“The most significant thing I ever learned was that 95% of my daily thoughts and actions are unconscious.”

Most men are taught to work hard, stay disciplined, and power through discomfort—but very few are ever taught how to actually create success. Not goals. Not dreams. But real, repeatable, measurable success. The biggest reason? They’re winging life. And when you wing it, you recreate the past—again and again. This conversation explores the science-backed way to stop that cycle, take control of your subconscious, and start playing the game of life at your full potential.

John shares his own turning point at age 50, when despite having some financial wins, he realized he was far from the life he truly wanted. That low point sparked a deep dive into Think and Grow Rich, where he uncovered the hidden half of the book’s famed “secret”—and built a 12-minute-a-day practice that radically transformed his success, his income, and his peace of mind. His insights challenge the cultural addiction to hustling and reframe success as a daily, subconscious-driven habit of clarity and alignment.

John Mitchell is an entrepreneur and mental coach whose system has helped high achievers multiply their success by reprogramming how they think and act. From real estate to restaurants, John has built multiple businesses and now teaches his method at the University of Texas, working with both business students and elite athletes. He’s the author of The “Missing Secret” of Think and Grow Rich.

Learn more & connect:

https://thinkitbeit.com/

You can find John’s book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9Z5l0A4

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Between the stimulus and response, there is a breath and in that breath is our power to choose our response.”

Most men are trying to outlift their stress, out-supplement their fatigue, and outrun their burnout. But breath—the one thing we can’t live without for more than a few minutes—is usually ignored. This episode explores how breath influences every system in the body, from mitochondrial function and hormone production to posture, sleep, and even jaw development. Proper breathing isn’t just a wellness hack—it’s foundational to vitality, energy, and emotional resilience.

Our guest breaks down how unconscious mouth breathing affects testosterone levels, focus, and sleep quality, and how slow, nasal breathing can rapidly shift a man out of fight-or-flight mode. He shares practical techniques, including coherence breathing, diaphragmatic exercises, and mouth taping, to help men reclaim calm, clarity, and confidence—without needing another supplement. The results? Better sex, sharper thinking, and even a more defined jawline.

Dr. Sachin Patel is a chiropractor, functional medicine practitioner, breathwork facilitator, and the founder of the Living Proof Institute. With thousands of guided sessions under his belt, he teaches people how to optimize their health through the forgotten power of breath. His work blends ancient wisdom with modern science to help people live longer, perform better, and feel deeply aligned.

Learn more & connect:

Get instant access to Sachin’s most requested trainings on breathing and breathwork.

Ultimate Breathwork Bundle

Also in this episode:

Books:

- Be Here Now by Ram Dass

- Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg

- Breath by James Nestor

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“All I’ve done is I’ve tried to take past experiences of pain that I’ve learned from and pour them in the other men who I’ve come to terms with.”

Strength isn’t about domination—it’s about discipline, self-respect, and responsibility. The real work of becoming a man today begins with facing your demons, taking full ownership of your life, and learning to protect and provide for those you love. Masculinity, at its core, is not toxic. It’s essential. But to embody it, you’ve got to be fit—mentally, emotionally, and physically—and be ready to bet everything on yourself.

In this episode, you’ll hear how pain can be turned into purpose. You’ll learn how to build your “life resume,” why failure is the stepping stone to success, and how daily discomfort sharpens a man’s spirit. From fatherhood to faith, team building to trauma, the message is clear: your growth starts when your excuses end.

Ray “Cash” Care is a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor turned entrepreneur, speaker, and men’s coach. He’s built his mission around forging savage servants—strong, disciplined, vulnerable men who lead from the front.

Learn more & connect:

Also in this episode:

Books Mentioned

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Author: Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves

https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-2-0-Travis-Bradberry/dp/0974320625

The Missing Secret of the Legendary Book Think and Grow Rich

Author: John Mitchell

https://thinkitbeit.com/

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Modern medicine is great for keeping you alive, but they can’t teach you how to live well.”

In a culture that prizes hustle and stoicism, many men are burning out by treating their bodies like machines. This episode explores how true strength means aligning with your biology—not overriding it. Health is foundational to masculinity, not a side quest. You don’t need two hours in the gym or 30 supplements a day. You need movement, quality food, and enough self-awareness to admit you can’t do it all alone. Vitality isn’t a luxury—it’s the launchpad for fatherhood, leadership, and purpose.

Hardy shares how a ruptured appendix and a year of poor recovery led him to obsess over human health. From navigating digestive issues to learning how modern environments suppress testosterone, Bryan breaks down why men feel tired, inflamed, and disconnected—and how to turn it around. His insights on stress, hormones, and masculinity are rooted in real-world case studies, not influencer fantasies.

Bryan Hardy is a certified holistic nutritionist and performance coach. He helps high-performing men rebuild their energy, optimize gut health, and live with purpose through his signature “Vital Man Method.” He’s the founder of RevitalizedMan.com and offers practical tools for modern men who want more strength with less stress.

Learn more & connect:

Go to https://revitalizedman.com/ to learn more.

And go to https://revitalizedman.com/nicky to complete the free testosterone optimization cheat sheet.

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“When you say I am anything, you’re basically tying something in with your identity. It’s who you are as a person.”

Many men today are drifting—busy but aimless, productive yet unfulfilled. This conversation explores the idea that without a mission, a man is merely passing time. A man’s sense of identity must be tied to something deeper than just his job or routine; it must be anchored in purpose. When a man claims his mission and fuses it with his identity, he no longer lives for weekends or approval. He lives for something that lights him up and draws others to him. Purpose, not comfort, is the compass.

