The Relentless Project

Ish Lopez

Exploring the art of relentless pursuit in every aspect of life. Uncovering the stories of those who refuse to settle for mediocrity, those who never give up, who strive for greatness and inspire us to push beyond our limits. Join us for motivational insights, personal development tips, and powerful conversations that will empower you to achieve your dreams. #TheRelentlessProject RSSVERIFY

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20 episodes
Updated Sunday
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Episodes20

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Sunday · 1 hr 29 min
#146 - Surviving Suicide & Inherited Trauma | The Ashley Puig Story
Born just twenty-three days after her decorated father died by suicide, Ashley Puig grew up carrying an inherited wound that eventually pushed her to the brink of taking her own life at just sixteen years old. Waking up on a hospital shower floor, she made a relentless promise to build a life that mattered, but she was continually tested by the loss of loved ones, severe health scares, and watching her fitness empire collapse during the pandemic. Standing in the wreckage, Ashley refused to tap out, channeling her grief into her powerful memoir, The Self Love Advocate, to attack the root cause of our mental health crisis: a fatal deficit of self-worth. We dive deep into why self-love requires immense grit, how to break the toxic habit of performing for others, and what it truly takes to be your own strongest advocate. This is a raw, unflinching conversation about surviving the darkest corners of the mind and making the daily decision to fight for your own life. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
July 26 · 1 hr 33 min
#145 - Refuse to Lose: The Amputee Green Beret Who Went Back to War | The Nick Lavery Story
In 2013, Active-Duty Green Beret CW3 Nick Lavery survived a devastating insider attack in Afghanistan, taking four machine-gun rounds to the leg at point-blank range simply because he absolutely hates to lose. After waking up at Walter Reed missing his leg above the knee, Nick did the unthinkable: he flat-out refused a full medical retirement with honor. Instead, he endured a grueling physical and tactical gauntlet to prove he wasn't a liability, making history in 2015 as the first Special Forces operator to return to full-spectrum combat as an above-the-knee amputee. Today, he continues to crush physical crucibles—from the famously brutal Combat Diver course to the BJJ mats—while serving as the CEO of Precision Components and authoring the book Objective Secure. A conversation on resilience, overcoming trauma, and refusing to accept the limits placed on you by others. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
July 19 · 1 hr 5 min
#144 - When Chaos Feels Like Home | The Damien Celaya Story
The tactical community spends a lot of time training for the chaos of war, but almost no one trains you for the deafening quiet that hits when the uniform finally comes off. Retired Army veteran and serial entrepreneur Damien Celaya knows the brutal reality of this transition, battling what he calls "Loss of Tribe Syndrome" and an addiction to stress that often led to self-sabotage. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Damien opens up about his darkest battles during active duty, surviving multiple suicide attempts, and the immense strength it takes to swallow your pride and ask for help in an alpha-dominated culture. Today, he has taken his broken pieces and rebuilt himself as the founder of brands like Freedom Bear Coffee and Zonk Or Die, proving that your actions must be dictated by your discipline, not your mood. This is a brutally honest conversation about leaving the war behind, creating your own purpose, and rescuing yourself when no one else is coming. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
July 12 · 1 hr 28 min
#143 - Surviving Prison & Owning Your Past | The David Watson Story
David Watson knows firsthand that the most brutal battle you will ever fight is with the person staring back at you in the mirror. After a series of bad decisions led to him spending nearly eight years locked inside harsh prisons across the Bahamas, Mexico, and the United States, David was forced to sit in the heavy, suffocating silence of his own regret. Instead of playing the victim, he chose radical accountability, deciding to completely reconstruct his mindset and blueprint his future from inside a concrete cage. Today, he is a powerhouse entrepreneur, an international speaker, and the founder of the Redemption Club, dedicating his life to second chances and proving that action must always precede motivation. This is a raw, unapologetic story about surviving the abyss, taking absolute ownership of your failures, and refusing to let your past dictate your future. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
July 5 · 1 hr 51 min
#142 - From Teen Father to Tri-Hustler | The Michael Kessler Story
