EQ Gangster

#264: Learning EQ Lessons At Every Level? A Conversation With Hollywood Writer & West Point Classmate, TJ Brady

A super reflective conversation with my West Point classmate & Hollywood Writer, TJ Brady.    He shared some emotion & leadership insights on his experience of being in charge of the new TV Drama “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” that aired earlier this year on Peacock.    How are you growing both professionally AND internally?    Many are just focused on professional growth.    Are you emotionally prepared to face & deal with the next level of challenges at your next promotion /...

#263: Pt. 3, Insights From My Growth From Parenting Our Teenage Daughter

I finally had the conversation with my teenage daughter about how I got triggered over a week ago, what I’m learning, my apology & my boundaries.   Insights:  My emotional “Kryptonite” - rejection   Waiting to have the conversation with her until I calmed down from my emotional trigger.   RFR - Repentance, Forgiveness, Restoration   Communicating calmly & safely the entire conversation   Honoring her “Question Boundaries”   Honoring *both* her boundaries AND my boun...

#262: How Does Your Personality Affect How You View Failure?

An episode about the intersection of our EQ, Personality & Failure.    How do you define ‘failure’?   What ‘stories’ or ‘scripts’ do you have pertaining to failure?   How does your EQ impact how you respond to failure?    How does your personality impact how you interpret failure?    How can you maximize your failure?    How can you change the way you look at failure to get more out of it?   If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the...

#261 EQ Insights - Do Strong Emotions Equal a Low EQ and Is It Ok To Like Words of Affirmation?

I had a conversation with a friend who dialed me in after I had prematurely come to the conclusion that feeling strong emotions equaled a low EQ.    Then, I had some reflection after feeling bad after receiving some positive feedback. Is it ok to like / appreciate words of affirmation from others? Is it a sign of weakness?    If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

# 260: What Does Emotionally Healthy Dreaming Look Like

  This episode introduces the concept & question of how do you set goals & “dream build” from an emotionally healthy place.    How have you developed / established your goals?    Who are you trying to please?    Who influenced your goal setting?    Where did you come up with your particular goals & dreams?    Is there such a thing as dreaming “too big” or “not big enough”?    What role has your family, friends, culture & society played in your goal & dream setting? ...

#259: How My Unhealthy Emotional Coping Mechanisms Are Negatively Impacting My Relationship With Our Teen Daughter

I share some current personal reflection on how my coping, survival mechanism is negatively impacting my relationship with our daughter.    There are a handful of helpful questions to assist you in doing some reflection on how some of your coping mechanisms may also be impacting your relationships, both personally & professionally.   I also share my game plan to restore & strengthen my relationship w/our teenage daughter.   If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the nex...

#258: Managing Emotions On Remote Teams With Dr. Travis Hearne, author & former Marine

Dr. Travis Hearne shares some great insights regarding managing emotions of not only yourself, but your team when working remotely.   He also shares his own personal challenges & journey from being emotionally numb as a Marine and then learning to develop his own self-awareness so that he could be emotionally present & available for his wife & children.   He recently wrote a book on leading remote & in-person teams, aka “hybrid teams”. His book is called “Hybrid”.    LinkedIn:  ...

#257: EQ Insights & 15 Questions to Ask Yourself About What You Do, With Dr. Jerry Novack

There are two other episodes involving Dr. Jerry Novack. One previous episode was based on some more excellent EQ insights I received from him during one of our conversations.    The other episode I interviewed him.   It is always such a tremendous learning experience speaking w/someone w/such great self-awareness.    Jerry’s self-awareness forces me to reflect, challenge myself and dig deeper into my own journey.    In this episode, I share more deep insights & connections g...

#256: 9 Questions to Help Someone Process Their Own Challenging Emotions

Here are some questions about our emotional bandwidth & capacity when dealing with someone that is emotionally charged:    Whose emotional state impacts your emotional state?    How effective are you at being able to hold space for someone whose emotional w/out letting their emotional state impact / affect you?    Who is impacted by YOUR emotional state?    What can you do to better prepare yourself to handle others’ various emotional states?    Are there specific people ...

#255: Some Good & Some Embarrassing Lessons Learned From My Missions Trip to the Dominican Republic

  These are the 7 questions I answer on this episode from my recent Missions Trip to the Dominican Republic:   1.) What fears did you come to the DR with & how have you overcome them?    2.) What did you learn from the Dominican culture that you can take home & apply to your life?    3.) What challenges do Dominicans face that you should be thankful for that you don’t have?    4.) Most impactful part of this trip in your life?    5.) What would you do differently the ne...

