Don’t Outgrow Your Joy
Shark Theory
Somewhere along the way, we stop letting ourselves be kids—yet the freedom we’re craving might be buried inside the parts of us we told ourselves to outgrow. Show Notes — “Find Your Happy Meal” In this episode, Baylor shares a hilarious yet profound moment sparked by McDonald’s new Grinch meal. One impulsive run to the drive-thru with his dog turned into an unexpected reminder of something adults forget far too often: Joy matters. Impulse matters. Fun matters. Baylor unpacks why so many people lose their spark as they get older, trading curiosity and excitement for seriousness and...
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Gamify the Grind
Shark Theory
What if the difference between staying stuck and leveling up was simply turning your goals into a game you actually want to play? Show Notes — “Level Up Your Life” In today’s episode, Baylor dives into a surprising lesson from his first week of Ironman training and his introduction to the Zwift cycling platform. What was supposed to be an hour-and-four-minute indoor ride suddenly turned into an all-out international competition — flags from around the world on the screen, points on the line, and a virtual character to level up like a real-life video game. That moment triggered a...
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Get Out of Your Own Way
Shark Theory
Before you convince yourself you “aren’t ready,” ask this: Are you actually unprepared… or just standing in your own way? Show Notes — “Get Out of Your Own Way” In today’s episode, Baylor shares a lesson sparked by a blast of cold wind and a long overdue purchase: a bike trainer he knew he needed months ago. Like many of us, he put it off… not because he didn’t need it, but because he didn’t want to face the one part he didn’t understand. From that moment comes a bigger truth: We delay the very things that move our lives forward—not because they’re hard, but...
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Stop Black Friday-ing Yourself
Shark Theory
If you spent today hunting for deals, here’s the question Baylor wants you to ask yourself: Are you offering yourself at a discount too? Show Notes — “Stop Black Friday-ing Yourself” In this Black Friday episode of Shark Theory, Baylor uses the madness of holiday sales to illustrate a deeper, more personal problem: many of us treat ourselves like bargain-bin items. We discount our value. We lower our standards. We let people get the “full version” of us for clearance-rack pricing—then wonder why they don’t respect our worth. Baylor breaks down how this pattern forms, why it...
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Say It. Show It. Become Better Because of It.
Shark Theory
Thankfulness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a responsibility. And when you treat it like one, gratitude becomes a growth strategy, not just a holiday emotion. Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… In today’s Thanksgiving episode, Baylor breaks down the real meaning behind the word “thankful,” rooted in its Latin origin: “I will forever remember what you’ve done for me.” Rather than treating gratitude as a quick “thanks,” he challenges us to turn it into action—because true gratitude has three parts: Say it, Show it, and Be better because of it. ...
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Calendar Confidence: Designing Your 2026 Before It Arrives
Shark Theory
You don’t stumble into a meaningful year—you design one. And your calendar is one of the most powerful confidence tools you have. Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… In this episode, Baylor shares how—even in the middle of soreness, recovery, and new training cycles—he’s already mapping out 2026. Not because every plan will happen exactly as written, but because putting intentions on the calendar forces momentum. Most people live in “one day.” Baylor breaks down why “one day” never arrives unless you schedule it, and why three types of commitments must...
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Your Race, Your Pace: Beating the Post-Victory Blues
Shark Theory
Winning feels great—until the adrenaline fades, the soreness hits, and you find yourself asking the question no one prepares you for: Now what? Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… In this episode, Baylor dives into the lesser-discussed side of achievement: the post-performance blues. After completing his first HYROX race, day two soreness hits hard—and with it comes the emotional crash that often follows big accomplishments. Whether it’s a race, a promotion, a financial milestone, or a personal win, the “after” phase leaves many of us feeling deflated,...
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Strengths, Suffering, and the Finish Line: Lessons From My First HYROX
Shark Theory
When you step into something new, the adrenaline spikes, the fear kicks in, and the unknown gets loud—but that’s also where your real strengths finally get a voice. Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… Baylor breaks down the full experience of completing his first HYROX race after 13 weeks of training—and the life lessons that shook loose along the way. From realizing the arena was nothing like he imagined, to understanding how adrenaline can sabotage clarity, to discovering which stations were surprisingly hard (or surprisingly easy), Baylor uses the race as a...
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When the Jitters Hit: How to Calm Your Mind Before Big Moments
Shark Theory
The moment you whisper “I’ve never done this” is the moment fear tries to take over—unless you learn to anchor your thoughts first. Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… In this episode, Baylor talks about the pre-race jitters he’s feeling heading into his first-ever HYROX competition—and what those nerves teach us about stepping into any new challenge. Whether it’s a race, an interview, a job change, a business launch, or a new relationship, the unfamiliar always opens the door for fear to walk in. But instead of letting “I’ve never done this” become a...
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When Your Brain Redlines: How to Reset Your Mental RPMs
Shark Theory
Before you tell yourself you’re having a bad day, ask a more important question: Is it really the day… or is it your mind? Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory… In this episode, Baylor breaks down one of the most underrated skills in personal performance: knowing the difference between a bad day and a bad mental day. Most people lump every negative feeling, foggy moment, or frustrating hour into the same bucket—but the solutions are completely different. Baylor explains why mental fog, indecision, and that “nothing’s firing right” feeling have nothing to do with...
info_outlineWhat if the difference between staying stuck and leveling up was simply turning your goals into a game you actually want to play?
Show Notes — “Level Up Your Life”
In today’s episode, Baylor dives into a surprising lesson from his first week of Ironman training and his introduction to the Zwift cycling platform.
What was supposed to be an hour-and-four-minute indoor ride suddenly turned into an all-out international competition — flags from around the world on the screen, points on the line, and a virtual character to level up like a real-life video game.
That moment triggered a powerful realization:
If you find a way to gamify the hard things in your life, they stop feeling like chores and start feeling like challenges.
Baylor breaks down why gamification works, how competition wakes up the best in us, and how to build “level-up metrics” for your career, relationships, fitness, finances — anything that matters.
You’ll learn why relying on discipline alone isn’t sustainable, why some of your goals feel boring or heavy, and the simple psychological shift that can reignite motivation instantly.
This episode is your permission slip to stop grinding blindly… and start competing intentionally.
What You’ll Learn
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Why gamification instantly boosts motivation
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How competing — even virtually — triggers progress
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The importance of tracking your own “levels” in life
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How to create metrics that show you whether you’re actually growing
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Why people feel stuck even when they are improving
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How rewards create momentum (and how to pick the right rewards)
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The truth about competitiveness (and why you need some of it)
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A practical framework to make boring tasks enjoyable
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How to build a year that pushes you forward instead of keeping you flat
Featured Quote
“When you gamify your progress, life stops feeling like work and starts feeling like a level you’re meant to beat.”