Advertise on podcast: The Breaking Normal Podcast

What actually makes a coffee shop feel different? In this episode of Breaking Normal, I sit down with Greg Lefcourt — co-owner of Beleza Coffee in Boulder — to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of coffee culture. Greg has spent decades at the highest level of specialty coffee… competing, judging, and helping shape the scene. But what he’s building with Beleza goes beyond coffee — it’s about connection, presence, and creating a space people actually feel. We get into: - Why he killed the Wi-Fi (and what that revealed about people) - What coffee taught him about human nature - The fine line between mastery, ego, and art - How drinks like the Persian Love Latte (with saffron, rose, pistachio) can shift your state - What makes a great barista vs. just a skilled one - His favorite coffee shops around the world - What actually creates a magnetic community vibe Questions we explored: - What has coffee taught you about humans that has nothing to do with coffee? - Why did you remove Wi-Fi when most cafés are doubling down on it? - What made you step away from the “high-level coffee world” to build something more human? - When does mastery become ego… and when does it become art? - What kind of ritual are people craving right now without realizing it? - Can a drink actually shift someone’s emotional state? - What’s a place or experience that changed how you see what a café can be? - What makes a truly great coffee shop? - What separates a great barista from everyone else? - What do people reveal over coffee that they don’t say anywhere else? - What would the perfect café for human connection look like? Connect with Greg & Beleza: https://www.instagram.com/belezacoffeebar/ If you’re in Boulder, this is one of those spots you don’t just visit — you feel it. Coffee might be the excuse… But connection is the real product. Get Greg’s favorite tallow and the best organ supplements in the world at www.TribeVitamins.com

Is your training program fueled by ego or biology? Daniel Eisenman sits down with local legend and Olympic alpine skier Ryder Sarchett to deconstruct the "weird" habits that separate world-class athletes from the pack. After getting cut from the US Ski Team at 19, Ryder "burned the boats," left college, and clawed his way back to the Olympic stage by rejecting traditional endurance protocols in favor of neurological flow. In this episode, we dive into: How raw milk became Ryder's secret weapon for eliminating back pain and inflammation. The "Anti-Push" parenting method that fosters genuine obsession over burnout. Why tapering and nervous system regulation are the keys to 80mph precision on the ice. The College Dropout mentality: Choosing real-world mastery over a $100k debt.This is a deep dive into the shift from traditional "talk therapy" styles of coaching to neurological and ancestral solutions for peak performance. Get the "Breaking Normal" Book: Amazon | Audible Stay in Touch: Instagram | Website Follow, Like, and Share to help us break the normal!

What if sustainability isn’t about optics—but about doing the hard, unglamorous work no one wants to deal with? In this episode of Breaking Normal, host Daniel Eisenman sits down with Kathey Pear, lifelong entrepreneur, sales strategist, and sustainability realist, to unpack why “green” has become more marketing than practice. From office furniture landfills to the myth of retirement, Kathey shares decades of lived experience navigating business with integrity. This episode is for founders, operators, and thinkers who want to build something useful, honest, and human—and understand why that matters now more than ever. Main Topics Covered Why “retirement” is a broken concept for people who love their work Sales as service, triage, and truth—not manipulation The hidden environmental cost of office furniture and business moves Why 90% of office furniture ends up in landfills Greenwashing vs. real sustainability practices The real constraints: storage, real estate, and economics Why scaling too fast destroys otherwise good businesses Potlatch economics and redefining wealth, value, and success Key Takeaways Sustainability fails when it’s cheaper to throw things away than deal with them Sales done well is about helping people make better decisions Going slow allows you to survive your mistakes—and learn from them Real impact often starts long before profit or recognition Wealth isn’t what you accumulate—it’s what you circulate Connect with the Guest: Kathey Pear Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathey.pear.7 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathey-pear-90aa091/Get the book on Audible!https://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Breaking-Normal-Audiobook/B074G49CW2Get the book on Amazon!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071SBC7NC/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495314934&sr=1-16&keywords=motivational+self+help+help_________STAY IN TOUCH ↣WEBSITE: http://breakingnormal.com↣FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DanielEisenman↣INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/DanielEisenman↣TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DanielEisenman If this conversation challenged the way you think about sustainability, work, or success, help us spread it. Follow, like, and share this episode with someone who’s ready to question the “normal” way of doing business.

