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  • Spiritual Warfare, Discipline, and Healing: A Conversation with Spiro Demetriadi

    Spiritual Warfare, Discipline, and Healing: A Conversation with Spiro Demetriadi
    Feb 11 2026
    What if the real battle most people face is invisible? In this episode of Built on Behavior, Brooke Trometer sits down with Spiro Demetriadi, founder of Spiritual Combatives and author of How to Kill PTSD Before It Kills You. Drawing from decades of military training, martial arts, and faith-based study, Spiro explains why spiritual warfare is real, why mindset is survival, and how faith becomes a tactical advantage when life feels overwhelming.From the Battlefield to the Inner BattleSpiro Demetriadi has spent his life immersed in discipline, combat training, and survival. Military service, infantry training, airborne school, and decades working alongside elite law enforcement and military units shaped his professional path.But the most important battles of his life were not physical.They were internal.After years of helping others master tactics and physical defense, Spiro found himself facing personal loss and emotional hardship. That season forced a realization. Physical training alone was not enough. The spiritual dimension had been ignored.That realization became the foundation of Spiritual Combatives.What Spiritual Warfare Really MeansAccording to Spiro, spiritual warfare is conflict waged in the invisible spiritual world that manifests in the visible physical one. The battlefield is the mind.Negative thoughts, fear, hopelessness, self-doubt, and despair are not random. They are attempts to gain ground. While no one can stop thoughts from appearing, everyone has the power to choose which thoughts they allow to stay.You cannot stop birds from flying over your head.But you can stop them from building a nest in your hair.Detection matters. Response matters even more.Why Strength Alone Is Not EnoughSpiro emphasizes that physical strength without spiritual strength eventually collapses under pressure. He points to elite athletes, military operators, and high performers who break down not because their bodies fail, but because their inner foundation does.This belief is central to his book How to Kill PTSD Before It Kills You, written primarily for law enforcement, military, and first responders. The book reframes trauma through a spiritual lens, not as denial, but as preparation.His message is clear.God has your six.You are not alone, even when it feels that way.From Trauma to TrainingAfter a divorce and a season of deep sadness, Spiro immersed himself in scripture and spiritual study. What began as personal survival became a structured system.Over four years, he created the Spiritual Combatives Masterclass, a comprehensive program with more than 160 lessons and over 20 hours of training. The focus is not motivation, but transformation.Just as physical strength requires repetition, spiritual strength is built through daily discipline. Reading scripture. Challenging destructive thoughts. Reframing setbacks. Choosing gratitude even in pain.It is not about avoiding hardship.It is about refusing to be destroyed by it.Why This Message Matters NowLaw enforcement, military members, and first responders see humanity at its worst. Over time, that weight erodes faith, hope, and connection.Spiro addresses the stigma head-on. Vulnerability is often seen as weakness, but he believes it is the opposite. Strength includes asking for help.Heroes need support too.Closing ReflectionThis conversation is about awareness, not argument. About understanding that unseen battles shape visible outcomes. About recognizing that faith, discipline, and mindset are not abstract ideas, they are survival tools.Spiro leaves listeners with a powerful truth.You are already standing on the hilltop.Victory is not something you chase.It is something you defend.Connect with Spiro DemetriadiAll resources, courses, and service offerings:https://spiritualcombatives.com/fifthdimensionshowNew Book – U-Turn Your Life In 3 Days: Get Your Life Headed Back in the Right Directionhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GBZH32HCU-Turn Your Life In 3 Days is a no-nonsense field guide for anyone who feels off-course, burned out, drifting, or spiritually worn down. This is not motivation. It’s a course correction.Drawing from decades of real-world combatives and tactical training and the battle-tested principles of the Spiritual Combatives Masterclass, Spiro delivers a clear, step-by-step plan to stop the downward spiral, expose deception, regain clarity, and realign your life with God’s direction.In a focused three-day framework, readers learn how to assess where they are, reverse course, and set a new heading rooted in truth, discipline, faith, and spiritual strength.Waiting won’t fix it. Make the U-Turn.Email: contact@spiritualcombatives.comLinkedIn: Search “Spiro Demetriadi”
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    1 Std. und 36 Min.
  • Success Isn't a Destination. It's Who You Get to be Along the Way.

