Skull Sessions Podcast: The Art and Science of Kickin' A$s Between the Ears

Ep 10: Purpose Over Pressure | Andy Riise on Mental Performance, Family, and Leadership

In this episode of Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyriise/] takes a seat on the other side of the microphone as co-host Nate Last dives into the experiences that shaped Andy's journey as a leader, father, soldier, mental performance coach, and lifelong student of resilience. From growing up as the hardworking kid who relied on effort over talent, to overcoming adversity at West Point, serving in the U.S. Army, working in the NFL, and raising a family through years of military deployments, Andy shares the defining moments that transformed his passion into purpose. Together, Andy and Nate explore the difference between physical and mental toughness, the importance of recovery alongside hard work, and why life's greatest performances often happen far away from the spotlight. This conversation goes beyond sports and leadership. It's about embracing adversity, learning to perform under pressure, building resilient families, and developing the mindset needed to navigate life's inevitable challenges with courage, humility, and intention. Key takeaways: * Mental Toughness vs. Physical Toughness * Leadership and Purpose * West Point and Military Leadership * Resilience Through Adversity * Performance Under Pressure * Recovery, Burnout, and Sustainable High Performance * Parenting with Mental Performance Principles * Growth Mindset and Self-Talk * Deliberate Discomfort and Personal Growth * Building Mental Fitness for Everyday Life If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend, teammate, coach, parent, leader, or family member who could benefit from the conversation. To learn more about Andy's work, visit www.andyriise.com [https://andyriise.com/] and www.designtoperform.org [https://designtoperform.org/] Please leave a review to help us grow the show and continue bringing these conversations to more people. For more episodes, resources, and learning tools, visit www.skullsessionspodcast.com [http://www.skullsessionspodcast.com].

Ep 9: How to Lead Through Chaos, Crisis, and Compassion | Daniel Roby

In this episode of the Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with Daniel Roby [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielroby/], CEO of Austin Street Center, one of North Texas' largest emergency shelters serving people experiencing homelessness. Daniel has spent his career working on the front lines of one of society's most complex challenges, helping thousands of people find stability, dignity, and hope. Daniel shares his journey from volunteering at Austin Street as a child to leading the organization today, overseeing major growth initiatives, expanding services, and helping transform the way communities think about homelessness. Along the way, he reveals the mindset, resilience, and daily habits that allow him to lead through constant uncertainty and crisis. The conversation explores what homelessness actually looks like, why many common assumptions are wrong, and how housing instability is often the result of a crisis combined with a lack of support—not personal failure. Key Takeaways: * Why purpose is often more important than productivity. * The daily habits that help leaders perform under pressureHow homelessness can happen to almost anyone. * The biggest myths people believe about homelessnessWhy affordable housing, crisis, and lack of support often intersect * How caregivers and helping professionals avoid burnout. * The role compassion and community play in creating lasting solutions. * What it means to lead when there are no easy answersWhy meaningful impact starts with showing up and taking action. Whether you're a leader, coach, entrepreneur, parent, or someone searching for deeper purpose, this episode offers a powerful reminder that making a difference doesn't require having all the answers—it starts with the willingness to serve. Austin Street Center operates a candle business to benefit our clients. Candles can be ordered at www.xelaaroma.com [https://www.xelaaroma.com] Listen now and learn how to kick ass between the ears.

