Cowboys not Eggheads

Sam Fischer
  • 4.8 (24)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

I visit with guests about topics like loyalty, honesty, authenticity, courage, integrity and resilience.  I come from a cowboy raised and egghead educated background. I’ve saddled and rode a horse, been on multiple cattle drives, fed cattle in 40 below temperatures, worked cattle in a corral, put up hay in 100 degree temperatures, fixed fence …. you name it … I attended high school at a prestigious private school. I got a College degree. I spent 31 years as a national politic operative, owned my own business and spent 13 years as a police officer.  My interesting life has lead me to the conclusion that the world is made up of cowboys and eggheads. I believe that we should have a few more cowboys than eggheads. Get ready, because you’re about to be pulled into the story of my life…… 

  1. 3H AGO

    Out Just in Time: Inside the Drone Strike on the Iraq Embassy - with Special Guest Ben Collins

    Send us Fan Mail In this candid interview, a former contractor shares insights on Middle East security, drone attacks, U.S. foreign policy, and the importance of perspective and critical thinking in understanding global conflicts.   Topics discussed: U.S. embassy in Iraq and security measuresDrone attack incident and implicationsGeopolitical tensions in the Middle EastThe role of intelligence and misinformationThe importance of perspective and critical thinking in understanding conflicts Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Cowboys, Not Eggheads 00:51 Ben Collins' Return from Iraq 02:41 Life Inside the U.S. Embassy in Iraq 05:27 Drone Attack Experience 10:43 The Aftermath of the Drone Attack 14:28 Security and Safety in Iraq 19:11 Traveling from Iraq to Jordan 22:36 Jordan: A Complex Ally 27:32 The U.S. and Israel: Strategic Alliances 32:13 Military Engagement: A Necessary Evil? 47:30 Resilience and Preparedness: America's Strengths 53:38 Cultural Perspectives: Understanding Global Dynamics Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    1h 3m

  2. APR 8

    **SPECIAL REPEAT ** The Truman Show - with Special Guests Jeremy Aspen and Tom Becka

    Send us Fan Mail The Truman Show (Re-Release) — Fear, Truth, and the World We Think We’re Living In What if the world you’re living in… isn’t as real as you think? In this re-release of one of the most thought-provoking conversations we’ve had on Cowboys Not Eggheads, we use The Truman Show as a jumping-off point to wrestle with something much bigger: fear, truth, media, and the uncomfortable question of whether we’re actually seeking reality—or just comfort. This wasn’t a scripted episode. No outline. No guardrails. Just three guys—Sam, Jeremy Aspen, and Tom Becka—pushing on ideas, challenging each other, and following the conversation wherever it led. And that’s exactly what makes it worth revisiting. We get into:  Why fear can both protect you and control you  Whether “your truth” is real—or just your perspective  How media and culture shape what we believe is reality  The difference between cowboys and eggheads—and why you might need both  And ultimately… who you trust when it actually matters This episode didn’t blow up the first time around—but not every conversation is built for the masses. Some are built for people willing to think a little deeper. So here it is again. At some point, like Truman, you have to decide: Are you staying where it’s comfortable… or stepping into the unknown? Hope isn't a strategy!  Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    1h 6m

  3. APR 1

    Pain is Optional - with Special Guest Brandon Day

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brandon Day shares his transformative journey from a championship athlete to a high-performance coach specializing in applied neuroscience and flow state training. Discover how understanding pain, the nervous system, and flow can unlock new levels of physical and mental performance. Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    1 hr

