You-Jitsu Podcast: Recent Episodes

Kevin Pannell

I share my short, succinct lessons learned to help others thinking about starting or new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)

Welcome to Episode 430 of People, Process, Progress.

For many organizations, July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year. Budgets reset, priorities shift, and new initiatives begin. It's an exciting time, but it's also the perfect opportunity to pause before rushing into more work.

In this episode, Kevin Pannell shares why every successful year should begin with leadership intent rather than simply launching new projects. Drawing from more than three decades of experience in the military, emergency management, healthcare, public safety, information technology, and higher education, Kevin explores how clear intent helps leaders align teams, improve governance, prioritize meaningful work, and create better outcomes.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why a new fiscal year should be part portfolio reset and part previous year re-evaluation
What leadership intent is, and what it isn't
Why people-centered problems require people-centered leadership
How listening during your first 90 days builds trust and improves decisions
Why governance should improve decision quality instead of creating bureaucracy
How portfolio management is really about investing in better human outcomes
Why lessons learned without improvement plans rarely lead to meaningful change

Whether you're leading a project, a PMO, a department, or an entire organization, this episode will help you begin the fiscal year with greater clarity, stronger alignment, and practical leadership principles you can put into practice immediately.

Resources

???? The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management

???? The Stability Equation

???? https://peopleprocessprogress.com

???? X & Instagram: @thekevinpannell

???? Interested in leadership development, project management, PMO transformation, or keynote speaking? Connect through the website.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is committed to leading people, improving processes, and making meaningful progress.

What should you do during your first days as a leader?

Many new managers and executives feel pressure to prove themselves by introducing new processes, reorganizing teams, or making immediate changes. But what if the best first move is something different?

Inspired by Bruce Lee's famous advice to "be like water," Kevin Pannell explores why effective leadership begins with observation, curiosity, and trust before transformation.

Drawing on lessons from the U.S. Navy, emergency management, healthcare IT, and years spent leading Project Management Offices, Kevin shares how experienced leaders can balance confidence with humility as they step into a new organization.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why experience should help you ask better questions before providing better answers.
How to avoid solving the wrong problem during your first 90 days.
Why every process has a story worth understanding.
A practical leadership framework: Observe. Orient. Optimize.
How People. Process. Progress. creates sustainable organizational change.

Whether you're a PMO leader, project manager, executive, supervisor, entrepreneur, or simply beginning a new chapter in your career, this episode offers practical leadership advice you can apply immediately.

Mentioned in this Episode

Bruce Lee's "Be Like Water" philosophy
Building situational awareness before making change
Leadership transitions
PMO leadership
Organizational change management
Trust and stakeholder engagement

Connect with Kevin: ???? peopleprocessprogress.com |???? Instagram & X: @thekevinpannell |

???? YouTube: Own, Move, Anchor

If You Enjoyed This Episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone beginning a new leadership role. Your support helps more leaders discover practical conversations about people, process, and progress.

The traditional project management Big Three of Scope, Schedule, and Cost are foundational. They are not going anywhere, and they should not. However, those metrics primarily measure the process. If you only look at data on a digital dashboard, you are missing the human element that determines whether a project succeeds or fails.

In this episode, we break down how to augment your traditional constraints with four people-focused vital signs that provide a real-time, accurate picture of your team and project health.

Alignment: Is everyone actually pulling in the same direction, or are they just checking boxes?
Confidence: Does the team genuinely believe the objectives are achievable?
Direction to Done: Is the path forward completely clear, or is the finish line a moving target?
Stability: Is the operational environment steady, or are shifting priorities causing burnout?

By tracking these human indicators alongside your standard constraints, you bridge the gap between software dashboards and real-world execution.

Key Takeaways

The Process vs. People Gap: Why on-time and under-budget projects can still fail if the team is completely misaligned.
Augmenting the Big Three: How to layer qualitative human metrics on top of quantitative scope, schedule, and cost data.
The 4 Vital Signs Explained: A deep dive into Alignment, Confidence, Direction to Done, and Stability, and how to spot when one is slipping.
Leading with Clarity: Practical ways for PMO leaders to pulse check these metrics through direct communication rather than software tracking.

Resources Mentioned

Connect with the Show: peopleprocessprogress.com
Keep the Conversation Going: @thekevinpannell on X and Instagram
Fitness and BJJ Content: Own. Move. Anchor. on YouTube
Read the Book: The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

A project is marked green on the tracker, the meetings are happening, and the status reports look perfect. Then, the delivery day arrives, and the end users are completely unprepared. What happened?

In this premiere episode of People. Process. Progress., veteran IT PMO Director Kevin Pannell breaks down the metric trap of green dashboards and explains why your tracking tools might be hiding massive execution risks. We explore the critical gap between visibility and true human alignment, drawing on historical engineering lessons such as the Challenger disaster and applying them directly to modern white-collar leadership.

You will learn why methodology cannot solve human misalignment, why data points are just proxies for reality, and how to use the weekly Stand Up audit to check your unverified assumptions.

Stop confusing activity with progress. It is time to double down on the fundamentals of your people, your process, and your outcomes.

Key Takeaways

The Metric Trap: Why a green dashboard only tells you that tasks are being checked, not that your team is actually aligned on the objective.
Proxies vs. Reality: Software tools show you the work; real human connection and honest conversations move the work.
The Stand Up Audit: How to strip away documentation theater and test whether your stakeholders are actually ready for deployment.

The Core Lesson: Visibility is what we see on a screen. Alignment is what happens when real people understand the mission, trust the process, and execute horizontal communication. Never mistake a green status slide for a successful outcome.

Connect and Share: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this link with a leader who needs to audit their corporate dashboards this week.

Welcome to the relaunch of the podcast. Host Kevin Pannell announces the official pivot back to the foundational framework: People. Process. Progress.

In this brief trailer, we are stripping away the corporate fluff, trendy management fads, and endless debates over methodology to focus on how real work gets done. If you are tired of counting checkboxes, hiding behind software proxies, and watching green dashboards lie to you, this show is your new weekly resource for raw, real-world operational execution.

Subscribe now and look for Episode 1 dropping alongside this trailer to start moving the needle.

At 52 years old, Kevin Pannell could absolutely kick his 30-year-old self’s ass, both physically and mentally.

In this premier episode of Season 11, Kevin strips away the tough-guy illusions of midlife and confronts the male mental health crisis. Drawing from his own experiences with enterprise work burnout, anxiety, and grief, Kevin delivers an operational briefing on how to proactively train your mind, optimize your life portfolio, and build a foundation that lasts. This is a tactical breakdown of how to weaponize midlife friction using proven psychological frameworks, deliberate physical recovery protocols, and radical accountability.

Key Takeaways

Post-Traumatic Growth: How to use extreme stress, burnout, or grief as the ultimate catalyst to restructure your life portfolio.
Cognitive Reframing: A proven CBT technique to dismantle automatic negative thoughts and view challenges as simple operational constraints.
Fatherhood as Coaching: Moving from an authoritarian stance to an active coaching role that builds self-reflection in young teenage men.
The Math of Recovery: Kevin’s exact protocol for a 52-year-old garage gym athlete, including three rounds of Wim Hof breathing and cold plunge down-regulation.
Professional Superpowers: Shifting from executive authority to trust-based leadership through coordination and partnership.

If this episode challenged you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Stop reacting to your days, execute your strategy, and build a foundation that lasts. Get after it this week.

There is a fine line between helping someone and stealing their growth. On this episode of the Own, Move, Anchor podcast, we dive into the discipline of stepping back so the people we lead, mentor, and parent can find their own grit. From the battlefields of Glory to the BJJ mats, the boardroom, and the limits of medical intervention in EMS, we break down why true leadership means letting go of control.

Key Takeaways:

OWN: Redefining fatherhood boundaries and corporate leadership. Why over-managing creates bottlenecks, and how to transition to solutions by exception.
MOVE: Embracing the grind of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Understanding the "Breathe, Frame, Survive" framework and using the Seven Pillars to get back to center when heavy emotions break through.
ANCHOR: Building "2 AM" friendships by exception, grounding yourself in faith, and learning the ultimate power of presence during my father's final months.

Connect with the Show:

Share this episode with a leader, parent, or friend who needs it today.
Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

In this episode of OWN. MOVE. ANCHOR., Kevin Pannell reflects on why so many people feel mentally overloaded, emotionally fragmented, physically disconnected, and spiritually exhausted right now.

After standing at attention with his family before completing Memorial Day Murph, Kevin began thinking about the contrast between real human experiences and the nonstop noise of modern life. Constant scrolling, outrage culture, comparison, divisiveness, endless notifications, and the pressure to always stay connected are leaving many people anxious, distracted, and disconnected from the things that actually ground them.

This episode explores:

Something feels off.
The dashboard indicators of life
Most people are trying to find stability in a very noisy world.
Technology has become some people’s belief system.
Not everything deserves access to your attention.
Thank you for being who you are.

Kevin also shares personal reflections on family, leadership, fitness, Jiu-Jitsu, project management, faith, and listener feedback that continues to reinforce the importance of helping real people through real struggles.

If life has felt “off” lately, this episode is a reminder to simplify, reconnect, and return to the things that truly steady us.

Website: https://ownmoveanchor.com/

Instagram & X: @thekevinpannell

That is who I am, thank you for being who you are, and remember each day to own your mind, move your body, and anchor your spirit.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Magic and Logic: What Project Leaders Can Learn from Coach’s Billion Dollar Growth

In this episode of OWN. MOVE. ANCHOR., Kevin explores the balance between “magic” and “logic” in leadership, project management, and organizational growth.

