The Executive Athlete Podcast

Nicole Ward
  • 5.0 (1)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Your energy is your edge. Ready to optimize your performance? Hosted by Nicole Ward, Senior VP of Sales at Aon, board certified health and nutrition coach, and founder of the Sales Athlete platform, this podcast explores the science, strategies, and daily practices that fuel sustained success at the top. Each episode features industry leaders, elite performers, and trailblazing biohackers sharing the tools that help high achievers turn stress into resilience and optimize every domain of their life. From nootropics to nervous system regulation to leadership mindset, we uncover the rituals that separate peak performers from the rest. Whether you're leading a team, scaling a business, or chasing ambitious goals, this is your playbook for high performance from the inside out. It's not just about pushing harder - it's about recovering smarter, thinking sharper, and performing better. Subscribe for weekly insights that transform how you show up and succeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. NFL Veteran Reveals: What Executives Can Learn From NFL Players | Bronson Kaufusi

    APR 15

    NFL Veteran Reveals: What Executives Can Learn From NFL Players | Bronson Kaufusi

    In this episode of Executive Athlete, I sit down with Bronson Kaufus to discuss his journey from NFL defensive lineman to entrepreneur and founder of Young Athlete Society. He reveals what separates elite performers at the highest level, why mindset became his competitive edge after his father benched him sophomore year, and how an injury that doctors said would end his career became the catalyst for building something bigger than football. We explore the mental frameworks that allow athletes to perform under extreme pressure, why recovery is a ritual championship teams never skip, and the critical lesson every athlete needs to learn before their career ends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  2. Former D1 Athlete Exposes The Recovery Mistake Executives Make | Olga Gvozdenovic

    FEB 11

    Former D1 Athlete Exposes The Recovery Mistake Executives Make | Olga Gvozdenovic

    Note: In the episode intro, Olga is referenced as Vice President of Sales for High Growth at SAP. Since recording, she has moved into a new role and is now Group Vice President of Renewals, Digital & SMB Strategy at Cornerstone OnDemand. In this episode of Executive Athlete, I sit down with Olga Gvozdenovic, Group Vice President of Renewals, Digital & SMB Strategy at Cornerstone OnDemand and founder of OMG Basketball Academy, to explore how her championship-level discipline on the court directly fuels her executive leadership in the corporate world. We dive into the moment her ACL tear at the McDonald’s All-American game became her greatest teacher, why instant gratification in sports created challenges when corporate timelines demanded patience, and how she builds culture around celebrating small wins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  3. Peak Performance Expert: The Harder You Push, the Worse You Perform | Jeff Benton

    JAN 6

    Peak Performance Expert: The Harder You Push, the Worse You Perform | Jeff Benton

    In this episode of Executive Athlete, I sit down with Jeff Benton, founder and CEO of Paragon Performance Evolution, to explore why coherence, not hustle, not strategy, not even willpower, is the ultimate competitive advantage. We dive into why 90% of our 60,000-70,000 daily thoughts are the same as yesterday (and 70-80% are negative), how heart-focused breathing resets your nervous system in 30 seconds, and why gratitude produces 14 biochemical changes in your body, including doubling DHEA levels.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  4. BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON: Why Appearance Shapes Your Career Success | Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva

    12/16/2025

    BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON: Why Appearance Shapes Your Career Success | Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva

    In this episode of Executive Athlete, I sit down with Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Aesthetic Lab in Newport Beach, to explore how aesthetic medicine has evolved from vanity-driven procedures to a strategic pillar of executive performance and longevity. We dive into why first impressions matter more than we think (milliseconds, not minutes), how metabolic health determines surgical outcomes, and why the future of plastic surgery is moving from structural "carpentry" to regenerative medicine that optimizes how we age from the inside out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  5. From Silicon Valley Burnout to Modern Monk with Hayden McComas

    11/18/2025

    From Silicon Valley Burnout to Modern Monk with Hayden McComas

    In this episode of the Executive Athlete, I sit down with Hayden McComas, Silicon Valley entrepreneur turned documentary filmmaker and author of The Modern Monk, to explore his dramatic journey from hustle culture burnout to holistic wellness. After selling his business, Hayden embarked on a spiritual sabbatical that nearly destroyed his health. We dive into the health crisis that changed everything, why sleep is the foundation of peak performance, and the five-pillar framework that transformed his life. This conversation is essential for any executive or high performer who's been pushing too hard for too long. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  6. Improving Wellness Tech to Calm the World with Anna Gudmundson

    10/16/2025

    Improving Wellness Tech to Calm the World with Anna Gudmundson

    In this episode of the Executive Athlete, I sit down with Anna Gudmundson, CEO and co-founder of Sensate, to explore how infrasound resonance technology is revolutionizing stress management and nervous system regulation. We dive into why meditation apps fail mass market users, the science of vagal nerve toning, and how Anna built a company that prioritizes compassion for human struggle over perfection. Her insights on leadership, functional medicine, and the future of personalized health are essential listening for any executive athlete. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  7. Marine to CEO: Building a Life Without Limits with Gold Porter