    Success Isn't a Destination. It's Who You Get to be Along the Way.
    Feb 11 2026
    Success Isn’t a Destination. It’s Who You Get to Be Along the Way.Some conversations don’t feel like interviews. They feel like space opening up.That’s what this one felt like.When I sat down with Thomas Edwards Jr., I knew we would talk about identity, success, and leadership. What I didn’t expect was how naturally the conversation kept circling back to a quiet tension so many people are carrying without realizing it: the experience of living as two different people.When Success Looks Right but Feels OffThomas is widely known for his earlier work as The Professional Wingman. From the outside, his life looked like success by every visible measure. Media appearances, including The Steve Harvey Show, national recognition, a fast-growing business, and a public reputation built on confidence and charisma.But what stood out most as he shared his story wasn’t the rise. It was what came after.There was a moment when he realized he had checked all the boxes and still felt unsettled. Not in a dramatic, crisis-driven way. Just a quiet awareness that something didn’t line up. That question many people never stop long enough to ask: Why am I doing all of this?The Cost of Living as Two PeopleAs we talked, it became clear that the issue wasn’t effort or ambition. It was fragmentation.We are taught, often without realizing it, to divide ourselves into roles. There is the business version of us and the personal version. The leader, the parent, the partner. We assume this separation is normal, even necessary.But living that way doesn’t create balance. It creates pressure. It requires constant switching, constant monitoring, constant performance.What Thomas described wasn’t a need to reinvent himself for optics or branding. It was a return to wholeness. Not becoming someone new, but learning how to be the same person everywhere.Why Imposter Syndrome Isn’t Really About ConfidenceThat idea reshaped how we talked about confidence and imposter syndrome.Thomas offered a perspective that reframed the issue entirely. Imposter syndrome isn’t really about confidence. It’s about identity. When you’re unclear about who you are, of course you question whether you belong.Confidence doesn’t arrive before action. It shows up afterward, built through practice, feedback, and repetition. This is why “fake it till you make it” so often makes things worse. Pretending reinforces the split instead of resolving it.Learning Requires Permission to Make MistakesWe also talked about why so many capable people stop taking risks. Fear, when you look closely, isn’t always about failure. It’s often about finality. When every decision feels like it has to be perfect, movement stops.Thomas shared how video games helped him reconnect with growth in a healthier way. Games like Super Mario Bros. are designed around learning. Mistakes are expected. You’re given room to try again. When you gain an extra life, you stop playing defensively. You explore. You take chances. You improve.Somewhere along the way, many adults forget how to give themselves that margin.Rebuilding Trust Happens Through ConsistencyOne of the most grounded parts of the conversation was Thomas’s honesty about his marriage. Addiction and escapism brought him close to losing everything that mattered most.Rebuilding trust didn’t happen through explanations or promises. It happened through consistency. Doing what he said he would do. Showing up again and again. Letting integrity rebuild slowly over time.We also talked about communication, and how many couples live carefully, afraid to say the wrong thing because everything feels fragile. What changed for them was a shared commitment to remember they were on the same team. Not trying to win. Trying to move forward together.Rethinking What Success Actually IsAs the conversation came to a close, we returned to the idea of success itself.What Thomas believes now is something his younger self wouldn’t have accepted. Success isn’t a destination. It isn’t a moment you arrive at and stay. It’s an experience shaped by who you are becoming along the way.Goals still matter. Direction still matters. But when outcomes are pursued without attention to wholeness, the cost eventually shows up.The Thought That LingeredAt the end of the episode, I asked Thomas one final question. If everything else were forgotten, what message would he leave behind?His answer was simple:You are someone else’s inspiration.Whether you see it or not.🔗 Connect with Thomas Edwards Jr.Website: https://thomasedwardsjr.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/thethomasedwardsjrDM “BETTER” to learn more about Better Together, the marriage experience he leads with his wifeJoin the waitlist for The Inner Drive experience (August 2026)
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    1 Std. und 18 Min.
  • Success Has Seasons: Knowing When It’s Time to Let Go

