The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset

The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset

The Determined Society with Shawn French is a weekly interview podcast exploring determination, mental toughness, adversity, and mindset through raw conversations with athletes, authors, and public figures. Host Shawn French unpacks how his guests break norms, rebuild identity, and develop the habits that fuel long term success, going beyond the headlines into the real stories behind the personas. Each episode digs into questions like: What drives a bestselling author to challenge the status quo? How does an athlete rebuild identity beyond the game? How do public figures use their platform to spark real change? These aren't soundbite interviews. They're honest, unscripted conversations about mental health, resilience, and what it actually takes to keep a commitment after the motivation fades. Expect humor. Expect heart. Expect breakthrough insights, whether it's a book that reshapes how people think, the impact of fame on mental health, or how athletes are redefining what success looks like off the field. If you're driven, curious, and want real conversations with the people shaping culture, business, and sport, The Determined Society is your show. New episodes weekly.

Episodes

September 21, 2026 • 60 mins

In the new episode of The Determined Society, Shawn French sits down with Anthony Perera, founder of Air Pros USA and Exuma Capital Partners, for a powerful conversation on entrepreneurship, brand building, risk, loss, loyalty, fatherhood, mindset, and what it really takes to rebuild after watching something you built fall apart.

The episode dives into different chapters of Anthony’s life, including:

• Starting his first magazi...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

What happens when you stop negotiating with yourself and start doing what you said you were going to do?

In the first-ever Dose of Determination, Shawn French breaks down a simple but powerful truth: real change starts by keeping the promises you make to yourself.

Determination is not about waiting for motivation. It is about showing up when you are tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, or simply do not feel like doing the work.

Whether you...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In the new episode of The Determined Society, Shawn French sits down with Justin Colby, real estate investor, entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and podcast host, for a powerful conversation on failure, discipline, fatherhood, wealth, health, ego, and what it really takes to keep going when life knocks everything out from under you.

The episode dives into different chapters of Justin’s life, including:

• Losing everything during the...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In the new episode of The Determined Society, Shawn French sits down with Daria Berenato for a powerful conversation on reinvention, identity, WWE, entrepreneurship, authenticity, trauma, healing, and building life without permission.

The episode dives into different chapters of Daria’s life, including:

• Growing up with a drive for independence
• The South Jersey “shut up and do it” mentality
• Launching Demo...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In the new episode of The Determined Society, Shawn French sits down with Jay Roberts for a powerful conversation on adoption, ambition, Wall Street, failure, rebuilding, real estate, health, family, and what it really means to play the long game.

The episode dives into different chapters of Jay’s life, including:

• Being adopted from Korea and raised in America
• Growing up with a single mother and no safety net
• ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Ulysses "Uly Monster" Diaz broke cycles of adversity, prison, and street life by walking into a boxing gym at 35. In this raw conversation, he opens up about breaking norms, fatherhood, faith, and the discipline that transformed his identity. One of combat sports' fastest knockout artists shares how accountability and daily discipline changed everything.

 Together, we dive into:

• Growing up in Miami with no male role models

•...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Adversity and loss can destroy families—or forge them. Susan Malzoni shares how protecting her peace, preserving family energy, and building intentional wellness habits became her path to honoring her son and late husband Victor. In this raw conversation, discover the discipline, boundaries, and purpose-driven mindset that transformed grief into a blueprint for lasting resilience and connection.

This conversation explores wha...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Eric Spofford survived five overdoses and rebuilt his entire life through discipline and spiritual growth. In this raw conversation, he reveals the moment of surrender that led to sobriety on December 7, 2006—and how the habits forged in recovery became the competitive edge that built and sold a $115 million enterprise. A masterclass in overcoming obstacles, breaking limiting beliefs, and turning adversity into actionable dis...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Karlton Dennis, CEO of Tax Alchemy and former athlete turned tax strategist, reveals the discipline and identity shift required to build lasting wealth. In this conversation, Shawn French and Karlton explore the mental toughness that helped him transition from sports to entrepreneurship, the tax strategies high-earners use to keep more of what they make, and how breaking norms around money shapes your financial legacy. A powerful c...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

