In this episode of The Richard Listens Show, Richard sits down with licensed therapist and relationship expert Jeremy Mast for a powerful conversation about addiction, trauma, shame, intimacy, and the growing impact of technology on our mental health.

Drawing from both his professional experience and personal journey with alcohol and pornography, Jeremy explores how early exposure, unresolved trauma, emotional isolation, and unmet needs can develop into compulsive behaviors. He explains why these struggles are especially prevalent among men—and why shame and secrecy often make them harder to overcome.

Richard and Jeremy unpack the difference between healthy and toxic shame, how compulsive behaviors can become ways of escaping difficult emotions, and why genuine connection is such an important part of healing. They also examine the rapidly changing digital landscape, including pornography, social media, and AI, and the unique challenges these technologies may create for younger generations.

Most importantly, Jeremy shares a hopeful path forward: addressing the behavior while going deeper into its emotional roots, developing healthier intimacy, creating safe spaces for vulnerability, and learning to heal through authentic relationships and support.

A thoughtful and timely conversation about what often hides beneath addiction—and how understanding, connection, and compassion can help people move toward lasting change.

What separates a talented athlete from a true champion? Often, it’s the mind.

In this episode of Richard Listens, Richard sits down with renowned sports psychologist Dr. Jim Afremow and author Phil White to explore the principles behind their new book, The Daily Champion’s Mind.

Together, they unpack why mental training isn’t something athletes should turn to only when things go wrong—it’s a daily practice. From visualization and body language to confidence, resilience, leadership, and recovering from failure, Jim and Phil share practical strategies for developing the mindset required to perform under pressure.

Drawing on lessons from elite athletes across basketball, golf, tennis, baseball, hockey, and more, they explore what champions do differently: they don’t allow one mistake, one loss, or one difficult moment to define them.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, leader, or simply looking to strengthen your own mindset, this conversation is a powerful reminder that mental toughness isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you train.

Listen now to discover how small, intentional mental practices can build a champion’s mind—one day at a time.

In this special July 4th episode of the Richard Listens Podcast, Richard sits down with Jesse Crosson, author of The Best Part of Prison, for a powerful conversation about redemption, resilience, and the possibility of transformation.

After receiving a 32-year prison sentence as a teenager, Jesse spent 19 years incarcerated before rebuilding his life through meditation, education, and a deep commitment to personal growth. Today, he is a leading advocate for restorative justice, helping young people and communities break cycles of violence through the Second Chance Foundation and Central Virginia Community Justice.

Together, Richard and Jesse explore the realities of prison life, the challenges of reentering society, the mentors who shaped Jesse's journey, and why rehabilitation—not punishment alone—creates lasting change. They also discuss purpose, grief, community, and the responsibility we all have to help others discover hope and meaning.

This is a conversation about second chances, the power of human transformation, and what it truly means to build a life of purpose.

Richard Listens Podcast – Guest Bio: Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is a nationally recognized performance coach, entrepreneur, and founder of the Chris Ryan Fitness app, a science-driven platform designed to help ambitious professionals build strength, improve longevity, and perform at their highest level in business, family life, and health.

A former Division I track and field athlete at the University of Florida, Chris was named one of America’s Top 10 Trainers and gained national recognition as a featured trainer on NBC’s STRONG. He later became a founding trainer for MIRROR (now lululemon Studio), helping pioneer the connected fitness movement before at-home training became mainstream.

For more than 15 years, Chris has coached executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and high-performing parents, while contributing to leading publications including Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, and Shape. His work has also included partnerships with global brands such as Nike, lululemon, and Polo Ralph Lauren.

As a husband, father of three, and business owner, Chris brings a unique perspective on balancing health, leadership, family, and ambition. His practical, science-based approach helps people create sustainable results without extreme diets or endless hours in the gym.

On this episode of the Richard Listens, Richard sits down with Sean — musician, songwriter, Army veteran, and advocate for mental health awareness. From singing in community choirs at age four to becoming the primary lyricist and Executive Producer of The Quarantined, Sean shares the journey that shaped both his music and his mission. Their latest album, Aversion to Normalcy, recorded at the legendary Blackbird Studio, has already surpassed 600,000 Spotify streams since its release in November 2025.

