In this episode Christopher Sommer shares the science behind building a gymnastic body, how he helps individuals perform at a world class level, and how to stop waiting for others to confirm your success. Listen in as we explore what gets him excited about a challenge and how he motivates his team and himself.

Coach Christopher Sommer is a world-renowned gymnastics instructor and long-time US Jr National Team Coach with nearly 40 years’ experience at Regional, National and Olympic level. He is known for building his athletes into some of the strongest, most powerful gymnasts in the world. Coach Sommer is the founder of Gymnastic Bodies, a hugely popular gymnastic strength training system. His book, Building the Gymnastic Body, is a groundbreaking training guide designed for non-gymnasts to improve their strength and mobility with routines used by world-class athletes.

You can learn more about his work at https://www.gymnasticbodies.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.

In this episode Christopher Sommer shares the science behind building a gymnastic body, how he helps individuals perform at a world class level, and how to stop waiting for others to confirm your success. Listen in as we explore what gets him excited about a challenge and how he motivates his team and himself.
Coach Christopher Sommer is a world-renowned gymnastics instructor and long-time US Jr National Team Coach with nearly 40 years’ experience at Regional, National and Olympic level. He is known for building his athletes into some of the strongest, most powerful gymnasts in the world. Coach Sommer is the founder of Gymnastic Bodies, a hugely popular gymnastic strength training system. His book, Building the Gymnastic Body, is a groundbreaking training guide designed for non-gymnasts to improve their strength and mobility with routines used by world-class athletes.
You can learn more about his work at <a href="https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/">https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/</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.

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

Christopher Sommer Part 1: Kicking Cancer's Ass, Logic, Building Gymnastic Bodies, and the Momentum of Excellence

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with legendary self-defense expert and fear management coach Tony Blauer for an in-depth discussion on betrayal, resilience, and the power of managing fear in business and life. Tony shares candid stories of being betrayed by trusted partners and employees over his 40+ year career, revealing how he's shortened his recovery time from months to mere hours through the principles he teaches. The conversation explores the "timeline of violence" concept applied to business relationships, the importance of trusting your instincts, and why fear—when properly managed—becomes your greatest asset rather than your enemy.

Episode Highlights
[4:18] Betrayal is Inevitable for Innovators - If you're creating something original and breaking new ground, people will copy you. Tony shares how he went from taking months to recover from betrayal to processing it in 24 hours by building his "resilience muscle" through experience and applying his own fear management principles.
[33:34] The Three I's: Instincts, Intuition, and Intelligence - Tony reveals the core of his SPEAR system's soft skills: your instincts give you a "bad feeling," your intuition whispers warnings, but cognitive dissonance often makes you ignore both. Learning to trust these signals and "choose safety" is critical in business partnerships, relationships, and dangerous situations.
[53:54] You Can't Be Brave If You're Not Afraid - The primary ingredient of courage is fear. Tony explains why there are things in life you must do afraid, and you'll never not be afraid of them. The key is managing fear rather than eliminating it—mismanaged fear is always negative, but managed fear is always positive.
[69:50] The Rational-Lie - We all rationalize why we should or shouldn't do something, but when you put a hyphen between "rational" and "lie," you realize you're selling yourself a story. Tony shares how recognizing your rational-lies—whether in business decisions, relationships, or self-defense situations—is the first step to making better choices.

Tony Blauer is a pioneer in close-quarters combat, self-defense, and fear management training with over 40 years of experience. He created the SPEAR System (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response), the world's only behaviorally-based self-defense protocol founded on neurobiology, kinesiology, and psychology. Tony has trained military special forces, law enforcement agencies, and martial artists worldwide, and his research on fear and human performance has influenced everyone from Hollywood actors to elite operators. He's also developed the "Know Fear" program, teaching people how to convert fear into fuel for peak performance in high-stress situations. At 65, Tony continues to innovate and mentor through Blauer Training Systems, sharing hard-won wisdom on resilience, courage, and the intersection of physical and psychological preparedness.

