In this episode, I sit down with Colonel Steve Luxion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a 34-year veteran with more than 2,500 flight hours, 700 combat hours, and a career that spans the F 111 Aardvark, the Navy’s F 14 Tomcat, the EA 6B Prowler, and the early MQ 1B Predator program. Steve has led at every level — from squadrons to NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence and brings a rare combination of combat experience, strategic leadership, and humility. We talk about what mental toughness really looks like in life-or-death environments, how individuals can better manage fear and focus, and why emotional control is the foundation of great leadership. Steve breaks down the inner arena of decision making under pressure, the habits that keep pilots steady, and the lessons anyone — athletes, leaders, parents, and performers — can use to stay composed when it matters most.

Key Topics:

Military leadership and combat experience

Development of confidence and emotional intelligence

The role of challenge and grit in high-pressure situations

Sound Bites:

"Confidence comes from training and preparation"

"Articulate the mission and its importance"

"Grit and making a difference are key to success"

About the Guest:

Colonel (USAF-Retired) Stephen P. Luxion is the Principal in Luxion Consulting LLC, providing advisory services across a broad span of expertise gained across multiple careers. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Senior Advisor to defense and public service industries, and officiates all levels of lacrosse. Lux served as Executive Director of ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence) led by Mississippi State University. Steve was responsible for leading the alliance of 35 of the world’s leading research universities and its industry partners. ASSURE is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), providing the FAA a wide-ranging UAS research portfolio and conducts specific research to help inform and address the key challenges to safely and efficiently integrating UAS into the National Airspace System. ASSURE also leverages its expertise, experience, and knowledge to serve others outside the FAA including current research for NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).

Lux is a 34-year US Air Force veteran with over 2,500 hours flying time in the F-111 Aardvark, MQ-1B Predator UAV; and the F-14A Tomcat and EA-6B Prowler while on exchange with the US Navy; including 700 hours combat time in operations over Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. For his combat efforts, Colonel Luxion was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, 4 Air Medals, and 7 Aerial Achievement Medals. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984. He was a four-year letterman in lacrosse and was named as an All-Conference midfielder his senior year. Colonel Luxion commanded at the squadron, group and center levels and helped lead the establishment of NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence.

Colonel Luxion is a distinguished graduate of both the USAF Fighter Weapons School and Air Command and Staff College. He is also a graduate of four Master-Degree programs from Embry-Riddle (MBA-Finance & Master Aeronautical Science), the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (Master of Air & Space Power), and the National War College (Master of Science in National Security Policy).

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL.. James is trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

For 10 years the USA Today High School Sports Awards has been celebrating the best student athletes across the country and right here in Volusia and Flagler Counties the Daytona Beach edition has become one of the most anticipated events of the year.

This episode we sit down with Chris Vinel, sports editor with USA Today and the Daytona Beach News-Journal, to talk about what makes this event so special and why it continues to grow year after year. We dive into how student athletes are selected, what the nomination and voting process looks like, and what it means for a young athlete in our community to be recognized on this kind of stage. Chris also shares some of the most memorable moments from this years effort of putting this event together and what it truly means to celebrate these kids and the hard work they put in every single day. This is more than just an awards show.

It is a celebration of excellence, character, and the future of sports in our community. If you have a student athlete, coach, parent or fan in Volusia or Flagler County this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Key Topics:

Selection process for finalists and winners

Community impact of high school sports

Memorable moments from recent awards Role of sports in community pride

Sound Bites:

"It's our version of the Grammys or the Espy's."

"Follow us on social media for the latest updates."

"Baseball was the sport I was halfway decent at."

About the Guest & the High School Sports Awards:

Chris Vinel is the Sports Editor for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and USA Today, where he has built a reputation as one of the most connected voices in local and regional sports coverage. A Miami University graduate with degrees in Journalism and Sports Leadership and Management, Chris covers 25 high schools, four colleges, and the Daytona Tortugas while also producing feature stories, breaking news, and in-depth analysis for both the News-Journal and USA Today. His work has been featured across major platforms including Sports Illustrated, Golfweek, and Yahoo Sports. Chris also co-hosts a weekly video series during high school football season and is the driving force behind the Volusia-Flagler Athlete of the Week program, which shines a much-deserved spotlight on the incredible student athletes in our community. He is also one of the key organizers behind the USA Today High School Sports Awards here in Daytona Beach, now in its 10th year.

The USA Today High School Sports Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious high school athletic recognition programs in the country. Produced by the USA TODAY Network, the program celebrates standout student athletes, coaches, and teams across hundreds of communities nationwide. Each local edition runs as a nine-month program that tracks and highlights nominees throughout every sports season before culminating in a premier live awards show where winners are revealed and special honors are presented. This episode focuses on the Volusia-Flagler (Fl.) High School Sports Awards. Produced by the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the program shines a spotlight on the best athletes, coaches, and teams across Volusia and Flagler Counties.

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

Guest/Event Resources:

Tickets to Event: https://localiqevents.com/high-school-sports-awards-1

Websites:

www.news-journalonline.com Website:

www.USAToday.com

Instagram: @Chris_Vinel

What does it take to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days? In this episode, endurance athlete Matt Parker takes us inside his incredible journey through the 2026 World Marathon Challenge — one of the most grueling tests of physical and mental endurance on the planet. Matt shares the mental toughness strategies that carried him through not just the miles, but the exhaustion of traveling massive distances between continents every single day. We dig into the power of goal setting, the role of commitment and confidence when your body is breaking down, and how focus becomes your greatest weapon when everything around you is chaos.

Beyond the finish lines, Matt is running for something bigger. He raised over $40,000 for his charity of choice, The Chase Academy in Daytona Beach — a non-profit dedicated to meeting the individual needs of students with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders within a welcoming, secure environment. Founded in 2006, The Chase Academy was built by concerned parents, educational professionals, and volunteers committed to providing a school experience designed for students who may be uncomfortable in a traditional school setting. Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a goal that feels impossible, Matt's story will challenge you to raise your standards, embrace the struggle, and keep moving forward.

Key Topics:

Mental toughness strategies for endurance athletes

The journey and challenges of the World Marathon Challenge

Goal setting and motivation in extreme sports

Physical and mental resilience in ultra marathons

Logistics and mindset for multi-day endurance events

Sound Bites:

"I'm addicted to running"

"This is what you signed up for"

"Set high expectations for yourself"

About the Guest:

Matt Parker is an endurance athlete, engineer, and community advocate who successfully completed the 2026 World Marathon Challenge, running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days to raise funds for The Chase Academy, a school for students with autism in South Daytona, Florida. At 61 years old, Parker brought decades of endurance experience into the challenge. Over the past 15 years, he has logged more than 15,000 miles, completed an Ironman, run two Boston Marathons, won the Spartan Ultra Beast age group world championship in Sweden, finished 9 marathons, 21 ultramarathons, three 100 mile races, and completed the UTMB CCC in Europe. He even ran a 100 mile ultra that spanned his 60th birthday, celebrating briefly at an aid station with family after midnight. Parker is also the inventor of the ICED CAP, a cooling hat designed for runners. Professionally, he is a Professional Engineer, private pilot, Georgia Tech graduate, and owner of an HVAC company. He is a husband, father, and grandfather whose athletic pursuits are matched by his commitment to giving back.

During the 2026 World Marathon Challenge, Parker completed all seven races across Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, and North America—totaling 183.4 miles in one week—while battling extreme weather swings, limited recovery time, and even a stomach virus circulating among competitors. His effort helped raise critical funds for The Chase Academy’s expansion.

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

Guest Resources:

Chase Academy - https://www.tcaofvolusia.org/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581697846087