John Sonmez - Becoming a Finisher

Caskey is hip-hop artist whose recent album "This Isn't Even My Final Form" topped the iTunes hip-hop charts. Caskey has been a successful artist for 10 years, but recently made some positive life changes. Today, he aims to be a productive and inspiring influence on his fans, on other artists, and on the broader hip-hop community. Caskey and I connected recently through social media, and I managed to book an interview with him and then go meet him and see one of his shows (he's currently on tour). We talked about fitness, art, poetry, spirituality, and staying focus. Caskey's energy is infectious, and in a world where everyone seems to want to become a motivational speaker -- right now, the man just can't help it. By the time I was done talking to him, I wanted to go out and take over the world. To paraphrase "Thus Spake Zarathustra," Caskey went to the mountain with ashes, and now he's coming down into the valley and he’s bringing fire. Caskeyhttps://bakingwithcaskey.comhttps://www.instagram.com/caskey/Books MentionedFire in the Dark by Jack DonovanThus Spake Zarathustra by NietzscheOdin and the Mead of Poetry -- told well originally in the Prose Edda, but told recently and well in Neil Gaiman's Norse MythologyFollow Jack Donovan onTwitterhttps://twitter.com/ph2t3rInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/starttheworld/Rumblehttps://rumble.com/c/starttheworldSupport my work on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/starttheworld

Ian Smith is the co-owner of Atilis Gym in New Jersey, which has openly and publicly defied the state's draconian lockdown orders. He and his business partner have been arrested, had their business license pulled, and have been fined over a million dollars. (They’re still being fined over $15,000 a day). He made a decision to take a public stand — because someone had to do it. He’s doing what millions of men are afraid to do, and I think he deserves to be recognized and applauded for it. We had a really animated conversation about bullies and freedom and masculinity. Follow Ian on Instagram @iansmithfitness and consider contributing to his legal defense fund. https://atilisfundraiser.com/

John Sonmez is the man behind  @Bulldog Mindset  -- a large and growing community of men working to better themselves physically, socially, and financially. John started out as a nerdy software guy, then worked to become a millionaire, retire at 33, and transform himself mentally and physically. Now he spends a lot of his time coaching other men. I met John recently when he spoke at the  @21 Studios  convention in Orlando, and he's the real deal. We talked for an hour about philosophy and some of the problems men face today, but one part of the conversation that stood out was his story about "becoming a finisher." A lot of guys have great ideas, but end up leaving a trail of unfinished projects behind them. Mentioned : Seneca's letters to Lucilius https://bulldogmindset.com @Bulldog Mindset  Instagram @ bulldogmindsetSign up for my mailing list for exclusive essays, news, special offers, and more. https://bit.ly/2Y69xdtSupport this podcast, the growing mailing list, and get early access to new content and offers via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/starttheworld

Trainer and speaker Alexander Cortes had a wild 2020. He was on vacation in Egypt as the lockdowns started. He ended up flying to Thailand and decided to live there for the rest of the year, where he trained Muay Thai under Sagat. We also talk about Ancient Greek training, training outdoors, and much more. To purchase AJAC's research into Ancient Athletics, follow this link:https://gumroad.com/l/UKOldSign up for my mailing list for exclusive essays, news, special offers, and more. https://bit.ly/2Y69xdtSupport this podcast, the growing mailing list, and get early access to new content and offers via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/starttheworld

