Merhav’s story mirrors every high-achieving entrepreneur who wins big, then wonders, “Now what?” He shows how over-identifying with titles breeds emptiness, how unprocessed emotions sabotage flow, and why true mastery fuses disciplined skill with spiritual depth. His “Shield and Heart” creed and five-spoke excellence wheel offer a roadmap to mental fitness and sustainable peak performance: cultivate reflexive competence, process feelings quickly, balance life domains, and deliver compassionate truth. For leaders in transition, these insights illuminate a path from burnout and identity crisis to integrated purpose, resilient energy, and the kind of flow that powers long-term impact.

[00:01:00] First Taste of Glory – Merhav recalls reaching a world-title bout and reveals the dramatic moment that shattered his “undefeated” narrative.

[00:04:00] Champion in Three Months – Winning Israel’s karate title weeks after starting shows how fertile environments unlock latent potential fast.

[00:09:40] Spiritual Core of Combat – He reframes martial arts as a lifelong quest for soul-level excellence, not violence.

[00:11:50] Reflex Over Emotion – Inside the ring, performance flows when drills turn reactions into automatic, thought-free action.

[00:18:00] Cost of Suppressed Feelings – Temporary emotional shutdown fuels wins; long-term denial breeds trauma, burnout, and illness.

[00:22:20] Switching Off the Killer – The hardest skill is dropping warrior aggression and choosing compassion the moment a fight ends.

[00:35:28] “I Am Only Boxing” – He admits tying all self-worth to a single role and dreading life beyond it.

[00:38:30] Decade as ‘Nobody’ – Post-injury shame led him to toxic jobs, poor relationships, and self-neglect until he re-valued himself.

[00:44:49] Reclaiming Self-Respect – Realizing low self-definition invites disrespect, he reset boundaries and standards.

[01:02:07] Truth ≠ Brutality – “Truth without compassion is brutality”; feedback must lift, not crush, growing leaders.

[01:18:00] Heart-Led Warrior Shift – Key insight: lasting success demands integrating heart and spirit with drive and skill.

[01:19:15] Five-Spoke Excellence Wheel – Merhav’s new metric: balanced fitness, finance, family, faith, and fun keep life turning.

[01:23:03] Shield and Heart Creed – A noble warrior carries both fierce protection and deep compassion—strength plus sensitivity.

Go to NobleWarrior.com/196 to grab the action guide free and start your journey of being a noble warrior

In this powerful episode of the Noble Warrior Podcast, CK sits down with Angela Olea, founder of Assisted Living Locators, the nation's first senior care placement franchise with over 160 successful locations. Angela shares candid, practical insights for entrepreneurs navigating critical career transitions, uncovering how she made the bold leap from nurse to groundbreaking franchise innovator.

Discover the essential mindset shifts and strategic decisions that propelled Angela's rapid growth and resilience, even in moments of crisis. She reveals surprising lessons learned from scaling a business, working effectively with family, and maintaining standards across multiple locations. Angela also discusses how she leveraged intentional mentorship and networking—key practices that every transitioning entrepreneur must master.

[00:00:06] From Nurse to Franchise Innovator: How Angela Olea turned a critical need into a business with 160+ locations.

[00:03:55] Generational Wealth Secrets: The unexpected rule successful family businesses live by.

[00:07:16] Working with Family: Angela reveals the key boundaries that kept business and family life from colliding.

[00:20:15] The Moment of Certainty: Angela shares how she knew “without any question” it was time to leave nursing and become an entrepreneur.

[00:27:06] Accelerating Growth: Exactly how Angela persuaded top franchise CEOs to share their most guarded lessons.

[00:32:29] A Painful Lesson: Angela shares a costly mistake that reshaped her leadership philosophy—“trust but verify.”

[00:38:21] Lost and Found: The emotional story of how Angela personally rescued her client, Lila, from life-threatening danger.

[00:44:09] What Seniors Regret Most: Angela uncovers what elderly clients wish they’d done differently in life.

[00:50:34] Lightning Bolt Moments: Angela describes the unexpected meeting that inspired her new venture into influencer marketing.

[01:02:03] Staying Grounded in Uncertainty: Angela’s mantra for navigating through fear and doubt.

