Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset — Podcast

How Justin Colby Built a Real Estate Empire From Rock Bottom 14.09.2026 1t

Justin Colby, a seasoned real estate investor, serial entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and podcast host, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on failure, discipline, fatherhood, wealth, health, ego, and rebuilding when life gives you no easy way out. Shawn French and Justin discuss losing everything during the market crash, sleeping on a friend’s couch, making 100 calls a day, growing up with a “so what, now what?” mentality, and learning how to turn pain into action. Justin also shares his views on success, sales, fatherhood, men’s pressure, ego, health, longevity, and building a life around clarity instead of chasing more. This episode is a reminder that real success is built through scars, discipline, humility, and the willingness to keep going when most people would quit.

WWE Loss Into Reinvention | Daria Berenato on Breaking Norms & Overcoming Adversity 07.09.2026 1t 1min

Daria Berenato aka Sonya Deville, professional wrestler, actress, entrepreneur, and founder of Demon, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on reinvention, identity, WWE, authenticity, trauma, healing, and building life without permission. Shawn French and Daria discuss her drive for independence, the launch of Demon, the meaning behind Built Without Permission, coming out on national television, losing her WWE identity after ten years, and learning how to keep moving through heartbreak, fear, and change. This episode is about courage, reinvention, purpose, and becoming the person you were meant to be without waiting for anyone else to understand your vision.

From Wall Street to Breaking Norms | Adversity & Rebuilding 31.08.2026 1t

Jay Roberts, real estate entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Prosper Group, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on adoption, ambition, Wall Street, failure, rebuilding, real estate, health, family, and playing the long game. Shawn French and Jay discuss growing up without a safety net, turning insecurity into drive, learning the value of process, and staying committed when success does not happen overnight. This episode is a reminder that real success is built through vision, resilience, ownership, and the determination to keep going when the path gets hard.

Ulysses Diaz: Breaking Norms From Prison to Knockout Power | Adversity & Discipline 24.08.2026 1t 14min

Ulysses “Uly Monster” Diaz, professional fighter, bare-knuckle boxer, father, husband, and one of the fastest knockout artists in combat sports history, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on street life, prison, faith, fatherhood, fighting, redemption, and the discipline it takes to change your life. In this episode, Shawn French and Uli discuss his childhood in Miami, learning to fight at a young age, spending time in prison, touring with Pitbull, and the moment at 35 when he knew he had to leave his old life behind. Uli shares how boxing gave him accountability, how consistency helped him rebuild, and how faith, family, and fatherhood now guide the man he has become. The conversation also explores his son’s battle with osteosarcoma, the pain of letting go of people who could not grow with him, and why every choice carries consequences. This episode is about redemption, discipline, family, faith, and becoming proof that it is never too late to switch paths.

Grief Into Purpose | Susan Malzoni on Determination Adversity and Meaning 17.08.2026 52min

Susan Malzoni joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on family, energy, wellness, grief, resilience, purpose, relationships, and the importance of protecting your peace. Shawn French and Susan discuss the value of keeping your circle aligned, creating a home rooted in connection, speaking kindly to your body, and taking fear out of decision-making. Susan also opens up about health and wellness, women’s confidence, the difference between motivation and determination, and why true change requires more than temporary inspiration. The conversation also moves into grief, love, legacy, and service as Susan reflects on the loss of her son, the passing of her husband Victor, their shared passion for dogs, and how she continues to honor his legacy through Big Dog Ranch Rescue. This episode is about resilience, healing, gratitude, purpose, and learning how to turn life’s hardest moments into something meaningful.

Addiction to Empire | How Determination & Discipline Rewired Eric Spofford's Life 10.08.2026 1t 5min

Entrepreneur and recovery advocate Eric Spofford survived five overdoses and heroin addiction before getting sober on December 7, 2006 — then built and sold a recovery business for $115 million. A raw conversation about addiction, recovery, loss, success, loneliness, and the determination to rebuild a life that once felt impossible to save.

