The Reset with Shaun Tucker | Mental Fitness for High-Performance Dads & Founders

Shaun Tucker

Stop the burnout. Overcome Dad Guilt. Reclaim your performance. The Reset with Shaun Tucker is the #1 Mental Fitness podcast for high-performance dads, entrepreneurs, and founders who want to lead at home and win in business. Are you a father who feels like you're constantly "managing" your stress rather than leading your life? Do you struggle with the "11 PM thoughts"—the business pressure, the disrupted sleep, and the crushing feeling of being physically present with your family but mentally still at the office? Shaun Tucker, a Human Performance Scientist and Founder Dad, understands that for high-achieving men, traditional "mental health" advice doesn't cut it. You don't need a therapist; you need a Reset. In this podcast, we dive into the tactical side of Mental Fitness and Nervous System Regulation. We address the unique pain points of the modern father: • Dad Guilt: How to stop feeling guilty for "refilling your cup" and taking care of your health. • System Cortisol: Understanding why your body is "sending the invoice" for your hustle and how to fix it. • Proactive Leadership: Shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive human performance. • Emotional Safety: How to be the "safe harbor" your children and partner actually need. Whether you are a startup founder, a corporate leader, or a dad in the trenches who refuses to settle for average, this show provides the tools to break destructive patterns and come back to what actually works. Stop letting the grind define your legacy. It’s time to master your mind, optimize your body, and be fully present for the people who matter most. It’s time for The Reset. Join the Tribe: 📍 Sunday Morning Reset: Join our community workouts (6 AM Sundays). Link here: shauntucker.com.au/community 🚀 The Reset Retreat: Ready for the ultimate deep dive? Apply for our next high-performance retreat at shauntucker.com.au/retreat. 🎙️ New Episodes Daily: Subscribe to never miss a Reset.

  1. 10h ago

    Who Changes the World? It Starts With You | Ep. 123

    In Episode 123 of The Reset, Shaun asks a fundamental question: Who changes the world? Politicians? Big business? Tech companies? His answer: You do. This episode explores why personal transformation is the foundation of global change. If you're not willing to change yourself, you can't change the outside situation. We've become victims and slaves of our own minds, operating from survival instead of consciousness. But every single moment, you have a choice: Do you become conscious of it, or do you let it pass? Shaun dives into the power of agency, the role of leaders at all levels, and why settling your mind through your body is the foundation of clear seeing. Most importantly: your relationship with yourself is your relationship with life. Key Insights: We operate from survival, not consciousness. We've let the cycles of life dictate how we live instead of taking back control. But you have the power to change the world—it starts with changing yourself. Every moment is a choice. Do you become conscious of it, or do you let it pass? The relationship you have with yourself is the one you have with life. Your experience of life is what you transmit to your children, communities, and loved ones. That's worth every bit of attention and focus you have. Key Quotes: • "Who changes the world? It is you who has the power to change the world." • "If you're not willing to change yourself, there is no way you can change the outside situation." • "We have become slaves of our own minds. We operate from a place of survival." • "Every single moment, we have a choice. Do we become conscious of it? Or do we just let it pass?" • "The relationship you have with yourself is the one you have with life." Change your state, choose how you show up.

    6 min
  2. 1d ago

    If Your Work Amounted to Nothing, Would You Still Do It? | Ep. 122

    In Episode 122 of The Reset, Shaun asks a question most people never sit with: If all you did for the next 20-30 years of your working life amounted to nothing, would you still do it? This episode explores the difference between being goal-focused versus being conscious and present on the journey. Shaun shares why he went from absolutely not (two and a half years ago, when he was making himself miserable) to absolutely yes (now, because he loves who he's becoming). He dives into cycles, consciousness, autonomic living, and why so many successful people reach the top and feel empty. Key Insights: We put too much time and effort into other people's dreams. Most people don't sit with this question long enough to realize their innate value. As we grow older, we become more closed off, more autonomic, more unconscious. We measure outcomes instead of how we are on the journey. The external metric should not validate how you are inside. If someone judges you, that's their opinion—it should not affect you. The difference between being a controller (goal-focused, achievement-driven) and a creator (conscious, present, aligned with what you truly desire). Key Quotes: • "If all you did for the next 20-30 years amounted to nothing, would you still do it?" • "I was making myself miserable." • "I'm becoming the creator of my own reality. Not what other people think mine should be." • "Will they make you happy? Will they make you blissed out? Or will they just feel empty after 24 hours?" Change your state, choose how you show up.