At 18 years old, Michael Kessler found himself staring down the barrel of real-world responsibility as an unexpected teen father. Instead of folding under the pressure or making excuses, he used it as rocket fuel, stepping onto a college campus just four days after his daughter was born and walking out four years later with two degrees. Today, Michael balances a relentless tri-hustle as a corporate security sales professional, a marketing ambassador for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a high school football coach. We dive deep into how the intense pressure of early parenthood forged his unbreakable mindset, the power of brutal honesty, and why true discipline is about quiet repetition rather than loud intensity. This is a raw conversation about owning your circumstances and refusing to let them dictate your future. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
June 28 · 2 hr 12 min
#141 - From Deathbed to Black Belt | The Brigitte Morris Story
As a 6th Degree Black Belt and a relentless entrepreneur, Brigitte Morris knows how to fight, but her toughest opponent has been her own body. At just 18 years old, she went from being a peak-performing athlete to fighting for her life against a devastating Crohn’s disease diagnosis that led to agonizing pain and multiple organ-removal surgeries. Refusing to play the victim on the floor of her apartment, she took absolute ownership of her healing, defying medical expectations by completely reversing her symptoms through intense discipline and dietary changes. Today, she uses that same martial arts mindset to smash glass ceilings, running the international brand Mightyfist and changing the global landscape for women in notoriously male-dominated boardrooms. This is a raw conversation in refusing to accept a death sentence, trusting your own intuition, and changing your perspective when your back is against the wall. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
June 14 · 1 hr 54 min
#140 - No Dreams in the Grave: Outworking a Death Warrant | The Luke Goozdich Story
Born with less than a one percent chance of survival, Licensed Professional Counselor and filmmaker Luke Goozdich lives every day with a congenital heart defect that acts as a literal ticking clock. After surviving a profoundly dark night in 2015 where he nearly took his own life, his body rebelled with catastrophic blood clots that forced him to stare down inevitable organ failure. Instead of playing the victim, Luke used the mats of combat sports to forge an unbreakable mindset, vowing that he would never let a single dream get trapped in the grave with him. Today, he inspires over 93,000 YouTube subscribers, writes best-selling novels, and is producing a gritty crime film right here in Pittsburgh. This is a raw, urgent conversation about refusing to break, outworking your death warrant, and completely emptying the tank before your time is up. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
June 7 · 2 hr 49 min
#139 - The Lonely Side of Success: From Homelessness to the Top 100 | The Noki Story
EDM producer and label owner Mikey Shanley, better known as Noki, knows firsthand that the road to greatness is often paved with profound isolation. Before his hometown anthems were smashing into the Top 100 dubstep charts, he had to survive being homeless on a beach, his mother's battle with cancer, and the tragic loss of his father to addiction. We dive deep into the painful reality of "leveling up," exploring how the applause of old friends often turns into toxic envy the higher you climb. Noki breaks down his relentless dedication to higher vibrational thinking, the brutal necessity of leaving toxic circles behind, and why happiness is a daily discipline you must aggressively fight for. This is a raw look at the true cost of chasing your dream and refusing to let your environment dictate your future. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
May 31 · 2 hr 57 min
#138 - Eating the Frog: Heartbreak, High Stakes, & Failing Forward | The CJ Norman Story
VP of Sales at IceCap Group, real estate investor, and football coach CJ Norman knows exactly what it takes to survive in an industry where you eat what you kill. After transitioning from a college athlete with no roadmap to a general manager leading 30 people right out of school, CJ built a massive career spanning over 200 real estate transactions. But scaling his success came at a brutal cost, forcing him to navigate devastating personal breakups and a deeply dark year in 2025 right as his career demanded his absolute best. We dive deep into how he compartmentalized the heartbreak, why he believes in "eating the frog" to tackle the hardest tasks first, and how figuring out his why kept him from quitting. This is a raw masterclass in failing forward and keeping the train on the tracks when the wheels are shaking Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
May 24 · 1 hr 34 min
#137 - Full-Throttle Faith: From D1 Dropout to Fashion House | The Paolo DiCenzo Story
