The secret to success can be found through adversity. Welcome to the Acta Non Verba podcast. I’m Marcus Aurelius Anderson and today I’m sharing how a single Latin phrase can be the ethos upon which you build a successful life. In this episode you’ll hear the meaning of Acta Non Verba and what you can expect to learn from other successful Warriors, Leaders, Entreprenuers, and Experts who also believe that an extraordinary life comes from strategic action. 

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

The secret to success can be found through adversity. Welcome to the Acta Non Verba podcast. I&rsquo;m Marcus Aurelius Anderson and today I&rsquo;m sharing how a single Latin phrase can be the ethos upon which you build a successful life. In this episode you&rsquo;ll hear the meaning of Acta Non Verba and what you can expect to learn from other successful Warriors, Leaders, Entreprenuers, and Experts who also believe that an extraordinary life comes from strategic action. 
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

ACTA NON VERBA is a raw and real podcast with hard hitting interviews featuring people that live by the Ethos of “Actions, not words.”

Join TEDx speaker, Bestselling Author, Veteran, and Leadership & Mindset Coach Marcus Aurelius Anderson as he goes inside the minds and experiences of the world’s most successful Warriors, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Experts to give you the Philosophies, Concepts, Tactics, and Strategies they use to turn Adversity into Victory and live an EXTRAORDINARY life based on ACTIONS not words.

ACTA NON VERBA is a raw and real podcast with hard hitting interviews featuring people that live by the Ethos of &ldquo;Actions, not words.&rdquo;
Join TEDx speaker, Bestselling Author, Veteran, and Leadership &amp; Mindset Coach Marcus Aurelius Anderson as he goes inside the minds and experiences of the world&rsquo;s most successful Warriors, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Experts to give you the Philosophies, Concepts, Tactics, and Strategies they use to turn Adversity into Victory and live an EXTRAORDINARY life based on ACTIONS not words.

Acta Non Verba

The secret to success can be found through adversity. Welcome to the Acta Non Verba podcast. I’m Marcus Aurelius Anderson and today I’m sharing how a single Latin phrase can be the ethos upon which you build a successful life. In this episode you’ll hear the meaning of Acta Non Verba and what you can expect to learn from other successful Warriors, Leaders, Entreprenuers, and Experts who also believe that an extraordinary life comes from strategic action.

An Introduction from Marcus Aurelius Anderson

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Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Dr. Grace Firestone, a family medicine physician, athlete, and cardiac arrest survivor. Dr. Firestone shares the story of collapsing at 18 years old, spending 10 days in the ICU, and waking up with documented brain injury and compromised heart function. Rather than accepting the limitations placed on her, she pushed forward into college, medical school, and competitive bodybuilding. This conversation covers her early drive rooted in gratitude, the mindset she developed through adversity, her philosophy of practicing what she preaches as a physician, and her work with legendary trainer Charles Glass.

Episode Highlights:

0:05 – Dr. Firestone explains why switching to 6:00 AM training at Gold's Gym transformed her efficiency as both an athlete and a physician.

4:22 – She shares the origin of her drive, tracing it back to gratitude, financial aid, and a high school nonprofit she founded called Let the Kids Play.

6:14 – Dr. Firestone recounts the night she suffered sudden cardiac arrest at 18, the CPR her brother performed, the AED shocks, the medically induced coma, and waking up uncertain of her cognitive future.

27:58 – She describes her decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro despite her defibrillator and medical uncertainty, writing in her journal that she might die on the mountain, and what reaching Uhuru Peak meant for her identity going forward.

