Protocol One Podcast

James Neilson-Watt

Protocol One is a podcast for entrepreneurs, experts, and high achievers who want to design a life without compromise. Hosted by James Neilson-Watt, each episode explores the systems, habits, decisions, and personal protocols behind better health, stronger relationships, sharper thinking, and meaningful business growth. What to expect: • Real conversations with high achievers • Practical systems for health, business, and relationships • Lessons from pressure, leadership, and personal growth • Clear protocols for building a life with purpose, discipline, and freedom This is not surface level motivation. Protocol One goes deeper into how successful people operate, what they have learned through pressure, and what they do differently. If you are building something bigger than yourself and want to improve the way you live, lead, and perform, this podcast is for you. Don't Settle.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    EP 7: Turning Relationships Into Leverage

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join Protocol One: https://skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about Charles: https://charlesbyrd.com/ Connect with Charles: https://www.instagram.com/charles_byrd_/ James Neilson-Watt sits down with Charles Byrd for a conversation on relationship-driven growth, joint ventures, entrepreneurship, parenting, courage, AI, future skills, and building a life around what matters. Charles shares how his mother's illness became a wake-up call about the temporary nature of life and pushed him to leave corporate Silicon Valley, burn the boats, and build a business around impact, freedom, and relationships. He explains how a low-ticket productivity course evolved into PureJV, the Deal Flow System, and FLOW, his mastermind for entrepreneurs who want to grow through warm traffic, referrals, speaking, and trust-based partnerships. James and Charles explore why AI can compress execution but cannot replace clear thinking, strong offers, or real connection, and why the next era belongs to people who define outcomes, build relationships, and use tools in service of mission. James and Charles discuss: Charles's Silicon Valley backgroundLeaving corporate after a wake-up callThe Deal Flow System and FLOW mastermindWarm traffic, referrals, and joint venturesBurning the boats and figuring it outCourage, skydiving, and hard thingsParenting, resilience, and self-leadershipThe six vectors and finding the real gapFundamentals, health, psychology, and controlAI, automation, and business leverageWhy bad offers are not fixed by AIRAG databases and relationship intelligenceFuture skills for kids and entrepreneursWhy social skills become more valuableCommunities, events, and connectionBuilding for where technology is going Chapters 00:00 Welcome and reconnecting 00:40 Charles's story and current work 01:30 From events to warm traffic 02:30 PureJV, Deal Flow, and FLOW 03:40 Skydiving, bungee jumping, and fear 06:50 Charles's mother's diagnosis 08:40 I can, I will, end of story 10:20 Teaching kids to do hard things 13:30 Fundamentals and control 15:00 AI tools and fast execution 17:00 The six vectors and the real gap 18:40 AI-centric operations 20:20 Why pointless AI is still pointless 23:40 AI, offers, and client work 25:50 Training AI on proven frameworks 27:50 RAG databases and context 31:50 Building custom internal systems 33:50 Kids, math, and learning to think 36:50 Entrepreneurs waking up to AI 42:00 Claude Cowork and OpenClaw 45:00 Automated meeting workflows 48:20 From APIs to computer control 51:20 Outcome thinking and automation 54:30 Kids, social skills, and rapport 57:40 Relationships are everything 59:30 Events, trust, and connection 1:01:00 Technology serving human experience 1:05:10 Robots and the future home 1:09:30 Tesla, autopilot, and time leverage 1:11:30 Build for where tech is going 1:14:40 GPT wrappers and fading moats 1:18:30 Learn more about Charles Don't Settle.

