What does it take to lead with integrity and still thrive in a high-stakes industry? In this episode, Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips chat with John DeAngelis, President and Co-Founder of DeAngelis Diamond, to explore a leadership model rooted in character, clarity, and generosity.

John shares his journey of building one of the country’s premier construction firms while holding fast to faith and family. He unpacks the challenge of balancing high support and high challenge in leadership, hiring for character over skill, overcoming fear with intentionality, and defining “enough” in a world that always demands more. With personal reflections on fatherhood, self-awareness, and legacy, this conversation is both deeply practical and profoundly inspiring.

02:09 — Navigating Unique Challenges in Construction

04:27 — Developing Leaders with Lives Worth Following

11:18 — Hiring for Character Over Skills

13:40 — Establishing Core Values in Leadership

18:20 — Overcoming Fear in Leadership

28:51 — Defining ‘Enough’ in Success and Generosity

33:50 — The Challenge of Generosity

35:25 — The Role of Fatherhood

41:28 — Navigating Work and Family Life

45:34 — Self-Awareness in Leadership

49:27 — Understanding God’s Sovereignty

52:57 — Defining True Success and Legacy

In this milestone episode of Masters of Resilience, Mark and Ryan take a moment to reflect on the journey so far—what they’ve learned from the conversations, the leaders, and the struggles along the way. They explore what it really takes to stay resilient: from practicing patience and managing energy, to building an unshakable inner game. Whether you’ve been here from the start or just tuning in, this episode captures the heart of what Masters of Resilience is all about.

Chapters

01:07 — Lessons from the Past Year

06:15 — Movement vs. Action: What’s Real Progress?

10:11 — Failure Isn’t the End, It’s the Way

12:50 — Mastering the Inner Game

17:14 — You Can’t Do It Alone: The Power of Support Systems

22:10 — What’s Next for Year Two

In this episode of Masters of Resilience, Joey Bowen and Drew Beech, co-founders of Few Will Hunt, share how a simple mantra—“Everybody wants to eat, but few will hunt”—sparked a movement rooted in hard work, community, and mindset. Hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager explore how faith, authenticity, and daily discipline shaped their path from frustration with entitlement to building a fast-growing apparel brand and loyal community.

Follow Few Will Hunt:

Website: fewwillhunt.com

Instagram: @fewwillhunt

Podcast: youtube.com/@fewwillhunt

Highlights:

01:28 — The birth of Few Will Hunt

03:31 — The power of hard work

10:00 — Facing fear and taking action

25:47 — Authenticity in business

38:01 — Parenting and sacrifice

46:18 — High agency and daily habits

57:33 — “The Few Energy” philosophy

In this episode, Donnita Travis shares her journey from a thriving corporate career to founding By The Hand Club For Kids, a nonprofit transforming the lives of children in under-resourced neighborhoods. Donnita opens up about the tension between self-reliance and trusting God, how faith and purpose shaped her leadership, and the business-minded strategies that helped scale her impact.

From personal growth to organizational expansion, this conversation offers wisdom on leadership, calling, and the courage to pursue transformation.

Learn more about By The Hand Club For Kids and get involved at www.bythehand.org.

00:00 – Framing the Role of Resilience in Leadership

01:25 – Wrestling with Self-Reliance vs. Trusting God

04:12 – From Corporate Success to Community Impact

10:21 – Applying Business Principles to Nonprofit Leadership

14:16 – What Resilience Really Means in Adversity

17:01 – Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 Challenges

24:50 – Innovation, Adaptability, and Thriving Through Uncertainty

25:19 – Personal Growth and Leadership in Times of Crisis

29:31 – Purpose-Driven Leadership and the Power of “Why”

31:14 – Navigating Career Transitions with Faith

44:32 – Growing the Mission: Expansion Beyond Chicago

50:15 – Embracing Humility, Faith, and Partnership in Leadership

In this episode of Masters of Resilience, hosts Mark Phillips and Ryan Seager sit down with Ale Breuer, a founder, investor, and professor, to explore the critical role of resilience in entrepreneurship. Ale shares her personal journey—from launching Ezza Nails to navigating challenges as an investor—highlighting the power of persistence, embracing failure, and developing emotional intelligence in leadership.

