All It Takes Is A Goal

Welcome to part two of our five part series on soundtracks! This episode is specifically for parents with kids. I'm pulling three random soundtracks from our Parents with Kids card deck and breaking down why they matter. You'll discover why you can fast forward childhood but you can't rewind it (and what that means for decisions like when to give your kid a phone), why tired beats regretful (a soundtrack my daughter ...

What if three simple phrases could transform your relationship? In this episode, I'm kicking off a brand new five part series on soundtracks by diving into the couples deck. I'm pulling three cards at random and breaking down why these soundtracks matter for your marriage or relationship. You'll discover why every good relationship costs the same exact thing (hint: it's not money), why you should never, ever ask...

81% of people work after dinner, drowning in back to back Zoom meetings where they doodle under the table, only to do real work at night. Sound familiar? In this episode, I sit down with Juliet Funt, author and consultant who helps companies turn scrap time into steel, transforming low value work into high purpose, innovative time. We dive into the signs of toxic culture, why anxious deference to the CEO is a red flag, and how to s...

Patrick Lencioni built a multimillion-dollar business, sold 10 million books, and became one of the most influential leadership voices in the world. But here's what you might not know: he never had a five-year plan, turned down opportunities to scale, and prioritized loving his work over maximizing revenue. In this episode, Pat shares the behind-the-scenes story of building The Table Group, why he kept his team at just 15 full...

Why can't leaders win anymore? No matter what you say, someone's upset. In this conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, host of one of today's most influential leadership podcasts, we unpack why 49 hours a week on our phones has created 100 different experiences in a room of 100 people. From the woman who won't use plastic cutlery to why your weird uncle believes conspiracy theories, we explore how discipleship by alg...

What happens when you set a goal for 20,000 followers in six months and hit half a million instead? Caitlin Campbell built a seven-figure coffee business in the public eye, navigating viral videos, negative comments, and sudden fame along the way. In this episode, Caitlin shares how she went from youth pastor to coffee entrepreneur, why video 2000 was the one that changed everything, and the mindset shift that helped her turn troll...

What if everything you thought about optimism was wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Gervais, high-performance psychologist who's worked with the Seattle Seahawks, Felix Baumgartner, and world-class performers across every field. We dive deep into why optimism isn't naive positivity but the ground zero of mental toughness, how Felix overcame crippling claustrophobia to jump from 130,000 feet, and why ever...

Dr. James Hewitt spent years teaching Fortune 500 companies and Formula One teams how to optimize performance—while ignoring his own advice. Then he found a lump in the shower. In this fascinating conversation, James shares how a late-30s cancer diagnosis forced him to confront a hard truth: he wasn't superhuman. We dive deep into the science of human performance, from why heart rate variability matters more than sleep trackin...

This is it—the final installment of my 50 by 50 series. I've spent four episodes breaking down 50 lessons I learned in my first half-century on this planet (yes, I said half-century). In this episode, I'm covering the final 27 lessons, from "dream big, start small" to why you need at least one Cajun friend. You'll discover why your richest-looking friends might be your poorest, why you should buy an alarm c...

I just turned 50, and milestone birthdays make me reflective. Here's what I realized: I liked my 40s way more than my 30s. I'm happier, in better shape, more connected relationally, accomplishing more goals, but taking more vacation. Why? What did I do in my 40s that made it the best decade of my life? In this episode, I'm sharing the first 25 lessons from my list of 50 things that took me 50 years to learn. From &qu...

I just turned 50, and I've learned some things the hard way. In this episode, I'm sharing four more life lessons that took me half a century to figure out—lessons I wish I could tell my 30-year-old self. You'll discover why successful people are time machines who can shave years off your journey, why anxiety isn't something to fix but something to redeploy (this one changed everything for me), and why there&apos...

I'm turning 50 on December 19 (presents welcome), and as I approach the half-century mark, I've been reflecting on the lessons that have meant the most to me. When you're in your 20s, you don't have hard-fought wisdom, but at 50, there's no denying you've been around the block a few times. In this episode, I'm sharing the first five of ten life-changing lessons: how your thought life becomes your ...

Don't know what to get for that person who has it all? I've got you covered. This year's Try This Gift Guide features 11 items the Acuff house absolutely loved or made in 2025—from the card game that teaches you everything about a person (SkyJo) to the weighted backpack that's making me look ridiculously in shape (GoRuck), to the brand-new Soundtracks Card Decks that are the perfect stocking stuffer. You'll...

I am my niece and nephew's favorite uncle—mostly because I'm their only uncle, but a win is a win. Election years turn every family gathering into "squirrely uncle season," and Thanksgiving is ground zero. You've got relatives who think differently, believe differently, and this year, vote differently. Before you get into a political argument that could cost you a decades-long relationship, here's one ...

Last year, I read more than 100 books. This year, I cut that goal down to 25—and actually got more out of them. After realizing I was flying through books without retaining much, I slowed down and found four that earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite reads of 2024: a cutthroat business memoir from the cofounder of CAA (with an amazing 10-minute meeting trick), a beautifully illustrat...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to binge on other people’s success stories? Podcasts, books, courses—it all feels productive, but sometimes it’s just procrastination in disguise. I call it being a success voyeur. You’re peering through the glass, watching other people build remarkable lives, while your own goals collect dust. I know, because I did it too. In 2024, I read 100 books and didn’t change my life one bit. It wasn’t l...

I've written 11 books, but I didn't have a 10-year plan. I just got tired of my fearful mindset dictating my entire life. In my mid-30s, I threw my first bottle into the ocean—and it changed everything. In this episode, I'm sharing why you need to throw yours too. Here's the metaphor: You're on an island called "My Life," and the things you create are tiny notes you shove into bottles. When you th...

A viral tweet recently claimed that 30-year-olds today can't afford what previous generations could—a house they like, a decent car, a $100K salary, and a stay-at-home spouse. Here's the truth: I was 30 in 2006 and only achieved half of that list. We had seafoam green carpet, a purple bedroom, squirrels living in our roof, a 2-door Camry with 150,000 miles, and a two-hour commute. But we were building something. In this e...

81% of Americans want to write a book. Only 2% actually do. What's the difference between wanting and doing? One word: deadline. In this episode, I'm breaking down why deadlines are the secret weapon for finishing any goal—whether you're writing a book, getting in shape, or finally decluttering that garage. Your Peloton is collecting dust, your planner has cobwebs, and that Ninja Creami is just an expensive paperweig...