Beyond music, Sean opens up about his experience serving as an Airborne Infantryman in the U.S. Army with the 3/509th PIR, including his deployment to Iraq from 2006–2007, and how those experiences led him to become an outspoken advocate for veterans’ mental health and the responsible use of cannabis for PTSD treatment. This conversation explores resilience, creativity, healing, and the power of using your voice to create impact.

In this special weekend edition of the Richard Listens Podcast, host Richard sits down with Becca Alvarado—a trainer, athlete, and storyteller from Arizona—whose passion for poetry and spoken word is shaping a powerful creative journey. Becca shares the story behind her upcoming book, Rainbows and Demons: An Anthology of Human Antics, a deeply personal 5–6 year project that weaves together original poetry and hand-crafted illustrations.

The conversation explores the balance between discipline and creativity, as Becca reflects on maintaining physical strength through early morning workouts while nurturing her artistic voice. She opens up about her relationship with running, inspired by her sister’s marathon journey, and how movement fuels both her mindset and creative expression.

Richard and Becca also dive into the importance of human connection—from meaningful interactions at the gym to creating safe spaces through art. Grounded in faith and guided by patience, Becca shares her vision of elevating her craft through music and scriptwriting, with the ultimate goal of reaching Grammy-level recognition in spoken word.

This episode is a powerful reminder that true growth happens when we align discipline, creativity, and purpose into one path.

In this episode of Richard Listens, Richard sits down with Nathan Tomasello—former Ohio State NCAA Champion, four-time All-American, and current professional freestyle wrestler competing in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) league.

Nathan shares the journey of his wrestling career, from becoming a high school state champion to competing at the highest levels internationally. The conversation dives into his training regimen, preparation for the upcoming US Open in Las Vegas, and the disciplined lifestyle required to perform at an elite level—including recovery, nutrition, and mental conditioning.

Together, they explore the psychology of competition, with Nathan opening up about the role of faith, family, and resilience in navigating both victories and setbacks. Richard brings his expertise as a sports psychologist to unpack the mindset required to stay focused, confident, and growth-oriented under pressure.

They also discuss the evolving landscape of professional wrestling, the crossover influence of MMA athletes, and Nathan’s path toward qualifying for the World Championship team.

This episode offers a powerful look into the mind of a world-class athlete—and the inner work required to perform at the highest level.

In this episode of Richard Listens, we sit down with Tommy Karlas—a veteran Nashville songwriter and recording artist whose work has shaped modern country music for over two decades.

At just 19 years old, Tommy moved from East Alton, Illinois to Nashville and quickly secured his first publishing deal on Music Row. Since then, he’s written songs for some of country music’s biggest names, including Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, Old Dominion, Warren Zeiders, Montgomery Gentry, Trisha Yearwood, and Tyler Farr.

Tommy co-wrote the multi-week #1 hit “Roll With Me,” which became the fastest-rising and most-downloaded song of Montgomery Gentry’s career—earning him an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year nomination. His songwriting catalog has surpassed 300 million streams, while his work as an artist has reached over 3 million streams worldwide.

Now signed to Sony Music Publishing / Droptine, Tommy continues to tour nationally and performs regularly at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe. After decades behind the scenes, he stepped fully into the spotlight with his debut full-length songwriter album Put It In Drive (2021), followed by What Matters To Her (2023).

In this conversation, Tommy opens up about the realities of a long-term career in the music industry, the discipline behind songwriting success, and what truly matters after years on Music Row.

An honest, insightful episode for songwriters, creatives, and anyone chasing longevity in their craft.

In today’s episode of the Richard Listens Podcast, we’re joined by Robert “Bob” Mangine, one of the most accomplished and influential figures in American sports medicine, with nearly five decades of experience spanning elite athletics, clinical leadership, education, and applied research.

Bob currently serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, where he oversees comprehensive medical care, injury prevention, and performance services for Division I student-athletes. He also works directly with athletes as Head Athletic Trainer for men’s basketball and men’s golf, operating at the intersection of performance, health, and high-level decision-making.

In parallel, Bob is the National Director of Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency for NovaCare Rehabilitation, where he has helped build one of the nation’s premier residency programs, mentoring clinicians now working across collegiate, professional, and elite sports worldwide.

