Tackling Life

On the 100th episode of Tackling Life, Ray and Dr. Conte explore the questions: What do you bring to the world? What do people get from being around you? Plus, hear about Ray's inspirational foundation, Ray of Hope. And find out about Dr. Conte's new TV Show, "The Secret Life of Kids," debuting Friday, March 16 at 9 pm on USA Network.

Ray and Dr. Conte respond to this week's tragic school shooting in Florida. Dr. Conte talks about how people respond to fear with anger, so when we can snap out of anger we can get out of a place of fear. The guys talk about how things won't get better until adults start to ask like adults. People have to put their immediate needs aside for the greater good. It's time for each of us to be the peace.

Hear more riveting stories from Ray's career and from when he got the official word that he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Ray talks about how preparation and effort are the keys to defining your legacy. But, he says the most important thing is that you live your life to please your mother! 

The psychology of external control v. internal control: how to take control of your life internally and not let the external world have control over you.

Ray and Dr. Conte share an inspiring listener story about how to be grateful for what you have and to not judge others. They also have advice for listener Melissa whose 15-year-old son stays in front of the computer all the time and only interacts with friends through his computer games. And they talk about how to stay motivated through the winter months.

Hear more of Ray's legendary football stories as we lead up to his induction to the NFL Hall of Fame. Also, hear his poignant definition of "success." And Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to stop being bullied, and the lessons Ray learned from being bullied as a kid.

Fan Friday is back! Ray and Dr. Conte field a question from listener Kenny, a young baseball coach. He asks how he can establish himself as a trusted leader. The guys also have poignant advice for Barry who does tattoo removal for former gang members. He's asking how to best mentor them.

Hear amazing, true-life stories from Ray's football career as he reminisces about his journey to the NFL Hall of Fame. Discover one of the origins of his quest for greatness. Learn the value of balance, communication and how to prepare for whatever situations that come your way.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to be in control and not be a puppet by reacting to other people's words. They also talk about Ray's ride to the NFL Hall of Fame and they reflect on his career.

The psychology of external control v. internal control: how to take control of your life internally and not let the external world have control over you.

Ray and Dr. Conte detail the three primary sources of anxiety, and what we must do internally to stop external reactions. Dr. Conte says life is an adventure, and nobody wants to watch an adventure movie where nothing happens. The key is to focus less on your struggles and focus more on the adventure.

Dr. Conte talks with Ray about the journey that led to the NFL Hall of Fame. It illustrates that who you are is in fact what you are willing to chase, and that how you endure your losses and failures is how you become who you are.

Energy always matters. Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to control your energy to make sure it always works for you, and not against you. Plus they talk about how to stop other people from controlling your energy. And Ray reveals the "three light bulbs." 

Ray and Dr. Conte are joined by Astronaut Reid Wiseman with riveting stories of his six months in space and what it took to get there. Wiseman is a true-life illustration of many of the themes of this podcast: endurance, trust, connection, brotherhood and sacrifice to name a few.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to channel anger and other emotions into taking action. Ray says that if you don't challenge yourself every day, you're on cruise control and you'll lose control. He also details the five things you deal with every day that negatively impact your life and how to effectively deal with them. And Dr. Conte has an amazing zen story about the greatness that can come from the unknown.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about the importance of having a plan for life, and regularly visualizing that plan. They also talk about the transformational effects of doing good things for people; being "the light." They issue a challenge to write in and share good news and the good things you're doing so they can highlight them on the show.

Take Ray and Dr. Conte's 30-day challenge to make your relationships better. The next several episodes will go in-depth on all aspects of relationships. On this episode, they talk about the power of touch, how your work ethic impacts your relationships, and the commitment to make each other better. 

What does it mean to be an "alpha-male?" How do you know if you're an alpha male? Ray and Dr. Conte talk about the one key characteristic all alpha-males have.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to pursue your passion, have no regrets, and change course when necessary. They also have an inside look at the top performers in the NFL.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how you can fully engage and what it means to not cheat yourself; how everything leads up to everything else. Plus hear how Ray successfully tackled stuttering in his youth, and Dr. Conte has a couple of powerful stories that leave Ray speechless. 

Ray and Dr. Conte welcome Phyllis Newhouse, President of Leadership Inspiration Talks (LITalks.com). Her personal story is as uplifting and inspiring as her achievements. Born in North Carolina, one of 11 children with very modest means, her hard work ethic, determination and self-drive, the love of enhanced technology, and desire to make a difference, have led to her recognition as one of the top leaders in the technology industry and one of the most influential Women in Technology. Phyllis is a Retired Army Non-Commissioned Officer and a Service-Disabled Veteran with more than 22 years of service. 

You can't hide from your character. Ray and Dr. Conte talk about when fans feel the freedom to say whatever they want no matter how vile, uncivil or ignorant.

Ray and Dr. Conte respond to last night's horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Ray and Dr. Conte have a powerful reaction to a listener email from Brent about making judgments but being receptive enough to open your heart to the possibility of being wrong. And they respond to a listener email from Mike asking how to keep from being angry with people when they do the wrong things and you know you're right.  

Ray Lewis reveals why he knelt for the anthem at the Ravens game yesterday. 

Ray and Dr. Conte answer a listener question from Winston about how to use sports stats to improve your game. And they answer a listener question from John about how successful leaders use time in large organizations.

Ray and Dr. Conte have advice on how to not let losses or failures define you, and how to never look back and keep moving forward. They also have a laugh-out-loud method for dealing with pain. Plus, Ray debuts his non-profit, Ray of Hope Foundation, dedicated to uplifting those in dire need. Check it out at RayOfHopeFoundation.org.

