I'm very proud and honored to offer this next podcast to our followers, friends, and family. The show was recorded back in October 2025 at George's workout facility, "The Barn," outside of Nashville. With Emma in South Korea having a baby, and me not being great with the technical side of things, it's been sitting around for a while. But it's a truly special episode because of the person who was gracious enough to sit down with me for a couple of hours.

Casey Beathard is father to CJ, who was George's quarterback at the University of Iowa. They were freshmen together, and in 2017 both were drafted by the San Francisco 49ers — that's how we first got to know CJ and his family, including Casey.

At the time, I had no idea he was a Hall of Fame songwriter with a list of number-one hits that anyone would envy. In the show, we cover the many awards he's won over the years. But even more impressive than the accolades is how he got his start in the business, his work ethic, his incredible resilience, and — most of all — his steadfast love in the face of very difficult and painful situations.

In this episode, we followed the three core elements of the work we do at Hidden Pearls Studio: (1) Navigating Transition, (2) Pathways to Healing, and (3) Pursuing Optimal Performance. Casey's stories around each of these topics are powerful, shared with grace, love, and a deep faith that grounds him in everything he does.

As you listen, you'll hear about the obstacles he faced and the sacrifices he and his family made navigating life's transitions. He speaks powerfully about loss and grief, and the role healing has played in his life. And of course, we talk about the success he's had, how he got there, and what it took to navigate it all with grace and love.

I encourage you to listen with an open heart — be ready to be moved, touched, and inspired. Thank you, Casey, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to be with us on this journey of life.

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If you're interested in any of the movement, meditation, or mindfulness practices discussed on the show, please join us on Hidden Pearls Studio for less than $0.30 / day. hiddenpearlsstudio.com

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CONNECT WITH US
Hidden Pearls Studio IG - @hiddenpearls.studio
Hidden Pearls Podcast IG - @hiddenpearlspodcast
Bruce Kittle IG - @coachkittle61
Emma Kittle Ponce IG - @emmakittleponce
Emma Kittle Ponce Youtube @EmmaKittlePonce
George Kittle IG - @gkittle


#hiddenpearls #hiddenpearlspodcast #hiddenpearlsstudio #hpp #hps #kittle #georgekittle #kittlefoundations #ponce #폰세

Welcome to another very special HPP edition, also recorded at The Barn — this one back in August 2025. Yes, it's also been a little delayed in getting pushed out, but I promise it's worth the wait.

In this show, we welcome Nick Lavery to the podcast. I first met Nick at our 2025 gathering of tight ends at TEU in June, where he addressed our group. Nick's energy and message were truly inspiring and offered all of us great insight on mindset and performance.

Nick's story and perspective on life are grounded in action and intention, built on hard-earned, lived-through lessons on success, resilience, and courage — all approached with a peak-performance mindset.

Nick's resume is extensive, and we cover it in the show, but some highlights are worth noting:

Nick is a Chief Warrant Officer 2 and an active-duty member of the United States Army Special Forces (The Green Berets). He is the first Special Forces operator to return to full active-duty combat deployment as an above-the-knee amputee. Injured in 2013, after two years of surgeries, prosthetic fittings, and grueling field training, he returned to his unit and back into full combat settings.

He is also the first amputee in military history to complete: (1) the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification course, (2) the Special Operations Combatives Program Instructor course, and (3) the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification course.

Nick's awards include the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and many others. He is a warrior's warrior, a proven leader, and the author of Objective Secure: The Battle-Tested Guide to Goal Achievement. He's also an inspiring speaker with a group of veterans doing leadership and mindset training known as Precision Components, a spokesperson for Pillars of Valor Coffee, and — above all — a husband and father to two boys.

This episode follows how Nick's life intersects with the three components of our work at HPS: (1) Navigating Transitions, (2) Finding Healing, and (3) Achieving Peak/Optimal Performance. His story across all three is a textbook study in mindset, resilience, courage, loyalty, and love.

He shares his transition from college football, growing to 6'5" and 250 lbs by the time he reported for service; his sense of wasting his life and making some poor decisions while working as a VIP security guard after college; and eventually seeking a higher calling with purpose and intention. And he found it.

He shares his stories of training for the Special Forces, his deployments, and the insider ambush attack on the U.S. military compound where he was stationed — which resulted in the deaths of U.S. service members and his own injuries, ultimately costing him his leg. This led to more transitions, more healing, and eventually more optimal performance. It's also a blueprint for developing your own mindset: how he accomplished the recovery and training that led to his approval and assignment back to full active duty — something no one with his injuries had ever done before.

Give this a listen and expect inspiration, challenge, shock and awe, and deep admiration for another hero in uniform with the Special Forces. Thank you, Nick, for sitting down with me.

https://mchn.co/

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If you're interested in any of the movement, meditation, or mindfulness practices discussed on the show, please join us on Hidden Pearls Studio for less than $0.30 / day. hiddenpearlsstudio.com

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CONNECT WITH US
Hidden Pearls Studio IG - @hiddenpearls.studio
Hidden Pearls Podcast IG - @hiddenpearlspodcast
Bruce Kittle IG - @coachkittle61
Emma Kittle Ponce IG - @emmakittleponce
Emma Kittle Ponce Youtube @EmmaKittlePonce
George Kittle IG - @gkittle


#hiddenpearls #hiddenpearlspodcast #hiddenpearlsstudio #hpp #hps #kittle #georgekittle #kittlefoundations #ponce #폰세

Jake Owens has done about everything someone in the music industry can do – a 20 year industry pro, he has multiple gold and platinum records, along with 10 #1 singles, and has seen his songs streamed more than three billion times! Jake was open and engaging as we discussed (with George on from California!) life transitions, finding healing, and achieving peak performance.

At 44 years old he is continuing to evolve and works at accepting his authentic self, whoever that is now! For him one of the metaphors of life that transcend the sport is golf. A great golfer in his own right, he explains his life philosophy with a story about an approach to a green with a dog leg and a large water hazard. The safe way is to hit alongside the water, although that will require at least one extra shot for sure. He says no way – GRAB THE 3 WOOD, HIT OVER THE WATER & GO FOR THE GREEN! Never play it safe and lay it up! He talks about grabbing his 3 wood over and over in life, taking risks and always going for the green! Life is about proving it to yourself, not others. Did I step up and give it my best? That is his search.

And that is what he is doing with his new album “Dreams to Dream”. Trying some new things. Recorded in LA, with a new sound and a new producer, and self-released. Evolving, accepting himself for where and who he is at this stage in his life, and exciting about taking some risks to see what is true and alive for him right now.

He shares his life as a single dad and living as a person in recovery/sobriety. Lessons learned and​ more life to be lived.

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If you're interested in any of the movement, meditation, or mindfulness practices discussed on the show, please join us on Hidden Pearls Studio for less than $0.30 / day. hiddenpearlsstudio.com

---
CONNECT WITH US
Hidden Pearls Studio IG - @hiddenpearls.studio
Hidden Pearls Podcast IG - @hiddenpearlspodcast
Bruce Kittle IG - @coachkittle61
Emma Kittle Ponce IG - @emmakittleponce
Emma Kittle Ponce Youtube @EmmaKittlePonce
George Kittle IG - @gkittle


#hiddenpearls #hiddenpearlspodcast #hiddenpearlsstudio #hpp #hps #kittle #georgekittle #kittlefoundations #ponce #폰세