What happens when a 27-year-old Army Ranger becomes the youngest mayor in Terre Haute history? In this powerful episode, Coach Seth sits down with Mayor Brandon Sakbun to unpack leadership, resilience, education reform, workforce development, and the future of young people in America.

From the third-grade teacher who first sparked Brandon’s dream of becoming mayor to the brutal lessons learned inside Ranger School, this conversation dives deep into purpose, adversity, empathy, and public service. The episode also explores why traditional education is losing students, why hands-on experiential learning is transforming kids’ lives, and what schools must do differently to prepare students for the real world. Joined by Five Star Life Summit Director Keenan Story, the conversation highlights how innovative learning environments are helping students rediscover confidence, purpose, and passion for learning.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How a third-grade teacher inspired Mayor Brandon Sakbun to pursue leadership and public service
• The brutal reality of becoming an Army Ranger and the mindset required to endure adversity
• Why Gen Z is struggling with identity, purpose, and long-term commitment
• The leadership principle of balancing 10 different perspectives around one shared mission
• Why workforce development—not test scores—should become the future of education
• The danger of students graduating without real-world skills or direction
• How Five Star Life’s Summit programs are helping students thrive through experiential learning
• Why exposure, mentorship, and hands-on experiences can completely reshape a child’s future
• The importance of parks, community spaces, and connection in fighting technology addiction
• How empathy, resilience, and passion shape great leaders

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mayor Brandon Sakbun made history in 2023 by becoming the youngest mayor in Terre Haute, Indiana history at just 27 years old. A graduate of Indiana University and former U.S. Army Ranger, Brandon is passionate about leadership, workforce development, economic growth, and building stronger communities. His administration focuses on population growth, infrastructure, public spaces, and creating opportunities that help young people and families thrive.

Instagram: @bsakbun

W: https://www.terrehaute.in.gov/index.php

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsakbun/

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

Why are so many kids—and adults—surrounded by people, yet still deeply lonely? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack the growing social disconnect happening in our culture and reveal why technology, fear, and unhealthy habits are quietly destroying authentic relationships.

From vulnerable conversations about loneliness and social anxiety to practical lessons on loyalty, accountability, emotional intelligence, and communication, this episode dives deep into the skills required to build long-lasting friendships in a disconnected world. Coach Seth also shares why hands-on learning environments are transforming struggling students, why many kids have been mislabeled for years, and how meaningful connection—not performance—is ultimately what people crave most.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why America is becoming one of the loneliest countries in the world
• The “5 Habits” of long-lasting friendships taught inside Five Star Life schools
• Why vulnerability is the first step to authentic connection
• “Stab Them in the Front” — the powerful communication principle changing relationships
• How phones and technology are rewiring kids’ social development
• The dangerous difference between loyalty and manipulation
• Why some students labeled “slow” are actually brilliant learners
• How innovative hands-on education is helping students rediscover confidence and purpose

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

What if your exhaustion isn’t coming from work… but from the way you think about work? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack one of the most dangerous lies in modern culture: that hard work is something to avoid instead of something that develops you.

From powerful student testimonies to deep conversations about mindset, anxiety, integrity, parenting, goals, and belief systems, this episode reveals how your internal narrative shapes your future. Coach Seth explains why thriving at work starts with vision, why most people never reach their goals, and how the process of growth—not comfort—is what creates confidence, purpose, and fulfillment. This conversation will challenge the victim mindset, redefine success, and help you understand why “choosing your hard” may be the key to transforming your life.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The shocking student testimony about how integrity eliminated anxiety and changed his relationship with his parents
• “Choose Your Hard” — the mindset shift that changes how you view work, discipline, health, and relationships
• Why most people never reach their goals (and the critical mistake they make)
• The hidden danger of lowering kids’ dreams instead of helping them believe bigger
• How visualization, belief, and self-talk create momentum toward the life you actually want
• Why successful people become obsessed with the PROCESS instead of the outcome
• The connection between family conversations, emotional health, and long-term thriving
• How parents, teachers, and mentors unknowingly shape children’s beliefs about work, identity, and success

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

Are you reacting to your wounds, or responding from your values? In this powerful episode, Coach Seth welcomes back Cherri Kulp (Executive Coach & Founder of Internal Garden Coaching) to discuss why your internal state is the ultimate predictor of your external success.

Cherri breaks down the "Internal Garden" philosophy—the idea that our minds are fertile ground where we either cultivate fruit or allow weeds like bitterness and fear to take root. From handling obnoxious public confrontations to teaching fifth graders how to "Box Breathe" under pressure, this episode provides a roadmap for anyone looking to increase their EQ and reclaim their peace.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The 3:1 Ratio: Why it takes three positive thoughts to overcome one negative "weed" in your mind.
• The Conflict Quadrants: A deep dive into Daniel Goleman’s EQ framework: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management.
• Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn: Identifying how your nervous system protects itself and how to give others "Grace for Space" during a freeze.
• The Mayor Pete Story: Cherri shares a real-life example of how self-awareness prevented a public "crash out" and protected her professional branding.
• Givers vs. Takers: Why "Givers" are the only ones who truly experience a 5 Star Life.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Cherri Kulp, ACC is the Principal Coach and Founder of Internal Garden Coaching & Leadership Solutions. As a Certified Personal and Executive Coach, she acts as a Mindset Architect and Leadership Optimizer, helping individuals "silence their inner critic" to grow confidence, clarity, and resilience.