Warming up to start recording the audiobook for Fire in the Dark by reading this grim but perhaps uncomfortably relevant poem by Lord Byron.Darknessby Lord ByronI had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars Did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air; Morn came and went—and came, and brought no day, And men forgot their passions in the dread Of this their desolation; and all hearts Were chill'd into a selfish prayer for light: And they did live by watchfires—and the thrones, The palaces of crowned kings—the huts, The habitations of all things which dwell, Were burnt for beacons; cities were consum'd, And men were gather'd round their blazing homes To look once more into each other's face; Happy were those who dwelt within the eye Of the volcanos, and their mountain-torch: A fearful hope was all the world contain'd; Forests were set on fire—but hour by hour They fell and faded—and the crackling trunks Extinguish'd with a crash—and all was black. The brows of men by the despairing light Wore an unearthly aspect, as by fits The flashes fell upon them; some lay down And hid their eyes and wept; and some did rest Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smil'd; And others hurried to and fro, and fed Their funeral piles with fuel, and look'd up With mad disquietude on the dull sky, The pall of a past world; and then again With curses cast them down upon the dust, And gnash'd their teeth and howl'd: the wild birds shriek'd And, terrified, did flutter on the ground, And flap their useless wings; the wildest brutes Came tame and tremulous; and vipers crawl'd And twin'd themselves among the multitude, Hissing, but stingless—they were slain for food. And War, which for a moment was no more, Did glut himself again: a meal was bought With blood, and each sate sullenly apart Gorging himself in gloom: no love was left; All earth was but one thought—and that was death Immediate and inglorious; and the pang Of famine fed upon all entrails—men Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh; The meagre by the meagre were devour'd, Even dogs assail'd their masters, all save one, And he was faithful to a corse, and kept The birds and beasts and famish'd men at bay, Till hunger clung them, or the dropping dead Lur'd their lank jaws; himself sought out no food, But with a piteous and perpetual moan, And a quick desolate cry, licking the hand Which answer'd not with a caress—he died. The crowd was famish'd by degrees; but two Of an enormous city did survive, And they were enemies: they met beside The dying embers of an altar-place Where had been heap'd a mass of holy things For an unholy usage; they rak'd up, And shivering scrap'd with their cold skeleton hands The feeble ashes, and their feeble breath Blew for a little life, and made a flame Which was a mockery; then they lifted up Their eyes as it grew lighter, and beheld Each other's aspects—saw, and shriek'd, and died— Even of their mutual hideousness they died, Unknowing who he was upon whose...

I met Elliot Hulse last year at the 21 Convention and was psyched to have him on the show to talk about why he wants to make men strong again. We discussed the importance of strong father figures, myth, and the concept of chaos vs. order in life and in society -- especially relevant now that chaos seems to be running wild in cities across the nation. We also got to talk about current events, and I highly recommend his video "The American Mind Virus" to get an introduction to where his head is at these days. The American Mind Virushttps://youtu.be/6oUYP6uj3EQhttps://elliotthulse.comhttps://www.youtube.com/user/elliottsaidwhatInstagram: @elliotthulse

Andy Lewis the self-made man behind Norse Fitness and his own gym -- the Norse Compound. We talked about entrepreneurship, the fantasy and reality of the lifestyle brand game, and most importantly about the concept of adapting to an ever changing landscape. Adapt...or fail. It's a law of nature and business, and Andy shares some great examples of the way he's turned challenges into opportunities or managed to stay in the game. He also recommended a few of his favorite books on business (see notes below).https://norsefitness.cohttps://www.instagram.com/andyredbeard/https://www.instagram.com/norse_fitness/https://www.instagram.com/norsecompound/Mentioned:https://frankkern.com Ian Andrew StanleyConfessions of a Persuasion Hitman: The Unusual Rules I Learned From Selling Over $100,000,000 of Products and Serviceshttps://amzn.to/31dH8TR

Anthony Dream Johnson is the founder of  @21 Studios  and host of the 21 Convention — a men’s event that I’ve spoken at several times over the last few years. I invited him on the show to talk about his personal motivations, his philosophy of life and business, some of the challenges that come with advocating masculinity, and what’s in store for the next 21 Convention this fall in Orlando. I won’t be speaking this year but I plan to be there. To find out more about this year’s event, follow this link:https://bit.ly/398U0OK

Dr. Mathias Nordvig is an Old Norse scholar and author and you can follow his work on YouTube  @Mathias Nordvig . I invited him on Start The World to talk about masculinity, heroism and leadership in the Old Norse lore, and he shared a few of his favorite examples from the Hávamál, but we ended upo having a long and wide-ranging discussion about the character of Odin, the nature of Thor, the questionable place of the Vanir in the lore, and how there is no racism or race preservation implied or suggested in the lore, or in heathenry itself. Web site: https://nordicmythologychannel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathiasnordvig/

Now is the time for men to build local networks. Recently, I reached out to Killian, a powerlifter in my small town, to grab lunch and talk about doing a podcast. It turned out to be a great and inspiring conversation. Killian grew up around drugs, and spent years struggling with addiction. Eventually, as he puts it, he just "got tired of being tired," kicked meth and traveled India with his father. After his first child was born, he started getting serious about powerlifting, and eventually began competing. I found his story really compelling, and am glad I took the time to meet him. He's an example of a man who came from a rough background and turned his life around. There are decent men chasing excellence, with interesting stories, wherever you are. Find them.