Alignment First w/ Mycal Anders

Mycal Anders

5.0 (3)
Society & Culture
Updated Daily

Mycal Anders has spent decades watching talented leaders optimize the wrong things. The hustle is there. The strategy looks good. But something’s off. This podcast is about finding it. Each week Mycal sits down with leaders, founders, and guests who are figuring out what aligned work actually looks like, and talking about it honestly. Alignment first. Progress always.

Sep 23

Dr. Eric Udell: Systems Over Symptoms

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Eric Udell to unpack why symptoms are intelligent adaptations, not malfunctions. We dive into systems thinking, the "N of One" mindset, and the buried anger he connected to his own asthma, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways Symptoms are adaptations. The body, like the organization, makes its best decision under the conditions it is given.Silos stall resolution. The system does not respect your org chart.You are an N of one. Averages describe populations, not the person in front of you.What you stuff down does not disappear. Move the emotion or it moves into you.The goal is independence, not dependency. Build people who no longer need you.Quotes "Your body doesn't respect the division down into organ systems and specialties in medicine. It's a single unified system." – Dr. Eric Udell"This is the best adaptation that the body can muster under the conditions you gave it." – Dr. Eric Udell"I want to empower people to be independent, not dependent. Even dependency on me is not what I'm after." – Dr. Eric UdellConnect with Dr. Eric Udell• Socials: @dr.ericudell• Book a free 30-minute discovery call, Arizona Natural Health Center: aznaturalhealth.com ___________________________________________________________________________________Next Level Resources✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: ⁠https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/⁠✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: ⁠NextLevelHQ.co ⁠✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/Partners & Sponsors@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500Alignment First. Progress Always.#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#Podcast#AURA#Mastery#PersonalGrowth#ExecutiveCoaching#Leadership#AlignedLeadership
Sep 1

Dr. Lance Cutsforth: Stop Outsourcing Your Healing

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Lance Cutsforth, Army veteran and founder of Mons Sana, to break down why a breakthrough is not a transformation. We dive into identity after service, moral injury, and the difference between healing you own and healing you rent, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways 1. Trauma is any situation you face that you are not adequately prepared or resourced for. That makes it an injury, not a disorder. 2. Service teaches you to answer "what do I do" instead of "who am I." Take the uniform away and the gap shows up fast. 3. Externalizing your healing feels safe. It costs you your agency. No pill, program, or coach owns your outcome. 4. Every peak emotional experience makes your psyche malleable. The heat is the window. It is not the change. 5. Integration is the hammer. Skip it and you cool into a shape you did not choose. Quotes • "Knowledge is what you gain when things go according to plan. Wisdom is what you gain when they don't." – Dr. Lance Cutsforth • "Identity was more what is my human doingness and not my human beingness." – Dr. Lance Cutsforth • "These medicines unlock doors, but we have to be the ones to step through it." – Dr. Lance Cutsforth Connect with Dr. Lance Cutsforth • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancecutsforth/ • Website: www.monssana.com ___________________________________________________________________________________ Next Level Resources ✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: ⁠https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/⁠ ✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: ⁠NextLevelHQ.co ⁠✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/ Partners & Sponsors @ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15 @wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15 Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034 Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500 Alignment First. Progress Always. #AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#Podcast#AURA#Mastery#PersonalGrowth#ExecutiveCoaching#Leadership#AlignedLeadership
Aug 25

Kylie Barber: Diary of a Successful Woman

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Kylie Barber to unpack why capable, accomplished people stay stuck in relationships long beyond their ability to serve one another. We dive into assumptions, courageous conversations, intentional adversity, and standards that do not bend, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways Assumptions are the top source of disappointment. Say the expectation out loud.Contribution means something different to every person at the table. Define it together.Trade-off is not sacrifice. The language you choose decides whether you feel chosen or cheated.Convenience removed the friction that builds competence, confidence and capability. Choose intentional adversity.Standards keep you from settling. Name what you want early and hold it.Quotes "Be ruthless with your standards in what you want. Don't settle." – Kylie Barber"We are risk averse. We're out of practice in pursuing risk." – Kylie Barber"[mindreading]... if that's a conscious strategy for you, look forward to being disappointed." – Mycal Anders Connect with Kylie Barber Instagram: @KylieBarberAZLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kylielbarberWebsite: kyliebarber.com Next Level Resources ✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/ ✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: NextLevelHQ.co ✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/ Alignment First. Progress Always. Sponsors & Partners @ThorneHealth → ⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠ @StrongCoffee → ⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 @wearshepherds → ⁠Shepherds.com⁠ @team4kor → ⁠4korfitness.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠VisionEspresso.co⁠ @TYRsport → ⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠ — Use Code: 14034 @MorozkoForge → ⁠morozkoforge.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500 Alignment First. Progress Always. #AlignmentFirst #AlignedLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #Leadership #Podcast
Aug 18

