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PODCAST

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward

Welcome to EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward, hosted by Zander Sprague, bestselling author and acclaimed motivational speaker. If you"re looking to kickstart the EPIC chapters in your life, you"ve come to the right place! Here, you will find inspiring stories, practical resources, and transformative insights to guide you on your journey.Whether you"re an entrepreneur scaling your business, a leader fostering a better workplace culture, an author penning your next bestseller, an athlete prepping for

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All Episodes

28:13

From Baptist Pastor To FBI Agent: Eric Robinson’s...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/03/23

In this fascinating episode of Epic Begins With 1 Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down withEric Robinson, a recently retired FBI agent whose career path is anything but ordinary. Eric shares how he went from serving as a Baptist pastor to spending 24 years in federal law enforcement. He discusses the surprising reasons behind his career shift, the reality of life inside the FBI, and the lessons learned from working cases involving gangs, organized crime, white-collar crime, and crimes against

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27:04

Work Rewritten: How to Navigate Careers in the AI Era

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/03/16

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31:46

From Schoolteacher To Circumnavigator: Alison...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/03/09

In this breathtaking episode of Epic Begins With 1 Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down with former schoolteacher and authorAlison Gieschen, who sold everything with her husband and moved aboard a 43-foot sailboat to circumnavigate the globe. Eight years, 49 countries, four continents—and countless epic unexpecteds—later, Alison shares stories of 20-foot waves, ripped sails, Chinese fishing fleets, mechanical failures, and even a tsunami warning after landfall. From crossing the Atlantic in

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37:02

From Burnout To Bandwidth: The Doctor’s Exit Plan...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/02/09

Emergency medicine veteranDr. Maureen Gibbonsjoins Zander Sprague to talk about what happens when your calling becomes your whole identity, and what happens when you finally. After 15 years in the ER and 13 years at a Level 2 trauma center, Dr. Moe made the terrifying choice to execute her exit plan and step away, even though she still loved the chaos. She talks about her mission to help physicians and high-achievers build health, time, and income freedom through systems – not just habits. If you

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24:56

From CNN To Healing Words: John DeDakis On Grief,...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/01/26

In this moving episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague is joined byJohn DeDakis, former CNN editor for Wolf Blitzer, longtime journalist, novelist, writing coach, and motivational speaker. Together, they talk about grief, purpose, and healing. John shares the heartbreaking losses of his sister to suicide and his son to a heroin overdose, and reflects on how those experiences shaped him as a man, a father, and a storyteller. They also explore the often-overlooked reality of

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30:24

Every Mile Matters: Ironman, Cancer, And The Fight...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/01/19

In this powerful and deeply human episode, Zander Sprague sits down withDr. Jeff Reynolds, nonprofit CEO, endurance athlete, author, and two-time cancer survivor. Jeff shares how training for Ironman Florida unknowingly prepared him for the hardest races of his life: prostate cancer and stage 3B colorectal cancer. From finding out he had cancer via text message to enduring surgery, chemo, radiation, and relentless recovery, Jeff reveals how an endurance mindset, gratitude, and community carried him

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27:08

Lazy Leadership, Hard Truths, And The Power Of...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/01/12

In this insightful episode of Epic Begins With 1 Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down with executive coach and former corporate leaderCorinne Gavlinskifor a candid conversation about leadership, identity, and reinvention. Corinne shares her journey through multiple career pivots, unexpected layoffs, and the identity jolts that come from tying self-worth too tightly to professional titles. Together, they unpack the concept of “lazy leadership,” why high performers often struggle as leaders, and how

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32:44

Running Into The Unknown: Teresa Bowser On Mindset,...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2026/01/05

In this electrifying episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander sits down with ultra-runner and adventure coachTeresa Bowser, a woman who says “yes” to the kind of challenges most people sprint away from. Teresa shares how she transformed her life—from heavy partying to heavy mileage—by discovering Spartan Races, then trail running, and ultimately tackling her self-designed Project Untamed: 103.74 brutal miles with 26,000 feet of climbing. They dive into mental toughness, why the unknown

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30:05

Move To Heal: Lisa Manca On The Power Of Dance Therapy

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/12/22

In this fascinating episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander reconnects with fellow LPCCLisa Manca, a board-certified Dance/Movement Therapist helping clients heal through the wisdom of the body. Lisa breaks down what dance therapy really is—no, it’s not interpretive dance with your therapist—and explains how movement, mirroring, and somatic awareness unlock emotions that words often can’t reach. She shares stories from her wide-ranging career, from group work in psychiatric prison

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26:03

From Therapy To Toughness: Lessons From Navy SEAL...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/12/15

In this powerful and insightful episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander sits down withMichael Ostrolenk, a psychotherapist-turned-human optimization coach whose 30-year career spans transpersonal psychology, somatic therapy, and elite Navy SEAL training programs. Michael shares lessons from decades of studying self-mastery, martial arts, and mental toughness—revealing how true strength begins with discipline, compassion, and character. Together, they explore emotional resilience, why

