Deepish Conversations

Brian Pierce

Welcome to Deepish Conversations - where we dive into life's big (and not-so-big) questions without taking ourselves too seriously. Join me, Brian Pierce, and my lovely guests as we explore everything from parenting fails to racing thrills, growing older gracefully (or not), and all the messy, beautiful stuff in between. Think campfire conversations with friends who happen to have microphones.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Cornell Allegations: What Fathers Need to Discuss With Their Sons | Pat Barber

    The conversation surrounding the Cornell Seven case made me think about myself as a young college man, the guidance I wish I’d had, and what I need to keep discussing with my teenage son. For episode #005 of Deepish Conversations, Pat Barber from The Fathers Guild joins me again to talk about responsibility, relationships, sex, and respecting women. We’re not here to decide what happened in the case or speculate about the legal outcome. We’re asking what we can do as fathers. I share how pornography shaped some of my expectations and why these conversations have felt uncomfortable. Pat brings it back to understanding power, using it to lift people up rather than hold them down, and living the values we want our sons to learn. We also discuss peer pressure, speaking up, getting help, and keeping communication open. My hope is that fathers leave with something they can take into conversations with their own sons, even when it feels awkward. If this could help a father or friend in your life, please share it with them. Links & Resources Learn more about Pat Deepish Conversations on YouTube Brian on Substack Brian on Instagram Thanks for listening to Deepish Conversations, a podcast for people who enjoy good stories, a little humor, and learning something along the way.

  2. Oct 5

    Performing Under Pressure: Focus, Confidence, and Mindset | Denise Hatch

    In this episode of Deepish Conversations, Brian Pierce sits down with Denise Hatch to talk about pressure, focus, confidence, and the practices that help us perform when it matters. Denise is a mindset coach who works with athletes in motocross, off-road racing, and other high-performance environments. But this conversation is not only for athletes. It is for anyone who has felt capable of more, then watched nerves, self-doubt, overthinking, or old habits get in the way. The conversation begins with a question about why we often train the body but give less attention to how we respond when pressure rises. From there, Brian and Denise discuss breath, visualization, focus, confidence, and the repetitive thoughts that can either help us perform or hold us back. They talk about turning nerves into readiness, building a process you can trust, and learning from a bad result without letting it become a verdict on who you are. Whether you are on a start line, walking into a difficult conversation, or trying to show up for something important, this episode is about staying present when the moment gets big. Topics covered Why awareness is the starting point for changing patterns and self-talkHow breath can help bring attention back to the present momentVisualization, routine, and preparing for pressure before it arrivesTurning nerves into readinessBuilding confidence without comparing yourself to everyone elseLearning from a poor result without beating yourself upWhy focus is a practice, not a personality traitLinks & Resources Denise Hatch and Power of the Mind Deepish Conversations on YouTube Brian on Substack Brian on Instagram Thanks for listening to Deepish Conversations, a podcast for people who enjoy good stories, a little humor, and learning something along the way.

  3. Sep 28

    Looking for Redemption, But Finding a Different Kind of Growth | Mack Faint

    In this episode of Deepish Conversations, Brian Pierce sits down with Mack Faint to talk about redemption, solitude, self-worth, and why some of us go far to find ourselves. Mack is an ultra-endurance bikepacker who has taken on some of the hardest self-supported rides in the world, including the Tour Divide, the Hellenic Mountain Race, the Silk Road Mountain Race, and Uinta Bikepacking. But this conversation is not only for bikepackers. It is for anyone who has used a hard thing, a race, a run, a ride, a trip, or a personal goal to get out of their own head and better understand who they are. The conversation begins with the unglamorous realities of long-distance bikepacking, then turns into a bigger question: what are we really looking for when we push ourselves into uncomfortable places? After pulling out of Silk Road depleted, exhausted, and discouraged, Mack went to Utah looking for redemption. He shares why he signed up for Uinta Bikepacking only days before the race, what it felt like to finish, and why he is learning that accomplishment cannot be the only thing that makes him feel justified. Finishing a hard thing can feel like redemption, but it does not solve everything. Sometimes the bigger win is learning when to keep moving, when to stop, and how to live with yourself in the space between. Topics covered: The realities of self-supported bikepacking, from resupply planning to long days aloneMack’s Tour Divide ride and what it taught him about negative thought loops The physical and emotional cost of the Hellenic Mountain Race and Silk Road Mountain RaceWhy pulling out of a race is not always quittingFinding redemption at Uinta Bikepacking after Silk RoadBikepacking as therapy, solitude, and a way to understand yourselfThe pressure to make achievement part of your identityRest, recovery, and why growth does not end at the finish lineLinks & Resources Follow Mack FaintDeepish Conversations on YouTubeBrian on SubstackBrian on InstagramThanks for listening to Deepish Conversations, a podcast for people who enjoy good stories, a little humor, and learning something along the way.