    13 min
  3. 2d ago

    Put Down Your Phone, Pick Up a Book: The Lost Skill of Focus | Ep. 121

    In Episode 121 of The Reset, Shaun explores why focus has become the rarest commodity in the modern world. After seeing a sign at Queen Victoria Market that read "Put down your phone and pick up a book," Shaun dives deep into why this simple act is revolutionary in an age where attention has been commoditized and your focus is literally being stolen. This episode breaks down the critical difference between presence and mask-wearing, explores how meditation and yoga have transformed Shaun's ability to focus (40 days of 3-3.5 hour daily practices), and provides practical tools to reclaim your attention in a world designed to capture it. Key Insights: Presence without focus isn't presence—it's mask-wearing. You can become really good at appearing present while being mentally absent. When something becomes so easy, your brain doesn't have to do anything. You're on autopilot. Focus is the one skill that crosses over into everything you do. Reading forces you to slow down and trains your attention. Shaun shares the story of Stephen Kotler (flow researcher) who sat for 12-14 hours reading three books in a row. Ram Dass would meditate for 14-18 hours at a time, just watching his breath. The shift from trying to control everything (which leads to mental madness) to liberation transforms how you approach presence and focus Key Quotes: • "Attention has been commoditized. Your focus is literally being stolen." • "Presence without focus, that's not presence. That's really just mask wearing." • "Focus is that one skill that kind of crosses over into everything that you do." • "Most people are waiting for their life to change. We architect our choices." Practical Tools: Put down your phone. Pick up a book (fiction or non-fiction). Start with 10 pages a day or set a timer to see how long you can read without distraction. Practice watching your breath. Train your focus like you train your body. Change your state, choose how you show up.

    12 min
  4. 3d ago

    Run the Play: The Art of Adaptation, Coaching, and Presence with UFC Legend Brian Ebersole | Ep. 120

    In Episode 120 of The Reset, Shaun sits down with UFC legend Brian Ebersole, a fighter with close to 80 professional fights and a storied career in the welterweight division. Known for his iconic cartwheel kick knockout, Brian is now a lifelong wrestler and high-performance coach who helps others architect their own paths to mastery. This episode explores the intersection between authentic expression and elite performance—and what it truly means to change your state and choose how you show up as a dad, a man, and a leader. Key Themes: 1. Run the Play, Then Reassess Brian breaks down the philosophy of "just do it" with a crucial caveat: be a sportsman and go back with your coach at halftime. Don't just physically rah-rah. Educate. Adjust. Recalibrate. It's not a straight line to success—it's snakes and ladders. The path winds a bit. 2. The Art of Adaptation Whether you're carrying a mattress up a winding staircase with a prolapsed disc, or adjusting your fight strategy mid-round, the principle is the same: take a breath, reset, throw your shoulders back, have a think about how to nudge that thing forward without hurting yourself. Adjust and go again. 3. Coaching is Timing, Not Just Knowledge Brian reveals that coaching isn't just about having the best information—it's about how you move people through the room. You have to be a "goat herder" who knows when to let people play in the open field, when to keep a loose ring around them, and when to steer them in a direction. Timing is everything. 4. Fatherhood Through Sport Brian shares how he applies these principles with his two daughters. He doesn't just tell them what to do—he creates scenarios where they feel they have control. He makes them capable. He lets them lead a little bit. He plays different characters, shifts roles, and builds rituals (like Friday pizza night) that make them feel stable. 5. The Third Place and Community Brian discusses the stability of American sports systems versus the fragmentation in Australia. He emphasizes the importance of structure, routine, and familiarity—not just for athletes, but for kids developing confidence and identity. 6. Receptivity and Mastery To get really good at something physical, you need 7-10 years of training and receptivity to nuance. But you also have to shut your brain off and find ways to automate the basics so you can be present with the nuance. It's a balance between getting out of the way and staying fully engaged. Key Quotes: • "You can judge yourself harshly in any step, but save the judgment. Act, adjust, act again." • "Success isn't a straight line. It's snakes and ladders. The path winds a bit." • "Run the play that was called. Have your huddles, have your chats, go run the play." • "You have to be a goat herder—round everyone up and get them into these channels." • "Make them capable. Try not to argue so much. Let them lead the way a little bit." • "You fall to the level of your training." Change your state, choose how you show up.