    1h 7m
  2. Jun 4

    EP 6: Learning To Trust The Mission

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join Protocol One: https://skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about Adam: https://adamjablin.com/ Connect with Adam: https://instagram.com/adamjablin/ Listen to Adam's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hero-project-podcast/id1800764307 James Neilson-Watt sits down with Adam Jablin for a conversation on recovery, surrender, faith, entrepreneurship, purpose, parenting, AI, and trusting life's timing. Adam shares how getting clean and sober forced him to let go of his old identity, and how the last five years challenged him to surrender deeper. He opens up about comparison, social media, losing trust, reconnecting with God, and learning not to rush the process but to trust it. James and Adam explore how meaning shapes experience, why the outside world distracts us from inner work, and how purpose is found not only through pain, but through joy. James and Adam discuss: Recovery and surrenderComparison, chase energy, and entrepreneurshipFaith, trust, and divine timingMeaning, identity, and inner languageParenting, responsibility, and self-awarenessThe hero's journey and answering the callPurpose, mission, and serviceJoy in the solutionIdeas, courage, and timingDistraction, social media, and lower needsHealth, family, and future selfAI, education, and capable kidsConnection and presence Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Protocol One 00:40 Adam reconnects 01:00 Surrender and sobriety 02:40 Noise, comparison, and chasing 04:10 Lessons repeated until learned 05:20 Knowing, doing, and staying open 06:30 Being wrong and changing your mind 07:20 Meaning, language, and stories 09:20 Creating space from old filters 10:30 Parenting, identity, and growth 13:50 Responsibility and accountability 14:40 Adam's upbringing 16:20 Outside validation 17:50 Alcohol, drugs, and what they fixed 18:40 Getting clean and inside work 19:20 Entrepreneurship and helping people 20:10 Tony Robbins and pressure 21:00 Surrendering Superman 21:50 Trust, God, and the process 24:20 Divine timing 26:40 Comparing paths and seasons 28:40 Mission vs. job energy 30:00 The cost of rushing goals 31:50 Goals and becoming 33:50 LearnSpark, impact, and kids 36:40 The hero's journey 38:00 Finding mission when stuck 39:40 Pain, joy, and the solution 41:10 Creativity and ideas 43:00 Ideas are in the field 44:40 Courage, timing, and ownership 47:10 Grab the idea and run 49:30 Struggle, stories, and experience 51:20 News cycles and distraction 52:40 Quieting noise to find purpose 54:00 Heart, state, and presence 55:20 Needs, movements, and contribution 56:40 Sports and identity 58:40 Future self and rocking chair test 1:01:20 Staying healthy and on mission 1:02:00 Longevity and what matters 1:05:00 AI education and future skills 1:07:00 Social skills and kids 1:09:00 Final reflections Don't Settle

    1h 11m
  3. May 28

    EP 5: Rebuilding Yourself One Choice At A Time

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join Protocol One: https://skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about Matt: https://mattscoletti.com/ Connect with Matt: https://instagram.com/mattscoletti/ Listen to Matt's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/challenges-build-champions-with-matt-scoletti/id1486256327 In this episode, James Neilson-Watt sits down with Matt Scoletti for a conversation on sobriety, identity, discipline, endurance, speaking, AI, connection, and rebuilding yourself one choice at a time. Matt shares how alcohol took hold of his life, the moment that forced him to face who he was becoming, and how one 15-minute commitment became 10 years of sobriety. He opens up about blame, accountability, health, running over 100 marathons, and celebrating the choices that shape identity. Together, James and Matt explore how small wins reinforce identity and why human connection matters more in an AI-driven world. James and Matt discuss: Sobriety, accountability, and changeIdentity through daily choicesThe 15-minute ruleStaying the same vs. changingCelebrating small winsResistance from old environmentsHealth, wealth, time, and living fullyBalancing contentment with driveSpeaking, race MCing, YouTube, and valueAI, curiosity, and educationParenting, social skills, and rapport Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Protocol One 00:40 Matt's background: Pittsburgh, basketball, college, alcohol 02:00 The moment Matt had to change 02:40 Addiction, health, and ultra running 03:00 Addictive personalities 05:00 Blame, accountability, and truth 06:00 The future if nothing changes 07:20 Tony Robbins, energy, action, and change 08:40 The 15-minute rule 09:20 Identity, votes, and health 10:00 Why strategy fails without identity 13:20 Breaking change into small actions 15:20 Health, energy, and longevity 17:20 Taking pressure off achievement 18:00 Celebrating small wins 20:40 Love, fear, and reinforcement 22:00 15 minutes to nearly 10 years sober 23:00 Becoming your best is not selfish 24:00 Responsibility, values, and who relies on you 26:00 Encouragement and gratitude 30:00 Resistance when you change 31:20 Staying true to who you are becoming 33:00 Choosing identity before life chooses for you 34:20 Speaking goals and intentional living 36:00 Contentment and drive 40:00 Health, wealth, and time 43:20 Matt's fake gravestone reminder 45:20 Enjoying today while building tomorrow 48:20 Build it, love it, and value the journey 52:00 Two lives and the death calendar 55:20 Memories, AI, and documenting life 59:20 Speaking, race MCing, and YouTube 1:01:40 AI, creativity, and what to make 1:05:20 AI tutors, education, and interaction 1:07:20 Why real-world experiences matter 1:11:20 Curiosity and learning from everyone 1:12:40 Raising socially confident kids 1:15:20 Building rapport quickly 1:18:00 Matt's resources and Challenges Build Champions 1:19:00 Final reflections and Six Vector Don't Settle.