What if The Matrix wasn’t fiction—but a documentary? In this real-deal Breaking Normal conversation, I sit down with Clark, the founder of Birdlimb, and we go far beyond the red pill vs. blue pill narrative. We dive into: • Why The Matrix feels more like a documentary than a movie • Raising Neos, not NPCs (including Clark’s youngest son, Neo) • Healing outside the modern medical model through meditation, awareness, and self-trust • Pulling kids out of the medical matrix and becoming your own doctor • How a month of working together—and Tribe Vitamins—supported that shift • Tallow, ritual, and commitment (100 Sundays at 1 PM) • Remembering the future and the possibility of a Boulder Creek retreat • Bringing outside nature inside our homes through Birdlimb • Laughter, presence, goofy essence, and bird songs to close it out This is a conversation about sovereignty, intuition, family, and seeing opportunity where others see limitation. If you’re ready for something beyond red or blue— 🦬 Get your hunt on: https://tribevitamins.com Connect with Clark & explore Birdlimb: 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdlimb Recorded in the spirit of curiosity, freedom, and remembering what we already know.

In this deeply inspiring episode of the Breaking Normal Podcast, I sit down with Timothy O’Donnell—world-class triathlete, coach, speaker, and father of three—who has been living and training in Boulder, Colorado for the past 17 years. At the pinnacle of his professional fitness career, Tim suffered a heart attack during a race in Miami—yet still finished the race, missing the Top 10 by just one place. Later that night, he found himself in the hospital, a moment that would permanently change his relationship with training, recovery, and life itself. Before undergoing a life-saving stent procedure, Tim made a pivotal phone call to previous Breaking Normal guest David Tusek. With the support of cutting-edge diagnostics, elite cardiology care, and deep self-reflection, Tim was eventually cleared to return to training—but with an entirely new philosophy. This conversation explores:• What it means to “fitness for life” instead of chasing peak performance at all costs• How a heart attack reshaped Tim’s identity as an athlete, husband, and father• The quiet cost of being world-class—and the freedom found in doing less, better• Longevity, recovery, fatherhood, and redefining what winning really means We also touch on the powerful role Tim’s wife plays in the endurance racing world, the importance of community, and how elite athletes evolve when performance is no longer the only metric that matters. Before we wrapped, I shared what many of our top performing athletes personally love using from Tribe Vitamins—including elk velvet antler, bison testicles, and tallow balm to support recovery, resilience, and skin health in harsh conditions. 👉 Get the hunt on: https://tribevitamins.com⸻🔗 Connect with Tim O’Donnell• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tointri?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-o-donnell-15515b8?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_co...

What if success wasn’t about climbing higher—but about creating community? In this truly Breaking Normal episode, recorded inside the house & home of Matt Winkley, who retired at age 39, is now a stay-at-home dad, and gives back deeply to his community… from a podcast studio inside his own home. Matt lives with his dream partner, Julie, and their 11-month-old son Adam—a highly meditated, not medicated, little human who just took his first steps. That moment becomes a mirror for the episode itself. Because before Matt ever found peace, he took a much scarier first step. He escaped the small town he grew up in with a one-way ticket to San Diego, full of stoke—but no clear plan for how to pay for the life he felt called to live. That uncertainty sparked an obsession with entrepreneurship, which eventually led to burnout, illness, and a complete unraveling. From that breakdown, something unexpected emerged. Matt found healing through Sufi mysticism, devotion, ann his dharmic diligence—aligning his work with service. That path led him to building and scaling a business working with autistic children, which ultimately allowed him to retire early, transition into real estate, and design a life around freedom, family, and peace. In this conversation, we go deep into: • Home vs. house—and why it matters • Meditation vs. medication (especially with children) • Vision planning that actually creates freedom • Designing the ideal day vs chasing distant goals • Moving from hardworking middle class to financially free • What peace actually feels like—starting today • Meditating with your children • Sufism: the whirling, the path, and the practice Matt follows • Burnout as initiation, not failure • What it really means to be unemployable This episode is full of synchronicities, lived wisdom, and embodied truth. Matt doesn’t just talk about Breaking Normal—he lives it. Follow Matt here: 👉 Instagram: Matt.Winkley Get the most effective hunt 🏹🦬 at www.TribeVitamins.com