Tax Discipline Secrets | Determination, Mental Toughness & Long-Term Wealth 03.08.2026 1t 1min

The Cost of Truth-Seeking | Ben Swann on Breaking Norms 27.07.2026 1t 14min

Ben Swann, investigative journalist, founder and CEO of Truth in Media, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on journalism, truth, controversy, resilience, faith, family, and what it means to run toward the storm. In this episode, Shawn French and Ben discuss his unconventional upbringing as one of ten homeschooled children, earning a college degree at 15, entering television news, becoming an award-winning journalist, asking difficult questions in mainstream media, losing major platforms, and rebuilding independently through Truth in Media. Ben shares how consistency, conviction, and the willingness to challenge powerful narratives shaped his career and why he believes the fastest way out of the storm is through it. This episode is about more than media. It is about conviction, restoration, resilience, and the determination to keep moving forward without abandoning the truth that brought you here.

Overcoming Failure | How Jake Bostwick Turned Loss Into Resilience 20.07.2026 1t 8min

Jake “Brutal” Bostwick, professional fighter and bare-knuckle boxer, joins The Determined Society for a raw conversation on fighting, violence, identity, resilience, discipline, and refusing to stay down. Jake opens up about growing up in Southeast London, being surrounded by violence, learning to defend himself early, standing up for people being bullied, and stepping into professional fighting as a teenager. Together Shawn French and Jake discuss his journey through MMA, boxing, and bare-knuckle fighting, the pain and respect that come with combat sports, what it feels like to keep fighting after loss, and the identity challenges athletes face when the sport becomes who they are. This conversation goes beyond the ring and into the mindset of a man who has built his life around toughness, protection, discipline, and getting back up every time life hits.

Breaking Norms Through Grief | Discipline, Faith & Human Connection 13.07.2026 1t 12min

Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker join The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on FuelFest, Paul Walker’s legacy, Reach Out Worldwide, cars, music, faith, purpose, and what it means to build something that lives beyond you. What began as a shared love for car culture has grown into a global movement that brings people together through cars, motorsports, music, and community. At the heart of FuelFest is a deeper mission: honoring Paul Walker not only through memories, but through action, impact, and continued support for Reach Out Worldwide, the disaster relief organization he founded. In this episode, Shawn French, Tyrese, and Cody talk about carrying Paul’s legacy forward, the emotional responsibility of building FuelFest, and the power of creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together through something they love. Cody reflects on what it means to continue his brother’s mission, while Tyrese shares a passionate message on faith, action, determination, and the urgency of using your life to create impact before your time is up. This conversation goes beyond cars and entertainment. It is about brotherhood, legacy, service, purpose, and the determination to keep showing up for something bigger than yourself.

Breaking Norms in Wealth Management | Chad Willardson on Discipline & Integrity 06.07.2026 1t 3min

Chad Willardson, founder of Pacific Capital, six-time author, father of five, and wealth advisor managing over $1.5 billion, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on faith, family, money, leadership, risk, and building real wealth without losing what matters most. In this episode, Shawn and Chad discuss the moment Chad walked away from Merrill Lynch with no safety net, no clients to take with him, and everyone telling him he was making a mistake. Chad opens up about building Pacific Capital from the ground up, choosing family over hustle culture, walking away from millions of dollars when it did not align with his values, and why success means nothing if it costs you your marriage, your kids, your health, or your peace. This conversation is about wealth, principles, patience, leadership, vision, and the determination to build a life that is successful from the inside out.

Redemption Through Adversity | Michael Franzese on Breaking Norms & Discipline 29.06.2026 1t 27min

Michael Franzese, former Colombo crime family captain, author, speaker, husband, father, and one of the only men to publicly walk away from the mob life and live to tell the story, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on family, loyalty, faith, accountability, forgiveness, and redemption. In this episode, Shawn French and Michael discuss the moment his father was sentenced to 50 years in prison, why Michael left the path to becoming a doctor, what it meant to enter the Colombo family, the blood oath, the gasoline tax scheme, trials, prison, and the decision to walk away from the life publicly. Michael also opens up about the contract placed on his life, his complicated relationship with his father, reconciling with his brother, refusing to cooperate, and how faith helped him rebuild a life rooted in family, purpose, and second chances.

Adversity to Leadership | How Bedros Keuilian Built Determination 22.06.2026 1t 25min

Bedros Keuilian, entrepreneur, author, speaker, founder of Fit Body Boot Camp, and creator of The Project, joins The Determined Society for a raw conversation on success, trauma, anxiety, healing, leadership, fatherhood, and becoming a better man. Bedros opens up about coming to America as an immigrant child, growing up on welfare and food stamps, being bullied, learning to reframe adversity, and building a massive fitness franchise from a place of drive and survival. In this episode, Shawn French and Bedros discuss the anxiety attack that forced him to face what success could not fix, the therapy work that helped him heal old wounds, the weight men carry in silence, why action alleviates anxiety, how trauma can create self-sabotage, and what it means to take the armor off at home. This conversation goes beyond business and into the deeper work of leadership, authenticity, family, masculinity, resilience, and becoming built for the winter.