    09/24/2025

    Marine to CEO: Building a Life Without Limits with Gold Porter

    In this episode of Biohacking for the Executive Athlete, I sit down with Gold Porter, founder and CEO of Riveter Consulting Group, to explore her unconventional path from Marine paralegal to luxury lifestyle management expert. We dive into how she serves ultra-high-net-worth clients while maintaining her own cutting-edge wellness protocols, the spiritual practices that keep her grounded in a demanding industry, and why she believes in questioning every program we've inherited from childhood. Timestamps: 2:35 - From Marine paralegal to Wall Street 6:26 - Energy drains in high-pressure executive lives 8:33 - Fitness as a church 10:50 - Structuring business around wellness, not the other way around 13:20 - Energy coach and daily grounding practice 18:05 - Travel biohacking 20:20 - Influencing high-profile clients through example, not advice 23:05 - Advice for executives new to biohacking 27:03 - Leading with radical honesty in a PC world 30:00 - The garden that grew from her biggest challenge 32:17 - Balancing ambition with contentment 33:36 - Success defined Connect with Gold: Company Website: https://riveterinc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gold-porter-6b481525/ About Riveter Consulting Group: Premier lifestyle management and domestic staffing firm serving elite executives, families, and athletes across the United States and abroad. Specializing in ultra-high-net-worth client support with discretion, logistical precision, and strategic thinking. Connect with Nicole: Stay connected with Nicole Ward for more insights on leadership, sales excellence, and the intersection of health and performance. Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleward111/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c0mQ7HMqldnb3w3C2HNm6 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-executive-athlete-podcast/id1828954832 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  8. The Sober Entrepreneur: Joe Chura’s Revolution in Brewing

    08/28/2025

    The Sober Entrepreneur: Joe Chura’s Revolution in Brewing

    In this episode of Biohacking for the Executive Athlete, I sit down with Joe Chura, founder and CEO of Go Brewing, to explore his incredible journey from Ford assembly line worker to tech entrepreneur to non-alcoholic craft beer pioneer. We dive into his transformative health journey during COVID, how quitting alcohol revealed clarity he never knew existed, and why he's building a wellness-focused brewery that's reshaping mindful social drinking. Joe shares his daily protocols, the philosophy behind "acceptable risk," and why sometimes you need to say yes before you know how it will all play out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  9. From Sick Executive to Peak Performer | Todd Vande Hei’s Health Transformation

    08/14/2025

    From Sick Executive to Peak Performer | Todd Vande Hei’s Health Transformation

    In this episode of the Executive Athlete, I sit down with Todd Vande Hei, founder of Stark Health, to explore his remarkable transformation from a sick manufacturing executive to a health optimization pioneer. We dive into how he applied business principles to revolutionize healthcare delivery, creating a team-based approach that treats the human body like the complex system it is. Todd shares his personal journey from seizures and heart issues in his 30s to peak health at 56, revealing the foundational protocols and integrated systems that make sustainable optimization possible for high-performing executives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  10. Performance Through Wellness | Angel Morgan

    07/28/2025

    Performance Through Wellness | Angel Morgan

    In this episode of The Executive Athlete, I sit down with Angel Morgan, Chief Business Development Officer at Cherry Bekaert, to explore the intersection of wellness and sales excellence. We dive into Angel's evolution from a young entrepreneur to a biohacking executive who treats her body as a vessel for peak performance. From discovering that sleep was the key to managing her ADHD and leadership effectiveness, to implementing the "whole self" philosophy with her sales team, Angel shares her candid journey of using health as a competitive advantage. Timestamps: 5:15 - Health as a mission, not a hobby 10:25 - Sleep as the game-changer 14:32 - Tech, wearables, and hormone replacement therapy 18:46 - The "three S's" travel strategy for sales executives 22:13 - From daily to weekly perspective 27:36 - Instilling wellness mindset in sales teams 31:14 - Longevity and toxic load 39:55 - The influence of leadership and showing up for others ----- Connect with Angel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelmichellemorgan/ About Cherry Bekaert: Cherry Bekaert is a Top 25 nationally focused CPA advisory firm that embraces the challenge of being set apart through actions, not words. They focus on helping clients achieve success by being the very best for their clients, starting at the human level. ----- Connect with Nicole: Stay connected with Nicole Ward for more insights on leadership, sales excellence, and the intersection of health and performance. Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleward111/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBAnwBACChw Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c0mQ7HMqldnb3w3C2HNm6 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Your energy is your edge. Ready to optimize your performance? Hosted by Nicole Ward, Senior VP of Sales at Aon, board certified health and nutrition coach, and founder of the Sales Athlete platform, this podcast explores the science, strategies, and daily practices that fuel sustained success at the top. Each episode features industry leaders, elite performers, and trailblazing biohackers sharing the tools that help high achievers turn stress into resilience and optimize every domain of their life. From nootropics to nervous system regulation to leadership mindset, we uncover the rituals that separate peak performers from the rest. Whether you're leading a team, scaling a business, or chasing ambitious goals, this is your playbook for high performance from the inside out. It's not just about pushing harder - it's about recovering smarter, thinking sharper, and performing better. Subscribe for weekly insights that transform how you show up and succeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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