The conversation dives into key themes like the difference between persistence and resilience, the concept of a resume of failure, and the emotional aspects of failure and shame. Ale also discusses how her experiences continue to shape her work in MBA education and venture capital, emphasizing the importance of founder diligence, self-awareness, and servant leadership.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or leader, this episode offers invaluable insights into mastering the inner game of resilience in business.

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Adversity

02:22 Ale’s Journey: From Founder to Investor

05:01 The Role of Failure in Success

10:07 Navigating the Pandemic: Challenges and Decisions

20:12 Lessons in Leadership and Servant Leadership

26:07 The Legacy of Ezza: Teaching Resilience to Future Entrepreneurs

28:24 The Theater of Resilience

29:04 Building Resilience in MBA Students

30:57 The Resume of Failure

32:45 Disassociating Shame from Failure

33:36 Persistence vs. Resilience

37:22 The Future of Entrepreneurship

41:21 Founder Diligence in Venture Capital

50:52 Mastering the Inner Game of Entrepreneurship

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, hosts Ryan Seager and Mark Phillips engage with Nate and Ben Checketts, co-founders of Rhone, a premium activewear brand. The conversation delves into the brothers' journey of building Rhone, highlighting the unseen adversities they faced, the importance of resilience, and the role of identity in their entrepreneurial journey. They discuss how their personal experiences and family dynamics shaped their approach to business, emphasizing the significance of community, mental fitness, and the pursuit of purpose over perfection.

02:25 The Journey of Roan: Overcoming Adversity

09:19 Building Resilience Through Habits and Structure

17:07 Identity and Imposter Syndrome in Business

25:20 Creating Meaning and Community Through Rhone

35:49 The Essence of Holiness and Human Connection

37:45 Sustaining Profound Moments in Life

41:51 The Pursuit of Less but Better

45:00 Balancing Priorities: Family, Work, and Life

51:53 Navigating Pain and Suffering in Parenting

58:14 The Importance of Marriage in a Busy Life

01:03:20 Reflections on the Journey and Advice for the Future

www.mastersofresilience.com

www.rhone.com

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, Rusty Bland, President of the KeHE Cares Foundation, shares his journey of resilience, offering insights on identity and leadership. He reflects on his personal experiences, including the challenges of a business failure and how it reshaped his understanding of self-worth and purpose. Rusty emphasizes the role of faith, mentorship, and community service in building resilience and leading with purpose.

01:49 Rusty's Journey Through Adversity

08:51 The Role of Identity in Resilience

13:22 Transformative Experiences and Humility

18:41 Connecting Identity, Resilience, and Faith

23:02 Learning from Experience and Mentorship

27:04 The Importance of Perspective in Life

32:20 Final Thoughts on Family and Legacy

34:21 Leadership Lessons from Rapid Growth

40:17 Building a Kingdom Culture in the Workplace

46:40 The Balance of Being Liked and Leading Effectively

52:25 Vision for Kehi Cares Foundation

58:07 Creating Sustainable Models for Organizational Development

In this episode of the Masters of Resilience podcast, MLB pitcher Jake Cousins shares his journey through the highs and lows of professional sports. He discusses resilience, community support, and faith in overcoming challenges like injuries and roster moves. Jake emphasizes releasing control, gaining perspective through family, and the mental aspects of high-pressure performance. He highlights the role of sports psychology, mentorship, and gratitude, offering advice to aspiring athletes on trusting the process and valuing their support systems.

01:21 Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

03:30 Navigating Professional Baseball Challenges

07:20 Injuries and Setbacks in Jake's Career

11:55 The Rollercoaster of Major League Baseball

18:01 Dealing with Uncertainty and Control

23:17 The Role of Pain and Resilience

27:11 Perspective Shift: Family and Community

28:16 The Mindset of a World Series Pitcher

31:25 The Role of Sports Psychology in Athletics

33:04 Learning from Others: The Importance of Mentorship

36:29 Navigating the Narrow Margins of Professional Sports

40:42 The Importance of Family and Support Systems

46:17 Reflecting on Success and Relationships

50:32 Advice for Aspiring Athletes