Growing up immersed in the gritty reality of the drug and alcohol recovery center his father founded, Paolo DiCenzo got an early, firsthand look at what it means to fight for your life and the power of true redemption. Refusing to play it safe, he walked away from a Division 1 athletic scholarship to lean completely into his DNA as a serial entrepreneur. Today, he runs three companies—including his newly launched fashion house, DiCenzo—all while serving as the Vice President of the very same recovery center that shaped his youth. We dive into how he scaled a side hustle at 13 years old into an empire and his unshakable philosophy of never wasting a single second of the time he has been given. This is a conversation about full-throttle faith, leaving nothing on the table, and maximizing your potential. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
May 17 · 2 hr 31 min
#136 - Medicine Meets Mindset: Unplugging the Screen Epidemic | Dual Coast Podcast
Russell Rogers and Dan Scoca, hosts of the Dual Coast Podcast, bring a powerful collision of holistic mindset and hard medical science to the table. Russell, a 20-year athletic trainer and author, is on a relentless mission to help families unplug from digital addiction and build generational leadership. Dan, an orthopedic surgery Physician Assistant, balances that drive with the undeniable medical reality of how our lazy daily habits literally break down our bodies. Together, they strip away the self-help BS to deliver a real-world blueprint for turning passive consumption into ruthless action. This is a wake-up call to put the phone down, take ownership of your physical health, and start living on purpose. Real people. Real stories. Real f*cking life.
May 10 · 1 hr 46 min
#135 - The Art of Being Seen: Surviving Repressed Trauma & Stepping Into the Light | The Talie Feola Story
For the first 30 years of her life, former Division 1 athlete Talie Feola carried the crushing, silent weight of repressed childhood trauma that made her feel completely unseen. When those terrifying memories finally surfaced, she refused to let the darkness win, taking a massive leap of faith to sit with plant medicine in the jungles of Guatemala to face her demons head-on. By doing the grueling inner work, she realized the shame she carried was never hers to hold, allowing her to cut toxic ties and finally step into the light. Today, she channels her survival into profound visual projects like "The Art of Being Seen" and "The Hot Seat," dedicating her life to helping others drop their masks and express their true, authentic selves. This is a raw conversation about confronting your darkest moments, healing your spirit, and taking relentless physical action toward peace. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
May 3 · 3 hr 8 min
#134 - Refusing to Break: Building a More Capable Human | The Steven Chin Story
Steven Chin has spent his entire life in the fire, evolving from a professional fighter and Private Military Contractor to an active Law Enforcement officer and SWAT operator. He lives by the gritty philosophy of "Stress Inoculation," believing that intentionally seeking out hard things and taking absolute ownership is the only way to become a truly capable human being. Steven’s relentless mindset is unbreakable. Today, as the President of Direct Action Training Inc., he is eliminating the BS in the tactical industry to provide legitimate preparation for individuals who bet their lives on their training. We discuss the brutal realities of combat, the mental edge required to survive the shadows, and why leaning into extreme stress is the ultimate life hack. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
April 26 · 1 hr 33 min
# 133 - Designing the Culture: From Sketchbook to Storefront | The Vindeezy Story
In an era where most clothing brands exist solely online, Pittsburgh fashion designer Vincent McConville, aka Vindeezy, decided to plant a physical flag in his city by launching 150 West Street. He didn't just fuse high-fashion luxury with authentic streetwear; he built a brick-and-mortar storefront that doubles as a vibrant hub for artists, hustlers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate. We dive into the brutal behind-the-scenes reality of his passion, his motivations and the motivation to connect the people of the City. Vindeezy breaks down the mental shift from being an artist to a scalable business owner, proving that true greatness means building a culture instead of just a product. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
April 19 · 1 hr 51 min
#132 - Jail, Faith, & Jiu-Jitsu | The Travis Scott Story
Pastor Travis Scott went from a fatherless youth with multiple arrests and a 0.09 GPA to a devoted counselor and husband of 26 years. Driven by his faith, he refused to become a tragic statistic and completely rewrote his life's trajectory through what he calls "gracious but brutal honesty." Proving that his relentless pursuit applies to both the spiritual and the physical, Travis stepped onto the Jiu-Jitsu mats at age 45 and earned his Brown Belt in an insanely fast four-and-a-half years. We explore his mindset and motivation, preparing for the IBJJF Nogi Worlds at 50, and how surviving on the mats perfectly mirrors weathering life's hardest storms. This episode proves that no matter how broken your starting line is, you can always take absolute ownership and change your future. Real people, Real stories, Real f*cking life.