Inspired by a story shared on Masters of Scale episode featuring Lew Frankfort and the rise of Coach from a $6 million company into a global public brand, this episode breaks down what leaders can learn from combining people, purpose, momentum, standards, and repeatable systems.

Topics include:

• Why project leadership is more than timelines and metrics

• How “magic” creates momentum, culture, and belief

• Why “logic” builds scalability, trust, and consistency

• The importance of understanding the “why” behind the work

• Leadership lessons from Simon Sinek and Viktor Frankl

• How portfolio and project leaders can build stronger, healthier teams

Strong organizations need both structure and humanity. This episode discusses how leaders can bring both together to improve delivery, engagement, and long-term success.

References:

Master's of Scale: How Coach scaled from a single store into a global icon

Website: ownmoveanchor.com

Instagram and X: @thekevinpannell

That is who I am, thank you for being who you are, and remember each day to own your mind, move your body, and anchor your spirit.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

What can PMO leaders, healthcare IT teams, and organizational leaders learn from UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra’s approach to onboarding new Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students?

Quite a bit.

In this episode, What Matt Serra Taught Me About Onboarding Teams, Kevin Pannell reflects on lessons from BJJ, emergency management, healthcare IT, and PMO leadership to explore why new employees are basically white belts and why good onboarding matters more than most organizations realize.

The conversation covers:

• onboarding and organizational culture

• confidence through repetition

• balancing accountability with support

• psychological safety and leadership

• progressive exposure versus overwhelming people

• lessons from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Incident Management Teams

A central theme throughout the episode: “New people do not need to be tested immediately. They need to be developed.”

Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

Godspeed, y’all.

Most real progress is not flashy.

The internet sells nonstop motivation, hacks, shortcuts, and perfect routines. Real life usually looks different.

This morning my phone died overnight. I overslept, missed Jiu Jitsu, and missed my workout.

That happens.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is resetting before one bad morning becomes a bad week.

Real progress is often boring: sleep, movement, consistency, hard conversations, discipline, faith, and showing up again tomorrow.

The basics still work.

Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

⌚️Get up ????????Give thanks ???????? Get after it ???? Godspeed

OwnMoveAnchor #Mindset #Consistency #MensMentalHealth #Leadership

What do ICU medicine, Incident Management Teams, PMO leadership, coaching soccer, fatherhood, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and fitness all have in common?

More than most people think.

In this episode, Systems Under Pressure | Organized Urgency vs. Wasted Calories, Kevin Pannell reflects on lessons learned from serving as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, working in EMS and emergency management, leading PMO teams, coaching youth sports, raising sons, and training on the mats and in the garage gym.

The conversation focuses on the repeatable systems and leadership principles that help people stay steady under pressure:

• repeatable processes

• organized urgency

• clarity and communication

• mastering basics

• letting others lead

• movement as maintenance

• anchoring through faith, gratitude, and purpose

A key theme throughout the episode:

“Organized urgency is focused power. Chaotic urgency is wasted calories.”

This is not a motivational talk about becoming unstoppable. It is a grounded conversation about sustainable readiness, leadership, and becoming the kind of person people can trust during difficult moments.

Key themes from the episode:

• Calm is contagious

• Projects are incidents without sirens

• Organized urgency is focused power

• Chaotic urgency is wasted calories

• Leadership follows you home

• Movement is maintenance

• The environments change. The leadership lessons don’t.

Reflection prompts from the episode:

What was your happiest moment this week?
What was your hardest physical effort this month?
What made you feel anchored this year?

OWN your mind.

MOVE your body.

ANCHOR your spirit.

Breathe, frame, keep showing up, survive. Godspeed y’all.

What happens when the dashboards, templates, and systems are no longer enough?

This Five Minute Friday focuses on the difference between visibility and true alignment, and on why strong project managers lead people through communication, ownership, and calm decision-making rather than relying solely on tools and methodologies.

Drawing from project leadership, emergency response, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kevin Pannell shares why the best leaders simplify under pressure and help teams move forward with clarity.

In this episode:* Why dashboards do not tell the full story * How passive communication creates uncertainty * The difference between managing tools and leading people * Why calm communication matters under pressure * How experienced leaders create alignment without overcomplicating the work

When the System Fails, Your Skill Shows

If technology, dashboards, and systems disappeared tomorrow, could you still do your job?

This episode explores why core skills, communication, and fundamentals matter more than tools when pressure is high. Drawing from emergency response, critical care medicine, project leadership, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kevin Pannell shares why strong professionals fall back on training, assessment, and clear decision-making when systems fail.

In this episode:* Lessons from The Pitt and mass casualty response * Why firefighters needed whiteboards and pizza before planning meetings * How strong project managers lead without relying on dashboards * Why fundamentals matter more than flashy techniques in BJJ and leadership

If you want to improve your ability to lead, adapt, and stay steady under pressure, this episode focuses on the skills that actually hold when things get difficult.

What You Say Yes To

Trying to do everything spreads your attention thin. This episode focuses on choosing the right things to say yes to so your time, energy, and effort actually lead to results.

In this episode:

Why doing too much leads to less real progress
How attention and capacity affect outcomes at work and in life
Practical ways to choose what deserves your focus

If you feel busy but not effective, this will help you reset your priorities.

You Can’t Do It All, So Do What Matters

We commit to too much, then wonder why nothing moves the way it should. This episode is about being honest about capacity and making better decisions so the right work actually gets delivered.

In this episode:

Why portfolios fail when capacity doesn’t match commitments
The difference between activity and real outcomes
How to make better decisions about what to start, stop, and prioritize

If you’re managing portfolios, programs, projects, or just your own time, this will feel familiar.

If this helps, share it with someone who’s trying to do too much.

Why Caregivers and First Responders Feel It After

You’ve carried others through their worst days. Now do the work so you can carry yourself through yours.

In this episode:

Why caregiver stress and first responder burnout often show up after the moment
The impact of adrenaline, cortisol, and staying “on” too long
A simple reset to manage stress and stay steady

If you’re the one people rely on in emergencies, at work or at home, this will feel familiar.

If this reminds you of someone, send it to them.

This episode is for the "anchors"; those in scrubs, uniforms, or family living rooms who step in when it gets real. From navigating a cancer diagnosis in the family to managing sudden cardiac emergencies at home, we discuss the "invisible toll" of being the person everyone looks to. Learn how to stay steady, process the stress that lives in your body, and ensure you don’t become the next person who needs a rescue.

Key Discussion Points:

The Weight of the Anchor: Why the emotional toll often hits you years after the crisis is over.
Medical Realities at Home: Navigating post-surgery recovery and high-stakes heart monitoring (V-Tach).
The Oxygen Mask Principle: Why sleep, diet, and training are requirements for quality care, not rewards.
Skills Over Pills: Transitioning from just "surviving" to building a mindset that sustains the load.

The Takeaway:

Being a provider is an identity, not just a job. Whether you are professional medical staff or a family member stepping up, this conversation provides the tools to manage the silent pressure and the physical stress that stays in your body long after the work is done.

Connect & Share

Know an "anchor" who is carrying more than they let on? Send this episode to them. Subscribe for more direct, practical conversations on resilience and being ready for when it counts.

Are you a physical liability or a protector for your family? In this high-speed "Five Minute Friday" episode, Kevin Pannell breaks down the objective strength and agility standards every man in his 40s and 50s needs to meet to stay capable and dangerous. We move beyond vanity and focus on functional fitness for men, longevity, and the discipline required to lead your home with composure.

Kevin shares his personal journey of re-starting his fitness lifestyle at 40 and beginning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) at 44. Now a 52-year-old purple belt, he explains how to use the "Prescribed Burn"—a physical stress-management tactic—to incinerate mental anxiety and decision fatigue before they turn into a wildfire at home or work.

What you’ll learn in 5 minutes:

Tier 1: A Little Dad Bod Action – The absolute "floor" for foundational strength and situational awareness.
Tier 2: Do You Workout? – Developing musculature and why combat sports like BJJ are the ultimate mental anchor.
Tier 3: The Athletic Guy – The elite 50+ standard for bodyweight strength, explosive agility, and total readiness.
The Prescribed Burn – How to use heavy lifts and hard rounds to clear mental "brush" and lead with a quiet mind.

Connect, follow, and share at https://ownmoveanchor.com/

The Discipline of Daily Movement

Movement is not about motivation, it is about identity and standard. In this Foundations Friday episode, Kevin focuses on why men, especially fathers and leaders, need to stop treating exercise as optional and start using it as a tool to build strength, resilience, and clarity.

This episode connects physical training to real life pressure, showing how pushing your body prepares your mind to handle stress at work, at home, and in leadership.

What you’ll take from this episode:

Why strength is a visible and practical signal, not vanity
How training builds your response to stress and pressure
The connection between movement and better decision making
A simple standard to remove decision fatigue and stay consistent

Call to Action:

Today or this weekend, do something physically challenging. Notice how your mind responds, then carry that into the rest of your life.

Move Your Body: From Optional to Non-Negotiable

Building fitness into who you are will always outperform trying to motivate yourself every day. In this episode of Own. Move. Anchor., Kevin breaks down how movement shifted from survival and identity to something many treat as optional, and why that needs to change.

From ancient culture to modern convenience, this episode connects movement to clarity, stress management, and how you show up in life and leadership. Drawing from his experience at 52, Kevin shares how consistent training, strength, endurance, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have helped him stay capable, focused, and grounded through real life challenges.

This is not about complex programs. It is about building a non-negotiable standard.

What you’ll take from this episode:

Why identity beats motivation
How movement improves clarity and stress response
The link between training and handling pressure
A simple baseline to assess where you are

Baseline Fitness Test:

Walk 1 mile
1 minute push-ups, max reps
Rest 2 minutes
1 minute air squats, max reps
Rest 2 minutes
Pull-ups, max reps
Rest 5 minutes
Run 1 mile for time

Train for life, and the results will follow.

Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

Social prompt: Where are you starting from, or where did you land on the baseline test?

This Foundation Friday, Control Your Reactions Before They Control You, builds on the concept of the space between reaction and response and brings it into real life.

Through a simple but relatable moment at home, Kevin walks through how quickly reaction can take over and how a brief pause can completely change the outcome.

He connects this to leadership, meetings, and high-pressure situations where tone, control, and clarity matter most.

You’ll learn how to recognize that space, how to use it, and a simple breathing tool to help you stay composed when it counts.

This is about building the reps to respond with intention, at home, at work, and everywhere in between.

Stop reacting and start responding. In the premiere of the rebranded Own. Move. Anchor., Kevin Pannell explores the life-changing power of "The Space Between"—the split-second where you reclaim control, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.

Drawing on the profound survival insights of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, this episode breaks down why we default to "automatic" reactions and how that cycle shapes our leadership, relationships, and results. You don’t rise to your plan when pressure builds; you fall back to the systems you’ve built.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Frankl Framework: Why "The Space Between" is a survival tool, not just a philosophy.
Reaction vs. Response: How to identify the "fast" triggers in your day—from high-stakes meetings to traffic—that cause you to drift.
Training for Mental Control: Why physical stress (BJJ, hard workouts) is essential for teaching your mind to "stay" when things get difficult.
The Micro-Ownership Practice: A simple, one-breath habit to pause and choose a better response today.

Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

Resources:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Most teams plan to 100% capacity and call it efficiency. In reality, that’s where things start to break.

In this episode, I walk through a better way to think about capacity, not as a percentage on a heatmap, but as a balance between people, workload, and real-world unpredictability.

You’ll hear how experienced and developing project managers handle workload differently, why not all work should be treated as a project, and how shifting repeatable work back to operational teams can free up meaningful capacity.

I also break down the difference between planning for what you know, like PTO, training, and admin work, versus creating space for what you don’t know, like escalations and unexpected priorities that derail even the best plans.

This isn’t about tools or systems. It’s about awareness, leadership, and better conversations.

If you’re leading projects, programs, or teams, this episode will help you move from tracking utilization to actually improving performance.

Many projects struggle not because of poor execution, but because alignment was never built at the start. In this episode, The First 30 Days Will Make or Break Your Project, Kevin Pannell shares practical leadership lessons on why the first 30 days of a project matter most.

Drawing from experience in healthcare IT, emergency management, and cross-organizational initiatives, he explains how clear intent, open communication, and shared expectations set the tone for successful work. If you lead projects, teams, or initiatives, these early conversations can determine whether your work moves forward smoothly or spends months correcting avoidable problems.

A lot of young people feel like they are already late. Late to choose the right major, late to land the right job, late to make real money, late to figure life out. In this episode, Why Feeling Behind Is Killing Your Progress, I share the long arc of my own path, from joining the Navy at 19 to working IT support at 25, going back to college at 29, graduating at 32 with a newborn at home, serving in public health and emergency management through my late 30s, becoming an EMS Captain at 41, and eventually leading an enterprise IT PMO.

Along the way, I also built strength in my 40s, earned my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt, and continued to grow in faith and discipline. This conversation is a reminder that your twenties are not a deadline; they are a runway. You are not behind, you are building.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress, From the GWOT to Giving Back: How Clay Surratt Builds Others Through Martial Arts, host Kevin Pannell sits down with Clay Surratt, the founder of Guerrilla ATX. Together, they explore the transition from military service to civilian life and how the "mission" doesn't end when the uniform comes off—it just changes shape.

Clay opens up about his journey from joining the Army in the wake of 9/11 to finding a new calling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He shares how he uses martial arts as a restorative practice to build men up physically, mentally, and spiritually, creating a community where veterans and civilians alike can sharpen one another.

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Clay Surratt:

Website: Guerrilla ATX
Instagram: @conscious.clay

Support the Mission:

Curtis Bartlett Fitness: Learn More
Veteran Bushido Brotherhood: Support Veterans

This week’s episode, What Grief Teaches You About Strength, is about the weight of losing brothers and sisters in public safety, the responsibility of planning line of duty death services, and how to move through grief in a healthier way.

I break it down using a simple framework:

Own where you are.
Move through the weight together.
Anchor what comes next with connection and support.

This one is for those who have carried the flag, stood watch, or covered a shift so others could grieve.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In this Faith in Action Friday episod, Real Lessons From Building Something That Matters, I follow up on my recent conversation with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, and reflect on what Own. Move. Anchor. really means in everyday life. I share how owning your mind is about learning to handle stress and regulate emotions, how moving your body is simple but powerful medicine for mental and physical health, and how anchoring your spirit helps keep the weight of decisions and expectations from becoming overwhelming. Jennifer’s approach to business, family, mental health, movement, and faith is a practical example of how these ideas can show up together without extremes or hype, just steady practices that support clarity, consistency, and perspective.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley, I sit down with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, a locally rooted gift box company built around community, craftsmanship, and care.

Jennifer shares her journey from studying architecture at Virginia Tech to working in marketing, to becoming a full-time mom, and eventually building a business that connects people through thoughtfully curated boxes featuring local makers. We talk about faith, intention, and what it really looks like to build something meaningful and sustainable, one box at a time.

Connect with Jennifer and The Burg Box:

Start with the website to explore current boxes and local makers: https://www.theburgbox.com/

Follow on Instagram for new releases and behind-the-scenes updates: https://www.instagram.com/the_burg_box/?hl=en

Connect on Facebook for community updates and gifting ideas: https://www.facebook.com/theburgbox/

More conversations highlighting the people, process, and progress shaping the New River Valley at https://peopleprocessprogress.com

This short bridge episode, Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership, revisits key leadership lessons from Drive by Daniel Pink. The focus is on why autonomy, mastery, and purpose continue to shape motivation, engagement, and performance in modern organizations, especially in complex and remote environments. This episode also connects recent reflections with an upcoming conversation with Jennifer Prevette, Founder and Owner of The Burg Box.

Episode Highlights:

Autonomy without trust leads to isolation
Mastery stalls when growth paths are unclear
Purpose fades when communication declines
Remote work amplifies existing leadership gaps
Motivation often declines before performance does

In this episode, I share seven books I read, or returned to, in 2025 that helped me stay disciplined, grounded, and clear-headed heading into 2026.

These aren’t trend-driven recommendations. They’re books focused on hardship, meaning, faith, resilience, and personal responsibility. Some pushed me physically, others reshaped how I think about suffering and connection. All of them helped me show up better in my life and leadership.

Books Discussed in This Episode

The Stability Equation
Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual
The Wim Hof Method
What Doesn’t Kill Us
Man’s Search for Meaning
Lost Connections
The Amplified Bible

Read the full post and resources:

https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2026/01/01/7-books-to-start-2026-strong/

Own your mind.

Move your body.

Anchor your spirit.

As of the end of 2025, Most People Drift Into the New Year, Don’t, People, Process, Progress has reached listeners and viewers around the world.

The audio podcast has generated approximately 78,000 total listens across 324 episodes and has been heard in 138 countries. Across the full catalog, the show maintains an average episode engagement of over 80%, meaning most listeners who start an episode stay with it. That matters because it signals relevance and trust, not just reach.

On YouTube, content across the channel has generated over 848,000 total views, reaching viewers in 128 countries.

The data reinforces a clear direction moving forward. Episodes built around clear problems, practical frameworks, and lived experience consistently resonate more deeply than generic motivation or surface-level commentary.

In 2026, the show will move into a steady rotation, alternating between short, structured solo episodes and conversations with leaders and business owners from the New River Valley who are quietly building, serving, and leading in their communities.

Same values. Clearer focus. More grounded conversations.

Godspeed y'all.

In this Faith in Action Friday episode, Discipline Is What Makes Faith Real, I reflect on my recent conversation with Adam, a police officer, jiu jitsu black belt, and gym owner. His story highlights how faith is often lived out through consistent action, structure, and service, not loud words or perfect belief.

Faith doesn’t always show up as certainty or comfort. Sometimes it shows up as discipline, restraint, and choosing to do the right thing when it would be easier to shut down.

We explore Psalm 34:19 and what it really means to walk through hardship without becoming hardened by it. This episode is about resilience, accountability, and faith expressed through daily choices.

Key Themes:

Faith lived through action, not slogans
Discipline as a form of faith
Psalm 34:19 and realistic resilience
Structure, service, and consistency

Call to Action:

Listen to the full interview with Adam and share this episode with someone who needs structure more than motivation.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I talk with Adam, a police officer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, gym owner, and MBA graduate, about leadership shaped by real-life experience.

Adam shares how growing up with instability and the impact of a compassionate police officer early in life set him on a path into law enforcement. We discuss his journey from the jails to patrol and SWAT, the weight of critical incidents, and responding to the death of a close friend.

We also explore how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu became a foundation for discipline, humility, and resilience, ultimately leading Adam to open Blue Gorilla BJJ and build a community rooted in accountability and respect.

This episode launches the People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley series, focused on the people doing meaningful work in our region.

Watch the full video interview on the People, Process, Progress YouTube channel, or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

For more interviews and insights, visit peopleprocessprogress.com.

People first, process aligned, progress together.

Growth can’t be rushed.

In this Faith in Action Friday episode, Why Patience Beats Force Every Time, Kevin reflects on a lesson drawn from farming and from life experience: you can do the right work and still harm the outcome if you try to force progress.

