Building Men

In this episode, I sit down with Bill, the founder of Story State Solutions, a coaching business focused on helping men navigate post-sobriety recovery and helping professionals get unstuck in their personal and professional lives.Bill’s message is powerful because it goes beyond sobriety.For him, sobriety isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting line.With 37 years of sobriety, a Level 3 Enlifted certification, and a background as an ultra-endurance athlete—including preparing for an upcoming 200-mile race through the Sierra Nevada—Bill has built his life around resilience, ownership, discipline, and movement forward.His coaching framework:Story → State → Actions → Resultsis designed to help people stop overthinking, get out of their heads, and start taking action.This conversation is about recovery, identity, mindset, suffering, purpose, and learning how to turn pain into momentum.Bill’s journey through addiction and 37 years of sobrietyWhy sobriety alone doesn’t automatically create fulfillmentThe power of changing the story you tell yourselfHow your emotional state impacts your actions and outcomesWhy movement and discipline matter for mental healthThe mindset required to endure ultra-endurance races—and life itselfThe idea that life isn’t happening to you, it’s happening through youA lot of people believe recovery is about stopping something.Bill believes recovery is about becoming someone.This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or trapped inside their own thoughts—and needs a reminder that change starts with action.During this episode, we also talk about the upcoming 200-mile Sierra Nevada race fundraiser supporting Stay in the Fight, the mental health charity started in memory of my brother Anthony.Being strong doesn’t mean being invincible.It means showing up every single day—even when life hits hard.Anthony carried a lot of people while quietly fighting his own battles with mental health. After losing him in 2024, we created Stay in the Fight because nobody should have to struggle alone—and nobody should have to skip therapy because they can’t afford it.The mission is simple:Provide mental health resources and therapy with no cost and no barriers.This race is for Anthony.And for everyone still in the fight.Finish the Race Apparel: ftrapparel.comBecome Stronger Industries: become-stronger.comSupport Stay in the Fight:https://www.stayinthefight.am/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 matters200-Mile Race Fundraiser — Stay in the FightSponsors & Resources

In this episode, I sit down with Lawrence C. Harris, a youth speaker who is on a mission to help young people believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and start making better decisions today.Lawrence’s story is real. It’s raw. And it’s exactly the kind of conversation young men need to hear.Growing up, Lawrence faced serious challenges—navigating life with autism, experiencing childhood abuse, and dealing with C-PTSD. These are the kinds of things that could easily define someone’s life path. But instead of letting his past dictate his future, Lawrence chose to take ownership of his story—and now uses it to help others do the same.Over the past five years, he’s spoken to thousands of students through school assemblies, workshops, books, podcasts, and online events. What makes Lawrence different is his honesty. He doesn’t sugarcoat things. He speaks openly about struggles that a lot of young people feel—but don’t know how to talk about.Lawrence’s journey growing up with autism and traumaHow childhood experiences can shape—but don’t have to define—your futureThe impact of abuse and C-PTSD, and how he learned to process itWhy so many young people feel stuck—and how to break out of itThe importance of taking ownership of your life, regardless of your pastSimple, practical ways to start building confidence and self-beliefA lot of young men are walking around carrying things they’ve never talked about.Lawrence’s message is simple but powerful:You are not your past. And you are capable of more than you think.If you’re struggling, if you feel stuck, or if you’re trying to figure out what comes next—this conversation will hit.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, 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.