Episode 91 kicks off with an update on the new "Grizzly HQ" office space—electric is in, next up is paint and floors, and we’re building it out in phases (because progress beats perfection and we’re always reinvesting). Then I get into a mindset shift: sometimes you find what you need by doing the opposite, and even “falling off” your routine can remind you how good you had it and fuel a stronger comeback. We talk goals as tools (not pass/fail), why your strategy is just as much about what you stop doing as what you start, and how thinking about the future reshapes who you are today. I also touch on that weird-but-real feeling of looking back at old conversations and cringing (that’s growth), why progress photos and tracking matter, and what I’m doing to calm my brain down at night—including reading Forrest Gump as a bedtime shutdown book.

In Episode 90 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton continues the New Year momentum by digging into what it actually takes to follow through — not just set goals and forget them.

He shares personal updates from his own 2026 plans, including long-distance running progress, boxing lessons with family, public speaking training, and why learning new skills on purpose matters more than comfort. Colton breaks down how he’s organizing his goals across fitness, business, learning, travel, and personal growth — not perfectly, but intentionally.

The episode closes with practical lessons on discipline vs. habit, doing hard things without immediate rewards, communicating better with people, and why logic has to come before emotion if you want real progress. It’s a grounded reminder that growth doesn’t come from motivation alone — it comes from intention, consistency, and self-awareness over time.

If you’re serious about making 2026 different, this episode gives you the mindset to actually back it up.

In Episode 89 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton kicks off 2026 with a hard truth: most people set goals every year—and most people quit on them just as fast.

This episode isn’t about motivation that fades by February. It’s about playing the long game. Colton challenges you to think beyond the next 30 days and ask the real questions:
Who do you want to be at 50, 60, or 70? Do you want energy, independence, and momentum—or excuses?

After laying out the mindset behind real change, Colton walks through a practical, no-fluff goal-setting framework he uses with his team. Fitness, finances, career, travel, and personal growth—broken down into clear pillars that actually make goals stick.

You’ll hear a live, workshop-style example of how to set goals that are realistic, measurable, and worth chasing—and how to revisit them throughout the year instead of forgetting them by February.

If you’re tired of empty resolutions and want a plan you can actually follow, this episode sets the tone for doing 2026 the right way.

Happy Holidays — hope you got some real rest, time with family, or even just some quiet time to reset.

In Episode 88, Colton shares a few personal holiday updates (including his “fashion era” and why looking sharp actually boosts confidence and productivity), then dives into what he’s been thinking about heading into the new year — including a potential 75 Hard run and what that challenge actually requires.

From there, we get into a straight-up conversation on leadership: what real leaders do when things go sideways, why great leadership means putting yourself second, and how “extreme ownership” changes your team culture.

Colton also breaks down why the average person isn’t nearly as productive as they think — and how building 60–120 minutes of uninterrupted focus time can completely change your output, value, and results.

In this episode:

• Holiday recap + why giving feels better than buying

• Confidence, appearance, and the “dress to impress” effect

• What 75 Hard is (and why Colton might do it)

• Leadership lessons from a real Priority Fitness situation

• Why texts/emails get misread — and how to communicate better

• The productivity truth: most people waste hours daily

• How to plan your 2026 goals and actually stick to them

New year’s coming — don’t waste the momentum. Lock in.

Holden Smith is back for his 5th monthly check-in, and this one’s the perfect end-of-year reality check. We talk about what it’s actually like to rebuild your life when you finally decide you’re done making excuses — the cold mornings, the mental battles, the job change, and the pressure of a wedding coming in May 2026.

Holden opens up about the trade-offs he’s made to prioritize health, how seasonal depression hits this time of year, and why discipline matters more than motivation. Then we get into the wins: he’s down to 343.7 lbs, hit his goal of 350 and under, knocked out 6 books, stayed consistent with lifting and steps, completed a brutal 36-hour fast, and is working toward running a mile without walking.

We wrap it up by setting January goals: 7 books, 320 lbs, and a 1-mile jog with no walking, plus bigger 2026 targets like getting under 300, hiking Devil’s Lake, and showing up to the wedding healthier, lighter, and more confident than ever.

In Episode 86 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton shares a series of real-life reflections pulled straight from recent travel, work, and day-to-day experiences.

He breaks down why enjoying the climb matters more than rushing to the destination, how failure is really just learning how not to fail again, and why paying attention to the small details separates people who grow from people who stay stuck. Colton also talks about confidence — how you carry yourself, how you show up in everyday situations, and why posture, eye contact, and intention matter more than most people realize.

The episode wraps with practical perspective on handling problems logically instead of emotionally, why every problem has a solution (even if that solution is patience), and how to start thinking clearly about 2026 goals without overcomplicating them. If you’re in a season of reflection, transition, or just trying to be more intentional with your time and effort, this one will hit home.