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30:23

Dressing For Success—Powered By AI And Epic...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/12/08

In this inspiring episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander chats withAnya Cheng, founder and CEO ofTaelor—a groundbreaking fashion-tech company using artificial intelligence to style busy professionals. From her beginnings as a reporter in Taiwan to her work at McDonald’s, Target, and Meta, Anya’s journey is one of relentless persistence, bold pivots, and saying yes to opportunity. She shares how Taelor AI uses data, human insight, and machine learning to revolutionize the way men

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31:42

Six Lives, One Spirit: How Cyndee Beat The Odds Again...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/11/17

In this profoundly moving episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague welcomes poet and survivorCyndee Dhalai, whose life story redefines resilience. From growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, challenging cultural expectations, and facing ostracism for speaking her truth, to flatlining five times and living allergic to all medication, Cyndee’s journey is nothing short of miraculous. She shares how faith, self-conversation, and sheer determination helped her move from a wheelchair to

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27:04

Parenting, Publishing, And Performing: Troy Horne’s...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/11/10

In this inspiring episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down withTroy Horne—musician, Broadway actor, author, and dedicated dad—to explore a life built on bold decisions. From driving to Los Angeles with $1,500 and no plan, to signing a record deal, touring with legends, and starring in Rent on Broadway, Troy’s story proves the power of simply saying “yes” to your dreams. He shares behind-the-scenes insights from NBC’s The Sing-Off and his bestselling bookMental Toughness

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29:13

Episode 100 Special: Turning Goals Into Reality With...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/10/27

For the 100th episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague celebrates this epic milestone withDanny Lehr—author, coach, and master of making extraordinary achievement accessible to everyone. Danny shares how he went from a PE teacher to building businesses, training alongside Olympians, and even transforming a used beach cruiser into a bike capable of conquering 72 miles around Lake Tahoe. Drawing from his book,Win Your Next Hour, Danny breaks down his blueprint for success: Words,

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29:04

Belief, Grit, And Focus: The Real Game-Changers In...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/10/20

In this motivating episode of EPIC Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague talks withCoach Sandy Cohan, a former hockey player turned mindset development coach and author. After years of coaching elite athletes – from Olympians to college players – Sandy discovered that skill alone does not separate the good from the great. The real difference? Mindset. Together, they explore the power of belief, grit, emotional control, and focus as the true foundations of performance. Sandy shares insights

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33:53

From Radiation To Revelation: Dr. Matt Kutz On Living...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/10/06

In this inspiring episode of EPIC Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague welcomesDr. Matt Kutz, professor, author, global leader, and prostate cancer survivor. Matt shares his extraordinary journey from athletic training and academic research to writing leadership books that reached Fortune 500 companies worldwide. But his most powerful lessons came after a life-altering diagnosis. During 40 days of radiation, Matt wrote the foundation of his new book,Becoming Epic, which introduces the EPIC

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28:35

Addiction, Recovery, And Renewal: Trent Carter’s...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/09/22

In this powerful episode of EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward, Zander Sprague speaks withTrent Carter, board-certified nurse practitioner, addiction medicine specialist, and founder ofRenew Healthin New Mexico. Trent shares how his passion for helping others led him to build a network of clinics dedicated to treating substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders in some of the most underserved communities. From confronting New Mexico’s fentanyl crisis to carrying Narcan in his car, Trent’s

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32:21

One Step At A Time: Hiking, Healing, And Hope At 72...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/09/15

In this unforgettable episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down with retired attorney, Marine Corps veteran, and authorRand Timmermanto explore his extraordinary hiking adventure on the Appalachian Trail. At 72, Rand and his brother set out to conquer over 2,000 miles of rugged wilderness, facing snowstorms, relentless climbs, falls that nearly ended the journey, and the physical limits of age. Along the way, Rand reflects on his Vietnam service, his recovery from

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28:49

From Stroke To Strength: Trevor Schade’s Epic Reset

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/09/08

In this powerful episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down with serial entrepreneurTrevor Schade, whose life was transformed by what he calls a “total life implosion.” Within 18 months, Trevor underwent an epic reset: he endured divorce, career loss, real estate setbacks, and two strokes – events that shattered his belief in control and reshaped his outlook on life. Together, they explore the difference between control and influence, why mindset can make or break

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35:16

From Cringe Footage To Camera Confidence With...

EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward ·

2025/09/01

In this candid and laughter-filled episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, Zander Sprague sits down with speaking coach and facilitatorMarianne Hickmanto unpack the real challenges of professional speaking—both on stage and in the virtual world. They tackle the sting (and value) of feedback, the art of reading a room you can’t see, and the mental gymnastics of staying engaged with “Zoom face” audiences. From cringe-worthy old footage to developing true camera connection, Marianne shares her

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