What can a man using a leaf blower during a violent windstorm do about his messy lawn?   What can a man using a leaf blower during a violent windstorm teach us about productivity, stress, and personal growth?   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark explores why being busy doesn’t always mean making progress. When life becomes chaotic, our instinct is often to panic, reach for the nearest familiar tool, and start doing anything that makes us feel in control. But even the right action taken at the wrong time can waste energy—or make the situation worse.   You’ll learn why preparation matters before difficult seasons arrive, how to recognize when it’s time to act, rest, or simply endure, and why real wisdom means knowing not only what to do, but when to do it.   If you’re working hard without seeing results, feeling overwhelmed by circumstances outside your control, or trying to navigate a stressful season, this episode will help you pause and ask two important questions:   Is this the right thing to be doing—and is this the right time to do it?   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

Why do some Monday mornings feel calm and productive while others begin in complete chaos? The difference often comes down to what happened the night before.   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, Mark explores how preparation, personal accountability and better habits can reduce unnecessary stress. From filling the gas tank and organizing your tools to planning materials and closing out the previous week, small decisions can determine how Monday morning feels.   The conversation also goes deeper: What does it mean when managers constantly complain about employees they hired and developed? What responsibility do parents carry for the behaviours reinforced at home? And how can we acknowledge our role in life’s problems without pretending everything is within our control?   This episode is an honest challenge to stop blaming the clock, traffic or other people for every difficult day—and start looking for the choices, routines and boundaries that can make life easier.   Listen now and ask yourself: What problem do I keep complaining about that better preparation could help me solve?   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

Everyone wants to feel understood—but how often do we make the effort to understand someone else?   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we explore the uncomfortable irony of empathy: when we hear that people should be kinder, more patient, and more compassionate, we often think about what other people should give us—not what we could offer them.   Why do we judge ourselves by our circumstances but judge others by their behaviour? Is our desire for empathy helping us grow, or simply proving that we’re right? And when someone is struggling, do they need our solutions—or do they need us to listen?   This is an honest conversation about ego, emotional awareness, understanding other people’s pain, and learning to extend the same grace we expect to receive.   New episodes every Monday at 5 a.m. If this message resonates with you, share it with someone who may need to hear it, and follow the podcast for more conversations about mental health, self-development, and moving your life in the right direction.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

After six months of shoulder surgery recovery and physical therapy, Mark is finally back on the jiu-jitsu mats. That return sparked a reminder: even when a difficult season feels endless, the way we experience it can change.   In this episode of the Risen Falling Podcast, Mark talks about staying consistent through injury, doing what you can when progress feels slow, and seeking support when you need it. He also explores the other side of impermanence—appreciating the people, routines, and good moments in your life while they’re here.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

How do you build self-trust and create lasting change in your life? It begins by keeping promises to yourself, developing daily discipline, and asking a powerful question: “What do I need to give to get what I want?”   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we explore how the principle of “equivalent exchange” applies to personal development, mental health, fitness, relationships, career growth, and financial well-being.   You’ll learn: How small daily habits build confidence and self-trust Why personal growth requires time, energy, and sacrifice How discipline helps you break negative patterns Why exercise and movement support physical and mental well-being How to create momentum when you feel stuck Why becoming reliable to yourself can change your life   If you’re working on self-improvement, building better habits, becoming more disciplined, or getting your life back on track, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the Risen Fallen Podcast for honest conversations about mental health, self-development, discipline, confidence, and becoming a better version of yourself.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

Most of life isn’t about getting the thing — it’s about learning how to maintain it.   In this episode of the Risen Fallen Podcast, we talks about why relationships, fitness, mental health, home ownership, work, and personal growth all require constant attention. Getting in shape is one thing. Staying in shape is another. Finding a relationship is one thing. Learning how to communicate, compromise, forgive, and grow together is another.   We also explore why waiting until you feel “ready” can keep you stuck. You don’t need to know how to fix every problem before buying a house, becoming a husband, starting a business, or pursuing something meaningful. A lot of the skills you need can only be developed once you actually put yourself in the position to learn them. This episode also looks at preventative maintenance in life — dealing with small problems before they become big ones, asking for help when something is outside your wheelhouse, and recognizing that many of the problems we complain about are connected to things we’re fortunate to have in the first place.   If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time, trying to have everything figured out, or feeling overwhelmed by the constant upkeep of life, this episode is a reminder that maintenance isn’t failure.   It’s part of having something worth taking care of.   Topics include:• Personal growth and self-development• Mental health maintenance• Fitness and consistency• Marriage and relationships• Home ownership and responsibility• Preventative maintenance in life• Asking for help• Overcoming fear and discomfort• Why you’ll never feel fully ready• Gratitude and perspective   The Risen Fallen Podcast is an open and authentic conversation about mental health, self-development, personal responsibility, relationships, and building a better life one step at a time. If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