#254: What Lessons Did You Learn From Your Toxic Relationships? With West Point LTC Travis Walter (Army)

LTC Travis Walter shared a real-world example where he encountered a very toxic senior military officer.   Travis shares how he transformed a toxic leadership experience into an opportunity to grow his own emotional health & emotional intelligence by increasing his awareness & curiosity.    He even grew his faith & learned Boundaries & learned how to begin advocating for himself even if it cost some professional capital.   What lessons have you learned from your toxic leadership ...

#253: EQ & People Lessons from Master Talent Recruiter, Adam Posner (EXPLICIT)

Just finished interviewing Adam Posner, owner of the NHP Talent Group & Podcast Host of The POZcast.    Amazing dude.   Here are 3 of the lessons I learned from Adam.    1.) Don’t let life happen to you. You “happen” to life. What do you want? Go after it. Pursue it. Connect w/others that are where you want to be. Ask questions. Learn. Grow. Change.    2.) Embrace your emotions. Don’t be afraid of them. Master them. Don’t let them master you. Use them. Be aware of them & how ...

#252: What EQ Growth Areas Are You Avoiding?

What are you avoiding that you know would help you grow emotionally?    For me, I have been avoiding Amy Fiedler & Matthew Phifer, two of my favorite people that discuss skinny on Emotional Health.   Why? Why would I avoid two of my favorite content creators on emotions & EQ?    Are there any areas of your life that you’re avoiding tackling / workin on? Why?    Amy Fiedler IG: https://www.instagram.com/amythelifecoach/   Matthew Phifer IG https://www.instagram.com/mat...

#251: Have You Discovered Your Purpose? What Is the Relationship Between EQ & Purpose With Purpose Expert Cory Rusin

Some fascinating insights from Cory Rusin on the intersection & relationship between purpose & EQ.   We discussed some of the following topics:   Practical tips that not only apply to teenagers but also to adults in pursuing purpose. How to think about & approach pursuing one’s purpose. Some really good questions to ask oneself about pursuing one’s purpose.  The importance of self-awareness in the purpose process.   TikTok @yourpurposeguide   IG https://www.instagra...

#250: How Do Your Energy Levels Impact You & Your Performance? It Takes Self-Awareness To Accurately Assess Your Energy.

In this episode I share some interesting insights I’ve learned about energy levels & how they impact performance.   There are also a list of questions to help assess & increase awareness of your energy levels.    If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

#249: Navy SEAL, USNA Grad, Interview w/Alden Mills (EXPLICIT)

Such an awesome discussion w/Alden Mills!    Here are some of the things we discussed: Why have you been so successful?    Thinking - Feeling Loop: Thought - electrical impulse Feeling - magnetic charge   How well can you tell when something aligns with your values?    How in tune are you with how something feels in your body?    How would you counsel / coach yourself?    How intentional are you at dedicating time to reflecting?    Ego, armor, social mask - how ...

#248: Have You Done Your Emotional Fitness Test Yet? (Emotional Fitness Audit Inside!)

Get ready for this one!    Lots of questions & some great exercises to do an Emotional Fitness “Test” / Audit of your Emotional Foundation.   Doing the Emotional Fitness Audit will increase your chances & likelihood of beginning & continuing your Emotional Fitness Program.    If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

#247: Do You Know Someone Who Was Bullied? How Are Your Boundaries? With Celebrity TV Host & Producer, Remi Jones (EXPLICIT)

Have you ever been bullied? How did it affect you?    Did you still allow yourself to be bullied?    Remi learned some huge lessons from her emotional growth journey:    Stress management Patience Forgiveness Boundaries   She shares how she learned each of those big lessons. Some, like me, she is still working on.   She gives some great progress on developing & enforcing her boundaries with some friends.    How well do you enforce your boundaries?    How produ...

#246: What Can You Be World Class At? What Can You Master? How Would It Impact Your Life?

How many people do you know have achieved mastery in their craft?    Tammy, our massage therapist, has 32 years of massage & over 32,000 bodies she’s massaged.    4th Degree Blackbelt, Professor Marcelo Motta, is 43 y/o and has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 30 years. He still competes at the highest levels of BJJ.    What can you be world class at?    How intentional are you at developing your craft?    What does mastery look like?    What is the relationship ...

