Unlimit Yourself

In today's episode, we're going to focus on a concept that I've mentioned numerous times on the show but never fully explained. It's an idea that undergirds all episodes of the podcast and a resource for anyone struggling with how to stay true to themselves. I call it: The Internal Compass. This naturally built-in navigation system manifests as a mental and emotional reaction to matters large and small. It offers sometimes clear, often subtle guidance on making decisions that fall in line with who you are, who you want to be and what you genuinely want to do. Everyone possess their own internal compass, but no one receives a manual on how to use it. Throughout their lives, most people — including myself — struggle with interpreting the compass's direction, leading to feelings of confusion, discontent and wasted time. Fortunately, I believe there are certain steps one can take to avoid this predicament and the trappings of self-deception. 

In today's episode, also known as the second installment of Unlimit Yourself's Power of Passion series, we'll be exploring the story of Erik Sargent, a master of media arts who literally has a master's in media arts. Among his many titles, Erik is an audio engineer, music composer, sound and graphic designer, drummer, Legend of Zelda super fan and a video game aficionado. He is also a Twitch streamer who creates captivating and hilarious content under his own personal brand, SargeGames. Leveraging the tri-force of courage, skill and passion, Erik summoned the power to overcome self doubt and go public with his unique voice and content style. Watching him be so open with his creativity and unreservedly himself helped motivate me to do the same. It's for that reason that I knew Erik would be a fantastic addition to this show. 

In today's episode, the first since returning from my hiatus, I'm going to be talking to Calvin Skinner, a man who unapologetically marches to the beat of his own drum. No one definition perfectly captures the uniqueness of Calvin's character, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Calvin is a skilled photographer, cook, content creator, mechanic, instrumentalist, lover of nature, philosopher, and most importantly, my best friend. His expansive breadth of talents and passions can be summed up in a phrase that also reflects the way he lives his life. And that phrase is unrestrained openness. Calvin is one of the rare individuals who habitually discards judgement for empathy, fear for curiosity, and hatred for love. Seemingly impervious to outside criticism, he is a stellar example of the kind of authenticity and limitless mindset I so ardently promote on this show. Growing up, I learned so much from Calvin, and in this episode, I hope you do, too.

In this episode, Rick delivers some breaking news on the future of Unlimit Yourself.

In today's episode, I want to talk about a personality type that actively limits the happiness and success of those who possess it. The kind of people who see the glass half empty and no light at the end of the tunnel; those who carry around a dour and sullen opinion of what is possible for themselves and others. Today, I want to talk about the disempowered pessimist. More than a typical pessimist, one who is disempowered has adopted a highly insular worldview, where the idea of what's possible in life is highly restricted and where the cause of failure can always be attributed to someone or something else. This unproductive mindset robs good, hardworking people of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to them with a more positive, self-assured outlook. There are countless reasons people fall victim to this way of thinking, and I'll explore one of them, but I'm primarily going to focus how to avoid it using an example from my own life.

In today's episode, we're gonna talk about the art of the come-up through self-belief. The come-up, or in the words, the period before you achieve high-level success, is one of the most difficult and grueling experiences for any artist, athlete, or professional. One must have fierce determination to withstand the slings and arrows, setbacks, and disappointments that imperil their steady climb to the top. A perfect example of someone who possess that determination is my old friend, Leo, who fights for his dreams every day by putting out consistently high-quality content. For example, he is the host of a comedy podcast, called “Ur Kiddin' Me,” which is two years and 70 episodes deep, and on September 3, he came out with a new nine-track visual album, titled Stevie Boi Jr. Needless to say, Leo knows how to hustle through hardship. Here is his story.

In today's episode, I'm kicking off a new series on Unlimit Yourself, called the Power of Passion. The goal of this series is simple: Talk to people who love what they do. There's something uplifting about people like this, the ones whose enthusiasm for a craft, profession, art form or subject area is so intense that it energizes and inspires us to answer our own calling in life. My guest today, John Hughes, is one of these people. I've known him since the sixth grade, when we became best friends over our shared love for filmmaking. With a passion for motion pictures etched in his bones, John pursued the creative arts all the up through high school and college, eventually becoming a professional filmmaker in his own right. Despite the challenges that he's faced working in the arts, John has stayed the course, overriding the sting of external pressures with the firm, unflinching guidance of his internal compass. Here is his story.

In today's episode, we're going to tackle a difficult but necessary question — the answer to which is so powerful that it effectively guides the thinking, behavior, and lifestyle of half the Earth's population. The question is: What Does It Mean to be a Man? Joining me for this riveting discussion is scholar, philosopher, and friend, Elliot Meyer.

From the best of times to the worst of times, music has the extraordinary ability to speak to exactly how we feel. It serves as an intimate companion, reminding us that there's at least someone out there who can empathize with our thoughts, feelings, or emotions. Few understand this intimate relationship better than Cassie Pearl Wise, a singer/songwriter whose relationship with music has been lifesaving — literally. Hear how Cassie turned tragedy into triumph in this episode of Unlimit Yourself.

Heal through movement. That's the central message of fitness guru and my first guest on Unlimit Yourself, Victoria (Vic) Leyburn. Through candid and vulnerable discussion of her own life story, Vic explores themes of mental health, spiritual wellness, and physical fitness on her Instagram page, @holisticfitnesss_withvic. Find out how she went from down and out to thriving undeterred in this exciting conversation. 

In this episode, Rick goes in depth about the three elements that he believes are necessary for success and great achievement — confidence, consistency, and critical thinking.

Social media isn't always a wellspring of inspiration; often it's quite the opposite. Having access to so many other people's lives through their social media content provides ample opportunity for chronic, unhealthy social comparison that can lead to feelings of frustration, inadequacy, and envy. In this episode, Rick talks about these downsides and how to retool those negative emotions to serve as motivation for bettering yourself.

Throughout life, we're so often pressured to suppress our emotions and feelings. As a result, honest expression of the hurt, anger, or sadness we experience can feel very uncomfortable, and at times, unfathomable. Confident vulnerability is a tool you can use to overcome this obstacle and reinforce your self-worth during difficult times.

Welcome to Unlimit Yourself. In this inaugural episode, Rick introduces himself and explains the purpose of the podcast.