Dr. Grace Firestone is a board-eligible family medicine physician practicing at UCLA Santa Monica. A cardiac arrest survivor at 18, she rebuilt her life through cognitive therapy, collegiate athletics, and medical training. She specializes in nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle medicine, and trains under world-renowned bodybuilding coach Charles Glass in competitive bodybuilding. Her work as a doctor is grounded in a personal commitment to modeling the habits she prescribes to her patients. She can be found on Instagram at @Dr.Grace_Firestone.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Dr. Grace Firestone, a family medicine physician, athlete, and cardiac arrest survivor. Dr. Firestone shares the story of collapsing at 18 years old, spending 10 days in the ICU, and waking up with documented brain injury and compromised heart function. Rather than accepting the limitations placed on her, she pushed forward into college, medical school, and competitive bodybuilding. This conversation covers her early drive rooted in gratitude, the mindset she developed through adversity, her philosophy of practicing what she preaches as a physician, and her work with legendary trainer Charles Glass.
Episode Highlights:
0:05 &ndash; Dr. Firestone explains why switching to 6:00 AM training at Gold's Gym transformed her efficiency as both an athlete and a physician.
4:22 &ndash; She shares the origin of her drive, tracing it back to gratitude, financial aid, and a high school nonprofit she founded called Let the Kids Play.
6:14 &ndash; Dr. Firestone recounts the night she suffered sudden cardiac arrest at 18, the CPR her brother performed, the AED shocks, the medically induced coma, and waking up uncertain of her cognitive future.
27:58 &ndash; She describes her decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro despite her defibrillator and medical uncertainty, writing in her journal that she might die on the mountain, and what reaching Uhuru Peak meant for her identity going forward.
Dr. Grace Firestone is a board-eligible family medicine physician practicing at UCLA Santa Monica. A cardiac arrest survivor at 18, she rebuilt her life through cognitive therapy, collegiate athletics, and medical training. She specializes in nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle medicine, and trains under world-renowned bodybuilding coach Charles Glass in competitive bodybuilding. Her work as a doctor is grounded in a personal commitment to modeling the habits she prescribes to her patients. She can be found on Instagram at @Dr.Grace_Firestone.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Dr. Grace Firestone How She Went from a Coma to Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, Her Unlikely Path to Becoming a Doctor, and How She's Turned Her Adversity into Her Greatest Purpose

Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with bestselling author and creative legend Steven Pressfield in Santa Monica for a wide-ranging conversation centered on Pressfield's new historical fiction novel, The Arcadian. The two explore the novel's ancient mercenary protagonist Telamon, the philosophy of resistance, the role of vulnerability in transformation, and what it means to keep doing the work — even after losing everything in a wildfire.

Episode Highlights:

9:55 — The Magical Horse and the Hope of Release
Pressfield unpacks the inciting incident of The Arcadian — Telamon spotting a horse he recognizes from the year 70 AD bearing the brand of the 10th Roman Legion. The horse, appearing 1,400 years later, becomes a symbol of potential redemption and drives the entire story forward.

10:35 — Westerns, Vulnerable Characters, and Human Transformation
Pressfield reveals that The Arcadian is structurally a Western — like Unforgiven or Shane — and explains why the genre's conventions (a man of violence, a lawless landscape, a vulnerable character) are the perfect vehicle for stories about overcoming emotional isolation and finding humanity.

28:38 — Resistance, the LA Fires, and the Work That Saves You
Pressfield opens up about losing his home in the 2025 LA wildfires, including a 40-year-old handwritten copy of the Empedocles quote. He reflects on how devotion to the work — and an acorn from Thermopylae returned by a Special Forces friend — helped hold him together.

Steven Pressfield is one of the most influential American authors of the past three decades. Best known for The War of Art, Gates of Fire, and The Legend of Bagger Vance, Pressfield has built a body of work that spans historical fiction, nonfiction on creativity, and screenwriting. A former Marine and advertising copywriter, he spent years living in a Chevy van before finally breaking through as a writer. His concept of "Resistance" — the internal force that blocks creative work — has become a touchstone for artists, entrepreneurs, and warriors worldwide. His newest novel, The Arcadian, was released May 26, 2025. He publishes a weekly blog, Writing Wednesdays, at StevenPressfield.com.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with bestselling author and creative legend Steven Pressfield in Santa Monica for a wide-ranging conversation centered on Pressfield's new historical fiction novel, The Arcadian. The two explore the novel's ancient mercenary protagonist Telamon, the philosophy of resistance, the role of vulnerability in transformation, and what it means to keep doing the work &mdash; even after losing everything in a wildfire.
Episode Highlights:
9:55 &mdash; The Magical Horse and the Hope of Release Pressfield unpacks the inciting incident of The Arcadian &mdash; Telamon spotting a horse he recognizes from the year 70 AD bearing the brand of the 10th Roman Legion. The horse, appearing 1,400 years later, becomes a symbol of potential redemption and drives the entire story forward.
10:35 &mdash; Westerns, Vulnerable Characters, and Human Transformation Pressfield reveals that The Arcadian is structurally a Western &mdash; like Unforgiven or Shane &mdash; and explains why the genre's conventions (a man of violence, a lawless landscape, a vulnerable character) are the perfect vehicle for stories about overcoming emotional isolation and finding humanity.
28:38 &mdash; Resistance, the LA Fires, and the Work That Saves You Pressfield opens up about losing his home in the 2025 LA wildfires, including a 40-year-old handwritten copy of the Empedocles quote. He reflects on how devotion to the work &mdash; and an acorn from Thermopylae returned by a Special Forces friend &mdash; helped hold him together.
Steven Pressfield is one of the most influential American authors of the past three decades. Best known for The War of Art, Gates of Fire, and The Legend of Bagger Vance, Pressfield has built a body of work that spans historical fiction, nonfiction on creativity, and screenwriting. A former Marine and advertising copywriter, he spent years living in a Chevy van before finally breaking through as a writer. His concept of "Resistance" &mdash; the internal force that blocks creative work &mdash; has become a touchstone for artists, entrepreneurs, and warriors worldwide. His newest novel, The Arcadian, was released May 26, 2025. He publishes a weekly blog, Writing Wednesdays, at StevenPressfield.com.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Steven Pressfield on his new novel "The Arcadian", How Resistance Shows Up in His Life now, and questions he's never been asked before

