In this episode, I sit down with Rita Hudgens, holistic mindset life coach and founder of Transform University, for a grounded, coach-to-coach conversation on identity, flow, healing, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned, not just impressive on paper.

What began as a reconnection through shared space at the gym evolves into a deep dialogue on mountaintops and valleys, hustle culture, redefining contribution, and the courage required to outgrow identities that once fueled success but now quietly drain peace.

Rita shares her journey through near-death illness, divorce, long-haul COVID, and decades of leadership alongside professional athletics: revealing how self-awareness, faith, and intentional action became the foundation of Transform University. I got to reflect on my own evolution from force-driven leadership to alignment-first living, unpacking how presence, time, and legacy become the real metrics of success.

This conversation is honest, reflective, and deeply human: especially for high performers who have achieved a lot but sense there’s a more integrated way to live, lead, and serve.

Key Takeaways

• Alignment isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most

• Flow is a promise that must be protected intentionally

• Identity evolves fastest when environment and circles of influence evolve too

• Healing and growth require action, not just belief

• Time isn’t managed—it’s invested

Notable Quotes

• “Our strengths can be overused just as easily as they can be underused.”

• “Flow is when you’re no longer hitting your head against life.”

• “You don’t get the promise unless you act on it.”

• “We don’t need balance—we need harmony.”

• “It takes a lot of work to make life feel effortless.”

Connect with Rita
Transform University → https://transformuniversity.net

Linkedin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-hudgens/

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Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CoachDerz.com/blog

✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Alignment First. Progress Always

#AlignmentFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #HolisticCoaching #MindsetMatters #FlowState #IdentityWork #HighPerformance #PersonalGrowth #Presence #ProgressAlways

In this episode of Alignment First, Mycal sits down with Corbin Smith, a 30-year coaching veteran, founder of MTTS Sports Group, author of More Than the Scoreboard, and host of the More Than the Scoreboard podcast.

Corbin shares the raw reality of transitioning from athlete to coach, navigating loyalty in the coaching profession, and why self-leadership is the foundation of every great team, family, and organization. From locker-room lessons to parenting adult children, this conversation is a masterclass in integrity, accountability, and alignment.

Key Takeaways

• Why self-leadership is the non-negotiable foundation of all leadership

• The difference between loyalty and alignment in modern coaching and business

• How peer leadership creates more leaders—not followers

• Why honesty without tact fails, and tact without honesty is manipulation

• How great leaders zoom in and out without losing their North Star

Notable Quotes

• “Leadership isn’t a position—it’s a service.” - Corbin

• “If you can’t lead yourself, everything above it collapses.” - Corbin

• “The best leaders don’t create followers; they create leaders.” - Corbin

• “Imposter syndrome usually means you’re standing at the edge of growth.” - Corbin

• “You don’t avoid failure as a leader—you learn how to respond to it.” - Corbin

Connect with Corbin

• Website: https://mttssportsgroup.com/

• Podcast: More Than the Scoreboard (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)

• Book: More Than the Scoreboard (coming soon)

Stay Connected & Take Action
✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co
✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → CoachDerz.com/blog
✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/
✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM

Partners & Sponsors
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

@ThorneHealth → thorne.com/u/progressalways

#Leadership #SelfLeadership #Coaching #AthleteToLeader #AlignmentFirst #ProgressAlways

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Joseph Cancilla, founder of Hana Events & Experiences, United States Marine Corps veteran, and experiential architect creating emotionally resonant events at scale. What begins as a shared Marine Corps bond evolves into a deep conversation about grief, empathy, nervous system regulation, and what it actually takes to lead with presence instead of pressure.

Joseph opens up about unlearning Marine Corps conditioning in civilian leadership, avoiding grief through busyness, and how meditation, breathwork, and embodiment reshaped both his leadership style and his business model.

Together, they explore why slowing down is not weakness, how emotional intelligence creates better outcomes, and why aligned leaders create experiences that move people—not just impress them.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership often requires unlearning before growth becomes possible

• Empathy can exist without lowering standards

• Grief avoided becomes friction; grief processed becomes wisdom

• Stillness and embodiment lead to clearer decisions

• Emotional resonance creates lasting leadership impact

Quotes

• “Every decision in the Marine Corps is framed as life or death—and that doesn’t translate cleanly to civilian leadership.” – Mycal Anders

• “Validation doesn’t mean agreement—it means honoring someone’s lived experience.” – Joseph Cancilla

• “Slowing down was the only way I could finally feel again.” – Joseph Cancilla

• “If nobody’s given you permission to be great, this is it.” – Mycal Anders

Connect with Joseph Cancilla

• 🌐 Website: https://www.hana.events

• 📸 Instagram: @hanaaroundtheworld

• 🔗 LinkedIn: Joseph Cancilla

Stay Connected & Take Action
✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → https://nextlevelhq.co
✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → https://go.coachderz.com/blog
✅ Subscribe to the Next Level Substack → https://nextlevelalignment.substack.com/
✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5DmNDDIPLiYIfO278S32hM?si=258af1623c974b00

Partners & Sponsors
@ThorneHealth → https://www.thorne.com/u/progressalways
@StrongCoffee → https://strongcoffeecompany.com — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Alignment First. Progress Always!

#AlignmentFirst #ProgressAlways #VeteranLeadership #EmbodiedLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #MarineCorpsMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #EventExperience