Acta Non Verba

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Rod Yancy — entrepreneur, writer, attorney, and founder of Oath and Bootleg. Rod shares how he’s found success across multiple industries, from law and financial planning to software and now music. The conversation explores what it means to build companies that serve people, live with intention, and innovate within the modern music industry. Rod offers timeless lessons on creativity, courage, and taking action to turn vision into reality. Episode Highlights: 5:04 - The Power of Mortality in EntrepreneurshipRod discusses how contemplating mortality (memento mori) shaped his philosophy and inspired the founding of Oath, emphasizing the importance of living intentionally and making meaningful decisions. 9:39 - Overcoming the Success TrapRod and Marcus explore the “success trap” many entrepreneurs fall into—chasing money or status at the expense of fulfillment, health, and relationships, and how true success requires self-awareness and balance. 40:07 - Delegation and Leadership Lessons from Richard BransonRod shares advice from Richard Branson about the importance of delegation, empowering others, and stepping back as a leader to allow the team to thrive, even if it means feeling less “needed.” 56:00 - Empowering Artists with New Revenue StreamsRod introduces his new venture, Bootleg, which helps artists monetize live concert recordings, providing fans with unique experiences and artists with ongoing revenue, illustrating innovation and creative entrepreneurship. Rod Yancy is a serial entrepreneur, attorney, and founder of Oath, a company dedicated to helping people live intentionally by contemplating their mortality and planning their legacy. With a background in philosophy and law, Rod has built and scaled multiple businesses, including Oath Planning and Bootleg, a platform empowering artists to monetize live performances. Known for his creative approach, resilience, and commitment to meaningful work, Rod draws inspiration from both ancient philosophy and modern mentors like Richard Branson. He is passionate about fostering innovation, supporting artists, and helping others find purpose beyond financial success. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Marcus sits down with Commander William C. Spears, a US Navy submarine warfare officer and author of "Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy." Together, they explore the practical application of stoic philosophy in leadership, adversity, and modern life, offering insights for anyone seeking to live by actions, not words. Episode Highlights: 1:10 — Introduction to Commander William C. Spears and his background in the US Navy 11:30 — The deeper meaning of stoicism and the "dichotomy of control" as a philosophical razor 19:00 — Stoicism’s role in leadership, duty, and making ethical decisions as a professional and a human 42:00 — Applying stoic practices to overcome hardship and grow through adversity Commander William C. Spears is a submarine warfare officer in the US Navy, having served as a weapons officer on a fast attack submarine and as an executive officer of a Trident missile submarine. He is the author of "Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy," a deeply researched exploration of stoic thought from a warfighter’s perspective. Spears is also a prolific writer on leadership and ethics, sharing his insights on his website and LinkedIn. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Marcus sits down with Navy SEAL combat veteran, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Brent Gleeson. They discuss leadership, personal growth, building resilient organizations, and Brent's new book "All In." The conversation dives deep into actionable strategies for success, the importance of systems, and how to balance achievement with fulfillment. Episode Highlights: 1:05 - Brent Gleeson's background: Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, and author 9:50 - The Remarkable Results Pyramid: systems, mindset, and routines 25:10 - The story behind "All In" and the impact of personal transformation 35:10 - Accelerate: leveraging AI for organizational growth and leadership Brent Gleeson is a Navy SEAL combat veteran, award-winning speaker, and serial entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Exlr8, an AI-powered enterprise workforce app, and the author of bestselling books "Embrace the Suck," "Taking Point," and his latest, "All In." Brent is renowned for applying leadership and cultural principles from special operations to the business world, helping organizations drive performance and lead change. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Marcus Aurelius Anderson speaks with Kyle Shepard—a father, husband, military audiologist, resilience instructor, former burpee world record holder, and functional fitness coach. Together, they explore the power of actions over words, the importance of resilience, lessons from adversity, and how to align values with daily life. Kyle shares his journey through military service, world record challenges, personal loss, and the strategies he uses to build mental and physical strength. Key Highlights: The Burpee World Record Story [2:30]Kyle shares how a friendly challenge led him to break the world record for burpees, and what the experience taught him about discipline and competition. Resilience and Recovery [8:15]Discussion on the difference between resilience and burnout, and why intentional recovery is essential for sustained performance. Navigating Personal Loss [32:40]Kyle opens up about experiencing miscarriages, the impact on his marriage, and how vulnerability and communication helped him and his wife heal and grow stronger. Aligning Actions with Values [23:45]Insights on the importance of self-awareness, reflecting on core values, and ensuring that daily actions are in alignment with what truly matters. Kyle Shepard is a father, husband, military audiologist, resilience instructor, and functional fitness coach. A former burpee world record holder, Kyle is passionate about helping others build resilience through intentional stress, mindset training, and community support. His journey includes military service, coaching, and overcoming personal adversity, all of which inform his approach to living a life based on actions, not words. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with executive coach Bahar to explore the power of shadow work in leadership and personal growth. Bahar shares her expertise in psychology, neuropsychology, and functional medicine, discussing how leaders can overcome internal obstacles, foster resilience, and create lasting transformation in themselves and their organizations. Key Highlights: 3:25 — The importance of shadow work for leaders and organizations 8:40 — How childhood patterns shape adult behavior and leadership 16:08 — The five survival strategies: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fall apart 29:06 — Jungian psychology and the origins of shadow work 38:24 — Bahar’s personal journey through adversity and self-discovery 1:03:00 — The Alexander Method and integrating psychology, neurobiology, and coaching 1:23:00 — Executive presence, self-awareness, and transformation in leadership 1:40:00 — Bahar’s new book and course: Leadership Magnetism 1:53:00 — Advice for leaders on job transitions and finding meaning Bahar is an executive coach and master performance coach with a background in psychology, neuropsychology, epigenetics, shadow work, and functional medicine. She specializes in helping leaders and organizations remove internal obstacles to mastery, focusing on deep transformation rather than just skill-building. Bahar is the creator of the Alexander Method and the course "Leadership Magnetism," and is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve personal and professional success through self-awareness and resilience. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.