Strong & Awake

About Strong & Awake

Everybody craves ease, convenience, and comfort. Humans are wired for it. But when our lives revolve around comfort, it leaves us weak and asleep. This podcast is an invitation to flip the script on comfort, to get the life you want through voluntary DIScomfort. This is Strong & Awake, a Men & Women Of Discomfort Production.

Publisher

Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD.io)

Category

education · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Apr 2024

Latest episode

6 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2026

   Learning the Hard Way at Work: This is Work | Season 6, Ep. 1

   Season 6, Episode 1 | "What they're describing isn't their work. What they're describing is how they're currently relating with their work." Most of us spend more waking hours working than doing anything else, yet rarely stop to ask what work actually is or how we're relating to it. Dane and Mitch open Season 6 by separating the work itself from the space between you and the work, the hinge that decides whether your effort leads to flourishing or feels like meaningless toil. They unpack the old parable of two men pushing rocks, the Hebrew idea of hevel, and why the Sunday scaries are a signal worth paying attention to. If your job pays the bills but drains the life out of you, start here. Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Why This Season Matters 03:51 The Sunday Scaries 05:57 Defining Work 06:57 Two Men Pushing Rocks 09:40 Hevel and Meaningless Toil 11:58 Transforming Work Through Relating 13:44 Relating Over Outcomes 16:33 Daily Practice 23:55 Make Work Harder Mentions: Bob Geldof / The Boomtown Rats - Referenced for the 1979 song "I Don't Like Mondays," written in response to the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego. Simon Sinek - Author and speaker. Referenced for his work on "Start With Why" and the role of purpose in work. Hevel - Ancient Hebrew word from the Jewish scriptures meaning "meaningless toil" or "vapor." Central to Ecclesiastes and the conversation about nihilistic views of work. Two Men Pushing Rocks - Classic proverb used throughout the episode to illustrate the difference between effort without vision and effort oriented toward something greater. Anchor Actions: Audit the Gap: This week, notice the space between you and your work. When you describe your job to someone, are you describing the work itself or how you feel about it? That gap is where the opportunity lives. Lean into the Hard Part: Identify the part of your work you've been avoiding this week. Move toward it voluntarily instead of waiting for it to catch up with you. That's where meaningless toil starts becoming something else. Join Us: Our Membership Community (MWOD) is where we embrace discomfort as a path to personal development. Remember, it's probably not for you... but if we're wrong about that, or if you want to find out for yourself, visit us at MWOD.io (http://www.mwod.io) 🦬 Connect With Us: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/strongandawake) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/strongandawake) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@strongandawake?sub_confirmation=1) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@strongandawake) | X (Twitter) (https://twitter.com/strongandawake) Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast and any related materials from Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD) or Flying S Incorporated are for general informational purposes only. You should not use this information as a basis for making decisions without consulting your own medical and legal professionals. We aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we make no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or comprehensiveness of the content. At Men & Women Of Discomfort, we promote agency and encourage you to carefully consider the input we offer. If you find it helpful, we invite you to take advantage of it, but do so with the understanding that you bear the responsibility of due diligence. By using our content, you acknowledge that you are taking opportunities at your own risk. Thank you for understanding. *Transcript Note: The transcript of our podcast is AI-generated and may contain errors. We aim for accuracy but appreciate your understanding and feedback on any discrepancies. Copyright 2026 Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD.io) Mentioned in this episode: Sponsor: Never Settle Never Settle is the creative tech and marketing agency that has been MWOD's creative partner— helping with branding, designing our website, and various growth marketing projects. When we started MWOD, we knew we had something that could help a lot of people, but communicating and enrolling people online to build their life around voluntary discomfort is a tough sell. We needed a partner who could understand what we were really doing and help translate that into an online presence that moved people. Never Settle is that partner. They took our vision and made it clear. No small feat for an organization promoting the one thing nobody wants to do. They’re genius. If you want to learn more about how they can help make your vision a reality, head over to neversettle.it/MWOD Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle)

2. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Learning the Hard Way: I Don't Need Anyone (part 2) | Season 5, Ep. 7

