In this episode, Donnita Travis shares her journey from a thriving corporate career to founding By The Hand Club For Kids, a nonprofit transforming the lives of children in under-resourced neighborhoods. Donnita opens up about the tension between self-reliance and trusting God, how faith and purpose shaped her leadership, and the business-minded strategies that helped scale her impact.

From personal growth to organizational expansion, this conversation offers wisdom on leadership, calling, and the courage to pursue transformation.

Learn more about By The Hand Club For Kids and get involved at www.bythehand.org.

00:00 – Framing the Role of Resilience in Leadership

01:25 – Wrestling with Self-Reliance vs. Trusting God

04:12 – From Corporate Success to Community Impact

10:21 – Applying Business Principles to Nonprofit Leadership

14:16 – What Resilience Really Means in Adversity

17:01 – Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 Challenges

24:50 – Innovation, Adaptability, and Thriving Through Uncertainty

25:19 – Personal Growth and Leadership in Times of Crisis

29:31 – Purpose-Driven Leadership and the Power of “Why”

31:14 – Navigating Career Transitions with Faith

44:32 – Growing the Mission: Expansion Beyond Chicago

50:15 – Embracing Humility, Faith, and Partnership in Leadership

In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager sit down with Ale Breuer, a founder, investor, and professor, to explore the critical role of resilience in entrepreneurship. Ale shares her personal journey—from launching Ezza Nails to navigating challenges as an investor—highlighting the power of persistence, embracing failure, and developing emotional intelligence in leadership.

The conversation dives into key themes like the difference between persistence and resilience, the concept of a resume of failure, and the emotional aspects of failure and shame. Ale also discusses how her experiences continue to shape her work in MBA education and venture capital, emphasizing the importance of founder diligence, self-awareness, and servant leadership.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or leader, this episode offers invaluable insights into mastering the inner game of resilience in business.

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Adversity

02:22 Ale’s Journey: From Founder to Investor

05:01 The Role of Failure in Success

10:07 Navigating the Pandemic: Challenges and Decisions

20:12 Lessons in Leadership and Servant Leadership

26:07 The Legacy of Ezza: Teaching Resilience to Future Entrepreneurs

28:24 The Theater of Resilience

29:04 Building Resilience in MBA Students

30:57 The Resume of Failure

32:45 Disassociating Shame from Failure

33:36 Persistence vs. Resilience

37:22 The Future of Entrepreneurship

41:21 Founder Diligence in Venture Capital

50:52 Mastering the Inner Game of Entrepreneurship

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips engage with Nate and Ben Checketts, co-founders of Rhone, a premium activewear brand. The conversation delves into the brothers' journey of building Rhone, highlighting the unseen adversities they faced, the importance of resilience, and the role of identity in their entrepreneurial journey. They discuss how their personal experiences and family dynamics shaped their approach to business, emphasizing the significance of community, mental fitness, and the pursuit of purpose over perfection.

02:25 The Journey of Roan: Overcoming Adversity

09:19 Building Resilience Through Habits and Structure

17:07 Identity and Imposter Syndrome in Business

25:20 Creating Meaning and Community Through Rhone

35:49 The Essence of Holiness and Human Connection

37:45 Sustaining Profound Moments in Life

41:51 The Pursuit of Less but Better

45:00 Balancing Priorities: Family, Work, and Life

51:53 Navigating Pain and Suffering in Parenting

58:14 The Importance of Marriage in a Busy Life

01:03:20 Reflections on the Journey and Advice for the Future

www.mastersofresilience.com

www.rhone.com

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Rusty Bland, President of the KeHE Cares Foundation, shares his journey of resilience, offering insights on identity and leadership. He reflects on his personal experiences, including the challenges of a business failure and how it reshaped his understanding of self-worth and purpose. Rusty emphasizes the role of faith, mentorship, and community service in building resilience and leading with purpose.

