Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success
Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success explores what mental fitness is, how it works, and how deeply it affects wellbeing and productivity. It explains how to grow mental fitness and why it matters in business. Host Mikal Nielsen gives business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs insight, inspiration, and intentional actions. Guest episodes focus on storytelling, while non-guest episodes connect mental fitness to leadership, time management, work-life balance, stress, conflict, and mental health.
Episodes
I Studied Health for 15 years... then threw it all out
I Studied Health for 15 Years… Then Threw It All Out1. Your body wants to be healthy.2. It already knows exactly what it needs.3. And your level of Mental Fitness has a direct impact on whether it gets there.In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we explore the natural intelligence of the body, what interferes with physical health, and how Mental Fitness sits at the centre of l
Chronic Stress to Wellness Coach: Melissa Lewis-Duarte's story
Mental fitness, resilience, accountability and gratitude, all ingredients in Melissa Lewis-Duarte's inspiring life story she shares with me in this episode of Mental Fitness The Gateway to Success podcast.She calls chronic stress the ‘Silent Destroyer’, because for her, like so many others, the chronic stress is sitting quietly in the background causing more damage than most people realise at the
When Did You Last Retreat to Expand? | Recorded Live from My Business Retreat
When did you last take time away specifically to work 'on' your business or career instead of just 'in' it?I just did — and this episode was recorded right there, in the middle of my retreat.In this conversation I share (straight from the retreat) why and how I deliberately step away from the daily grind. It’s one of the most powerful ways I get myself unstuck, reconnect to the bigger picture, and
Jon Hacker - The Uphill Battle of a Young Entrepreneur
It's tough enough being an entrepreneur.Having a genius idea has its own challenges.Being young doesn't make it any easier.Add in weird and thinking you can do it all on your own, and you're got a real headache.Then, top it off with a lack of high mental fitness and you enter the realm of Impossible.In a nutshell, that's my guest in this podcast episode, Jon Hacker, founder of NeurGear and ZenBud.
Double Trouble - Stop it!
Lower mental fitness does not create more trouble in your life and business.But, it creates more Double Trouble.In this episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to success, we dive into the more subtle and unconscious trouble we crate on top of the trouble we already have.We can't avoid trouble.But, we can avoid double trouble through the awareness of it.In this podcast episode, you will learn: Ho
From stroke induced business life to wood turning with Chip Scholz
A high flying business life with all the trimmings came to an abrupt stop for Chip Scholz. A stroke and having to relearn how to move, to speak and to read changed everything.In our podcast conversation, Chip shares how wood turning helped him recover and re-invent himself to health, writing books and becoming an executive coach.We talk about the role of mental fitness in it all and the importance
How mental fitness helps with mental health issues
In this episode of Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success, we dive into where and how mental fitness relates to mental health.I share my personal view on the way the term ‘Mental Health' is used these days.And I share a very personal story of my biggest mental health issue - depression - and how I rid myself of it using mental fitness.I dive into the role the mind plays in mental health issues an
Corporate ‘kick ass’ to meditation teacher - Katharine Chestnut’s raw story
In this episode, I sit down with Katharine Chestnut for the raw, reflective and inspiring story of her life, from corporate ‘kick ass’ to meditation facilitator via an abusive marriage, motherhood and burnout.Although this conversation with Katharine is of value to anyone, I feel it speaks in particular to women in business.Topics we cover:Regrets... putting them it right placeEmotions... using th
Meditation Snacking: Grow Your Mental Fitness the Easy Way
