“The devil lurks behind the door of your doubt, just waiting to throw you off tune.”

Wrapping Up a Season of Resilience

Welcome to the final episode of this season of Built for the Cold. It’s been a season of real talk — diving into death, disease, disappointment, demotion — the heavy hitters that test our resilience. And now we close with two of the most dangerous forces working against us: doubt and drifting. My goal today is to challenge you, encourage you, and help you walk away with the fire to face them head-on. If you’ve made it through this season with me, you’re not just a listener — you’re part of the Built for the Cold family.

The Battle with Doubt

Doubt has a way of showing up right when things are going well. You could be crushing it in your work, feeling strong in your relationships, or finally stepping into your purpose — and then comes that quiet whisper: “Are you sure you’re good enough? Do you really deserve this?” That’s not just ordinary insecurity, that’s a spiritual attack. I shared in this episode a moment from an Elevation Worship concert where Pastor Steven Furtick used a guitar as a powerful metaphor — the devil doesn’t smash your instrument, he just detunes it. And when your heart is out of tune, you start living out of rhythm with who you are. That’s why tuning your heart to the right source — God, the universe, or your highest calling — is everything, because when you’re aligned, doubt loses its grip.

The Trap of Drifting

Drifting is just as dangerous, maybe even more, because it works so quietly. It’s when you slip into autopilot, letting the days blur together with no clear intention. You start going wherever life pushes you, without really checking if you’re living on purpose. Weeks turn into years, and one day you look up and wonder, “How did I end up here?” I’ve watched it happen over and over — talented, driven people lose focus because they let small distractions pile up. Drifting pulls you further and further from the life you were designed to live.

An Invitation to Take Action

This is why you have to stay armored up. Not just with grit or willpower, but with spiritual alignment. Whether it’s prayer, faith, community, or something that connects you to your purpose, you need to keep your heart in tune. The devil doesn’t need to take you out in one blow — he works through a thousand tiny cuts of doubt, fear, and distraction. Guard your heart, remember your identity, and refuse to go it alone.

As we close out this season, here’s my challenge to you: have the courage to reach out. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t wait. Invite them to coffee, check in, and start a conversation. Healing and breakthrough often start when we’re willing to open up. Let’s be the kind of people who refuse to play the victim and instead rise up stronger.

If the information in these episodes has helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
02:00 The Power of Connection and Support
03:11 Understanding Doubt and Its Impact
05:31 The Devil's Tool: Drifting
08:44 Creating Your Personal Highlight Reel

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

"Sometimes the drugs in your life aren’t alcohol or substances — they're anything that pulls you from your purpose."

When the Drugs Aren’t What You Expect
In this episode of Built for the Cold, I dig into the not-so-obvious vices that can pull us off course. It's not always alcohol, weed, or harder substances. Sometimes it’s TV shows, video games, people-pleasing, betting, even the gym. Anything that keeps you from your God-given purpose is a drug you’ve got to recognize before it owns you.

Facing My Own Distractions
I open up about my own struggles—how materialism, sports obsession, and even fitness once became my escape from facing deeper emotional pain. Recently, I felt called to give up watching sports completely, and it’s been wild how much more energy, peace, and clarity I’ve experienced since. True purpose demands space—and sometimes silence—for God to speak.

Living on Purpose, Not on Numb
The devil’s goal is to numb you through distractions. But real strength comes from facing life head-on, not running from it. If you’ve been caught in a vice, there's a bigger life waiting for you on the other side of letting it go. Don't numb yourself. Wake up. Step into your calling.

If the information in these episodes have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
00:00 Understanding the Hidden Drugs in Our Lives
03:26 The Impact of Distractions on Purpose
06:18 Finding Purpose Through Silence and Reflection

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

"When two people start to not be on the same path, it’s death by a thousand cuts."

Opening the Door to a Hard Conversation
This episode is one of the hardest I've ever recorded. After 11 years together, my wife and I have made the decision to divorce. It’s painful, it’s messy, and it’s real. I’m not here to place blame—only to share my side of the journey and how resilience is built in the coldest moments of life.

When Paths No Longer Align
Divorce doesn’t happen overnight. It’s small cracks over time, a slow drifting apart. We fought for it, extended grace to each other, but at the end of the day, we realized we were on two very different paths. Staying together would have been forcing something that wasn’t meant to be.

Honoring the Good We Shared
T is still one of the kindest, most beautiful souls I've ever known. She showed up for my family and for me in ways I'll never forget. Our years together mattered—and nothing about our separation changes that truth.

Built for the Cold
This podcast is about being real with life’s toughest seasons. Divorce is one of the coldest. But resilience isn’t born from comfort—it’s built in the hard places. If you're walking through something similar, know you’re not alone.

If the information in these episodes has helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
03:18 The Journey of Reflection and Growth
06:37 Understanding Relationship Dynamics
09:25 Navigating Different Life Paths
12:18 The Impact of External Influences
15:41 Confronting Betrayal and Heartbreak
18:31 Finding Closure and Moving Forward
21:42 Embracing a New Chapter in Life

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

“You don’t have to be okay all the time—but don’t give up.” - Joe Wanner

When It All Feels Like Too Much

I’ve had more than one moment in life where everything felt like too much. The pressure, the rejection, the pain—it piled up. And there were times where I really thought about ending it. I didn’t see a way forward. The weight of it all was just that heavy.

The first time I felt that low was at 17. I had just gotten cut from basketball, was struggling at home, and felt completely alone. I walked out along the road thinking, “Would anyone even notice if I was gone?” Then, out of nowhere, I got a text from a friend saying she loved me and so many others did too. That message pulled me back. Literally saved my life.