I walked in thinking I was about to interview a chef from Highland City Club… Turns out, I was sitting down with Stewart Ward, a Boulder realtor who grew up in Miami in the 80s and has carved out his own path in the world of Colorado real estate. In this episode we explore: • The number of realtors in Colorado vs. Boulder • How someone like me could make money in Boulder real estate without being a realtor • Why having your own real estate license can be useful for flipping homes, the way Stewart has done in Oregon and the way my brother does in Georgia • Affordable housing in Boulder, land leases, rentals, and luxury homes all existing within blocks of one another • What his home recommendation would be for someone on a budget vs. someone with no budget at all • The “glass castles” and other iconic homes in Boulder and around the world • The types of home features I gravitate toward — gas-burning stoves, mold-free hardwood floors, clean materials, functional layouts • Wood-burning fireplace restrictions in new Boulder homes — and how people try to work around them • How private memberships and other creative structures may play into future housing or property loopholes • His take on the best deal he currently has listed in Boulder • The new hotel developments shaping the next chapter of the city We also touched on lifestyle adjustments for newcomers to Colorado’s climate and why Stewart was curious about Tribe Vitamins products for clients adapting to the dryness. Sometimes you think you’re interviewing a chef… Sometimes you end up learning how Boulder real estate really works. Get your hunt on at TribeVitamins.com 🦬🔥

This may be the most Breaking Normal episode we’ve ever recorded — and both the producer and I agree. This conversation traces the evolution of Shawn Heinrichs from growing up in Durban, South Africa — surrounded by landscapes that feel straight out of Avatar — to moving to the mainland United States and excelling at the Wharton School of Business. At one point, Shawn was on the deal of a lifetime with NVIDIA Corporation — now ranked as the most valuable company in the world — and he said no. They came back with a better offer. That’s when he truly walked away. No amount of money was worth abandoning the ocean — the place that felt like home. What followed was nearly a decade as an undercover investigative journalist, exposing some of the darkest industries tied to the sea: whale shark fins, rhino horns, and global poaching operations. His work put him directly in the path of people operating within criminal networks capable of extreme violence — working in the shadows, often out of sight and out of mind. He persevered — until the darkness nearly overwhelmed his own soul. That’s when everything changed. Shawn realized fear doesn’t inspire protection — love does. And instead of telling people what’s wrong with the ocean, he devoted his life to helping people fall in love with it. That evolution led to him founding the global conservation organization Only One. Most recently, he brought to Boulder — with event co-founder and his dear friend Samuel J — Ocean Bloom, a living art and conservation project featuring the musical talents of previous Breaking Normal guest Ayla Nereo. At its core, Ocean Bloom reflects a much deeper philosophy: Expect nothing. Experience everything. In this episode, we go everywhere: • Babysitting a whale for three hours • Kissing a whale shark • Swimming with tiger sharks • Communicating with a baby manta ray underwater that told him, “The ocean doesn’t need saving — it’s time to save yourself.” One of the most unexpectedly Breaking Normal moments came when Shawn became the first guest ever to turn down Tribe Vitamins — not out of judgment, but out of a deeply personal pact with the animal kingdom. He believes the animals know he will never harm them, and in return, they will not only avoid harming him — but invite him into unimaginable, intimate connections with them. It may be one of the most grounded, honest, and compelling reasons for long-term veganism I’ve ever heard — and somehow, he understands Tribe Vitamins and regenerative bison and elk better than most people who actually use the products. Ironically, the one guest who didn’t take the supplements became one of the strongest reflections of the ethos behind them. He did accept the honey. He took the book. And his way of living — expecting nothing and experiencing everything — mirrors the very heart of Breaking Normal. I couldn’t even take notes like I normally do during this conversation. I was too busy listening. This isn’t just an episode. It’s an experience. ⸻ 🔗 EPISODE LINKS 📘 Breaking Normal (Book) 👉 https://amzn.to/3L7j3sG 🦬 Tribe Vitamins 👉 https://tribevitamins.com 🌊 Shawn Heinrichs • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnheinrichs • Website: https://www.shawnheinrichs.com 🐳 Contribute to Shawn’s Mission (Only One) 👉 https://only.one/

This episode is a special one. Eagle McMahon is not only one of the most iconic disc golfers on Earth… he’s also one of my favorite humans to watch evolve. From veganism to humanism, from shoulder surgery to a full return of power, from sponsor shifts to Saturn return upgrades—Eagle came through the Breaking Normal Bison Heartquarters ready to fly 🦅 We hit the 10 rapid-fire Breaking Normal popcorn questions designed to pull out the real gems, and he delivered. We talked about how the Breaking Normal Podcast has become his go-to listen (with his only advice: make the episodes longer). We explored his upcoming homecoming trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, his work with past Breaking Normal guests like David from Elixium and the power of ancestral superfoods like Shilajit, and how he’s feeling after being one of the very few humans truly happy after shoulder surgery—shoutout to his surgeon Benjamin Sears. One of the most touching parts of the conversation was when Eagle opened up about losing his mom at the age of nine—how it shaped him, how it shaped his dad, and the inner work he’s now exploring to continue deepening his relationship with her spirit. It was raw, real, and one of those moments you don’t forget. We also got into his testosterone journey, changing disc golf sponsors, his wild Saturn return upgrades, and the art of becoming the biggest fan of your friends. We covered his favorite recent Breaking Normal episodes—from Rob Kaplan, Azuraye, Alice at the Goldenhoof, Matt Bernstein, and Benjamin Arthur Duffy, to the entire cast of Breaking Normal legends with some extra respect to Dana White, David Goggins, and his new crushed pepper podcast. And yes… we even talked about his mysterious Eagle Bonuses for Tribe Vitamins. 🦬 Get your Eagle Bonus: Add anything from Tribe Vitamins to your cart and use code: EAGLE This is one of our favorite partnerships ever—and if you’re an Eagle fan, you’re going to want that mystery bonus. ⸻ FOLLOW EAGLE McMAHON: 🕊️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eagle_wmcm?igsh=aDl3ZTI4cTFoeDU3&utm_source=qr 🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@eaglemcmahon?si=0MypnAUgvnqF_Kch 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/zumNBQ8dy

From South Africa to Tibet to getting barreled in Bali, Jason Hernstad’s pilgrimage reveals why parts of him had to die to truly live. We explore how billionaires can be broke without community, why fighting for good is an everyday practice, and how contemplating death brings us closer to life. Plus, a touch of tallow, synchronicity in Encinitas, and the secret of living: giving. Follow Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonhernstad?igsh=MWFlYW9xaDRsdGVj (@JasonHernstad) And visit www.JasonHernstad.com Get your ancestral fuel at TribeVitamins.com Get the book on Audible!https://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Breaking-Normal-Audiobook/B074G49CW2Get the book on Amazon!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071SBC7NC/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495314934&sr=1-16&keywords=motivational+self+help+help_________STAY IN TOUCH ↣WEBSITE: http://breakingnormal.com↣FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DanielEisenman↣INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/DanielEisenman↣TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DanielEisenman

In this solo training episode, Tribe Vitamins founder Daniel Eisenman answers 20 key questions to help @amaranthfoods and their team — and anyone passionate about ancestral nutrition — learn how to confidently represent and sell Tribe Vitamins. From why Daniel chose bison and elk over cows, to the deeper story behind “Before fences, there were bison,” this conversation is both an education and an initiation into the world of regenerative, nose-to-tail health. You’ll learn: • What makes bison and elk organs nutritionally and spiritually superior 🦬 • How freeze-drying preserves potency better than spray or heat drying ❄️ • Why liver + heart is a synergistic blend rooted in ancestral wisdom ❤️ • The truth behind “100% grass-fed and grass-finished” 🌿 • How to explain these benefits to curious customers and conscious consumers ✨ This training is designed for Amaranth Foods staff and Tribe Vitamins retailers, and also ideal for anyone ready to understand why real vitamins come from real animals. 👉 Learn more and shop at www.TribeVitamins.com (https://www.tribevitamins.com) 👉 Follow @tribevitamins (https://www.instagram.com/tribevitamins/) and @amaranthfoods (https://www.instagram.com/amaranthfoods/) for more regenerative inspiration

In this Breaking Normal Podcast episode, Daniel Eisenman sits down with Ashish Kothari, the CEO of Happiness Squad (https://happinesssquad.com), to explore what it really means to be “hardwired for happiness.” From Vipassana retreats to neuroscience and mysticism, Ashish unpacks why even billionaires struggle with joy — and how to shift from fear to freedom, from knowing to doing, and from doing to being. They dive deep into: 🌦️ Making your own weather 🔥 The art of suffering well 🌲 Forest bathing & habit building 💫 Why gratitude is the gateway to more 💭 Deja vu, mindfulness, and the biology of joy 💔 How giving beyond your capacity can turn the receiver into a thief Ashish shares how his own “accidental awakening” from anxiety led him to fuse psychology, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom into a practical roadmap for flourishing — not just surviving. 🎧 Tune in, breathe deep, and remember: happiness isn’t something to chase… it’s something to remember. 🔗 Learn more at HappinessSquad.com (https://happinesssquad.com) 🦬 Brought to you by TribeVitamins.com (https://tribevitamins.com) — ancestral nutrition for modern vitality. Get the book on Audible!https://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Breaking-Normal-Audiobook/B074G49CW2Get the book on Amazon!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071SBC7NC/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495314934&sr=1-16&keywords=motivational+self+help+help_________STAY IN TOUCH ↣WEBSITE: http://breakingnormal.com↣FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DanielEisenman↣INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/DanielEisenman↣TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DanielEisenman

