Ep. 129: Andy Riise - What It Really Takes to Win in Life and Leadership

Andy Riise (Reece) is an Army Veteran, West Point graduate, and former Army football fullback with 20+ years leading Soldiers in combat, earning two Bronze Stars. 

A pioneer in military mental fitness, he helped launch resilience programs and later coached MLB and NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears. 

With advanced training in sport and performance psychology, he now works with leaders across business, healthcare, and athletics. 

He’s a bestselling co-author, adjunct professor, and founder of Design to Perform, known for blending behavioral science, leadership experience, and practical tools to help people perform under pressure.

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Quick Episode Summary:

Andy Riise discusses mental fitness, leadership, resilience, and personal growth.

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🌟 Torch Takeaways Include:

Andy shares hard-earned lessons on:

◼ Build on Character, Not Just Results: Your identity and values are the foundation for success, whether in athletics, the military, or any field. Stay anchored to your "why"—it fuels resilience during transitions and tough times.

◼ Work Smart, Not Just Hard: Grit is important, but so is self-awareness. There’s a time for perseverance and a time to pivot—balance ambition with well-being, and don’t be afraid to adjust course when it serves your bigger purpose.

◼ Commit to Service: The measure of a life is in its service to others. Whether you're leading a team, raising a family, or working with special needs students (shout-out to all the educators and military spouses), meaningful impact comes from showing up for people around you.

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Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Common connections

06:59 Figuring out next career steps

18:38 Finding clarity and growth

23:44 Building a culture of excellence

29:18 Understanding mental fitness components

34:03 Discussing Ryan Leaf's NFL career

40:53 Finding balance in perseverance

42:58 Learning from personal setbacks

48:55 Deciding on career sacrifices

54:59 Reflecting on personal growth

01:01:48 Recognizing an inspiring ambassador

01:06:09 Billboard Message and more

Transcript

Andy Riise (Reece) is an Army Veteran, West Point graduate, and former Army football fullback with 20+ years leading Soldiers in combat, earning two Bronze Stars. 

A pioneer in military mental fitness, he helped launch resilience programs and later coached MLB and NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears. 

With advanced training in sport and performance psychology, he now works with leaders across business, healthcare, and athletics. 

He’s a bestselling co-author, adjunct professor, and founder of Design to Perform, known for blending behavioral science, leadership experience, and practical tools to help people perform under pressure.

-

Quick Episode Summary:

Andy Riise discusses mental fitness, leadership, resilience, and personal growth.

-

🌟 Torch Takeaways Include:

Andy shares hard-earned lessons on:

◼ Build on Character, Not Just Results: Your identity and values are the foundation for success, whether in athletics, the military, or any field. Stay anchored to your "why"—it fuels resilience during transitions and tough times.

◼ Work Smart, Not Just Hard: Grit is important, but so is self-awareness. There’s a time for perseverance and a time to pivot—balance ambition with well-being, and don’t be afraid to adjust course when it serves your bigger purpose.

◼ Commit to Service: The measure of a life is in its service to others. Whether you're leading a team, raising a family, or working with special needs students (shout-out to all the educators and military spouses), meaningful impact comes from showing up for people around you.

-

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Common connections

06:59 Figuring out next career steps

18:38 Finding clarity and growth

23:44 Building a culture of excellence

29:18 Understanding mental fitness components

34:03 Discussing Ryan Leaf's NFL career

40:53 Finding balance in perseverance

42:58 Learning from personal setbacks

48:55 Deciding on career sacrifices

54:59 Reflecting on personal growth

01:01:48 Recognizing an inspiring ambassador

01:06:09 Billboard Message and more

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Andy's Resources:

◼ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyriise/ 

◼ Website: https://designtoperform.org/ 

◼ Skull Sessions Podcast: https://www.skullsessionspodcast.com/ 

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Episode Mentions:

COLONEL Louis Csoka

Jon Macaskill

Jason Van Camp

Scott Swanson

Pete Rose

Billy Madison

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Quote to open episode:

“If peeing in your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.” – Billy Madison

“Measure of a life is in service to others”

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🎙️ Full Podcast Summary - Passing The Torch featuring Andy Riise

This episode of Passing The Torch features Andy Riise, an Army veteran, West Point graduate, former Army football fullback, mental performance coach, and founder of Design to Perform. The conversation centers around themes of mental fitness, leadership, personal identity, and transitioning from military to civilian and entrepreneurial life.

Episode Highlights:

Career Journeys & Transition

• Andy Riise discusses his transition from the military, reflections on his service, and how his purpose evolved beyond uniformed service to include keynote speaking, coaching, and teaching (05:20, 07:19).
• Both speakers reflect on the challenges of finding clarity and purpose after retirement, emphasizing the importance of continual growth and experimentation.

Mental Fitness & Performance

• Andy Riise outlines his “arena mastery” model, emphasizing the foundational role of character and identity before advancing to his “Four Cs” of mental toughness: Control, Confidence, Commitment, and Challenge (24:04, 26:19).
• He highlights the similarities between military personnel and elite athletes, particularly regarding identity issues during transitions.

The Role of Grit and Balance

• The limitations of grit are discussed; Andy Riise challenges the cultural glorification of "just work harder" and stresses the importance of adaptability, reflection, and balance, especially regarding work, life, and family (39:50).
• He advocates for work-life integration over rigid balance and prioritizing family and personal values over pure career ambition (45:43).

Lessons from Failure and Growth

• Andy Riise candidly shares how he often fails to live up to his own teachings but uses reflection and recalibration to stay aligned with his values. He recounts learning from personal and moral challenges, using reflection tools borrowed from figures like Benjamin Franklin (42:38).

Mental Coaching for Athletes

• The episode features a hypothetical discussion about how Andy Riise would coach different types of NFL quarterbacks, including Kurt Warner, Kellen Mond, and Ryan Leaf, illustrating the need for tailored approaches depending on an individual's background, journey, and mindset (32:23).
• The importance of plan B, humility, and pivoting when necessary is emphasized.

Community & Legacy

• Andy Riise emphasizes the significance of service, both in uniform and out, and the value of legacy through service to others (01:14:19).
• He credits much of his work and inspiration to his wife, a special education teacher, highlighting the parallels in resilience and advocacy between education, athletics, and military service (20:23).

Fun & Personality

• The episode includes lighthearted segments: rapid-fire “name game,” stories about mutual connections, sports fandom, and sharing personal heroes and memorabilia, adding warmth and relatability throughout.

Key Takeaways

• Identity before performance: Knowing who you are is more important than what you do.
• Mental fitness is a skill set: It can be developed through intentional practice using proven frameworks.
• Grit has limits: Sometimes pivoting or quitting is a rational, healthy choice.
• Reflection is critical: Regularly reviewing one’s actions against personal values leads to growth.
• Service is a guiding star: Leadership and legacy are measured by impact on others, not just personal achievements.

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I appreciate all of you. - MF