    Success Has Seasons: Knowing When It’s Time to Let Go
    Feb 11 2026
    Success Has Seasons: Knowing When It’s Time to Let GoSome conversations stay with you long after the recording ends. This was one of those conversations.In this episode of Built on Behavior, I sat down with Monique Alvarez to talk about identity, reinvention, intuition, and what it actually costs us to keep living and working in ways that no longer fit.What struck me immediately about Monique wasn’t her résumé, though it’s impressive. It was her ability to hold space for realness. There was no posturing. No performance. Just honesty about what changes as we grow, and how uncomfortable it can be to outgrow the versions of ourselves that others are attached to.Growing Up Known, and Learning to PleaseBoth Monique and I come from small towns, the kind where people don’t just know you, they know your parents, your grandparents, and the story they’ve already decided about who you are.That kind of environment teaches you how to talk to people. You learn to find common ground quickly. You learn how to be agreeable, polite, and accommodating. But it also teaches you something else, often without you realizing it: how to please people, how to stay inside expectations, and how difficult it is to evolve when everyone remembers you as you were at sixteen.We talked about how small towns freeze identity. Whoever you were at a certain age can become who you’re expected to be forever. There isn’t always room for growth, change, or reinvention, especially when family legacy or reputation is involved.Leaving to Figure Out Who You AreFor Monique, travel became the way out and the way through.Living overseas, including extended time in Albania, forced her to confront who she was without the familiar structures of American life. She shared how exhausting it was at first, trying to recreate what she knew instead of fully inhabiting where she was.The shift came when she stopped resisting and started immersing. That choice changed everything. Language, relationships, food, pace of life, all of it opened up once she let go of trying to stay the same.What resonated deeply for me was her description of reverse culture shock. Coming back to the United States after years away didn’t feel like returning home. It felt overwhelming. Loud. Fast. Disconnected. It highlighted something we don’t often question from the inside: we are incredibly successful as a culture, but we are not necessarily happier.When Success Stops FittingOne of the most important threads in this conversation was seasonality.Monique talked about stepping away from work that made good money but no longer aligned with who she is now. High-touch consulting. Deeply involved client work. Offers that once made sense, and simply don’t anymore.This wasn’t burnout. It wasn’t failure. It was honesty.She described the signs clearly. Dreading certain calendar appointments. Needing time to recover after calls. Catching herself imagining life without that work at all. I’ve felt those same signals in my own life, and I know many people listening have too.Just because something works does not mean it’s meant to continue.Intuition Is Not the Opposite of StrategyWe spent a lot of time talking about intuition, and I’m glad we did.There’s a narrative in business that good decisions come only from data, logic, and analysis. Monique pushed back on that hard. Not by dismissing numbers, but by reframing intuition as another form of intelligence, one that sharpens as you remove noise, misalignment, and unhealthy relationships.She shared a story about a baseball coach trusting his gut over statistics, even at the highest level of professional sports like the Los Angeles Dodgers. The point wasn’t baseball. The point was this: intuition doesn’t disappear as stakes get higher. If anything, it becomes more important.Jealousy, Boundaries, and Inner CirclesWe also went into territory that many people avoid talking about publicly: jealousy, envy, and how success changes relationships.Monique was direct. Once you cross a certain line of visibility or influence, people who once cheered for you may begin to resent you. That shift is not something you can manage your way out of by being nicer, quieter, or more accommodating.Her advice was clear and firm. Your inner circle matters. Deeply. And jealousy does not resolve itself if ignored. Allowing it to linger can quietly erode your confidence, clarity, and self-trust.I shared my own experiences with cutting ties, including family, when relationships became a threat to peace rather than a source of support. It’s never easy. But the stillness and clarity that follow are unmistakable.Choosing Human Connection on PurposeAs we looked toward the future, the conversation turned to technology, AI, and the growing sense of isolation so many people feel. Monique shared her vision for Network Like the Rich, which is less about transactions and more about leaving people better than you found them.Not rejecting tools, but ...
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    1 Std. und 16 Min.
  • Why Time Management Doesn’t Work for Women (And What Actually Does)

