“I think suffering and tragedy is unbearable without community.” – Brandon Moffitt

In this powerful episode, Andrew sits down with Brandon Moffitt, executive director and co-founder of Black Mountain Academy—a therapeutic boarding school for neurodiverse boys—to reflect on the impact of Hurricane Helene. They discuss the chaos and shock of the storm’s immediate aftermath, how the local community rallied together, and the profound human connection that emerged from the tragedy. Brandon shares how the students and staff at BMA were affected and how moments of crisis can reveal the strength of relationships and the beauty of collective care.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book — LAUNCH: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Navigating Life, and Thriving: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: https://octagonmentoring.com/

PureLife Adventure: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/

Black Mountain Academy: https://theblackmountainacademy.com/

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Faith and Andrew dive into some exciting initiatives at PureLife, focusing on the fascinating concept of somatic therapy and interoception—the body’s ability to sense its internal state. They explore how tuning into signals like your heartbeat, breathing patterns, and muscle tension can lead to powerful improvements in both physical and mental health. It’s like a full-body check-in, helping people learn how to release tension and reconnect with themselves.

They also discuss the growing challenge Gen Z faces with sedentary, screen-heavy lifestyles, and how nature-based and adventure therapy can be part of the solution. Faith shares compelling research showing how these therapies enhance a person’s sense of agency over their body—boosting self-esteem, self-belief, and overall well-being.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Navigating Life, and Thriving: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: https://octagonmentoring.com/

PureLife Adventure: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/

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When students struggle to finish high school or feel stuck in college, it’s easy to lose hope, withdraw, and give up. But what if there were other paths forward? Today, Andrew is joined by his friend and business partner Allan Capp to talk about their unique adventure therapy program, PureLife Adventure Costa Rica. Allan is passionate about helping young people who haven’t quite fit into the traditional education system - something he relates to personally.

In this episode, Andrew and Allan discuss how schools are increasingly supportive of gap semester and gap year programs like PureLife, which allow students to earn the credits they need to graduate while also surfing, living without personal electronics, and building community with peers who’ve faced similar challenges. This conversation highlights not only the incredible experiences offered at PureLife Adventure Costa Rica but also brings hope to students and parents alike: success doesn’t always come from a traditional classroom. There are other ways forward.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

PureLife Adventure: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/

Meet Allan Capp: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/about-us/team/

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What are the unique difficulties facing Gen-Z today - and how do we meet them where they’re at and offer a helping hand? Meet Hayley Caddes and Colin McDonald of Not Therapy Coaching, former “troubled teens” who both went through wilderness therapy programs, attended therapeutic boarding schools, and, ultimately, have been where a lot of Gen-Z teens now find themselves. Together, Andrew, Hayley, and Colin shed light on the fears and roadblocks impacting Gen-Z today and some best practices for guiding and encouraging them through the tumultuous years of growing up. With great compassion and insight, this conversation is a beacon for parents and caregivers raising today’s youth.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Not Therapy Website: https://www.nottherapy.me/

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Today, Andrew welcomes developmental psychologist Sarah McMillan to discuss “mattering”. Don’t worry, this isn’t some fancy quantum mechanics term - it’s actually a simple concept that has been around for centuries: ‘Mattering is about how we treat ourselves and how we treat each other.’ This may seem like common sense for most of us but as research is showing, young people today are more isolated than ever and their lack of communal interaction is deeply affecting their sense of worth, value, and identity - essentially the idea that they “matter”. This is a profoundly eye-opening conversation and we recommend bookmarking for future replays.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Contact Sarah McMillan: sarah@mcmillaneducation.com

Books Mentioned:

Never Enough by Jennifer B. Wallace: https://www.jenniferbwallace.com/about-never-enough

The Mattering Movement: https://www.thematteringmovement.com/

The Psychology of Mattering by Gordon Flett: https://a.co/d/84SuB8o

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://a.co/d/93GNsVA

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Today, Andrew is joined by Autism expert Dr. Andrew Rubin. Dr. Rubin, who earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology, is the founder of the International Society for Autism (ISAresearch.org) and the CEO of New Directions for Young Adults. In this conversation, Andrew and Dr. Rubin explore his dedicated work with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and the impactful ways his nonprofit empowers young adults to gain independence, build fulfilling careers, and develop meaningful relationships.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

More about Dr. Andrew Rubin: https://ndfya.com/staff/andrew-s-rubin-ph-d/

New Directions for Young Adults: https://ndfya.com/

International Society for Autism: https://internationalsocietyforautism.org/

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Today, Andrew is joined again by his long-time friend and Mental Performance Coach Riley Jensen to discuss the hot-button topic of toxic masculinity and, ultimately, what it means to be a man today. From observations on parenting styles in different generations to understanding and expressing emotional authenticity, Andrew and Riley offer great insights into healthy, passionate manhood for today’s society.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Riley Jensen | RJ Performance Group: https://rjpg.net/meet-riley

Pure Unadulterated Guts by Riley Jensen: https://a.co/d/8yPEJF9

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Today, Andrew is joined again by his long-term friend and Mental Performance Coach Riley Jensen to discuss the power and importance of body language. Contrary to being an old wives tale, how we stand, hold our heads, and present ourselves has a measurable impact on our well-being - and performance. This conversation is a great reminder to check in on ourselves and ask “How am I holding myself - and is this serving me in a positive way?”.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Riley Jensen | RJ Performance Group: https://rjpg.net/meet-riley

Pure Unadulterated Guts by Riley Jensen: https://a.co/d/8yPEJF9

Amy Cuddy TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?subtitle=en

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