Colton’s back from Denver after the Broncos vs. Packers matchup, and he’s breaking down the trip—flight delays, mountain views in Estes Park, and the game-day atmosphere (with Packers fans showing up strong). He also drops a few quick business and gym updates, including the new window finally being fixed at the Wautoma gym, progress on the Princeton building next door, and how the Tuesday/Thursday value emails have been going.

But the real message of this episode goes deeper: fulfillment. After meeting a father/son restaurant ownership team in Denver and hearing their story, Colton talks about what it really means to feel fulfilled—doing work that matters, helping people, and understanding the bigger “why” behind what you do every day. If you’ve been feeling stuck, drifting, or asking yourself “what’s the point?”, this episode is a reminder that meaning is built by impact—one person, one interaction, one good decision at a time.

In Episode 84 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton looks ahead to the end of 2025 and breaks down what really matters before the year closes out. Fresh off an early morning leg day—and right before heading to Denver for Broncos vs. Packers—he talks about finishing strong, planning with intention, and setting goals that actually stick.

Colton dives into why the next few weeks are the perfect time to tighten up your routines, clean up unfinished business, and choose the one habit that would genuinely change your life going into 2026. He hits on fitness, diet, finances, and the power of writing things down—plus why simple, thoughtful gestures (even at work) go a long way.

If you’re ready to stop drifting into the new year and start designing it, this episode gives you the exact mindset to make 2026 your strongest year yet.

In Episode 83, Colton opens up about the last two weeks behind the scenes — the wins, the stressors, and the real-life business curveballs that hit right before the holidays.

From a Priority Fitness truck-and-trailer accident the day before Thanksgiving, to navigating insurance claims, IRS penalties, and the chaos that comes with growing multiple companies at once,

Colton breaks down why staying calm, staying logical, and staying forward-moving matters more than anything.

He dives into:

• The “emotion vs. logic” mindset and why most people sabotage themselves

• How to handle unexpected problems without derailing your entire day

• Why doing the hard things first creates momentum• The power of stacking “net positive days”

• Building a happy life one day at a time — literally

• Why everyone gets scared, and why that’s actually normal

• Finding joy in the tasks you dread, and why they build the most confidence

A real, grounded, practical episode packed with the kind of mindset shifts that actually move the needle — in fitness, in business, and in life.

In Episode 82, Colton sits down before a packed travel week to talk goals, habits, and the mindset shifts that actually move your life forward. Fresh off finishing How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People, he breaks down one of the biggest lessons from the book—why people perform better when their ideas matter—and how that applies to leadership, work, and everyday conversations.

From there, Colton dives into fitness motivation, why most people never stick to the gym, and how to actually make working out a long-term habit you enjoy. He unpacks the power of routines, building systems that work for you, breaking bad habits, and why now—not January—is the best time to start leveling up.

This episode hits goals, discipline, personal growth, and the mindset behind becoming the best version of yourself… one intentional decision at a time.

In Episode 81 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton is back with a solo breakdown of Thanksgiving week — from surviving the cold five-mile Turkey Trot to tackling carbs for the first time in a long time. He talks about how the race went, what the diet switch-up felt like, and why the post-Thanksgiving pump hit different.

From there, Colton dives into the new habits he’s building: a structured weekly running plan, collagen supplementation, and a tighter system for planning his workdays using time-blocked tasks. He also shares mindset shifts around aging, health, and why small wins matter more than most people think.

To wrap it up, Colton pulls lessons from the human-behavior book he’s been studying — covering first impressions, confidence, low self-esteem cues, and simple persuasion tools that help you communicate better at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

It’s a mix of storytelling, practical takeaways, and mindset upgrades — all centered on becoming just 1% better every day.

In Episode 80 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton dives into a powerful solo session packed with mindset, discipline, and real-life momentum. Fresh off Thanksgiving — and fresh off a four-mile run and a full lift — he breaks down why “winning your day” matters more than people think.

Colton opens up about routines, long-term thinking, and why your future self depends on the habits you build right now. He challenges the common “we all die anyway” mindset, pushes back on the idea that your prime is behind you, and explains why taking care of your body today determines the quality of your life decades from now.

He also shares how he structures podcast topics, what he’s learning from his latest books, why first impressions matter more than most people realize, and how tracking recovery, VO₂ max, and daily behavior has helped him reverse his biological age.

Plus — a quick update on Grizzly’s 7th location opening in Baraboo, the return of the weekly emails, and how you can get involved if you want more tools to level up your fitness, mindset, and discipline.

In Episode 79 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton sits down with fan-favorite Holden Smith for his fourth check-in — and the results speak for themselves. Holden has officially dropped 121 pounds, crushed every goal from last month, and is leveling up again.