In this episode I share something I’ve had a lot of success with — both personally and as a coach: Meditation Snacking.I walk through my 30+ year meditation journey and the simple shift that changed everything for me.We explore:• What meditation really is• The essence and true purpose of it• Why most people believe it’s good for them… yet still don’t do it• How surprisingly easy and quick it can b
Near Death, Long COVID & 12 Books: Holly Porter on Mental Fitness, Purpose & Redefining Success
In this inspiring episode of Mental Fitness – the Gateway to Success, I sit down with Holly Porter — serial entrepreneur, mum, author of 12 books, Long COVID survivor, and someone who has lived through a near-death experience.Holly shares how extreme adversity completely reshaped the way she lives and leads. We dig into:How to stay centered when life and business feel overwhelmingly busyThe quiet
Turning the Five Dysfunctions of a Team into Strengths with Mental Fitness
In this episode we dive into The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and explore how a lack of mental fitness fuels every one of those dysfunctions.You’ll discover how growing mental fitness — in both the team and the team leader — transforms those same dysfunctions into powerful strengths that drive real success and the outcomes you actually want.This episode builds directly on Episod
Becoming yourself, Steve Barton's journey to freedom and Mental Fitness
As we head into the 2nd inning (year 2) of this podcast, we start with a very different and candid guest episode with Steve Barton.We get into the deeper stuff - the deeper essence of being a human being - while still operating in the world of running a business, being married and growing a family.Steve shares openly - and humourishly - about his journey of ups and downs, massively growing a busin
Building Elite Team Cultures: Mental Fitness, Change & Leadership
In this episode, I share a powerful real-world example from a conversation I had with a CEO just a few hours before recording — diving deep into what it actually takes to create and grow exceptional team cultures.We explore how mental fitness plays a crucial role across every stage of cultural change, whether you’re operating at a small scale or transforming a large organization. I break down the
Lessons from the Diamond: Mental Fitness with Award-Winning Coach Tim Neiman
From the baseball diamond to the stage and the mic, Tim Neiman has spent a lifetime mastering leadership, resilience, and mental toughness.In this episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to Success, I sit down with award-winning baseball coach, speaker, author and podcaster Tim Neiman to explore how the lessons learned on the field directly translate to mental fitness and success in life.We dive d
Seek to Understand Before Being Understood - in Life & Leadership | 1-Year Anniversary
Thank you for an incredible first year! 🎉 In this special 1-year anniversary episode, I celebrate you — our listeners — and share one of the most transformative principles I live by and teach as a coach:“Always seek to understand before seeking to be understood.”I dive deep into why this simple yet profound phrase is so powerful in both personal and professional life. From navigating challenging f
From Car Crashes to Crystal Clarity: Alan Lazaros on Aligned Success
In this educational episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to Success, my guest, Alan Lazaros, opens up about the dramatic turning points that transformed his life and business.Alan shares the critical difference between his early success — which lacked deeper alignment — and the serious wake-up call that finally brought everything into focus. He reveals the three life-altering events that change
F*ck the Shoulds: Break Free from Procrastination
In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to Success, we’re tackling the hidden force behind procrastination, stress, anxiety, and frustration: the Shoulds.You’ll discover:How “shoulds” quietly drain your energy and keep you stuckWhy they hide in plain sight (and how to spot them)The crucial difference between internal and external shouldsA simple, highly effective countermeasure th
From Threat of Jail Time to Global Red Light Empire: John Harper’s “Slow Up” Journey
In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Mental Fitness – The Gateway to Success, Mikal Nielsen sits down with John Harper — founder of the international red light therapy company Lumaflex.John shares his remarkable journey from facing the threat of jail time, struggling with mental fitness, and battling a brain tumor… to becoming a calm, confident entrepreneur who built a thriving global bus
Mental Fitness vs Physical Fitness: Who Wins?