To unlock Angela’s powerful insights on pivoting with confidence, scaling boldly, and designing your ideal entrepreneurial life, get your action guide at noblewarrior.com/195

Ever wondered how psychedelics might fuel your next big business breakthrough? Join CK Lin and Dr. Manesh Girn—postdoctoral neuroscientist at UCSF and Instagram’s “Psychedelic Scientist”—to discover how LSD, psilocybin, and mindful priming can expand creative thinking, spark problem-solving, and unlock deeper transformation. From optimizing “set, setting, and setup” to balancing emotional healing with innovative vision, Manesh offers a cutting-edge look at how entrepreneurs can harness altered states—responsibly and productively. If you’re ready to break free from old patterns and ignite a more inspired, purposeful path, this conversation will show you exactly how.

Key Moments:

[00:00:39 – 00:01:12] “Psychedelic-Assisted Innovation—A Teaser”

[00:01:12 – 00:02:14] “Generating Novel Ideas vs. Same-Old Thinking”

[00:03:32 – 00:04:22] “Sorting the Wild Downloads”

[00:07:20 – 00:08:21] “Set, Setting, and Setup for Innovation”

[00:11:02 – 00:12:00] “LSD & Dopamine—A Focus Hack?”

[00:14:45 – 00:15:32] “First the Healing, Then the Revealing”

[00:15:32 – 00:16:51] “Designing a Real-World Experiment”

[00:21:20 – 00:22:14] “Qualitative Meets Quantitative”

[00:26:40 – 00:27:00] “Is Brain Imaging Worth It?”

[00:50:20 – 00:50:59] “Can You Prime for Business Insights?”

[01:00:40 – 01:02:05] “AI Meets Psychedelics”

[01:05:00 – 01:06:13] “Wrap-Up: Integrate for Real Impact”

Ready to put these insights into practice?

Grab your action guides and explore deeper show notes at https://noblewarrior.com/194.

Elevate your innovation journey and unlock real-world results with step-by-step frameworks, exercises, and resources curated just for you!

In this conversation, Jeff Gomez reveals transformative insights for entrepreneurs and creators who seek lasting intrinsic motivation, consistent flow states, and genuine mastery. He advocates capturing the essence of your mission beyond surface-level achievements, building resilient peer networks, and transitioning from mere inspiration to actionable mastery. Gomez's approach emphasizes overcoming limiting mental blocks like shame and trauma-based narratives through purposeful storytelling and deep listening. These methods foster intrinsic motivation and sustainable mental fitness, enabling you to play the infinite game in life and business—where true satisfaction and continuous growth become a natural part of your journey.

Time Stamps

• [00:05:00] Capturing Your Story's Pure Essence
• Jeff Gomez emphasizes the importance of distilling a story down to its core essence, ensuring authenticity across platforms. This clarity unlocks deeper intrinsic motivation and resonance.
• "Creators must capture the purity of their story to give audiences an authentic experience."
• [00:12:09] Balancing Depth and Commercial Success
• Jeff discusses navigating between sophisticated storytelling and commercial appeal, highlighting James Cameron's mastery of embedding deeper meaning within mainstream media. Balancing these aspects creates sustained motivation and deeper impact.
• "Cameron had a stunning understanding of deeper aspects of story and mythic elements."
• [00:26:00] Beyond Conflict: Networked Storytelling
• Jeff introduces the concept of networked storytelling, contrasting it with traditional conflict-driven narratives. This approach builds intrinsic motivation through collaboration and shared purpose rather than competition.
• "Their stories aren't about defeating villains but about navigating and contributing in a shared universe."
• [00:32:00] Breaking Free from Intergenerational Shame
• Jeff outlines how shifting narratives can empower individuals by overcoming ingrained shame. Building peer networks reinforces mental resilience and creates ongoing flow and mastery.
• "Free yourself from shame and reconnect with your purpose through your network."
• [00:35:00] The Power of Peer Networks
• Jeff highlights the importance of community support when overcoming negative emotions or self-doubt. Consistent peer interactions foster intrinsic motivation and sustained mastery.
• "When haunted by emotions, peers can counsel and remind you to persist."
• [00:56:44] From Inspiration to Action
• Jeff emphasizes the necessity of moving beyond inspirational stories to practical tools and mastery. Genuine mastery demands actionable steps beyond initial motivation.
• "You can't gift wisdom or mastery—it must be earned through consistent practice."
• [01:01:00] Achievement vs. Escapism in Storytelling
• Jeff addresses why authentic achievement narratives are essential for meaningful growth, even within escapist media. Pursuing challenging yet achievable goals enhances flow and mastery.
• "Our real pleasure comes from witnessing remarkable achievement, not just easy escapism."
• [01:07:00] Overcoming Trauma to Find Purpose
• Jeff shares how dismantling trauma-based narratives liberates personal agency. This mindset shift from past-driven reactions to purposeful action unlocks sustained flow and inner motivation.
• "Removing trauma-based narratives creates both purpose and freedom."
• [01:15:23] The Essential Question for Creators
• Jeff offers his critical question: "What are you trying to say?" Going beyond plot ensures your work aligns with intrinsic values, sustaining deeper motivation and clarity in action.
• "Know deeply what you're trying to say beyond plot, or you'll lose your audience."
• [01:19:18] Listening as the Ultimate Flow Tool
• Jeff concludes that deeply understanding and listening to others is key to infinite flow and continuous mastery. True listening resolves conflicts and sustains internal harmony.
• "If we deeply understand listening, we can reconcile and repair our global systems."