    1h 19m
  4. May 21

    EP 4: Becoming The Man Your Relationship Needs

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic. Visit: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join the Protocol One community. Visit: https://www.skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about John and Annie Meng at LoveJAAM. Visit: https://lovejaam.com/events In this episode, James Neilson-Watt sits down with John Meng for a deep conversation on relationships, responsibility, fatherhood, endurance, masculine leadership, and what it takes to build a love that lasts. John shares how his background in engineering, motocross, tennis, and Ironman racing shaped his understanding of discipline, pressure, and emotional control. He opens up about the performance standards he grew up with, the relationship struggles that forced him to grow, and the path that led him into helping couples create stronger, more connected partnerships. Together, James and John explore the difference between fault and responsibility, why relationships often break down when partners expect each other to meet unmet needs, and how commitment, compassion, and chemistry shape the seasons of a relationship. In this episode, James and John discuss: • Fatherhood, sons, daughters, and masculine development • The pressure of high standards and performance-based identity • Motocross, tennis, Ironman, and endurance as self-discovery • The difference between fault and responsibility • Why relationships break down when needs become expectations • The four seasons of a relationship • Commitment, compassion, chemistry, and lasting love • The men’s tunnel, rites of passage, and masculine growth • Mission, submission, admiration, and leadership in relationships Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Protocol One with John Meng 00:40 John’s background: engineering, motocross, tennis, and family 01:40 Raising sons and daughters 04:40 Guiding boys’ energy and masculine development 05:50 Fatherhood, high standards, and performance pressure 08:40 From sports to relationships and Ironman 11:20 Marriage, divorce, and learning to lead in relationship 13:00 Tony Robbins, David Goggins, and the Ironman path 16:00 Fully committing to the Ironman journey 17:00 Heart-rate training, calm, and emotional stability 18:00 Responsibility vs. fault 22:40 Loving the spouse you have 23:00 Relationship needs and breakdown patterns 26:00 The four seasons of a relationship 27:20 Spring, commitment, and the power struggle 28:40 Summer, self-discovery, and compassion 30:00 Fall, partnership, and reigniting chemistry 31:20 Winter and the fully developed relationship 33:40 The men’s tunnel and rites of passage 39:20 Who am I really? 48:40 Compassion as the core relationship lesson 54:40 Mortality, health scares, and living fully 58:20 Making your relationship the top priority 1:05:00 Who do I need to be for my partner? 1:06:00 Mission, submission, and masculine leadership 1:10:40 John’s resources and LoveJAAM 1:12:20 Final reflections and the Six Vector Assessment Don’t Settle.

    1h 13m
  5. May 17

    EP 3: Turning Pressure Into Leverage

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic. Visit: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join the Protocol One community. Visit: https://www.skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about what Philippe is building with Oneka Elements. Visit: https://www.onekaelements.com In this episode, James Neilson-Watt sits down with Philippe for a wide-ranging conversation on discipline, business, resilience, AI, and the personal growth required to build something that lasts. Philippe shares how growing up on a family farm, playing professional hockey, and transitioning into entrepreneurship shaped his view of work, pressure, and persistence. He opens up about the identity shift of leaving hockey behind, building Oneka Elements into a natural personal care brand, and facing a major production crisis that nearly broke the business. Together, James and Philippe explore how problems can become gifts when they force clarity, stronger systems, better leadership, and real profitability. They also dig into the role of AI in modern business, why operators need to rethink outdated software and manual processes, and how entrepreneurs can use technology as leverage instead of noise. The episode lands on a simple but powerful personal protocol: use a daily hard practice, like an ice bath, to train state, discipline, and the ability to choose discomfort before life chooses it for you. In this episode, James and Philippe discuss: • Turning pressure into leverage • The discipline learned from professional hockey • Leaving an old identity and building a new one • Why business problems can become gifts • Profitability, systems, and stronger leadership • Building teams that create real leverage • Using AI to replace manual work and outdated systems • Why people skills matter more as technology gets stronger • The ice bath as a daily protocol for state and discipline Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Protocol One with Philippe 00:40 Growing up on a family farm 01:20 Hockey, discipline, and early lessons 02:20 From professional hockey to sustainable business 05:00 State management, passion, and success 13:00 Leaving the hockey identity behind 17:00 Hockey, connection, and leadership 20:00 Handling failure and setbacks 24:20 The production crisis that changed the business 26:00 Profitability as the only way forward 29:00 Choosing a story of victory 36:20 Building a stronger team 38:40 Why clarity changes everything 40:20 Raising capital, discomfort, and growth 47:00 Strong people, better systems, and real leverage 52:00 AI as a thinking partner 54:40 Rethinking outdated software and manual work 1:00:00 Using AI to remove waste 1:04:20 Technology, kids, and people skills 1:13:20 Oneka Elements and the ice bath protocol 1:16:00 Closing thoughts Don’t Settle.