(Incredibly Results from 77,000+ Business Leaders)What is most important for business owners and leaders — Mental Fitness or Physical Fitness?I asked this question to over 77,000 business owners and leaders, and the results genuinely surprised me. In this episode, I reveal the clear winner, share the fascinating (and sometimes controversial) data behind it, and explain why the outcome left me both
Brain Athletes: The New Leaders in Business | Arnold Beekes
In this powerful episode, Dutch-born former COO and CEO Arnold Beekes shares his bold vision for the future of leadership: Brain Athletes.After decades at the top of multinational corporations managing up to 6,000 employees, Arnold walked away from traditional corporate life and the disillusionment of his home country, Holland. Now based in Paraguay, he’s on a mission to develop a new generation o
Happy For No Reason: The Ultimate Human Desire
Happy For No Reason: The Ultimate Human DesireIn this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we explore one of humanity’s deepest drives — the pursuit of happiness.I reveal my core belief that happiness is not something we need to chase or earn — it is our natural state, our birthright, and the strongest hidden driver behind sustainable success.You’ll discover the surprising a
No One Can Hurt You: Heartfelt Wisdom with Saw Myint
In this heartfelt episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I sit down with Saw Myint — a Burmese-born mortgage broker now thriving in Sydney, Australia. Saw shares how she blends the Buddhist way with the fast-paced world of business, proving you don’t need to sit on a cushion to live mindfully.This conversation is packed with practical life wisdom and powerful gems, including:Why we unn
Mental Fitness: The New Superpower for Leadership & Business Success
In this episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to Success, we dive deep into why mental fitness is rapidly becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in business and leadership.Mental fitness is the ability to face challenges, pressure, and conflict with clarity and positivity — free from stress, frustration, worry, or anger. Leaders who develop it don’t just survive tough environments; they thr
From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners: A Pastor’s Incredible Journey to the FBI
In this raw and deeply personal conversation, former Baptist pastor, FBI Special Agent, and SWAT operator Eric Robinson shares his unlikely transition from the pulpit to chasing criminals with the FBI.Eric opens up about the vastly different challenges of ministering to a congregation versus operating on high-stakes SWAT calls. He recounts intense, unforgettable stories from both worlds and reveal
Failing Forward: Finding the Silver Lining… Faster
Failing Forward: Finding the Silver Lining… FasterIn this solo episode, I reveal the single most powerful theme that keeps coming up across all my guest interviews: learning how to grow from your mistakes.I dive deep into the concept of “Failing Forward” — a powerful mindset I first discovered from Roger Hamilton (the full story is in Episode 36: Wealth Dynamics – how one test changed my life and
10 Ironman in 10 Days: The Insane Story of JD Tremblay & EpicDeca 2022
In 2022, only 10 athletes were invited to the legendary EpicDeca in Hawaii — one of the most brutal endurance events ever created: **10 full Ironman triathlons in 10 consecutive days**.Only 6 showed up at the start line. Only 3 finished.In this powerful episode, I sit down with one of those three finishers: ultra-endurance athlete, author, philanthropist, and founder of The Hungry Warrior Academy
Wealth Dynamics: How One Test Changed My Life and Business
In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I share the deeply personal story of how I hit rock bottom — burnout, depression, and walking away from my business — only to experience a profound transformation through one unexpected tool.A good twenty years ago, I attended Tony Robbins’ Date with Destiny 6-day course in Australia. It was an incredible experience, but another l
20 Years of Experience in Just 6 Years: James Lang’s Radical Business Pivot
In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I sit down with James Lang — a man who managed to compress 20 years of business experience into just 6 years.James gets incredibly vulnerable and shares:• His complete business pivot that saved his sanity• How academic failure actually saved his career• How he’s using AI to level up his mental fitness• The terminal illness diagnos
How Mental Fitness Unlocks Success & Fixes Mental Health – Plus Free Saboteur Test
Struggling with self-doubt, procrastination, or bouncing back from setbacks? The secret isn’t more hustle — it’s mental fitness.In this episode I dive deep into why mental fitness is the true key to success in every area of life. You’ll learn how to:• Boost confidence and take bolder risks• Spark consistent creativity• Build unbreakable resilience and fail forward• Stay committed when motivation f
Mental Fitness Mastery: Fritz Frohlke’s Journey from Kayaking Pro to Successful NZ Property Investor
