This episode is personal.

Rick Hendrickson isn’t a stranger to me. He’s my high school wrestling coach, a lifelong mentor, and one of the biggest reasons I understand what leadership actually looks like when no one’s watching.

We talk about what it means to be a man in 2025 without the performative nonsense. We get into emotional intelligence, accountability, and the reality that there is no neutral in how you show up in the world: you’re either contributing or you’re contaminating.

Coach shares his story from growing up in Grafton, West Virginia, to building a life in education, athletics, and mentorship - plus the behind-the-scenes truth of how he ended up in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and later helped build Mercesburg Adventure Camps into a real business engine rooted in people, standards, and culture.

We also talk about my 3-year sobriety milestone and what it looks like to lose your direction, fall off the bridge, and come back with your life intact - without blaming anyone else.

If you care about leadership, coaching, education, or just becoming the kind of person people can count on, this one’s for you.

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