Hold The Standard

29: Dr. Cara Miller: Developmental Friendship, Soul Care, and the Practice of Becoming

In this deeply personal episode of Hold The Standard, Logan sits down with leadership psychologist and longtime mentor Dr. Cara Miller to explore a concept they are actively working to name and understand: developmental friendship What began years ago as a professor student relationship at the University of San Diego evolved into something far more dynamic. Across changing roles, shifting power dynamics, seasons of mentorship, collaboration, and mutual growth, Logan and Cara unpack what it means to invest in a friendship that is oriented toward becoming. Together they explore • What developmental friendship actually is and what it is not • How longing and ambition shape our relationships • Why making power dynamics explicit builds trust and freedom • The difference between accountability and soul care • How competition and hidden comparison can quietly undermine growth • The role of mutuality, subordination to a shared purpose, and service to something larger than the self This conversation moves beyond productivity and performance. It asks a more timeless question: Who helps you tend your soul while you are becoming more fully yourself? In a culture shaped by loneliness, transactional relationships, and overreliance on romantic partnership for fulfillment, this episode offers a different vision of friendship. Not as convenience. Not as networking. Not as optimization. But as a deliberate practice of love, courage, and long term reinvestment. If you have ever wondered what it would look like to cultivate relationships that strengthen your inner life while expanding your outer capacity, this conversation is an invitation. This is not a blueprint. It is an exploration in real time. Welcome to the work of becoming.

28: Pat Dossett on Naval Special Warfare, Self-Mastery, and Rewriting the Narrative

In this episode of Hold The Standard, host Logan Gelbrich sits down with Pat Dossett, former Navy SEAL and co-founder of Madefor, for a powerful conversation about identity, leadership, and the hidden cost of chasing external validation. Pat unpacks his journey from high-stakes military service to the world of behavior change and human development, reflecting on how his years in Naval Special Warfare shaped his mindset and how he had to unlearn parts of it to fully grow. What emerges is a deeply thoughtful take on high performance, vulnerability, and the courage to evolve beyond the roles we’ve been assigned. Together, they explore: • What it takes to transition from elite military service to civilian impact • The role of daily practices in shaping identity • How trauma, ego, and purpose intersect in leadership • Why discipline is most powerful when it's rooted in compassion • The internal war between “doing more” and actually being better This episode invites listeners into a nuanced and honest reflection on what it means to pursue growth not as a performance, but as a way of living with integrity.

27: The Gang on Growth: Carl Paoli, Tait Fletcher, and Dr. Cara Miller on Identity, Resistance, and Becoming

In this special roundtable episode of Hold The Standard, host Logan Gelbrich is joined by three dynamic thinkers Carl Paoli (movement pioneer), Tait Fletcher (actor, entrepreneur, and former fighter), and Dr. Cara Miller (organizational psychologist and leadership coach) for a raw and revealing conversation about growth, resistance, and who we become in the process. What happens when high performers from radically different worlds come together to talk truth? You get a conversation that spans ego, vulnerability, mastery, and the ever-present tension between who you are and who you’re becoming. Together, they explore: • The invisible walls we build to protect ourselves from discomfort • How leadership is less about power and more about responsibility • What happens when you stop outsourcing your identity to external metrics • The psychology of becoming versus achieving • The real work of showing up in integrity in business, relationships, and life This is not a highlight reel. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the inner lives of people who push themselves to the edge—and choose to keep going anyway.

26: Brian Bornemann on Culinary Conviction, Identity, and Building Restaurants with Soul

In this episode of Hold The Standard, host Logan Gelbrich is joined by chef and restaurateur Brian Bornemann, the force behind Los Angeles dining spots like Crudo e Nudo, Isla, and Isla Pasta to unpack what it really means to create something that lasts in a transient, image-obsessed world. From walking away from fine dining to rewriting the rules with purpose-driven restaurants, Brian shares how he’s using food as a tool to build systems that are sustainable, equitable, and rooted in real integrity. They get into: • Why Brian abandoned the traditional fine dining path for something more meaningful • What it means to build a restaurant that reflects your personal evolution • How his team is redefining success in the hospitality industry • The tension between scaling and maintaining soul • Vulnerability, reinvention, and leadership through values rather than ego This is a raw, thoughtful conversation about purpose, identity, and doing the hard thing for the right reasons even when no one’s watching.

25: Nicely Abel Alameda: Brewing Mastery, Identity, and Community

In this episode of Hold The Standard, host Logan Gelbrich sits down with legendary barista and café owner Nicely Abel Alameda better known simply as Nicely to talk about craft, culture, and building something that actually matters. From his early days behind the espresso machine to becoming a U.S. Barista Champion. Nicely shares how he built more than just a coffee shop. He built a community. This conversation dives into: • The discipline and repetition behind world-class barista work • What it means to be a craftsman in a hype-driven world • Balancing art and business in creative entrepreneurship • Why Menotti’s is as much about people as it is about coffee • Navigating authenticity, identity, and success in a growing industry Nicely’s approach to coffee is a metaphor for life: consistent, intentional, and built on real connection. If you're a creative, entrepreneur, or just someone trying to do meaningful work in a loud world, this one’s for you.