01:49 Rusty's Journey Through Adversity

08:51 The Role of Identity in Resilience

13:22 Transformative Experiences and Humility

18:41 Connecting Identity, Resilience, and Faith

23:02 Learning from Experience and Mentorship

27:04 The Importance of Perspective in Life

32:20 Final Thoughts on Family and Legacy

34:21 Leadership Lessons from Rapid Growth

40:17 Building a Kingdom Culture in the Workplace

46:40 The Balance of Being Liked and Leading Effectively

52:25 Vision for Kehi Cares Foundation

58:07 Creating Sustainable Models for Organizational Development

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, MLB pitcher Jake Cousins shares his journey through the highs and lows of professional sports. He discusses resilience, community support, and faith in overcoming challenges like injuries and roster moves. Jake emphasizes releasing control, gaining perspective through family, and the mental aspects of high-pressure performance. He highlights the role of sports psychology, mentorship, and gratitude, offering advice to aspiring athletes on trusting the process and valuing their support systems.

01:21 Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

03:30 Navigating Professional Baseball Challenges

07:20 Injuries and Setbacks in Jake's Career

11:55 The Rollercoaster of Major League Baseball

18:01 Dealing with Uncertainty and Control

23:17 The Role of Pain and Resilience

27:11 Perspective Shift: Family and Community

28:16 The Mindset of a World Series Pitcher

31:25 The Role of Sports Psychology in Athletics

33:04 Learning from Others: The Importance of Mentorship

36:29 Navigating the Narrow Margins of Professional Sports

40:42 The Importance of Family and Support Systems

46:17 Reflecting on Success and Relationships

50:32 Advice for Aspiring Athletes

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager are joined by Jim Hussey, a seasoned leader in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. They explore the essence of resilience in leadership, the transformative power of suffering, and the importance of character over wealth. Jim shares personal stories of adversity, emphasizing the role of faith and the necessity of facing fear in leadership.

Learn more at MastersOfResilience.com.

01:27 Jim Hussey's Background and Leadership Philosophy

02:25 The Role of Fear in Leadership

05:48 Understanding Fear and Anger in Leadership

10:34 The Importance of Suffering for Growth

13:28 Personal Stories of Suffering and Growth

17:20 Grappling with Unmet Expectations

19:44 The Test of Money and Security

26:17 Integrating Faith and Work in Leadership

30:32 The Importance of Honesty in Leadership

32:57 Team Building and Empowerment

36:48 The Role of Questions in Leadership

38:10 Transitioning from Doer to Thinker

44:02 Goal Setting and Backward Planning

49:35 The Power of Saying No

56:29 Resilience and Perseverance

58:14 Character as Destiny

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager engage with Max DeZara, managing partner of Akoya Capital. They explore Max's unconventional journey through private equity, his experiences with adversity, and the importance of a calm mindset in crisis situations. Max shares insights on building a people-centric investment model, the role of humility and empathy in leadership, and offers advice for younger entrepreneurs. The conversation emphasizes resilience, personal growth, and the significance of self-care in achieving success.

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Adversity

01:26 Max Desara's Unconventional Journey

09:57 Navigating Challenges and Adversity

19:01 The Importance of Calmness in Crisis

27:41 Building a People-Centric Investment Model

35:24 The Role of Humility and Empathy in Leadership

42:34 Advice for Younger Self and Key Habits

Visit us online at MastersOfResilience.com

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips engage with Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe Media, discussing his journey from author to CEO, the unique publishing model of Scribe, and the insights from his book, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. The conversation explores themes of wealth, happiness, accountability, and the importance of controlling one's time and environment.

00:00 Introduction to Masters of Resilience Podcast

01:26 Eric Jorgenson's Journey to Scribe Media

06:45 The Unique Publishing Model of Scribe Media

12:31 Productizing Yourself and Risk Management

15:46 Key Takeaways from The Almanac of Naval Ravikant

20:39 Defining Wealth Beyond Money

25:21 The Pursuit of Happiness and Control Over Time

31:08 Shining a Light on Others' Brilliance

32:36 Rescuing Valuable Knowledge

35:01 Mindfulness and Attention Management

39:10 Neurodivergence as a Superpower

42:04 Earning a Calm Mind and a Fit Body

46:01 Dealing with Uncertainty

52:12 The Stockdale Paradox

55:18 Pursuing Passion Over Profit

Learn more at https://scribemedia.com/

Visit us online at MastersOfResilience.com