They break down:
• How Holden read five books in 30 days — and why he’s upping the goal to six
• The mental grind of hitting a mile-and-a-half walk every gym day
• New training goals: consistent lifting, introducing jog/walk sessions, and building real strength
• His first 24-hour fast, what he learned, and why he’s tackling a 24 and 36-hour fast next
• Nutrition, discipline, setbacks, small wins, and the life changes that come with losing over 120 lbs

Holden also opens up about mindset, confidence, clothes fitting differently, and what it means to truly “grow through what you go through.”

Kimber shares her journey from working in schools to finding her true calling in fitness — a path that started with a pair of five-pound dumbbells, YouTube workouts, and a goal to feel strong again. As a single mom navigating life’s challenges, she found purpose in helping others build strength and confidence through movement.Colton and Kimber talk about everything from women’s health and hormone changes to why strength training is essential at every age. They dive into the mindset behind setting goals, using vision boards to dream bigger, and the importance of staying strong — physically, mentally, and emotionally — through every season of life.It’s an inspiring, real conversation about resilience, growth, and what it means to lift yourself and others up, one rep at a time.

In Episode 77 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton jumps on the mic for a solo update packed with stories, lessons, and takeaways.

He kicks things off with a story about scoring a rare Cybex hack squat — a full-circle moment that takes him back to his early days flipping gym equipment and hustling on Craigslist. From there, Colton gives an inside look at how Priority Fitness is leveling up — new apparel, sharper systems, and a massive install job that tested the team’s endurance and efficiency.

He also shares a quick financial lesson about business credit cards affecting personal credit, and closes with a reminder to stay disciplined without losing your humanity — tracking your progress, but not letting the numbers run your life.

It’s an inside look at leadership, growth, and building something great one rep (and one long day) at a time.

In Episode 76 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton breaks down what he’s been learning about intermittent fasting — from the science behind it to the real-life results he’s seeing.

He dives into how fasting works, what happens inside your body during the process, and why timing your meals might be more important than you think. Colton explains concepts like autophagy (your body’s “clean-up crew”) and mTOR (the system that builds and repairs), plus how things like sleep, cold exposure, and meal timing all play a role in better health and longevity.

He also shares his personal experience with 24–48 hour fasts, mental clarity, and new habits that have boosted his discipline, energy, and focus — along with a few practical takeaways for anyone curious about trying fasting themselves.

In Episode 75 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton dives into the idea that “practice makes perfect” — and why consistent self-reflection might just be the real key to growth.

Fresh off a team meeting, Colton shares lessons on communication, leadership, and getting comfortable with discomfort — from filming yourself to improve how you speak, to analyzing your own habits the way you’d critique a squat in the gym.

He also introduces a simple but powerful drill for anyone who wants to build confidence on camera or become a better communicator: the “2-2-2” method — two minutes muted, two minutes audio-only, and two minutes combined.

This episode is all about getting honest with yourself, owning your weaknesses, and taking small, intentional steps to get 1% better every day.

In Episode 74 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton reflects on how the “10x is Easier Than 2x” mindset has completely reshaped both his personal growth and the direction of Grizzly Fitness.

He breaks down what it means to think bigger, move faster, and stop wasting time on small, busy work that doesn’t move the needle. Colton shares how this shift led to real business changes — including updates on Grizzly’s 7th location in Baraboo, a new property purchase in Princeton, and plans for a revamped office and podcast studio.

From leadership lessons and showing appreciation to your team, to fasting for 43 hours and training the mind through discomfort, this episode blends strategy, mindset, and real-world updates. Colton also dives into how AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok can help you learn faster, make smarter decisions, and push your curiosity further.

He wraps up with a reminder that “leaders are readers” — and why picking up a book today can change the next six months of your life.

In this solo episode, Colton dives into his latest personal experiments and mindset shifts. He breaks down his first intentional 24-hour fast, training for a five-mile Turkey Trot with his family, and how he's balancing lifting, running, and mobility work.

He also gets practical about planning your days, using tools like Google Calendar to stay disciplined, and why writing things down matters more than people think. Colton closes with thoughts on leadership, letting others lead, and the power of second chances — in business and in life.

In Episode 72 of The Grizzly Life Podcast, Colton sits down with financial advisor and former teacher Jim Carriveau to break down the basics of money.

Jim shares how he went from teaching for 18 years to helping families build wealth, and the financial lessons most people don’t learn soon enough.

They cover:

Where to start: emergency funds, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s

How compound interest actually builds wealth over time

Term vs. whole life insurance — what’s worth it

Why income protection/disability insurance matters more than people think

Retirement savings benchmarks for your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond

It’s a simple, real conversation about money, planning ahead, and not waiting until it’s too late.