In this inspiring episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, host I sit down with Fritz Frohlke, a former top-level professional kajaker who left Germany behind to chase dreams on the other side of the world in New Zealand.Fritz shares his raw, no-holds-barred story: rising through the competitive ranks of kayaking, navigating the massive leap to a new country, juggling multiple businesses
AI’s Real Crisis Isn’t Jobs—It’s Our Mental Health
AI is exploding—disrupting jobs, energy demands, global power races, and economies. Everyone’s talking about who wins the AI race (China vs. USA), the bubble bursting, mass unemployment, or power shortages.But almost no one is addressing the real human cost: the massive emotional and mental toll.Rising anxiety, worry, fear of obsolescence, loss of purpose, identity crises—it’s already starting. Le
From Heart Transplant to Business Reinvention: The Heart of Transition with Jeff Parnell
What happens when a literal new heart inspires a mission to help others find theirs in business and life? Join me for an inspiring conversation with Jeff Parnell, a transition specialist who survived a life-saving heart transplant in 2018.This experience became the foundation for his upcoming book, The Heart of Transition, where he guides high-achieving professionals out of long careers into meani
In Bed, In Business, In Life: How Mental Fitness Transforms Intimacy
Success leaves clues — and so does struggle.In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I explore a topic we don’t often connect to high performance: sex, love, and intimate relationships.Because the truth is simple:Where your mental fitness is low… everything feels harder.Where your mental fitness is high… connection, intimacy, and love flow naturally.In this episode, I sh
From Mountain Bike to Wheelchair: How Mental Fitness Saved Clayton’s Life
What would you do if you were lying alone on a mountainside with a broken neck… for six hours?In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I sit down with Clayton Hairs — also known by his artist name Clayton John — who shares the raw and extraordinary story of the mountain bike crash that left him paralysed and fighting for his life.For six hours, Clayton lay on the ground
Mental Fitness Gyms: Where Do You Actually Train Your Mind?
Mental fitness is essential for success — especially if you want to achieve it without stress.But here’s a question I get asked all the time:Where do you actually go to train your mental fitness muscles?In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I share the story of discovering what I now call a mental fitness gym — a powerful system I came across four years ago and still use today
From Helicopter to ICU: How Mental Fitness Carried Me Through Christmas
Welcome to Season 2 of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success — and thank you to everyone who supported Season 1.In this episode, I share my unexpected Christmas story: a surprise helicopter ride, 14 days in the ICU at Auckland Hospital, and celebrating Christmas in hospital instead of at home with our children.This isn’t a medical story.It’s a mental fitness story.I talk about how mental fitness
Why I Almost Ended My Podcast (and the 2 Fastest Tools for Christmas Stress Relief)
Feeling stressed heading into Christmas? You’re not alone.In this final 2025 episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I share two simple tools that can reduce stress and mental tension in just a few seconds — perfect for busy leaders and business owners.This episode also marks an important milestone for the podcast. After 26 weekly episodes in this 6-month trial run, I originally decided
Meditation, Made Practical: The 5 Stages to Deeper Joy & Fulfilment
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we take the next step in the meditation journey we began over the last two episodes — and this time, we actually meditate together.I guide you through my personal 5 Stages of Meditation, a process I’ve developed over 32 years to help busy professionals move from basic awareness to profound inner stillness and fulfilment.Here’s what we expl
Meditation Without the Cushion: 32 Years of Practice in Real Life
In this episode, I take you on a very personal journey through 32 years of meditation — from living for a year at a meditation centre, to a deep 3-week solo retreat in a mountain hut, to multiple 10-day silent Vipassana retreats… all the way to where my practice lives today (spoiler: you’ll find me meditating while driving, cooking, working — even making love).I share the meditation system I desig
From Fear to Freedom: Cheryl Robinson on Building Mental Fitness
In this episode, I’m joined by fellow Mental Fitness Coach Cheryl Robinson, who shares how strengthening her mental fitness has transformed her life in unexpected ways.Cheryl opens up about how her practice improved her relationships, inspired her to join a choir, and even helped her overcome a lifelong fear of rats.She also introduces a concept I instantly fell in love with—“Project Status”—a sim
Meditation… Why Bother!
