What do you do when quitting feels justified?

Jonathan Cohen sits down with Iron Cow Boy legend James Lawrence to unpack how elite performers make hard decisions under extreme pressure. From intentional suffering to mental resilience, James explains why preparation—not emotion—defines success.

Drawing from his book Iron Hope: Lessons Learned From Conquering the Impossible, he shares how small promises, discipline, and ethos sustain performance when everything hurts.

Listen now on YouTube and Spotify—and book James’ keynote to equip your organization with practical tools for resilience, leadership, and ownership.

🎯 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Mental toughness is built before crisis moments—not during them

- Suffering without preparation is failure; intentional discomfort fuels growth

- Clear values and daily inputs matter more than motivation or emotion

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

4:11 Navigating Peak Moments and Mental Resilience

9:00 Handling Uncertainty and Mental Shifts

15:57 Suffering and Greatness: Intentional vs. Lack of Preparation

23:14 Balancing Suffering and Purpose

28:38 Defining Mental Toughness and Building Resilience

32:59 Navigating Injuries and Recovery

37:29 Balancing Personal and Professional Goals

41:27 Inspiring Future Generations

45:19 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Connect with James Lawrence

Website: https://ironcowboy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironcowboyjames/

Stay Inspired

Never miss an episode of Inside the Inspired! Hear the stories of founders, innovators, and game-changers pushing the edge of wellness, entrepreneurship, and mindset. Follow and subscribe for weekly episodes that energize your journey.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-inspired/id1535384791

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FV1VqP5bth6A7dEt5wo9V

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathanzcohen

What happens when life forces you to rebuild from nothing?

After surviving a life-altering gunshot wound while serving as a U.S. Marine, Patrick Nugent learned that while we don’t choose our challenges, we always choose how we rise to meet them.

In this episode, Patrick shares powerful lessons on resilience, grit, and ownership, shaped by 15 major surgeries and his journey as a Team USA Invictus Games Captain and Medalist.

Today, Patrick is a sought-after keynote speaker helping leaders and teams turn adversity into purpose-driven growth.

👉 Book his keynote, Beyond Grit: Mastering Your Fate Through Purpose, Resilience, and Ownership, to equip your organization with practical tools for resilience and leadership.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Eliminate Excuses Completely: Real growth begins when rationalization is no longer allowed.

2. Grit Is Built Through Pain: Adversity can become fuel when paired with discipline and purpose.

3. Resilience Is a Daily Practice: Mental toughness is trained through consistent action, not motivation.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

5:32 Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience

11:06 Transition to Leadership and Belief in Oneself

16:20 The Injury and Recovery Journey

22:11 Celebrating Alive Day and Pursuing Challenges

27:15 The Role of Environment and Inputs in Recovery

32:16 Defining Mental Fortitude and Overcoming Rejection

37:57 The Grit Method and Preparing for Crucible Moments

43:02 Balancing Ambition and Resilience

49:50 Impact and Legacy

54:45 Final Thoughts and Where To Find Patrick

Connect with Patrick Nugent

Website: https://www.patrickdnugent.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdnuge/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nugentpatrick/

Stay Inspired

Never miss an episode of Inside the Inspired! Hear the stories of founders, innovators, and game-changers pushing the edge of wellness, entrepreneurship, and mindset. Follow and subscribe for weekly episodes that energize your journey.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-inspired/id1535384791

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FV1VqP5bth6A7dEt5wo9V

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathanzcohen

What if law school trained lawyers not just to think, but to show up fully in the real world?

Performance coach and lawyer Paul Marchegiani joins Jonathan Cohen to explain why legal education must go beyond seated lectures and embed physical presence, communication, and embodied learning into how future lawyers are taught — especially in an era shaped by AI and client expectations.

👉 Read his latest publication “Untethered: Why Legal Education Needs to Get Lawyers Out of Their Seats” in the ABA Syllabus and explore more of his work at VoxVera.com to sharpen your legal presence and communication skills.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Nerves Are Energy, Not Weakness: Learn how to reframe anxiety into focus and presence.

2. Your Body Leads Your Voice: Breath, posture, and physical awareness shape confidence.

3. Emotion Drives Persuasion: Aligning words with feeling creates authentic impact.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

4:41 Theater and Music as a Foundation for Public Speaking

8:15 Jonathan's Journey and the Emotional Toll of Public Speaking

12:03 Fears and Objections in Public Speaking

16:00 The Role of a Litigator and Transition to Public Speaking Training

19:49 The Musicality of Language and Public Speaking

23:47 Building Human Connection in Public Speaking

27:09 Reading the Room and Adapting to the Audience

30:54 Overcoming Trauma and Anxiety in Public Speaking

34:44 Breathwork and Physical Presence in Public Speaking

38:22 Curiosity and Continuous Learning in Public Speaking

42:54 Practical Tips for Persuasive Public Speaking

Connect with Paul Marchegiani

Website: https://www.voxvera.com/founder-bio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmarch500/

Stay Inspired

Never miss an episode of Inside the Inspired! Hear the stories of founders, innovators, and game-changers pushing the edge of wellness, entrepreneurship, and mindset. Follow and subscribe for weekly episodes that energize your journey.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-inspired/id1535384791

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FV1VqP5bth6A7dEt5wo9V

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathanzcohen