Rising Tribes Podcast

Nick Urankar & Braxston Cave

Welcome to the Rising Tribes Podcast — where raw conversations meet real growth.Hosted by two former professional athletes turned husbands, fathers, and high-performance leaders, this is the podcast for people who look like they’ve got it all together… but still carry the silent weight of pressure, expectation, and self-doubt.We talk about what most people only think about — the stuff that lives in your chest and keeps you up at night. From marriage and parenting to sex, business, faith, fitness, money, mental health, and the quiet battle of “am I enough?” — nothing is off-limits here.Alongside our wives and powerful guests, we’re building a tribe of everyday warriors who are deeply rooted in character and relentlessly rising in every area of life.This isn’t therapy. It’s not self-help fluff.It’s honest, bold, unfiltered conversation — with people who get it.Because the strongest tribes don’t fake it. They rise together.

  1. 2D AGO

    The 4 A.M Club: Discipline or Delusion?

    Send a text EP. 30 The 4 A.M Club: Discipline or Delusion? What if the 4 a.m. club isn’t a badge but a tool? Braxston and Nick dig into the real reasons to wake early, the seasons that shape their routines, and how to make mornings serve what matters most. From NFL schedules and third-shift leadership to the trenches of entrepreneurship, they share the tradeoffs behind early alarms, the sleep debt that always comes due, and the quiet victories that happen when you own the first hours of the day. They talk about the hype machine that sells “rise and grind” as a magic pill and contrast it with practical discipline: doing the unglamorous work when no one’s asking for your time yet. You’ll hear how rigid routines softened into flexibility without losing consistency, why night prep is the secret to strong mornings, and how finishing essentials early unlocks “bonus time” later. They also go deep on alignment—letting your private habits match your public claims—so your purpose and image become the same story, not a split-screen. Entrepreneurs will recognize the phases: building before work, years in the trenches, then the comfort phase that quietly dulls your edge. Parents and professionals will see how early hours protect family time while keeping health, faith, and focus intact. There’s no universal magic hour here, only a clear path to finding yours and defending it with intention. If you’re ready to build a routine that fits your life  and actually lasts. Hit that  play button. Then tell us: what hour of the day belongs to you?  Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Support the show Let us know your feedback! We'd love to hear from you!

    48 min
  2. FEB 23

    Ep. 29 Most People Quit Over Blisters, Not The Climb

    Send a text Ep. 29 Most People Quit Over Blisters, Not The Climb Ever notice how goals rarely collapse on the mountain and almost always crumble on the blister? Braxston and Nick open up about the tiny frictions that derail big plans, missed days, bad sleep, a slice of cake and why the real work is protecting identity with micro-wins. When a fever hit, Braxston kept a streak alive with a single burpee. Not impressive on paper, but massive for momentum. That choice anchored a standard: never zero. Even on off days, we put something on the board. From there, we challenge all-or-nothing thinking. Walk breaks aren’t failure; they’re smart training. Adjusting the plan isn’t quitting; it’s how you stay in the game. We talk through reframing streaks so they serve you instead of owning you, setting the lowest barrier to daily action, and focusing on progress over pride. We also dig into the athlete mindset—taping a finger, staying on the field—and how anyone can build that mental callus through simple, repeatable reps. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s being the kind of person whose actions match their words. Beyond fitness, we get into resourcefulness at work, stepping into the fire to learn faster, and surrounding yourself with people who expand your standards. Don’t inherit other people’s limits about age or capacity. If you never stop, skills last longer than you think. Train to be capable at many things—run a 10K, tackle a HYROX, carry a heavy week at work—so life doesn’t catch you flat-footed. Collect tools, set a daily floor, and keep promises to yourself when it’s hardest.  If this resonates, hit follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and drop a review to tell us your smallest win that kept you moving.  Thank you for listening!! Support the show Let us know your feedback! We'd love to hear from you!

    39 min
  3. FEB 16

    EP. 28: From Expectations To Authenticity: A Birthday Reflection

    Send a text What if freedom isn’t having fewer obligations, but choosing who you are while carrying them? A 42nd-birthday check-in becomes a candid tour through alignment, expectations, and the legacy we leave in the people closest to us. We start with a simple decision test—does my next step come from my true self or from what others want me to be?—and follow it through habits, family life, and work. You’ll hear a personal “alignment manifesto” that trades performance for presence and reframes expectations as something you must grant, not just absorb. We talk about the quiet cost of saying yes to everything, the resentment that creeps in when roles expand without consent, and the moment you realize you’re shrinking to fit someone else’s story. Then the conversation turns intimate: two letters from Nick's daughters that name their flaws and our unconditional love. Those words become a mirror proof that trust at home is the real scoreboard, and that legacy is written in late-night talks, car rides, and how we show up when no one’s watching. Along the way Braxston and Nick unpack practical tools: a pause-before-choice habit, a personal “razor” for decisions, and small scripts for drawing healthy boundaries at work and in life. We challenge the myth of the good old days and share how simple hellos at the gym lowered guards and sparked real connection. The takeaway is clear and usable: alignment isn’t a leap, it’s a direction—micro-choices that stack into a life you recognize. If you’ve felt stretched thin by other people’s expectations or hungry to be known beyond your labels, this one will meet you where you are. If this resonated, follow Rising Tribes, share it with a friend who needs a nudge toward alignment, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show. What’s your word of the year—and what will you realign this week? Support the show Let us know your feedback! We'd love to hear from you!

    39 min

Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Rising Tribes Podcast — where raw conversations meet real growth.Hosted by two former professional athletes turned husbands, fathers, and high-performance leaders, this is the podcast for people who look like they’ve got it all together… but still carry the silent weight of pressure, expectation, and self-doubt.We talk about what most people only think about — the stuff that lives in your chest and keeps you up at night. From marriage and parenting to sex, business, faith, fitness, money, mental health, and the quiet battle of “am I enough?” — nothing is off-limits here.Alongside our wives and powerful guests, we’re building a tribe of everyday warriors who are deeply rooted in character and relentlessly rising in every area of life.This isn’t therapy. It’s not self-help fluff.It’s honest, bold, unfiltered conversation — with people who get it.Because the strongest tribes don’t fake it. They rise together.

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