Amy Young: Redefining Possibility

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Amy Young, CEO of Redefine Possibility to unpack what happens when you get everything you chased and realize you no longer want it. We dive into identity evolution, the space between trigger and response, resentment inside a marriage, and defining success on your own terms, and we break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways 1. Your identity is allowed to evolve before the season ends. Amy knew she was done with soccer a year before her last game. That honesty turned the exit into a gift. 2. Between the trigger and your reaction sits a space. Your power lives there. 3. Feel the feeling, then move it through you. Holding the emotion is where you hand your power away. 4. What got you here will not get you there. The next level is built on what you say no to. 5. Success is a definition, not a ladder. Write yours, then rewrite it every season. Quotes • "You have to be willing and ready to let your identity evolve." – Amy Young • "When we hold on to the emotion that the trigger represents, that's where the power transaction happens." – Amy Young • "More doesn't always mean more. More can mean less. You can have more in your life by doing less." – Amy Young Connect with Amy Young • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyyounglifeandcareercoachforfemaleexecutives/ • Website: redefinepossibility.com/Next Level Resources✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: ⁠https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/⁠✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: ⁠NextLevelHQ.co ⁠✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/Partners & Sponsors@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500Alignment First. Progress Always.#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#Podcast#AURA#Mastery#PersonalGrowth#ExecutiveCoaching#Leadership#AlignedLeadership
Aug 11

Kayleen Duffy: What's The One Thing?

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Kayleen Duffy, host of That One Thing, to unpack what happens when the resilience that built you starts running you. We dive into stillness, core values, identity after sport, and what one hundred percent of your capacity actually looks like, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence.Key Takeaways1. Resilience is a superpower until it becomes a default. Notice when you make it harder than it has to be.2. Bravery can be the mask fear wears. Finishing the drill is not the same thing as staying aligned.3. Slow seasons are not punishment. They are the opening where the next version of you gets built.4. If you cannot name your core values, you cannot tell what is for you and what is not.5. One hundred percent capacity is not a stacked calendar. It is high value, low volume effort.Quotes• "In that silence is the truth." – Kayleen Duffy• "I am the only one living this life. No one else. This is my damn life." – Kayleen Duffy• "You sit still long enough, you run out of your own story. The only thing left is what is true." – Mycal AndersConnect with Kayleen Duffy• That One Thing podcast. On Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/duffykayleen/___________________________________________________________________________________Next Level Resources✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: ⁠https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/⁠✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: ⁠NextLevelHQ.co ⁠✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/Partners & Sponsors• @ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• @StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15• @wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• @team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15• Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• @TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034• Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500Alignment First. Progress Always.#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#Podcast#AURA#Mastery#PersonalGrowth#ExecutiveCoaching#Leadership#AlignedLeadership
Aug 4

Dr. Michael Sumko: Connection Before Correction

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Michael Sumko to unpack why connection comes before correction, in the operating room and at home. We dive into rebuilding trust, managing expectations, and leading through the death of an old identity, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways Connect before you correct. People take your insight only after they feel your care.Trust is currency. You earn it in small, consistent moments, not grand gestures.Treat the person, not the birth certificate. Lead who is actually in front of you.Let people fail so they can grow. Sometimes a leader wins by stepping back.Never accept where you are. More reps, better results, or you leave them on the table.Quotes "Before you correct, you need to connect." – Dr. Michael Sumko"Trust is currency." – Dr. Michael Sumko"Don't treat a birth certificate. Treat a patient." – Dr. Michael SumkoConnect with Dr. Michael SumkoWebsite: DrMichaelSumko.comPractice: Arizona Sports Medicine Center (ASMC), Stapley and the 60, Mesa AZFacebook: Dr. Michael Sumko, Hip and Knee SpecialistInstagram: @drmichaelsumko Next Level Resources ✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/ ✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: NextLevelHQ.co ✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/ Alignment First. Progress Always. Sponsors & Partners @ThorneHealth → ⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠ @StrongCoffee → ⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 @wearshepherds → ⁠Shepherds.com⁠ @team4kor → ⁠4korfitness.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠VisionEspresso.co⁠ @TYRsport → ⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠ — Use Code: 14034 @MorozkoForge → ⁠morozkoforge.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500 Alignment First. Progress Always. #AlignmentFirst #AlignedLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #Leadership #Podcast
Jul 28

