Stay Curious, Seek Joy: How Huckberry’s Kate West Builds Stories You Can Feel

What if your next great story isn’t scripted—it’s discovered? Director and storyteller Kate West (Huckberry Presents) takes us from the Beijing Paralympics to the mountains of Wyoming and into the making of Huckberry’s hit series “DIRT.” We unpack how breaking the fourth wall, leading with curiosity, and lacing scenes with “tidbits” of education keeps viewers glued to the screen—and inspires families (Marc’s included) to explore the world togetherShow Notes00:00 – Who is Kate West? Athlete, mom, storyteller, and the Huckberry Presents lead.01:00 – Origin story: Beijing Olympics and falling in love with Paralympic narratives.02:30 – Imposter syndrome, film in NYC, and choosing the brand route.04:00 – Brand storytelling vs. ads; why lifestyle matters more than slogans.05:00 – “Stay curious, seek joy”: the motto Kate shouts to her kids—and her crews.06:00 – Breaking the fourth wall and showing the crew: making BTS part of the story.07:00 – Joy as a production value; mental fitness and presence on set.08:00 – Creative bandwidth and nervous system management; perspective as a tool.10:00 – Why “DIRT” hits: family-friendly, human-first stories and authentic impact.11:45 – What Huckberry is, and how “DIRT” & “Shop Class” came to life.12:30 – The seed: Pacific Northwest adventures with Josh; food + nature + people.14:00 – Not Bourdain—on purpose: humility, hosts, and characters as the focus.16:00 – Script what you lived: post-shoot writing and place-based reflection.17:00 – Trusting subjects, rolling with surprises (goodbye horses, hello Mossy).20:00 – Food as universal connector; the “tidbits” method to keep watch-time high.21:00 – Most viewers watch on TV, not phones—why that changes the craft.24:00 – Asking boldly: access, case studies, and selling the vision early.25:00 – Quiet mind in nature (especially with kids) and the Teton reset.27:00 – Rituals by phase: exercise to spark words, calendar-blocking for flow.30:00 – Strategy in the morning; busywork in the afternoon (creative hygiene).31:00 – Teasers: Mexico, a domestic chapter, Europe—and six episodes next year.33:00 – Uncharted places (including Canada!) and traveling fast with a lean team.35:00 – What Kate’s mind needs now: resets and positive energy from all sides.40:00 – What makes her smile: the superpower of female friendships. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK.  Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When was the last time you got quiet enough to hear what your life is already telling you?What powers your best decisions—hustle or quiet? Chef-founder and former actor Vikki Krinsky shares how she turned premonition-level intuition, elite-client kitchen experience, and stubborn resilience into VK Bars, a clean B12 energy bar now landing in luxury hotels—without venture money. From a life-altering choice at 15 to follow her inner signal, to staging in Europe, to cooking for A-listers, to saying “no” to additives and “yes” to athletes, Vikki shows how to stack wins, slow down, and let feelings inform execution. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Vikki? “Fuel” as a life theme; movement, mind, and food as energy.02:00 – Immigrating S. Africa → Canada; early journaling; adversity shaping drive.04:30 – Premonitions as a kid; learning to nurture intuition.07:00 – Pivotal choice at 15: soccer scholarship dreams vs. TV pilot—listening to guidance.10:30 – Industry pressure to get “camera-ready”; shifting into nutrition & training.13:30 – Walking away from acting; backpacking to Paris; invited to stage in elite kitchens.18:00 – Self-taught path, asking for a shot in Swiss & Spanish kitchens.22:00 – Back to LA: Equinox → first celeb client; learning by doing (and owning mistakes).24:00 – Her real edge: empathy + energy with talent under body-image pressure.26:00 – Underpaid → create the VK Method → A-List Appetite food delivery.29:00 – Quiet practices: “staring at walls,” micro-pauses, best-case intention setting.37:00 – “Stack the wins” as fuel.38:00 – Cooking for Seth MacFarlane; caffeine problem → B12 exploration.40:00 – Prototyping energy bites on set; cold-calling manufacturers.41:00 – Everyone says “don’t do it” → she does it anyway; 2020 launch, pause, reformulate.42:00 – Clean label differentiators (rosemary as preservative; no “natural flavors”).43:00 – Door-to-door selling; wins with Four Seasons, Bel-Air, Rosewood; bootstrapping grit.45:00 – New nudge: fueling female athletes with real ingredients. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK.  Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the number that finally got you healthy wasn’t on a scale—but in your biological age?Entrepreneur Tyler Smith shares the gut‑punch test result that said he was “47” at age 39—and how that shock set him on a year‑long quest that became Hundred, a “doctor in your pocket” designed to meet people where they’re at and help them reach their G‑H‑O‑A‑T: greatest health of all time. We dig into baselines before willpower, killing the “sleep is a flex” myth, the power of 100‑day protocols, overcoming siloed health data, and how founders can win more days than they lose. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Tyler, really? Identity beyond the bio; “foodie in training” and restaurant lessons that became life skills.03:00 – Service, speed, problem‑solving. How restaurant work built his entrepreneurial operating system.08:00 – The biological‑age gut punch. “Sleep is irrelevant”… until the test says 47. Family history and motivation.13:00 – Step one: measure everything. Comprehensive bloodwork, genetics, VO₂ max, imaging—what was overkill vs. essential.16:00 – Habits start with evidence. Why baselines spark behavior change; simple first moves that compound.20:00 – Community + accountability. Walk-and-talks, food photos, and stacking small wins.29:00 – Fixing ‘sick care’ and silos. Bringing history, labs, wearables, and protocols into one place.30:00 – The G‑H‑O‑A‑T mission. Meet people where they’re at; a personal doctor in your pocket.37:00 – Why 100‑day protocols work. Supplements, nutrition, movement, and what you should feel by day 100.41:00 – Founder honesty. Sleep tradeoffs, team culture, and “win more days than you lose.”48:00 – Legacy question. What Tyler hopes his daughters say when he’s 47. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK.  Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the biggest obstacle to your health isn’t lack of motivation—but lack of structure?I sit down with Carl Daikeler, the visionary behind Beachbody (now BODi), the billion-dollar fitness platform that revolutionized home workouts with programs like P90X. Carl shares the pivotal “this isn’t it” moment that changed his career trajectory, the early sparks that shaped his creative approach, and the simple yet powerful system he uses to stay consistent—especially when motivation runs out. We explore the magic of accountability groups, the hidden epidemic of loneliness, and why exercise is more than just physical—it’s the gateway to a longer, sharper, and more connected life. Whether you’re a fitness lover or a reluctant exerciser, Carl’s story will challenge you to rethink how you approach health, discipline, and community. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Carl Daikeler without the titles?01:00 – The creative upbringing that planted the seeds for BODi06:00 – Producing sports TV—and the halftime moment that changed everything09:00 – Discovering the world of infomercials and direct response marketing13:00 – The first spark of connected fitness15:00 – From Power 90 to P90X: Solving his own problems first18:00 – Why structured programs beat random workouts every time21:00 – The magic of doing a program with someone else23:00 – The accountability experiment that transformed a subscriber’s health25:00 – Tackling the loneliness epidemic through fitness groups26:00 – Four stats that can motivate anyone to start moving28:00 – The epiphany that changed Carl’s approach to daily exercise30:00 – Why your “why” matters more than willpower33:00 – Carl’s rituals, mental nutrition, and creative process37:00 – Cold plunges, cooking, and creating space for insights41:00 – The discipline of giving yourself space for ideas to land44:00 – Competing in a crowded industry and finding meaning in the work46:00 – The ripple effect of health and mindset improvements47:00 – Carl’s invitation to listeners: Don’t go it alone—invite others to join ****Release details for the NEW BOOK.  Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if death wasn’t something to fear, but a catalyst for your greatest transformation? Somatic practitioner, dancer, and poet Hannah Blake reunites with Marc to explore how we heal, evolve, and reconnect to the heartbeat of nature. They unpack the journey from performance to purpose, discuss the intelligence of the body, and the importance of death—physical, emotional, and egoic—as a portal to rebirth. Hannah shares her personal journey through burnout, Crohn’s disease, plant medicine, and community building in the Oregon forest. This episode dives into the intersection of somatic psychology, sacred ceremony, and the need for collective healing in a fractured world. Our first conversation can be found here.    