Rebuilding After Controversy | Trevor Bauer's Discipline & Resilience Blueprint 15.06.2026 1t 47min

Trevor Bauer, 2020 Cy Young Award winner and former Los Angeles Dodger, joins The Determined Society for a raw conversation on baseball, pressure, public judgment, media narratives, and refusing to quit. Trevor opens up about his early obsession with the game, his engineering mindset, his rise from UCLA to the Major Leagues, winning the Cy Young, signing a historic Dodgers contract, and the moment his career changed. In this episode, Shawn French and Trevor discuss the controversy that pushed him out of MLB, the suspension and release that followed, his decision to keep competing in Japan, Mexico, and independent baseball, and the mindset that has kept him standing when most people would have walked away. This conversation is about resilience, reputation, competitiveness, and what it really means to keep going when the world expects you to stop.

Purpose & Elite Performance | Phil Daru on Discipline, Coaching Legends & Overcoming Obstacles 08.06.2026 1t 4min

Phil Daru, world-class performance coach, former Mixed Martial Artist, and trainer to elite athletes like Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes, and Colby Covington, joins The Determined Society for a powerful conversation on discipline, faith, purpose, adversity, and what it really means to become unkillable in life. In this episode, Phil opens up about his early life in Broward County, training martial arts from a young age, playing Division I football, losing both parents within months, becoming a father, and being forced to pivot after a neurologist told him one more hit could change his future. He shares how that moment led him from fighting to coaching, and how routine, repetition, faith, and service became the foundation of his work with fighters, Olympians, Special Forces operators, CEOs, and high performers. This conversation is about more than training. It is about finding your purpose, staying prepared, and building the mind, body, and spirit to keep moving forward when life hits back.

Blaire White: Cultural Perspective on Overcoming Obstacles & Social Media Impact 01.06.2026 1t 8min

Blaire White, a YouTuber, political commentator, and host of The Blaire White Project, joins The Determined Society for a raw and unexpected conversation about identity, faith, public life, criticism, and what it takes to stay grounded when the world thinks it already knows who you are. Blaire opens up about growing up in Chico, navigating personal identity, losing her father, rebuilding her relationship with spirituality, and learning how to live publicly without letting judgment define her. In this episode, Shawn French and Blaire dive into personal grief, spiritual trauma, anxiety, social media pressure, public criticism, culture, politics, personal responsibility, and the cost of being misunderstood online. This conversation goes beyond public opinions and into resilience, self-awareness, emotional growth, and the determination it takes to keep showing up as yourself when the world keeps trying to tell your story for you.

Adversity to Empire | How Relentless Discipline Transformed Aaron Singerman 25.05.2026 1t

Aaron Singerman built REDCON1 into one of the fastest-growing supplement brands in the world — sold in 80+ countries, stocked in every major U.S. retailer, and carried on military bases worldwide. What most people don't know is what it cost him to get there: heroin addiction, the violent death of a loved one, a federal conviction, and 11 months in prison. This is the unfiltered story of a man who lost everything more than once and built something greater every single time.

Building Champions | Skip Bertman on Discipline, Culture & Overcoming Obstacles 18.05.2026 1t 28min

Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman joins The Determined Society with Shawn French, Ryan Theriot, and Blair Barbier for a powerful conversation on leadership, character, culture, brotherhood, and building champions beyond baseball. From transforming LSU into a national powerhouse to shaping men who went on to lead in business, family, and life, this episode is a masterclass in legacy, belief, and why everything matters.

From Millionaire to Zero | Adversity, Discipline & Identity Rebuild 11.05.2026 58min

Anthony Lolli built one of New York City's largest real estate empires by age 23, then lost it all and found something more valuable: his health, his purpose, and his family. TereZa Lolli arrived in America with $300, became a two-time bikini world champion after hormonal collapse, and co-built one of the fastest-growing independent health media platforms in the world. In this raw, unfiltered conversation on The Determined Society, they talk biohacking, longevity, biological dentistry, sleep, stress, raising child investor-actors, and the lawsuit-ridden fall that nobody talks about — until now.