In this Breaking Normal conversation, Daniel Eisenman sits down with Craig Steinfeld — a father, entrepreneur, and poet — to explore what it really means to live on the fringe of ordinary and embrace the mystery of life. Together they journey through: 🌌 Divine orchestration through synchronicity 🧭 Jungian philosophy and embracing the unknown 💫 The idea of interpreting nothing and feeling more 🧠 How to keep outer technology from disconnecting us from our inner intelligence 🌱 Curiosity as the key to awareness and expansion 🏔️ The wealth found in waking up to nature 🔥 How entrepreneurship and creativity can coexist in harmony 💎 Living with no outcome in mind, and trusting what’s inside to come out Craig shares stories from his journey growing up in Houston, moving to Austin to become who he truly wanted to be, helping scale Blinds.com with his father, running a vitamin shop at UT Austin, and eventually finding home and inspiration in Boulder with his family. This episode explores the balance between structure and surrender — business and art — and how real security is found not in control, but in connection. Follow Craig here: 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/cesteinfeld (https://x.com/cesteinfeld?s=11&t=xXqsZyx3YFZjWshN2OPXpw) 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsteinfeld (https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsteinfeld?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app) Fueled by: 🦬 TribeVitamins.com (https://www.tribevitamins.com) — 100% grass-fed bison liver, heart, testicle, femur creamer, and tallow balm. Before fences, there were bison.

Dr. Miles Nichols, co-founder of MedicineWithHeart.com, joins Daniel Eisenman for a Breaking Normal conversation that dives into the wild edge where health, discomfort, and consciousness meet. From being helicoptered out of a Colorado flash flood to guiding breathwork and ice-cold showers at Burning Man, Miles shares how hormetic stress — the right dose of chaos — can rewire our resilience. 💨 Topics We Explore: 🔥 Cultivating resilience beyond comfort 🧠 Raising dopamine without raising cortisol 💧 Detoxing micro & nanoplastics from the body 🐝 The healing mystery of Bee Venom Therapy 🦠 Where Lyme disease came from 💥 Controlled stress vs. traumatic growth 💫 Training for life through breath, cold, and courage 💔 What happens when young women lose their natural rhythm through birth control or HRT ❤️ “It’s fun to learn — especially when your heart is leading the way.” Daniel also asks the Breaking Normal questions that open new dimensions of truth: Who are you really? What’s most alive in you right now? What’s one belief you’ve outgrown? What’s your current edge of comfort — and what happens when you breathe there? ⸻ 🎧 Connect & Learn More: 🌐 MedicineWithHeart.com 🌐 TribeVitamins.com

What if the secret to mastery is hidden in the way children move — not in how adults train? In this long-awaited Breaking Normal conversation, Daniel Eisenman sits down with Matt Bernstein, founder of Ape Co Movement in Boulder, Colorado — a student of movement, father of three, and one of the original disciples of Ido Portal’s philosophy. Matt shares how a single video — Ido Portal on The Paleo Diet, CrossFit, Gymnastics, Motivation – RawBrahs (https://youtu.be/gWSxC3hkQUw), created by Daniel and his brothers years ago and featuring Nahko Bear’s music — completely changed the trajectory of his life. That viral film inspired Matt to train six hours a day, six days a week under Ido Portal in New York City, eventually founding Boulder Movement Collective (2015) and evolving it into Ape Co. From turning down a venture-capital acquisition to realizing that shutting down Ape Co Denver was one of his greatest successes, Matt’s story is about rediscovering movement, humility, and what it means to grow through grace instead of grit. Together they explore: • 🌱 The art of being a gardener, not a carpenter, as a parent and teacher • 💡 Why the journey is the destination • 💫 How grace outweighs grit in growth • 👶 And why children hold the secret to everything The episode ends with Daniel unboxing a custom Breaking Normal leather belt — a handcrafted gift from Clayton & Crume (https://claytonandcrume.com) — symbolizing strength, story, and legacy. ⸻ Follow Matt Bernstein: Instagram → @mattbernstein.apeco (https://www.instagram.com/mattbernstein.apeco) Ape Co Movement → https://apecomovement.com Connect with Daniel Eisenman: Instagram → @danieleisenman (https://www.instagram.com/danieleisenman) Podcast → Breaking Normal Tribe Vitamins → https://tribevitamins.com — the world’s most primal, animal-based superfoods 🦬🔥🍯