What if true perseverance isn't about pushing harder, but learning when to ask for help?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success, clinical psychologist Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Dennis Connors, a Marine Corps veteran, Paralympic silver medalist, two-time world champion paracyclist, and keynote speaker, to explore the psychology of resilience, identity, and redefining success after life-changing adversity.

From serving nearly a decade in Marine Corps intelligence to competing on the world stage, Dennis has spent his life navigating high-pressure environments. But some of his greatest challenges came after leaving the military, when he struggled with PTSD, suicidal thoughts, traumatic brain injuries, and two strokes that dramatically changed his physical abilities and sense of purpose.

Dennis shares how confronting his mental health struggles, embracing vulnerability, and rediscovering his passion for cycling helped him rebuild his life. After his second stroke left him relearning how to walk, he found a new path through adaptive cycling, eventually earning world championship titles and a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Together, Rebecca and Dennis examine the difference between grit and long-term perseverance, the importance of self-compassion, and why achievement alone cannot define personal worth. Dennis also explains how lessons from military intelligence shaped his ability to make decisions under pressure, adapt to uncertainty, and approach challenges from new perspectives.

This conversation challenges the traditional idea that strength means enduring everything alone. Instead, Dennis offers a powerful reminder that lasting resilience comes from vulnerability, disciplined action, meaningful connections, and the courage to redefine what success looks like.

Whether you're navigating a major life transition, recovering from a setback, or questioning what achievement truly means, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on finding purpose beyond performance.

Learn more about Dennis Connors: https://www.dennisconnorsusa.com

Content note: This episode includes discussions of PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and mental health challenges.

What happens when the dream you've spent your entire life chasing no longer defines who you are?

For three-time Olympian Mikel Thomas, success was never just about medals, records, or standing on the world's biggest stage. It was about resilience, identity, and discovering who he could become beyond the track.

In this episode of The Psychology of Success, Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Mikel Thomas to explore the psychology of elite performance, overcoming adversity, and redefining success when life takes an unexpected turn.

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Mikel went from racing barefoot in the streets to representing his country at three Olympic Games. Along the way, he faced career-threatening injuries, financial hardship, homelessness, and the pressure of competing against the world's best.

Mikel shares how a simple choice between detention and track practice changed his life, why failure became one of his greatest teachers, and how he learned to separate his identity from his achievements.

Now working in athlete strategy and engagement at Commonwealth Sport, Mikel helps athletes build opportunities and purpose beyond competition.

Together, Rebecca and Mikel discuss the power of mindset, the importance of resilience, navigating major life transitions, and why true success has less to do with what you achieve and more to do with who you become.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that your greatest accomplishments don't have to define your worth, and sometimes the most meaningful victories happen far beyond the finish line.

What does success really mean when the achievements, recognition, and accolades still leave you feeling unfulfilled?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success with Rebecca Rose Payne, Dr. Rebecca Payne sits down with Antoine Hood, NBA free agent, entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and cancer survivor, for a powerful conversation about resilience, childhood trauma, emotional healing, and the hidden struggles behind high achievement.

Diagnosed with lymphoma at just 13 years old, Antoine faced a life-changing battle that shaped his outlook on hope, discipline, and what is possible. He went on to pursue professional basketball, serve in the U.S. Air Force, build businesses, and explore multiple passions.

But beneath those accomplishments, Antoine shares a more personal journey: recognizing how childhood experiences shaped his belief that he was never enough, working through unresolved trauma, and learning that success cannot replace emotional peace.

Together, Rebecca and Antoine explore why some people chase achievement to prove their worth, how unresolved wounds can affect relationships, and why building an identity beyond your career or accomplishments matters. They also discuss empathy without agreement, the importance of curiosity, and the power of taking responsibility for your own growth.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How childhood experiences can shape ambition and self-worth
• Why reaching the top can still leave you feeling unfulfilled
• The connection between emotional healing and lasting success
• How to understand someone else's perspective without agreeing with them
• Why your identity needs to be bigger than your achievements
• How curiosity, discipline, and self-awareness support personal growth

Success isn't just about what you accomplish. It's also about who you become along the way.

Tune in for an honest conversation about redefining success, healing old wounds, and finding fulfillment beyond the finish line.

What does success really look like after 40 years of pursuing your passion?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success, Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Steve Maiselson, a producer, writer, actor, and documentarian whose four-decade career spans Hollywood, television, comedy, and independent filmmaking.

From writing jokes for Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield to preserving rare interviews with civil rights icon Rosa Parks for the Smithsonian, Steve shares the unexpected turns, creative risks, and defining experiences that have shaped his journey.

Together, Rebecca and Steve explore the psychology of creativity, the importance of trusting yourself, and why persistence often matters more than recognition. Steve reflects on navigating rejection, balancing artistic ambition with everyday responsibilities, and finding fulfillment in the work itself rather than external measures of success.

He also shares the remarkable story behind his Rosa Parks documentary, the responsibility of preserving history, and how meaningful creative work can inspire future generations.

