Behind The Human with Marc Champagne

Marc Champagne
  • 5.0 (80)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Unpacking the stories and mental fitness practices of people living at the top of their game personally and professionally.

  1. 1d ago

    The Architect of Cozy: How Kathryn Nicolai Built a World Millions Return To

    As the creator of Nothing Much Happens and the author of the audio novel On the Street Where You Live, Kathryn Nicolai has built an interconnected world where listeners can feel safe, soften their guard and step away from the noise of modern life. In this conversation, Kathryn explains how 20 years of teaching yoga prepared her to speak to millions of listeners, why she created a genre she calls “healing fiction,” and how storytelling can quietly bring people into a state of mindfulness without asking them to meditate. She also shares the discipline behind her enormous creative output, the role safety plays in making art, the practices she uses to regulate her own mind and why our lives were never meant to be constantly optimized. This is a conversation about sleep, creativity, community and creating softer places to land—in our minds, our neighbourhoods and our lives. EXCITING STUFF! My second book now available for pre-order! You're Invited: A Life-Changing Conversation with History's Greatest Wisdom Teachers Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas   Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne   Timestamps: 00:00 — Meeting the “Architect of Cozy” 00:39 — Why the Mind Needs to Feel Safe 02:14 — The Hidden Training Behind Kathryn’s Success 05:40 — Becoming a Writer by Creating a New Genre 07:11 — The Bedtime Story That Started Everything 08:41 — Discipline, Writing Sprints and Scheduled Goofing Around 11:37 — Where Kathryn’s Ideas Come From 13:32 — Creating Healing Fiction 18:19 — The Sneaky Power of Storytelling 20:18 — Why Creativity Requires Safety 21:46 — How Kathryn Regulates Her Mind 23:15 — Self-Care as the Bare Minimum 24:50 — Your Life Is Not an Optimization Project 25:44 — Why Audio Became the Perfect Medium 28:37 — Letting Collaborators Make the Work Better 31:20 — Goodness, Community and Belonging 33:38 — Ubuntu, a Smoking Houseplant and Helpful Neighbours 36:06 — Creating a Softer Corner of the Internet 37:53 — Neighbours of Nothing Much 40:14 — The Satisfaction of Useful Work * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Architect of Cozy: How Kathryn Nicolai Built a World Millions Return To

  2. 4d ago

    The Blueprint (EP 3 of 7): Your Operating Pattern: The Strategy Your Mind Runs on Under Pressure

    Your operating pattern isn't a personality type — it's the dominant strategy your mind is leaning on right now. Marc walks through all six Blueprint patterns, how each one can distort under pressure, and what actually tends to restore it. This is episode two of a 7-part series teaching you how to build your own 90-Day Mental Fitness Blueprint by hand. Start with episode one if you haven't yet — this one builds directly on your baseline scores. Have your plan built for you in 15 minutes → blueprint.mchampagne.com Use code POD50 for 50% off while this series airs. Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Blueprint (EP 3 of 7): Your Operating Pattern: The Strategy Your Mind Runs on Under Pressure

  3. Jul 26

    The Iron Chef Who Prepared for a 97% Chance of Losing (Ft. Mark Tarbell)

    Chef and Iron Chef America winner Mark Tarbell opens up about nearly drowning, spending the next three decades sleeping only two to four hours a night, and eventually learning to use breath, meditation, service, and the pause to make better decisions. He also reveals the obsessive preparation behind his Iron Chef victory, why he refuses to live in past glory, and how saying no can become a gift. Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life   Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne   Timestamps: 00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?” 00:14 — Mark Tarbell on having the heart of a servant 00:45 — Where Mark’s generosity and humility began 01:33 — The grandmother whose home was always open 02:03 — Nearly drowning and realizing we are one breath away 02:46 — When a high achiever discovers he is not in control 04:30 — Sleeping two to four hours a night for 30 years 05:29 — Why the breath became deeply personal 06:45 — Using breathwork to regulate a driven mind 08:56 — Teaching restaurant teams the power of the pause 09:23 — The three-option method for making decisions under pressure 12:27 — The Jacques Pépin book that changed Mark’s life 14:16 — Fighting for an apprenticeship in Amsterdam 15:41 — Calling a Paris culinary school until they finally said yes 17:22 — Why chaos makes Mark feel calm 18:09 — The real role of a chef, server, or restaurateur 20:56 — How to stop other people’s emotions from sticking 22:59 — Cooking for the Dalai Lama and struggling with meditation 24:28 — Finding stillness inside chaotic environments 25:10 — How preparing food can become a meditation 27:22 — The unexpected call from Iron Chef America 28:48 — Preparing for a 97% chance of losing 30:51 — Recreating the competition before ever entering it 32:28 — Why Mark has never watched his Iron Chef victory 32:58 — Refusing to live in the glory days 34:23 — Creating filters for new opportunities 34:49 — Recovering from “yes-itis” 35:39 — What happens during Mark’s three-day decision pause 36:09 — Why no is the most underused word 36:29 — The gift of goodbye 37:11 — The advice Mark would give his 14-year-old self 37:30 — Living from the inside out 37:49 — Why love anchors everything 38:09 — Discernment versus judgment 39:40 — What Mark hopes his children see in him 41:18 — The ripple effect of following an authentic calling * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Photo credit & feature by: @phensimms / TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Iron Chef Who Prepared for a 97% Chance of Losing (Ft. Mark Tarbell)

