What happens when one of the most feared fighters in UFC history discovers that his greatest battle isn't inside the cage?

In Part 1 of this exclusive two-part Targeted Podcast interview, UFC Hall of Famer Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr joins retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Atlas Aultman for a powerful conversation about the hidden cost of fighting, addiction, sobriety, mental health, and rebuilding life after professional sports.

Known for his legendary career in the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships, Mark Kerr became the subject of the groundbreaking documentary The Smashing Machine, later inspiring the feature film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. But behind the victories, the fame, and the image of an unstoppable fighter was a man fighting battles the public couldn't see. In this conversation, Mark shares how years of competition affected his life, why he struggled with addiction, what eight years of sobriety have taught him, and how he's working to help other retired MMA fighters.

IN THIS EPISODE: The untold story behind The Smashing Machine documentary Mark Kerr's relationship with filmmaker John Greenhalgh How addiction and the pressure to perform affected his career The moment Mark finally opened up about his struggles His experience with brain mapping, TMS, and neurological treatments Why mental health matters for UFC fighters and military veterans How mountain biking became part of his recovery journey Working with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on The Smashing Machine His vision for bringing retired UFC fighters together Why sharing your struggles can give someone else the courage to speak WATCH PART 2 Next week, OR, REQUEST THE LINK This is Part 1 of our two-part conversation with Mark Kerr.

Want to continue the interview or request access to the full conversation? 📩 Email win@leaders-kit.com with the subject line: MARK KERR FULL EPISODE

We'll help you get the link to continue watching and connect you to other amazing FULL EPISODES with UFC, MLB, Strongmen, celebrities, and other champions.

ABOUT TARGETED PODCAST Hosted by retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, international bestselling author, and leadership speaker Atlas Aultman, Targeted Podcast explores the mindset, discipline, resilience, and decisions that shape extraordinary lives.

Through conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, entrepreneurs, and remarkable individuals, Targeted helps you develop the strength to overcome adversity and take control of your future. Subscribe for real conversations about mental toughness, personal development, leadership, and what it takes to win in life.

****CONNECT WITH MARK KERR**** Instagram: @markkerrtsm Absoulute Wellness: https://absoulute-wellness.com/ Upcoming book: *The Healing Machine* (availability to be announced)

****CONNECT WITH ATLAS AULTMAN**** Website: https://leaders-kit.com Instagram: @atlas_aultman

****GET INTO OUR INNER CIRCLE:**** Email: win@leaders-kit.com

DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses addiction, neurological health, and treatments from Mark Kerr's personal experience. The conversation is not medical advice. Treatment experiences and outcomes vary. #MarkKerr #TheSmashingMachine #UFC #TargetedPodcast #DwayneJohnson

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Jojo “$moke” Griffin is a rising MMA star fighter who always finishes a fight and keeps a relentless training schedule with one goal: UFC. In this episode of Targeted with Atlas Aultman, Jojo SMOKE Griffin opens up about his journey from a small California town to becoming one of the most exciting MMA prospects to watch. He talks about training multiple times a day at Red Hawk Academy, preparing for his professional MMA debut, studying fighters when everyone else is relaxing, and developing the mindset required to step into a cage believing you cannot be broken. But this conversation goes much deeper than fighting. Jojo discusses his faith in God, growing up in a Catholic family, losing his opportunity to play college football during COVID, discovering MMA, and how his first loss inside the cage ultimately became one of the most important moments of his career. He also explains the psychology of fighting, entering a flow state, dealing with fear and negative thoughts, visualization, gratitude, sacrifice, film study, adapting during a fight, and why he believes the mind often quits before the body does. Jojo’s philosophy is simple: “Don’t let anyone break your spirit.” This is a conversation about MMA—but it’s also about what happens when a young man becomes completely committed to mastering his craft. In this episode: • Jojo “Smoke” Griffin’s MMA journey • Training with UFC fighters and shooting with Badger Asher • 100% finish rate • Preparing for his professional MMA debut • Training at Red Hawk Academy • The transition from football to MMA • How losing changed his mindset • Faith, God, risk, and opportunity • Training two to three times per day • Film study and gaining an advantage over opponents • Developing an MMA flow state • Mental preparation before entering the cage • Why gratitude is part of his training • Turning setbacks into fuel • His goal of reaching the UFC • Why “the scars make the man” • The mentality of becoming impossible to break Targeted is hosted by Atlas Aultman and features conversations about leadership, resilience, mindset, performance, adversity, and the people willing to do difficult things in pursuit of excellence. Subscribe for more conversations with fighters, veterans, leaders, athletes, authors, and high performers. Aim for excellence. Stay on target. Topics/estimated timestamps: 00:00 — Jojo “Smoke” Griffin preview 01:00 — 100% Finish Rate & Finding an Opponent 03:00 — Training 2–3 Times a Day 05:00 — Shooting, Fighting & Practicing Precision 07:00 — Training With Elite MMA Fighters 08:00 — Faith in God & Walking Through Open Doors 10:00 — Growing Up in Small-Town California 11:00 — Football Dreams End During COVID 12:00 — Discovering MMA & His First Fight 13:00 — Building a Complete MMA Fighter 15:00 — Why Jojo Studies Every Fighter 17:00 — The Loss That Changed Everything 19:00 — “The Scars Make the Man” 21:00 — Coming Back and Dominating 23:00 — What It Feels Like Inside the Cage 25:00 — Finding the Flow State in a Fight 28:00 — Winning the Fight in Your Mind 31:00 — “You’re Going to Have to Kill Me” 3200 — Don’t Let Anyone Break Your Spirit 34:00 — Gratitude, Discipline & Becoming a Champion 35:00 — Jojo Griffin’s UFC Goal LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/jojomma/ https://redhawkacademyaz.com/ https://www.guntvshows.com/ DISCOUNTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY: https://gravity-force.com - best electrolytes, discount code: ATLAS15 https://www.buckedup.com - creatine+ 20% discount: ATLAS25 https://leaders-kit.com - leadership, management, media consultations https://blackeaglecustoms.us/collections/targeted-podcast - Merch https://www.getfightscrub.com - all natural disinfectant, code: FIGHTSCRUBATLAS GUEST APPLICATIONS: win@leaders-kit.com Share this with someone who you know would like it. Aim for excellence AND stay on target, thank-you for tuning into TARGETED Podcast. This show was filmed the greater PHOENIX Area by Podworks Studios and is entirely made in the U.S.A.

