Chasing Excellence
Looking to build more than just physical fitness? Join Ben Bergeron and Patrick Cummings as they explore how daily practices create the foundation for lasting peace of mind. Through practical frameworks and honest conversations, discover how deep health unlocks the freedom to chase what truly matters. Learn the five essential factors - training, eating, thinking, sleeping, and connecting - that transform fleeting moments of clarity into a life of sustained fulfillment. If you're ready to move beyond quick fixes and build peace of mind, this is your guide.
Episodes
Most people drift through life reacting to whatever comes their way. But what if you could stop drifting and start directing — building a life that moves toward something meaningful instead of just away from discomfort?
In this episode, we walk you through the three-part system that makes that possible: your vision (where you're headed), your anti-vision (what you refuse to become), and your core values (how you make decisi...
The three factors that get deprioritized most often - mindset, sleep, and connection - are the ones that quietly determine everything else.
In Part 2 of our Year in Review, we tackle why winning your morning actually starts the night before, how to build emotional resilience by returning to center faster, and why deepening friendships as an adult requires the same intentionality you'd give to training.
We explore what it mea...
After 20+ years of focusing on health, you might think we'd have it all figured out. But the truth is, the best gains still come from small, strategic tweaks - not dramatic overhauls.
In Part 1 of our annual Five Factors Year in Review, we explore why structured intensity beats "just go hard" training, how mobility might be the unlocking factor you're ignoring, and why the simple nutrition habit of 30 grams of protein befor...
What if the pressure you feel before a big moment isn't a lack of confidence - it's proof you're alive and engaged?
Most of us wait to feel confident before we act, but elite performers know the truth: confidence isn't a feeling, it's a choice you make through your actions.
In this conversation with Laura Ianello, head women's golf coach at the University of Texas, we explore the practical mental skills that separate those w...
As we close out 2025, here's the question that matters most: do you have both the map and the crew for the year ahead?
In this benchmark episode, we revisit two of our most foundational conversations from early 2025—the complete framework from daily habits to peace of mind, and why the people around you determine 95% of your success or failure.
You'll learn how health gives you freedom, why context-independent peace of mind ...
If you've ever felt like raising kids and staying healthy are competing priorities, this episode will change how you think about both.
We're bringing together six of our most powerful conversations on parenting — from applying the Five Factors to family life, to helping kids navigate adversity, to designing environments where healthy choices happen naturally.
Last week, we published an essay called Your Ceiling Becomes Their...
What if every triumph and disaster you face is just a temporary imposter - neither defining you nor derailing you?
In this episode, we explore Rudyard Kipling's timeless poem "If" and uncover how emotional intelligence, resilience, and warrior-like composure can help you navigate life's highest highs and lowest lows with grace.
We dive into the mindset that lets you stay centered when others panic, rebuild humbly when things...
Jamison Price returns to discuss his new guide on self-mastery, "On Dragons, Lions, & Wolves."
He shares three metaphors that define the path from inner transformation to outer impact: facing your dragons (the shame, addiction, and fear within), chasing your lions (the external threats that demand courage), and taming your wolves (integrating strength and wisdom to belong).
This conversation explores why self-actualizati...
What if the problem isn't your problems — it's how you're categorizing them?
In this episode, we share a five-category framework for complaints (from drizzle to hurricane) that will change how you respond to life's challenges. Learn how to calibrate your emotional responses, stop suffering from small stuff, and build the resilience you need when real storms hit.
The wisdom is in the calibration. Most things don't matter at a...
Discover how to unlock your capacity to learn anything and break free from limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.
You'll learn why combining a growth mindset with the right approach to stress creates the foundation for lasting change in every area of your life. Trevor Ragan from The Learner Lab shares the neuroscience of neuroplasticity, the three building blocks for developing a growth mindset, and the Pygmalion Effect, whi...
Discover how clarity in questioning can unlock better outcomes and transform your mindset.
In this episode, we explore Kidlin's Law with Mark England: any question sufficiently worded and written down is half answered.
You'll learn practical techniques to draft, craft, and supercharge your questions, leading to greater clarity and actionable insights in your personal and professional life.
- 👉🏼 Get the f...
Over the past year, Chris Irwin — retired Navy SEAL and creator of RareSense — has walked us through his complete framework for training your mind like you train your body.
In this supercut, we're bringing all four conversations together to cover the five MindKillers (oblivion, storytelling, suppression, fear, and stagnation) and their countermeasures — the specific tools you can use to stop sabotaging your mental fit...
Alongside Robert Glazer, we explore the importance of identifying and living by your core values to create a fulfilling life and make better decisions. You'll gain practical insights and exercises to help you articulate your values and align them with your personal and professional choices.
With Dr Rich Joseph, we delve into the concept of performance medicine and how it promotes resilience and proactive healthcare before issues arise.
You'll learn practical strategies to monitor your health, identify early signs of dysfunction, and implement lifestyle changes for improved well-being and longevity.
👉🏼 Get the full Listener’s Guide here
Alongside Jamison Price & Spencer Nix, we delve into the importance of self-awareness and systems thinking in health and fitness coaching, exploring how identifying personal bottlenecks can lead to meaningful transformation.
Learn practical strategies for engaging with your own health journey, including how to recognize your crux and take the minimal effective steps toward change...
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here
With Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, we delve into the theme of individualism versus collectivism and examine how our connections within groups influence our lives, happiness, and overall well-being.
You'll gain practical insights on how to enhance group dynamics, promote psychological safety, and harness the power of community to achieve your personal and collective obje...
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here
We explore the idea that embracing your uniqueness and prioritizing health over societal norms can lead to a more fulfilling life. You'll gain practical insights on how to resist the default path and make conscious choices that elevate your well-being, even if they feel weird to others.
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Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do eve...
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We explore the paradox of navigating health information amidst the noise of social media, with a particular focus on TikTok and its impact on our understanding of wellness.
You'll walk away with practical strategies to harness social media for your benefit, including how to set boundaries, prioritize the basics, and cultivate a disciplined approach to your health journey.
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Ch...
Stop Choosing the Wrong Discomfort: 10 Lessons from The Comfort Crisis & Netflix's Biggest Loser Doc
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In this episode, EC Synkowski joins us to explore the lessons learned from both Michael Easter’s "The Comfort Crisis" and Netflix's documentary "The Biggest Loser."
We examine the impact of modern comforts on our lives, the challenges of sustainable weight loss, and the importance of understanding your relationship with discomfort.
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Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported...
👉🏼Get the full Listener’s Guide here
We break down the distinction between training and exercising within the context of America's current fitness boom. Get practical insights on how to assess your fitness goals and incorporate well-rounded training that balances strength, conditioning, and mobility.
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Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:
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