This week, we’re thrilled to bring you a very special episode, recorded live from the dojo with our longtime friend and karate master, Joe Fry! Joe is not only the owner of a thriving karate studio and a 5th degree black belt, but also a dedicated mentor, parent, and entrepreneur. In this episode, he shares his incredible journey of resilience, self-discovery, and teaching life lessons through martial arts.
We dive deep into Joe’s story, starting with his childhood experiences of bullying and how they inspired him to embrace karate as a path to confidence and strength. He shares his philosophy of getting "1% better every day" and how martial arts has shaped his approach to life, parenting, and business. Whether it's battling imposter syndrome or staying accountable, Joe’s insights are powerful and relatable.
The Impact of Teaching on Parenting: How working with students influenced Joe’s approach as a father.
Overcoming Obstacles: The mental and physical discipline needed to own a business and navigate life's challenges.
Building Confidence Through Karate: How martial arts empowers students to develop self-assurance and resilience.
Battling Self-Doubt: Confronting imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt while staying accountable.
Physical and Mental Well-Being: Balancing fitness, mindfulness, and rest to avoid burnout and improve mental health.
Finding Meaning in Spirituality and Nature: How staying present and embracing curiosity can lead to personal growth.
Deep Questions About Life: Joe asks us thought-provoking questions like, “Would your 10-year-old self be proud of you?”
Joe’s honest reflections about running a business, navigating fatherhood, and striving for personal growth will leave you inspired to take on your own challenges with confidence and clarity. Plus, he shares advice on how to avoid staleness in your physical activities, why good sleep and nutrition matter, and how spirituality connects us to something bigger.

Visit the Fry's Karate on the web @ https://www.frykarate.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frykarate_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hvmdk/

1:40 - Live from the dojo with Joe Fry
5:00 - Teaching shaping parenting
7:00 - Partnering with your spouse
9:25 - Childhood bullying
11:00 - Pushing your body young
12:30 - 1% better daily
14:00 - Challenges of owning a business
15:56 - Overcoming obstacles
17:15 - Separating work and family
18:15 - Finding yourself in the pandemic
20:26 - Karate and confidence
23:11 - Inspiring student growth
26:15 - Imposter syndrome and self-doubt
28:00 - Staying accountable
29:25 - Living in the present
31:00 - Physical health for mental well-being
33:50 - Aging and injuries
35:27 - Avoiding staleness
37:45 - Sleep and nutrition
39:30 - Masculinity and sensitivity
44:00 - Providing beyond finances
47:30 - Spirituality in nature
52:30 - Keep learning and exploring
54:37 - Joey’s questions
59:45 - Would 10-year-old you be proud?
1:02:15 - Sparking chang

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NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!

"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.

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It’s a New Year, and we’re starting 2025 by looking back at everything we learned in 2024. We talk about how one of us made the life-changing decision to get sober, and how that single choice improved not only our personal lives but the direction and consistency of this podcast. We also reflect on the massive growth we’ve seen since taking the podcast seriously in August—more views, more watch time, and way more subscribers.

As for 2025? We’ve got big goals. We’re saying goodbye to bad habits (yes, we’re giving up the weed), doubling down on self-discipline, and focusing on showing up for ourselves and our audience in bigger, better ways. We dive into how we plan to tackle personal growth, like being more present, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, and leaning into authenticity—even when it’s uncomfortable.

We also talk about getting deeper spiritually, with one of us committing to explore their relationship with God and purpose by diving into philosophical and religious texts. On the professional side, we’re excited to improve the podcast even more by bringing in new guests, engaging with our listeners, and staying consistent in everything we do.

This episode is full of real talk—about the challenges of staying grounded, learning from failure, and balancing life while chasing your dreams. It’s an honest look at where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and how we plan to make 2025 a year of transformation. Tune in, and let’s take this journey together!

