In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Chase “The Weapon” Walden, a professional Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, coach, referee, and combat sports leader with more than 20 years of experience.

Chase’s journey has taken him from amateur national champion to fighting professionally in Thailand, competing in Glory Kickboxing, and becoming a WKA World Champion. He now serves as Head Coach of ISKA Team USA and ISKA National Director for USA Muay Thai, helping build the ISKA US National Team from the ground up and leading fighters onto international stages.

But this conversation is about more than wins, titles, and fight experience.

After being diagnosed with career-threatening arm injuries, Chase entered a season where the future of his fighting career became uncertain. Selling his gym, shifting into a new day-to-day rhythm, working as a barber’s apprentice, continuing to train, and coaching once a week at Eastside Muay Thai, Chase is navigating what it means to keep moving when the next chapter is not fully clear.

Together, Greg and Chase explore discipline, pain, humility, leadership, transition, and the identity shift that happens when life forces you to ask who you are beyond what you do.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Robert “Brix” Glover, a Norfolk-based health coach, transformation coach, and content creator whose work helps people rebuild their relationship with their body, mindset, and long-term wellness.

Brix’s story is about weight loss, but the conversation goes much deeper than the number on the scale. It moves into identity, emotional regulation, self-awareness, spiritual growth, discipline, and the internal patterns that often keep people stuck even after they know what to do.

Together, Greg and Brix explore why sustainable transformation starts with acceptance, not self-hate. They talk about sitting in the uncomfortable, doing the reps every day, and learning how to pause long enough to understand your current state before trying to change it.

One of the core themes of the conversation is that people do not always lack discipline. Sometimes they lack regulation. Brix shares how stress, depression, appetite, avoidance, and emotional habits can shape the body as much as training or nutrition. Through that lens, the episode opens up a bigger conversation around somatic intelligence, beginner’s mind, and the role our thoughts play in creating the reality we live in.

Built around the pillars of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode asks what it takes to become someone new while staying connected to the version of yourself you are building.

This is not just a fitness conversation.

It is a conversation about acceptance, discipline, suffering with meaning, and the inner work required to create a transformation that lasts.

https://www.youtube.com/c/BrixFitness

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Alex Vawter, founder of Heterodox Labs and the Heterodox Research Society, for a conversation about science, AI, experimentation, and what it means to challenge the systems that shape discovery.

Alex is a Virginia Beach native whose path into science did not follow the traditional academic route. After playing baseball, moving into startup work, spending time in biology research at JMU, briefly returning to school for physics, and doing software and data analytics work for the Navy, Alex became increasingly interested in the process of science itself. His current work focuses on AI tools for wet-lab research, scientific methodology, independent science, and fringe or neglected areas of inquiry.

Through Heterodox Labs, Alex is building tools for the future of research. The company’s core technology uses cameras, computer vision, sensors, and multimodal AI to observe wet-lab experiments as they happen. The goal is to create an auditable trace of the experimental process: what researchers did, what objects they interacted with, what changed in the environment, where deviations occurred, and what context may otherwise be lost.

But this conversation goes beyond the technology.

Alex’s broader thesis is that science may be facing more than bureaucracy. It may be facing methodological stagnation. The clean, linear version of the scientific method many people learn in school does not always reflect how discovery actually happens. Historically, science has been messier, more winding, and often shaped by people willing to ask questions outside the accepted frame.

Together, Greg and Alex explore why Heterodox takes a human-centered approach to AI for science, choosing to augment researchers rather than replace them with fully automated labs. They also discuss independent science, fringe research, procedural observability, the limits of conventional institutions, and why a lab in downtown Norfolk may be the right place to rethink how science gets done.

Through the lens of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode asks a bigger question:

How do we stay curious enough to challenge what we think we know?

This is a conversation about science, but it is also about mindset, problem-solving, curiosity, and the future relationship between people, tools, and discovery.

Jenny’s story moves through several defining seasons. The major season was her weight loss journey as a mom that led to professional bodybuilding.

What started as a physical transformation became something much deeper. It became something just for Jenny to do by herself, for herself.

Through the lens of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode is about more than fitness.

It is about the strength it takes to start over.

The courage to reconnect with your body.

The discipline to keep going through difficult seasons.

And the power of rebuilding a life that feels like your own again.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Sav for a moment to reflect on a world that fights us to obtain one our most precious resources, our rest.

Sav shares how her practices focuses on the individual and her practice work blends massage, facials, cupping, hot stones, aromatherapy, and other restorative practices, but the deeper focus is helping people reconnect with themselves. Her approach is rooted in presence, intentional care, and creating a space where clients can let go, reset, and feel supported in who they are becoming.

