In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mo Fitzgerald — former NWSL player, strategist, facilitator, and founder of Play Street Studio — to explore why play is not a distraction from performance, but a catalyst for it.We unpack the loss of identity athletes experience after sport, the isolation of leadership and entrepreneurship, and why modern workplaces are starving for connection, creativity, and presence. Mo breaks down how play functions as a love language, a leadership practice, and a competitive advantage — not fluff, not recreation, but a disciplined way to build culture, trust, and innovation.

Key Takeaways

1) Play is wired into human biology and is essential for connection, creativity, and adaptation

2) The best leaders facilitate wisdom already inside their teams instead of extracting answers

3) Creativity is a practice — if teams don’t train it, they can’t access it under pressure

4) Seriousness is often mistaken for rigor, but play and excellence are not opposites

5) In-person connection creates exponential impact that technology cannot replace

Quotes

• “Play isn’t juvenile — it’s how humans connect, adapt, and create.”

• “If you don’t practice creativity, it won’t show up when you need it.”

• “Leadership isn’t about engagement — it’s about who you choose to lead for.”

• “We haven’t updated how we work to match how people actually learn.”

• “Play creates culture. Culture creates performance.”

Connect with Mo Fitzgerald

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mofitzgerald

• Website: https://playstreetstudio.com

• Instagram: @momofits

___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CoachDerz.com/blog

✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Alignment First. Progress Always.

#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#HighPerformanceHabits#ExecutiveAthlete#MindsetMastery#PersonalGrowthJourney#PeakPerformanceCoaching#NextLevelLeadership#Podcast

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Madeline Davis Tully — former Princeton rowing athlete and rowing coach at Stanford, Ohio State, and Boston University, national champion, and founder of MDT Leadership. We unpack what it truly means to transition from competing for championships to creating champions, the parallels between elite sport and executive leadership, and how identity, values, and discipline shape high-performance lives.

Key Takeaways

1) The transition from athlete to coach demands humility, identity work, and a shift from “me” to “we.”

2) Elite coaching hinges on understanding team chemistry, not just talent, and making objective decisions without bruising egos.

3) Leadership translates best when it’s authentic; great leaders learn to lead from the front, middle, or rear depending on situational need.

4) Athletes become exceptional executives because they already understand discipline, failure, repetition, and long-term process.

5) A coach’s power lies in steadiness, especially when a client or athlete misses the big moment.

Quotes

• “To become a champion, you must act like one before you ever win.” – Madeline Davis Tully

• “My job isn’t to want it more than you. My job is to help you realize what you truly want.” – Madeline Davis Tully

• “A great coach meets their athlete at the dock after a loss — steady, present, and ready for what’s next.” – Madeline Davis Tully

Connect with Madeline Davis Tully

• Website: ⁠https://mdtlead.com

⁠• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinedavistully

___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CoachDerz.com/blog

✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Alignment First. Progress Always.

#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#HighPerformanceHabits#ExecutiveAthlete#MindsetMastery#PersonalGrowthJourney#PeakPerformanceCoaching#NextLevelLeadership#Podcast

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Christian Ponder — NFL veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of The Post, a community built to elevate athletes long after sport. We dig into identity, fatherhood, leadership, boundaries, and how to create systems that keep you aligned while building something bigger than yourself. Christian breaks down the misconceptions about athletes in transition and reveals what he really learned from the darkest turning point of his football career.

Key Takeaways

1. Why athletes and veterans share nearly identical identity challenges post-career — and how The Post reframes that experience as an asset, not a burden.

2. How the “broken wing narrative” harms high performers — and what aspirational communities do differently.

3. Christian’s pivotal college mistake, how it derailed his NFL trajectory, and the humility and ownership it forged.

4. The real reason boundaries get harder after sports — and the system Christian now uses to stay present as a husband and father.

5. Why youth sports matter more than ever — and how over-specialization is robbing kids of the adversity they need to grow.

Quotes

• “People want to be part of something that makes them feel elevated, not treated like they’re broken.” – Christian Ponder

• “Sports are a safe hard thing — a classroom for character.” – Christian Ponder

• “Leadership is earned. Especially at home.” – Christian Ponder

Connect with Christian Ponder

• IG: @cpsevenseven

• The Post: https://www.thepost.co

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-ponder-075a64155/

___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CoachDerz.com/blog

✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034

Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Alignment First. Progress Always.