Show Notes 00:00 – Opening: Who is Hannah today? 02:00 – Revisiting their first conversation and Hannah’s core identity 05:00 – How a cultural dance trip changed her life path 07:00 – Healing Crohn’s and creating the SOM Maya method 10:00 – Dance as spiritual expression, not performance 12:00 – How Hannah blends somatics, plant medicine, and neuroplasticity 14:00 – Her 3-day healing format and care-first approach 16:00 – What burnout taught her about congruence and boundaries 18:00 – Using the body as a compass for truth and discernment 22:00 – Interoception: Noticing what the body knows 26:00 – “So much of our life is dying to our past” 28:00 – Ego death as a fertilizer for new life 31:00 – DMT, surrender, and being ready to die 34:00 – Rebuilding community and regenerative living 36:00 – A beautiful analogy from the Baha’i faith on life and rebirth 42:00 – The medicine of communal healing 45:00 – Closing reflections on questions, community, and legacy   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the edge you’re searching for isn’t outside of you—but already within? I sit down with Gina Tucci-Karnisovas—mental strength coach and former competitive athlete—to explore the often-overlooked drivers of sustainable performance: breath, presence, visualization, and grounded confidence. Gina shares how embracing both “white belt curiosity” and “black belt strength” helped her navigate intense performance anxiety and how that mindset now shapes her work with elite athletes and high performers. We get into what real confidence looks like, how to stay calm under pressure, and why mental fitness is just as essential as physical training—if not more.   Show Notes 00:00 – The “white belt” mindset: humility, curiosity, and reverence 03:00 – Martial arts, Stoicism, and her evolution into sports psychology 06:00 – Her mom’s legacy: breath, Pac-Man visualization, and mental resilience 10:00 – From performance anxiety to mental strength coaching 12:00 – Discovering breathwork and yoga as transformation tools 18:00 – Why elite athletes still struggle with confidence 20:00 – Breaking down grounded vs. naive confidence 24:00 – How to build confidence through evidence and habit stacking 28:00 – Why mental fitness in sports must come from the top down 32:00 – The stigma around vulnerability in pro sports 36:00 – Gina’s AM/PM bookend routines for mental clarity 40:00 – Mental nutrition: What’s feeding your mind? 45:00 – Reframing negative self-talk and the reps of daily life   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to lead a 1,400-person organization while staying grounded, resilient, and connected to what truly matters? I sit down with Tim Lupinacci, CEO of Baker Donelson, to explore how he balances running one of the largest law firms in the U.S. with personal mental fitness practices, authentic leadership, and a vision for the future. Tim shares the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy, how reading and music fueled his early growth, and why he believes mental fitness is a competitive advantage in today’s world. We also dive into how AI is reshaping the legal profession, the concept of micro-resilience, and how leaders can clear the path for others while taking care of themselves. Don’t miss Tim’s new book Everybody Leads, now available!   Show Notes 00:00 – Who is Tim Lupinacci? Family, faith, and leadership roots 02:00 – Growing up on the move: books, music, and self-discovery 05:00 – Building daily reading habits and why they fuel his leadership 07:00 – The importance of mental recovery for leaders 09:00 – How Tim stumbled into law and found a passion for problem-solving 11:00 – A tough lesson: the mistake that sparked his leadership journey 14:00 – The internal wrestling before stepping into the CEO role 16:00 – Launching "Baker Next" and overcoming early setbacks 19:00 – Staying the course through crisis and building team accountability 20:00 – The future of law and AI disruption 24:00 – Lessons from other industries and trusted advisor principles 27:00 – Tim’s core leadership values and Disney-inspired analogies 31:00 – Mental fitness on the road: the state of his team in 2025 36:00 – Why mental health must be seen as a strategic advantage 40:00 – Writing his book and why everyone can lead without a title 47:00 – Micro-resilience: the power of small, consistent actions 50:00 – Daily journaling and framing each day for