On The Determined Society, authentic conversations and hard questions separate growth from stagnation. Ben Swann—journalist, truth-seeker, and cultural disruptor—sits down with Shawn French to explore why asking difficult questions takes real discipline, how breaking norms demands determination, and what happens when you refuse to accept surface-level answers. Discover the mental strength it takes to challenge the statu...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Jake "Brutal" Bostwick's adversity turned discipline. Growing up surrounded by violence in Southeast London, he reveals how overcoming failure and hardship became his greatest assets. In this raw conversation, Jake unpacks the discipline techniques, mindset shifts, and unforgiving lessons that transformed survival instinct into elite fighting performance—and why loss was never the end.

Connect with Jake Bostwick: 

Instag...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

When adversity strikes, most people rebuild alone. In this raw conversation, Shawn French sits with Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker to explore how breaking norms and authentic faith transformed grief into FuelFest—a global movement celebrating car culture, music, and human connection. Discover what it really means to build something bigger than yourself when loss threatens to define you, and how overcoming obstacles through det...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In this inspiring episode of The Determined Society, Shawn French sits down with Chad Willardson, founder of Pacific Capital, six-time author, husband, father of five, and one of the most respected voices in wealth management and leadership. Chad shares the courageous decision that changed his life forever, walking away from a successful career at Merrill Lynch with no safety net to build a company rooted in integrity, purpose, and...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Overcoming obstacles isn't just about external circumstances, it's about discipline, accountability, and choosing redemption. Michael Franzese, a former Colombo crime captain who walked away from the mob to build a life rooted in faith and family, joins Shawn French to unpack the mindset shift required to break norms, embrace adversity as growth, and redefine what true strength looks like. Discover how controlling the controllables...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Bedros Keuilian—founder of Fit Body Boot Camp and creator of The Project—joins Shawn French for a raw conversation on determination, adversity, and breaking limiting beliefs. From arriving in America as an immigrant child on welfare to building a $100M+ fitness empire, Bedros shares how he reframed trauma and bullying into fuel for leadership, fatherhood, and becoming the man he needed to become. This is a masterclass i...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Trevor Bauer, 2020 Cy Young Award winner, opens up about discipline, adversity, and the moment public judgment changed everything. In this raw conversation, Trevor reveals how an engineering mindset, relentless work ethic, and refusal to quit shaped his rise from UCLA to the Majors—and how he's rebuilding after controversy tested his mental resilience. Discover the discipline techniques and mindset shifts that separate champi...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Phil Daru reveals how elite performance, discipline, and overcoming obstacles aren't separate pursuits—they're interconnected. As a coach to world-class athletes and founders, he unpacks the discipline techniques that separate legends from everyone else, how he's coached through adversity, and why breaking norms in your daily habits is the only path to building real, lasting determination. A raw conversation on purpose-driven...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Growing up with no friends and losing her father before coming out, Blaire White faced obstacles most can't imagine. By 32, she'd amassed 400 million views, toured nationally, and appeared on Fox News — all while navigating relentless judgment. In this raw conversation, Blaire reveals how she broke cultural norms to live authentically, the mental resilience required to overcome obstacles in the public eye, and what it truly c...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

From Hurricane Katrina survivor to IV heroin addict to Redcon1 founder—Aaron Singerman's story reveals how daily discipline and breaking norms rebuilds identity from rock bottom. In this raw conversation, Shawn unpacks the specific habits, mindset shifts, and relentless determination that transformed survival instincts into a supplement empire. No motivational fluff—just what real adversity recovery and long-term discip...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Skip Bertman walked into LSU with zero national championships and a culture still being built. Now, decades later, the legendary coach sits down with Shawn French alongside former Tigers Ryan Theriot and Blair Barbier to reveal how discipline, brotherhood, and unwavering character standards turned a losing program into a dynasty. In this raw conversation, Skip breaks down the non-negotiable habits that build champions—and why...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    PFT Live with Mike Florio

    Mike Florio & Chris Simms discuss the biggest NFL stories with honesty, candor, and authenticity.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices