Resilient Mental State

Kyle Shepard
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Conversations with experts, writers, and extraordinary individuals on the skill of mental, physical, and spiritual resilience. www.resilientmentalstate.com

  1. Birds and Brain Injury with James Freitas

    4D AGO

    Birds and Brain Injury with James Freitas

    James Freitas is a writer, photographer, birder, and outdoorsman. It’s these passions, along with support of loved ones and medical professionals, that saved his life. On January 14th, 2022, James Freitas’s car was hit by an 18-wheeler forever altering the course of his life. Suffering a diffuse axonal brain injury, a severe form of traumatic brain injury causing tearing of nerve fibers throughout the brain, James had to relearn all the basic functions most take for granted. Rather than succumb to his condition, he progressively reclaimed his life through his love of birding. James embodies resilience and his story demonstrates some of the most beautiful aspects of life can be found in response to unexpected adversity. In this conversation, we discussed: * Capacity * Gratitude * Slowing down * Vulnerability * Acceptance * Leaning into discomfort * And much more As you will hear in this podcast, James has and continues to overcome significant hardship. His inspirational experience only adds power to his beautiful writing and photography. Adaptation is always possible. Purpose provides perspective to overcome life’s greatest challenges. For more of James’s work, I highly recommend checking out his Substack Rock & Hawk, as well as his website www.james-freitas.com. Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 15m

  2. FEB 26

    Inchstones with Sarah Kernion

    Sarah | Profound Autism Mom is one of the most powerful voices and writers in the realm of neurodiversity. Rebelling against the common, linear milestone system for development, her Substack and podcast are called Inchstones. Progress is unique to us all. Mother to one typically developing child and two profoundly autistic, non-verbal children, Sarah has experiential wisdom to back her deep knowledge of neurodiversity and the culture around it. Always willing to share her story and empowering perspectives, Sarah inspires curiosity, authenticity, and resilience. In this conversation, we discussed: * Atypical progress * Choosing your perspective * Behavior as communication * The benefit of hard conversations * Responding to hard days While her mission is to be the voice of radical acceptance for mothers and caregivers of children with profound autism to encourage fulfilled living, her work inspires calm, gratitude, and joy for anyone in all domains of life. Inchstones on Substack Inchstones Podcast My appearance on the Inchstones Podcast Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 17m

  3. FEB 9

    Primal Hardship with Sam Alaimo

    Sam Alaimo is my favorite living writer. His exploration of the human condition through stories of extraordinary individuals in extreme conditions throughout time encourage deep and uncomfortable reflection. Rather than provide how-to guides, Sam digs into what is possible despite adversity of all kinds. Leaving readers with questions, not specific answers, he allows us each to grapple with our own potential Why? and subsequent What? If I was forced to recommend only one account on Substack to subscribe to, it would be his. In this conversation, we discussed: * Suffering * Perspective * Contemplating death * Reframing adversity * Self-command * And much more Find more from Sam at What then? Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 24m

  4. FEB 7

    Resilience Optimized with Michael Ostrolenk

    Michael D. Ostrolenk has been working in various fields of resilience development for over 30 years. Founder of Resilience Optimized, he is continually exploring and applying methods for individuals, couples, and businesses to build physical, mental, social, and spiritual resilience. In this conversation, we discussed: * Domains and pillars of resilience * Nuance * Pursuing productive discomfort * Abstract vs concrete * Resilience vs Antifragility * And much more As demonstrated in this podcast, Michael is a wealth of knowledge with perspectives and strategies to build resilience in any domain of life. Check out his work to learn more: Resilience Optimized Website Resilience Redefined Podcast Michael’s Substack Michael on LinkedIn Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 56m

  5. FEB 2

    Investing in Life with Chris DeMuth Jr

    Chris DeMuth Jr is an incredibly successful hedge fund manager for Rangeley Capital, the investment company he founded in 2007. As impressive as he is in the financial realm, it’s his personal life that makes him truly remarkable. A husband, father, mixed martial arts practitioner, fitness enthusiast, outdoorsman, writer, and interviewer, Chris invests in all domains of life. In this conversation, we discussed: * Presence * Enjoyment vs. competition * Cross-training * Continuous improvement * Passion paired with curiosity * And much more The interview series Chris conducts through Vale Tudo, his Substack account, is outstanding. Highly recommend checking out all of his work to include investment strategies to improve your life financially and in every other domain. Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 37m

  6. JAN 18

    Generational Greatness with Vicente Júnior and Gabriel Silva

    Vicente Júnior is a 5th degree Black Belt, IBJJF World Champion, and multiple time IBJJF Pan American Champion. At 15 years old, Gabriel Silva is a 3x IBJJF Pan Kids Champion, 3x European Kids Champion, and a AJP Abu Dhabi World Youth Pro Champion. In 2023, Gabriel was ranked #1 in the IBJJF Kids Gi rankings followed by being ranked #1 in the Kids NoGi rankings in 2025. Both are widely regarded as two of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitors and coaches in the world. They’re also father and son. I’ve had the chance to learn from and train with these two exceptional human beings for the past four and a half years. As you’ll hear in our conversation, their wisdom extends far beyond the mats. In this conversation, we discuss: * A champion’s mindset * Knowing your why * Managing pressure * Setbacks vs failure * Lessons from BJJ for life * Curiosity * Transcendence * Remaining good while becoming great * And much more To become the best in the world at anything requires significant time, effort, and intention. While you need to be willing to make sacrifices to become great, you never need to compromise your character. The stories and perspectives VJ and Gabriel share in this podcast can be applied to any life domain to become the best version of yourself. Find your path and use it to live life to the fullest. Find more from VJ and Gabriel through their gym - Conquest. More of VJ’s story and competition history can be found on BJJ Heroes. Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 33m

  7. 12/17/2025

    GRIT with Lara Johnson

    Lara ”LJ” Johnson is the founder of the Global GRIT System, a published author of the bestselling book “Hunt or be Hunted,” an international keynote speaker, a competitive Hyrox athlete, an executive coach, and a 9x Stevie Award winner to include “Woman of the Year,” “Female Executive of the Year,” and “Female Entrepreneur of the Year.” What she has overcome in her life, however, is even more impressive than what she has achieved. In this conversation, we discuss: * Lara’s incredible story * Grit components and types * Pillars of health * Adversity and trauma * And much more As a gift, Lara offered her Global GRIT Guide for free if you text “GRIT” to 33777. LJ has one of the best personal websites I’ve come across. All of her resources and offerings can be found at: https://officiallaraj.com/. She’s also very active on LinkedIn. Her book, “Hunt or be Hunted,” outlines her Global GRIT System while delivering practical strategies to improve yourself and the teams you operate within. An easy read packed full of wisdom, I can’t recommend it enough. Her passion is intoxicating and it spans beyond her direct work with GRIT Global. She’s a board member of Warrior Rising, a nonprofit organization focused on veterans transitioning out of military service, and a committee member of Dignity Health’s Foundation “Heaven Hummingbirds,” a program that offers various kinds of support for parents who have lost children. Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    1h 7m

  8. 12/05/2025

    In Contrast with Shane Copeland

    Shane Copeland is the writer behind the fantastic Substack newsletter - In Contrast. A man who has lived through many of life’s extremes, his work illuminates the benefit of the fulfilling middle between self-indulgent chaos and rigid order, specifically in the areas of fitness and nutrition. As entertaining as he is wise, Shane understands the nuance. I constantly look for knowledge from experts who can simplify concepts while creating practical applications. Shane thrives in this area while also being hilarious. In this conversation, we discussed: * His powerfully transformative story * Embracing life through exploration * Leaving your comfort zone * Limitations of discipline * Intentionality * Alignment * Effective coaching * And much more I can’t recommend Shane’s platform, In Contrast, enough. In it, you will find thoughtful essays on practical approaches to fitness, nutrition, and life. I brought up one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to between Shane Adam PT. Find it here: The website Workaway was mentioned several times in our conversation. This is an online community that anyone can use to find exchange, volunteer, and/or house sitting opportunities around the world. Embracing life’s unknowns and using this platform led to Shane meeting his wife and becoming the man he is today. More info here: Some of my favorite posts from Shane: Resilient Mental State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Resilient Mental State at www.resilientmentalstate.com/subscribe

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Conversations with experts, writers, and extraordinary individuals on the skill of mental, physical, and spiritual resilience. www.resilientmentalstate.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kyle Shepard
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kyle
  • Show Website
    Resilient Mental State