John Ulsh is a speaker, coach, author, and resilience expert who survived a near-fatal car crash that led to 45+ surgeries, years of recovery, and a complete reset on his life. He’s been featured in People Magazine, Men’s Fitness, and on Good Morning America, and he’s the author of The Upside of Down.

John shares the moment everything changed: a head-on collision after a swim meet, an 18-day coma, paralysis, and waking up to a life he didn’t recognize.

But the bigger story is what came next: rebuilding. John talks about how he went from being completely dependent on others to taking control of his life again through daily choices, training, and a mindset shift.

• You’d be surprised what you’re capable of when you’re forced to face hard things.

• Replace pain you can’t control with discomfort you choose on purpose.

• Build your “board of directors,” people you trust who can help you stay grounded.

• Remove obstacles and focus on the first step. Momentum comes from action.

• It’s more important to be intentional than perfect.

Website: www.JohnUlsh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnulsh/

Finish the Race Apparel: https://ftrapparel.com/collections/stay-in-the-fight

Stay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs it. Go one step further than you thought you could go.

This conversation is raw. It’s honest. And it’s one of those episodes that I know is going to help a lot of people, especially anyone who’s carrying grief and doesn’t know what to do with it.

In this episode, Brendan and I talk about what it means to lose a brother, especially in a sudden, traumatic way. We talk about the anger that can show up for men, the guilt that older brothers carry, and the feeling that life splits into “before” and “after” the moment you lose your person.

Brendan also shares practical strategies—real, usable stuff—for what to do when grief hits you out of nowhere. Not the “time heals all wounds” nonsense. He talks about letting the wave hit, not fighting it, and making “small shifts” in your daily life to keep yourself moving forward when you feel stuck.

We also talk about connection—how the relationship doesn’t end, it just changes. The rituals, the photos, the texts, the car conversations, all of it. Because pretending it didn’t happen isn’t strength. It’s avoidance. And eventually that pain comes back with interest.

Brendan gives the background of what happened in April 2022, and how the legal process stretched the pain out for months and months. We also talk about who Philip was—his energy, his impact, and why the people who lose the “good ones” always seem to ask the same question: why him?

I share something I still wrestle with: that feeling of “I should’ve protected him.” Brendan speaks to that in a way that I think a lot of men need to hear.

We talk about how natural those thoughts are, especially for men, and how toxic it becomes if you live there too long.

Brendan explains why grief isn’t a straight line. Some days are calm. Some days the storm comes back and knocks you over. But the ocean is always there.

Brendan shares what he does when that punch-in-the-stomach moment hits:

• Don’t run from it

• Face it

• Use photos or memories when you’re already in the wave

• Remind yourself it won’t last forever, even if it feels like drowning

This part is huge. Brendan talks about making tiny changes—trying a new place, taking a new route, doing the thing you’ve been curious about. Not because it fixes grief, but because it keeps you from being trapped in the same mental loop every day.

We talk about texting them, talking to them in the car, listening to old voice clips, and how the relationship continues—because for a lot of us, we think about them more now than we ever did when they were here.

If you do one thing after listening to this episode: be good to people. You don’t know what the person in front of you is carrying.

• Website: www.BrendanShawGrief.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanshawgrief

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brendanshawgrief

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrendanShawGrief

Brendan also shares what he and his family built in Philip’s honor: The Phil With Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that gives back through scholarships and community impact—supporting domestic violence shelters, animal shelters, food insecurity, youth sports, and more. Their goal is simple: turn pain into something that helps other people.

• Become Stronger Industries: becomestronger.com

• Finish the Race Apparel: FTRapparel.com

• Stay in the Fight (Anthony’s charity): https://www.stayinthefight.am/

If this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who needs it. Someone who’s grieving. Someone who’s holding it all in. Someone who thinks they have to stay strong by staying silent.

And as always—go one step further than you thought you could.

See you next time on Building Men.

Alright folks, welcome to Chapter 2 of the Building Men Podcast.

This episode is real. No fluff. Just truth.

