On this episode of Life-Changing Challengers, host Brad Minus sits down with former NFL wide-receiver–turned–mortgage-tech entrepreneur John Diggs to unpack the technique that rescued his life when everything collapsed: mind mapping. Diggs traces his journey from a Pacoima childhood and pro-football glory to building one of Southern California’s largest mortgage brokerages—then losing it all in the 2008 meltdown, along with his home, marriage and savings.

At rock bottom and sleeping at his mother’s house, Diggs discovered a dusty copy of The Mind Map Book by the late Tony Buzan. Three months of feverish “map-engineering” helped him clarify who he was, what he wanted and how to rebuild. That clarity landed a six-figure software-implementation role, 10 published books, a TEDx talk and a new mission: teaching athletes, students and executives to “love life outside the box” through mind mapping.

Timeline Highlights

• [00:40] Brad introduces John Diggs—speaker, author and former NFL Raider/Oiler.
• [03:15] Growing up in Pacoima and falling in love with street football.
• [10:30] NFL career ends; Diggs pivots early into real-estate and mortgages.
• [17:45] Building (and enjoying) an eight-figure mortgage empire.
• [24:10] Mortgage crisis wipes out the business—and his family life.
• [32:05] “Big-ass box” moment on the apartment floor; decision to reinvent.
• [38:50] Mind mapping every classic self-help book sparks the I AM map.
• [46:20] Re-emergence as a top Encompass mortgage-tech consultant and map-engineering mentor.

Key Takeaways

1. Map-engineering turns chaos into clarity. Visual thinking surfaces options traditional lists miss.
2. Identity first, strategy second. Diggs’ “I AM” map aligned decisions with authentic values.
3. Big wins start on paper. Athletes and CEOs alike benefit from pre-visualising “the perfect play.”
4. Crisis can be a reset. Losing everything forced Diggs to design the life he actually wanted.
5. Love life outside the box. Mind mapping trains the brain to see possibility, not limitation.

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Links & Resources

• JohnDiggs.com – courses, speaking, coaching
• TEDx Talk: “What’s in Your Big-Ass Box?”
• Books by John Diggs
  • I AM: The Power of Knowing Who You Are
  • Big-Play Power (for student-athletes)
  • Map-Engineering Your College Years
  • Love Life & Blessed and Grateful
• The Mind Map Book by T

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Contact Brad @ Life Changing Challengers
Instagram: @bradaminus
Facebook: @bradaminus
X(Twitter): @bradaminus
YouTube: @lifechangingchallengers
LifeChangingChallengers.com

Want to be a guest on Life-Changing Challengers? Send Brad Minus a message on PodMatch, here.

In this riveting installment of Life-Changing Challengers, host Brad Minus interviews growth-minded leader, coach, and soon-to-be author Sig Muller. A lifelong swimmer and former business-builder at companies like Accenture, Mayo Clinic, and AED pioneer Survival Link, Sig recounts the August 2024 backyard barbecue where he flat-lined for eight minutes—surviving thanks to friends who delivered CPR and a fast-acting defibrillator.

Listeners learn how that near-death experience sparked Sig’s “1,000 weeks” outlook, his 5 Percent Rule for spending time on what matters, and his mission to help others become “the world’s best” versions of themselves through gratitude, mindset, and purposeful action.

Timeline Highlights

• [00:45] Brad introduces guest Sig Muller—speaker, coach and former Division I swimmer.
• [03:15] Growing up in Rochester, MN: early-morning bike rides to double swim practices.
• [10:50] Consulting with Arthur Andersen, living abroad and joining General Mills.
• [18:30] Helping launch Survival Link and the first public-access AEDs.
• [24:15] Sudden cardiac arrest at a friends’ barbecue—and the 1 % odds he beat.
• [32:00] The “You Are the World’s Best” mantra, post-ICU amnesia and rediscovering purpose.
• [40:40] The 1,000-week mindset, 5 Percent Rule and launch of BeTheWorldsBest.com.

Key Takeaways

1. CPR + AED access saves lives—Sig’s odds of survival were <1 %.
2. Mindset matters: adopting a “world’s best” attitude lifts both performance and morale.
3. The 1,000-Week Lens: treating every year as 5 % of life sharpens priorities.
4. Gratitude fuels growth—daily appreciation shifts brain chemistry toward resilience.
5. Inflammation control is critical: diet, sleep, and stress management reduce cardiac risk.

Links & Resources

• BeTheWorldsBest.com – coaching, worksheets, & speaking inquiries
• LinkedIn: Sig Muller
• Upcoming book: Dying to Be the World’s Best (working title)
• Book mentioned: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

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Contact Brad @ Life Changing Challengers
Instagram: @bradaminus
Facebook: @bradaminus
X(Twitter): @bradaminus
YouTube: @lifechangingchallengers
LifeChangingChallengers.com

Want to be a guest on Life-Changing Challengers? Send Brad Minus a message on PodMatch, here.

In this inspiring conversation, Life-Changing Challengers host Brad Minus sits down with author, holistic nutritionist, and cancer coach Shruti Sethi. Together they trace Shruti’s journey from a vibrant childhood in India and a thriving fashion-design career in Mumbai to a devastating Stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis at age 34—and the radical lifestyle, mindset, and nutrition shifts that helped her beat the odds and stay cancer-free for eight years. Listeners will hear actionable insights on whole-food, plant-based eating, breath-work, forgiveness, energy psychology, and the power of choosing happiness, plus how Shruti now guides others on their own healing paths.

Timeline Highlights

• [00:45] Brad introduces Shruti Sethi’s multifaceted background—author, holistic nutritionist and cancer coach.
• [03:10] Shruti recalls her bustling joint-family childhood, early leadership and love of sports.
• [09:20] From textile mills to Mumbai runways: Shruti’s fashion-design years and her own label.
• [14:05] Relationship breakdown, chronic fatigue and a shocking lymphoma diagnosis.
• [22:30] Six-month holistic experiment: ozone therapy, diet cleanses—and the lesson she missed on forgiveness.
• [30:15] Chemo pain, a pivotal emotional release session and a strict no-oil plant-based protocol that turned the tide.
• [38:50] Clear PET scans, saying “no” to more radiation, and two intentional years of mind-body work in Goa.
• [46:40] Moving to New York, expanding Awaana Health, and why Shruti believes happiness is a daily choice.

Key Takeaways

1. Root-cause healing starts in the mind: emotional release and forgiveness accelerated Shruti’s remission.
2. Whole-food, plant-based nutrition plus breath-work can ease chemo side-effects and rebuild immunity.
3. Happiness is a practiced choice; mindset shifts matter as much as medicine.
4. Self-education and surrender can coexist—learn everything, then trust your intuition.
5. Lifestyle design is lifelong: Shruti still “takes a course a year” to deepen her wellness expertise.

Links & Resources

• Awaana Health: https://awaanahealth.com – nutrition & cancer-recovery programs
• Book – The Healing Power Within: Transforming Cancer to Wellness (Amazon)
• Follow Shruti on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Closing Remark

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Contact Brad @ Life Changing Challengers
Instagram: @bradaminus
Facebook: @bradaminus
X(Twitter): @bradaminus
YouTube: @lifechangingchallengers
LifeChangingChallengers.com

Want to be a guest on Life-Changing Challengers? Send Brad Minus a message on PodMatch, here.