John Ulsh is a speaker, coach, author, and resilience expert who survived a near-fatal car crash that led to 45+ surgeries, years of recovery, and a complete reset on his life. He’s been featured in People Magazine, Men’s Fitness, and on Good Morning America, and he’s the author of The Upside of Down.

John shares the moment everything changed: a head-on collision after a swim meet, an 18-day coma, paralysis, and waking up to a life he didn’t recognize.

But the bigger story is what came next: rebuilding. John talks about how he went from being completely dependent on others to taking control of his life again through daily choices, training, and a mindset shift.

• You’d be surprised what you’re capable of when you’re forced to face hard things.

• Replace pain you can’t control with discomfort you choose on purpose.

• Build your “board of directors,” people you trust who can help you stay grounded.

• Remove obstacles and focus on the first step. Momentum comes from action.

• It’s more important to be intentional than perfect.

Website: www.JohnUlsh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnulsh/

Finish the Race Apparel: https://ftrapparel.com/collections/stay-in-the-fight

Stay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs it. Go one step further than you thought you could go.

This conversation is raw. It’s honest. And it’s one of those episodes that I know is going to help a lot of people, especially anyone who’s carrying grief and doesn’t know what to do with it.

In this episode, Brendan and I talk about what it means to lose a brother, especially in a sudden, traumatic way. We talk about the anger that can show up for men, the guilt that older brothers carry, and the feeling that life splits into “before” and “after” the moment you lose your person.

Brendan also shares practical strategies—real, usable stuff—for what to do when grief hits you out of nowhere. Not the “time heals all wounds” nonsense. He talks about letting the wave hit, not fighting it, and making “small shifts” in your daily life to keep yourself moving forward when you feel stuck.

We also talk about connection—how the relationship doesn’t end, it just changes. The rituals, the photos, the texts, the car conversations, all of it. Because pretending it didn’t happen isn’t strength. It’s avoidance. And eventually that pain comes back with interest.

Brendan gives the background of what happened in April 2022, and how the legal process stretched the pain out for months and months. We also talk about who Philip was—his energy, his impact, and why the people who lose the “good ones” always seem to ask the same question: why him?

I share something I still wrestle with: that feeling of “I should’ve protected him.” Brendan speaks to that in a way that I think a lot of men need to hear.

We talk about how natural those thoughts are, especially for men, and how toxic it becomes if you live there too long.

Brendan explains why grief isn’t a straight line. Some days are calm. Some days the storm comes back and knocks you over. But the ocean is always there.

Brendan shares what he does when that punch-in-the-stomach moment hits:

• Don’t run from it

• Face it

• Use photos or memories when you’re already in the wave

• Remind yourself it won’t last forever, even if it feels like drowning

This part is huge. Brendan talks about making tiny changes—trying a new place, taking a new route, doing the thing you’ve been curious about. Not because it fixes grief, but because it keeps you from being trapped in the same mental loop every day.

We talk about texting them, talking to them in the car, listening to old voice clips, and how the relationship continues—because for a lot of us, we think about them more now than we ever did when they were here.

If you do one thing after listening to this episode: be good to people. You don’t know what the person in front of you is carrying.

• Website: www.BrendanShawGrief.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanshawgrief

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brendanshawgrief

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrendanShawGrief

Brendan also shares what he and his family built in Philip’s honor: The Phil With Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that gives back through scholarships and community impact—supporting domestic violence shelters, animal shelters, food insecurity, youth sports, and more. Their goal is simple: turn pain into something that helps other people.

• Become Stronger Industries: becomestronger.com

• Finish the Race Apparel: FTRapparel.com

• Stay in the Fight (Anthony’s charity): https://www.stayinthefight.am/

If this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who needs it. Someone who’s grieving. Someone who’s holding it all in. Someone who thinks they have to stay strong by staying silent.

And as always—go one step further than you thought you could.

See you next time on Building Men.

Alright folks, welcome to Chapter 2 of the Building Men Podcast.

This episode is real. No fluff. Just truth.

The last solo episode I recorded was Anthony’s eulogy in October 2024. Since then, life forced me to slow down, grieve, heal, and really ask myself what this podcast is meant to be moving forward. Losing my brother changed everything. It strengthened my family, reshaped my priorities, and made it painfully clear that this work matters.

Chapter 2 is a rebirth.

In this episode, I share where Building Men truly began—not as a podcast, not as a program, but as a kid in sixth grade searching for mentorship and a healthier model of masculinity. I talk openly about growing up with a father who was present but not a positive role model, about false masculinity, and about the quiet hunger many boys feel for guidance, purpose, and connection.

I walk through the evolution of the Building Men program, the lessons young men actually need, and why becoming a man isn’t a moment—it’s a practice. Accountability, resilience, humility, leadership, discipline, and healthy habits don’t magically appear. They’re trained.

This episode also honors Anthony—our time together on the podcast, the laughter, the long studio days, and the gift of being able to still hear his voice. It’s because of him that I’m continuing.

I also introduce Stay in the Fight, a charity created in Anthony’s honor to provide access to therapy and mental health support for those who can’t afford it. Anthony looked invincible on the outside, but he struggled deeply—and too many people are fighting those battles alone.

You can learn more about the charity here:
👉 https://www.stayinthefight.am/

Moving forward, Chapter 2 will focus on young men, parents, coaches, teachers, and anyone who cares about helping boys grow into strong, grounded men. We’ll talk about grief, failure, emotional strength, responsibility, character, and the habits that actually change lives.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs it. Have one meaningful conversation this week. Tell the people you love that you love them.

Find everything Building Men at:
👉 https://www.buildingmen.io
Instagram: @building.men
Stay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/

This is Chapter 2.
Go one step further than you thought you could.
See you next time on Building Men.