The last solo episode I recorded was Anthony’s eulogy in October 2024. Since then, life forced me to slow down, grieve, heal, and really ask myself what this podcast is meant to be moving forward. Losing my brother changed everything. It strengthened my family, reshaped my priorities, and made it painfully clear that this work matters.

Chapter 2 is a rebirth.

In this episode, I share where Building Men truly began—not as a podcast, not as a program, but as a kid in sixth grade searching for mentorship and a healthier model of masculinity. I talk openly about growing up with a father who was present but not a positive role model, about false masculinity, and about the quiet hunger many boys feel for guidance, purpose, and connection.

I walk through the evolution of the Building Men program, the lessons young men actually need, and why becoming a man isn’t a moment—it’s a practice. Accountability, resilience, humility, leadership, discipline, and healthy habits don’t magically appear. They’re trained.

This episode also honors Anthony—our time together on the podcast, the laughter, the long studio days, and the gift of being able to still hear his voice. It’s because of him that I’m continuing.

I also introduce Stay in the Fight, a charity created in Anthony’s honor to provide access to therapy and mental health support for those who can’t afford it. Anthony looked invincible on the outside, but he struggled deeply—and too many people are fighting those battles alone.

You can learn more about the charity here:
👉 https://www.stayinthefight.am/

Moving forward, Chapter 2 will focus on young men, parents, coaches, teachers, and anyone who cares about helping boys grow into strong, grounded men. We’ll talk about grief, failure, emotional strength, responsibility, character, and the habits that actually change lives.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs it. Have one meaningful conversation this week. Tell the people you love that you love them.

Find everything Building Men at:
👉 https://www.buildingmen.io
Instagram: @building.men
Stay in the Fight: https://www.stayinthefight.am/

This is Chapter 2.
Go one step further than you thought you could.
See you next time on Building Men.

Dear Anthony,

Starting Building Men together was one of the best decisions of my life. That studio became our sanctuary—a place where we laid down more than just words into a mic. We shared pieces of ourselves, woven together with laughter, late-night talks, and the kind of moments most people only dream of having with their brothers. That last episode we recorded, In Service of Others, keeps playing in my mind. You were everything you spoke about there—a coach, a friend, a man who simply wanted to make the world better. And I’d give anything for one more session of “bullshitting” in person, just you and me, like always.

You were my rock, but even more than that, you were this incredible listener. You’d look at someone, and it felt like you could see right into their soul. You carried everyone’s burdens with that quiet strength, always putting others first. You laughed off the small stuff and showed up for the big moments without a second thought. And maybe that’s what makes losing you so unbearable—like there’s a hole in the world that only you could fill.

Thinking back, I can’t help but laugh at the way you lit up every room you walked into. You had this natural charm, this magnetic energy that made people want to be near you, learn from you, and laugh with you. And your rituals? Those barefoot sunrise walks, hauling spring water, and that relentless dedication to health—you were truly one of a kind. And then, of course, there was your humor. Your ridiculous accents, the pranks, the belly laughs —it all just made you the funniest, most genuine person I knew.

I know life wasn’t always easy for you. I know you fought battles only you understood, yet you kept pushing through every day. Every sunrise, every gym rep, every stranger you talked to—you lived with such fierce intention. And that’s what I’ll carry forward, Ant. Your fight is part of me now.
Since you’ve been gone, I’ve watched the sun rise every morning. It’s my way of staying connected to you, holding onto that part of you that always sought the light, even when things were dark. It’s not easy, but it’s where I find you. The sunrise reminds me that, like the sun itself, your impact shines on, even in the hardest moments.

I’m doing my best to live with that same purpose you carried. To stay in the fight, just like you did. Your story doesn’t end here. It lives on in every laugh, every memory, in this podcast, and in every person lucky enough to know you.

Thank you, brother—for the friendship, the guidance, the laughter, and the lessons in the struggle. I’ll keep you close, always. Rest easy, Ant. We’ve got it from here.
I love you brother….with all my heart,
Dennis

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