Soft people need to experience pain. “Pain is part of the deal. Pain is growth.” says Jess. But pain brings fear and resistance, so then what do we do...how do we break past all of that and come out better on the other side? Jess Kidd joins us today to share the pain she experienced as a teenager, the pain she takes on herself as an adult, and how all of this allows her to help others today.  An incredible journey that may ‘hurt’ a little to listen to! Show notes: Spartan Races: https://www.spartan.com/ Jess’ Blogs: http://habitofpersistence.blogspot.com/ Paradigm One: https://paradigmone.org/ Follow Jess on Instagram: @invictusjess 

In this week's visit to the forge, we talk with resilience coach and cancer survivor, Chris Bordoni. We discuss facing our mortality. What is resilience? How to build everyday resilience with simple daily steps. What is a 'failure resume,' and why is it something all of us should create. How does post traumatic growth transform us to be stronger and better?  Show notes:  Chris Bordoni is a resilience coach, cancer survivor, and management consultant. He has been through his share of adversity in his life and has been a good student in the school of mental strength. In his podcast, "100 Inspiring Voices" he interviews others who have also lived through hardship. Why do some people, teams, and communities grow stronger when faced with adversity? What can we learn from them, and how might those insights allow us to live better lives? In this podcast, Chris is interviewing 100 individuals with amazing, inspiring, and uplifting stories. https://chrisbordoni.com/ 100 Inspiring Voices Podcast Books mentioned: Red Platoon: A Real Story of American Valor Man's Search for Meaning

In this Fireside Reflections solocast, we turn the microphone this time to your blacksmith Tara O'Brien. She shares her stories on doing hard things,  beating back imposter syndrome, and how she learned (and now teaches) to use the power of our own narratives to succeed in everything we do. Our mind can tell us powerful (very believable) stories, but taking control of those stories is something we all have the power to do. Tune in to find out how it's as easy as learning how to do a few pushups! Show Notes: -Tara O'Brien. https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraobrien1/ -Leadership Frontiers Podcast - Brought to you by the University of Colorado Boulder's Center for Leadership -Mental Health vs. Mental Illness:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/reaching-across-the-divide/201804/the-difference-between-mental-health-and-mental-illness -The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1590710037/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1616381316&sr=8-1 -Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown: https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592407331/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1616382573&sr=8-1 Brene Brown on The Power of Vulnerability Ted Talk:  https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability/transcript?language=en Work with us!  Find us at www.forgingmettlepodcast.com/partner

One of the more amazing women we've had the pleasure to chat with about leadership, character, and how women can navigate leadership in a male dominated organization/industry...and be successful. After 40 years in leadership positions within U.S. Coast Guard, recent author of Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass, our new friend Sandy Stosz shares what she's learned throughout the decades on being an incredible and successful leader...even as an introvert surrounded by military men. Show Notes: https://sandrastosz.com/ Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage by Dan Crenshaw  Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink.  How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen.   Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass by Sandra Stosz (pre-order in mid April and book release is June 1st 2021 Leading with Character (Blog) by Sandra Stosz. 

Let's take a journey into how the brain works when facing adversity. We're going to talk brain science in this fast moving episode that is sure to educate and entertain. What happens in the brain when we do hard things and suffer? More importantly, can this be trained and developed? Tune in to find out. Show notes About Simon Marshall:  I grew up in Zambia, Africa, and in different parts of the UK. My travelling childhood was spent obsessively playing soccer, rugby, and tennis, before I found competitive cycling. I started training and racing at age 12 and never really stopped.  As my dreams of becoming a professional cyclist faded, I decided to study sports science instead.  This led to rather lengthy collection of degrees that simply proved with science why “Simon” and “professional athlete” were destined never to be used in the same sentence. I have a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, a master’s degree in Kinesiology, and a PhD in Sport and Exercise psychology.  For reasons I’m still baffled by, I’m an internationally renowned expert in exercise and health with a focus on changing people’s behavior. I’ve published over 80 scientific articles (yawn) and book chapters (more yawn) about the science of health behavior change (cool). The Brave Athlete: Calm the Fuck Down and Rise to the Occasion Braveheart Coaching Xterra Podcast