#AlignmentFirst#ProgressAlways#FittestLeader#LeadershipDevelopment#HighPerformanceHabits#ExecutiveAthlete#MindsetMastery#PersonalGrowthJourney#PeakPerformanceCoaching#NextLevelLeadership#Podcast

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Shawn Richards, founder of Blue Sky Business Consulting and host of The Team Engagement Podcast. We dive into how leaders can maximize their human capital, strengthen communication, develop emerging leaders, and evolve their identity as their vision grows. This is a powerful conversation on building teams that can actually win.

Key Takeaways

1. Why human capital is your greatest competitive advantage.

2. The #1 point of failure in leadership (and how to fix it).

3. How identity shifts allow leaders to scale without burning out.

4. The power of small-unit leadership and clear guardrails.

5. How psychological safety unlocks innovation and collaboration.

Quotes

• “Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about knowing how to find the answers.” – Shawn Richards

• “People aren’t expenses; they’re your greatest assets.” – Shawn Richards

• “Progress—not perfection—is the definition of success.” – Shawn Richards

Connect with Shawn Richards
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnjrichards/
Blue Sky Consulting: https://blueskybizconsulting.com
The First Fifty Project: https://thefirstfiftyproject.com

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Join the Alignment Village → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NextLevelVillage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CoachDerz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Enhance Your Fitness Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NextLevelPFC.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034

Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Megan Joseph, founder of Megalife Integrative Wellness, to explore how herbs, mushrooms, and spiritual connection can restore the body when traditional medicine can’t. We dive into her journey through Ehlers-Danlos, autoimmunity, trauma healing, parasitic detoxing, and why peace—not speed—is the real metric of health.

Key Takeaways

1. True healing starts internally—breath, prayer, nature, and removing sugar create the baseline for transformation.

2. Trauma and unprocessed emotion manifest physically, often long before symptoms surface.

3. Microdosing supports slow, sustainable rewiring, while heroic doses can overwhelm the system without proper facilitation.

4. Parasite + heavy metal cleansing can radically shift energy, mood, cognition, especially in kids.

5. Identity matters—you are not your diagnosis; the words “I am” shape your biology and your outcomes.

Quotes

• “I refused to accept ‘there’s nothing you can do.’ That wasn’t going to be my story.” – Megan Joseph

• “Breath, prayer, nature. Start there—your body already knows what to do.” – Megan Joseph

• “Don’t become your diagnosis. Speak what you want, not what you fear.” – Megan Joseph

Connect with Megan Joseph

Megalife Integrative Wellness
📍 2240 N. Scottsdale Rd, Unit 110, Tempe, AZ
🌐 https://megalifeinw.com
🌐 https://megalifeskinbeauty.com

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Join the Alignment Village → ⁠https://nextlevelvillage.com/⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠https://go.coachderz.com/

✅ Enhance Your Fitness Journey → ⁠https://www.nextlevelpfc.com⁠

✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

@ThorneHealth → ⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways⁠

@StrongCoffee → ⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@wearshepherds → ⁠Shepherds.com⁠

@team4kor → ⁠4korfitness.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠VisionEspresso.co⁠

@TYRsport → ⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠ — Use Code: 14034

@MorozkoForge → ⁠morozkoforge.com⁠ — Use Code: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Progress Always.

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Tiffany Carole—creator of Aroma Point Therapy Fundamentals, founder of Master Creator Academy, and visionary behind the Lumina Guild—to explore the bridge between science, plant medicine, and spiritual awakening. We dive into healing as a return to wholeness, betrayal as humanity’s oldest wound, and why high performers struggle to receive support. This is a conversation for leaders ready to reconnect with life force and reclaim their peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Healing is less about fixing symptoms and more about remembering your wholeness.

2. Betrayal constricts the energetic heart, limiting one’s ability to receive support, joy, and abundance.

3. Essential oils on acupoints can act as vibrational “plant medicines” that open consciousness and restore regulation.

4. Pattern liberation requires wanting freedom more than the drama of the healing journey.

5. Choosing self, despite external resistance, is the path to deeper alignment and leadership evolution.

Quotes

• “Healing is remembering our wholeness.” – Tiffany Carole

• “You must want liberation more than the drama of healing.” – Tiffany Carole

• “Your next breakthrough is in becoming the version of you who can finally receive.” – Mycal Anders

Connect with Tiffany Carole
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tiffany_carole
Email: tiffany@tiffanycarole.com
Book: The Inner Nature of Essential Oils → https://monara.org

Stay Connected & Take Action
✅ Join the Alignment Village → https://nextlevelvillage.com/
✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → https://go.coachderz.com/1-1-high-performance-coaching/
✅ Enhance Your Fitness Journey → https://www.nextlevelpfc.com
✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors
@ThorneHealth → https://www.thorne.com/u/progressalways
@StrongCoffee → https://strongcoffeecompany.com/?ref=2YN5cnK8v9zQ4D — Code: NEXTLEVEL15
@wearshepherds → https://www.shepherds.com
@team4kor → https://4korfitness.com — Code: NEXTLEVEL15
Build Your Vision Espresso → https://visionespresso.co/fastpass?am_id=mycal7450
@TYRsport → https://fitness.tyr.com — Code: 14034
Start Your Healing Journey → https://www.morozkoforge.com — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Progress Always.

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Melissa Nanavati—speaker, author, and relationship architect redefining how high performers connect and communicate at home. We dive into the neuroscience of chemistry, the power of updated agreements, and the frameworks that help couples protect their peace, presence, and power.

Key Takeaways

1. Chemistry isn’t magic, it’s biology maintained through intentional habits.
2. High performers need systems for connection just as much as systems for business.
3. The BRAVE Framework creates safety for difficult conversations.
4. Couples thrive when they routinely update agreements for new seasons of life.
5. Presence, curiosity, play, and courage are the core skills of peak-performance love.

Quotes

• “Chemistry is biology, and biology can be maintained with intention.” – Melissa Nanavati
• “Unresolved conversations are open loops draining your energy.” – Melissa Nanavati
• “If you want high-performance love, treat your relationship like the most important system you run.” – Mycal Anders

Connect with Melissa Nanavati
• Instagram: @melissananavati
• Website: https://peakperformancelove.com
• YouTube: Peak Performance Love

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Join the Alignment Village → ⁠https://nextlevelvillage.com/⁠

✅ Become the Fittest Leader Possible → ⁠https://go.coachderz.com/1-1-high-performance-coaching/⁠

✅ Level Up Your Fitness → ⁠https://www.nextlevelpfc.com⁠

✅ Subscribe on Spotify → ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00⁠

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠

@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034

Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Progress Always.

In this episode, I sit down with Kris Kluver — speaker, strategic advisor, facilitator, and founder of Life On Your Terms and Peer Circles. We explore how audacity becomes the gateway to real transformation, why most leaders are solving the wrong problems, and how to build a life that protects what matters most.

We dive into identity, intentionality, time compression, and the mindset required to become the fittest leader possible.

Key Takeaways

1. Ordinary goals create extraordinary friction. Audacious goals eliminate noise.

2. Time isn’t a resource; it’s a tool leaders can compress with intention.

3. Presence is the most valuable currency in leadership and relationships.

4. Identity must evolve before outcomes do. Mindset drives mechanics.

5. Holistic intentionality is the foundation of life on your terms.

Quotes

• “Extraordinary lives live in the unreasonable.” — Kris Kluver

• “Audacity is the forcing device that removes all the noise.” — Kris Kluver

• “You have more than enough time for everything you want, if you choose presence.” — Kris Kluver

Connect with Kris Kluver
Website: Peer-Circle.com
Advising & Resources: LifeOn-YourTerms.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskluver/

Stay Connected & Take Action
✅ Join the Alignment Village → https://nextlevelvillage.com/
✅ Become the Fittest Leader Possible → https://go.coachderz.com/1-1-high-performance-coaching/
✅ Level Up Your Fitness → https://www.nextlevelpfc.com
✅ Subscribe on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@wearshepherds → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shepherds.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠@team4kor → ⁠⁠⁠⁠4korfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Build Your Vision Espresso → ⁠⁠⁠⁠visionespresso.co⁠⁠⁠⁠

@TYRsport → ⁠⁠⁠⁠fitness.tyr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: 14034

Start Your Healing Journey → ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morozkoforge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Codes: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Progress Always.