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Masters of Resilience

Masters of Resilience

by Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips

Business Self-Improvement

Season 1

Peter Ostapko: Reclaiming Craft, Community, and the Printed Word

In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips sit down with Peter Ostapko, founder of Kinsmen, a movement helping men integrate faith, fatherhood, and work through community, craftsmanship, and the printed word. Peter shares the story behind Kinsmen’s beginnings born out of personal fragmentation and a desire for authentic brotherhood. The conversation explores why entrepreneurship often grows from personal pain, why slowing down matters in a digital age, and how craftsmanship and the printed word invite us back to the tactile, the human, and the real. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or creative, this episode will challenge you to mute the noise, build with intention, and rediscover the beauty of presence. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Masters of Resilience 00:25 – Meet Peter Ostapko of Kinsmen 02:21 – Founding Kinsmen from Fragmentation 06:21 – The Power of Print 10:20 – Craftsmanship Over Artistry 19:47 – From Isolation to Connection 28:19 – The Kinsmen Creed 29:11 – Demonstration vs. Information 31:01 – Building Genuine Connection 32:25 – Celebrating Community Wins 35:08 – Generosity in Action 36:17 – Knowing Hearts & Leading with Vulnerability 37:56 – Growth Through Time & Experience 40:29 – Cultivating Authentic Community 42:03 – Leading with Empathy 44:21 – Cross-Generational Mentorship 47:31 – Risk, Faith & Growth 48:13 – Lessons from Trees 50:47 – Wisdom Through Experience 54:37 – The Kinsmen Journal

Ben Owen: Fighting Monsters and Finding Meaning

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips sit down with Ben Owen, whose journey from addiction and brokenness to leadership and purpose is nothing short of remarkable. Ben shares how faith, fatherhood, and surrender reshaped his life and why resilience isn’t just about pushing through, but about turning pain into purpose. From walking away from the comforts of corporate America to launching We Fight Monsters, a nonprofit serving those caught in addiction, trafficking, and violence, Ben’s story highlights the power of service, family, and community in transforming lives. Follow Ben on Instagram: @therealbenowen Learn More: WeFightMonsters.org Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:34 Ben Owen’s Journey Through Adversity 09:02 The Role of Faith in Recovery 13:54 Finding Purpose in Service 18:34 The Importance of Family and Fatherhood 22:55 Marriage and Partnership in Adversity 27:32 Surrendering to a Higher Purpose 32:34 The Impact of Corporate America on Personal Growth 36:55 Future Goals and Community Engagement

Brad Lomenick: Clarity, Calling, and the Courage to Lead

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, we sit down with Brad Lomenick - author, speaker, and longtime president of Catalyst, one of the most influential leadership movements of the last two decades. Brad shares his raw and honest journey, from wrangling horses on a Colorado ranch to leading thousands of leaders through Catalyst. He opens up about the weight of leadership, the sting of transactional relationships, and the painful wake-up call he received from his own team. This conversation explores the power of intentional community, why clarity matters more than passion, the necessity of feedback, and how leaders can make sure the people closest to them don’t just get what’s left over. Whether you’re a young leader figuring out your calling, or a seasoned leader navigating transition, Brad’s wisdom on self-awareness, feedback culture, and investing in relationships will inspire and challenge you. Learn more about Brad’s work: https://www.bradlomenick.com Follow Brad on Instagram: @bradlomenick Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Masters of Resilience 01:30 - Guest Introduction: Brad Lominek 05:00 - Challenges in Leadership 10:15 - Transactional Relationships 15:45 - Leadership Transitions 20:30 - Building Intentional Relationships 25:00 - Career Journey and Lessons Learned 30:45 - The Importance of Clarity and Purpose 35:20 - Creating a Feedback Culture 40:00 - Final Thoughts and Advice 45:00 - Closing Remarks