We talk about the grit and perseverance it takes to be an effective leader of people when faced with the worst conditions and the most unfortunate circumstances. To do this, we travel back in time to learn more about and discuss the journey and survival of Sir Earnest Shackleton and his crew aboard The Endurance. Here to dive into the details of this world-renowned survival story of over 2 dozen men...led by one man who had to overcome 18 months of hell in the most extreme conditions.  Margot Morrell brings this story to light for us.  She has studied, traveled all over the world and written about Shackleton since 1984.   Show notes: Margo Morrell's Book: Shackleton's Way by Margo Morrell & Stephanie Capparelle

"If humans are evil, why do we sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to help others even at a cost to ourselves?" This week we talk to an expert psychologist about what makes people more altruistic than others...and why some people have no empathy and can even be labeled as 'psychopaths'.  We cover the spectrum between the two which brings about some fascinating ideas on what a year of isolation is doing to people and what effects it might have on how we understand what others think and feel.   Show notes: About Abigail Marsh: She is a psychologist and neuroscientist who works as a professor at Georgetown University's Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, where she is the director of the Laboratory on Social and Affective Neuroscience.  She addresses questions using multiple approaches that include functional and structural brain imaging in adolescents and adults from both typical and non-typical populations, as well as behavioral, cognitive, genetic and pharmacological techniques. Among her ongoing research projects are brain imaging and behavioral studies of altruistic kidney donors and brain imaging studies of children/adolescents with severe conduct problems and limited empathy. The Fear Factor (book) Abigail Marsh (wiki) Why Some People are More Altruistic Than Others (TED talk) Lab website

Has fear even held you back from achieving your dreams? Or is it your relationship with fear that held you back? Patrick shares his journey to change his narrative about his fears and how you can too. He is candid about how it changed his life in unimaginable ways.  About Patrick: "I grew up terrified of everything. I didn't have confidence or self-esteem. My biggest fear was flying. I made excuses every time I had a chance to fly – on exchange programs, to family reunions, for big races, I made excuses to cover up the shame I felt of being afraid. I was lying to the world and myself. Then at 35 I got one of the rarest forms of leukemia. The doctors told me to say my good-byes. That was when I chose courage. Yeah, it's a choice. Not for me but for my 1-year-old daughter and unborn son. I decided if I beat the disease and got out of John’s Hopkins I’d get over my fear of flying. I did. I decided I’d get my private pilots license. It was terrifying, but I still took the first frightening step. Then an incredible thing happened. I fell in love with flying. I now fly a stunt plane in aerobatic competitions. It is one of the greatest joys in my life, a true passion that was hidden from me because of fear. My choice had a halo effect on my whole life. Suddenly courage became my superpower. It all started with that first small step. My life changed and so can yours. That’s why I left the lucrative start-up world behind; to write Fear is Fuel and help millions of people find courage and the life of their dreams. When we become authentic, strong and confident we can achieve world peace. That’s my dream" Fear is Fuel (book) Patrick's website

It's time to talk about hard things. Allie and Nick share what it's like being a college student during a 'once in a century' pandemic. We'll talk about what challenges they face as they navigate isolation, social media, dating, life after graduation, political unrest and mental health. This is an eye opening discussion from the perspective of the next generation of leaders.

Former Colorado senator Mark Udall talks to us about adventures on Everest, the Baja and long dessert backpacking trips. The lessons he has learned from pushing his physical limits, building mettle and engaging with nature are fascinating. This is a podcast filled with rich stories of adventure and leaves us with nuggets of wisdom on why we all should do hard things to enrich our lives.  Show Notes:  Colorado resident and native Westerner Mark Udall represented the people of Colorado in the U.S. Senate from 2009 to 2015 and the 2nd Congressional District from 1999 to 2009. Before serving in Congress, Udall was a field instructor and later Executive director for the Colorado Outward Bound School. He is an avid mountaineer and has climbed or attempted some of the world’s most challenging peaks, including Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Denali and Aconcagua. Books mentioned in the podcast "Sometimes a Great Notion" by Ken Kesey "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer