In this powerful episode of The Never Peak Project, Ranger sits down with Dr. Charles A. Castillo—a retired Army officer, mental health clinician, and decorated disabled veteran. While many of us strive simply to get past our pain, Dr. Castillo challenges us to look deeper. He argues that relief is just the first step and that true resilience isn't just bouncing back—it’s "continuing in spite of."

Drawing from his upbringing in Belize, his decades of military service, and his work as a psychologist, Dr. Castillo breaks down the critical difference between resilience (the how) and hope (the why). Together, they discuss why healing doesn't always mean returning to who you were before, the importance of men’s vulnerability, and practical tools you can put in your "mental toolbelt" today.

In this episode, we cover:

• 01:46 – Who is Dr. Castillo? From humble beginnings in Belize to the U.S. Army and a Doctorate in Psychology.
• 06:20 – Resilience vs. Hope: Why resilience provides the mechanics to keep going, but hope provides the fuel.
• 10:43 – Finding Your "Why": How to strip away the masks we wear to discover the purpose that pulls us through the storms.
• 15:36 – The Mental Toolbelt: Practical strategies for mental toughness, including why you should journal from the heart, not the head.
• 19:29 – Practice Before You Preach: Why you must practice coping mechanisms (like breathing and mindfulness) before a crisis hits.
• 27:36 – Redefining Healing: Why healing is individualistic and doesn't always mean returning to "pre-accident condition."
• 34:50 – Anger as a Symptom: How Dr. Castillo used writing to uncover the fear and abandonment hiding behind his anger.
• 41:25 – A Message to Men: Breaking the stigma around crying, vulnerability, and asking for help.

Quotes from Dr. Castillo:

"It’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times you find the strength to get back up."

"Resilience teaches you how, but hope teaches you why."

"Don't strive for perfection, strive for great. You can be great without being perfect."

"Persistence beats resistance every time."

Resources & Links:

• Website: Mental Resilience Counseling
• Phone: 813-358-6332
• Book Mentioned: The Resilient Mind
• Concept Mentioned: "Footprints in the Sand"

Connect with The Never Peak Project: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they don't have to walk through the storm alone.

In this special episode of The Never Peak Project, your host Ranger Kielak pulls back the curtain on his biggest mission yet: a 10-year plan to launch a regenerative coastside farm. This isn't just about farming; it's about creating a vibrant hub where personal transformation and agriculture intersect. Listen in to hear the full vision, the foundational beliefs driving the project, and the concrete steps Ranger is taking over the next three years to turn this dream into a reality.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Big Vision: Ranger's goal to create a working farm that blends hands-on agricultural education with deep, introspective coaching to help people reconnect with their food and their purpose.
• Man with Nature: How the principles of regenerative agriculture—working with natural systems instead of against them—can serve as a powerful model to overcome the "churn and burn" burnout cycle in our own lives and careers.
• The 3-Year Plan: The foundational steps to make the farm a reality, including expanding coaching programs, launching new community-focused podcasts, and gaining more hands-on farming experience through local incubator programs.
• Building the Network: An inside look at the upcoming "Foggy Farmer" and "South of SF" podcasts, designed to connect with local growers, business owners, and community members on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Resources Mentioned:

• Within Range Coaching: Ready to take the first step in your own journey? Book a free 15-30 minute discovery call with Ranger to discuss one-on-one life coaching or business consulting.
• G.R.O.W.T.H. Workshop Series: Join the upcoming workshop series this September to get grounded in your mission, overcome the sabotaging voice, and improve your decision-making. Sign-up link in the description!.
• Consulting Services: Learn more about Ranger's work with the Renaissance Center in Half Moon Bay and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Merced.

Connect with Ranger:

• Website: WithinRangeCoaching.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ankielak/
• Instagram: @WithinRange_Coaching
• Free Consulting Call: Book Here

In this quick-hit solo episode, Coach Ranger Kielak breaks down his signature “5 A’s of Accountability” — a simple yet powerful framework to help you turn setbacks into setups for success.

Whether you're facing a tough conversation, a project that flopped, or just feeling off your game, this five-step process will help you shift from breakdown to breakthrough with clarity and confidence.

🔑 What You’ll Learn: • Why “failure” is just data — and how to cut the drama • The difference between acceptance and shame • How to reclaim agency and take decisive action • A fresh way to hold yourself accountable without burnout • How to use this in your business, relationships, and daily life

This is the mindset reset you didn’t know you needed — and in under 5 minutes.

🧠 The 5 A’s of Accountability Framework:

1. Awareness – Recognize the facts without the fluff
2. Acceptance – Own what happened without shame
3. Agency – Take back your power
4. Action – Decide what to do next
5. Accountability – Lock in the learning and follow through

🎧 Coach Ranger’s Challenge to You: Think of a recent “breakdown” moment. Apply the 5 A’s. What changes? Want help applying it to your life? Let’s talk.

📞 Book a free 15-minute coaching consult: 👉 Schedule here

🌐 Learn more at: WithinRangeCoaching.com

🎤 About the Show: The Never Peak Project Podcast is for ambitious doers, growers, and leaders who believe the best is always ahead — as long as you never settle, never quit, and never peak.