Ep 8: Stephen Drum: Life on the X. A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Performing Under Pressure

In this episode of Skull Sessions, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with retired Navy SEAL Master Chief and co-creator of the U.S. Navy’s Warrior Toughness Program [https://youtu.be/zoRbOC8T-s4?si=zUDTQ-euQwyt5vVK], Stephen Drum, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-drum-643695135/] for a raw conversation about mental toughness, leadership, emotional regulation, resilience, and performing under pressure. Stephen shares lessons from 27 years in the Navy SEAL Teams, including BUD/S training, combat leadership, and helping develop the Navy’s Warrior Toughness program. He opens up about self-doubt, anger, stress, identity, and how mental skills like visualization, mindfulness, detachment, and preparation helped him navigate life both on and off the battlefield. The conversation dives into: * The reality of SEAL training and elite performance * Why commitment matters more than confidence * Emotional regulation and managing stress * Mental rehearsal and visualization under pressure * The concept of “Life on the X” * Leadership, preparation, and performance psychology * The importance of recovery, self-awareness, and self-forgiveness * Stephen’s work with the Mental app and practical mental fitness tools for men Stephen also discusses his new book, Life on the X [https://www.amazon.com/Life-Meeting-Challenge-Confidence-Readiness-ebook/dp/B0BL3ZV1LV], and how the lessons learned in high-stakes military environments apply directly to business, leadership, parenting, relationships, and everyday life. Find more about Stephen and his company here. [https://linktr.ee/stephendrum] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, teammate, or family member, and check out Skull Sessions Podcast For more episodes, resources, and tools to help you kick ass between the ears.

Ep 7: Nate Last: From Performance Anxiety to Mental Grit

In this episode of Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise sits down with co-host and mental performance coach Nate Last for a raw and honest conversation about failure, pressure, identity, resilience, and the mental battles that high performers often fight in silence. Nate shares his journey from walking off a golf course during a state tournament at 15 years old to discovering sport psychology in college and spending nearly a decade struggling to build a career in mental performance coaching. Together, Andy and Nate unpack the realities of performance anxiety, perfectionism, self-talk, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to “kick ass between the ears.” This episode goes beyond sports. It’s about learning how to fight through adversity, believe in yourself when nobody else does, and build the mental grit needed to perform under pressure in life, business, school, relationships, and competition. Topics include: * Performance Anxiety * Mental Toughness vs Toxic Positivity * Identity and Self-Worth * Failure and Resilience * Sport Psychology and Mental Performance * Entrepreneurship and Betting on Yourself * Confidence Under Pressure * Ironman Training and Deliberate Discomfort * Leadership, Growth, and the Mental Game of Life If this episode helped you think differently, share it with a friend, teammate, coach, athlete, parent, or family member who could benefit from the conversation. Follow Nate through www.mentalgritconsulting.com [www.mentalgritconsulting.com] and on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mentalgrit?igsh=OXdmZGRkMHJ2dGps] Please leave a review to help us grow the show and continue bringing these conversations to more people. For more episodes, resources, and learning tools, visit www.skullsessionspodcast.com [www.skullsessionspodcast.com]

Ep. 6: Valerie Alston on Mental Performance, Resilience, and Coaching What Actually Works

In this episode of the Skull Sessions Podcast, Andy Riise and Nate Last sit down with Valerie Alston, a mental performance expert who has spent over 16 years helping soldiers, athletes, and leaders build resilience, mental toughness, and high-performance habits. Valerie shares her journey from college athlete to working with the U.S. Army, where she applies sport psychology principles in high-stakes environments. She breaks down the real process behind mental performance—moving beyond theory to practical tools that actually help people perform under pressure. The conversation dives into the gap between knowledge and application, why most mental skills training fails, and how coaches, parents, and leaders can create environments that support both performance and well-being. Valerie also opens up about building her own business, the challenges of working with youth athletes, and the critical role parents and coaches play in shaping mindset and development. Key takeaways: * The simple framework to assess, build, and apply mental skills * Why “control what you can control” is more than a cliché * How to translate complex psychology into practical tools * The biggest mistakes parents and coaches make with young athletes * Why mental toughness requires both challenge and support * Lessons from working with military leaders in high-pressure environments * The reality of building a business in performance psychology If you’re a coach, parent, athlete, or leader looking to improve performance and build stronger mental habits, this episode delivers practical, real-world insight you can apply immediately. Listen now and learn how to kick ass between the ears.