Using Psalm 126:5–6, this episode explores the difference between sowing well and harvesting too early, and what patience, consistency, and faith look like in 2025.

Life in the New River Valley has shaped me in ways I never expected. In this Season 9 opener, I share how the move, the mountains, the community, and the challenges along the way changed my approach to family, leadership, health, and resilience. This season, I will be talking with people across the region and sharing my own reflections as we explore the real stories and steady progress happening here.

In a world accelerated by AI, leadership still comes down to human judgment. Today’s episode, One Pause Can Save You From This, looks at how President Kennedy used quiet moments during the Cuban Missile Crisis to think clearly and choose restraint, and how we can do the same.

This week’s tool from The Stability Equation is The Mental Stop Sign

a simple way to slow down, breathe, and make decisions from calm rather than pressure.

Takeaways

• A pause can shift an entire day

• The Mental Stop Sign settles your mind fast

• Prayer and mindfulness strengthen leadership

• AI can inform us, but wisdom guides us

One pause, one breath, one clear decision.

AI is no longer just an operational tool. It’s becoming one of the most important strategic lenses healthcare leaders can use. In this episode, AI Is Changing Leadership, Here’s What Matters, Kevin explains how AI can sharpen decision-making, strengthen business cases, highlight opportunities you can’t see from the boardroom, and help leaders measure progress with smarter, predictive metrics.

You’ll hear how executives can use AI to guide portfolio decisions, forecast ROI, identify gaps across the system, and build KPIs that actually show future impact. Kevin also shares how governance and a focused analytics team can turn AI into a leadership advantage rather than a scattered set of tech projects.

If you want to bring more clarity to complex decisions and lead with greater purpose, this episode is for you.

Today, in When You Feel Off, Do This, I’m talking about what it means to step up when life hits you harder than you planned for. I’ll share a moment where I felt worn down, what helped me regroup, and the simple steps you can take to steady your mind and move forward. We’ll look at this through people, process, and purpose so you can respond with clarity instead of frustration. By the end, you’ll have one action you can use today to get back on track.

Most teams think “done” means the same thing until a deadline hits. Then you find out it doesn’t.

In this episode I break down why “done” falls apart on teams and how you can fix it with clear expectations and steady communication. I’ll share a moment where my own project drifted because I assumed everyone shared the same definition. We’ll walk through how to line people up, how to simplify the process, and how to follow through without micromanaging. This is a practical episode you can put to work today.

When life shakes you, trusting the right people can be the difference between staying stuck and stepping forward.

This is an episode about leaning on the people who show up when it matters. I share a personal moment when I needed support and how one steady voice made all the difference. Through the lens of people, process, and purpose, we’ll talk about how to recognize who’s truly in your corner, how to let them help, and how faith plays a part in keeping you grounded.

Today in, Your Team Isn’t the Problem, This Is, we dig into why progress slows when the right people aren’t part of the conversation. I’ll share a moment where a project stalled because the wrong voices were leading, and what happened when we finally aligned the room. You’ll learn how to choose the right stakeholders, how to guide tough conversations, and how to move teams from confusion to action.

Some lessons hit you years after you read them. Frankl’s did that for me.

In this episode I reflect on a lesson from Viktor Frankl that changed the way I view faith, purpose, and suffering. I’ll share how it helped me during a tough season and how it can help you hold steady when life feels heavy. We’ll talk about meaning, resilience, and the inner posture that keeps you from getting swept away by the moment.

Today in Don’t Lose Your Team Trying to Fix the Project, we dig into how to pull a project back from the edge without burning out the people doing the work. I’ll share a moment where tension was high, trust was low, and what it took to turn things around. You’ll learn how to reset intent, create calm, and give your team a path forward that feels doable and honest.

This episode, What the Greatest Night in Pop Teaches About Leadership, breaks down what made that night work, how big personalities stayed aligned, and what leaders today can take from it. We talk vision, humility, coordination, and how to rally people toward something bigger than themselves.

You can’t move toward progress if the wrong people are sitting in the front seat.

In this episode I talk about why choosing the right people matters more than choosing the direction. I share a moment when I learned this the hard way and how it changed the way I build and lead teams. We look at trust, readiness, talent, and the quiet signals that tell you whether someone is the right fit.

This episode, Stop Forcing Change, Build Where People Already Move, focuses on designing processes and solutions that match the natural flow of how people work. I share a moment where following human patterns, not idealized ones, turned a project around. You will learn how to observe behavior, simplify decisions, and build systems that actually stick.

A small reset can change the direction of your entire day.

Here I walk through a few grounded tools that help you reset your intent when things feel off. These are practices I use in my own life when the week gets noisy or I start drifting. We talk grounding, clarity, and momentum, and you will leave with one small shift you can use today.

This episode, Strategy Didn’t Fail, This Did, walks through how to recognize the intent gap, how to close it, and why it derails even good teams. I share a moment where strategy was not the issue at all and what happened once the intent was reset. You will learn how to bring people back to the why before you ask them to execute the how.

Resilience is built long before the stress shows up.

This episode shares lessons from healthcare, emergency management, and personal experience on how to build resilience into your daily routines and team culture. We talk preparation, mindset, and the habits that make you harder to knock down.

Most problems get harder the longer you wait.

This episode focuses on leading early before tension or confusion take hold. I walk through the cues that tell you when to step in and how early action prevents bigger issues later. You will get a clear practice you can use to stay ahead instead of catching up.

Pressure rises from every direction when you lead portfolio work.

In this episode we talk about how to stay calm, create clarity, and set a tone of confidence when expectations stack up. I share lessons from healthcare IT, emergency response, and large scale programs that help you guide teams with steadiness and purpose.

Grief shows up uninvited, and it doesn’t leave on our timeline. But we can own how we respond.

In this Reset Friday episode, Owning Your Response to Grief, of People, Process, Progress, I share tools that helped me face grief and keep moving forward: journaling, routines, connection, and honoring those we’ve lost.

In this Reset Friday road edition, Kevin reflects on the importance of sharing what we know instead of keeping it bottled up. Too often, knowledge, skills, and experience leave with us when we move on from a job, a team, or even life itself. Mentorship—formal or informal—is how we make sure others don’t have to start from scratch.

Kevin shares examples from the workplace, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and fitness to illustrate how anyone can be a mentor, whether by giving pointers, offering structure, or simply encouraging someone to start. Whether you’re brand new or seasoned, you have something to offer. The challenge is simple: How are YOU mentoring others today?

???? Learn more in Kevin’s books:

The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life → https://a.co/d/fyLPR0Q
The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management → https://a.co/d/bJTqTNG

???? Own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

We live in a time where more information does not always mean more clarity. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I share how leaders, project managers, and parents can filter the flood of information and focus on what matters. We will cover why people need direction not noise, how to set critical information requirements for work and home, and how progress is made by responding with purpose instead of reacting to every ping.

The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life → https://a.co/d/fyLPR0Q
The People, Process, and Progress of Project Management → https://a.co/d/bJTqTNG
YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@peopleprocessprogress
Blog and resources → https://peopleprocessprogress.com

In this Reset Friday, Kevin Pannell shares how one jack rabbit can spook a herd of sheep and how the same happens to us when fear, rumors, or groupthink take over. Drawing from Deuteronomy 32:30 and Joyce Meyer’s 15 Minutes in the Word, Kevin shows how this plays out at work, in politics, in church, and at home, then offers three ways to stay steady: mindfulness, ownership, and connection.

Season 7, Episode 5 of People, Process, Progress, Why People, Process, Progress Matters Now, looks at how this week’s tragedies, a young man’s murder, another school shooting, and police officers killed in the line of duty, mirror the same disconnect we see in our workplaces. I share how the 7 Project Pillars can guide us not just in projects, but in our lives and communities, helping us re-engage with each other and move progress forward together. These lessons are about more than management; they are about rebuilding trust where it matters most.

Saying yes to everything is one of the fastest ways to end up burned out and unfocused. In this short Reset Friday: Boundaries Before Burnout, I share a practical way to protect your energy and set boundaries that actually stick. Learn how to use one simple reset phrase to stay aligned with your priorities and show up better for the people who matter most.

Most team problems come from unclear direction, not a lack of effort. In this episode,Three Critical Elements to Align Any Team | S7 Ep3, I share three practical tools: Leader’s Intent, a clear Definition of Done, and SMART objectives that bring clarity and speed to any project. You will hear a real example of how alignment turned a drifting team into one that delivered with confidence.

For more tools and "How to" get The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management on Amazon at https://a.co/d/4zpt5pz and visit the peopleprocessprogress.com website.

I’m kicking off a new weekly series called Reset Friday. Each Friday, I’ll share a short, practical way to reset your mind, body, and spirit. These episodes aren’t long lectures. They’re tools you can put into practice right away.

For our first Reset Friday, I’m sharing what I call the Trifecta of Recovery: Wim Hof breathing, yoga, and the cold plunge. Breathing primes your nervous system, yoga centers your body, and cold exposure builds resilience and focus. Together, they form a reset you can feel.

Take a listen, and then try one of the three this weekend. You might be surprised at how much better you feel.

September is a natural time to reset. In this episode, I share how I slipped on my own pillar maintenance and used reflection, family time, and a simple framework of People, Process, and Progress to get back on track. You will learn how balance does not come from perfection, but from correction and intentional resets, and how you can apply this principle in your own life and work.

My new book, The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management, is now live on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. This book has been years in the making, and it pulls together over two decades of lessons from healthcare IT, public safety, and emergency management into a practical field guide for project leaders.