Bob is widely recognized as a pioneer in applying neuroplasticity to athletic performance, injury recovery, and return-to-play decision-making—helping shift sports medicine toward a brain-based, integrated understanding of how elite performance is developed and sustained.

His experience includes serving as Head Athletic Trainer at the Olympic and international level, spending over 23 years with the USA Diving Olympic Program, and supporting athletes across multiple Olympic cycles.

Most recently, Bob has played a key role in advancing neuroperformance analytics in elite sport, contributing to multi-year, IRB-approved studies tracking brain function, recovery, and performance across hundreds of Division I athletes.

Known for bridging neuroscience, clinical rigor, and real-world performance, Bob Mangine has helped redefine how modern sports medicine understands readiness, recovery, and long-term athlete development.

The Richard Listens Podcast — New Episode

It was great sitting down with Mark A. Rothman for a powerful conversation on growth, purpose, and stepping into your full potential.

Mark is a Progress Coach, author of Stop Playing Small, and former nonprofit CEO who has spent decades helping people move through fear, self-doubt, and limitation into clarity, confidence, and meaningful forward momentum. From leading major organizations like the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and Good Shepherd Shelter to coaching men and women around the world, Mark’s work is about one thing: helping people live bigger, more aligned lives.

Listen now to our conversation with Mark on The Richard Listens Podcast.

Edose Ibadin is a 2024 Olympian and professional track athlete specializing in the 800 meters. Beyond competition, Edose is deeply committed to the pursuit of mindset mastery and high performance. Drawing from his own journey to the Olympic stage, he mentors and coaches fellow athletes on the mental discipline, resilience, and focus required to perform at the highest level. Through lived experience and intentional practice, Edose helps others unlock the same mindset that propelled him to elite sport. Follow Edose on all social platforms @eibadin.

In this episode of Richard Listens, Richard sits down with Talor Stewart, a licensed architect with over 25 years of experience and the founder of Conscious Home Design, Inc..

Talor is the author of Conscious Home Design, a #1 best-selling book in seven countries that explores how the spaces we live in directly impact our well-being, relationships, and quality of life. Specializing in single-family and multi-family homes as well as intentional communities, Talor works with clients across the United States and select international locations to create homes rooted in awareness, purpose, and harmony.

In this conversation, Talor shares the philosophy behind the Conscious Home Design (CHD) methodology and how architects, designers, and homeowners alike can apply these life-changing principles—no matter where they are in the world. He also discusses his certification program for architects and designers who want to learn the CHD system and bring conscious design into their own practices.

Learn more, download the book, or explore the CHD certification program at ConsciousHomeDesign.com.

Jason Hardrath is an Oregon K-6 physical education teacher turned elite endurance athlete whose pursuit of human potential has redefined what most people believe is possible. After surviving a devastating car accident in 2015 that left him with broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and doctors telling him he’d never run again, Jason rebuilt his life through grit, intention, and an unshakable desire to push the limits of what the mind and body can endure.

That journey led him to the world of Fastest Known Times (FKTs), where he has now become a legend—setting more than 100 FKTs around the world. For his 100th record, he attempted something almost unthinkable: completing Washington’s Bulger List—the 100 tallest and most technical peaks in the state—in a single climbing season. What normally takes climbers years, Jason finished in just under 51 days, covering 870 miles and over 412,000 feet of elevation gain.

His story is one of resilience, obsession, suffering, and the profound transformation that happens when a person commits fully to a dream. Jason now inspires athletes, students, and adventurers around the world with the message that greatness isn’t born—it’s earned.

In this episode of Richard Listens, Jason opens up about the psychology behind extreme endurance, the mindset that carried him through fear and pain, and what he learned about meaning, identity, and human potential on his journey to 100.

Coach Carrie Best provides holistic wellness coaching that supports individuals and families in building healthier, more intentional lives. Her approach integrates personalized nutrition guidance with lifestyle strategies that strengthen physical health, emotional well-being, and family balance. Just as a financial plan provides structure for wealth, a health and wellness plan creates a roadmap for vitality—setting goals, tracking progress, and celebrating milestones along the way. With the right plan in place, looking and feeling our best at any age is not only possible, but sustainable.

