What if the biggest lever for healing our fractured world is our own health? Not just physical fitness, but the full spectrum of mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

In this episode of Mission Driven You, Will Samson sits down with Brian von Ancken—early Tough Mudder employee, former Barry’s leader, community-builder, and founder of the Wellness Growth Mastermind—to explore how the wellness movement is evolving and why it matters far beyond cold plunges, wearables, and workouts.

Brian shares the personal story that shattered his “should life” and set him on a mission to redefine what health actually means. From obstacle courses where strangers pull each other over walls, to the pressures entrepreneurs face to “do it all,” Brian offers a grounded, human perspective on the future of wellness—and the cultural transformation already underway.

If you care about resilience, connection, or building a life with intention, this conversation will shift how you think about health, community, and human agency.

📘 Show Notes

In this episode, we explore:

1. The State of the Wellness Industry

• From the days of Arctic Enema to cold plunges in every backyard
• Why wellness is both more advanced—and more overwhelming—than ever
• The line between innovation and snake oil, and how to tell the difference

2. Human Resilience & the Power of Community

• How obstacle events create unexpected belonging
• Why helping others is a core human need we no longer get to practice
• The surprising reason community is more important than the workout itself

3. Brian’s Personal Story: Breaking the “Should Life”

• How miscarriages and divorce forced a reckoning
• A silent retreat that turned into a mental marathon
• What Brian discovered about emotional and spiritual health that no one teaches us

4. The Future of Wellness

• Why health is the root system beneath loneliness, division, and disconnection
• The “total health formula” and why there is no one-size-fits-all approach
• The rise of wellness tourism, longevity science, and personalized health

5. Practical Ways to Start Today

• The two-minute morning practice Brian uses every day
• Why strength training may be the simplest path to long-term wellbeing
• The value of men’s groups, masterminds, and communities that tell you the truth

6. A Vision for the Next 20 Years

Brian paints a hopeful picture of a future where:

• Schools teach mindfulness and emotional intelligence
• Workplaces normalize breathwork, movement, and recovery
• Wellness becomes as common as brushing our teeth
• Communities inspire healthier choices instead of numbing distractions

🔗 Connect with Brian von Ancken

Website: https://www.brianvonancken.com (or the site he prefers—share if different)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvonancken/

Wellness Growth Mastermind: (Add link if provided by Brian)

🧠 Key Quote from the Episode

“Living a healthy life is living an intentional life. And intention is the first step toward agency.” — Brian von Ancken

▶️ Listen now to learn:

How health becomes a form of empowerment…

Why community matters more than perfection…

And what the wellness movement can teach us about the future of...

Episode Description:

What happens when the identity you've built your life around… no longer fits?

In this episode of Mission Driven You, Will sits down with Chris Eversley—former professional basketball player, tech consultant, coach, and founder of Next Play, a platform dedicated to helping others navigate transformation. Chris’s journey is anything but linear, and his story offers a powerful framework for what to do when life throws you a curveball—and your next step isn't clear.

From the moment a rare spinal condition ended his athletic career to launching his own solo business, Chris talks candidly about grief, growth, and what he calls “mirror moments”—those raw, unfiltered check-ins where we get honest about where we are and where we want to go. He also breaks down his 3T’s framework—Translate, Transition, and Triumph—as a practical map for moving forward with purpose.

If you're in the middle of a pivot, feeling unmoored by change, or simply wondering what’s next, this episode will speak to you.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why we often avoid honest self-reflection—and what happens when we stop
• How Chris's 3T’s framework (Translate, Transition, Triumph) supports sustainable change
• What it means to grieve a past version of yourself without shame
• The dangers of toxic positivity—and how to replace it with real emotional resilience
• How to shift from identity-driven achievement to purpose-driven living
• The role of solitude and structure in navigating reinvention

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Your mirror doesn’t lie—whether you look into it is up to you.”

“I had to learn how to be successful off the court in a way that didn’t depend on applause.”

“Toxic positivity is like spraying Febreze on a dumpster fire. It might smell better—but it’s still burning.”

“The triumph comes when we stop running from the transition.”

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🌐 Connect with Chris Eversley:
• 📱 Follow Chris on Instagram:
• 💡 Explore Chris’s Framework:
• 🎧 Chris's Spotify Playlist for Transitions

🧭 Reflection Prompts:

• What’s a “mirror moment” you’ve been avoiding?
• Where are you clinging to a past identity that no longer fits?
• How might you “translate” your current experiences into something new?

📣 Subscribe & Share:

Love this conversation? Subscribe to Mission Driven You on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. And share it with someone who’s navigating the messy middle of change—they’ll thank you for it.

💡 Final Takeaway:

Change isn’t clean. But if you face your reflection and follow the thread, you’ll find the next version of you—waiting to be lived.

Navigating the Future of Work: Insights with Katrice Miller