It’s easy to go through a difficult season and start believing that season is who you are.   You’re not just “out of shape.” You’re in a season where your habits have changed. You’re not just “bad with money.” You’re dealing with financial circumstances that can be improved. You’re not permanently stuck, broken, lazy, or incapable just because that’s how life feels right now.   In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about how the way we speak to ourselves can shape the way we see ourselves, how temporary circumstances can slowly become permanent identities, and why our behaviours often influence our feelings more than we realize.   I also share what recovering from shoulder surgery has taught me about the difference between saying “I’m injured” and “I’m recovering from an injury,” and why that subtle shift in perspective can matter. We also get into: * Why we tend to see what we’re already looking for * How negative self-talk can reinforce your identity * The difference between accountability and toxic positivity * Why your circumstances may not change until your behaviours do * How routines can influence energy, confidence, and motivation * Why action often comes before feeling * How to stop treating temporary struggles like permanent traits * A simple journal prompt to evaluate your daily habits If you’ve been feeling stuck, behind, unmotivated, out of shape, overwhelmed, or disconnected from the person you want to become, this episode is a reminder that where you are right now does not have to become who you are.   New episodes of The Risen Fallen Podcast every Monday.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

What does it actually mean to be a good father?   In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Binyamin Rothstein, family physician, father of eight, and author of A Real Man's Guide to Becoming a Terrific Dad, for a conversation about fatherhood, parenting, family, and the responsibility men have to truly show up for their children.   We talk about what children really need from their fathers, building stronger emotional connections, discipline, leading by example, balancing work and family, supporting your partner, and why simply providing financially isn't the same thing as being present.   Dr. Rothstein draws from decades of experience working with families as well as his own experience raising eight children to share practical lessons for becoming a more intentional, involved, and dependable father. Whether you're already a dad, preparing to become one, or simply thinking about the kind of man you want to be for your future family, this conversation is about building relationships with your children that will last long after they leave home.   In this episode: What makes a good father Being present instead of simply providing Building emotional connections with your children Discipline without destroying confidence Balancing career, responsibilities, and family Becoming a better husband and co-parent Leading your children through your actions Raising confident and responsible kids Creating a relationship your children actually want to maintain as adults Learn more about Dr. Binyamin Rothstein and A Real Man's Guide to Becoming a Terrific Dad at BeATerrificDad.com.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t doing everything — it’s simply showing up. In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about why running one block is better than never leaving the couch, why action can create motivation, and how that same idea applies to the people we love.   The people in our lives don’t always need us at our best. They don’t always need advice, solutions, energy, or some perfect version of ourselves. Sometimes they just need us to be there, pay attention, listen, and be present.   I also get into how technology has changed the way we connect — from sitting beside someone while scrolling on our phones to the strange reality of FaceTime, where we’re talking to another person while simultaneously staring at ourselves.   We have more ways to stay connected than ever before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re more present.   This episode is about lowering the barrier, putting the phone down, making the call, running the block, and remembering that imperfect presence is better than perfect intentions.   If you’ve been waiting until you feel motivated, energized, prepared, or “at your best,” this one is for you.   Just show up.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com

Most of life isn’t made up of huge breakthroughs, perfect routines, or life-changing moments — it’s made up of ordinary days. In this episode of The Risen Fallen Podcast, I talk about why learning to make the boring days your best days can completely change the way you approach your health, mindset, and life. I also get into my own tendency to look for “the one stretch” or “the one exercise” that will finally fix my hips, shoulders, or mobility. But the reality is that our bodies — and our lives — usually need variation, consistency, movement, and repetition more than they need one perfect solution. If you want to feel like an active person, you first have to become active. If you want to feel healthier, stronger, more disciplined, or more fulfilled, you have to start practicing those things during the normal days when nothing exciting is happening. Today, I talk about: • Why consistency matters more than finding the perfect routine• The importance of movement and variation for your body• Why we’re always searching for one simple fix• Building identity through action• How ordinary days shape who you become• Staying active even when motivation is low• Why a better life is built through small daily choices• Learning to participate in your life instead of waiting for it to change You don’t need every day to be exciting. You need to get better at making the ordinary days count. The Risen Fallen Podcast explores mental health, discipline, personal development, purpose, relationships, faith, and building a meaningful life.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify! <3   Reach out on Instagram: @RisenFallen   Check out my website: www.risenfallen.com