Connect with CK Lin

• Website: https://www.noblewarrior.com/193

• Instagram: @thecklin

In this deeply moving episode of Noble Warrior, host CK Lin talks with Tim Ringgold, a board-certified music therapist who’s experienced profound loss: five best friends, his father, his daughter, and his stepfather. Despite such overwhelming grief, Tim has emerged with powerful insights and proven strategies to help others navigate their own healing journeys.

Tim shares:

• How to Differentiate Grief from Love and why you can keep the love alive even after releasing the pain.

• Why “Time Heals All Wounds” Is a Myth and what truly moves grief toward resolution.

• The Unique Role of Music Therapy in reducing stress, boosting emotional resilience, and reconnecting to memories in a healthier way.

• Practical Tools & Frameworks you can start using today—journaling, storytelling, and community support.

• His Upcoming Retreats and how a safe, dedicated container can accelerate emotional recovery.

Whether you’re grieving a loved one or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers real comfort, practical tools, and a renewed sense of possibility. Share this episode with anyone who needs hope and direction in their healing process.

Learn More About Tim’s Work:

Heal My Grief Retreat

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – “Is Grief Inevitable? Tim’s Full ‘Grief Resume’”
• 00:02:30 – “Five Best Friends Murdered: The Trauma That Shaped Tim”
• 00:06:59 – “Losing a Child: Tim’s Breakthrough Framework for Healing”
• 00:13:18 – “Time Heals All Wounds? Here’s Why That’s a Myth”
• 00:15:00 – “STUG Explained: Sudden Temporary Upsurges of Grief”
• 00:22:58 – “Grief vs. Love: Can You Let Go of Pain But Keep the Love?”
• 00:31:00 – “Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping: The Dangers of ‘Quick Fixes’”
• 00:37:39 – “Public Vulnerability: How Blogging Accelerated Tim’s Healing”
• 00:59:00 – “A Conversation with God: The ‘Ant on the Sidewalk’ Moment”
• 01:08:30 – “Permission to Be Angry at God: Dealing with Divine Disappointment”
• 01:14:40 – “From Prince to King: Finding a New Identity After Loss”
• 01:17:40 – “Supporting a Grieving Friend: Are You a ‘Doer’ or a ‘Beer’?”
• 01:24:26 – “Final Words + How to Join Tim’s Grief Retreats”

Connect with CK Lin

• Website: NobleWarrior.com (or your preferred link)

• Instagram: @CKLin (or your handle)

#GriefSupport #MusicTherapy #HealingJourney #LossAndLove #MentalHealth #Podcast #NobleWarrior #TimRinggold

“Time doesn’t heal grief—it only buries it. If you want to heal, you have to feel.” – Tim Ringgold

Are you exhausted by constant achievement yet starved for genuine fulfillment? In this episode of Noble Warrior, we dive deep with hospice and palliative care expert Dr. Christin Ament, Executive Director at The Bardo, who guides the dying—and the living—into profound clarity and infinite purpose. Christin’s insights on embracing mortality will free your stuck energy, reignite meaningful connections, and help you transcend hollow success into authentic legacy. Stay tuned to learn how facing death can spark effortless flow and unlock the life you’ve been yearning to live.