  4. Sep 21

    Knowing When to Push, When to Stop, and Why It Matters | Chase Ingraham

    In this episode of Deepish Conversations, Brian Pierce sits down with Chase Ingraham to talk about competition, discomfort, longevity, and knowing when to push versus when to reassess. Chase has experienced fitness and competition from nearly every angle, including as a CrossFit Games athlete, affiliate owner, coach, programmer, and broadcaster. But this conversation is not only for CrossFit fans. It is for anyone who trains, races, rides, runs, plays a sport, or wants to stay capable enough to keep saying yes to the fun and challenging things life brings along. The conversation begins with a ridiculous question inspired by the recent HYROX Beijing incident, then turns into a bigger question: when do you push through, and when do you look at the situation and say, “Yeah, I’m good”? Chase shares a story from the 2010 CrossFit Games, talks through the difference between normal athletic discomfort and the moments when stopping is the smarter call, and explains why he sees training as a baseline for doing more outside the gym. Stopping is not automatically quitting. Sometimes it is judgment. Sometimes it protects your ability to train, compete, parent, work, and enjoy your sport for many more years. Topics covered: Knowing the difference between productive discomfort and a situation that calls for reassessmentWhy pushing through is not always the same as being toughChase’s 2010 CrossFit Games experience and the reality of competing through discomfortTraining for the long game, not just one race, competition, challenge, or leaderboard resultCrossFit, HYROX, and the value of broad, adaptable fitnessBuilding enough capacity to say yes to rides, races, hikes, trips, and unexpected opportunitiesA few ridiculous stories, including the origins of Chase’s Captain America personaLinks & Resources Follow Chase IngrahamDeepish Conversations on YouTube Brian on SubstackBrian on InstagramThanks for listening to Deepish Conversations, a podcast for people who enjoy good stories, a little humor, and learning something along the way.

  5. 09/19/2025

    Time Goes Fast - Stop Yelling & Start Connecting | Pat Barber - The Fathers Guild

    In this powerful episode of Deepish Conversations, host Brian Pierce sits down with Pat Barber from The Fathers Guild to discuss a struggle many parents face: managing emotions and not yelling at our kids. The conversation goes beyond simple parenting tips, diving into the core of what it means to be an emotionally healthy parent today. We explore how our own emotional well-being impacts our families, different parenting dynamics, and the surprising power of journaling and self-reflection as tools for growth. Pat shares the powerful insight that "yelling is for you, not for them," and explains how a "paradigm shift takes a weekend" to create real change. This episode is essential listening for any parent who wants to become more emotionally resilient and present for their family. Topics covered: Managing parental emotions and triggersUnderstanding different parent-child relationship dynamicsThe role of journaling in personal growthCreating space for meaningful self-reflectionSocial media's impact on parentingEmbracing mistakes and practicing graceLinks & Resources Check out Pat Barber and The Fathers Guild: https://www.thefathersguild.com/ Brian on Substack: https://brianpierce.substack.com/ Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodybepierced Thanks for listening to Deepish Conversations, a podcast for people who enjoy good stories, a little humor, and learning something along the way. I'd love your comments, questions, and concerns. Do Something TODAY That Makes YOU Feel AWESOME!

  • 5 Episodes

About

Welcome to Deepish Conversations - where we dive into life's big (and not-so-big) questions without taking ourselves too seriously. Join me, Brian Pierce, and my lovely guests as we explore everything from parenting fails to racing thrills, growing older gracefully (or not), and all the messy, beautiful stuff in between. Think campfire conversations with friends who happen to have microphones.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Pierce
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Deepish Conversations
  • Show Website
    Deepish Conversations