Daryl Akutagawa: From Bullied Kid to Battle-Tested Leader, How martial arts rewired Daryl’s fear into focus, The lesson of wrestling against men twice his size—and why losing mattered more than winning
Release Date: 04/21/2025
HATE TO LOSE
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Hate To Lose, Christian sits down with Nate Dumlao—pastor, communicator, co-founder of the wildly popular Dads Who Try podcast (2.2M+ followers), and a man whose life has been defined by purpose, perseverance, and radical transformation. From watching his father battle early-onset dementia to leading a global youth ministry, Nate shares how competition has evolved in his life—from paintball tournaments to parenting, from ego-driven ambition to Christ-centered leadership. Together, they explore what it means to compete in fatherhood, how to...
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In this transformative episode of Hate To Lose, host Christian John Bradley sits down with Platinum and Gold seeling songwriter and artist Matt Reezy of Mishnrz—artist, producer, and storyteller—whose life journey spans continents, creative industries, and spiritual awakening. 🎙️ What You’ll Hear: Growing up between LA and Argentina, and overcoming identity and academic challenges Starting a clothing brand and vlogging before YouTube even existed Dropping out of college to pursue theater, music, and purpose in LA The near death spiritual moment in Vegas that changed everything...
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In this powerful episode of the Hate to Lose Podcast, veteran sports journalist Rob Parker reveals how hard work, resilience, and authenticity fueled his rise to success. From his roots in Jamaica, Queens, to becoming the first Black sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press, Rob shares inspiring lessons from over 40 years in the sports media industry. Hosted by Christian John Bradley, this conversation dives deep into: How Rob developed an unstoppable work ethic from his mother’s example His passion for sports journalism starting at age 7 Launching his first newspaper at 16 years old...
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What does it take to rise from fear to fortitude? In this raw and revealing episode, Daryl Akutagawa joins host Christian John Bradley to share the deeply personal journey from a timid, bullied child hiding behind a sandbox to an Air Force captain, martial arts master, and resilient competitor in every arena of life. From martial arts dojos and wrestling mats to military boot camps and boardrooms, Daryl opens up about the mindset forged through hardship, the courage to embrace challenge, and the confidence built by showing up, again and again. 🔍 In this episode: How martial arts rewired...
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“Play on All-Madden” with David Pailin Jr. | Hate To Lose Podcast In this high-impact episode of the Hate To Lose Podcast, David Pailin Jr. shares how a competitive childhood, a culture of excellence, and a relentless mindset shaped his journey from AP classrooms to UCLA’s MBA program—and into the world of entrepreneurship. Host Christian John Bradley and David dive deep into what it really means to hate to lose more than you love to win. From launching Plutocrats Club and King of Games, to learning hard lessons through failure, David drops wisdom on leadership, resilience, and...
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In this episode of Hate to Lose, host Christian John Bradley sits down with lifelong friend and fierce competitor Jesse Smith to unpack what it truly takes to develop a winning mentality. Raised in a high-achieving household with relentless standards, Jesse shares how his competitive edge was sharpened through sibling rivalries, sports, and the pressure to excel in every aspect of life. From building confidence in high-stakes environments to learning the art of trash talk without crossing the line, Jesse delivers powerful insights on how competition shapes character and fuels greatness. He...
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🎙️ Hate to Lose Podcast | Fabiola’s Journey: Conquering Cancer & Embracing Destiny In this powerful episode of Hate to Lose, we sit down with Fabiola, a true warrior who faced the ultimate opponent—cancer. We dive into her journey of resilience, faith, and the moment when destiny disrupted her determination. 🔥 What happens when your biggest battle isn’t just in your control? 🔥 How do you choose obedience over sacrifice in life-altering moments? 🔥 What does winning look like when the fight isn’t just about survival? Fabiola shares her story of overcoming cancer,...
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🌟 From El Salvador to Entrepreneurial Success! 🌟 In this powerful episode of the Hate to Lose Podcast, host Christian John Bradley sits down with the inspiring Darlene Morales—founder of The Little Sarge Preschool and a true testament to resilience, ambition, and faith. 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How Darlene overcame childhood loss and major life transitions ✔️ The mindset that helped her push through adversity and excel ✔️ Her journey from passionate educator to business owner ✔️ The impact of faith, community, and perseverance on her success ✔️...
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What does it take to be a true competitor? In this episode of the Hate to Lose Podcast, host Christian John Bradley sits down with Jacob Hall—a CrossFit athlete, marathon runner, and Quality Engineer at Northrop Grumman—to explore the mindset of those who hate to lose more than they love to win. Jacob shares how growing up in a family of coaches shaped his relentless drive, the lessons he learned from wrestling with his dad, and how embracing struggle and adversity while enjoying the process. In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 How to find strength in the struggle 🔥 The importance of...
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Co-Founder / CEO of Spottyr shares his greatest career setback setup his journey to start his company Spottyr.
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In this raw and revealing episode, Daryl Akutagawa joins host Christian John Bradley to share the deeply personal journey from a timid, bullied child hiding behind a sandbox to an Air Force captain, martial arts master, and resilient competitor in every arena of life.
From martial arts dojos and wrestling mats to military boot camps and boardrooms, Daryl opens up about the mindset forged through hardship, the courage to embrace challenge, and the confidence built by showing up, again and again.
🔍 In this episode:
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How martial arts rewired Daryl’s fear into focus at age five
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The lesson of wrestling against men twice his size—and why losing mattered more than winning
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Life inside Air Force ROTC, boot camp, and military leadership
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Why preparation isn’t just about performance—it’s about identity
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Facing a rare brain condition, Moya Moya, and finding strength in the scar
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Choosing love over military rank—and starting over in the civilian world
Whether you’re an athlete, a leader, or someone rebuilding confidence from the ground up, this episode will challenge your perspective on competition, failure, and what it really means to fight for yourself.
🎧 Tap play to hear how mental toughness is built, not born—and how setbacks shape the strongest warriors.