In this inspiring episode, Erick sits down with Nada Lena Nasserdeen—CEO and founder of Rise Up For You, leadership coach, and TEDx speaker—to explore what it really takes to step into the most powerful version of yourself.
What makes Nada’s work so impactful is her energy, her enthusiasm, and her deep commitment to helping people grow. She built an entire company and team around one mission: helping you become better.
During the conversation, Nada unpacks four human skills we’re never taught in school—yet they’re essential to thriving in life and leadership:
Nada and Erick dive deep into practical strategies for moving beyond competence to confidence, and how daily habits shape who we become. One of the most powerful takeaways? The importance of writing down your ideal life. Nada shares her twist on this exercise: don’t just write what you want, but also define your core values, identify your non-negotiables, and commit to saying no to the things that hold you back.
This resonated with Erick personally, since in 2005—at his lowest point—he used the same exercise of writing out what he wanted from life to begin his own transformation.
Action Item for You:
Take time today to write down your ideal life. Define what you really want, why you want it, how you’ll get there, and who you’ll do it with. Put your core values on paper and commit to living them daily. Something powerful happens when you write it down.
Nada Nasserdeen is the Founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, a global leader in soft skills and leadership development.
As a 2x #1 Best-Selling Author of Rise Up For You and Emotional Intelligence: The Path to Fulfillment, Influence, and Lasting Success, she continues to inspire transformation with her highly anticipated third book launching this year, Self-Confidence: How to Overcome the “I’m Not Enough” Mindset.
A dynamic 2x TEDx speaker and global keynote presenter, Nada has shared the stage with renowned leaders such as Sharon Lechter, Adam Grant, Tony Robbins, John Assaraf, Bill Walsh, and David Meltzer, speaking to audiences across the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, Europe, and South Africa.
Through Rise Up For You, Nada has worked with Fortune 5 companies, leading tech and pharmaceutical giants, growing enterprises, and educational institutions, impacting professionals in over 50 countries. At the heart of this impact is the Rise Power Up Method™—a proprietary, four-step framework for personal and professional transformation that has earned her organization a 95% client renewal rate.
Nada is also the creator of the Rise Power Up Certification, empowering coaches and professionals to implement her proven methodology without having to build content from scratch. Her influence has been featured across major platforms including Apple TV, Bloomberg, Canada’s Global TV, Radio Canada, and Amazon Prime TV. She is one of the few female co-hosts on the groundbreaking talk show Office Hours, where she interviews world-class athletes, celebrities, and entrepreneurs.
In 2023, her contributions were recognized in a monumental way—with her leadership and impact showcased on a Times Square billboard in New York City. Beyond the spotlight, Nada’s heart remains rooted in service. Her philanthropic work with underprivileged youth, including teaching soft skills to incarcerated teens, earned her the OC Sheriff’s Award.
In this heartfelt episode, Erick gives you permission to release the things in your life that no longer serve you—especially when they start taking a toll on your mental and emotional health.
He shares a personal story of when he first saw someone of great importance intentionally let go in order to prioritize self-care—and how that moment reshaped the way he approaches his own life.
Erick then unpacks three key things you need to leverage so you can let go of the unnecessary, reclaim your energy, and start taking better care of yourself.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
If you’ve been feeling weighed down or stretched too thin, this episode will encourage you to step back, breathe, and make space for what truly matters.
In this high-flying episode, Erick sits down with Jeff Bonner—former Naval Aviator and current veteran Captain for a major airline—to explore what it really takes to land on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean... and how those experiences translate into everyday life.
Jeff shares gripping stories from his time in the military, including the violent jolt of carrier landings and the surreal moment of spotting a postage-stamp-sized flight deck from 5,000 feet up. With decades of aviation experience under his belt, Jeff brings a unique perspective on pressure, preparation, and precision.
But this episode goes beyond the cockpit. Jeff unpacks the five-part framework he developed from his time in the skies—a simple but powerful model anyone can apply to elevate their mindset, improve performance, and navigate life with purpose.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Whether you're chasing big goals or looking for a fresh perspective, Jeff's stories and strategies will leave you inspired—and grounded in purpose.
Jeff “Bones” Bonner is The Debrief Expert™ — a former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, current airline captain, and Harvard-trained performance strategist who transforms elite teams by equipping them to debrief like a fighter pilot and perform like a champion.
He’s a keynote speaker who is the creator of The Debrief Advantage™ and the author of The Daily Debrief™, a five-step performance habit used by athletes and high-stakes leaders to build clarity, accountability, and trust.
Whether leading missions over Iraq and Afghanistan or flying commercial flights across the country, Jeff has spent his life performing under pressure—and now he helps others do the same.
You’re busy. Life is chaotic. The demands never stop.
In this episode, Erick introduces the brand-new Rise Above Chaos Planner System—a structured yet inspiring tool designed to help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters.
Built on the proven Five Principles of the Rise Above Chaos Method, this planner is simple, intentional, and effective. Erick explains the purpose behind the system, how it aligns with your values and priorities, and why it’s the perfect companion for busy professionals who want to reclaim their time and energy.
Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or balancing career and family, this planner will help you rise above the chaos and live a more focused, fulfilling, and intentional life.
