Optimizing friendships starts with choosing the right circle and becoming the kind of friend you’re looking for. Josh and Ashley break down modern connection challenges and share practical ways to build deeper, healthier relationships.

Optimizing friendships is harder than ever in a hyper-connected world. In this episode, Josh and Ashley share how to build meaningful relationships, set boundaries, and find friends who help you grow.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why “more connections” can still mean more loneliness
• How to audit your inner circle (energy, honesty, character)
• When boundaries are necessary (and why they’re not punishment)
• How to become the kind of friend you want to have
• Practical ways to find friends through shared spaces and consistency
• Red flags vs. green flags in healthy relationships

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 Intro — Why Friendships Feel Harder
• 02:25 Modern Obstacles to Connection
• 04:36 Your Closest Five Shape You
• 08:23 Boundaries and Letting Go
• 09:23 Can You Handle a Good Friend?
• 16:35 Where to Find Great Friends
• 20:25 Consistency, Questions, Listening
• 24:03 Red Flags and Green Flags
• 26:34 Disagreeing Without Dividing
• 27:11 Closing and Take Action

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Watch on YouTube
• Show website

In this episode, Glenn Lundy breaks down how simple morning routines and intentional habits can completely transform your life. Learn why consistency, identity, and investing your time correctly matter more than motivation.

Daily habits shape your identity long before motivation shows up. Glenn Lundy shares why simple, repeatable routines create extraordinary results over time.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why morning routines impact mind, body, and spirit
• The Morning Five and how small habits compound
• Why habits are easy to skip but powerful to keep
• How long it really takes to build a habit
• The difference between spending time and investing it
• Using technology and AI as tools, not crutches

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 Intro — Welcome & Guest Intro
• 01:15 The Morning Five Explained
• 03:07 Why Simple Habits Work
• 06:03 The 67-Day Habit Rule
• 11:02 Investing vs Spending Time
• 19:39 Using AI Intentionally
• 28:56 Advice to 20-Year-Old Glenn

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• OptimizingBeyond.com
• Optimizing Beyond YouTube

GUEST: Glenn Lundy — Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker

• glennlundy.com
• Morning 5 App
• The Legacy Titles by Glenn Lundy

Some of the links shared in this episode may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we personally use or genuinely believe add value.

Grief changes everything—so Josh and Ashley share real lessons from a recent loss and what helped them keep moving forward. Learn practical ways to process emotions, lean on community, and live more intentionally through the waves of grief.

Grief isn’t a theory—it’s a road we all walk eventually. Josh and Ashley reflect on a recent, deeply personal loss and share what helped them cope with sorrow, find moments of joy, and live with renewed perspective.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why peer loss “hits different” and what it reveals
• How laughter and tears can coexist in healthy grief
• The role of faith, hope, and community support
• Gratitude and emotional processing habits that help
• How loss reshapes priorities: presence, words, forgiveness

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 Intro — Optimize Through Grief
• 01:40 When Loss Hits Different
• 02:39 Laughter In The Dark
• 07:07 A Life That Gathers
• 07:44 Faith In The Valley
• 09:45 Community That Carries
• 13:13 Gratitude As An Anchor
• 15:18 Let Yourself Feel
• 17:00 Live Like It Matters
• 24:53 Waves, Triggers, Healing

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@optimizingbeyond
• Show website: https://www.optimizingbeyond.com