  4. MAR 25

    **SPECIAL REPEAT ** I Would have Never Believed My Story if I didn't go Through It - with Special Guest Tiffani Zeleny

    Send us Fan Mail This special repeat episode from 2023 is about resilience, faith, and an unbelievable medical battle that turned a mother's life upside down.  One of our longest and most popular episodes, you won't want to miss it!  Sam sits down with Tiffani Zeleni, a fellow gym member whose story sounds almost impossible—except she lived every minute of it. What started as what seemed like a simple case of pink eye quickly turned into a rare and devastating diagnosis: Acanthamoeba keratitis, a parasitic infection that attacked her cornea and threatened to take her eye—and possibly her life.  Over the course of months, Tiffani endured relentless pain, hourly medicated eye drops around the clock, multiple infections, repeated trips to specialists, and the real possibility that her eye would have to be removed. At one point she lost vision, lived in darkness for weeks, and traveled back and forth to Iowa City for aggressive treatment while battling exhaustion and fear.  Against overwhelming odds, Tiffani eventually underwent a full cornea transplant made possible by an organ donor. The surgery saved her eye and changed her life. Through it all, she leaned on faith, family, community, and an unbreakable mindset—continuing to show up at the gym even when she could barely see.  In one of the most remarkable twists of the story, just months after this ordeal, Tiffany returned to competition and finished in the top 10% worldwide in the CrossFit Open for her age group—a testament to perseverance, mindset, and the power of community.  This episode is about courage, gratitude, organ donation, and what happens when an ordinary person faces an extraordinary challenge—and refuses to quit. Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    1h 43m

  5. MAR 18

    Even Strong People Wonder if They Belong - with Special Guests Charlie Sattler and Liz Malmberg

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, we explore imposter syndrome, its impact on capable individuals, and strategies to overcome self-doubt. Guests share personal stories, insights on humility, and practical advice for embracing authenticity and growth. Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    55 min

  6. MAR 11

    Beginnings and Transitions - with Special Guest Scott Anderson

    Send us Fan Mail In 2012, before he did CrossFit and long before this podcast existed, Sam Fischer walked into a gym weighing 282 pounds looking for direction. The trainer who approached him that day, Scott Anderson, helped lay the foundation for a journey that would change Sam’s life. In this episode of Cowboys Not Eggheads, Sam sits down with Scott to revisit those early days at the gym, the role discipline and belief play in personal transformation, and how the lessons learned in fitness carry over into other areas of life. Scott shares how he transitioned from personal training into sales and eventually into a successful career in real estate, and why consistency, relationships, and showing up every day still matter more than shortcuts. This conversation is about more than fitness or business. It’s about beginnings, transitions, mentorship, and the people who show up in our lives at exactly the right time. Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    1h 1m

  7. MAR 4

    March or Die - with Special Guest Jeremy Stalnecker

    Send us Fan Mail In this compelling interview, Jeremy Stalnecker, a former Marine and Iraq combat veteran, shares profound insights on leadership, resilience, faith, and the true meaning of courage. Discover how military principles translate into everyday life and how to keep moving forward despite life's challenges.   Topics:  Leadership, Resilience, Faith, Military, Veterans, Courage, Personal Development, Spiritual Warfare, March or Die, Mental Toughness CHAPTERS:  Courage that costs Authority vs leadership Resilience isn’t toughness Faith without band-aids Trauma vs excuse “I’m fine” and the tells March or Die origin story Can grit become avoidance? Marching without motivation Advice to 22-year-old Jeremy How to get help (Mighty Oaks) ****************************************************** Find more information about our guest here:  https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org/ https://www.marchordie.com/ Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    56 min

  8. FEB 25

    Running Naked - with Special Guest Colby Coash

    Send us Fan Mail In this engaging interview, former Nebraska state senator and author Colby Coash shares his journey from small-town roots in Bassett, Nebraska, to political leadership and authorship. Discover insights on family legacy, rural life, leadership, and the transformative power of storytelling and travel. Support the show Thanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: cowboysnoteggheads@gmail.com     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)

    56 min
See All (129)

4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

I visit with guests about topics like loyalty, honesty, authenticity, courage, integrity and resilience.  I come from a cowboy raised and egghead educated background. I’ve saddled and rode a horse, been on multiple cattle drives, fed cattle in 40 below temperatures, worked cattle in a corral, put up hay in 100 degree temperatures, fixed fence …. you name it … I attended high school at a prestigious private school. I got a College degree. I spent 31 years as a national politic operative, owned my own business and spent 13 years as a police officer.  My interesting life has lead me to the conclusion that the world is made up of cowboys and eggheads. I believe that we should have a few more cowboys than eggheads. Get ready, because you’re about to be pulled into the story of my life…… 

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Fischer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cowboys not Eggheads
  • Show Website
    Cowboys not Eggheads

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