Battle Harder

About Battle Harder

BATTLE HARDER — PAIN INTO PROGRESS The Battle Harder Podcast is about what happens after life knocks you down—and what it actually takes to rebuild. Hosted by Rob Wheeler, Battle Harder features honest conversations with people who have faced adversity, experienced the cost of it, and found a way forward. Veterans. First responders. Athletes. Entrepreneurs. Authors. Mental health professionals. Leaders. Survivors. And everyday people with extraordinary stories. These aren't polished success stories. They're conversations about what came before the success: trauma, failure, addiction, depression, divorce, loss, career transitions, identity struggles, broken relationships, and the moments that force us to ask what comes next. Then we get to the question at the heart of Battle Harder: How did you rebuild? Each episode explores the experiences, decisions, lessons, habits, relationships, and mindset shifts that helped someone move forward—and what the rest of us can learn from their journey. Battle Harder sits at the intersection of mental health, resilience, personal development, leadership, discipline, purpose, and human performance. We explore topics including mental health, PTSD and trauma, anxiety and depression, addiction and recovery, grief and loss, relationships and family, identity, purpose, military transition, first responder experiences, leadership, discipline, physical and mental well-being, entrepreneurship, career changes, confidence, and personal growth. But Battle Harder isn't about pretending adversity is a gift or glorifying struggle. Some experiences hurt. Some leave scars. Some permanently change the direction of a life. The question is what we do next. That's why we want the real story: What happened? What did it cost you? How did you rebuild? What can someone else learn from it? Some guests bring professional expertise. Others earned their lessons by surviving circumstances they never expected to face. Both matter. Battle Harder is for anyone trying to become stronger mentally, emotionally, physically, professionally, or personally. It's for the person rebuilding after loss. The veteran searching for purpose outside the uniform. The first responder carrying experiences most people will never see. The parent trying to become better for their family. The entrepreneur recovering from failure. The person working through addiction or trauma. The leader carrying responsibility for others. And anyone entering a new chapter of life asking, "What now?" This isn't surface-level motivation. It's about honest conversations, useful perspective, and practical lessons from people who have actually lived through difficult things. Your past may explain where you are. It doesn't have to determine where you go next. Real stories. Honest conversations. Practical lessons for rebuilding after adversity. BATTLE HARDER — PAIN INTO PROGRESS. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Publisher

Rob Wheeler

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Sept 2023

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

173 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Lara J. Day: Chronic Illness, Control, and Learning to Let Go

   What happens when trying to fix everything becomes the very thing exhausting you? Three months after becoming a mother, Lara J. Day developed a persistent illness that would change the next decade of her life. She searched for answers through conventional medicine, alternative practices, countless practitioners, and treatments that often left her with more questions than answers. At the same time, her young daughter developed Lyme disease, creating an entirely different kind of struggle as a mother. Eventually, Lara realized something important: her entire life had become centered around being sick and trying to get better. In this episode of the Battle Harder Podcast, Coach Rob Wheeler sits down with Lara J. Day to talk about chronic illness, emotional exhaustion, the pressure to control everything, and what it means to stop defining yourself by the challenges you're facing. Lara shares her personal experiences with Qigong, meditation, faith, and learning to pause when life feels overwhelming. We also discuss the importance of having people who stand beside you even when they don't have all the answers. In this conversation: Becoming a mother while navigating chronic illness Caring for a daughter struggling with Lyme disease The mental exhaustion of constantly searching for answers When your struggle becomes your identity Learning to recognize what you can and cannot control Lara's personal experience with Qigong and meditation The difference between surrender and giving up Why being seen and supported matters Finding one manageable next step instead of trying to solve everything Her work with Inner Alchemy Mentorship and the Thirteen Sacred Nights Oracle CONNECT WITH LARA J. DAY Website: https://larajday.com (https://larajday.com/) Instagram: @larajday Thirteen Sacred Nights Oracle: Available through her website and major booksellers, including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon. CONNECT WITH BATTLE HARDER Battle Harder is about resilience, mental health, leadership, and what rebuilding actually looks like after adversity. Subscribe for honest conversations, real experiences, and practical perspectives on turning life's challenges into opportunities for growth. Keep Turning Pain Into Progress. Content note: This episode includes discussion of chronic illness, medical uncertainty, and a loved one's experience considering medical assistance in dying. Disclaimer: The discussion of Qigong, energy practices, and other alternative healing approaches reflects the guest's personal experiences and beliefs. These practices should not be treated as substitutes for evidence-based medical care or individualized medical advice. #BattleHarder #MentalHealth #ChronicIllness #EmotionalResilience #PainIntoProgress

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   The Difference Between Being Nice and Being Kind

   Being a nice guy doesn't automatically make you a good man. For a long time, we've been taught that being a good man means keeping everybody happy. Avoid arguments. Don't upset anybody. Say yes. Keep the peace. But what happens when being nice means avoiding the conversations you need to have, ignoring your own boundaries, or failing to stand up for somebody who needs you? Sometimes the kindest thing you can do isn't going to feel very nice. In this Battle Ready Solo Series episode, I'm breaking down the difference between being nice and being genuinely kind—and why that distinction matters in marriage, fatherhood, co-parenting, friendships, and leadership. I'm also sharing what I've learned from my own experiences with anger, communication, raising my children, and learning to be firm without being cruel. We talk about: Why being liked shouldn't matter more than doing what's right. How avoiding conflict can create resentment. Why your wife needs honesty, not automatic agreement. The difference between discipline and humiliation in fatherhood. How to maintain boundaries when co-parenting. Why kindness isn't weakness. How to tell the truth without using honesty as an excuse to be an asshole. Plus, I walk through the Battle Ready Kindness Check—five questions to help you evaluate whether you're actually doing right by the people in your life. You can be compassionate and direct. Respectful and firm. Strong and kind. Being nice isn't the problem. Being nice at the expense of your honesty, boundaries, and responsibilities is. 🎙️ Battle Ready Solo Series | Battle Harder Podcast Pain Into Progress.

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   William “Big Sarge” Hansen: Rebuilding After War, Addiction & Losing Yourself

   William “Big Sarge” Hansen spent 22 years in the military and deployed five times to the Middle East. After suffering serious injuries in Iraq, he returned home dealing with chronic pain, dependence on prescription medication, depression, and the loss of the man he used to be. Then his young daughter touched his face and asked why he hadn't been the same since coming home. That moment changed everything. In this episode, Coach Rob Wheeler sits down with Big Sarge to discuss the realities of coming home from war, how trauma affects the entire family, the difficulty of asking for help, and the process of rebuilding physically and mentally. William shares how Wounded Warrior Project helped him reconnect with other veterans, why he now works to help wounded veterans regain their independence, and what drives him to continue competing in strongman events as he approaches 60. This is a conversation about fatherhood, responsibility, resilience, and finding a new mission after adversity. Connect with William on Instagram: @trainerbigsarge Keep Turning Pain Into Progress. Content note: Discussion of combat injuries, prescription medication dependence, depression, and suicide loss.

Who has been a guest on Battle Harder

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ryan Stewman
• Richard Oelberger
• Michael Hansen
• Nancy Nance
• JD Tremblay

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

53,474

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 78 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

94

YouTube

85

Engagement

32

Contact Battle Harder

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Battle Harder