What if everything you've been told about finding your purpose after sports is wrong? In this powerful episode, Bryan sits down with Matt Granados—performance strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Life Pulse, to talk about what it really takes to transition from high-level athlete to fulfilled human. They dive into truth-based transformation, why chasing passion is dangerous, and how to identify your purpose by looking at your past, not your future. This is a must-listen for any athlete or high performer who feels stuck, searching, or like they’ve hit a ceiling. From practical tools to personal stories, Matt delivers a masterclass on creating a life aligned with your calling—not just your old identity.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Passion Can Be Dangerous

01:18 – Meet Matt Granados & Life Pulse

02:40 – From High Performance to Optimal Performance

03:55 – Why Most Athletes Stay Stuck

06:25 – Identity, Calling & Assignment Explained

08:05 – Purpose vs Passion: A Wake-Up Call

10:00 – How to Discover Your Purpose

11:42 – A Real-Life Client Example

13:20 – Digging Deeper Than "I Just Love Soccer"

15:10 – Athletes as Products in a Business Machine

17:35 – What Bryan Learned from the MLB & NHL Orgs

19:00 – Structure + Intention = Perpetual Development

21:10 – The Triangle of Influence: Athlete, Exec, Entrepreneur

23:00 – The Power of Alignment & Community

24:20 – Realign Conference: Why It's Different

26:35 – What You Get at the Event

28:55 – Custom 90-Day Plan & Tool Access

30:00 – Integration of Faith, Business, and Life

33:20 – Obedience > Outcome

35:30 – Final Encouragements for Athletes

37:00 – One Thing Every Rookie Needs

38:10 – Like, Subscribe & Share What’s Next!

Connect with Matt:

• Website:: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/wn
• Realign Conference: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/realign-conference
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPNc15l_7JB8-aziMAnLPsA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifepulseinc/

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

After nearly a month on the road, from the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of The Bahamas and the soccer fields of Germany, Bryan returns with a new perspective on what freedom really means.

In this solo reflection, he breaks down the four levels of freedom taught by Dan Sullivan: time, money, relationships, and purpose and shares how aligning them with your North Star can transform the way you live, lead, and build your business.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing success but still missing meaning, this episode will help you pause, realign, and rediscover what truly drives you.

Chapters
00:00 – Freedom Isn’t Something You Chase
01:00 – What Four Weeks on the Road Taught Me
02:15 – The Four Levels of Freedom (Time, Money, Relationships, Purpose)
05:45 – Lessons from the Mountains, Beaches & Fields
07:30 – Transactional vs Transformational Relationships
09:15 – Living in Alignment with Your North Star
10:30 – A Challenge for You: Take 10 Minutes of Stillness
11:30 – Final Thoughts & Freedom Reminders

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Marcelo Balboa for a powerful conversation about life after the game. Marcelo opens up about the emotional crash after retiring from professional soccer, navigating identity loss, divorce, and personal transformation. From captaining the U.S. Men's National Team through three World Cups to rediscovering purpose through broadcasting, coaching, and fatherhood, Marcelo shares vulnerable lessons on leadership, growth, and what truly matters. This episode is a must-listen for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone facing major life transitions.

Chapters

00:00 – Let Them Do Their Job: Marcelo on trust & creativity
00:48 – Bryan introduces Marcelo and their SDSU connection
01:35 – Marcelo’s legacy: U.S. Men’s National Team, World Cups, and the mullet
03:15 – The dark side of retirement: Drinking, depression, and identity loss
05:00 – Marcelo admits: “I wasn’t a good husband or father”
06:30 – The turning point: Two soccer moms changed everything
07:30 – “You grow more from failure than success”
08:40 – Who showed up during the hard times — and who didn’t
09:50 – Advice to his younger self: Own your mistakes
10:45 – Breaking into broadcasting (and bombing at first)
12:00 – Getting his shot with Mark Cuban and Glenn Davis
13:15 – How JP Dellacamera mentored him through early TV days
14:25 – Why being bilingual became a superpower
15:30 – Transitioning from athlete to analyst to coach
16:45 – The evolution of leadership beyond the field
17:55 – What corporate leaders can learn from locker rooms
19:00 – Micromanagement kills creativity
20:15 – Marcelo on the biggest youth soccer challenge in the U.S.
21:20 – The broken “pay-for-play” system
22:30 – Advice for parents: Support without pressure
23:50 – Marcelo’s pet peeve: negative coaching
24:45 – Why sports prepare kids for life
25:40 – Marcelo’s life now: coaching, family, and peace
27:00 – “Enjoy every day you have”
28:00 – Reflections on legacy and giving back

Connect with Marcelo:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelo-balboa-4933114/
• X: https://x.com/marcelobalboa17?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelobalboa17/

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.