Visit www.racplanner.com to order your planner today, and use the discount code "podcast" at checkout for 10% off.
Don’t just manage the chaos—rise above it.
In this powerful episode, Erick Rheam reveals the five essential elements you need to level up every part of your life—personally and professionally.
Using the metaphor of a cross-country move, Erick shares a surprising truth: we don’t need as much as we think to thrive. In fact, it’s often about letting go of the clutter and focusing on a few key things that fuel purpose, energy, and momentum.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or overwhelmed, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and rise to new heights—starting today.
In this powerful and inspiring episode, Erick Rheam sits down with Reed Barrett—a fighter pilot, professional speaker, and mesmerizing Las Vegas magician—to uncover an extraordinary story of perseverance and determination.
Reed's path was anything but ordinary: after being medically discharged from the Air Force due to a heart condition, he faced seemingly insurmountable barriers. Yet, he refused to let his dream of flying fade away.
Listen as Reed recounts his relentless journey, overcoming formidable odds and fierce competition to secure a coveted spot piloting an F-16 fighter jet for the Air National Guard. His incredible journey is a testament to the power of resilience and unwavering belief in oneself, reminding us all that no obstacle is too great when chasing your dreams.
Tune in to this captivating episode and discover how you, too, can push past the barriers standing between you and your greatest aspirations.
A man with a background you’d likely not guess was true, Reed Barrett, call sign Roller, is a 33-year-old award-winning Keynote speaker, Magician, and Air Force Fighter Pilot.
With a degree in Psychology, a vast career in the arts, and the United States military, Reed specializes in human potential and communication.
In 2014, Reed was Honorably Discharged from the United States Air Force while attending Pilot Training. Doctors discovered a heart condition that could be fatal if left untreated.
After years of perseverance and dedication, Reed was accepted once again to become a military pilot. In April 2020, Reed graduated from the F-16 B-course in Phoenix, AZ, and now resides in Denver, Colorado, where he’s stationed with the 120th Fighter Squadron.
Reed has been consistently requested across the US to speak with companies, schools, and sports teams due to his less-than-normal background and triumph to be where he is today.
In this episode, Erick Rheam interviews Jake Thompson, a professional speaker and author about his concept of competing everyday and how it’s a critical component to success.
In this powerful episode, Jake opens up about the crushing disappointment of walking away from his lifelong dream of playing quarterback at the collegiate level—and the emotional toll that came with it. But his story doesn’t end in defeat.
Jake reveals how hitting rock bottom became the catalyst for redefining what it means to compete—not against others, but with yourself. He introduces a three-part jumpstart process that helped him rebuild his confidence, reshape his mindset, and reclaim control of his life.
If you’re feeling stuck, lost, or ready for a reset, Jake’s journey will inspire you to take the next step and start winning again—on your terms.
Jake teaches people how to compete every day with themselves. By winning the day, we win in business and in life.
Through lived experiences as an athlete, entrepreneur and speaker, he’s battle-tested and mastered the secret to success.
To achieving goals and making the impossible, possible.
To being great, not just good enough.
From his first ‘sales job’ at 7, going door-to-door selling Christmas cookies, to his initial business selling branded t-shirts in the trunk of his car, and onto today, as a leading keynote speaker and corporate coach, he’s unlocked what it takes to be a winner.
He believes the life we desire is closer than we think. It’s the small shifts in our daily focus, mentally and practically, that build a winning life.
Through his C.E.D. Model, he helps teams, CEOs, athletes and students develop mental toughness, master consistency, and improve day after day.
He believes we all have a gift inside of us, but it takes courage, systems, and a competitive mindset to access it. He’ll show you how, so you’re not sitting on the bench, waiting for life.
In this episode, Erick Rheam discusses the importance of building a morning and event routine and the critical roles those two routines play in your significance journey.
Erick discusses how a morning routine saves mental energy and sets you up for an effective day and the importance of shutting down properly at night with an intentional nightly routine.
In this episode, Erick Rheam, reviews the book, Think Ahead by Craig Groeschel
Erick discusses how this book focuses on the power of pre-deciding on seven key areas of your life so that you can maximize your decision making ability and protecting yourself from the pitfalls of resistance and temptation that often derails you from your best self.
Erick highlights three of the seven decisions that Craig recommends you focus on in life.
In this episode, Erick Rheam interviews Bobby Dutton, a professional pilot, speaker, and events creator.
In this episode, Bobby discusses the importance of keeping calm during turbulent times in life and how the pilot philosophy when navigating chaos translates well in everyday life. He walks us through the steps a pilot takes when troubleshooting problems in the air and how to apply that to life.
Bobby Dutton is a professional speaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He's also a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor -- for fun.
Thriving at the intersection of engineering and art, Dutton created GrooveBoston in 2004, built on the statement "Music is No Longer a Spectator Sport." His team (now called GBM6) is about making people happy, through legendary events.
Bobby's pioneering work on event design has won him awards internationally, and he was voted one of the "Top 25 Young Event Pros to Watch" by Special Events Magazine.
A creative leader and relentless optimist, Dutton has also served on the SEARCH Foundation Board of Directors, and on the Board of Governors for the International Live Events Association.