Get your Kindle, hardcover, or paperback copy at https://a.co/d/dsEDG87

Kevin is taking a short break from the People, Process, Progress podcast until September. During this time, he's focused on publishing The Stability Equation audiobook, finishing his new project management book, and lining up future guests. Visit peopleprocessprogress.com for tools, resources, and ways to connect. Until then: own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

Godspeed y’all

Kevin

When your plan falls apart, your recovery starts with the habits you've built before things went sideways. In this Foundations Friday episode, Build the Bounce, One Habit at a Time, we focus on simple actions that help you reset, refocus, and respond, rather than react when life punches first.

This week’s anchor point is mindfulness and movement. It’s not about being tough. It’s about being trained.

Topics Covered:

Why daily habits matter more than perfect plans
How to mentally prepare for the unexpected
Simple resilience-building practices
Personal reflections on bounce-back moments
One actionable habit you can start today

Related Episode:

“When Your Plan Gets Punched in the Mouth” – Listen here: https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2025/07/14/when-your-plan-gets-punched-in-the-mouth/

For Stability: Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

For leading: Hold on to hope. Make a plan. Take action.

Godspeed, y’all.

What do you do when your perfect plan falls apart?

In this episode, How to Lead When Your Plan Falls Apart, I share how the concepts of tension and compression from Jiu-Jitsu can help you lead through pressure, adapt in real time, and still move forward.

Whether you’re leading a project, managing a team, or showing up at home, you’ll learn how to adjust without losing momentum.

Hope ignites. Plans guide. Action transforms.

In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there’s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space.

Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me”, this short-form reflection focuses on the value of noticing and honoring transitions, especially when they catch you by surprise.

In this 5-minute listen, you’ll hear:

What it means to see strength rise in someone else
How giving space can be the most powerful form of support
A simple action to help you pause before you react

Mentioned in this episode:

There comes a moment when we realize our kids are no longer just following us, they’re leading in their way. In this episode, "What I Learned the Day My Son Surpassed Me," I share the story of how my son surpassed me, not just in the gym, but also in emotional steadiness. I also share how that shifted my approach to parenting, leadership, and letting go.

Inspired by a powerful quote from Ryan Holiday's The Daily Dad: “Your job isn’t to raise a good kid. It’s to raise a good adult.” - Read more at https://dailydad.com/

Since 2019, I’ve led major IT programs, including Workday ERP and the technology for a new children’s hospital, while mainly working remotely. In this episode, "Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?", I break down the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and in-office work, drawing on real-world experience and leadership lessons.

Links:

Full article on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remote-hybrid-in-office-whats-right-fit-your-work-life-kevin-pannell-kqvce

Related episode from 2020:

https://blubrry.com/peopleprocessprogress/83155078/how-to-transition-to-effective-teleworking-in-2020-ppp-12/

When leaders try to manage too many people directly, clarity disappears and momentum suffers. In this episode, I break down the importance of span of control across public safety, healthcare IT, and project teams. Whether you're building a department, spinning up an incident team, or planning a go-live, the rule of 3 to 7 direct reports still holds. Five is the sweet spot—but there are exceptions.

We’ll walk through how ICS uses structure to maintain speed under pressure, how project teams should plan their structure during resource alignment, and why we must review roles and objectives regularly to stay on track. Whether you lead full-time staff or ad hoc teams, this episode is your blueprint for sustainable team design.

People first. Combined process. Progress together.

On this Foundations Friday, How to Align Risk Language Across Teams, we break down how project managers and emergency leaders can align around a shared risk language. Whether you're using a THIRA or a risk register, the goal is the same: identify what could go wrong, how bad it might be, and what to do about it. Real teamwork starts when everyone sees risk through the same lens.

Warren Buffett said it best: “Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.”

On today’s episode, How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning, we’re focusing on how project managers and public safety leaders can speak the same language when it comes to risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, created the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment—also known as THIRA—to help communities anticipate and plan for the unknown. In the same way, project risk registers help uncover obstacles before they become blockers. Today, we’ll connect the dots between THIRA, stakeholder maps, and integrated risk matrices—so your team can prepare, prioritize, and progress, no matter the scenario.

In this Foundations Friday, Why Structure Must Come Before Action, we explore the importance of applying project structure to any event or initiative. Whether you're planning a community gathering, a training workshop, or a major deployment, structure is your best friend. Learn two quick strategies to lead with clarity and avoid chaos.

What You'll Learn:

Why structure should come before action
How to define your event like a project charter
Two simple ways to build a planning foundation
A reminder that leadership starts with preparation

Paired Full Episode:

Planning a public event without structure is a risk you can’t afford. In this episode, How to Treat How to Run Your Event Like a Successful Project, Kevin Pannell shares how to apply project management principles and ICS tools, like RACI matrices, project phases, SMART goals, and SitReps, to plan safer, smoother public safety events. Whether you're leading a 5K, a drill, or a community gathering, treat the event like a project—and lead with purpose.

Topics Covered: event planning, project phases, stakeholder roles, ICS, SMART goals, emergency management, public safety leadership

This week, we apply an EMT’s trauma checklist to project leadership. Using the DCAP-BTLS framework, we explore how to scan your project for failure symptoms—before they spiral.

Key focus areas:

• Spotting early signs of project breakdown

• Clarifying roles and responsibilities

• Responding with intention, not reaction

Call to Action: Identify one “injury” in your project—like burnout, misalignment, or scope creep—and treat it today.

People first. Combined process. Progress together.

Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs. In this episode, we apply a trauma checklist used in emergency medicine—DCAP-BTLS—to assess and stabilize failing projects.

Strategies shared include:

Weekly workload balancing
Stakeholder alignment checkpoints
RACI ownership clarifications
Real-world triage questions for team check-ins

People first. Combined process. Progress together.

This week’s Foundations Friday, How to Start Small with AI in Your Projects, is a bit of a reset and reminder. If you’re in public safety or project management, you don’t need to become a coder. But you do need to understand where AI can help you lead smarter and deliver faster.

In this episode, How AI is Transforming Public Safety and Project Management We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we plan, respond, and lead in complex environments.

Key takeaways:

How to get your PEOPLE ready with an AI readiness assessment
Where to fit AI into your organization's PROCESS
When to measure PROGRESS with an AI impact dashboard

People first. Process aligned. Progress together.

Welcome to the 20-episode run of the All-Hazards Project Management: Series Kickoff and What to Expect of the People, Process, Progress podcast.

Since I was seventeen, I’ve been involved in public safety, emergency medicine, and planning events or incident responses. Across all these roles, one truth has stood out: effective planning connects them all. In public safety, it’s about saving lives and protecting property—but that only works when teams share a process and operate efficiently. In emergency medicine, triage and crisis standards guide us to do the greatest good for the greatest number. And in project management, it’s about turning an idea into reality.

In every one of these fields, people are the constant. To stay safe, deliver care, and get results, those people must work a shared process. The progress we make depends on both.

That’s where this All-Hazards Project Management series comes in.

This series is built from the field and the front lines. I've used elements of what you’ll hear in these episodes to train fire department leaders in project management and to share public safety insights with members of the Project Management Institute (PMI). These are the practical lessons that bridge emergency response and organizational execution.

Each episode blends:

People – who we lead and how we support them,
Process – the systems and structures that keep us aligned,
Progress – the measurable outcomes that prove we’re moving forward.

We’ll connect project management frameworks to the Incident Command System (ICS), highlight real-world parallels, and provide tools you can apply immediately. You'll also get a clear call to action in every episode to drive results, not just reflection.

If you’re ready to lead in uncertainty, plan with precision, and deliver under pressure—this series is for you.

Let’s lead with clarity, operate with purpose, and progress together. I’ll see you next week.

In this episode, How to Tackle Scope Creep with People, Process, and Courage we're diving into how to protect our projects, keep our sanity, and build stronger teams in the process.

Episode outline

Intro
Core concepts
The People Side: Assertiveness and Stakeholder Boundaries
The Process Side: Change Control Systems (Hard Skills/PM Tools)
The Progress Side: Leading with Clarity Under Pressure
Summary & Closing

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

This episode is an audiobook-like version of the The 7 Pillars Field Guide Audiobook, how to build a more balanced life distills the key, actionable tools and techniques from The Stability Equation into one-page summaries of each of the seven pillars: ownership, mindfulness, movement, boundaries, connection, sleep, and faith.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Welcome back to the People, Process, Progress podcast, the podcast dedicated to fostering pragmatic optimism in your professional world. Today, in Project handoffs that work, how to receive and deliver with clarity we're tackling a universal challenge: the art of the good project handoff.

Whether you're a healthcare professional transitioning patient care, a software developer handing off a project, or simply passing the baton in any collaborative effort, a smooth handoff is crucial for success. So, let's dive in and explore some key elements for both providing and receiving a stellar handoff.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In Portfolio management lessons from Skyrim for project leaders, I share how the choices made in the virtual fantasy world of Skyrim parallel the strategic decisions Portfolio Managers and leaders must make when planning, resourcing, and executing projects within their organizations' portfolios.

Episode focus areas:

Effective resource allocation and prioritization
Effective stakeholder management
Effective risk management
Effective progress tracking and benefit realization

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Restarting the Fix It Friday series with the March 2024 episode from the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. This episode delves into the crucial skill of asking objective questions to drive clarity and problem-solving. We explore how unbiased inquiries can empower teams and improve processes by drawing parallels to the host's diverse podcasting journey and the principles in his book The Stability Equation. Learn practical techniques to formulate effective objective questions and unlock better organizational outcomes.

How to ask:

Focus on "who," "what," "when," "where," and "how" questions
Avoid leading questions that suggest an answer
Phrase questions neutrally, without judgment
Encourage elaboration with open-ended questions

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Hey everyone!