Sav intentionally set our to create a space that promotes presence, intentional care, and and where clients can let go, reset, and feel supported in who they are becoming.

Greg opens up about different energy he has carried in his life and reflects on his late brother and navigating through that time.

Through the lens of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode invites listeners to rethink wellness as something preventative, not reactive.

Not just a spa appointment.

Not just a moment of relaxation.

But a practice of listening to the body, regulating the nervous system, and making space to slow down before life pulls you too far from yourself.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Kali Luthra for one of the most personal conversations in the show's history. As someone who played a behind-the-scenes role during the early development of the podcast, Kali brings a unique perspective to the origins, evolution, and deeper purpose behind The Connected Experience.

Together, Greg and Kali explore life through the lens of a puzzle. How do we make sense of experiences while we're living them? Why do certain moments, relationships, and questions seem disconnected until we look back and see the bigger picture?

The conversation dives into the role of hope, curiosity, and intentional thinking in navigating life's uncertainty. Greg shares parts of his own journey of searching, questioning, and finding meaning through difficult seasons, while Kali offers insights into the power of asking better questions and challenging assumptions we often accept without examination.

At its heart, this episode is an exploration of what happens when we become more intentional about the questions we ask ourselves and the stories we tell about our lives.

Because sometimes the missing piece isn't an answer.

It's a question.

Sitting on the ground together, Greg and Emily take part in a cacao ceremony during the episode as a way to slow down, become more present, and connect with the ground beneath them. The moment shifts the energy of the conversation. Instead of simply talking about being grounded, they begin to practice it in real time.

Cacao, also known as kakaw, comes from the Theobroma cacao tree, a name that translates to “food of the gods.” Long before cacao became the foundation of modern chocolate, it held cultural, ceremonial, and practical significance. Ancient Maya communities used cacao to create a chocolate drink, and cacao seeds were once believed to have been used as currency, meaning there was a time when money really did grow on trees.

During the episode, Emily uses the cacao ceremony to create space for presence, reflection, and connection. The ceremony becomes a visual and emotional anchor for the larger conversation around what it means to live more grounded, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Emily Britton of Earth Healthkeepers for a conversation about grounding, presence, earth connection, and what it means to live with deeper awareness.

This episode was recorded differently. Instead of sitting across from each other in a traditional podcast setup, Greg and Emily sat on the ground together. That setting immediately changed the tone of the conversation and created space for a more open, grounded, and intentional exchange.

One of the most powerful moments comes when Greg asks Emily what connection means to her. Her answer helps frame the heart of the episode, moving connection beyond an idea and into something we feel through our relationship with ourselves, the earth, and the world around us.

Another defining moment happens during the interview when Emily leads Greg through a cacao ceremony. The visual demonstration, paired with her verbal explanation, brings the conversation into real-time practice. It is not just a discussion about being grounded. It becomes an experience of grounding as it unfolds.

Together, Greg and Emily explore how slowing down, listening more deeply, and reconnecting with the earth can shape the way we understand our bodies, emotions, energy, and purpose.

Built around the pillars of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode invites listeners to think differently about presence, stewardship, healing, and connection as a way of living.

Sometimes connection does not start with doing more.

Sometimes it starts by getting closer to what has been beneath us the whole time.

We spend most of our time in the gym, behind a desk, or driving to and from various scheduled events so to actually sit down on the ground and have a conversation made for a surreal experience both for me and my guest Liz Chandler.

In this connected moment, Liz took the conversation on the weight we carry each day and how it can impact us and our community.

She goes onto explain and explore how we all as individuals can connect with those around us especially our families.

In a world where there is always something demanding our time and attention, this conversation served as a refreshing reminder on exactly what should be getting that time and attention.

Do me a favor, this week try taking some time (even if it's just a moment) and practice one of the tantric practices Liz covers in the episode. We made sure and talk about practices you can do at work or at home, so give it a try.

Until next episode, stay connected!

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Liz Chandler for a conversation about the body, vulnerability, nervous system awareness, and the practices that help us reconnect with ourselves and others.

This conversation also takes place in a different kind of setting. Instead of the traditional podcast setup with chairs, a table, and a standard interview format, Greg and Liz sit on the ground together. That shift in posture changes the energy of the episode. It creates a more open, grounded space for a conversation about presence, safety, and what it means to become more available to change.

Liz brings a thoughtful perspective on how much of modern life pulls us into external input. Notifications, expectations, noise, pressure, and constant stimulation can make it easy to disconnect from what is happening inside of us. This conversation explores what it means to slow down, notice the body, and begin listening to the sensations, emotions, and signals we often avoid.