  4. Jul 23

    The Blueprint (EP 2 of 7): Set the Season - One 90-Day Outcome Beats a Dozen Good Intentions

    Marc breaks down why 90 days is the right container for real change, then walks you through the two-layer exercise that actually anchors a season: your one professional outcome, and how you want to show up while you work towards that outcome. That second layer is the one almost everyone skips, and it's exactly why hitting a goal doesn't always feel like winning. This is episode two of a 7-part series teaching you how to build your own 90-Day Mental Fitness Blueprint by hand. Start with episode one if you haven't yet — this one builds directly on your baseline scores. Have your plan built for you in 15 minutes → blueprint.mchampagne.com Use code POD50 for 50% off while this series airs. Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Blueprint (EP 2 of 7): Set the Season - One 90-Day Outcome Beats a Dozen Good Intentions

  5. Jul 19

    The Longevity Trap: When Optimizing Your Health Backfires (Ft. Dr. Nasim Afsar)

    We were promised that more data would give us more control. Somewhere between the sleep score and the blood panel, many of us stopped asking how we actually feel. After stepping away from the demanding executive career that had shaped much of her identity, physician and healthcare leader Dr. Nasim Afsar was forced to confront a deeper question: Who are you when the role, schedule, and story that defined you are suddenly gone? In this conversation, Nasim and Marc explore identity beyond achievement, the danger of trying to fix every uncomfortable emotion, and the growing anxiety surrounding wearables, supplements, testing, peptides, and longevity protocols. They also examine how unified health data and artificial intelligence could create a more personalized and human healthcare system—provided that people remain the owners of their information and the centre of every decision. This is a conversation about becoming whole, trusting how you feel, and remembering that no technology can replace sleep, movement, purpose, community, and a life you genuinely want to live. Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life   Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne   Timestamps: 00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?” 01:41 — Leaving the career that had become part of her identity 04:23 — What story are you telling yourself about who you are? 06:32 — Becoming a more whole human being 08:21 — What a Valentine’s Day disappointment taught Nasim about pain 11:14 — Why fixing the problem can prevent us from understanding it 13:16 — Letting discomfort teach you instead of managing it away 15:38 — How medical training conditioned doctors to disconnect emotionally 18:36 — Feeling difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them 20:03 — Why high-stress professions must teach people how to process trauma 22:17 — The connection between human context and intelligent health 23:47 — The patient labelled “non-compliant” whose real story was being missed 26:06 — Why clinical care represents only part of what shapes our health 26:44 — The three pillars of intelligent health 28:53 — Why modern health optimization has become overwhelming 30:12 — When wearable data disconnects you from how you actually feel 31:58 — The psychological cost of forcing yourself through “healthy” routines 33:34 — The anxiety and stress hiding inside the longevity movement 35:33 — A healthier, seasonal approach to wearables and tracking 37:56 — The simple fundamentals shared by people who live well 39:12 — The dangerous side of rushing into unverified health treatments 40:32 — Returning to the fundamentals before chasing the latest protocol 42:01 — Why fragmented health data prevents personalized care 45:15 — Where to begin when health information feels overwhelming 46:06 — Baseline testing, trusted practitioners, AI, and health-data privacy 47:38 — Why no peptide can replace the foundations of health 48:18 — The personalized health future that may be closer than we think 49:55 — Reclaiming autonomy without chasing every health trend * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Longevity Trap: When Optimizing Your Health Backfires (Ft. Dr. Nasim Afsar)

  6. Jul 16

    The Blueprint (EP 1 of 7): Are You Functioning or Thriving? The 7 Numbers You Need To Know