I'm excited to officially announce the launch of my book, The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life! This subreddit was created to discuss the principles and practices outlined in the book, and I'm so grateful to have you all here.

This book is deeply personal, born from my struggles with anxiety, trauma, and the journey to find lasting mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. It shares the roadmap I developed – the 7 Pillars – that helped me reclaim my balance.

This book can serve as a practical resource, and this subreddit can become a supportive community where we can explore these pillars together, share our experiences, and encourage each other on our paths to greater stability.

If you're interested in learning more, you can find the book on Amazon here:https://a.co/d/1V1tpGI

I look forward to engaging with you and building a supportive community around The Stability Equation. Let's work towards a more balanced life together.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Today's episode, The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life, is all about building a balanced life, a life that honors the miracle you are while acknowledging the human imperfections that come along with the ride. We're talking about the seven pillars that, when stacked carefully, create a life that's not just planned – it's thriving.

Welcome back to People, Process, Progress podcast. Today, on Five Benefits of Family Time Off, I'm diving into something I believe is essential for well-being and something that often gets pushed down the priority list amidst our busy schedules: family vacations.

The benefits:

Stress reduction
Family bonding and connection
Enhanced problem-solving skills
Positive impact on physical health
Creating memories together

Godspeed.

Episode Objectives:

Historical overview of political manipulation tactics used throughout America’s history
Five key examples of manipulation spanning different eras
Six actionable strategies for navigating today's complex political landscape

Godspeed y'all.

In this episode, The People, Process, & Progress of Public Health, I talk about what public health is, why it matters, and why it's crucial to protect it from political whiplash, ensuring that the critical work of keeping communities healthy continues regardless of who's in office.

Hello everyone and welcome back to The People, Process, & Progress Podcast, I’m your host Kevin Pannell. On today’s episode, How Technical Should Project Managers Really Be? | S4Ep17 I’m speaking to Project Managers, aspiring PMs, team leads, and anyone involved in software or technical projects. My goal is to talk through the optimal level of technical understanding for project managers, emphasizing the value of technical literacy without overstepping into solution design, and balancing tactical involvement with strategic oversight.

As a Project Manager I'm always seeking new knowledge, skills, and abilities to help me empower my team members and project partners. In Five Focus Areas for Project Managers in 2025, I'm sharing focus areas I will be diving deeper into and that I've gotten questions about from my teams and the internet.

On today’s episode, How we Should Reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency, I’ll examine the critical role of FEMA in disaster relief and explore strategies to improving its effectiveness

How we can improve FEMA:

Thorough After-Action Report/Improvement Plans (AAR/IPs)
Direct engagement with FEMA employees and the public
Streamline Local and State assistance processes
Enhance pre-disaster collaboration at all levels

Godspeed y'al

In this audio from my video, I share lessons learned from the book Extreme Ownership written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin and from my completion of the Echelon Front course Extreme Ownership Framework and how Project Managers can apply them when leading teams.

Find a course and sign up at https://academy.echelonfront.com/

Over the past few years, I’ve pulled together seven focus areas for my life that I call the “7 Pillars”, of ownership, mindfulness, movement, boundaries, connection, sleep, and faith. Today on Seven Powerful Quotes to Help You Balance Your Life in 2025, I’m sharing quotes from seven of the most influential people I’ve heard speak, read books from, and worked with and how I apply these concepts in my life.

Quotes from:

Jocko Willink
Andy Puddicombe
Emma McAdam
Jackson Baynard
Johan Harri
Matthew Walker
The Hospitaler

Godspeed y'all.

The Challenger disaster serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous risk assessment and the potential consequences of ignoring or downplaying warnings. In Risk Management Lessons from the Challenger Disaster, I'm paralleling takeaways from the Challenger disaster with how Project Managers can reduce project risk through effective risk management.

Godspeed to the Challenger Astronauts Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Gregory B. Jarvis

The Challenger disaster serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous risk assessment and the potential consequences of ignoring or downplaying warnings. In Risk Management Lessons from the Challenger Disaster, I'm paralleling takeaways from the Challenger disaster with how Project Managers can reduce project risk through effective risk management.

Godspeed to the Challenger Astronauts Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Gregory B. Jarvis

In Moving Past Paralysis During Analysis I'm sharing five considerations for leaders who need to move their teams to a decision point and out of an analysis rut whether planning a disaster response or a technology project.

On today’s Framework Friday, Eight Steps to Effective Strategic Communication, I’m going to share the National Incident Management System (NIMS) 8-step process that many Public Information Officers (PIO) use to effectively communicate before, during, and after disasters.

Reference: page 20 of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers (PIOs)

In this episode, How NOT to Brief the Public After a Disaster, I’ll share insight from my time on an All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) on what not to do when briefing the public and press after a critical incident and proposed solutions to improve crisis communication in the future.

Lessons learned:

Not overcrowding the room
Not using basic manners
Not being honest with the public
Not letting Operations speak
Not briefing leaders ahead of time
Not showing a Unified Command presence

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In Breathing, Framing, and Surviving in Jiu-Jitsu and in Life, I’m speaking about the importance of breathing, placing physical and metaphorical frames in your life, and surviving. I’m speaking to you folks facing challenging times, Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, fitness enthusiasts, anyone interested in self-improvement, …in other words. All humans.

In this episode:

Breathing in BJJ
Wim Hof and 2-to-1 breathing techniques
Setting mental and physical frames in BJJ and life
Surviving by balancing your "7 pillars"

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In Lessons Learned from 2024 and Tools I'm Doubling Down On in 2025, I'm sharing a roundup of non-family and friend influential people, products, exercises, mindsets, and tools I found helpful in 2024 and that I'll build on going into 2025.

My Dad passed away in April of this year and this is my first Christmas without him. So I'm trying to find a way to honor my Father's memory, to acknowledge the pain, and perhaps, to find some peace. I wrote a poem, When You Miss Someone at Christmas, and I'd like to share it with you.

Merry Christmas and Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Today, on Framework Friday episode one, How to Craft Impactful User Stories for Improved Outcomes, we're diving into a powerful tool for defining "what done looks like": user stories.

People:

Users, customers, and ourselves

Process:

Crafting user stories
Using the MoSCoW prioritization method

Progress:

Defining "what done looks like." more effectively

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In this episode I'm helping listeners not be too rigid with their processes through examples from Taiichi Ohno and my own lessons learned as an Emergency Medical Technician, Planning Section Chief, and Project Manager.

People:

"Let the flow manage the processes, and not let management manage the flow." - Taiichi Ohon

Process:

Evaluating what done looks like
Letting the team determine the best way to get there
Gauging the team's capabilities
Choosing the right tools from the process toolbox

Progress:

Helping listeners not be too rigid with their processes so that their teams have autonomy and collaborative outcomes are encouraged

Getting out of shape doesn't happen overnight. Gaining weight isn't an instant occurrence.

So, what's to be done? Hit play and let's improve together.

In Welcome to the Re-launch of the People, Process, Progress Podcast, Host Kevin Pannell reunites himself with listeners after a one-year detour. Kevin shares why he stepped away, why he's back, and what listeners can expect from him and his guests in the future.

“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” - Stephen King

Future focus:

Leadership and management
Team building and collaboration
Personal development and growth
Innovation and creativity
and more!

more at peopleprocessprogress.com

Providing practical considerations to the John Maxwell Company, list 7 Factors that Influence Influence (or Influencers)

Read the original list at https://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/7-factors-that-influence-influence/
Get John C. Maxwell's book Good Leaders Ask Great Questions at https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leaders-Ask-Great-Questions/dp/145554809X

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership

In this episode of the KEV Talks Podcast, meet Larry Hagner, the visionary behind The Dad Edge – a platform that inspires men to create and sustain strong relationships with their spouses and children, while also achieving overall wellness in various aspects of their lives.

Being proactive is a power. It enables us to prepare our minds for hardship better, and proactive Public Safety leaders and Project Managers can provide better contingency plans. In the realm of Public Safety, taking proactive planning action saves lives. For Project Managers, a proactive planning approach saves time, money, and resources, and keeps the quality of our team's work high.

Join me for this episode inspired by my soon-to-be-released interview with Larry Hagner of The Dad Edge (https://thedadedge.com/) as I expand on my thoughts and share more advantages to the proactive mindset over the reactive one.

Godspeed y'all.

In The Right Move at the Wrong Time is the Wrong Move | Foundations Friday #105, I share Rener Gracie's quote on episode #399 of the Jocko Podcast. I also share how Project Managers and Planning Section Chiefs should consider this sentiment when pulling together multi-disciplinary teams.

Rener Gracie's book is available on Amazon (no affiliate)
Listen to Jocko Podcast #399 with Rener Gracie

Hope is NOT a plan - No egos - No silos - Godspeed

None

Being able to describe our processes succinctly is critical. Summarizing our elevator pitch is also very important as well. Often we don't get a lot of time with our executive leaders, so we have to maximize the face time we do get. This is where we can deliver the "bottom line up front" approach to queuing up leadership decisions.

In 2 minutes or less, be able to:

Summarize the thing you need a decision on
State the decision the team needs the leader to make
Describe the impact on scope, schedule, cost, or quality
Share the team's recommendation

More at kevtalkspod.com

Inspired by the article from July 26, 2023 titled How to Be a Purpose-Driven Leader Without Burning Out by Lisa Earle McLeod and Elizabeth Lotardo on the Harvard Business Review website.

Key points from the article:

When you interact with your employees, ask how what they need to get stuff done
Assist your team's decision-making process through purpose-focused questions
Put more of your time and calories into team members that will respond more

Remember...

