Masters of Resilience
Season 1
by Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips
In this episode of Masters of Resilience, Joey Bowen and Drew Beech, co-founders of Few Will Hunt, share how a simple mantra—“Everybody wants to eat, but few will hunt”—sparked a movement rooted in hard work, community, and mindset. Hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager explore how faith, authenticity, and daily discipline shaped their path from frustration with entitlement to building a fast-growing apparel brand and loyal community. Follow Few Will Hunt: Website: fewwillhunt.com Instagram: @fewwillhunt Podcast: youtube.com/@fewwillhunt Highlights: 01:28 — The birth of Few Will Hunt 03:31 — The power of hard work 10:00 — Facing fear and taking action 25:47 — Authenticity in business 38:01 — Parenting and sacrifice 46:18 — High agency and daily habits 57:33 — “The Few Energy” philosophy
In this episode, Donnita Travis shares her journey from a thriving corporate career to founding By The Hand Club For Kids, a nonprofit transforming the lives of children in under-resourced neighborhoods. Donnita opens up about the tension between self-reliance and trusting God, how faith and purpose shaped her leadership, and the business-minded strategies that helped scale her impact. From personal growth to organizational expansion, this conversation offers wisdom on leadership, calling, and the courage to pursue transformation. Learn more about By The Hand Club For Kids and get involved at www.bythehand.org. 00:00 – Framing the Role of Resilience in Leadership 01:25 – Wrestling with Self-Reliance vs. Trusting God 04:12 – From Corporate Success to Community Impact 10:21 – Applying Business Principles to Nonprofit Leadership 14:16 – What Resilience Really Means in Adversity 17:01 – Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 Challenges 24:50 – Innovation, Adaptability, and Thriving Through Uncertainty 25:19 – Personal Growth and Leadership in Times of Crisis 29:31 – Purpose-Driven Leadership and the Power of “Why” 31:14 – Navigating Career Transitions with Faith 44:32 – Growing the Mission: Expansion Beyond Chicago 50:15 – Embracing Humility, Faith, and Partnership in Leadership
In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager sit down with Ale Breuer, a founder, investor, and professor, to explore the critical role of resilience in entrepreneurship. Ale shares her personal journey—from launching Ezza Nails to navigating challenges as an investor—highlighting the power of persistence, embracing failure, and developing emotional intelligence in leadership. The conversation dives into key themes like the difference between persistence and resilience, the concept of a resume of failure, and the emotional aspects of failure and shame. Ale also discusses how her experiences continue to shape her work in MBA education and venture capital, emphasizing the importance of founder diligence, self-awareness, and servant leadership. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or leader, this episode offers invaluable insights into mastering the inner game of resilience in business. 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Adversity 02:22 Ale’s Journey: From Founder to Investor 05:01 The Role of Failure in Success 10:07 Navigating the Pandemic: Challenges and Decisions 20:12 Lessons in Leadership and Servant Leadership 26:07 The Legacy of Ezza: Teaching Resilience to Future Entrepreneurs 28:24 The Theater of Resilience 29:04 Building Resilience in MBA Students 30:57 The Resume of Failure 32:45 Disassociating Shame from Failure 33:36 Persistence vs. Resilience 37:22 The Future of Entrepreneurship 41:21 Founder Diligence in Venture Capital 50:52 Mastering the Inner Game of Entrepreneurship
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips engage with Nate and Ben Checketts, co-founders of Rhone, a premium activewear brand. The conversation delves into the brothers' journey of building Rhone, highlighting the unseen adversities they faced, the importance of resilience, and the role of identity in their entrepreneurial journey. They discuss how their personal experiences and family dynamics shaped their approach to business, emphasizing the significance of community, mental fitness, and the pursuit of purpose over perfection. 02:25 The Journey of Roan: Overcoming Adversity 09:19 Building Resilience Through Habits and Structure 17:07 Identity and Imposter Syndrome in Business 25:20 Creating Meaning and Community Through Rhone 35:49 The Essence of Holiness and Human Connection 37:45 Sustaining Profound Moments in Life 41:51 The Pursuit of Less but Better 45:00 Balancing Priorities: Family, Work, and Life 51:53 Navigating Pain and Suffering in Parenting 58:14 The Importance of Marriage in a Busy Life 01:03:20 Reflections on the Journey and Advice for the Future www.mastersofresilience.com www.rhone.com
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Rusty Bland, President of the KeHE Cares Foundation, shares his journey of resilience, offering insights on identity and leadership. He reflects on his personal experiences, including the challenges of a business failure and how it reshaped his understanding of self-worth and purpose. Rusty emphasizes the role of faith, mentorship, and community service in building resilience and leading with purpose. 01:49 Rusty's Journey Through Adversity 08:51 The Role of Identity in Resilience 13:22 Transformative Experiences and Humility 18:41 Connecting Identity, Resilience, and Faith 23:02 Learning from Experience and Mentorship 27:04 The Importance of Perspective in Life 32:20 Final Thoughts on Family and Legacy 34:21 Leadership Lessons from Rapid Growth 40:17 Building a Kingdom Culture in the Workplace 46:40 The Balance of Being Liked and Leading Effectively 52:25 Vision for Kehi Cares Foundation 58:07 Creating Sustainable Models for Organizational Development
