In Episode 2 of The Tavern After Dark, we step into a place most people never talk about openly - the silent battles fought behind the eyes. The internal questioning. The negative self-talk. The moments when your own mind becomes the loudest critic in the room.

This episode dives deep into that inner arena, where doubt, fear, insecurity, and old stories can either suffocate your potential… or become the fuel that transforms your entire life.

Today, I sit down with Colin, a close friend, a former military H2F coach, and someone who embodies what real transformation looks like. Not the kind you post for validation. The kind you earn - rep by rep, day by day, from the inside out.

Colin opens up about the struggles he endured, the setbacks that threatened his identity, and the weight of expectations that so many veterans and high performers silently carry.

But more importantly, he shares how he rebuilt himself - physically, mentally, emotionally - even when the world only saw “strength” on the outside. What he describes is the very experience most people are afraid to admit: that sometimes the strongest ones are the ones struggling the most privately.

This episode uncovers the truth about self-doubt... that it’s not a sign of weakness but a sign of awareness. A sign that you’re standing at the edge of something bigger. Something that demands growth. And once you learn how to challenge that internal dialogue, everything in life begins to shift.

Together, we break down the simple but powerful process behind the Reset & Readjust Method, the approach I’ve used in my own journey and now teach across my entire DEC Framework. It’s a method built for real people with real challenges — not perfection, not pretending, not toxic positivity. Just honesty, clarity, and small steps that lead to massive change.

We talk through:

• Why insecurity is often the first indicator of untapped potential

• The way childhood, military culture, and trauma shape your internal voice

• How high performers often mask pain with productivity

• The psychology of “identity collapse” and why it leads to growth

• Why your inner narrative decides your trajectory more than your environment does

• The art of catching yourself in negative spirals before they take control

• The Reset & Readjust steps to break the pattern — in real time

For anyone who has ever questioned their worth, doubted their decisions, or felt stuck between who they were and who they’re becoming... this episode will hit home.

This isn’t therapy, and it isn’t motivational fluff. This is the raw conversation most people avoid… and the one that can change everything when you finally face it.

By the end, you’ll walk away with a new lens to understand yourself, a new respect for your resilience, and a practical roadmap to use the next time life knocks you down or your inner voice turns against you.

Most importantly, you’ll learn that you’re not broken - you’re becoming. And the war within isn’t something to fear. It’s the place where courage is built, identity is reforged, and transformation begins.

Grab a seat. Pour a drink. And let’s go deeper than we’ve ever gone before.
Welcome to Episode 2 of The Tavern After Dark - where the shadows reveal the truth, and the truth sets you free.