Hope is not a plan
Work a shared process
No egos
No silos

More at kevtalkspod.com

Having hope is crucial. It helps us persevere when we're feeling stuck, motivates us when we're unwell, and pulls us out of the depths of despair during difficult times. However, while hope can be a powerful driving force, it's not enough on its own to get things done.

Hope won’t build a fire, make a shelter or find a water source when you’re stranded
Hope will not get you out of bed; push your body to move through the trauma and begin to heal
Hope alone will not help you succeed at work and advance in your career
Hope is not a stand-alone solution

We need more than hope. We need a process. We need a plan.

For more on planning on kevtalkspod.com visit this link.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In We are responsible for how we respond to our traumas I echo a sentiment shared by Andy Stumpf on his 'Cleared Hot' Podcast about how we are not responsible for traumas we experience, but that we are 100% responsible for how we react and respond to them.

My suggestions:

Ask for guidance, then take action
Take the first step. Literally by walking each morning.
Don't wait for someone else to do it for you

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

In this episode "How Project Managers Can Apply Three Critical Lessons From Gavin De Becker’s Book 'The Gift Of Fear'," I discuss three lessons that I believe are relevant to the daily work of Program and Project Managers.

The Lessons:

Trusting our instincts (Chapter 2)
Prediction using JACA (Chapter 6)
Paying attention to alarming behaviors (Chapter 9)
*Bonus: Know the survival signs

Remember hope is NOT a plan, and there should be no egos nor silos in our planning processes.

Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

We did it. We put together 100 'Foundations Friday' episodes. On this week's #100 I elaborate on why the proverb, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine" is well, nonsense.

As a tribute to one of my favorite documents, The Declaration of Independence, I created The Declaration for Project Managers. Although the original is a timeless classic, I enjoyed putting my own spin on it by outlining the best practices that every Project Manager should adhere to from the start to the end of each project they undertake.

Sharing the perspective that leaders that allow negative behaviors to go on imply support for that activity to continue.

In 5 Ways to Reduce Level Zero Incidents in EMS and Improve EMS Employee Retention, I elaborate on how Emergency Medical Services (EMS) leaders can improve EMS worker retention and reduce the risk of having "level zero" EMS systems.

In Discover the Reality of the American Nuclear Energy Sector with George Pannell (Part 2) | KEV Talks #32, George Pannell, an expert in American Nuclear Energy, expertly explains the mechanics of nuclear power plants and the contributing factors to America's nuclear power stagnation and proposes measures to mitigate our dependence on foreign nations for energy.

In Four Reasons Why Hierarchy Matters | Foundations Friday #98 I share why I believe and have seen the benefits of having a hierarchy in organizations and on program and project teams.

Basic Points:

Shows who's who
Tells who is accountable
Provides protective umbrella
Clarifies Unity of Command

In From the Steel Mill to the Submarine Service with George Pannell (Part 1) | KEV Talks 31, I talk to U.S. Navy Veteran and Nuclear Power pioneer George Pannell about his journey from the steel mills of Pennsylvania to the Silent Service of the U.S. Navy.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our discussion coming next week as Dad and I talk through changes in the Nuclear Power world from the 1970s through today.

Thank you all for watching here and for listening to the podcast.

I recently watched A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, and Rachel Keller. I cried. A lot. In addition to the emotional story, A Man Called Otto reminded me that we've all had "Ottos" on our project teams.

In How to Support the Otto on Your Project Teams | Foundations Friday #97, I share 5 traits Ottos shares and how we as team leaders can leverage them and support the human behind the gruff and direct personality that Otto displays.

In One Action Can Change Someone's Life | Foundations Friday #96, remind us how Rob from McDojoLife's friend's one act of giving him a card to call a martial arts school after he was beaten by other students changed the course of Rob's life. I also talk about how a single question to Rob during a Jiu-Jitsu class led him to create the McDojoLife movement that now has thousands of followers around the world and will soon put out a documentary supported by leaders from the Martial Arts industry.

Rob's life trajectory was changed by one act from a friend. In our almost two hours discussion, Rob and I talk about:

How his friend's suggestion changed his life
Rob's martial arts path
The question that prompted him to start McDojoLife
Balancing tradition with being an adult martial artist
Insight into the McDojoLife documentary
Life-changing surgeries Operation Smile facilitates correcting smile and cleft conditions
Rob's vision of a martial arts convention for all
and more!

Thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing the show.

Feeling entitled is easy when you’re given a title. The challenge is to use your position to clear obstacles for your team, not to use your position to lord over them.

Travis Motl (Moat+L), is a Husband, Father, U.S. Navy Veteran, BJJ Blue Belt, and fellow podcaster. Travis hosts the Elbows Tight podcast where he talks "...to everyone from brand new white belts to well-established black belts to discuss their experiences, challenges, and successes.". In this episode, Travis and I talk about where he's from, and share our U.S. Navy lessons learned, and challenges with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), provide tips for starting a podcast, and discuss the future of the Elbows Tight show.

Key discussion points from this episode:

Travis' path to the U.S. Navy
From behind the Welder's mask to behind a desk
What led Travis to the BJJ mats
Why and how Travis started Elbows Tight with his friend Jon
What's the future of Elbows Tight?

Read more and buy some merch at https://www.elbowstight.com/ and follow Travis @elbowstight on Instagram and Twitter and follow the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ElbowsTightPodcast and the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/ElbowsTight.

Thank you all for listening and when training Jiu Jitsu remember...

Breathe
Frame
Survive

More on Jiu-Jitsu at https://kevtalkspod.com/?s=jiu+jitsu&orderby=relevanceℴ=DESC

In 5 Lessons from American Revolutionary Leaders to Build a Project Team of Giants | KEV Talks #28 I share 5 lessons I learned from reading Jack Kelly's amazing book, "Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence". More specifically, how these lessons can be implemented by Program and Project Managers to establish their own team of giants to increase program and project success.

The 5 lessons:

Review lessons learned ahead of time
Accept the messy beginning
Set the tone, but allow for free thinking
Understand that logistics are critical
Manage the mutinies

I share 5 things I do daily that have improved my mental, spiritual, and physical health and that I recommend to each of you.

Get up early
Get exercise
Take a cold shower
Fast or eat good food
Practice mindfulness

Sharing how both the principles and documents from the Incident Command System work when planning projects, programs, or other events.

I've been traveling lately, and I took my BJJ gear this past trip. It was great to visit the BJJ gym I started at and train with a different group of people. In this episode, I expand on the value of training at other gyms and provide perspective on the diversity of the BJJ community.

I recorded this one in the hotel gym this morning as I reflected on some recent work balancing how our team efforts look with what we're accomplishing. I submit to the listener to consider how many calories to put into the appearance of solid planning and support with providing results-driven outcomes for program and project go-lives and milestones.

As a Program Manager, we need to be ready to jump into any Project level work on behalf of our people or our organization. In Be a Good Project Manager to be an Effective Program Manager | Foundations Friday #91, I share my journey from Status Check-In Recorder to Planning Section Chief and the parallels to becoming a Senior Project Manager and Program Manager in the Healthcare IT space.

As a salty, 49-year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Blue Belt practicing BJJ for 4.5 years, I like to help folks just starting their BJJ training. When I sweep a white belt, then move to Mount, I often see the "deer in the headlights" look on their face. So, I have often walked them through the arm and leg trap and then bridge escape. Long this theme when a white belt tries a submission, but it's not..umm...good at all; I'll talk them through what I think they were trying to do. But sometimes, I want to roll, and that's ok.

Ted Lasso is one of my favorite streaming shows. It is a show starring Jason Sudeikis as Ted. Ted is an American Football coach who goes to England to coach and lead a Soccer team there. In addition to the humor and lessons in leadership I get from the show, I am also glad the writers highlight how stress and anxiety can negatively affect those who seemingly have no issues.

In How to Deal with Anxiety Like Ted Lasso | Foundations Friday #90, I talk about anxiety and re-share interviews I've had on the KEV Talks Podcast that can help listeners deal with anxiety as Ted does.

Five positive life-impacting statements that inspired and encouraged me and continue to give me a kick in the pants I need sometimes.

“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.'” – Viktor E. Frankl quoting Friedrich Nietzsche in Man’s Search for Meaning
“There is no shortcut. There is no hack. There’s only one way. So, get after it.” – Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual.
“Well, why don’t you just do it afraid?” – Joyce Meyer quoting a friend of hers.
“We have an opportunity to make health so central that we have ample resources to help the downtrodden, the fallen, and the frail.” – James Geering, One More Light.
“It is only when we listen to our pain that we can follow it back to its source…” – Johann Hari, Lost Connections.

In There's Always Opportunity for Rebirth | Foundations Friday 89, I share how the study of Passover and Easter has reminded me that we always have the opportunity to make changes in our personal and professional lives.

Leading projects is a challenge. Leading programs, and a group of projects, is even more challenging. So, what do we do when we're asked to lead a program of programs? In this week's episode, 6 Considerations When Leading a Program of Programs, I share six things to consider when you're asked to lead at an even higher level than a program.

Things to Consider:

Take it up a notch (in view altitude)
Support your Project Managers to become Program Managers
Think even more holistically
Embrace dynamic standards
Be objective, but provide direction
Nourish the different personalities

There are people that started training Jiu Jitsu that are now better than me. There are people in my professional life that have surpassed me in position and knowledge. As Jocko Willink says, "Good.".

Why is this "Good"? In Jiu Jitsu, it's good because, through hardship, we celebrate each other's success. We sharpen each other with each roll because we learn to supplant the ego and celebrate others' wins.

In business, this can be a little harder. But when someone advances, and we don't, we can ask ourselves, "How can I also move up?".

So, celebrate your teammate's wins on the mats and in the boardroom.