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 of&nbsp;Acta Non Verba, Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with legendary self-defense expert and fear management coach Tony Blauer for an in-depth discussion on betrayal, resilience, and the power of managing fear in business and life. Tony shares candid stories of being betrayed by trusted partners and employees over his 40+ year career, revealing how he's shortened his recovery time from months to mere hours through the principles he teaches. The conversation explores the "timeline of violence" concept applied to business relationships, the importance of trusting your instincts, and why fear&mdash;when properly managed&mdash;becomes your greatest asset rather than your enemy.
Episode Highlights
<ol>
<li> [4:18] Betrayal is Inevitable for Innovators - If you're creating something original and breaking new ground, people will copy you. Tony shares how he went from taking months to recover from betrayal to processing it in 24 hours by building his "resilience muscle" through experience and applying his own fear management principles.</li>
<li> [33:34] The Three I's: Instincts, Intuition, and Intelligence - Tony reveals the core of his SPEAR system's soft skills: your instincts give you a "bad feeling," your intuition whispers warnings, but cognitive dissonance often makes you ignore both. Learning to trust these signals and "choose safety" is critical in business partnerships, relationships, and dangerous situations.</li>
<li> [53:54] You Can't Be Brave If You're Not Afraid - The primary ingredient of courage is fear. Tony explains why there are things in life you must do afraid, and you'll never not be afraid of them. The key is managing fear rather than eliminating it&mdash;mismanaged fear is always negative, but managed fear is always positive.</li>
<li> [69:50] The Rational-Lie - We all rationalize why we should or shouldn't do something, but when you put a hyphen between "rational" and "lie," you realize you're selling yourself a story. Tony shares how recognizing your rational-lies&mdash;whether in business decisions, relationships, or self-defense situations&mdash;is the first step to making better choices.</li>
</ol>
Tony Blauer is a pioneer in close-quarters combat, self-defense, and fear management training with over 40 years of experience. He created the SPEAR System (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response), the world's only behaviorally-based self-defense protocol founded on neurobiology, kinesiology, and psychology. Tony has trained military special forces, law enforcement agencies, and martial artists worldwide, and his research on fear and human performance has influenced everyone from Hollywood actors to elite operators. He's also developed the "Know Fear" program, teaching people how to convert fear into fuel for peak performance in high-stress situations. At 65, Tony continues to innovate and mentor through Blauer Training Systems, sharing hard-won wisdom on resilience, courage, and the intersection of physical and psychological preparedness.
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.

Tony Blauer on Overcoming Fear for Personal Growth, Resilience in the Face of Betrayal, and Trusting Instincts for Business Success

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, former Marine counterintelligence operator and Paralympic silver medalist Dennis Connors joins Marcus to discuss the true meaning of perseverance beyond grit. Dennis shares insights from his time in special operations, his journey through PTSD and stroke recovery, and how vulnerability, discipline, and community create sustainable high performance in leadership and life.

Episode Highlights
[2:31] The Intelligence Behind Special Operations - Dennis explains his role in human intelligence collection for special operations and why keeping servicemen safe was the number one priority—not just gathering information.
[26:30] The Four Pillars of Perseverance - Dennis breaks down why grit alone isn't enough for long-term success and introduces his framework: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community.
[46:00] Leading Leaders: The Transition from Operator to Mentor - A powerful discussion on what it means to lead leaders, the importance of empowering your team, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools.
[57:54] The Road to LA 2028 - Dennis shares his goal to win Paralympic gold at the 2028 LA Games and the challenges Paralympic athletes face in funding their Olympic dreams while maintaining careers.

Dennis Connors is a Paralympic silver medalist, two-time para cycling world champion, and former Marine counterintelligence operator who served with special operations forces. After suffering strokes that left him paralyzed, Dennis rebuilt his life through adaptive sport and now works as a keynote speaker and leadership coach. He's a TEDx speaker whose talk on redefining perseverance challenges the traditional "grit mentality" and offers a more sustainable framework for overcoming adversity. Dennis helps military, corporate, and athletic organizations translate high-performance lessons into practical leadership insights.

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 of&nbsp;Acta Non Verba, former Marine counterintelligence operator and Paralympic silver medalist Dennis Connors joins Marcus to discuss the true meaning of perseverance beyond grit. Dennis shares insights from his time in special operations, his journey through PTSD and stroke recovery, and how vulnerability, discipline, and community create sustainable high performance in leadership and life.
Episode Highlights
<ul>
<li>[2:31] The Intelligence Behind Special Operations - Dennis explains his role in human intelligence collection for special operations and why keeping servicemen safe was the number one priority&mdash;not just gathering information.</li>
<li>[26:30] The Four Pillars of Perseverance - Dennis breaks down why grit alone isn't enough for long-term success and introduces his framework: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community.</li>
<li>[46:00] Leading Leaders: The Transition from Operator to Mentor - A powerful discussion on what it means to lead leaders, the importance of empowering your team, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools.</li>
<li>[57:54] The Road to LA 2028 - Dennis shares his goal to win Paralympic gold at the 2028 LA Games and the challenges Paralympic athletes face in funding their Olympic dreams while maintaining careers.</li>
</ul>
Dennis Connors is a Paralympic silver medalist, two-time para cycling world champion, and former Marine counterintelligence operator who served with special operations forces. After suffering strokes that left him paralyzed, Dennis rebuilt his life through adaptive sport and now works as a keynote speaker and leadership coach. He's a TEDx speaker whose talk on redefining perseverance challenges the traditional "grit mentality" and offers a more sustainable framework for overcoming adversity. Dennis helps military, corporate, and athletic organizations translate high-performance lessons into practical leadership insights.
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.

Dennis Connors Paralympic Silver Medalist and 2X World Champion on Redefining Perseverance, Vulnerability in Leadership, and Why Grit Isn't Always Enough to Win

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson examines one of philosophy's most provocative questions: Was Seneca a hypocrite? Through the lens of Stoic philosophy and Roman history, Marcus explores the dangerous cognitive trap of hypocrisy bias and challenges listeners to examine their own inconsistencies before judging others.

Episode Highlights
[0:45] The Seneca Question: Was the wealthy Roman philosopher who forced loans on conquered peoples truly living by Stoic principles, or was he a hypocrite?
[2:10] Understanding Hypocrisy Bias: How our tendency to judge others' inconsistencies more harshly than our own blinds us to truth and derails meaningful discussions.
[6:16] The Marcus Aurelius Paradox: Even the revered philosopher-emperor struggled with anger daily and made questionable decisions like allowing his son Commodus to take power.
[7:38] 30-Day Reflection Challenge: Three critical questions to examine your own hypocrisy, how you judge others, and whether imperfect messengers can still deliver truth.

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 of&nbsp;Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson examines one of philosophy's most provocative questions: Was Seneca a hypocrite? Through the lens of Stoic philosophy and Roman history, Marcus explores the dangerous cognitive trap of hypocrisy bias and challenges listeners to examine their own inconsistencies before judging others.
Episode Highlights
<ul>
<li>[0:45] The Seneca Question: Was the wealthy Roman philosopher who forced loans on conquered peoples truly living by Stoic principles, or was he a hypocrite?</li>
<li>[2:10] Understanding Hypocrisy Bias: How our tendency to judge others' inconsistencies more harshly than our own blinds us to truth and derails meaningful discussions.</li>
<li>[6:16] The Marcus Aurelius Paradox: Even the revered philosopher-emperor struggled with anger daily and made questionable decisions like allowing his son Commodus to take power.</li>
<li>[7:38] 30-Day Reflection Challenge: Three critical questions to examine your own hypocrisy, how you judge others, and whether imperfect messengers can still deliver truth.</li>
</ul>
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.

Christopher Sommer Part 1: Kicking Cancer's Ass, Logic, Building Gymnastic Bodies, and the Momentum of Excellence

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