Eli Friend is a freshman at Princeton University, and a Quarterback on the D1 Princeton Football Team. Scholastically, he is focused on a pre-med track and plans to pursue Orthopedic Surgery following graduation from Princeton in the spring of 2029. Eli graduated from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans with a 4.8 weighted GPA and as a National Merit Finalist. His illustrious high school football career concluded with innumerable city and state accolades, including being selected a two-time First Team All State QB and the New Orleans Prep Football Player of the Year in his Senior Season. Aside from Football, Eli was also an All-State Lacrosse Player and in his free time, enjoys hanging out with his friends and family, weightlifting, playing Pickleball and Padel, and cooking (and eating…).

Buzzy Cohen has become one of the top names in the world of trivia since his winning streak on Jeopardy! & taking the title in the 2017 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions.  Dubbed "Mr. Personality" by Alex Trebek due to his style and charisma, he guest hosted Jeopardy! in 2021, became one of the star quizzer's on ABC's The Chase & hosted The Einstein Challenge on History. Buzzy won a WGA award for writing on Pop Culture Jeopardy! & has written for Jeopardy! as well.

Beyond his work on TV, Buzzy published "Baby Got Facts: Totally 90s Trivia" in 2024. He hosted the podcast "This is Jeopardy! The Story of America's Favorite Quiz Show" for Sony Music. He has been the headlining host for Sporclecon, a massive annual trivia event.

Profession athlete and basketball player Ashton Cook joins Richardlistens to discuss Rimpage basketball, where athletes can challenge anyone to play 1 vs 1, Jordan vs Bird style.

Come learn about this new phenomena and how to get involved as a player, coach, or trainer!

KirVaris Myricks professional basketball player who was born and raised in Gary , IN . Went to Merrillville HS.

Played junior college basketball at Oxnard College and was named 1st team all conference after leading the in points, assists, and steals. And later transferred to University of Los Angeles College of Divinity where he was named an All American and also won a national championship in the year 2020.

Played Pro Basketball in Mexico, Canada, Greece, and Sweden .

Is the Owner of DailyBread Nation. A youth program for young basketball players that also specializes in mental health and toughness.

Author of the 5star book “Peace Of DailyBread “ which focuses on mental health and success which is available on Amazon.H

"Unmasking the Hero Within to Uncover Authenticity, Empathy, and Vulnerability".

Tyler Lesher - EscaLAte Host

Tyler Lesher is a highly respected athletic trainer and strength coach, with an extensive background working at the highest levels of professional and collegiate sports. Currently serving as the Athletic Trainer for UCLA Men’s Basketball, Tyler brings years of expertise in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and performance optimization. His career has spanned several organizations, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Canton Charge, Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Swarm, and Florida Atlantic University, where he has worked with athletes at every level, helping them reach peak performance while minimizing injury risks.

Tyler is known for his holistic approach to athlete care, combining strength training, injury prevention, and rehabilitation to maximize health and performance. He specializes in leveraging advanced tools like force plates to analyze and improve rate of force development, integrating cutting-edge science with practical application to enhance recovery and boost performance outcomes.

In addition to his hands-on work with athletes, Tyler is the founder of Lesher LLC, a company dedicated to providing high-level education to clinicians in the sports medicine and performance fields. Through this platform, he offers online courses, including the Advanced Rehab Certification, and will soon be hosting escaLAte: Sports Medicine and Performance Summit—a premier event that brings together industry experts to share the latest research and best practices in sports medicine and performance.

Driven by a passion for innovation and continuous improvement, Tyler is also deeply involved in mentoring the next generation of trainers and clinicians, while maintaining his commitment to providing the highest level of care to the athletes he works with. His dedication to both athlete success and professional education makes him a leader in the sports performance and athletic training community.

Richard Olberger and Jason Gentile explore their personal journeys, the importance of resilience and self-awareness, and the concept of "masks" that men wear to maintain the status quo. They discuss the value of men's groups and circles in helping individuals gain clarity and sobriety about their lives, and the importance of self-reflection and honesty in personal growth. Be sure to check out Jason's website: artofwakingup.com