#245: Perfectionist Much? Ever Been Through a Really Dark Place? With Curt at Dad.Work

This was a very transparent & vulnerable conversation with Curt. What made this such a great discussion was how self-aware Curt is & how much (emotional) work he’s already done.    He has a tremendous understanding of some of the very dark places he’s been through & the lessons he’s learned.    Perfectionism, depression, suicidal ideations, lessons in the valley were all things brought up & shared.    What lessons have *you* learned in your valleys?    IG https://www.instagra...

#244: What Is The Impact of Your Self-Awareness & Self-Management?

This episode was originally shot as a Facebook Live.    Emotional intelligence is comprised of self-awareness & self-management and social-awareness & social-management.    I share a couple insights from some of the executive clients I coach.    After decades of my own dysfunction, it is very important to have both the self-awareness AND the self-management.    Important note: No emotional management tool will work if you don’t use it.   There are some interesting generat...

#243: Dealing With Challenging Relationships With Toxic Relationship Expert, Matt Phifer

Wow…this was an amazingly insightful conversation with Matt! He shared some    incredible thoughts & wisdom throughout our chat.      Here are some of the questions we discussed:      How did you develop your self-awareness?      How our emotional dysfunctions fit like a glove in certain relationships with others.     What % of people are emotionally unhealthy?      How hard is self-awareness for so many people?     What is one of your most effective, po...

#242: So Much for Not Getting Triggered Anymore (Valleys, part 3)

This episode is sponsored by Sha Sparks, Author & Podcast Host, The Power of Investing in People, part of the Lima Charlie Network.    I share a (very) recent story where I reverted back to some old coping mechanisms (stuffing, avoiding, stewing & brooding) after I got triggered earlier this week.   Some things I discuss about my most recent valley: How my “stress plate” started to overflow. Emotions I was feeling / processing & needing to process Some factors contributing to my s...

Episode 241: Highest Ranking Air Force NCO on Leadership & EQ, Former Diamond 1, Manny Pineiro.

#241: Highest Ranking Air Force NCO on Leadership & EQ, Former Diamond 1, Manny Pineiro.

#240: High EQ for Unhealthy Reasons, Habit & Behavior Audit to Come From Healthy Place

This episode is sponsored by LimaCharlie Network. Visit https://www.limacharlienetwork.com/ to connect with other amazing Active Duty Military & Prior Service Podcasters & Influencers.    In this episode I share a couple insights from a recent Coaching client w/very high Emotional Intelligence scores.    How emotionally intelligent are you?    Where did you develop your EQ from?    When did you start your EQ journey?   Why did you start working on your emotional growth?  ...

#239: How Do You Manage Your Energy Levels With Flatter CEO Brittany Chiang

If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

#238: Are You a People Pleaser Addict or Do You Know One?

This episode is sponsored by the EQ Mafia, a safe, supportive, encouraging, empowering emotional fitness community committed to helping each other grow & heal to maximize our gifts & bring our best to the world. Visit eqgangster.com for more details.   In this episode, I discuss the characteristics and consequences of being a people-pleaser addict for 4 decades.   I also share some of the blessings & benefits of finally being on the other side of my people-pleasing addiction.    ...

#237: How To Manage Your Valleys By Men's Group Founder, Sean Gallan

What a tremendous guy with an amazing story!    Surfer, International DJ, Entertainment & Tech CEO to crippling illness that left him bedridden for years back to a successful entrepreneur & founder of the tremendously valuable resource for men called Mens Groups.   Here are some of the questions we discussed about his journey:   What was the pivot point for you that led him to start taking ownership of his emotional growth?   How did you transform your identity from successfu...

#236: Maximizing & Optimizing the Valley Funk (Part II)

Check out Episode 234 for Part 1 of discussing / addressing the valley.   In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I’m very comfortable in very uncomfortable positions. Why can’t I have that same mindset w/my emotions?    All things related to life’s valleys & funks.    Why am I so keen to run away from my valleys rather than lean into them?    How do you maximize your valleys?    How intentional are you at learning from your valleys?    How can you be more intentional at learning fro...

#235: How Did Your Childhood Affect Your Adulthood With Superhero & Lovable Leader, Jeff Gibbard

Wow, such an engaging interview w/Jeff! Can’t wait for you all to hear his skinny! Here are some of the questions we discuss:   How did your childhood contribute to where you’re at today?    What issues do you feel your parents had that affected / impacted you?    How did you become emotionally intelligent?    How can 1 develop that ability to begin questioning ourselves & challenging ourselves?    How did you take ownership of your emotional health?    How can one ge...