Instagram: @UnearthedCC

C#: 574-213-2143

E: info@internalgardencoaching.com

W: https://www.internalgardencoaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherrikulp/

The mission at Five Star Life : Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

Are you actually in the game, or are you a passive spectator of your own life? In this episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack the "Arena" lesson—a transformative concept taught to over 20,000 students weekly. They dive deep into Polyvagal Theory, simplifying the science of the nervous system into three actionable levels: the Dorsal (isolation), the Sympathetic (anxiety), and the Ventral (peace and connection).

Coach Seth shares the "Doorway Hack"—a powerful tool for intentional living that ensures you show up as your best self for your family, your team, and your community. If you’ve ever felt "stuck" in a cycle of stress or felt disconnected from those you love, this episode provides the mirror you need to make the small tweaks that lead to a 5 Star Life.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Life in the Eyes: The physical transformation of students like Brady, moving from suicidal ideation to becoming a "giver."
• The 3 Levels of Your Nervous System: A practical guide to identifying when you are in "Flight or Flight" vs. "Social Engagement" mode.
• The Doorway Hack: How to use physical thresholds to reset your emotional state before entering your home or office.
• The EQ Gap: Why the average adult has the emotional intelligence of a middle schooler—and how to grow past it.
• Breaking the Cycle: Advice for a student who doesn't want to "become like their father" and how to rewrite your internal script.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

Who are you when the titles, the clothes, and the followers are stripped away? In this powerful episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia dive into the most core topic of the Five Star Life mission: Identity. We are entering an era where AI will master the "hard skills," making the "soft skills"—social intelligence, critical thinking, and emotional resilience—the most valuable assets on the planet.

Coach Seth introduces the "Mirror" analogy used across Five Star programs to help kids and adults identify the discrepancy between who they are today and their "True Ideal Self." We explore the biology of habit, explaining why you can't just "delete" a bad mindset, but must instead starve the old programs to build new neural pathways. Whether you are a parent looking to connect with your child or a leader seeking to master your own internal world, this episode provides the blueprint for lasting transformation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The AI Premium: Why social skills and emotional intelligence are the future of the workforce.
• Innovative Learning: How 400 acres and "neutral" activities (like blacksmithing) rebuild a child's confidence.
• The Mirror Exercise: A practical tool for identifying your ideal self vs. your feared self.
• Starving the Virus: The biological reality of how to "untrain" negative thoughts and habits.
• The Power of Thresholds: Using doorways as a psychological reset to show up intentionally.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store. Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead. Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

For 20 years, Five Star Life has been on a mission to transform students' lives by challenging the way they think, act, and lead. But how did it all begin? In this foundational episode, Coach Seth and Coach Mia return to the "Why." From the staggering data of the "dropout epidemic"—visualized as 12 Empire State Buildings filled with students—to Seth’s own medical journey of discovering "root causes," this episode is a deep dive into what it truly takes to move the needle for the next generation.

We move past the "woo-woo" and into the hard science of the Polyvagal Theory. Coach Seth breaks down the three states of the nervous system: the clarity of the Ventral Vagal, the mobilization of the Sympathetic (Fight or Flight), and the isolation of the Dorsal Vagal. Learn why your "stomach issues" or "anxiety" might actually be a physical state of being rather than a character flaw. Discover "the greatest pharmacy in the world" built directly into your biology and how tools like breathwork, mindfulness, and the Five Star Life App can help you—and your children—climb the ladder from survival to thriving.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The 12 Empire State Buildings: The data that fueled a 20-year movement.
• Root Cause Medicine: How Seth’s health crisis changed the way we look at education.
• The Vagus Nerve: Understanding the "Polyvagal Ladder" and why kids "check out."
• Human Beings vs. Human Doings: Why we must prioritize feeling over performance.
• Innovative Learning: Moving beyond the desk and into real-world application.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife

Are you raising a child who can survive the world, or a child who is afraid of it?

In this deep episode of Five Star Life, Coach Seth and Coach Mia unpack what they believe is the #1 mistake parents are making in this generation: protecting children from adversity instead of teaching them how to thrive through it. We live in a culture driven by fear and the desire to give our kids the childhood we never had—but by removing every obstacle, are we inadvertently telling our kids they aren't strong enough to handle life?

Coach Seth and Coach Mia introduce the "Success Sequence" for families and the launch of the new Five Star Life App, a tool designed to put parents back at the center of the family conversation. They discuss the critical difference between protecting a child from harm versus protecting them from discomfort, and why every child needs a "Support Team" of three specific voices: someone who listens, someone who walks with them, and someone who guides and challenges them. Whether you’re a parent feeling the "stiff arm" from your teen or an educator looking for ways to bridge the gap between home and school, this episode is a masterclass in building identity, independence, and legacy.

The Five Star Life App: Download "Five Star Life" on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Go to https://www.fivestarlife.org/ to learn more about how we’re changing students' lives.

Our mission at Five Star Life is simple: Transforming Students' Lives by Challenging the Way they Think, Act, and Lead.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, personal leadership, and the power of rising above your circumstances.

Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and all platforms @TheFiveStarLife