It Doesn’t Just Go Away

It happened again in college. Family losses, breakups, financial stress—it all hit hard. I kept performing, kept showing up, but inside I was numb. I didn’t even process it until years later when I finally sat down with a therapist. What kept me going? One or two people who reminded me I wasn’t alone.

Keep Showing Up

I’m not a therapist. I can’t give clinical advice. But I’ve been through it. And I’m still here. If you’re struggling, don’t stay silent. Talk to someone. Take the next small step. Just getting through today is enough. And sometimes, that’s all you need to do.

If the information in these episodes have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
07:36 Navigating Life's Challenges and Relationships
12:25 Finding Hope in Isolation and Struggles
17:02 Transforming Pain into Purpose

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

“I was three months behind on rent, living off peanut butter and graham crackers, but I told myself — this is going to make a great story one day.”

The Cost of Ambition
In this powerful continuation of Joe Wanner’s financial journey, Part II of the “Debt” series dives deep into the college years and young adulthood that tested his grit like never before. From working weekends in high school to fund gas and insurance, to being publicly showcased in a financial aid video while catering the event, Joe was constantly reminded that he came from less—and that drove him to want more.

Hungry and Hustling
Joe recounts moments of literal hunger, where his family’s lack of understanding around athletic nutrition led to skipped meals, and how he’d confide in close friends about not having enough food. By the time he entered college, he was used to hustle. From work-study cafeteria jobs to selling his Xbox, TV, and favorite Nikes to attend a business conference, Joe was all in on building a better future—even when that meant sleeping in frat house sewer water during spring break.

Drowning in Debt but Not in Defeat
Through network marketing, unpaid internships, and car payments he could barely afford, Joe shares his rawest financial lows. Living three months behind on rent, surviving on scraps, and walking past restaurants knowing he only had $7 to his name—these moments didn’t break him. They sharpened his purpose and solidified his resolve.

Built Through the Struggle
What sets this episode apart is Joe’s honesty in the discomfort. From building dreams on bus rides to working in gyms with no AC while wearing a suit, he makes it clear: the price he paid was steep, but it was necessary. Hope was his currency when money ran out—and the belief that one day, his story would serve someone else.

Conclusion
Joe’s journey from broke and behind on rent to building businesses, paying for his wedding in cash, and having millionaires on speed dial is a testament to what’s possible when you reject victimhood and embrace purpose. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like their financial situation is too much to overcome—because Joe proves it’s not.

If the information in these episodes have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
01:26 Early Financial Challenges in High School
05:26 Transition to College Life and Financial Burdens
10:39 Struggles During College and Building a Business
18:16 Overcoming Debt and Finding Hope
20:33 Reflection on Growth and Success

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

“Yeah, I don’t see anyone in our family becoming that successful.” - My grandmother

Breaking the Chains of the Past
In this first of a two-part series, Joe Wanner opens up about his early financial struggles and how they fueled his determination to break generational poverty. From being born into a large Filipino immigrant family to being the oldest of six, Joe’s childhood was full of love but short on money—and he didn’t realize it until comparisons with his peers began to surface.

From Payless to Privilege
Middle school and high school exposed Joe to economic disparity. While classmates wore Jordans and received iPods, Joe showed up in Shacks from Payless and $10 gifts. A pivotal moment came at his 8th-grade graduation, overhearing a family member doubt anyone in their family could ever be successful. That moment lit a fire in Joe’s soul—and he decided the legacy would change with him.

Sacrifice and Grit
Joe shares the incredible sacrifices his parents made to get him into a top private school through financial aid. While other students arrived in BMWs, Joe caught two buses before sunrise just to make basketball practice. He recounts how these humbling experiences strengthened his resolve to succeed financially and reshape his future.

Conclusion
This episode is a raw and real look into the early life experiences that shaped Joe’s hunger for financial freedom. It’s not about playing victim—it’s about using the past as power. Get ready for Part II, where Joe dives into the debt and struggles of early adulthood.

If the information in these episodes have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show and leave an honest review.

Chapters
01:46 Growing Up with an Immigrant Mentality
04:56 High School Realizations and Financial Aid
10:11 The Impact of Socioeconomic Disparities
15:17 Overcoming Challenges in College and Beyond

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

Ever poured everything into a goal—hard work, sweat, and sacrifice—only to come up short? Maybe even get demoted instead of promoted? That gut punch can feel like failure, but sometimes, what looks like a setback is actually setting us up for something greater. No victim mentality here!

Today, I dive into the concept of demotion—whether it’s being cut from a team, passed over for a promotion, or losing something you thought was yours. I share personal experiences and insights on how these moments aren’t the end but rather a test of resilience. True growth often comes from adversity, and how we respond defines our next move.

Let’s talk about how to turn disappointment into momentum and redefine what success really means.

00:00 Facing Demotion and Dismissal
03:19 Overcoming Setbacks in Sports and Education
06:30 Navigating Professional Challenges
09:16 Resilience in the Face of Adversity
12:18 Finding Purpose Through Pain

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram

Sometimes a diagnosis brings clarity; other times, it turns your world upside down. I’m diving into what happens when you finally get answers—whether it’s relief, fear, or a mix of both.

I share personal experiences facing mortality and how those moments shaped me. More importantly, I explore how to take control of your response, find strength, and shift from simply surviving to truly living. Face life's D's without blaming the G-O-D!Chapters

02:49 The Struggles of Fatigue and Diagnosis
10:05 Understanding Sleep Apnea
12:57 Navigating ADHD in Relationships
15:42 Finding Purpose Through Adversity

Make a Cold connection with exercise physiologist, sales coach, and much more @JoeWannerOfficial on Instagram