The One You Feed isn’t just a proverb—it’s a practical framework for how your thoughts, habits, and inputs shape who you become. In this episode, Ashley and I break down the “two wolves” story (the good wolf vs. the destructive wolf) and get brutally honest about what most people miss: the negative path is usually the default… and changing it takes reps.

We connect the proverb to real life—gratitude, media consumption, dopamine loops, “neurons that fire together wire together,” and why your environment and inputs matter more than you want to admit. We also share a defining moment from our marriage (a serious ATV accident) and how choosing the right mindset in a hard season didn’t just help us survive—it made us stronger.

Takeaways:

• Identify what you’re feeding daily (media, self-talk, habits, relationships)
• Interrupt negative spirals with simple practices like gratitude and “pause + evaluate”
• Rewire habits through small, consistent reps instead of all-or-nothing swings
• Protect your mind by being selective about what you consume
• Choose responses on purpose—especially when life punches you in the face

Hosted by Josh Negron, entrepreneur, leader, and serial optimizer with his co-host, Ashley Negron.

If this hit home, share it with someone who’s been feeding the wrong wolf—and commit to one better “meal” today.

Mindset coaching, habit change, gratitude practice.

Full show notes → [OptimizingBeyond.com

Most people underestimate how much leadership accountability shapes their homes, teams, and communities. When good men — or good leaders — do nothing, disorder fills the vacuum.

This episode digs into the quiet dangers of abdication and why passivity always creates unintended consequences. We explore how appreciation fuels responsibility, why strength must be controlled not hidden, and how servant leadership calls you to show up long before you feel ready.

You’ll learn why avoiding conflict creates bigger conflict, why stepping back invites chaos, and why the people you lead need clarity more than they need perfection. We break down the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking, why accountability is an act of love, and how intentional presence stabilizes relationships, teams, and culture itself.

These are the lessons that transform marriages, raise healthier kids, build trustworthy teams, and shape strong communities — all starting with one person deciding to take responsibility.

Takeaways

• Recognize how abdication creates disorder
• Show up before you feel fully prepared
• Practice servant leadership through controlled strength
• Communicate truth in love instead of avoiding conflict
• Model responsibility to elevate everyone around you

Hosted by Josh Negron, entrepreneur, leader, and serial optimizer.

If this challenges you, share it with someone who’s ready to step up and lead where it matters most.

Related phrases: responsible leadership, servant leadership, emotional maturity

Most people don’t realize how much their mindset is shaped by untested assumptions. In this episode, we unpack three life lessons that would have changed everything in our 20s.

We break down three foundational lessons every young adult — and honestly, every adult — needs to master:

1. Assuming positive intent, credit Jonathan Dawson.
2. Controlling your emotions, credit Danelle Delgado.
3. Controlling the second thought, credit Glenn Lundy.

These aren’t theories. These are the real skills that shape your relationships, your decision-making, and your long-term growth.

We talk about how assumptions distort reality, why reacting without thinking creates unnecessary damage, and how learning to pause, evaluate, and respond can transform your daily life. You’ll hear practical examples, frameworks, and ways to begin changing how you think today — not someday.

This episode is direct, honest, and packed with simple tools that build emotional maturity and better relational outcomes.

Takeaways

• Identify and interrupt harmful assumptions
• Practice second-thought awareness before reacting
• Communicate with clarity instead of emotional heat
• Reframe your perception of intent and motives
• Build long-term relational trust through thoughtful responses

Hosted by Josh Negron, entrepreneur, leader, and serial optimizer. Featuring co-host and wife, Ashley Negron.

If this episode challenges you, share it with someone who needs these lessons right now — especially someone in their 20s, or raising someone in their 20s.

emotional intelligence, mindset growth, relational maturity.