#234: EQ Exercise That Helped Me Get Out Of A Short Funk (In-The-Valley Exercise)

If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

#233: How To Improve Your Overall Wellbeing With West Point Grad, Helicopter Pilot & Executive Wellness Coach, Traci Fisher

How would you rate your overall well being?    How would you define your overall well being?    What factors contribute to your well being?    In this fun interview, Traci shares her process for ensuring one creates the best, most effective well being possible through her proven, time-tested tools.   She puts a fun spin on “Wellness” & “Being” & talks about her principle of “Wellbeingness”.    She shares about discovering, designing, & daring.    She also discusses a ...

#232: How Are Your Boundaries Serving You? How To Do A Boundaires Audit.

  This episode is sponsored by ClassicalConversations.com.   How aware are you of your (personal & professional) boundaries?    How are your Boundaries serving you?    How effective are your Boundaries?    This episode is all about analyzing & evaluating your Boundaries to see if you might be due for a Boundaries overhaul.    Be sure to check out:  Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend https://www.christianbook.com/boundaries-when-take-control-your-life...

#231: How Is Your EQ Affecting Your Relationship With Food? Conversation With Hannah & Ciara (Food, Freedom Confidence Fb Group Founders)

We discuss each of our respective stories created around food and how those stories impacted our lives.    Hannah & Ciara share how to change those potentially unhealthy stories to create a healthier more productive relationship w/food.   Where do your stories around food come from?    How are they serving you?    Hannah & Ciara share some great tips & advice on how to begin creating healthier relationships around food.    Food Freedom Confidence Fb:  https://www.facebo...

#230: The (Healing) Power of Validating & Affirming Others. How To Increase Your Ability to Connect With Others (EQ Mafia Sneak Peak)

This episode is sponsored by the EQ Mafia. If you’d like to join a safe, supportive, equipping community of like-minded leaders that are all working on our emotional fitness, check out the EQ Mafia. Visit eqgangster.com for more details.   One of the best ways to connect more effectively & more deeply with others is to validate & affirm their emotions.    How often do you validate & affirm others emotions?    Why don’t you do it more often?    When is the last time you felt s...

#229: What Does Your Emotional Fitness Program Look Like? Air Force Veteran, Former Cop, Successful Entrepreneur, Dom Faussette

Such a great conversation w/a very successful entrepreneur, speaker, executive coach, author & Air Force Veteran, Dom Faussette!    Be prepared for a very real, eye-opening conversation that is akin to verbal smelling salts.    He shares some relatable, convicting stories of how he went from being suicidal to sucessful entrepreneur.    He also shares some very somber, convicting stories from when he was a Police Officer & some of the lessons he learned from growing up in the hood. ...

#228: I Almost Did Irreparable Damage To My Family. You Can Behave Differently Than How You Feel. You Are Not Your Emotions.

This episode is sponsored by Lima Charlie Network. Visit limacharlienetwork.com for more details.   Whew, this story still nearly sends shivers down my spine when I reflect back on this moment in my past.   I’m so incredibly thankful to be on the other side of this story.   Emotions make terrible masters.    How in control are you of your emotions? How about when you get frustrated, upset or angry?    If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the...

#227: Toxic Cultures & EQ With Work Culture Consultant, Brittinay Lenhart

Have you ever been blinded by your loyalty to a toxic leader or toxic leadership environment?    Have you ever seen others blinded by their own loyalty even at the expense of how they’re getting treated by the toxic leader?    How did it feel to watch others get mistreated as a result of their own loyalty to the leader or the organization?    How is culture impacted by the EQ of leaders?   Work Culture Consultant, Brittinay Lenhart, shares some great thoughts from her own exp...

#226: What Is the Balance & Relationship Between Resilience and EQ? The Ranger Creed & A Question from a Retired Ranger Command Sergeant Major, Dale Roberts

This episode is sponsored by the EQ Mafia.    What do you think the relationship between Resilience & EQ is?  What does the Army Ranger Creed have to do w/resilience or EQ?    Can you be resilient w/out having a high EQ?    Can you have a high EQ w/out being resilient?    In this episode I explore some of those questions.     If you’re ready to take your emotional growth to the next level, join the EQ Mafia at https://www.eqgangster.com/.