   Season 5, Episode 7 | "It's an act of faith to be willing to stand with others." Last week was about not outsourcing your agency. This week flips the other direction: the myth that you can go it alone. Dane and Mitch make the case that the individual has to stand first, but standing alone against the whirlwind, the drift, and the pull of comfort is a losing game. You need people. And finding them, especially after you've been burned, takes real courage. If "I don't need anyone" has been your MO, this one's for you. Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:33 Picking Up From Last Week 02:22 Individual Before Community 07:40 What Are We Actually Up Against 11:13 Community Ingredients 15:03 Benefits of Belonging 18:54 Leading With Vulnerability 21:11 Courage After Being Burned 26:14 MWOD Invitation Mentions: Ryan Holiday - Author and student of Stoicism. Referenced for his teaching on courage as a cardinal (hinge) virtue that opens up the rest of life. Mike Tyson - Boxer. Referenced for the famous line about everyone having a plan until they get punched in the face. Steven D Garber - Author and researcher. Referenced for his book The Fabric of Faithfulness and his work on what helps people flourish over the long haul. Strong & Awake Season 5, Episode 6 (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8a742436-35d4-4900-bd4f-eb35f22daa7c/) - The prior episode on outsourcing agency. Listen to that one first; this episode builds directly on it. Anchor Action: Audit Your Lone Wolf Story: Where are you convinced you have to do it alone? Name the area (health, work, faith, fathering) and audit how that has been going against the whirlwind, the drift, and comfort. Join Us: Our Membership Community (MWOD) is where we embrace discomfort as a path to personal development. Remember, it's probably not for you... but if we're wrong about that, or if you want to find out for yourself, visit us at MWOD.io (http://www.mwod.io) 🦬 Connect With Us: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/strongandawake) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/strongandawake) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@strongandawake?sub_confirmation=1) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@strongandawake) | X (Twitter) (https://twitter.com/strongandawake) Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast and any related materials from Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD) or Flying S Incorporated are for general informational purposes only. You should not use this information as a basis for making decisions without consulting your own medical and legal professionals. We aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we make no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or comprehensiveness of the content. At Men & Women Of Discomfort, we promote agency and encourage you to carefully consider the input we offer. If you find it helpful, we invite you to take advantage of it, but do so with the understanding that you bear the responsibility of due diligence. By using our content, you acknowledge that you are taking opportunities at your own risk. Thank you for understanding. *Transcript Note: The transcript of our podcast is AI-generated and may contain errors. We aim for accuracy but appreciate your understanding and feedback on any discrepancies. Copyright 2026 Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD.io) Mentioned in this episode: Sponsor: Never Settle Never Settle is the creative tech and marketing agency that has been MWOD's creative partner— helping with branding, designing our website, and various growth marketing projects. When we started MWOD, we knew we had something that could help a lot of people, but communicating and enrolling people online to build their life around voluntary discomfort is a tough sell. We needed a partner who could understand what we were really doing and help translate that into an online presence that moved people. Never Settle is that partner. They took our vision and made it clear. No small feat for an organization promoting the one thing nobody wants to do. They’re genius. If you want to learn more about how they can help make your vision a reality, head over to neversettle.it/MWOD Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle)

3. 

   3 Oct 2026

   Learning the Hard Way: Someone Can Do This For Me (part 1) | Season 5, Ep. 6

   Season 5, Episode 6 | "Committing's great, but until you come up against not wanting to do it at all, not wanting to show up and you show up anyways, that's actually day one." Everyone wants accountability. What most people actually want is someone else to do the work for them. Dane and Mitch unpack the trap of outsourcing your agency to the perfect guide, program, or community, and why any good guide refuses to rescue you. They dig into how to tell if a structure is serving your growth or letting you off the hook, and what it looks like to show up on the days you don't want to. If you've been shopping for the right system instead of doing the reps, this one is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:28 Learning The Hard Way 05:15 Outsourcing Agency Trap 06:16 What Good Guides Do 06:51 Beware Easy Promises 08:36 Why We Seek Frameworks 11:48 Spotting Real Coaches 19:43 Agency Taking Responsibility 26:10 From Knowing to Doing Mentions: Tim Ferriss - Author and podcaster known for life optimization. Referenced as an example of someone who does personal optimization as a full-time pursuit. Men and Women of Discomfort (MWOD) - The community Dane and Mitch lead. Referenced as the container where these principles get practiced in real life. Anchor Actions: Audit Your Guides: Look at the programs, coaches, or communities you're part of. Are you sweating, or are you comfortable? If there's no perspiration, something is off. Name it this week. Show Up When You Don't Want To: Pick your practice and commit to the next session you're most tempted to skip. That's day one. Every session before that was rehearsal. Stop Shopping, Start Repping: Notice where you're looking for the next system instead of doing the one you already have. Close the tabs. Do the work in front of you for seven days straight. Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle) Join Us: Our Membership Community (MWOD) is where we embrace discomfort as a path to personal development. Remember, it's probably not for you... but if we're wrong about that, or if you want to find out for yourself, visit us at MWOD.io (http://www.mwod.io) 🦬 Connect With Us: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/strongandawake) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/strongandawake) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@strongandawake?sub_confirmation=1) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@strongandawake) | X (Twitter) (https://twitter.com/strongandawake) Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast and any related materials from Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD) or Flying S Incorporated are for general informational purposes only. You should not use this information as a basis for making decisions without consulting your own medical and legal professionals. We aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we make no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or comprehensiveness of the content. At Men & Women Of Discomfort, we promote agency and encourage you to carefully consider the input we offer. If you find it helpful, we invite you to take advantage of it, but do so with the understanding that you bear the responsibility of due diligence. By using our content, you acknowledge that you are taking opportunities at your own risk. Thank you for understanding. *Transcript Note: The transcript of our podcast is AI-generated and may contain errors. We aim for accuracy but appreciate your understanding and feedback on any discrepancies. Copyright 2026 Men & Women Of Discomfort (MWOD.io) Mentioned in this episode: Sponsor: Never Settle Never Settle is the creative tech and marketing agency that has been MWOD's creative partner— helping with branding, designing our website, and various growth marketing projects. When we started MWOD, we knew we had something that could help a lot of people, but communicating and enrolling people online to build their life around voluntary discomfort is a tough sell. We needed a partner who could understand what we were really doing and help translate that into an online presence that moved people. Never Settle is that partner. They took our vision and made it clear. No small feat for an organization promoting the one thing nobody wants to do. They’re genius. If you want to learn more about how they can help make your vision a reality, head over to neversettle.it/MWOD Never Settle Promo (https://strongandawake.captivate.fm/neversettle)

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

17,497

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

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

Quality

54

Social presence

91

YouTube

76

Engagement

51

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