    Most people are functioning but very few are thriving and we all deserve to thrive more days than not. In ten minutes, Marc walks you through the 7 pillars of the Mental Fitness Assessment — Clarity, Adaptability, Emotional Agility, Focus, Sleep & Recovery, Rumination, and Stress Load — and shows you how to self-score honestly across all seven. More importantly: what the relationship between your highest and lowest pillar actually reveals. Not a weakness to fix but your single biggest opportunity for the season ahead. This is episode one of a 7-part series teaching you how to build your own 90-Day Mental Fitness Blueprint by hand. Or — if you'd rather have yours built for you based on your actual answers — that option takes about 15 minutes. Have your plan built for you in 15 minutes → blueprint.mchampagne.com Use code POD50 for 50% off while this series airs. Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Blueprint (EP 1 of 7): Are You Functioning or Thriving? The 7 Numbers You Need To Know

  7. Jul 12

    Why Gratitude Outperforms Hustle (Ft. Barrett Ersek)

    How would your life change if every setback wasn't blocking your path—but redirecting it? A devastating warehouse fire. Years of uncertainty. A company that nearly didn't survive. For Barrett Ersek, CEO & Founder of Holganix those moments became the foundation for a mission that's now transforming agriculture, helping farmers regenerate soil, improve profitability, and remove carbon from the atmosphere. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Barrett shares the deeply personal experiences that reshaped how he leads—from a life-changing lesson on gratitude to an extraordinary psychedelic journey where he believes his late mother revealed a completely different way to build companies, lead people, and live. Together, Marc and Barrett explore entrepreneurship, purpose, family, resilience, regenerative agriculture, leadership, intuition, and what it truly means to live in "flow." Whether you're building a company, raising a family, or simply navigating uncertainty, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that your greatest obstacles may be preparing you for your greatest contribution.   Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life   Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne   Timestamps: 00:00 — "Who are you?" beyond the title 02:15 — Building culture instead of hierarchy 06:10 — The 80th wedding anniversary vision 07:00 — Annual entrepreneurial family retreats 08:45 — Family board meetings and raising entrepreneurial kids 11:30 — Why Barrett believes entrepreneurs can change the world 13:00 — Healthy soil creates healthy people 15:45 — The warehouse fire that changed everything 20:00 — Choosing gratitude in the middle of disaster 23:30 — How losing everything accelerated innovation 27:00 — Betting everything on a new idea 30:00 — Why overnight success actually took 17 years 32:30 — Staying mentally strong through years of uncertainty 34:30 — The psychedelic journey that changed his life 37:30 — Meeting his late mother 38:15 — The lesson of "Flow" 40:15 — Why leaders must focus on what they're FOR 42:00 — Becoming the dolphin 44:30 — Richard Branson unexpectedly enters the story 49:00 — The unforgettable Necker Island moment 51:30 — From pushing rocks uphill to effortless growth 54:00 — The dolphin appears at his son's wedding 56:00 — Gratitude, pilgrimage, and living in flow 59:00 — Why entrepreneurship is one of the world's noblest professions * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Why Gratitude Outperforms Hustle (Ft. Barrett Ersek)

  8. Jul 5

    He Worked With Fleetwood Mac, The Who & Brian Wilson. Here's What They Taught Him About Life (Ft Leo Rossi)

    Leo Rossi spent decades behind the scenes with legendary artists including Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Brian Wilson, Prince, Chaka Khan, and many of the musicians who shaped modern music. But this conversation isn't really about rock and roll. It's about purpose. Leo shares remarkable stories from inside music history, the lessons he learned from creative geniuses, how one decision at 15 years old altered the course of his life, and why losing his son ultimately led him toward a mission that's impacting children around the world. This is a conversation about legacy, generosity, faith, and living the magic of every moment.   Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life   Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne   Timestamps: 00:00 — "I'm the luckiest guy on Earth." 02:00 — Why authentic conversations create deeper connections 04:05 — Accidentally finding a career backstage 06:15 — Touring with Black Sabbath, The Who and rock legends 08:05 — How working for free led to Fleetwood Mac 12:10 — Why he walked away from the music industry 13:00 — The real story behind Knights of Rock 17:15 — What people misunderstand about classic rock 20:00 — Why everything starts with the song 22:05 — Brian Wilson's extraordinary creative genius 29:45 — The one word that summarizes an unbelievable career 30:40 — Losing his son and discovering a new purpose 35:10 — Building bridges that change lives 38:30 — Why kindness compounds over generations 41:10 — Watching "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac being born 44:30 — Why he believes magic found him 46:00 — The biggest poverty in the world isn't money 49:00 — One small act can change everything * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    He Worked With Fleetwood Mac, The Who & Brian Wilson. Here's What They Taught Him About Life (Ft Leo Rossi)
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Unpacking the stories and mental fitness practices of people living at the top of their game personally and professionally.

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