    Why Time Management Doesn’t Work for Women (And What Actually Does)
    Feb 11 2026

    Why do so many productivity systems fail women?

    In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Garfinkel, productivity coach and former healthcare executive, to talk about what actually works when you’re juggling business, life, responsibility, and everything in between.

    This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.

    From 36 Years in Healthcare to a Line in the Sand

    Nancy spent more than three decades in healthcare operations, leading teams and large-scale projects. She built a career many would call successful. But over time, the environment shifted.

    After being recruited into what she thought was an ideal role during COVID, she found herself in a culture that no longer aligned with her values. During a difficult exchange with leadership, she reached a breaking point.

    “I’m 61 years old. I just don’t need this anymore.”

    And she walked out.

    No perfect exit strategy. No five-year runway. Just clarity.

    Busy Isn’t the Same as Productive

    One of the most powerful distinctions Nancy makes is this:

    “A lot of people confuse a to-do list with goals.”

    We talk about how women often fill their calendars with urgent tasks that feel productive but don’t actually move long-term priorities forward.

    Laundry. Emails. Errands. Admin.

    Those are tasks.

    Goals deserve something different. They deserve protected time.

    Nancy explains how traditional time blocking often fails because it fills every hour instead of creating intentional space. When everything is scheduled, nothing feels meaningful.

    A Different Way to Plan

    Nancy’s approach starts with long-term vision, narrows into a three-year focus, and then breaks down into 12-week plans.

    She encourages starting with just two goals, one personal and one business, and building clear tactics around them.

    Her 13-week program includes a final week dedicated to reflection, celebration, and planning the next quarter. Not more pressure. Just clarity and momentum.

    Accountability Without Shame

    We also talk about how accountability is often misunderstood.

    In corporate settings, accountability can feel like blame. Nancy reframes it as ownership paired with reflection.

    If something didn’t get done, the question isn’t “What’s wrong with me?” It’s “What got in the way?”

    That shift alone changes everything.

    Decision Fatigue Is Real

    Nancy also shares the concept behind “Decision Debbie,” a tool she created to help women reduce decision fatigue.

    There’s a smaller version to help structure your day when your energy is low, and a larger AI-powered version inside her program that supports bigger strategic decisions.

    It’s not about outsourcing your thinking. It’s about reducing friction.

    Ignite 2026

    Nancy is also launching Ignite 2026, a series of online summits designed to give women a stage.

    The first event, Ignite 2026: Reset and Thrive, takes place December 4–5 and focuses on health, wealth, and personal growth.

    Her goal is simple. Create accessible visibility for women and amplify voices that deserve to be heard.

    Final Reflection

    Success is not a straight line.

    Nancy’s story is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t have an expiration date. You don’t bounce back. You bounce forward.

    If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or quietly outgrowing something in your life or business, this conversation will resonate.

    Connect with Nancy Garfinkel

    Instagram: Coach Nancy Garfinkel
    Facebook: Nancy Garfinkel, the No BS Coach
    Private Facebook Group: The Productivity Place
    Website: https://nancygarfinkel.com/

    Connect with Brooke Trometer

    Facebook: Brooke Trometer
    Private Facebook Group: Podcasting for Business: Authority, Trust, & Conversion
    Website: Cypress Media Productions
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    1 Std. und 11 Min.