Paul Bauer speaks candidly about rebuilding his life after hardship and channeling that transformation into a platform to help other men. He emphasizes the need for men to seek meaningful discomfort, reconnect to their hunger, and create a brand that stems from real conviction. His story illustrates how aligning your brand, purpose, and passion can make you magnetic and fulfilled—even if it means sticking your knee in a bucket of ice every morning.

Paul Bauer is a certified life coach and NLP practitioner best known as the host of the Come On Man podcast. Specializing in attraction dynamics and masculine self-improvement, Paul guides men through the chaos of modern relationships and back into leadership roles within their lives.

Learn more & connect:

Come On Man Podcast – Hosted by Paul Bauer

https://comeonmanpod.com/

No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover: https://www.drglover.com/no-more-mr-nice-guy.html

Bob Proctor – A mentor known for purpose and success.

https://www.proctorgallagherinstitute.com/programs/you-were-born-rich

Choice Theory by William Glasser

https://www.amazon.com/Choice-Theory-Psychology-Personal-Freedom/dp/0060930144

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“A man without a purpose is just spending time.” - A. Justin Sterling

Today we’re talking about masculinity, brotherhood, and the kind of personal growth that actually holds up in the real world. At the center of it all is the late Justin Sterling, founder of the Sterling Institute of Relationship, who passed away recently. His work changed a lot of men’s lives.

Justin Sterling launched the Institute out of Oakland, California in 1979. His core idea was this: men and women are not the same. Not biologically or emotionally. He believed that by understanding and respecting these differences, people could create better relationships.

His biggest contribution was the Sterling Men’s Weekend. Two and a half days, stripped of fluff, where men get a chance to confront themselves—who they are, what they’ve settled for, and what kind of life they really want to build. It’s not therapy. It’s not a motivational seminar. It’s a crucible and it works.

In remembrance of Justin Sterling we've searched our episode archives for guests who’ve attended the Sterling Men’s Weekend. Our host, Nicky Billou, himself a graduate of the program.

Episode Highlights:

1. Masculinity is Simpler Than You Think

Guest: Huub van Maris

2. The Importance of Brotherhood in Modern Masculinity

Guest: Geoff Tomlinson

3. Creating Personal Context and Taking Ownership

Guest: Steve Richmond

4. The Role of Brotherhood in Personal Transformation

Guest: Rob Arpa

Learn more:

• Sterling Institute of Relationship

• What Really Works with Men by A. Justin Sterling

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“Forces that are destructive to the family. And I do look at them with a critical eye and a lot of those things need to be reformed. But I also think in parallel with that, there’s a growing recognition of the individual within.”

For many men, the second half of life brings an unexpected reckoning. Divorce, career changes, or personal loss force a decision: stay stuck in old patterns or take charge of a new future. Reinvention isn’t about reclaiming the past—it’s about stepping into your fullest potential. Thriving in this next chapter requires resilience, self-examination, and the right brotherhood to push you forward.

Michael Osterling has guided countless men through life’s toughest transitions. With decades of experience as a therapist and coach, he helps men rebuild their identity by strengthening their body, mind, and emotional resilience. He believes in the power of masculine-only spaces where men can challenge each other and grow.

With nearly 30 years as a therapist and 25 years as a coach, Michael has worked with elite military leaders and now co-runs Resilience Optimized, helping men reclaim their strength and purpose.

Resilience Optimized: https://www.resilienceoptimized.com/

Movenet: https://www.movnat.com/

SealFit: https://sealfit.com/

Also mentioned:

John Taylor Gatto

Fudōshin

Fudōshin is a state of equanimity or imperturbability. It is a philosophical or mental dimension to Japanese martial arts which contributes to the effectiveness of the advanced practitioner. Fudō Myōō is found in Shingon Buddhism as a guardian deity, who is portrayed as carrying a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left.

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.

“I think any man out there that’s living out there that might be younger than the age of 30, I don’t think they’ve really felt the brutality of what it takes to survive in the world, right? And the world is not a nice place, as much as we all like to tell each other.”

Mental toughness isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, brick by brutal brick. It’s about embracing discomfort, pushing past self-imposed limits, and refusing to be the guy who folds under pressure. The difference between success and failure? Discipline, resilience, and a willingness to go all in when others tap out. Whether it’s in business, fitness, or life, the men who win are the ones who don’t just endure hardship—they seek it out, because they know that steel is forged in fire.

Rob Arpa and Nicky Billou dive into the importance of fortifying the mind through physical challenge, discipline, and the right social circles. They discuss the teachings of elite athletes like David Goggins, the necessity of surrounding yourself with high-achievers, and why most men settle for mediocrity when they should be striving for dominance. Their message is clear: if you’re not actively strengthening your body and mind, you’re getting weaker.

Rob Arpa is a seasoned entrepreneur. With a background in business and a relentless drive for self-improvement, he’s built a seven-figure company while continually pushing his own limits. His insights into mindset, resilience, and success come from firsthand experience, making him a voice men should listen to—if they’re serious about stepping up their game.

Also in this episode:

“Never Finished” by David Goggins

https://davidgoggins.com/book/

“Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins

https://a.co/d/cQ4CDRX

“Finish Line Thinking: How to Think and Win Like a Champion” by Nicky Billou

https://a.co/d/hjA2G5S

“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink

https://a.co/d/iVVdqWh

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

https://a.co/d/gR1VwTK

“The Missing Secret” by Joe Vitale

https://a.co/d/8TiuQ9J

You’re invited to come to a Sovereign Circle meeting to experience it for yourself. To learn more, go to https://www.sovereignman.ca/. While you’re there, check out the Battle Ready program and check out the store for Sovereign Man t-shirts, hats, and books.