    57 min
  5. 4d ago

    The Boxer: Why We Keep Fighting When Everything Tells Us to Quit | Ep. 119

    In Episode 119 of The Reset, Shaun breaks down the soul of the classic song "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel (specifically the raw, driving version by Mumford and Sons) to explore why, even when everything tells us to quit, the fighter still remains. This episode explores Shaun's personal journey through his 16-second MMA fight that went viral (1.9M views on Instagram, 1M on Facebook), the emotional toll of public judgment, and the profound lesson about not making other people's pain your own. Key Themes: 1. The Fighter That Lives Inside Us Shaun shares his MMA fight experience—16 seconds in the ring, technically knocked out. But the real lesson isn't about the fight itself. It's about why we have a boxer inside us that refuses to quit, no matter how hard life gets. The willingness to get up and continue, even when bruised, battered, and cut open. 2. The Viral Moment and the Emotional Toll His fight video went viral: 1.9M views on Instagram, 1M on Facebook. But with the views came the comments. People flaming him, blaming his coach, saying he wasn't ready. While there was support (especially from people who've been in the cage), the negative comments took an emotional toll. His wife Jacinda called it out: "You're spiraling." 3. Not Your Pain—Their Pain The core lesson: "It's not my pain. It's actually their pain, and I was making their problem my problem. Which is one of the worst things you can do as a facilitator and a coach." The realization that 99.9% of the people commenting were men, and most were suffering. They were directing their pain outward—through trolling, through judgment, through criticism. But Shaun realized he didn't have to take that on. 4. Empathy Without Absorption "It's really powerful to understand and have empathy towards their pain. But if you start taking it on as your own pain, that's gonna be a massive problem." As a coach and facilitator, you must hold a mirror that is real. You must show people you're human too. But you can't carry their pain for them. 5. Cause and Effect "Everything is cause and effect. If you hop in the ring, you gotta understand you're gonna get hit. You're gonna have to learn to defend, or you're gonna get knocked out." But also: "If it is felt pain, like you're avoiding something and directing it outwards—towards alcohol, towards drugs, towards even trolling people on the internet—these things come back around." 6. You Get to Choose The ultimate message: "You don't have to stand for any of it. You get to choose how you show up." Shaun had many reasons not to fight that night. His coach wasn't there. His backup coach was subbed out for his competitor's coach. But he made the conscious choice anyway. 7. The Boxer in All of Us The episode explores the human spirit—the part that is ever-enduring, not limited by thinking or physiological process. The part that can still find a way to stand up and continue moving, even when everything tells us to quit. Key Quotes: • "Why do we still have this boxer that lives inside of us? The one that refuses to quit?" • "It's not my pain. It's actually their pain, and I was making their problem my problem." • "You don't have to stand for any of it. You get to choose how you show up." • "If you don't want to fight, you don't have to." • "Everything is cause and effect." • "Most people wait for their life to change. We architect the reset." Change your state, choose how you show up.

    17 min
  6. 5d ago

    You Are Best Served to Help the Person You Used to Be: The Guide, Not the Hero | Ep. 118

    In Episode 118 of The Reset, Shaun explores one of the most powerful principles for building authentic influence: "You are best served to help the person you used to be." This episode is about shifting from being the hero of your own story to becoming the guide in someone else's journey. Shaun shares how this principle transformed his personal training business and now shapes his authority work. He reveals why your story is what makes you unique—and why no one will connect with you if you make it all about you. The key is moving yourself away from the spotlight and becoming the Sherpa who helps others carry their luggage up the mountain you've already climbed. Shaun explores the concept of the "third place"—a space outside of work and home where people can be truly seen and held to a standard. He discusses why personal trainers, coaches, and mentors are so valuable: not just for the physical or performance benefits, but for the social connection and the accountability that helps people maintain their groundedness. This episode also addresses the critical role of masculine mentors and guides for the next generation of boys becoming men. Shaun emphasizes that it's our duty as men to show what's possible, to demonstrate that we have choice, and to model what it means to show up intentionally. The mission: Find the person you used to be. Find someone who is following in your footsteps. See them. Acknowledge them. Use that awareness as fuel to keep building yourself—not from a material perspective, but in terms of presence, safety, and inner work. Change your state, choose how you show up.

    14 min

About

Stop the burnout. Overcome Dad Guilt. Reclaim your performance. The Reset with Shaun Tucker is the #1 Mental Fitness podcast for high-performance dads, entrepreneurs, and founders who want to lead at home and win in business. Are you a father who feels like you're constantly "managing" your stress rather than leading your life? Do you struggle with the "11 PM thoughts"—the business pressure, the disrupted sleep, and the crushing feeling of being physically present with your family but mentally still at the office? Shaun Tucker, a Human Performance Scientist and Founder Dad, understands that for high-achieving men, traditional "mental health" advice doesn't cut it. You don't need a therapist; you need a Reset. In this podcast, we dive into the tactical side of Mental Fitness and Nervous System Regulation. We address the unique pain points of the modern father: • Dad Guilt: How to stop feeling guilty for "refilling your cup" and taking care of your health. • System Cortisol: Understanding why your body is "sending the invoice" for your hustle and how to fix it. • Proactive Leadership: Shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive human performance. • Emotional Safety: How to be the "safe harbor" your children and partner actually need. Whether you are a startup founder, a corporate leader, or a dad in the trenches who refuses to settle for average, this show provides the tools to break destructive patterns and come back to what actually works. Stop letting the grind define your legacy. It’s time to master your mind, optimize your body, and be fully present for the people who matter most. It’s time for The Reset. Join the Tribe: 📍 Sunday Morning Reset: Join our community workouts (6 AM Sundays). Link here: shauntucker.com.au/community 🚀 The Reset Retreat: Ready for the ultimate deep dive? Apply for our next high-performance retreat at shauntucker.com.au/retreat. 🎙️ New Episodes Daily: Subscribe to never miss a Reset.