tall-poppy mindset vs America
Follow Chris Petkas:
https://www.instagram.com/chrispetkas/
Follow Chris Griffin:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
00:00 Why Calm Men Are the Most Dangerous
05:20 Military Recruitment
10:40 Naivety, Risk and Starting Before You’re Ready
15:55 Failure, Ego and Learning Through Pain
21:00 Suffering in Training vs Real Combat
26:15 Leaving the Military and Entering Business
30:30 The Competence Ladder
33:45 Long Distance Love
36:50 Choosing a Partner is your biggest risk
39:40 Building Marriage and Business Together
46:30 The Loneliness Myth
49:40 Patriotism, Perspective and Seeing the World
53:50 Australia vs America: Ambition and Tall Poppy Culture
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Welcoming Sage Bender to The Pocket.
We dove deep, shared untold stories and revisited places he hasn't been in a while, sharing stories that have shaped him into the man he is today.
Also, enjoy the horses in the background. We recorded this in a horse stable just outside of Austin.
Follow Sage:
https://www.instagram.com/sxgebender/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
0:00 Why friends make or break you
3:00 Growing up with the wrong influences
5:00 Getting caught in the wrong crowd
7:00 How Sage met the Austin boys
9:00 Stop chasing people, build yourself
11:00 Leaving his old life behind
13:00 Masculinity, integrity, intention
15:00 Vulnerability and humility
17:00 Fighting, presence, and peace
20:00 Confidence vs ego
23:00 Weak identities and fragile men
26:00 Why jiu-jitsu humbles everyone
29:00 Community, discipline, and respect
32:00 Rock bottom and drug use
36:00 Losing a friend and the wake-up call
40:00 Moving cities and outgrowing people
45:00 Faith, rebellion, and rebuilding belief
50:00 Sage on responsibility and self-awareness
55:00 Becoming the man you want to be
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1:06:11
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#110: Adam Lamb: The Gift of Being Too Dumb To Quit
In this episode, I chat with Adam Lamb, an entrepreneur, investor, and business advisor who’s built and sold multiple companies in healthcare, finance, and consulting.
We dive into what it really means to be “too dumb to quit,” unpacking the role of stubbornness, fear, and confidence in success. Adam opens up about his rough upbringing, how his beliefs about money and success evolved, and what it’s like raising kids in a completely different world than the one he grew up in.
Key Discussion Points:
The mindset behind being “too dumb to quit”
How stubbornness can either serve or sabotage you
Breaking old beliefs about money, worth, and success
Navigating ego vs. confidence in leadership and life
Raising grounded kids in an abundant world
What true intimacy means in marriage and relationships
Follow Adam:
https://www.instagram.com/adamlamb33/
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/
Chapters:
00:00 Too Dumb To Quit
06:00 Stubbornness explained
12:00 Running for office
18:00 Fear of being seen
24:00 Confidence vs experience
30:00 Vulnerability as strength
36:00 Break the belief walls
42:00 Growing up broke
48:00 The turning point
54:00 Comfort kills growth
01:00:00 Parenting without entitlement
01:06:00 Parenting Sons & daughters differently
01:12:00 True intimacy
01:18:00 Confidence vs ego
01:24:00 Faith and legacy
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Australia