You objectify people every day.So do we.Tall. Short. Strong. Fragile.Well-dressed. Exhausted. Confident. Dangerous.In less than a second, your brain can turn a stranger into an object. That doesn’t make you cruel—it makes you human. The real question is whether we stay there.On this episode of The Collective, we’re joined by Chris Lee, former Green Beret turned coach, and John Vargas, firefighter and paramedic. Together, we dive into the unavoidable tension between objectification, perception, and personhood.We explore how humans start as objects in our cognition—but with familiarity, exposure, and conversation, they become subjects deserving of dignity and respect. Leadership, ethics, and character are revealed in whether we move past first impressions and see a human being.This is not abstract philosophy. It’s grounded in military and emergency response experiences, where split-second assessments can save lives—or strip dignity. From strangers on the street to teammates in high-risk environments, this conversation challenges how we perceive, interact, and lead.🎙️ GuestsChris Lee – Former Green Beret, now high-performance coach John Vargas – Serving firefighter and paramedic 🧠 Key TopicsWhat objectification really means—and why it’s universalHumans as objects physically vs. subjects morallyHow we anthropomorphize objects but often fail to see peopleThe role of familiarity in moving someone from object to subjectDignity vs. deserving: the ethical floor we can’t ignoreWhy leadership is about refusing to stay blind to personhoodIf this episode challenges how you see people, subscribe, share, and comment:👉 When did a stranger stop being an object for you?

Wearables are tracking more than ever—heart rate, sleep, stress, recovery—but what do all those numbers actually mean for how you live, train, and make decisions? In this episode of The Collective, Shaun and Chance sit down with experts in biometric technology to unpack how data from your body can become real-world wisdom.​Our guests:Latha Nachiyamai – Program Manager, Biosensor Platform Technology at Garmin Canada. Latha manages the research, development, and integration of biosensors—including optical heart rate, SpO2, and ECG—into Garmin’s wearable products. Scott Burgett - Senior Director of Garmin Health Engineering since 2015. He has responsibility for managing biosensor innovation and development globally at Garmin.We dig into:What biometrics like heart rate, HRV, SpO2, and ECG can truly tell you—and what they can’t.How Garmin and other wearables turn biosensor data into usable insights for athletes and everyday users.The risks of over-focusing on metrics vs actually listening to your body.Practical ways to use biometric data to live, train, and recover better.​👉 Subscribe to The Collective for deeper conversations that turn real experience and real data into practical lessons to live, lead, and relate better.

The Collective is back. In this episode, Shaun and Chance sit down after the break to talk about what they’ve been doing off‑camera, what’s changing in 2026, and where the podcast and channel are headed next.​We dig into:How the time off shifted our own priorities and habits.The vision for The Collective: deeper conversations, sharper storytelling, and more practical takeaways.​Most importantly, we want to hear from you:What topics do you want us to explore?Who do you want to see on the show?What formats do you want more of—live chats, deep dives, story breakdowns?Drop your ideas in the comments so we can overlay your experience into future episodes.👉 Subscribe to The Collective for deeper conversations that turn real experience into practical lessons to live, lead, and relate better.

In this episode of The Collective, Chance and Shaun turn real-life experience into practical lessons on fatherhood, responsibility, and intentional living.This conversation overlays lived experience—from parenting and leadership to navigating complex environments—to extract action-oriented insights you can apply immediately. Rather than theory or performance talk, this episode focuses on awareness, decision-making, and how small choices compound over time.Topics explored include:Intentional parenting and building capable, resilient childrenResponsibility as a foundation for leadership and self-regulationManaging attention and emotional bandwidth in a distracted worldFamily dynamics, social environments, and modern pressureGrowth mindset through lived experience, not motivationThis is a deeper conversation designed to help you live, lead, and relate better—at home, at work, and in everyday life.The Collective turns experience into understanding, and understanding into change.Weekly episodes every Friday.

Why do we sabotage the things we say we want?Why do we shrink ourselves, hesitate, or pull back right when progress is within reach?In this episode of The Collective, Chance and Shaun sit down with Alana Stott — author, advocate, and speaker — to unpack the mechanics of self-sabotage: where it comes from, why it continues, and how we break the cycle.Together we explore:• Childhood patterns and internalized stories that shape adult behavior• The fear of success — and why it’s more common than fear of failure• Why we mistrust good things when we’ve learned to expect the opposite• How self-sabotage hides inside “being realistic,” “staying humble,” or “not wanting to be a burden”• The disconnect between what we want and what we believe we deserve• What accountability actually looks like — and why awareness alone isn’t enough• How to stop shrinking yourself to make others comfortableThis conversation is raw, honest, and deeply human.If you’ve ever felt stuck, hesitant, or trapped by your own patterns, this episode will help you see the loop clearly — and step out of it.New episodes of The Collective every week.Join us as we learn, build, and grow — together.#TheCollective #SelfSabotage #AlanaStott #Mindset #Growth #TraumaPatterns #PersonalDevelopment #FearOfSuccess

Imitation to Innovation — A Conversation with Isaac Miller & Pat Miller | The CollectiveIn this episode of The Collective, Chance and Shaun sit down with returning guest Isaac Miller (Marine Corps veteran, tech founder) and Pat Miller (Canadian SOF veteran, armourer, and photographer) to explore one of the most fundamental forces behind human progress:Where does imitation end… and true innovation begin?Across two hours of deep conversation, the crew dives into:🔹 Why imitation is the starting point for every skill, craft, or idea🔹 How institutions often kill curiosity — and what it takes to think differently🔹 The tension between creativity, dogma, money, and meaning🔹 Innovation as both a personal journey and a collective responsibility🔹 The courage to be “quirky,” to experiment, and to put novel ideas into the world🔹 How tools like AI and accessible tech democratize invention🔹 What it really means to build something new in a world of copies and recreations🔹 The importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and surrounding yourself with thinkersFrom blacksmiths to 3D printers, from dogma to deep introspection, from personal growth to societal change — this episode is packed with novel wisdom created in real time.If this sparks a thought, drop it in the comments.Like. Subscribe. Share.And stay connected through The Reinforcement Loop, our weekly newsletter.Be better. Think deeper. Innovate boldly.

What does real friendship look like — especially for men who’ve spent their lives in service, leadership, and high-stress environments?In this episode of The Collective, Chance and Shaun sit down with Seb Lavoie and Rob Farrer, two long-serving RCMP members, to explore the deeper layers of friendship: how it forms, how it changes, and why it matters more than most of us admit.This conversation goes far beyond “having buddies.”We dig into:The difference between proximity friendships and chosen friendshipsWhy trust is built in small, consistent repsEmotional bandwidth — and why we’re selective about who gets accessHow vulnerability affects connection (and why it’s not the same as oversharing)Male friendship patterns: loyalty, silence, and the pressure to “be fine”Attachment styles, safety, and the hidden rules we bring into relationshipsWhy intimacy isn’t exclusively romantic — it’s humanSeb and Rob share candid stories from policing, team environments, and personal life, revealing how friendship anchors identity, provides accountability, and shapes our emotional landscape.If you’ve ever struggled to connect, outgrown old friendships, or wondered why some relationships feel effortless while others drain you — this episode offers the clarity, honesty, and depth you’ve been looking for.Welcome to The Collective — where conversations build better humans.#TheCollective #Friendship #SebLavoie #RobFarrer #RCMP #Brotherhood #Connection #Mindset #EmotionalIntelligence #MenTalking

Why do the most skilled people make the hardest things look effortless?In this episode of The Collective, Chance and Shaun sit down with Seb Lavoie, retired RCMP ERT Sgt. Major, jiu-jitsu black belt, performance coach, and long-time student of skill acquisition, to break down The Skill Paradox: the strange reality that mastery hides the work it requires.Together we explore the mechanics behind true skill: coordination, sequencing, timing, and the ability to simplify complexity through deliberate practice. From martial arts to leadership to everyday learning, Seb unpacks how skill is built, why beginners struggle, and what separates performers from masters.We dig into:-Why elite performers look relaxed even under pressure-The hidden layers of coordination behind “simple” movements-How slowing down reveals what’s really happening in technique-Why ego is the enemy of mastery-The difference between competence and understanding-What makes teaching harder than doing-How to build skill through calibration, principles, and repsThis episode is about growth, learning, and the mindset required to pursue mastery, one rep, one adjustment, one sequence at a time.#TheCollective #SkillParadox #Mastery #JiuJitsu #Performance #TrainingMindset #Coaching #GrowthMindset