Together, Greg and Liz discuss how connection starts with awareness. Before we can open up to others, we have to become more willing to be vulnerable with ourselves. That may begin with noticing where we feel tension, where we feel safe, where we are holding back, and what emotions we may be afraid to express.

Liz also shares practical ways to reconnect with the body, including grounding exercises, breath awareness, identifying internal and external sensations, and tantric practices like eye gazing. Whether practiced with a partner, a friend, or even through a mirror or phone screen, these exercises can help support co-regulation and remind the nervous system that safety and connection are possible.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Jeannine Bennett for a conversation that moves beyond the surface-level conversation around AI and into something deeper: what it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world.

Jeannine is an AI workplace strategist, author, speaker, and the creator behind From Vision to Purpose. Her work focuses on helping people and organizations navigate change with clarity, purpose, and intentional leadership. But her perspective did not start in the workplace. It was shaped by her own life experience, including a difficult upbringing, personal transformation, and a faith journey that helped set her on a new path.

Together, Greg and Jeannine explore how our life experiences shape the way we lead, communicate, adapt, and interact with the world around us. They also dive into the future of work, the impact of AI on jobs and organizations, and why the skills that make us human may become even more important as technology continues to advance.

Built around the pillars of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this conversation explores purpose in the age of AI, faith as a foundation for direction, and the importance of developing leadership that technology cannot replace.

This episode is a reminder that the future of work is not just about what AI can do.

It is also about who we are becoming as humans.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Aimee Darby of the Eliza Hope Foundation for a conversation about grief, motherhood, purpose, and the kind of love that continues to move forward even after unimaginable loss.

Nearly ten years ago, Aimee lost her daughter, Eliza. In the years since, her story has become connected to a larger mission: supporting families, advancing research, and creating more understanding around neurodivergence and autism.

Throughout the conversation, Aimee shares what it has looked like to carry Eliza’s legacy into the work of the foundation, how her perspective on hope has evolved, and why connection matters so deeply for families navigating autism and neurodivergence.

Greg and Aimee also reflect on the importance of relearning how we see and support autistic children, not through assumptions, but through curiosity, compassion, and a deeper willingness to understand.

This episode moves through the show’s pillars of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection in a deeply human way, not as a framework to explain grief, but as a way to listen to a story of love, loss, and purpose still unfolding.

In this episode of The Connected Experience, Greg sits down with Michael Weatherly for a conversation about finding your path in the middle of uncertainty, transitions, and unexpected opportunities.

Michael's story isn't one of a carefully mapped-out career. It's a journey shaped by curiosity, faith, and a willingness to take action before every answer was clear. From his early days as an athlete, bartender, and teacher to earning advanced degrees and building a career in business and technology, Michael shares how each chapter contributed to the person he would eventually become.

Together, Greg and Michael explore why curiosity is often the starting point for growth, how surrounding yourself with the right people and ideas can create momentum, and why taking action matters even when it doesn't seem directly connected to the challenge you're facing.

The conversation also includes a memorable story from a recent visit to Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in London. What began as an embarrassing moment unexpectedly became a business opportunity, reinforcing one of the central themes of the episode: opportunity often arrives disguised as inconvenience, discomfort, or detour.

Built around the pillars of Meaning, Clarity, Action, and Connection, this episode explores:

Finding direction during seasons of transition
Why curiosity often precedes purpose
The role faith plays in navigating uncertainty
Learning from every experience, regardless of the outcome
Turning unexpected moments into opportunities
Building an identity that can adapt through change
This conversation is a reminder that the path forward isn't always revealed in advance.
Sometimes the next step appears only after you're willing to take it.

Guest Summary

Dr. Michael Weatherly is an entrepreneur, educator, investor, and lifelong learner whose career has been shaped by curiosity, faith, and a willingness to embrace opportunity wherever it appears. A former athlete, bartender, and teacher, Michael's unconventional path eventually led him into technology, government contracting, business ownership, and higher education.
Today, Michael is the founder of multiple ventures spanning technology, sports, agriculture, and hospitality, including government contractor C5BDI, Ecco Adesso Vineyards, and other business interests. He also serves as CEO of The Williamsburg Winery and is actively involved in leadership, philanthropy, and community development. He holds five degrees, including an MBA and a Doctorate in Business Management and Organizational Development, while continuing to teach as an adjunct professor and mentor future leaders.
What makes Michael's story compelling isn't the titles he's accumulated, but the journey itself. His experiences across sports, education, business, faith, and entrepreneurship have given him a unique perspective on navigating change, finding purpose through unexpected detours, and making the most of every opportunity life presents. Whether discussing leadership, faith, wine, technology, or personal growth, Michael brings a perspective grounded in curiosity, action, and lifelong learning.