    1h 16m
  6. May 17

    EP 2: Building A Life Worth Following

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic. Visit: https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join the Protocol One community. Visit: https://www.skool.com/protocol-one Learn more about what Dr. Austin Lake is building with Wholly Health. Visit: https://wholly.health In this episode, James Neilson-Watt sits down with Dr. Austin Lake for a deep conversation on faith, entrepreneurship, health, family, and what it really means to build a life with purpose. Austin shares how his journey from physical therapy and functional medicine into online health education grew into a mission-driven business reaching millions. Together, they explore the tension between growth and family, the role of faith in decision-making, the danger of chasing money without meaning, and why success only matters when it serves something bigger than yourself. The episode also lands on a simple but powerful Protocol One: create a consistent bedtime. Austin explains why sleep is often the first domino for better health, clearer thinking, stronger leadership, and deeper alignment with your mission. In this episode, James and Austin discuss: • Faith, family, and entrepreneurship • Building success without losing what matters most • Why mission matters more than money • Health as the foundation for clearer thinking • Marriage, parenting, and leadership inside the home • Travel, homeschooling, and creating meaningful memories • The simple protocol of setting a consistent bedtime Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Protocol One with Dr. Austin Lake 00:54 From physical therapy to functional medicine 04:22 Why mission matters more than money 06:00 Faith, entrepreneurship, and serving others 11:40 Faith, provision, and breaking scarcity 17:00 Building a life with meaning 21:00 The rocking chair test and choosing adventure 23:45 Travel, family freedom, and creating new dreams 26:00 Homeschooling, flexibility, and online work 28:40 Fatherhood, leadership, and family roles 30:40 Women’s health, stress, and household balance 41:40 Resourcefulness, risk, and family alignment 46:20 Family as the first mission field 53:40 The Protocol One framework and six vectors 55:20 The first domino: a consistent bedtime 57:25 Challenging limiting beliefs 1:00:50 Simple protocols that create big change 1:04:40 Austin’s next mission and Wholly Health 1:10:07 Final reflections: build what matters Don’t Settle.

    1h 11m
  7. May 16

    EP 1: Find Your Protocol One

    Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic https://sixvectorassessment.com/ Join the Protocol One community https://www.skool.com/protocol-one In this launch episode, James Neilson-Watt introduces the core philosophy behind Protocol One: the gap between external success and internal fulfillment. James breaks down "the drift," explains why most people overcomplicate personal growth, and introduces the six vectors that shape a high performance life: Physiology, Psychology, Resources, Environment, Mission, and Connection. This episode sets the foundation for the Protocol One ecosystem. It shows how each listener can identify their current bottleneck, choose one clear protocol, and begin building a life with more direction, health, focus, fulfillment, and connection. At the center of the episode is a simple idea: you do not need to change everything at once. You need to find your Protocol One, install it into your life, and let that one focused change move you out of drift and into integrated excellence. In this episode, James discusses: The gap between success and fulfillmentWhat James calls "the drift"Why hustle culture and soft spirituality are both incompleteThe six vectors of Protocol OneHow to identify your current bottleneckWhy one simple protocol can create meaningful changeThe purpose of the Protocol One podcast and communityWhy "Don't Settle" is more than a tagline Chapters 00:00 The gap between achievement and fulfillment 00:47 Welcome to Protocol One 01:20 What James calls "the drift" 02:35 Why Protocol One exists 02:47 Extracting your Protocol One from experts 03:06 Why personal growth gets overwhelming 03:13 The two traps of personal growth 03:44 What Protocol One is really about 05:36 Finding the one thing to execute 05:52 Integrated excellence and life architecture 06:18 Protocol One as an operating system 06:37 Extracting protocols from real conversations 07:45 The Protocol One framework 07:55 The six vectors and two-phase structure 09:57 The six vectors explained 12:22 Finding your current bottleneck 12:24 The Six Vector Diagnostic Assessment 13:01 How one simple protocol creates change 14:10 Why overcomplication blocks action 15:52 Your lowest scoring vector is the starting point 16:48 Your lowest scoring question becomes your Protocol One 18:15 How guests are chosen 18:52 Extracting one protocol from each guest 19:10 Building a library of Protocol Ones 19:53 What to expect from future episodes 20:14 The Protocol One ecosystem 20:23 The mastermind community and accountability 21:51 Why the brand is built on "Don't Settle" 23:39 Complete the Six Vector Diagnostic 24:20 Join the community and start the journey Don't Settle.

    25 min

About

Protocol One is a podcast for entrepreneurs, experts, and high achievers who want to design a life without compromise. Hosted by James Neilson-Watt, each episode explores the systems, habits, decisions, and personal protocols behind better health, stronger relationships, sharper thinking, and meaningful business growth. What to expect: • Real conversations with high achievers • Practical systems for health, business, and relationships • Lessons from pressure, leadership, and personal growth • Clear protocols for building a life with purpose, discipline, and freedom This is not surface level motivation. Protocol One goes deeper into how successful people operate, what they have learned through pressure, and what they do differently. If you are building something bigger than yourself and want to improve the way you live, lead, and perform, this podcast is for you. Don't Settle.