#144 - 12.31.25 - Before the Next Chapter

#148 - 5.18.26 - The Hunger Problem

In this episode, I’m talking through quiet reinvention — the kind of growth that doesn’t require moving cities, disappearing, or making a dramatic announcement. I reflect on wanting to leave Vegas, realizing I could change right where I am, preparing to train for my sixth marathon, and learning how small daily decisions shape identity. I also get into the tension between staying hungry and being grateful, looking fine on the outside while feeling messy internally, and the difficulty of letting people actually be there for me. This one is about discipline, friendship, community, masculinity, love, and the quiet work of becoming someone new without running away from your life.

#147 - 4.20.26 - What Now?

My final class is done, every assignment has been turned in, and my diploma showed up on Saturday. This episode is about the weird space after finishing something big — the pride, the gratitude, the uncertainty, and the “now what?” feeling that follows. I talk about family, shame, control, growth, marathon training, and learning how to sit with uncertainty instead of trying to solve it immediately.

#146 - 4.4.26 - Thought I Was Doing It Right

Lately, I’ve been realizing I’ve been wrong about a few things… what I thought was honesty, what I thought made me a good friend, and how much I tied myself to my career. This episode is me unpacking that in real time. Not perfect, just trying to be more aware than I was before.

#145 - 3.5.26 - Turning the Page

Season 2 begins. In this episode, I take a moment to reflect on seasons of life, consistency, and the quiet work that shapes who we become. A lot has changed since the early days of this podcast, but one thing hasn’t — pressing record and thinking out loud about life. I talk about something that’s been on my mind lately: how the big moments get all the attention, but it’s the small decisions we make on ordinary days that actually build the life we want. This episode also introduces a couple of new segments for the show — What I’m Learning and One Question I’m Thinking About — where I explore the lessons and questions life keeps bringing my way. If you’ve ever felt like you’re in a season of growth, transition, or quiet progress, this one might resonate. Sometimes life doesn’t change all at once. Sometimes it just slowly starts moving in the right direction. -Christian

#144 - 12.31.25 - Before the Next Chapter

It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’ve been feeling the energy heavy — the hype, the pressure, all of it. I love this time of year. This week, while cleaning out closets, I came across an old bucket list I made years ago. Some of the things on it were done. Some of them I didn’t just complete — I blew past them. A Chicago half marathon was on that list. Since then, I’ve run three full Chicago Marathons and the Boston Marathon. As I head into 2026 — with graduation around the corner, a sabbatical after 15 years of work, another Chicago race ahead, and a new chapter academically — it doesn’t feel like a fresh start. It feels like a finish line. This episode is about pressure, progress, outgrowing old dreams, and choosing to actually celebrate the journey instead of rushing past it. If you’re feeling behind, you might be further than you think.