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, MLB pitcher Jake Cousins shares his journey through the highs and lows of professional sports. He discusses resilience, community support, and faith in overcoming challenges like injuries and roster moves. Jake emphasizes releasing control, gaining perspective through family, and the mental aspects of high-pressure performance. He highlights the role of sports psychology, mentorship, and gratitude, offering advice to aspiring athletes on trusting the process and valuing their support systems. 01:21 Early Life and Baseball Beginnings 03:30 Navigating Professional Baseball Challenges 07:20 Injuries and Setbacks in Jake's Career 11:55 The Rollercoaster of Major League Baseball 18:01 Dealing with Uncertainty and Control 23:17 The Role of Pain and Resilience 27:11 Perspective Shift: Family and Community 28:16 The Mindset of a World Series Pitcher 31:25 The Role of Sports Psychology in Athletics 33:04 Learning from Others: The Importance of Mentorship 36:29 Navigating the Narrow Margins of Professional Sports 40:42 The Importance of Family and Support Systems 46:17 Reflecting on Success and Relationships 50:32 Advice for Aspiring Athletes
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager are joined by Jim Hussey, a seasoned leader in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. They explore the essence of resilience in leadership, the transformative power of suffering, and the importance of character over wealth. Jim shares personal stories of adversity, emphasizing the role of faith and the necessity of facing fear in leadership. Learn more at MastersOfResilience.com. 01:27 Jim Hussey's Background and Leadership Philosophy 02:25 The Role of Fear in Leadership 05:48 Understanding Fear and Anger in Leadership 10:34 The Importance of Suffering for Growth 13:28 Personal Stories of Suffering and Growth 17:20 Grappling with Unmet Expectations 19:44 The Test of Money and Security 26:17 Integrating Faith and Work in Leadership 30:32 The Importance of Honesty in Leadership 32:57 Team Building and Empowerment 36:48 The Role of Questions in Leadership 38:10 Transitioning from Doer to Thinker 44:02 Goal Setting and Backward Planning 49:35 The Power of Saying No 56:29 Resilience and Perseverance 58:14 Character as Destiny
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager engage with Max DeZara, managing partner of Akoya Capital. They explore Max's unconventional journey through private equity, his experiences with adversity, and the importance of a calm mindset in crisis situations. Max shares insights on building a people-centric investment model, the role of humility and empathy in leadership, and offers advice for younger entrepreneurs. The conversation emphasizes resilience, personal growth, and the significance of self-care in achieving success. 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Adversity 01:26 Max Desara's Unconventional Journey 09:57 Navigating Challenges and Adversity 19:01 The Importance of Calmness in Crisis 27:41 Building a People-Centric Investment Model 35:24 The Role of Humility and Empathy in Leadership 42:34 Advice for Younger Self and Key Habits Visit us online at MastersOfResilience.com
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips engage with Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe Media, discussing his journey from author to CEO, the unique publishing model of Scribe, and the insights from his book, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. The conversation explores themes of wealth, happiness, accountability, and the importance of controlling one's time and environment. 00:00 Introduction to Masters of Resilience Podcast 01:26 Eric Jorgenson's Journey to Scribe Media 06:45 The Unique Publishing Model of Scribe Media 12:31 Productizing Yourself and Risk Management 15:46 Key Takeaways from The Almanac of Naval Ravikant 20:39 Defining Wealth Beyond Money 25:21 The Pursuit of Happiness and Control Over Time 31:08 Shining a Light on Others' Brilliance 32:36 Rescuing Valuable Knowledge 35:01 Mindfulness and Attention Management 39:10 Neurodivergence as a Superpower 42:04 Earning a Calm Mind and a Fit Body 46:01 Dealing with Uncertainty 52:12 The Stockdale Paradox 55:18 Pursuing Passion Over Profit Learn more at https://scribemedia.com/ Visit us online at MastersOfResilience.com
In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips sit down with James Floyd, a combat veteran and ultra-runner, for a deeply inspiring conversation. James opens up about his journey of resilience, shaped by childhood trauma, the loss of his parents, and the transformative power of faith. He reflects on how these experiences have molded his perspective on life, his approach to challenges, and his role as a father. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:22 James Floyd's Journey of Resilience 08:31 Childhood Trauma and Its Impact 17:57 Finding Faith and Redemption 23:19 Learning Resilience Through Adversity 27:37 Parenting and the Influence of Early Trauma 29:33 The Importance of Intentional Parenting 36:16 Overcoming Personal Challenges Through Resilience 42:52 Faith and Purpose in Life's Journey 49:37 Building Resilience Through Healthy Habits 55:55 Lessons from Hard Times and Good Times