Building Men

In this episode, I sit down with Nico Diaz, an NCAA Wrestling All-American who placed 4th in the country this past season. But what makes Nico’s story powerful isn’t just what he’s accomplished on the mat—it’s everything he’s had to overcome to get there.This is a conversation about resilience in its rawest form.Nico opens up about losing his father while he was in high school, a moment that could have completely derailed his path. Instead, he found a way to keep moving forward. Then, during his college career, he faced another major challenge—five concussions—forcing him to battle not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.Through it all, Nico continued to show up, compete, and push himself to the highest level of his sport.Nico’s journey to becoming an NCAA All-AmericanThe impact of losing his father and how it shaped his mindsetBattling through five concussions and what that taught him about perseveranceThe mental toughness required to compete at an elite levelHow to keep moving forward when life hits you with setbacksWhat resilience actually looks like in real life—not just in theoryNico’s story is a reminder that adversity is part of the path. You don’t get to choose what happens to you—but you do get to choose how you respond.This one is for anyone who’s going through something difficult right now and needs a reminder that you can keep going.Become Stronger Industries: become-stronger.comFinish the Race Apparel: ftrapparel.comSupport our charity Stay in the Fight:https://www.stayinthefight.am/We are raising funds to support mental health therapy, counseling, and retreat experiences for people who are struggling but don’t have the financial resources or insurance to access help.If this episode gave you something valuable, share it with someone who needs to hear it.And as always—go one step further than you thought you could go.In this episode, we discuss:Why this episode mattersSponsors & Resources

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Romulo—a six-time Muay Thai champion, World Cup bronze medalist, former North American professional titleholder, resilience speaker, and mental performance coach. Chris has spent nearly 30 years in combat sports, and what makes his story so powerful is that he’s taken everything he learned through discipline, pressure, adversity, and high-level competition and turned it into a mission to help other people build resilience and perform under pressure.Chris doesn’t just talk about resilience—he’s lived it.In 2010, he founded CROM Physical Culture, the first Muay Thai gym in Far Rockaway. There, he launched a youth scholarship program for underserved kids growing up in the same environment he came from. Through discipline-based training and mentorship, Chris has helped young people build confidence, accountability, and direction.Today, Chris works as a keynote speaker and Mental Performance Mastery (MPM) certified coach, delivering high-impact presentations that combine real-life adversity with practical mental performance tools. His sessions are grounded, direct, and interactive—giving audiences clear frameworks to manage self-doubt, regulate emotions, and perform in high-pressure environments.Chris’s journey through nearly three decades in combat sportsWhat Muay Thai taught him about discipline, resilience, and emotional controlThe role mentorship plays in helping young people find directionHow to manage pressure and perform when the stakes are highWhy confidence is built through action and repetitionThe mindset required to overcome adversity and setbacksChris Romulo is a six-time Muay Thai champion, World Cup bronze medalist, and former North American professional titleholder who now works as a resilience speaker and mental performance coach. He has delivered more than 200 keynotes and workshops for organizations including JPMorgan Chase, Wounded Warrior Project, The Alzheimer’s Association, and schools and conferences across the country.Chris is also a devoted husband, father of two sons, and proud owner of their English Staffy, Bruce Leash.Website: www.chrisromulo.comEmail: [email protected]: 347-432-9159LinkedIn: Chris RomuloBecome Stronger Industries: become-stronger.comFinish the Race Apparel: ftrapparel.comSupport our charity Stay in the Fight:https://www.stayinthefight.am/We are raising funds to support mental health therapy, counseling, and retreat experiences for people who are struggling but don’t have the financial resources or insurance to access help.If you got value from this episode, share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation.And as always—go one step further than you thought you could go.In this episode, we discuss:About Chris RomuloConnect with ChrisSponsors & Resources

