Alignment First Podcast23 Sep 2025

Eryk Anders: Leaving It All In The Octagon

In this episode of Progress Always, I sit down with my brother Eryk Anders — UFC veteran, national champion at Alabama, and soon-to-be gym owner. We dive into his transition from football to fighting to entrepreneurship, how self-awareness has guided his journey, and what it really means to walk away on your own terms.

Key Takeaways

Why self-awareness is the most underrated skill in both sport and business.
The difference between being “done with football” and “choosing when to walk away from fighting.”
Lessons from building a gym: serve in your highest and best capacity, and outsource the rest.
How fatherhood, sobriety, and faith shaped Eryk’s new path.
Why intentional adversity — from wrestling mats to business challenges — builds resilience for life.

Quotes

“Being self-aware is my best quality. Don’t lie to yourself. You suck at this? Cool — go figure it out.” – Eryk Anders
“Athletes have a shelf life. The key is knowing when to walk away.” – Eryk Anders
“Failure doesn’t kill dreams. Fear of failure does.” – Eryk Anders

Connect with Eryk Anders
📲 Instagram:

@erykeanders

@yaboi_fitness_academy
🏋️ Follow his new gym journey: https://yaboifitness.com/

Stay Connected & Take Action
✅ Join the Alignment Village → NextLevelVillage.com
✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → CoachDerz.com
✅ Subscribe to Progress Always on Spotify → Listen Here

Partners & Sponsors
@ThorneHealth → thorne.com/u/progressalways
@StrongCoffee → strongcoffeecompany.com — Code: NEXTLEVEL15
@wearshepherds → Shepherds.com
@team4kor → 4korfitness.com — Code: NEXTLEVEL15
Build Your Vision Espresso → visionespresso.co/fastpass
@TYRsport → fitness.tyr.com — Code: 14034
Start Your Healing Journey → Morozko Ice Bath — Code: NEXTLEVEL350 / NEXTLEVEL500

Progress Always.

#ErykAnders #UFC #retirement #athlete #transition #selfawareness #entrepreneurship #resilience #gymownership

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(128)

DJ Barton: Divorce Your Past to Marry Your Future

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with DJ Barton, co-founder and CEO of ELYT Travel, to talk about what it actually takes to build a life, not just a lifestyle. We dive into losing his fa...

26 Mai 1h 2min

Keira Brinton: Stop Refusing Your Muse

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Keira Brinton — the People's Publisher and founder of JOA Publishing — to explore what it really means to stop refusing your muse. We dive into chan...

19 Mai 58min

Eryk Anders: Identity is Everything

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Eryk Anders — UFC veteran, fighter, and founder of Ya Boi Fitness Academy in Vestavia, Alabama — to talk about what it really means to walk away on ...

12 Mai 59min

Stephanie Strine: Sobriety, Service & Superpowers

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Steph Strine — Naval Academy grad, Marine veteran, yoga instructor, and fitness coach at Equinox and Soto Method — to talk about what happens when t...

5 Mai 1h 3min

Mollie Gray: The Silence Makes You Stronger (Vipassana)

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mollie Gray — Olympic-level rugby athlete, army veteran, wedding photographer, world traveler, and finder of self — to unpack what ten days of radic...

28 Apr 1h 7min

Eric Coonrod: The Preparation Principle

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Eric Coonrod, founder of E. Coonrod & Co. and author of The Preparation Principle, to break down the real truth behind selling a business. We dive i...

21 Apr 1h 6min

Dr. Pat Boulogne: Which Brain Is Doing the Talking?

What if your leadership ceiling isn’t a strategy problem…but a health and self-awareness problem?In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Pat Boulogne — chiropractor, acupuncturist, ent...

14 Apr 48min

Dr. Ruth N Faucette: Perfection is Ruining Your Connection

Dr. Ruth N. Faucette, PhD is a relationship-driven psychotherapist and executive leadership consultant who built her foundation in medical academia at Virginia Tech and went on to train physicians in ...

7 Apr 1h 2min