In this episode, I take you back to the very beginning of my journey with meditation — more than 30 years ago — and explore how it’s shaped my life and my work as a coach for business owners and leaders.We look at the powerful connection between meditation and mental fitness, and why this ancient practice is still one of the most effective tools for building calm, clarity, and resilience in today’
Suicide, Bankruptcy, and Sex Coaching — with Kathy Menzies
This episode is especially close to my heart. I’m joined by my wife, Kathy Menzies, who shares her powerful and deeply personal journey of struggle, transformation, and growth.Kathy opens up about:💔 Losing her brother to suicide💸 The pain and lessons of bankruptcy🧠 The impact of poor mental fitness — and how she rebuilt it❤️ Her remarkable transition from school teacher to Sex, Love & Relation
How to Push People’s Buttons (and Not Your Own)
Episode 20 – Time for Something Completely Different!In this episode, I get personal — really personal — as we explore buttons. You know, those emotional triggers that get pushed by the people around us.I share my own journey of discovering what pushes my buttons, how I learned to react differently, and the surprising insight that allows you to “push” other people’s buttons without actually doing
Breaking the Burnout Pattern with Jason Lennie
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, Jason Lennie shares his raw and honest journey through repeated cycles of burnout — and the powerful moment he finally recognised the destructive pattern behind it.That awareness led Jason to seek coaching support, helping him redefine how he lives and leads — creating a more productive, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling life and business
Living your Purpose... Purposely
In this episode, we continue the powerful journey from episode 16: Triangulating Success.With you Life Purpose and Life Mission Statement in place (EP16), we take the next step in the Triangle Model: What is it that is truly important to you at this moment in your life.It is filtering your life purpose into every aspects of your life: Living PurposefullyDownload the free Action Guide that has the
From Cancer to Clarity: John Shackleton’s True Transformation
Former national triathlon coach, successful businessman, acclaimed motivational speaker, and cancer survivor—John Shackleton’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. But his most powerful transformation goes beyond any title or achievement. In this candid interview, John reveals the mindset and heartset that have redefined his life and continue to inspire thousands.John also shares practical
Triangulating Success: Designing Your Life Purpose
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we move beyond the lighthouse concept introduced in Episode 12 and step into one of the simplest yet most powerful success models I’ve ever created: The Triangles.I’ll walk you through the general use of this model and then dive into its most profound application—using it to design your Life Purpose. Once defined, this becomes your persona
From Struggles to Strength: Patrick Sherratt on Building Mental Fitness
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, my guest Patrick Sherratt shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a business owner dedicated to helping others manage stress and overcome trauma.Patrick opens up about the turning points that shaped his path, the tools that supported his transformation—including a powerful book and an ancient perspective on t
The Breath Advantage: Why Proper Breathing Transforms Business Leadership
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we dive into one of the most overlooked performance tools for business owners and managers—your breath. Breathing is something we do more than 20,000 times a day, yet most of us are doing it wrong, without even knowing it.Discover how restricted breathing silently drains your energy, clouds your decision-making, and amplifies stress—and ho
From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Derek Hansen on Mental Fitness in Business
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, my guest Derek Hansen shares a deeply personal story of how the Covid pandemic shook him as a business owner and leader. At the time, he lacked the mental fitness to handle the unexpected stress and turmoil — until he reached a breaking point that led to powerful transformation.Derek opens up about the journey of rebuilding his resilience,
From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Derek Hansen on Mental Fitness in Business
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, my guest Derek Hansen shares a deeply personal story of how the Covid pandemic shook him as a business owner and leader. At the time, he lacked the mental fitness to handle the unexpected stress and turmoil — until he reached a breaking point that led to powerful transformation.Derek opens up about the journey of rebuilding his resilience,
Creating Your Lighthouse – The Beacon That Lights the Way