00:10 - Time Jump in Our Podcast Schedule!
01:00 - Yearly Recap: Reflecting on Our Podcast Journey

Personal Growth & Achievements
01:31 - Podcast Growth Since August 2024: Our Numbers!
03:09 - Consistency & Dedication: The Secret to Success
03:40 - How Sobriety Changed Our Personal & Professional Lives
04:44 - Sober Life Reflections: More Than Just a Change in Routine
05:59 - Sobriety Struggles: The Ups and Downs

Challenges & Reflections
10:00 - Action vs. Overthinking: Lessons Learned
11:30 - Embracing Not Knowing Everything
12:22 - Spending Time Alone to Grow & Reflect
14:27 - Focusing on Trust & Intuition
18:15 - Take Action Now: Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment
20:00 - How Physical Exercise Boosts Mental Health
25:01 - Wishing We’d Focused More on the Podcast Sooner

Goals & Intentions for 2025
31:00 - Asking for Help & Managing Emotions Better
35:00 - Staying Present: The Power of Focus
40:00 - Quitting Bad Habits (Like Weed) for a Healthier Life
50:00 - Breaking Free From Vices: The Struggle to Stay Strong

Philosophical & Spiritual Exploration
01:22:41 - Exploring My Relationship with God & Spirituality
01:24:05 - Trusting the Universe: A Spiritual Discussion
01:27:00 - Diving Into Religious & Philosophical Texts for Deeper Insight

Podcast Improvements & Audience Engagement
01:35:30 - Big Thanks to Our Audience: Your Support Means the World!
01:36:01 - Huge Plans for the Podcast in 2025—Guests, Growth & More!

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Shout out to our favorite neighborhood screen printer JOKER INK https://www.jokerink.com/

NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!

"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.

https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod

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"Grounding into Gratitude & Dealing with Your Displaced Anger | Episode #048

This week, we’re digging into the big stuff—like how to handle displaced anger, break free from people-pleasing, and challenge outdated stereotypes about masculinity. We explore how mindfulness and gratitude can help you stay grounded, even when life throws you a curveball. Plus, we dive into how noticing your irritability and physically grounding yourself can shift your mindset in powerful ways.

On the practical side, we share tips for eliminating brain fog in the morning, celebrating the growth of others, and learning how to stop caring what people think about your lifestyle choices. And, as always, we sprinkle in some chaos: Steve gets fired up about perseverance, JP confesses his undying love for Kendrick Lamar’s "GNX," and we brainstorm whether advertising on a Macy’s Day Parade float could be the ultimate power move.

Life’s unpredictable, so why not celebrate the wins, rethink what’s possible, and laugh along the way? Tune in for honest reflections, actionable advice, and a few ridiculous ideas that might just inspire you.

00:18 Guests are coming

3:25 Bringing our audience unique and interesting perspectives

9:45 Awareness around how you treat strangers when you aren’t feeling your best

11:40 Dealing w/ Displaced Anger

13:15 Society stereotypes about masculinity

15:45 Disciplined mindfulness

18:00 Running in the Rain

20:15 Being your own support system

22:00 People pleasing

26:30 Rejoicing in the growth of others

29:30 Not caring what people think about your lifestyle choices

31:25 Noticing your irritability

35:15 Nothing is guaranteed in this life

38:30 Physically Grounding yourself in gratitude

43:00 Come back to this video on episode 4,000

46:55 “I want the Whoop AI to be my friend”

47:30 Steve loves the idea of perseverance

48:55 JP is very grateful for Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX”

53:00 Eliminating Brain fog in the morning

58:00 Should we advertise on a Macy’s Day Parade Float??

Join Whoop with our promotional code and get your first month free!

https://join.whoop.com/us/en/Whothoughtwedbeherepod/

Sign up for online therapy with our referral link.
Get 20% off your first month with our podcast's link:

https://www.online-therapy.com/create_account.php?ref=199376&click_id=1025bb329a3007391208e272f114bc&utm_source=3088_Who%20Thought%20Wed%20Be%20Here%20Podcast&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=2&offer_ref=offer1&&cookie_test=1

Shout out to our favorite neighborhood screen printer JOKER INK https://www.jokerink.com/

NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!

"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.

https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod

Please Like, Follow, Share, and Enjoy!!!