Against the Herd

Full Circle: Lessons Pain and the Power of Going Against the Herd

What do a pastor, an Ironman, a high-level entrepreneur, a teacher shot in the chest, and a coach with a dynasty all have in common?  They went against the herd… and came out stronger.  In this season finale of the Against the Herd Podcast, host Armando Cruz pulls together the most powerful moments, lessons, and mindset shifts from Season One, all through the lens of pain, purpose, and resilience.  Whether you're battling burnout, stuck in chronic pain, or just tired of cookie-cutter health advice, this episode brings it all home.  You’ll hear:  * Why pain is the beginning, not the end  * The hidden thread that connects healing and identity  * How high performers reclaim purpose after setbacks  * What actually works (long-term) for health and energy  * The proven frameworks real people used to transform  This is more than a recap. It’s a blueprint for what’s possible when you stop following the crowd and start listening to your body, your story, and your calling.  🎯 Subscribe and join the movement. Season 2 is coming...  🔗 Learn more: https://www.CruzCountry.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rewriting the Pain Playbook: The Hidden System Behind Resilience and Results

What if everything you’ve been taught about pain is wrong?  In this episode of Against the Herd, we break down some of the lessons learned from sitting down with legendary high school running coach Doug Soles, who helped build one of the most dominant cross-country programs in the country.  But this isn’t just about running, it’s about resilience, leadership, and the hidden system behind long-term performance.  Discover how Doug helped athletes overcome injury, setbacks, and burnout by rewriting the playbook, turning pain into purpose and performance. You’ll learn:  * Why most people treat pain the wrong way  * The leadership model that builds unbreakable athletes  * How to cultivate physical and emotional resilience  * The real reason talent isn’t enough and what actually creates results  * How to train through adversity without breaking down  This is a masterclass in high-performance health, mindset, and recovery.  🔗 Learn more at: https://www.CruzCountry.com  🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you eliminate pain and defy convention.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside the Mind of a Dynasty Builder: Doug Soles on Grit, Systems, and SUCCESS

What does it really take to build a national powerhouse twice, with athletes no one expected to win?  In this episode of Against the Herd, Coach Doug Soles reveals the untold story of how he built cross-country dynasties at Great Oak and Herriman High School using systems, mindset, and leadership, not just talent.  Discover why Terminator Mode, identity shifts, and recovery systems are more powerful than raw speed and how you can apply these same strategies to your own team, business, or comeback journey.  This is more than a coaching masterclass. It’s a roadmap to excellence for anyone building greatness from the ground up.  🔥 What You'll Learn:  * The mindset that separates champions from competitors  * How to turn average runners into national contenders  * Doug’s take on injury recovery, mental toughness, and identity  * The real reason most teams never break through  * Non-negotiables that drive elite performance in sport and life  ____  CONNECT WITH COACH DOUG SOLES  📸 Instagram: @doug.soles.3  📕 Get his book "Becoming Varsity: How to Become a Championship Level Distance Runner" - https://a.co/d/1vxsU9v  📘Get his book "Building Championship Cross Country Programs" - https://a.co/d/58RygAS  ______  🎧 Subscribe for more episodes featuring world-class coaches, high performers, and non-conformist thinkers redefining what’s possible in health, success, and performance.  📲 Want to go from suffering to unstoppable? Text EXPLORE to 305-741-0560 to schedule your free call. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

No More Hacks: The Proven Playbook for Lasting Pain Relief & Sustainable Health

Sick of 30-day hacks that leave you right back where you started?  In this episode of Against the Herd, performance coach and best-selling author Armando Cruz shares what actually works when it comes to lasting health, energy, and resilience (no gimmicks, shortcuts, or fluff).  You’ll discover the anti-hack framework used by elite performers to build sustainable systems for physical, mental, and emotional optimization, and why most people fail because they’re solving the wrong problem.  💥 What you’ll learn:  * Why hacks give you short-term highs but long-term burnout  * The 5 foundational systems that lead to real, lasting results  * How to stack small wins into massive transformation  * Why consistency is better than novelty when it comes to performance  * A client case study that exposes the myth of “quick fixes”  🎙 Hosted by Armando Cruz, helping high performers eliminate pain and reclaim purpose  🔗 Learn more at: https://www.CruzCountry.com  📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes that flip conventional health advice on its head  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Achilles Rupture: Alex Gonzalez on Mindset, Injury, & High Performance

What does it take to come back stronger after an injury that nearly derails your career and your life?  In this episode of Against the Herd, we sit down with Alex Gonzalez, a high-level real estate consultant and family man who radiates connection, resilience, and mental precision.  After suffering a devastating Achilles rupture, Alex’s journey to recovery wasn’t linear; it was packed with setbacks, experiments, and breakthroughs.  We dive into the threshold anchors he uses to snap into high-performance states, the recovery tools that actually worked, and the mindset shift that helped him turn pain into fuel.  💥 In this episode:  * What most people get wrong about injury recovery  * Using environment and triggers to change your state instantly  * How to stay connected to purpose during physical setbacks  * High-level thinking from a real estate operator who plays the long game  _____  CONNECT WITH ALEX  ☎️ 305-345-2459  _____  🎙 Hosted by performance coach & rehab expert Armando Cruz  🔗 Learn more at https://www.CruzCountry.com  📩 Subscribe for weekly stories that challenge the herd mentality  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.