Ray and Dr. Conte respond to a listener email from Robin about pushing through pain. And they respond to a listener email from Matthew about how to deal with negative and toxic people.

The story you tell yourself dictates how you approach the world. Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how you can write your own story to match your vision and imagination, instead of a story that blocks you from accomplishing your goals. Ray shares some compelling and insightful stories from his own life and experiences both on the field and off.

Ray and Dr. Conte respond to some listener email, including a moving message from Ali, a listener on the tiny Middle Eastern island of Bahrain where American football is non-existent. On this episode, you'll hear Ray's formula for greatness. And Dr. Conte reveals his three core principles that lead to greatness. You can submit messages for future Fan Fridays at TacklingLifePodcast.com. Or leave us a voicemail at (646) 762-4432. We may play your message on the show.

Meet the man behind Ray's legendary workouts, Monte Sanders, a highly sought after celebrity fitness trainer and expert. Get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Ray's fitness regime. Monte, Ray, and Dr. Conte talk about not just fitness for the body, but also for the mind and spirit; focusing on all parts of your being is the only way to achieve balance. They talk about how to channel your physical self and make it into something spiritual. Find out what "pissed off for greatness" means, how to embrace and push through pain, and hear Ray's insightful definition of "failure."

Ray and Dr. Conte preview the Florida State v. Alabama game, and they answer a listener question from Matthew about what books have influenced their lives. Then Ray has specific advice on reaching greatness in response to questions he got from people he ran into at the Mayweather v. McGregor fight.

Ray and Dr. Conte do a debrief on the Mayweather v. McGregor fight and uses that as an analogy for overall performance in life. They cover everything from mastery to mindful eating and focusing on the present moment. It's a wide-ranging episode chock full of stories and useful nuggets. 

Ray and Dr. Conte answer a listener question from Casey with tips and techniques for calming down, maintaining a level head and control over yourself. And they answer a listener question from Dusean about how to find peace in your life. Finally, the guys have a unique preview of the Mayweather v. McGregor fight that you won't want to miss.

Ray and Dr. Conte do a deep dive on life's transitions. "Preparation doesn't start the night before," says Ray. You have to set your ego aside and ask questions. They also talk about transitioning from moment to moment, and transitioning through pain.

Ray and Dr. Conte answer a listener question from Omar on the important difference between detours and distractions. They also answer a listener question from Isaac on how to move past negative experiences from the past. And they answer a listener question from Torrance on the goal of life. Don't miss Dr. Conte's profound answer. 

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to lead people into deeper things instead of just talking about people, and how to live a deeper life.

Ray and Dr. Conte answer a listener question from Jessica. She is separated from her husband because he's very angry. She and her kids don't want to be around him because all he does is yell at them. Ray has a deeply personal story from his own childhood in response. The guys also answer a listener question from George. He's going through a divorce and wants to know if a marriage ending is ever just one person's fault.

Hear Dr. Conte's four Cs of parenting and 10 ways to discipline your child. Ray talks about how he applies these principles to his own kids, and how to apply them to leadership in other contexts. Also, check out Dr. Conte's video on disciplining your children. https://youtu.be/cidE59kOjHU

Ray and Dr. Conte respond to a listener question from Chris. He asks how to deal with negative people at work. Ray has some interesting locker room stories that illustrate his "rule of life:" You won't get along with everybody, but you can work with anybody. They also answer a listener question from Jeff who says he's prone to fighting when he feels disrespected. Ray and Dr. Conte have some poignant advice on how to be strong enough to walk away.

Ray and Dr. Conte give their definition of momentum and talk about how you can achieve it and capitalize on it; how YOU can dictate the moment. Ray's got some great real life examples from football. They talk about the importance of discipline and routine in keeping your momentum going. And they talk about how you can rally others to change their momentum in all aspects of life, team sports, business, relationships, and organizations. 

Ray and Dr. Conte define leadership and illustrate how you can be the best leader you can be in all aspects of life, sports, family, business, etc. They talk about how to lead by example, take ownership of every action, when to confront and when to comfort. 

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about the power of encouragement over criticism. Ray has a moving story from when the Ravens lost the AFC Championship to New England in 2011 that illustrates the point that a minute of encouragement after failure is worth more than an hour of praise after a success. Dr. Conte draws a specific distinction between self-esteem and self-efficacy and why both are important.

"With great power comes great responsibility." Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how you can define and find your power - how to use the gifts you've been given to impact the world! They also talk about how to make sure you don't give up your power, and how to help your children establish their power.

Damon Dash takes a few minutes away from the set of his new movie, The List, to talk about how he conquered the music, fashion, movie and streaming industries; how he made the choice to not be involved in the streets and gang life. He also reveals his retirement plan and why he's such a big fan of the Raiders.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk rivalry, and Ray says what he really thought of Ben Rothlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how you can be grateful for everything in your life, not just the good stuff, but also the obstacles and challenges.

As Dr. Conte embarks on a weight loss regimen, don't miss the wise advice Ray gives him. It applies to us all, in all aspects of life. 

Ray and Dr. Conte start with a segment on fatherhood, the importance of expressing your love and approval to your kids, and to make sure you're the man your kids need you to be. Then they switch gears to a passionate segment on how to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Ray has a couple of captivating stories to illustrate the point: if you never find your weakness, you'll never find your strength. 

Ray and Dr. Conte answer a question from Kevin, a 17-year-old, about how to stay strong for himself and his sister during their parents' divorce. They also have advice on jealousy for Jim who says he can't handle the fact that his girlfriend has male friends.

What really roots you in your life? Ray and Dr. Conte talk about how to find your foundation. The key is being accountable to yourself and to strive every day to get better.