Libsyn Directory

114: Say. Do. Achieve. The Power of Language, Mindset, and Marriage with Thomas Blackwell

Release Date: 04/15/2025

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: Money and marriage. Health and wealth. We know they’re connected — but most couples still struggle to talk about either. In this episode, we sit down with Adam Cox, a Sioux Falls native and seasoned financial advisor, to talk about the emotional, behavioral, and practical habits that lead to true financial wellness. Adam works with high-level professionals and families every day, helping them navigate not just numbers — but the mindsets behind them. From building financial muscle like physical fitness to learning how to regulate money stress,...

130. How to Treat Your Health Like It’s Part of the Job

Marriage Fit

LISTENER NOTES (Description) You don’t need to be a professional athlete to train like one. If you work, lead, make decisions, or manage people — you are an athlete. You just compete in meetings, emails, and boardrooms instead of on a field. In this episode, Chris and Annie break down what it means to treat your health like it’s part of your job — and why that mindset will make you unstoppable at work and at home. They share behind-the-scenes insights from a real-life corporate wellness planning session and walk you through a high-performance playbook for working...

129. The Good & Bad of New Year’s Resolutions (for Your Health, Marriage & Momentum)

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: It’s goal-setting season — and we all know most New Year’s resolutions don’t stick. But it’s not because people are lazy. It’s because most resolutions are built on guilt, not a game plan. In this episode, Chris and Annie unpack the psychology behind why resolutions work (and why they often don’t). Whether you want to lose weight, get consistent with your workouts, or improve your marriage, you’ll walk away with clarity and action steps to move forward — not burn out. We cover: The real reason fresh starts feel so motivating ...

128. The Not-So-Obvious Ways Fitness Makes You a Better Partner, Leader, and Human

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: Most people think workouts are just about looking good or staying healthy. But in this episode, Chris and Annie dive into the not-so-obvious truth: fitness shapes who you are in your marriage, your family, your work, and your mindset. They share real stories, hard truths, and surprising insights on how training builds more than muscles — it builds emotional control, consistency, humility, attraction, and leadership. If you’ve ever wondered whether your workout is really worth it… this episode proves it’s one of the most powerful investments...

127: Mental Fitness vs. Physical Fitness: What’s Stronger?” (feat. Jason VanRuler)

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary In this episode, we’re joined by licensed therapist, speaker, and coach Jason VanRuler for a powerful conversation on what it really means to be mentally fit—and how mental and physical fitness can (and should) work together. We talk about: What mental fitness is and why it’s trainable How physical and mental strength influence each other The role of mindset in parenting, marriage, and business Why recovery isn’t weakness—it’s part of the process The mental reps Jason uses to stay grounded and strong as a husband, father, and leader ...

126. Project Zero: Stay Fit, Sane & Connected Through the Holidays

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: The holidays are here and so is the chaos. Family events, food everywhere, parties, travel, stress… it’s no wonder most people gain weight, lose their routines, and feel disconnected from their goals (and each other). But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, Chris and Annie share how they’re tackling the season differently this year with SISU Fit’s Project Zero Challenge. Their goal? Gain zero pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and help others do the same—without extreme rules or added stress. Whether you’re in...

125. Attack the Fat (8 Simple Habits for Long-Term Fat Loss)

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: Fat loss doesn’t have to be complicated, and it definitely doesn’t have to take over your life. In this episode, Chris and Annie break down 8 simple, realistic habits you and your partner can start practicing together to see real results that last. No more extreme diets, crazy rules, or all-or-nothing thinking. Just smart, sustainable steps that work in the real world, especially when you’re doing life as a team. What You’ll Learn: The truth about why small changes beat big overhauls Why protein is your best friend when it comes to fat...

124: Strong, Flexible, and Fit for Life: Why FRC is the Future

Marriage Fit

Episode Summary: If you want to be fit for life not just for a season mobility matters. In this episode, Annie flips the script and interviews Chris about his deep dive into FRC (Functional Range Conditioning) and why it’s become a cornerstone of his personal health and professional mission. From past injuries and performance plateaus to building strength with longevity in mind, Chris shares how this method is reshaping how he trains, teaches, and shows up at home. Whether you’re brand new to mobility or already foam-rolling like a pro, this episode breaks it down in relatable,...

123. Breaking Plateaus: From Fitness to Family

Marriage Fit

💬 Episode Summary: Every couple hits a wall — in fitness, in marriage, in parenting, and in business. The real question isn’t if you’ll hit a plateau… it’s what you’ll do when you get stuck there. In this episode, Annie and Chris break down how plateaus show up across every area of life — and how the tools they’ve learned in the gym have become the exact playbook for breaking through them together. From marriage ruts to parenting burnout to business stagnation, they share personal stories, mindset shifts, and a 5-step method couples can use to reconnect, refocus, and get...

122. Solocation vs. Solo Parenting: What Happens When the Suitcase Comes Home

Marriage Fit

Description: One partner travels. The other holds down the fort. Then the suitcase rolls back in and suddenly, everything feels off. In this episode, Chris and Annie dive into the real-life tension couples face during the often-overlooked “re-entry” phase after solo parenting. Whether you’re the one coming home or the one who’s been home, there’s a disconnect that can sneak in fast and create frustration, resentment, and miscommunication if you don’t handle it intentionally. Let’s talk about the unspoken expectations, the invisible scorecards, and how to reconnect without...

More Episodes

Guest: Thomas Blackwell, keynote speaker, mindset coach, and founder of Say Do Achieve

Episode Summary:

In this powerful and inspiring episode, we sit down with Thomas Blackwell — a former Division I tennis coach, successful entrepreneur, and now sought-after keynote speaker and high-performance coach — to unpack how the words we speak shape the lives we lead. From building businesses to building a strong marriage with his high school sweetheart, Thomas shares timeless truths on mindset, language, leadership, and love.

Whether you're chasing big goals or looking to strengthen your relationship, this episode will challenge and empower you to say more of what you want, do what you say, and achieve the life you were meant to live.

What We Cover:

From Sports to Speaking:
How Thomas transitioned from college tennis coach to insurance entrepreneur to mindset expert impacting thousands around the globe.

Language & Leadership:
Why the words you use in your daily life — especially in your relationships — are your most powerful tools for transformation.

Marriage as Peak Performance:
What it looks like to build a high-performance marriage (hint: it’s not about being perfect — it’s about staying aligned, grateful, and intentional).

Overcoming Life’s Ruts:
Thomas shares a raw personal story about facing major obstacles and how perspective and grit got him through.

Practical Tools for Couples:
Daily habits, rituals, and communication strategies that strengthen connection and help couples stay united through busy schedules and big goals.

Coaching & Leadership Principles:
The mindset traits all successful leaders — in business, sports, or family — have in common.

Vision That Inspires:
Thomas’s bold goal to shift the language and mindset of one billion people — and how you can be part of it.

Practical Takeaways:

Mindset starts with language — what you say out loud becomes your internal operating system.
Successful people lead themselves before leading others.
In marriage, alignment trumps agreement — being on the same page is more important than being right.
Leadership in the home looks like service, empathy, and clarity.
Small daily disciplines shape your legacy.