Today’s guest is someone I’ve known for years: Brock Schenck.I first met Brock through youth sports. My son Danny was a year older, but Brock always played up—and he was a problem on the basketball court. More importantly, he was always the same dude off the court: respectful, disciplined, shook your hand, looked you in the eye.But Brock’s story really becomes powerful when you hear what he’s been through.Over four years, Brock had four knee surgeries:7th grade: tore his ACL8th grade: tore the other ACLFreshman year: surgery to clean up scar tissueJunior year: tore his ACL againAnd most people would’ve quit.Brock didn’t.Instead, when football and basketball started slipping away, he reinvented himself. He picked up track & field throwing, became a beginner again, and worked his way into competing at a Division I level at the University of Virginia, throwing discus, shot put, and hammer.The moment Brock realized his athletic future might changeHow he handled going through injury after injury without spiralingWhat kept him motivated when he could’ve walked awayStarting over as a novice in a totally new sportDiscipline: why it isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you buildCollege athletics: the habits that separate the athletes who last from the ones who fadeThe quote that stuck with Brock: “What you’re not changing, you’re choosing.”Brock said the biggest change was this:Stop living in “what if.”Start living in “even if.”Not what if I didn’t get hurt…But even if I got hurt, how am I going to respond?That right there will change how you handle everything.Become Stronger Industries: become-stronger.comFinish the Race Apparel: https://ftrapparel.com/collections/stay-in-the-fightStay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/Go one step further than you thought you could go. We’ll see you next time on Building Men.

John Ulsh is a speaker, coach, author, and resilience expert who survived a near-fatal car crash that led to 45+ surgeries, years of recovery, and a complete reset on his life. He’s been featured in People Magazine, Men’s Fitness, and on Good Morning America, and he’s the author of The Upside of Down.John shares the moment everything changed: a head-on collision after a swim meet, an 18-day coma, paralysis, and waking up to a life he didn’t recognize.But the bigger story is what came next: rebuilding. John talks about how he went from being completely dependent on others to taking control of his life again through daily choices, training, and a mindset shift.You’d be surprised what you’re capable of when you’re forced to face hard things.Replace pain you can’t control with discomfort you choose on purpose.Build your “board of directors,” people you trust who can help you stay grounded.Remove obstacles and focus on the first step. Momentum comes from action.It’s more important to be intentional than perfect.Website: www.JohnUlsh.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnulsh/Finish the Race Apparel: https://ftrapparel.com/collections/stay-in-the-fightStay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/If this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs it. Go one step further than you thought you could go.

This conversation is raw. It’s honest. And it’s one of those episodes that I know is going to help a lot of people, especially anyone who’s carrying grief and doesn’t know what to do with it.In this episode, Brendan and I talk about what it means to lose a brother, especially in a sudden, traumatic way. We talk about the anger that can show up for men, the guilt that older brothers carry, and the feeling that life splits into “before” and “after” the moment you lose your person.Brendan also shares practical strategies—real, usable stuff—for what to do when grief hits you out of nowhere. Not the “time heals all wounds” nonsense. He talks about letting the wave hit, not fighting it, and making “small shifts” in your daily life to keep yourself moving forward when you feel stuck.We also talk about connection—how the relationship doesn’t end, it just changes. The rituals, the photos, the texts, the car conversations, all of it. Because pretending it didn’t happen isn’t strength. It’s avoidance. And eventually that pain comes back with interest.Brendan gives the background of what happened in April 2022, and how the legal process stretched the pain out for months and months. We also talk about who Philip was—his energy, his impact, and why the people who lose the “good ones” always seem to ask the same question: why him?I share something I still wrestle with: that feeling of “I should’ve protected him.” Brendan speaks to that in a way that I think a lot of men need to hear.We talk about how natural those thoughts are, especially for men, and how toxic it becomes if you live there too long.Brendan explains why grief isn’t a straight line. Some days are calm. Some days the storm comes back and knocks you over. But the ocean is always there.Brendan shares what he does when that punch-in-the-stomach moment hits:Don’t run from itFace itUse photos or memories when you’re already in the waveRemind yourself it won’t last forever, even if it feels like drowningThis part is huge. Brendan talks about making tiny changes—trying a new place, taking a new route, doing the thing you’ve been curious about. Not because it fixes grief, but because it keeps you from being trapped in the same mental loop every day.We talk about texting them, talking to them in the car, listening to old voice clips, and how the relationship continues—because for a lot of us, we think about them more now than we ever did when they were here.If you do one thing after listening to this episode: be good to people. You don’t know what the person in front of you is carrying.Website: www.BrendanShawGrief.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanshawgriefTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brendanshawgriefYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrendanShawGriefBrendan also shares what he and his family built in Philip’s honor: The Phil With Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that gives back through scholarships and community impact—supporting domestic violence shelters, animal shelters, food insecurity, youth sports, and more. Their goal is simple: turn pain into something that helps other people.Become Stronger Industries: becomestronger.comFinish the Race Apparel: FTRapparel.comStay in the Fight (Anthony’s charity): https://www.stayinthefight.am/If this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who needs it. Someone who’s grieving. Someone who’s holding it all in. Someone who thinks they have to stay strong by staying silent.And as always—go one step further than you thought you could.See you next time on Building Men.