In this episode of Simple Healthy Life, we sit down with Gary Watson, a longtime friend with a story that spans addiction, recovery, reinvention, and an unexpected new chapter: opening a collectibles and trading card shop built around community.

Gary shares how he went from early substance use and heroin addiction to nearly 20 years of sobriety, and the pivotal moment when he chose a different path. We talk about what it means to feel again after years of numbing, why many people cope before emotions even show up (scrolling, drinking, overeating, avoidance), and how real growth often comes from learning to sit with discomfort rather than running from it.

From there, the conversation turns to passion and purpose. Gary explains the vision behind his shop, On The Level Collectors: a welcoming space for Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, and more, where people can play, trade, hang out, and reconnect face-to-face. We explore why hobbies can be more than entertainment, they can be a lifeline, a social anchor, and a healthier outlet for stress.

If you are rebuilding your life, searching for direction, or trying to move from “avoiding” to actually engaging with life, this episode delivers real talk, hard-earned perspective, and a surprising amount of hope.

In this episode of the Simple Healthy Life podcast, we sit down with MJ's longtime coach, mentor, and friend, Ross Ickes, who was recently inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. But this conversation is not about trophies, records, or accolades. It is about what happens to people when they are pushed, supported, challenged, and believed in over time.

We talk about wrestling as one of the most demanding sports there is and why its difficulty is precisely what makes it such a powerful teacher. From discipline and accountability to humility, effort, and resilience, wrestling offers lessons that extend far beyond the mat. We explore how great coaching is not about yelling, control, or ego, but about creating an environment where people feel safe enough to struggle and strong enough to grow.

This episode also dives into mentorship, identity, and long-term impact. We discuss why some coaches are remembered decades later, how leadership shows up in small moments like rides to practice or help with homework, and why success should be measured by the quality of people you help shape, not just the number of matches you win.

Whether you are an athlete, parent, coach, or someone interested in personal development, this conversation is a reminder that the hardest paths often create the strongest foundations and that real influence compounds quietly over time.

What if the biggest thing shaping your personality is not who you are, but what you identify with?

In this episode, we break down personal reality through a simple but powerful lens: thoughts, feelings, and actions. Any one of these can become the “driver” of your day, and the outcome is often the same - other people only see your behavior, then react to you, and suddenly your internal state becomes a social chain reaction.

We explore why thoughts can feel intensely personal even when they are automatic, why feelings hijack decision-making, and why actions may reveal far more about your character than your internal monologue ever could. Along the way, we unpack identity in an identity-forward culture, including the subtle problem of “identifying as the tool” - when your role (business owner, athlete, parent, dietitian) becomes your self-worth and makes you fragile.

We also discuss Ram Dass’s concept of “loving awareness,” how it offers a more antifragile identity, and what it looks like in real life when ego gets threatened: avoidance, isolation, reactivity, or shutting down. Through a real example of a business setback and the urge to hide it, we examine how ego and shame distort behavior, and how exposure to discomfort (like training, failure, and feedback) can build emotional tolerance and a more intentional response.

Big goals are exciting - and they are also where most people freeze. In this episode, we unpack why “perfect planning” is often just disguised avoidance, and why clarity rarely arrives before you move. Instead, clarity is local: you only get it after you take the next step.

We introduce the Fogged Bridge metaphor for real change: you cannot see the full path, the planks do not appear all at once, and uncertainty is not a problem to solve - it is the medium you move through. Whether you are trying to eat healthier, train consistently, build a business, or finally start a creative project, the same principle applies: big aims don’t require big starts. They require the next small step.

We also challenge the willpower narrative. Self-demands often create rebellion, procrastination, and anxiety. The alternative is negotiation - lowering the friction, shrinking the ask, and building momentum through repeatable wins (like making one healthy snack, doing one minute of stillness, showing up for the next class). Along the way, we explore why New Year’s resolutions fail, how your “why” determines your direction, and why every “wrong step” still produces the clarity you need for the next right one.

On this episode of SHL, Ryan and MJ had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Alysha Gebo about IFS (internal Family Systems) and how this way to thinking and relating to one's own mind can be transformative. Compared and analyzed against a new model of thought, Nested Observed Window, this discussion introduces both of these concepts on a surface level.

These models can be used to unlock perspective and self-understanding!

In this special episode of SHL, we've compiled a number of clips that were either pre-recording discussions, bloopers, or otherwise!

Thanks so much for all the support, and we hope you enjoy a little behind-the-scenes look! Video is recommended for this episode!

Most people don’t fail because they lack motivation - they fail because they demand a perfect plan before taking a step. In this episode, we unpack why big aims don’t require big starts, and why “certainty first” is one of the most common traps in self-change. Using the fogged bridge metaphor - walk, and the path emerges - we explore how clarity is earned locally: one action at a time, one adjustment at a time, one small win that reveals the next step.

We break down why change rarely happens in a clean, linear arc, why New Year’s resolutions often collapse under their own ambition, and how micro-actions (like making one healthy snack, doing one minute of stillness, or showing up once) build the real foundation for transformation. We also talk about the difference between tyrannizing yourself with demands versus negotiating with yourself with realistic, repeatable steps - and how attention over time is what turns uncertainty into direction.

If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready,” this is your reminder: you don’t need a detailed map. You need a compass, a first step, and the willingness to let the bridge reveal itself.

Why does discipline feel strong in the morning and disappear by night? In this episode, we unpack a more realistic view of willpower - not as a personality trait, but as a limited and renewable mental resource.

Using research on cognitive load, decision fatigue, and classic studies like the Israeli judge parole data and the cookie-versus-radish experiment, we explore why good intentions collapse under daily demands. We discuss how environment, routine, and micro-habits protect mental energy, why trying harder often backfires, and how real change comes from designing your life to reduce decisions rather than relying on motivation. This episode offers a grounded framework for building sustainable discipline without self-punishment.