Greg Denning: Building a Formidable Family Life

From homeless at 16 to traveling the world with his wife and seven kids, Greg Denning has built a life defined by resilience, purpose, and adventure. In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Ryan Seeger and Mark Phillips sit down with Greg to talk about what it means to be a formidable family man, why discomfort is essential for growth, and how to create a life you don’t need a vacation from. Greg shares powerful stories - from a lonely Christmas Eve in a freezing shack to climbing Kilimanjaro with his family - and offers practical frameworks for building strong marriages, raising resilient kids, and leading with intention. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro and Greg’s Journey 04:32 — The Inflection Point: Choosing family & purpose 07:00 — Formidable Family Man: Useful, valuable, family first 09:55 — Radical Ownership: Ditching victim mentality 16:47 — Fear, Ego & Identity: What really holds us back 19:49 — Brotherhood & Lifelong Learning 21:55 — Raising Resilient Kids & Family Travel (books + experiences) 29:13 — Family–Work Rhythms & Marriage 37:09 — Intentional Living: Align actions with values; starve fear/ego 41:55 — Embracing Discomfort + Greg’s Playbook, books & advice Website The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast Instagram

Scott Stallings: Redefining Success

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience Podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips sit down with Scott Stallings, three-time PGA Tour winner and a man who has redefined what success looks like in the world of professional golf. Scott opens up about the mental and physical challenges of overcoming a significant injury after 14 years on tour, the unexpected lessons of slowing down, and the transformative experience of running the Boston Marathon. He shares practical insights on balancing family life with a demanding career, the importance of health and wellness, and how to master the inner game when life doesn’t go according to plan. Follow Scott on Instagram @scottstallings for a look behind the scenes at his journey back on tour. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Resilience and Transformation 01:23 – Overcoming Injury and Finding Purpose 09:12 – Mental Challenges in Professional Golf 14:13 – Balancing Life and Golf 17:51 – Health and Wellness Journey 20:59 – The Experience of Running a Marathon 23:09 – The Inner Game of Golf 28:32 – The Importance of Process Over Outcome 34:14 – Reflections on Success and Failure 39:25 – Creating Meaningful Connections

Mindy Caliguire: Caring for Your Soul

In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager sit down with Mindy Caliguire, Co-Founder and President of Soul Care. Mindy shares her deeply personal story of burnout, illness, and the slow journey back to wholeness — and why she believes soul care is not a side project but a way of life. Mindy’s insights are a timely reminder that true resilience is rooted in spiritual and emotional health, not relentless productivity. Take the Soul Health Assessment, subscribe to the Soul Care email newsletter, or connect with Mindy’s team at soulcare.com. Chapters 01:22 — Mindy’s Journey through Burnout 04:39 — The Challenges of Church Planting and Overwork 09:27 — When the Body Keeps the Score 14:43 — Moments of Realization and Change 17:56 — Assessing Well-Being and Taking Action 19:50 — Do We Really Need a Crisis? 22:02 — Post-Pandemic Opportunities for Soul Care 24:19 — Tangible Practices and New Rhythms 27:46 — The Battle for the Soul in Modern Life 29:22 — First vs. Second Order Priorities 31:06 — Sitting in the Chair: True Surrender 38:25 — The Role of God in Real Transformation 41:56 — Recognizing Soul Neglect 45:38 — Finding Purpose and Learning to Discern 50:47 — Final Reflections