Time Stamps

[00:00:00 – 00:02:00]: Understanding the Bardo—A Metaphor for Transitions

• What’s Covered: Christin explains the Bardo as the intermediate state between life and death, and how every moment is a “liminal space.”

[00:02:00 – 00:08:00]: Facing Death to Reclaim Meaning and Reverence

• What’s Covered: Christin discusses transforming fear of death into reverence and honoring life’s finite nature, drawing on her experience in ICU and hospice care.

[00:09:00 – 00:13:30]: Honest Conversations & The Value of Death Cafes

• What’s Covered: Christin describes Death Cafes as spaces for open, authentic dialogue around death among people of all ages and backgrounds.

[00:18:00 – 00:20:00]: Death as a Forcing Function for Purpose

• What’s Covered: The idea of writing one’s eulogy and recognizing life’s impermanence helps clarify what truly matters.

[00:22:00 – 00:24:00]: Legacy Beyond the Material

• What’s Covered: Christin reframes legacy not as a finite mark but as an ongoing connection to all of life.

[00:41:00 – 00:47:00]: Psychedelics & Expanding Consciousness

• What’s Covered: Christin discusses how psilocybin (theoretically) helps release fear, dissolve ego-driven narratives, and foster deep spiritual insight.

[00:54:00 – 01:00:00]: Ritual and Connection (Tea Ceremony)

• What’s Covered: Using tea ceremonies to help families communicate openly, dissolve tensions, and rebuild authentic connections.

[01:07:00 – 01:10:00]: Grief, Presence, and Authentic Support

• What’s Covered: Christin and CK discuss grieving gracefully, acknowledging painful emotions without avoidance.

For the short action guide, go to https://noblewarrior.com/191

Welcome to Noble Warrior, where we uncover the journeys of entrepreneurs and practitioners moving from finite games of achievement to infinite games of purpose. In this episode, Kathryn Ficarra, a former corporate VP turned leadership coach and author, shares how she redefined success by aligning her life with purpose. If you’re feeling stuck in a cycle of unfulfilling wins, this conversation will inspire you to awaken to your higher potential. Stay tuned—this one’s for anyone seeking transformation, clarity, and a deeper connection to their authentic self.

[00:00:00-00:02:00] Transition from Corporate to Purpose-Driven Work

Catherine discusses her successful corporate life and the internal misalignment that led her to leave it all behind.

[00:07:00-00:10:00] The Awakening Journey

How Catherine navigated five years of deep personal growth, exploring spiritual teachings and transformational retreats.

[00:16:00-00:18:00] The Role of Loneliness in Growth

Catherine reflects on the isolation of her journey and how she built a support system through retreats and coaching.

[00:28:00-00:30:00] Executive Presence as an Inside Job

Catherine’s unique framework for developing executive presence by addressing belief systems and personal growth.

[00:50:00-00:55:00] Harnessing Triggers for Transformation

The innovative use of affirmations to surface and resolve subconscious resistance.

Go to the full action guide, go to https://noblewarrior.com/190

Feeling stuck despite your success? Join us as we dive deep with Myles Katz, co-founder of the pioneering Synthesis Institute, who transformed his life from unfulfilled achievement to mastering infinite flow. Discover how to reignite your passion, realign your purpose, and unlock a life of effortless flow and authentic connection. Don't miss this eye-opening conversation that could change the trajectory of your life—watch till the end!

Time Stamps

[00:00:43] From Success to Existential Crisis

Myles shares how, despite achieving his dream of running a successful social enterprise in Kenya, he felt a deep existential depression.

[00:04:10] Understanding the Hollow Milestones

A discussion on why traditional markers of success can feel meaningless and the importance of finding deeper purpose.

[00:06:45] The Awakening: Discovering a New Path

Myles describes his transformative experience that shifted his perspective and ignited a new passion.

[00:15:05] Navigating Challenges and Embracing Change

Myles candidly discusses the rise and fall of the Synthesis Institute and the lessons learned.

[00:33:57] Founding Confluence Retreats: Aligning with Purpose

How Myles applied his lessons to create a sustainable, impactful venture that aligns with his deepest values.

[00:51:35] Integrating Authentic Connections and Wisdom

The importance of involving indigenous communities and respecting ancient wisdom in modern practices.

For the action guide, go to https://noblewarrior.com/189