STRONGER MEN ARE HARDER TO KILL, Period.

Not just physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually.

In this episode of Targeted Podcast, Atlas Aultman breaks down what it takes for men to become stronger, better disciplined, more resilient, purposeful, and harder to break.

Drawing from his experience in making warriors stronger for decades through innovation AND his conversations with UFC legends, professional athletes, military veterans, champions, bestselling authors, TEDx speakers, entrepreneurs, and men who have survived extraordinary adversity, Atlas explores the different dimensions of strength every man should be developing.

This episode examines:

• Physical strength, fitness, muscle, and longevity

• Mental toughness and resilience

• Discipline when motivation disappears

• Forgiving yourself and moving beyond guilt

• Overcoming trauma and adversity

• Building confidence through difficult experiences

• Faith, spirituality, and finding your compass

• Purpose and direction for men

• Raising your personal standards

• Learning from champions and high performers

• Becoming the man your younger self needed

• Building a legacy your older self will respect

Targeted Podcast was built around one central mission: helping people become stronger through the experiences of those who have already been tested. If you're a man in your 20s or 30s trying to become stronger, more disciplined, more confident, more capable, and more intentional about your life, start here.

You don't need a military badge, championship ring, professional sports contract, bestselling book, or million-dollar company to develop strength.

You need to put in the work.

Your body matters.

Your mind matters.

Your faith and purpose matter.

Your standards matter.

And the decisions you make today determine the man you become tomorrow.

Get strong.

Aim for excellence. Stay on target.

Subscribe to Targeted Podcast for long-form conversations that matter to men who are working on something bigger: men's mindset, mental toughness, masculinity, leadership, fitness, discipline, faith, resilience, military experiences, MMA, entrepreneurship, success, and overcoming adversity.

Hosted by Atlas Aultman. Recorded in SLAP Studios, Hollywood, Florida - 2026, all rights reserved.

#MensMindset #MentalToughness #selfimprovement

CHAPTERS:

00:39 – Stronger Men Are Harder to Kill

01:17 – Why Men Need Strength

01:54 – What Champions Taught Me About Mental Toughness

02:24 – Forgiving Yourself After Trauma

04:25 – How Hardships make men stronger

05:38 – What makes a Man Strong?

05:49 – Physical Strength Is the Foundation

06:10 – What builds Mental fortitude

06:46 – Faith, Purpose & Your Spiritual Compass

07:34 – Why We Study Winners

08:10 – Your 8-Year-Old Self vs. Your 80-Year-Old Self

08:25 – Raise Your Standards

08:36 – Get Strong, Man

08:46 – How Targeted Podcast is set up to help men ages 25-39

09:17 - Targeted Podcast Closing

09:51 - Why Podcasting is the best marketing for entrepreneurs and thought leaders

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Share this with someone who would love it. Aim for excellence AND stay on target, thank-you for tuning into TARGETED Podcast.