Great Men Don't Rush (w/ Jonathan Cronstedt of Kajabi)

Great Men Don't Rush (w/ Jonathan Cronstedt of Kajabi)

Shane Sams sits down with Jonathan Cronstedt, former President of Kajabi and author of The Billion Dollar Bullseye, for a wide-ranging discussion on scaling massive digital empires, the future of online education, and the timeless principles of ancient philosophy. Reflecting on Kajabi's massive growth to over eleven billion dollars processed for digital creators, JCron breaks down how the value shift in online education has moved from static, information-heavy courses toward outcome-oriented, community-driven experiences led by trusted guides. He introduces the core framework from his book, explaining why building sound systems must precede recruiting talent to achieve exceptional business results. The two also tackle the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, framing the technology as a highly convincing but fundamentally disconnected tool, which ultimately elevates authentic human connection, trust, and leadership into the ultimate modern luxuries. The dialogue ventures deep into the internal architecture of a leader, exploring how Stoic philosophy and ancient wisdom provide a vital manual for self-correction without toxic self-criticism. Shane shares his own personal journey through a midlife correction, highlighting the counterintuitive need to reorder life priorities to protect mental and physical health in order to better serve others. They close the episode with a fascinating look at the intentional culture of brotherhood, sharing how the ritual of smoking cigars serves as a natural governor against digital distraction. By forcing patience, deep listening, and uninterrupted presence, this unique habit has become such a critical foundation for authentic relationship-building that JCron even has it written directly into his formal business operating agreements. Learn more at greatmen.org. [greatmen.org.]

Great Men Use AI (w/ Sam Sells & Tom Sylvester)

Shane Sams is joined by business coach Tom Sylvester and Sam Sells, founder of ZH Standard, for a forward-thinking conversation on masculinity, fatherhood, and how men can leverage artificial intelligence to build a better life without sacrificing their humanity. The trio explores the weight of modern fatherhood and the provider mindset, emphasizing why early failures and rejections are essential for building true resilience in young men. The dialogue quickly shifts into a realistic look at the rapid evolution of technology, addressing the major pitfalls of blind trust in AI, such as sycophancy and hallucinations. Sam highlights how his company addresses these dangers through zero-hallucination engineering, underscoring that in an era of automated information, raw knowledge matters far less than wisdom and discernment. The technical core of the episode provides highly practical frameworks for integrating AI into daily business operations and personal development. The guests break down advanced prompt techniques, including adversarial audits, virtual boards of directors, and multi-model cross-checking to stress-test ideas before execution. They dive deep into the concept of vibe coding, sharing incredible stories of an eleven-year-old building a video game and a seventy-five-year-old constructing an AI avatar platform to preserve family memories, proving that vision and communication have replaced syntax as the ultimate tech bottlenecks. By outlining the efficiency of task-specific AI agents and the necessity of keeping human checkpoints, this episode serves as an essential manual for leaders looking to pair tech innovation with grounded, human leadership. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Challenge Their Inner Critic (w/ Philip Taylor)

Shane Sams connects with longtime friend and community builder Philip Taylor for an insightful and deeply grounded conversation on entrepreneurship, live events, and the challenges facing the sandwich generation. Drawing on his experience founding FinCon, Philip shares his philosophy of finding a community first and throwing them a party, emphasizing why serving the people rather than the stage creates lasting, collaborative networks. The two event veterans discuss the evolving landscape of in person experiences and brainstorm innovative formats to foster real time engagement. They also open up about the sobering realities of watching their fathers age, navigating the emotional anxiety of caring for both growing children and elderly parents, and the urgent need to express love and gratitude to family before it is too late. The dialogue shifts to the internal battle of entrepreneurship, focusing on how true confidence is built on a mountain of personal evidence rather than temporary motivation. Philip and Shane explore the necessity of recognizing your own accomplishments, leaning into gratitude for your unique gifts, and actively fighting the inner critic. They place a massive premium on male friendship, with Shane highlighting brotherhood as a top priority because having your health and your community ensures you can survive any trial. Closing with Philips clear vision for a great life rooted in faith, family, physical vitality, and simplicity, this episode provides a powerful roadmap for men striving to build success on their own terms. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Get Out Of Relationships Holding Them Back (w/ Chris Graebe)

Chris Graebe has lived one of the most unpredictable lives in entrepreneurship. MTV Road Rules cast member. Campus pastor at one of the largest churches in America. Serial entrepreneur. Angel investor alongside Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary. Father of five. And one of the most honest voices on what it actually costs to level up as a man. In this conversation Shane and Chris get into the real stuff. The relationships that can't come with you when you decide to grow. The crabs in the bucket moment when the people closest to you try to pull you back down. The identity crisis that hits when you've been known as one thing for years and need to become something else. And the moment every driven man faces when he realizes nobody is coming to save him. They also talk about physical transformation, the peptide and TRT conversation, the sunk cost fallacy, what it means to bet on yourself with a wife and five kids watching, and why your network shrinking might be the best sign you are actually growing. This one is real. This one is personal. And if you have ever felt like the people around you are more comfortable with you staying small than watching you rise, this episode was made for you. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Struggle w/ Suicidal Ideation — Ibogaine, PTSD, and Coming Back From the Edge (w/ Dr. Daniel Franz and U.S. Army Veteran Anthony Woolever)

Shane Sams is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Daniel Franz and U.S. Army veteran Anthony Woolever for an incredibly raw and deeply personal exploration of trauma, suicidal ideation, and the frontier of psychedelic assisted therapy. Anthony opens up about a lifetime of struggle, tracing the lines from childhood abuse and a suicide attempt at seventeen to a harrowing combat tour in Iraq that left him trapped in a perpetual state of fight or flight for over twenty years. After traditional therapy failed to provide relief, Anthony discovered the healing potential of plant medicines through a community of faith, eventually leading him to a life altering ibogaine experience in Mexico. Dr. Dan provides vital clinical context throughout the conversation, explaining how these specialized protocols help quiet the default mode network of the brain and spark the neuroplasticity necessary to dissolve deep seated fears and decades of chronic physical pain. The discussion moves beyond the initial medicine journeys to focus heavily on the critical role of preparation, safety, and lifelong integration. Anthony shares his daily post experience practices, highlighting the profound impact of pen to paper journaling, reading scripture, and intentional physical wellness on maintaining his mental clarity. The trio also examines the current legal and medical landscape of these treatments, from accessible ketamine therapy to international options for ibogaine, while Shane shares his own striking story of physical restoration following a psilocybin experience. Ultimately, this episode serves as a powerful testament to how men can transition from pain to purpose, utilize their darkest battles to save others, and find a path back to a life worth living. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]