Chris Hynes: Tell No Quiet Lies

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Chris Hynes, co-founder and CTO of OwnerRez, to unpack why the smallest honest truths build the deepest trust. We dive into the quiet lies that erode connection, the reps behind real communication, and why a little friction keeps you and your systems robust. Then we break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways Quiet lies feel kind. They cost you trust. Tell the truth with tact and trust gets deeper.You don't rise in leaps. You rise in reps. Small and consistent beats forcing the whole thing at once.Facts inform. Stories land. Communicate through energy and story and people remember it.Efficiency has a ceiling. Strip out all the friction and the system gets brittle. Growth needs resistance.Culture is built by repetition. Name your values, teach the why, and say it until people say it back.Quotes • "You can pursue efficiency too much and then make the system very brittle." – Chris Hynes• "Keeping the peace, saying the quiet lie, is not the way to do it." – Chris Hynes• "It's a real feeling. You can't logic your way out of it." – Chris Hynes Connect with Chris HynesOwnerRez: ownerrez.comThe Walk and Talk Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ygYbwMSyAsw7vNBEtFYMg Next Level Resources ✅ Discover Who You Are As A Leader: https://nextlevelhq.co/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/ ✅ Clarity|Coaching|Consistency|Community: NextLevelHQ.co ✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/ Alignment First. Progress Always. Sponsors & Partners @ThorneHealth → ⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠ @StrongCoffee → ⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 @wearshepherds → ⁠Shepherds.com⁠ @team4kor → ⁠4korfitness.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠VisionEspresso.co⁠ @TYRsport → ⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠ — Use Code: 14034 @MorozkoForge → ⁠morozkoforge.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500 Alignment First. Progress Always. #AlignmentFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #AlignedLeadership #HighPerformance #NextLevel #Veteran #AURA #LeadershipMindset #ProgressAlways
Jul 21

Paul Alkoby: You Are Good

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Paul Alkoby, Air Force veteran and founder of the You Are Good Project, to talk about turning your lowest point into a mission that serves others. We dive into ownership, self-forgiveness, identity, and the daily practices that keep a leader regulated, and break down real, actionable ways to become the fittest leader possible through peace, power, and presence. Key Takeaways 1. You are not behind. You are out of alignment. Paul played small for years before he owned his story and stepped forward. 2. Forgive yourself first. Paul could forgive almost anyone except himself. Self-forgiveness unlocked everything else. 3. Drop the weight that was never yours. The body keeps the score. Release what you have carried for other people. 4. Update your identity for the season you are in. An old identity in a new season keeps leaders stuck. 5. Get out of isolation on purpose. Paul's "go first" practice, three real conversations a day, breaks the loop. Quotes • "I realized how small I'd been playing for so long." – Paul Alkoby • "I front load the identity so the goal becomes inevitable." – Coach Derz • "I don't have a problem forgiving other people. It's always myself." – Paul Alkoby Connect with Paul Alkoby • IG: @paulalkoby & @youaregoodprjct • You Are Good Project: https://youaregoodproject.org/ Next Level Resources ✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → https://next-level.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/next-level-headquarters/home?invite=69c17e4d5d8cee9656ff1c61 ✅ Become the Fittest Leader Possible → NextLevelHQ.co/blog ✅ Get More Alignment First → https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/ Partners & Sponsors @ThorneHealth → thorne.com/u/progressalways @StrongCoffee → strongcoffeecompany.com/?ref=2YN5cnK8v9zQ4D Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15 Alignment First. Progress Always! #AlignmentFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #AlignedLeadership #HighPerformance #NextLevel #Veteran #AURA #LeadershipMindset #ProgressAlways

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Mycal Anders has spent decades watching talented leaders optimize the wrong things. The hustle is there. The strategy looks good. But something’s off. This podcast is about finding it. Each week Mycal sits down with leaders, founders, and guests who are figuring out what aligned work actually looks like, and talking about it honestly. Alignment first. Progress always.

Creator

Mycal Anders
Years Active

2026
Episodes

143
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Mycal Anders
Show Website

Alignment First w/ Mycal Anders