In this episode of Mental Fitness – The Gateway to Success, I explore the power of building your own lighthouse—a personal beacon that guides you through the dark and stormy patches of life and business.I’ll walk you through the quickest method I know for creating this inner guide, the same approach that helped me navigate stress, anxiety, and frustration.Plus, I’m sharing a free Action Guide you
Wholesale Transformation: Tony Brooks on Rebuilding Mental Fitness for Success
In this episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, Tony Brooks introduces a powerful new term: Wholesale Transformation. He opens up about the hidden cost of his ongoing business success—neglecting himself and those closest to him—until everything came crashing down in his late 40s.Tony shares with raw honesty how asking for help became the turning point that shifted his mental fitness fro
Why Time Management Is a Myth: Unlocking Fulfillment & Productivity
In this eye-opening episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we debunk the myth of time management and reveal why time itself doesn’t exist. Discover a transformative approach to managing what truly matters, leading to deeper fulfillment, higher productivity, and less stress. We break it down into three simple steps:Step 1: Realize the reality that time is an illusion.Step 2: Replace it
Breaking Point to Breakthrough with Lloyd Shand
In this raw and vulnerable episode, our guest, Lloyd Shand, opens up about reaching a breaking point, where burnout put his family and well-being on the line. He shares how he discovered the importance of mental fitness and how that eventually led him to sell his business and dedicate his life to helping other men navigate the world of business, family and purpose. Tune in for an honest conversati
7 Myths Sabotaging Your Time Management
Struggling to manage your time effectively as a business owner or leader? The problem might not be your schedule—it could be the myths you’ve bought into about time itself. In this episode, we debunk seven common misconceptions that hold you back from mastering your time. By challenging these myths, you’ll unlock a fresh, more productive, and fulfilling approach to time management.What You’ll Lear
Building Mental Fitness Through Life’s Toughest Moments
When life falls apart, mental fitness becomes your greatest ally. In this powerful episode, guest Howie Clare opens up about the emotional turmoil of his marriage breakdown and the transformative journey that followed. Discover how cultivating mental fitness can turn pain into growth, offering profound lessons and unexpected gifts. We dive into two key areas impacted by mental fitness: understandi
Time Management: A Complete Waste of Time
In this episode, Mikal Nielsen, author of bestselling book Time Management: A Complete Waste of Time, dismantles the myth that traditional time management is the key to productivity, efficiency, and work-life balance. Discover why conventional approaches fall short and explore Mikal’s transformative alternative to achieve success in business and beyond. Plus, get access to a free Action Guide—a pr
Unveiling the Silent Threat: How Stress Sabotages Your Success
In this compelling episode, finance expert Josh Allan reveals how stress silently infiltrated his life and kept him from being his best professionally and in his personal life. With raw honesty, Josh walks us through his journey from confusion to clarity, sharing how he transformed his life to achieve remarkable work-life balance. He offers practical tools that fueled his turnaround and introduces
My Physical Pain and Mental Uncertainty
An unexpected and in the moment sharing while my face is blown up and I'm in pain, both physically and mentally.This new podcast is about sharing real life stories of how Mental Fitness affects how we deal with real life challenges, personally and professionally.I’m this episode I use my current painful situation to share how my mental fitness level has influenced how I am managing.Would you like
With Russell Clark: How to use Mental Fitness to say NO!
In this episode, our guest, Russell Clark, owner and manager of one of the most successful renovation businesses in New Zealand, Licensed Renovations, shares a powerful story on how he ended up in serious trouble because of a lack of mental fitness.He also shares with us, that despite having had many sports and business coaches over the decades, it was only when he got himself a mind coach that th
Why Mental Fitness is the Gateway to Success... in Business, Leadership and Bedroom
What is Mental Fitness?Is there a definition?Is it really the gateway to success?The answer to all of that is in this episode.I also mention my detailed - and free - Mental Fitness Guide to Enhance Performance. Download it here: https://mikal.nz/mental-fitness-guideQuestions? Email me to coach@mikal.nz
What? Another Business Podcast... you've got to be kidding!!!
In this first episode of Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success, the host, Mikal Nielsen, shares why he created this podcast.He covers the Why, the Who, the What and the When and Where as a model for starting something new, like a product, a service, a business, etc.For more info on Mikal, go to www.mikal.nz or connect with him on LinkedIn or email him at coach@mikal.nz