In this episode Dr. Megan McElheran, a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with uniformed service personnel delves into Dr. McElheran's development of upstream training programs aimed at preparing military and public safety professionals to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming. Marcus and Dr. McElheran explore the concepts of post-traumatic growth, the importance of action-oriented stoic philosophy, and practical steps for emotional regulation. Dr. McElheran shares her journey into psychology, the creation of the Before Operational Stress (BOS) program, and data-backed evidence of its effectiveness. 

Episode Highlights:

12:45 The Role of Stoicism in Uniformed Services

24:28 The Importance of De-escalation and Self-Care

25:26 Training Gaps and Operational Stress

26:15 The Duality of Tactical Skills and Trauma

32:43 Facing Fear and Taking Action

Dr. Megan McElheran is a dedicated trauma therapist specializing in helping first responders, active-duty members of the Canadian Forces, and community members navigate the aftermath of traumatic events. With expertise in evidence-based practices such as Prolonged Exposure, EMDR, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Megan provides a safe, structured environment for clients to process and heal. Her work emphasizes resilience and the profound capacity for change, as shared in her 2011 TEDx talk, Trauma, Change, and Resilience. Megan’s compassionate approach empowers individuals to rebuild their lives, transforming the impact of trauma into growth and strength.

You can learn more about Dr. McElheran here: https://www.wayfound.ca/dr-megan-mcelheran

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

In this episode Dr. Megan McElheran, a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with uniformed service personnel delves into Dr. McElheran's development of upstream training programs aimed at preparing military and public safety professionals to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming. Marcus and Dr. McElheran explore the concepts of post-traumatic growth, the importance of action-oriented stoic philosophy, and practical steps for emotional regulation. Dr. McElheran shares her journey into psychology, the creation of the Before Operational Stress (BOS) program, and data-backed evidence of its effectiveness. 
Episode Highlights:
12:45&nbsp;The Role of Stoicism in Uniformed Services
24:28&nbsp;The Importance of De-escalation and Self-Care
25:26&nbsp;Training Gaps and Operational Stress
26:15&nbsp;The Duality of Tactical Skills and Trauma
32:43&nbsp;Facing Fear and Taking Action
Dr. Megan McElheran is a dedicated trauma therapist specializing in helping first responders, active-duty members of the Canadian Forces, and community members navigate the aftermath of traumatic events. With expertise in evidence-based practices such as Prolonged Exposure, EMDR, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Megan provides a safe, structured environment for clients to process and heal. Her work emphasizes resilience and the profound capacity for change, as shared in her 2011 TEDx talk, Trauma, Change, and Resilience. Megan&rsquo;s compassionate approach empowers individuals to rebuild their lives, transforming the impact of trauma into growth and strength.
You can learn more about Dr. McElheran here: <a href="https://www.wayfound.ca/dr-megan-mcelheran">https://www.wayfound.ca/dr-megan-mcelheran</a>
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

An Introduction from Marcus Aurelius Anderson

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