Throughout the conversation, Steve challenges the traditional definition of success, reminding us that achievement isn't always measured by money, fame, or recognition. Sometimes, success is simply having the courage to create something meaningful and continue pursuing what matters to you.

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or someone navigating your own path, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on resilience, creative fulfillment, and building a life defined by purpose.

What does it take to walk away from a successful career, embrace uncertainty, and pursue a life driven by passion rather than expectations?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success, Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Darwin Shaw, an actor, filmmaker, former physician, and Academy Award-nominated producer whose career spans Hollywood blockbusters, acclaimed television, and socially impactful independent films.

From appearing in Casino Royale and Homeland to producing the Oscar-nominated short film The Last Ranger, Darwin has built an unconventional career rooted in creativity, resilience, and meaningful storytelling. But before entering the entertainment industry, he trained and worked as a medical doctor, eventually discovering a passion for acting that would completely change the direction of his life.

Darwin opens up about the psychological challenges of leaving medicine behind, navigating rejection in Hollywood, and learning to separate personal fulfillment from external recognition. He explores how acting helped him reconnect with his emotions, why grit and genuine passion matter more than fame, and how creating his own projects gave him a greater sense of control over his career.

The conversation also explores his latest directorial project, Children of Chaos, which examines homelessness in Las Vegas, and the importance of using storytelling to give a voice to overlooked communities.

Together, Rebecca and Darwin discuss the emotional cost of pursuing ambitious dreams, the importance of staying focused in a world full of distractions, and why success isn't necessarily about reaching the top, but about finding something meaningful enough to keep pursuing despite uncertainty.

Whether you're considering a major career change, struggling with rejection, or questioning what success truly means to you, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that fulfillment comes from courage, curiosity, and the willingness to follow what genuinely matters.

What happens when ambition, anxiety, success, failure, and leadership all collide?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success with Rebecca Rose Payne, Rebecca sits down with Scott Abbott, a serial entrepreneur, investor, executive coach, and four-time bestselling author with more than 35 years of experience building companies and leading high-performing teams.

Scott shares how an unconventional upbringing helped shape his ability to adapt, why structure and systemization can actually create more freedom, and how anxiety and ambition can exist at the same time. He also explores why conflict is not always something to avoid, the difference between being nice and being kind, and why human skills such as empathy, boundaries, and authenticity may become even more valuable as AI continues to change the way we work.

The conversation also goes deeper into success itself. Scott explains why success can make trust more complicated, why he prefers the idea of work-life “harmony” over balance, and how his own definition of success has changed over time.

Scott also opens up about one of the lowest periods of his life, when he lost his job, struggled financially, and eventually rebuilt from the ground up. That experience shaped his belief in grit, grace, systems, hard work, and personal ownership.

At the heart of the episode is one simple message: own your situation. Take accountability for what you can control, keep moving forward, and focus on the actions that can take you from where you are to where you want to be. Pasted markdown

This episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, mindset, and what it really takes to build a successful life without losing yourself in the process.

What does it really take to build successful companies, and how does your definition of success change once you’ve done it?

On this episode of The Psychology of Success, Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Greg Wolfond, serial entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and Founder of Give Back Health Innovation Foundation.

Greg shares lessons from decades of building and scaling technology companies, including Footprint Software, 724 Solutions, and SecureKey Technologies. He opens up about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, creating teams that believe in a shared vision, staying resilient when things go wrong, and accepting that luck and timing are part of every entrepreneurial journey.

The conversation also explores Greg’s evolving relationship with success, work-life balance, and risk. After years in technology, Greg is now focused on helping Canadian healthcare innovations move from the lab into the real world through Give Back Health Innovation Foundation.

Greg explains how philanthropic capital can help scientists and entrepreneurs bridge the difficult gap between promising research and commercialization, giving potentially life-changing healthcare innovations a better chance of reaching patients.

From entrepreneurship and leadership to purpose, perseverance, and giving back, this conversation offers a candid look at what success really requires and what can come after achieving it.

What does it really mean to be successful? Is it building a profitable business, making smart decisions, or helping the people around you grow?

In this episode of The Psychology of Success, Dr. Rebecca Rose Payne sits down with Ian Campbell, CEO of Nucleus Research and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Value Sale, to explore the relationship between business value, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal fulfillment.

For more than two decades, Ian has helped organizations look beyond technology hype and focus on what actually delivers results. He shares how his background in computer science, economics, and finance led him to start Nucleus Research, why he took the leap from a steady paycheck to entrepreneurship, and how he approaches the challenges of running a company.

The conversation also explores the ideas behind The Value Sale. Ian explains why understanding the benefits of a decision matters more than getting caught up in features, trends, or popularity. From choosing business software to making everyday decisions, he offers a practical way to think about value and return on investment.

But the conversation goes beyond business.

Ian reflects on how his definition of success has changed over time. While building a company initially meant creating financial stability, he now finds some of his greatest rewards in coaching employees, watching them develop their skills, and helping them reach new milestones.

Rebecca and Ian discuss the importance of asking why, making thoughtful decisions, navigating setbacks, and recognizing that success can mean different things at different stages of life.