April 12 · 2 hr 29 min
#131 - From Army Ranger to the New American Dream | The Alex Cabral Story
Alex Cabral didn't wait around when 9/11 happened; at just 17 years old, he signed an Army Ranger contract and eventually deployed six times as a highly-trained sniper. After walking away from a safe desk job at the NSA, he spent eight grueling years operating in the shadows as an intelligence contractor in Iraq and Syria. Today, he has traded the chaos of the sandbox for the "New American Dream," building a peaceful multi-family homestead and raising his kids. We discuss his jarring transition from life-or-death operations to becoming a youth baseball commissioner, and how he now uses his Spec Ops experience to build mental armor for first responders with Sharp Performance. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
April 5 · 1 hr 45 min
#130 - Roofing, Wrestling, & Wrecking | The Bryson Jones Story
At just 21 years old, undefeated amateur fighter Bryson Jones is redefining the blue-collar grind by balancing grueling days tearing off roofs with a calculated obsession to dominate the cage. We break down his insane strategy of using live boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling matches as his actual preparation for MMA, often competing in these other disciplines right in the middle of a fight camp. Bryson opens up about starting with a wrestling base and diving headfirst into every martial art available to forge himself into the ultimate mixed martial artist. This conversation proves that you don't need a full-time athlete's schedule to completely out-work the competition and build a flawless 4-0 record. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
March 29 · 1 hr 48 min
#129 - The Ultimate Heel Turn: From Rock Bottom to Pro Wrestling Champion | The Nick Hamrick Story
Nick Hamrick gets paid to be the villain in the wrestling ring, but in reality, he is living the ultimate redemption story. Once living a dangerous life on the streets that cost him everything, Nick hit rock bottom before finding his faith and completely flipping the script. Today, he is a licensed real estate agent, a devoted father, and a heavyweight champion who has wrestled over 300 matches since 2020. We discuss his gritty transition from selling drugs to selling houses, and how he channels his dark past into becoming "100% Pure Greatness" inside the squared circle. This episode is proof that no matter how far you've fallen, your past does not dictate your future. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
March 22 · 2 hr 26 min
#128 - Becoming Untappable: The Black Belt Mindset | The Tanner Hall Story
Two years after his first appearance, BJJ Black Belt, REALTOR, and Mortgage Lender Tanner Hall returns to the podcast for a massive full-circle moment as we officially team up in the real estate game. In a raw and unexpected segment, Tanner opens up about his hidden battle with Kratom addiction and the grueling mental warfare required to get clean and stay grounded. We dive into his 12-year journey on the mats, exploring the philosophy behind his "Untappable White Belt" course and why learning to survive under crushing pressure is the ultimate foundation for success. From the pitcher's mound to balancing the intense hustle of Real Estate with fatherhood, Tanner breaks down how he navigates life's heaviest responsibilities. This is a conversation about quiet resilience, facing your demons, and refusing to tap out when it matters most. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life.
March 8 · 1 hr 47 min
#127 - Working in the Dark: From Obesity to Undefeated Champion | The Bryan Mitchell Story
By day, Bryan Mitchell is an electrical lineman battling high voltage and brutal weather on utility poles, but by night, he is an undefeated 4-0 amateur MMA Light Heavyweight Champion. We dive into Bryan's incredible physical and mental transformation, exploring how he fought his way back from severe obesity through cycling and Jiu-Jitsu to eventually dominate inside the cage. Bryan opens up about the grit required to balance grueling blue-collar labor with intense fight camps, and the immense mental toll of surviving a one-year layoff filled with canceled fights. His journey is a powerful testament to the value of doing the hard work in the dark so that you are ready when the championship lights finally come on. Real people. Real stories. Real f**king life. Send a text Support the show The path to success is RELENTLESS. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Instagram & X, (@RelentlessPRJCT) or visit www.therelentlessproject.com. Please subscribe to tye YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/@RelentlessPrjct