Marcus Filly: Functional Bodybuilding, Fear, and Finding Joy in the Process

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips sit down with Marcus Filly—former CrossFit Games athlete and founder of Functional Bodybuilding. Marcus shares his journey from competitive athlete to wellness entrepreneur, opening up about mental health challenges, identity transitions, and how joy and fear shape high performance. Through candid reflections on dropping out of med school, redefining success, and transforming his relationships, Marcus unpacks the mindset shifts that have fueled his evolution. Whether you’re a high-achiever battling burnout or someone seeking a more sustainable path to health, this episode delivers deeply personal insights on resilience, wellness, and the lifelong journey of self-care. Chapters 01:00 – Navigating Identity and Transition 06:01 – From Athlete to Entrepreneur 12:00 – Finding Purpose Beyond Fear 17:58 – The Balance of Fear and Joy 24:36 – Lessons from Hardships 26:06 – Navigating Mental Health 30:30 – A New Lease on Life 34:03 – The Power of Curiosity 36:25 – Technology, Scarcity & Anxiety 40:53 – Finding Joy in Fitness 44:02 – Four Pillars of Wellness 47:12 – The Importance of Protein 50:35 – Caloric Awareness & Food Choices 52:51 – Resilience Through Setbacks 01:01:03 – The Power of Forgiveness in Fitness Connect with Marcus Filly & Functional Bodybuilding: Website: functional-bodybuilding.com Podcast: Look Good Move Well Instagram: @marcusfilly, @functional.bodybuilding YouTube: Marcus Filly

Jon Reiner: Building a High-Performance Team That Lasts

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager sit down with Jon Reiner, who leads one of the top specialty insurance teams in the country. Jon shares his journey of building a high-performance culture rooted in humility, clarity, and relentless intensity. From empowering his team to take risks and learn through failure, to balancing the demands of leadership with family life, Jon offers a masterclass in resilient leadership. Whether you’re scaling a business or leading a small team, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom and mindset shifts that will challenge and inspire you. Chapters: 01:25 – Building a High-Performance Team 04:21 – Navigating Challenges and Uncontrollables 08:32 – Retention: Keeping Top Talent 10:24 – Culture of Intensity and Passion 12:35 – Finding and Nurturing Talent 15:04 – Empowering Growth and Responsibility 16:41 – How Leaders Handle Failure 20:01 – Delegating and Trusting Your Team 26:41 – Investing in Growth Through Consulting 29:48 – The Role of Humility and Healthy Paranoia 31:51 – The Challenge of Leadership 34:41 – Balancing Family, Work, and Discipline 38:15 – Learning from Great Leaders 42:56 – Staying Sharp: Habits, Health, and Routines 47:06 – Leadership Lessons in Patience and Emotional Control

John DeAngelis: Faith, Family, and Foundations That Endure

What does it take to lead with integrity and still thrive in a high-stakes industry? In this episode, Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips chat with John DeAngelis, President and Co-Founder of DeAngelis Diamond, to explore a leadership model rooted in character, clarity, and generosity. John shares his journey of building one of the country’s premier construction firms while holding fast to faith and family. He unpacks the challenge of balancing high support and high challenge in leadership, hiring for character over skill, overcoming fear with intentionality, and defining “enough” in a world that always demands more. With personal reflections on fatherhood, self-awareness, and legacy, this conversation is both deeply practical and profoundly inspiring. 02:09 — Navigating Unique Challenges in Construction 04:27 — Developing Leaders with Lives Worth Following 11:18 — Hiring for Character Over Skills 13:40 — Establishing Core Values in Leadership 18:20 — Overcoming Fear in Leadership 28:51 — Defining ‘Enough’ in Success and Generosity 33:50 — The Challenge of Generosity 35:25 — The Role of Fatherhood 41:28 — Navigating Work and Family Life 45:34 — Self-Awareness in Leadership 49:27 — Understanding God’s Sovereignty 52:57 — Defining True Success and Legacy

Masters of Resilience: Lessons from Year One

In this milestone episode of Masters of Resilience, Mark and Ryan take a moment to reflect on the journey so far—what they’ve learned from the conversations, the leaders, and the struggles along the way. They explore what it really takes to stay resilient: from practicing patience and managing energy, to building an unshakable inner game. Whether you’ve been here from the start or just tuning in, this episode captures the heart of what Masters of Resilience is all about. Chapters 01:07 — Lessons from the Past Year 06:15 — Movement vs. Action: What’s Real Progress? 10:11 — Failure Isn’t the End, It’s the Way 12:50 — Mastering the Inner Game 17:14 — You Can’t Do It Alone: The Power of Support Systems 22:10 — What’s Next for Year Two

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