Godspeed ya'll,

Kevin

Carrying over some Jiu-Jitsu tips for newer BJJ players, focusing on slowing down and making the moves correctly. This is also true in life. Sometimes we must slow down and take time with family, decisions, or more things.

Breathe
Frame
Survive

Sharing lessons I learned while reading Jack Kelly's book Band of Giants. More specifically, George Washington learned NOT to fight by watching the rigid British Military and then went on to adapt and stay dynamic as a leader while fighting for America's independence.

Check out Kelly's book at your local library or purchase it at https://www.amazon.com/Band-Giants-Soldiers-Americas-Independence/dp/1466893281

None

I'm importing episodes 8-25 of the You-Jitsu Podcast, which was discontinued last week. In this Part 2 of 2 this episode compilation, I walk the listener further into the Jiu-Jitsu journey.

In this episode:

Importance of practicing stand up
Giving White Belts some wins
How BJJ will call your bluff
What makes a Blue Belt?
Listener feedback - Focus on Fundamentals
Differences between Wrestling, Submission Grappling, and BJJ
What if you miss the BJJ class?
That there are levels to BJJ
Being anxious in BJJ is OK
Exercises to improve your BJJ
Importance of a solid base in BJJ
Top 3 escapes White Belts should know
4 Supplements for older grapplers
Dealing with spazzy training partners
Importance of getting position before submission
Moves to practice outside of the BJJ gym

I talk about how "Extreme Ownership" has become very popular over the past eight years thanks to the incredible book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin of the same name and the outstanding teachings from the Echelon Front organization.

In the episode, I also share how extreme ownership has existed for over 1,000 years and was practiced by Marcus Aurelius, according to Ryan Holiday of "The Daily Stoic." the five barriers we have to accept ownership and the five ways to embrace owning up to mistakes.

Thank you all for being here. I'm going to shut down this feed over the next week.

Join me on the KEV Talks Podcast and at https://kevtalkspod.com/

Remember...

There are more than 3 moves BJJ players can practice outside of class, but these are 3 that I think White Belts should focus on.

Bridging
Shrimping
Sprawling

*Note: You-Jitsu is moving to the 'KEV Talks Podacast' feed starting 3/9/2023. Follow me there at https://blubrry.com/peopleprocessprogress/

Remember...

Breathe
Frame
Survive

If you're new, you probably don't know a lot of submissions. That's ok. But don't try some YouTube BJJ magic on someone from 2-3 feet away. Instead, pass their guard, get into side control or mount, then go for a submission.

In other words, "Position before submission."

Remember...

Have you slapped hands, bumped fists, and realized your training partner was already spazzing out before the roll? In this episode, I share three tips on how to keep your distance and help chill spazzy training partners out.

Collar grips (Gi) / Hand to head (No Gi)
Keep feet between you and them
Let them pass, then sweep and cook them with pressure

BONUS: Share the culture of how rolls should happen in BJJ

Remember...

Breathe
Frame
Survive

Thanks for listening and subscribing, and please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Give me feedback to share with others at https://kevtalkspod.com/you-jitsu-questions-guidance/

These are the supplements that I take every day. I believe they work and are backed by science. Below are links where you can get a discount on some or find and read more about them.

Glucosamine/Chondroitin w/ Turmeric: https://store.jockofuel.com/jocko-joint-warfare/?ref=kevtalks
Krill Oil: https://www.onnit.com/krill-oil/
Creatine Monohydrate: https://www.gnc.com/creatine-1/987112.html
vitamin D3: https://www.naturemade.com/products/vitamin-d3-25-mcg-1000-iu-tablets
am not a doctor. Please consult your physician before starting any supplement regimen.

In 20. Top 3 Escapes Every BJJ White Belt Should Know, I cover the basic concepts of three escapes I see BJJ White Belts struggle with.

Frame and shrimp out of side control
Trap and roll out of the mount
Arm control and back to the floor out of the back mount

Breathe | Frame | Survive

OSS!!

"Triangles are strong because of their inherent structural characteristics.The corner angles of a triangle cannot change without an accompanying change in the length of the edge. Therefore, an edge must collapse to change a triangle's shape."

In this episode, I share the importance of building a strong base as a White Belt. We do this when in someone's closed guard with good posture, hands on our opponent's hip bones, and by sitting on our active feet (balls of foot). We can also build triangle-like solid, strong shapes with our frames when someone is mounted on us or has us in side control.

Key takeaway: Don't just fall over because you are new

Remember...

Breathe
Frame
Survive

Why Are Triangles Strong? - https://www.reference.com/world-view/triangles-strong-7ae25bf47214a972

In February 2020 I released an episode on the then People, Process, Progress podcast. Now that the You-Jitsu Podcast exists I thought I'd share it on this feed.

The original post for more reading is at https://kevtalkspod.com/history-of-grappling-and-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-bjj/

Remember....

Breathe
Frame
Survive

As a 48-year-old, salty Blue Belt and 3x Warm Up Round World Champion, I find exercising outside of and in addition to going to BJJ class very helpful. In this episode, I share what I feel are the top 5 exercises you can do to increase cardiovascular and musculoskeletal endurance for Jiu Jitsu.

Breathe
Frame
Survive

Made this episode as much for me as for the listener. Sometimes I get anxious when out of breath and rolling. I've even tapped out from it. I know I'm not alone. Neither are you if this has happened. The key is don't quit and keep showing up.

Breathe
Frame
Survive

It's ok not to be the best grappler in your belt color peer group. Why? Because there are levels within levels in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ).

I missed a whole week of learning and rolling due to work recently. Hey, life happens.

So, in this short episode I share how it's important for us to stay active when out of Jiu Jitsu so we can be a bit more prepared when we return.

Breathe
Frame
Survive

Kevin

Kevin Pannell, 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | 48 Year old Salty Blue Belt

Hear more at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-jitsu-podcast/id1644567166

Sharing some feedback I gave on the r/bjj sub on @Reddit where someone asked about the difference between wrestling and submission grappling. Below is my summary and in this episode is a little history about how freestyle wrestling was integrated into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)

Wrestling: takedowns, throws and control to pin your opponent
Submission Grappling (No Gi): Wrestling + joint locks and chokes to submit your opponent
Gi Jiu Jitsu: Wrestling + Submission Grappling + Pajamas to submit your opponent

Ask a question or give your BJJ guidance at https://kevtalkspod.com/you-jitsu-podcast-central/

Always remember...

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

"Kenneth T." shares his feedback from the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) group on LinkedIn.

Kenneth's feedback states BJJ White Belts should focus on fundamentals, not the "new squid/platypus guard sweep". I agree Kenneth!

Fundamentals go a long way. I've been swept and submitted by some of the old standards over 4 years way more than I have been by the latest hotness from BJJ in YouTube videos.

Thank you all for listening and remember...

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

**Ask your questions or give your guidance at the new link at https://kevtalkspod.com/you-jitsu/

Sharing two key concepts of what a BJJ Blue Belt is:

Must be able to escape side control from a White Belt (per John Danaher)
Should be able to control a bigger, stronger and untrained person (many people)

Plus my $.02!

Jiu Jitsu will call your bluff.

•••••

There’s no hiding from reality on the mats
There’s no hiding whether you’re brave or scared on the mats
There is showing up
Trying your hardest
Slapping, bumping and rolling

•••••

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Subscribe to the You-Jitsu Podcast at https://blubrry.com/youjitsupod/subscribe/

bjj #jiujitsu #brazilianjiujitsu #graplling #renzograciebjj #teammannonbjj

We all got smashed as white belts. Heck I still get smashed as a blue belt regularly. I think it’s goodwill and uplifting though if you’re a blue belt or above to give the white belt to win every now and then. Are their arm bars a little slow and sloppy sometimes? Sure they are. But how do they feel if you’re rolling and you loosen up a little bit and they do the technique they learn and boom you tap to an arm bar.

They will realize when you actually roll or as they continue with Jiu Jitsu whether they can hit an arm bar with another hundred percent live opponent.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

Practicing double and single leg take downs and throws hits the cardio and muscular endurance different than sitting down and starting around on your butt.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

Stressing the importance of breaking grips (particularly in the Gi) in BJJ.

Grip Breaking videos
From @gracieohio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDP7kA1U1ms
From @chewjitsu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP3QnmtYZpM
From @stephankesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfUikQWMpns

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

This week I'm passing on feedback from a BJJ player in Athens, Greece and giving my $.02 to a question from a listener in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Remember the importance of weightlifting to prevent injury and supplement BJJ
How do you not get upset all the time when you suck at first...but everyone sucks at first?

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

Thoughts from the path...literally recorded as I walked my dogs on a path in the mountains. Sharing my $.02 on how new BJJ players can survive.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

If you're getting crushed you can't breathe. So, make frames between you and your BJJ partner/opponent.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

You have to breathe. When stepping into the gym for your first real class, during warm ups, drills and in sparring.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

Congratulations! You took a bold step and joined your BJJ gym. Now there's Gi, No-Gi and mouth-guards....oh my!

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

How do you get ready for the intro class? Hit play on this episode to find out.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

Stop thinking about trying a class and do it. You will quickly learn if Jiu Jitsu is right for you.

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod

I created this podcast to help those that keep driving by the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) gym in their town, who just signed up or for folks who have been at it for a couple of years. Welcome to the podcast, thank you for subscribing and sharing and remember....

BREATHE. FRAME. SURVIVE.

Read, ask a question or share your insight at https://youjitsupod.com/ask-questions-here/

OSS!!

Kevin

Kevin Pannell | 40-something BJJ Blue Belt | 3x Warm Up Round World Champion

Website: youjitsupod.com | Twitter & Instagram: @youjitsupod