225: What Is The Relationship Between EQ & Strengths With StrengthsFinder Certified Coach, Marta Haut

Have you ever thought about how your emotional intelligence impacts or “interacts” with your Strengths?    How does operating in your Strengths impact/affect your energy levels?    What is your recovery time when operating in your Strengths vs when you’re not operating in your Strengths?   If you’re not emotionally intelligent, your Strengths can actually be weaknesses.   Learning how to utilize your Strengths is an excellent way to increase your Self-Awareness, a critical co...

#224: Do You Have a Partner or Colleague With a Low EQ. How Do You Handle It? - 13 Lessons

#223: From Enlisted Soldier to West Point to a Psychiatrist to Successful Entrepreneur, Dr. Chuck Weber Shares Excellent Mental Health Insights (EXPLICIT)

Dr. Weber started growing his emotional intelligence at 8 y/o playing a game w/his friends.   We also discussed some of the following questions:  How important is mentorship & coaching in one’s EQ growth journey?   How does EQ impact effective coaching & mentorship relationships?    What are some common defense mechanisms?    Where does denial come from?   Where does our sense of self come from?   What have you learned about people?    How do we look for the good in...

#222: 20 Lessons on Emotions to Encourage & Empower You

This episode is sponsored by LimaCharlieNetwork.com.   Here are some great insights I’ve discovered on my own emotional growth journey and learning from my leadership coaching clients’ emotional growth journey’s:    Here is the first 10 lessons. The final 10 lessons are on the podcast / YouTube episode.   1.) You are not your emotions.   2.) Your emotions are real.   3.) Your emotions are data / information.   4.) Your emotions are not who you are.   5.) When feelin...

#221: Ep 221  From Colombia to U.S. Navy to Overcoming Toxic Male Leadership to Owner/CEO, Jean Payne Shares Her Amazing Journey

This episode is sponsored by LimaCharlieNetwork.com.    Jean shares how her father sent her to the U.S. from Colombia when she was just 15 years old.    She was in 4 different high schools & then joined the Navy.   She encountered some toxic male leadership in Corporate America & finally said “enough is enough” when she started her own company.   She shares her operating principles as a CEO and how she ensures a culture of safety, value & respect.   She openly shares her ...

#220: The Impact of Emotions On Our Cognitive Thinking (Magic Mind)

This episode is exclusively sponsored by Magic Mind! Visit http://magicmind.co/noble for more details! Enter ​​”noble20” for a 20% off your purchase of the world’s first productivity beverage!   I share some interesting insights that Dr. Mark Mayfield shared with the EQ Mafia tonight.    What is the cognitive impact of our emotions?    How is our thinking, productivity, and quality of our decisions impacted by our emotions?    What is the impact of the quantum energy of our emo...

#219: White House Intern, Harvard Law Grad, Corporate Attorney, Julian, The Importance of Mental Health

Julian shares his fascinating story about how he crushed every academic endeavor he pursued from UC Berkeley, to New York University to Harvard Law School and even into being a successful corporate attorney…he then found himself wrapped up in consistent & overwhelming anxiety. He ended up quitting cold turkey as an attorney to seek how he could get mentally & emotionally healthier.    What questions are you asking yourself about your mental & emotional health?    How frequently do yo...

#218: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Kids Growing Up (Spring Canyon, Buena Vista CO)

This is an episode I’d recommend checking out on YouTube because of my backdrop in Buena Vista, CO!    Whew, this was a rough weekend for me due to the emotions hitting me hard about our teenage daughter growing up so quickly.   In this episode, I share what I did to help me calm down emotionally from all those big emotions and also some thoughts on parenting & boundaries as our children get older.   If you would like to check out the events at Spring Canyon Conference Center, vi...

#217: 217 How This Young Entrepreneur Views Society, Success & Therapy

How many of you were living your dream life at 25 years old?    O’licia is living her best life & NOT keeping up with the Joneses.    O’licia shares some amazing insights as a young 25 y/o entrepreneur & podcast host about how she protects herself from society and manages to still march to the beat of her own drum.   She also has an amazing testimony about her therapy experience.   Diaries of High Achievers Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-diaries-of-high-...

#216: How Do Emotions Impact Our Learning? And A Funny Ranger School Story.

This episode is sponsored by Filter It Through a Brain Cell podcast. For more info, visit https://www.filteritthroughabraincell.com/.    I kick off this episode with a funny Winter Ranger School story during the Mountain Phase. It was a humorous interaction with one of my Ranger Instructors.   How tuned in are you to learning?    What’s the relationship between EQ & learning?    How intentional are you at learning?  What leadership insights have you learned?    What hav...