What happens when you walk away from a career that defined you for nearly three decades?

In this raw, funny, and heartfelt episode, Danny reflects on his retirement after 29 years in air traffic control. From emotional goodbyes and epic farewell runway photos to stepping into the unknown, he opens up about the fears, freedom, and fresh starts that come with major life transitions.

With Tyler offering his signature humor and thoughtful insight, and Riley the podcast dog creating chaos, the guys dive deep into what reinvention looks like for men. They discuss the topics of identity, routine, candidly, and finding purpose when structure is absent. Whether it’s jujitsu, helping at-risk youth, or training for the Leadville 100, Danny and Tyler explore what it means to stay grounded when everything is shifting.

They also discuss:

• Danny’s farewell photoshoot on the runway
• The mental load dogs carry (especially while sniffing!)
• Why “third spaces” matter for men and youth
• Leadville 100 and the drive to compete with purpose
• Daily discipline, friendships, and the systems that hold men up

If you're navigating big life changes—or just love hearing two men talk honestly about life, identity, and personal growth—this one’s for you.

Episode 60, the last one of the year.

We didn’t predict this year, not even close. Illness, treatment fog, big life changes, training gaps, and still… the foundation didn’t break.

In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to keep moving when life gets weird, how jiu-jitsu exposes your nervous system, and why “self-rescue” is a skill, not a slogan. We also explore the differences between homeostasis and allostasis, building safety in the face of change, and the quiet power of being surrounded by solid people.

What we cover:

• The weird year nobody could’ve predicted
• Getting sick, ear pain, sinus “Q-tip exorcisms,” and why Danny hates airplane air
• Why jiu-jitsu is mental health, not a hobby
• Coming back after health issues and realizing the room leveled up without you
• Jealousy, pecking order, and staying in a growth mindset
• Homeostasis vs. allostasis, and learning to be safe in change
• “Self-rescue” and why anger isn’t leadership
• How training becomes regulation for dads and sons
• The medical cloud: nausea meds, ATRA, arsenic, and losing your clarity
• Gratitude, community, and the people who showed up when it mattered
• Retirement uncertainty, identity shifts, and learning to celebrate yourself
• Why we’re switching release days to Tuesdays in 2026

Takeaway:

Life isn’t predictable. You don’t need certainty. You need a foundation that holds, people who don’t disappear, and the ability to adapt midstream.

If this episode hit you: share it with a friend who’s quietly carrying a heavy year.

This is one of our rawest conversations to date.
Fresh off a hard night of training, we sit down to talk about everything we’ve been carrying this year—illness, anger, burnout, fear, and the places where friendship gets thin but doesn’t break.

Tyler opens up about the cognitive chaos of round four chemo: losing control of his thoughts, detoxing from ATRA and arsenic, and clawing his way back into clarity. Danny shares the gut-level story of being marked AWOL on Veterans Day after almost 30 years of service, losing a $10,000 bonus, and the three-day emotional tailspin that followed.

We talk about how men often “check the box” in friendship when they’re drowning, how jiu-jitsu becomes a ritual for survival, and why being “lost” isn’t a failure—it’s a season. We also look ahead: what it means to reinvent ourselves, cut the fat, and return to the roots that made this podcast matter.

If you’ve ever felt buried, misunderstood, or mentally fogged out… if you’ve ever carried more than you let anyone see… this one’s for you.

Notable Moments / Timestamps (optional for your episode)

00:05 — Post-training exhaustion meets clarity
06:12 — Tyler’s ATRA detox and the feeling of losing cognitive control
13:40 — Danny’s Veterans Day AWOL story and mental shutdown
33:20 — “Some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail.”
43:00 — The friendship strain neither of them wanted to admit
56:10 — Blue Belt theory: maybe this is the promotion
1:05:00 — Reinvention, holidays, pressure, and what comes next