success 52:00 – Closing reflections on leadership, mental fitness, and impact   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the questions you fear the most could become your greatest guides? Journalist and applied behavioral scientist Elizabeth Weingarten joins Behind the Human to unpack the profound power of questions. From questioning her marriage and career to navigating new motherhood, Elizabeth shares how embracing life's unanswerable questions has transformed her world. We explore her new book How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty and dive into the frameworks, stories, and personal practices that help us all sit with uncertainty, reframe stuckness, and find clarity amidst the chaos. Whether you’re facing a major life decision or simply feeling overwhelmed, this episode offers a radically compassionate lens on how to use curiosity, reflection, and even slowness as a way forward. Show Notes 00:00 – Introduction to Elizabeth and her work 02:00 – Lava lamps and evolving identity: Who are you, really? 04:30 – Writing as a grounding practice for motherhood and reflection 06:00 – The paralysis of uncertainty and why we fear the big questions 08:00 – Dating without questions: A wake-up call for deeper curiosity 10:00 – Letters to a Young Poet and falling in love with uncertainty 13:00 – From fear to action: Asking the questions that change everything 16:00 – Reframing "Should I get a divorce?" to "How might we stay together?" 18:00 – Creating safe environments to explore difficult conversations 21:00 – Accompanying each other through life’s hardest moments 23:00 – How ancient wisdom and men’s groups offer modern insight 24:30 – Marc shares his origin story with questions and Chip Conley’s pivotal advice 27:00 – Recognizing “dead leaf” questions vs. expansive ones 29:00 – The power of patience and walking slower to think clearer 31:00 – Slowing down your journaling practice to upgrade your thinking 33:00 – What Elizabeth hopes readers take away from her book   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if one prayer could change everything? In this episode of Behind the Human, Marc sits down with Matt Potter—co-founder of Pray.com—to unpack an extraordinary life story that began with a near-abortion and grew into one of the most influential faith-based platforms in the world. They explore how spiritual practice, digital innovation, and how a personal relationship with God are reshaping how we approach mental and emotional health. Whether you're religious, spiritual, or simply curious about how ancient rituals are finding new life through technology, this conversation will stretch your mind and open your heart.   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your biggest breakthrough came from something you’ve been doing your whole life—breathing? I sit down with Adam Ludwin, founder of FivePointFive, a cutting-edge breathwork app that uses real-time biometrics and music to transform your mental, emotional, and physical state—anytime, anywhere. But Adam didn’t start here. We unpack his journey from building and exiting a $100M+ marketing tech company, to nearly burning out, to rediscovering meaning through breathwork. He shares how fatherhood shaped his views on education and well-being, how functional breathwork saved his health, and why he believes personalized, science-backed breathwork is the future of performance and longevity. Show Notes [00:03:00] Adam’s early entrepreneurial drive and family influence [00:07:00] Why he dropped out of university and what he did instead [00:12:00] Teaching mental fitness to his kids: gratitude, journaling, nasal breathing [00:17:00] Burnout, tight chest, and discovering functional breathwork [00:19:00] Selling his company and taking a year to reset with purpose [00:23:00] The emotional side of exits: friendship shifts and family grounding [00:28:00] Founding FivePointFive and the breathwork tool he wished he had years ago [00:34:00] Why FivePointFive is unlike any wellness app you’ve seen before [00:40:00] Habit stacking, wearables, and functional breathing in real life [00:44:00] The future of health isn’t more tech—it’s better use of what we already have   **** Release details for the NEW BOOK.   Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life   Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |   Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show! Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet! * A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️ * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.