LOW-KEY CONVERSATIONS ON HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIVING

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Kick back, pour yourself a nice dram of whisky, and let’s settle you in for some low-key conversations on high-performance living. Wise Words & Whisky is for the entrepreneur, CEO, leader, executive, and business owner who’s dedicated to pushing themselves beyond their limits, but also needs a break from the hustle and grind.

Your host, Wylie McGraw, is a former star athlete, competitive bull rider, and 3-tour combat veteran, turned whisky enthusiast.  Here, Wylie distills down the behind-the-scenes work he’s been doing for over a decade with celebrities, pro athletes, millionaires, and billionaires alike, and helps you uncover how you can benefit from those insights and lessons learned along the way.  Accompanied by a stiff pour of premium whisky, Wylie and his guests are delivering new insights for better living, enhanced personal freedom, and how to attain peace with success.

REVIEWS

REVIEWS

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Celebrating my new podcast until December 2023!

Each month one lucky winner will receive:

A FREE bottle of The Balvenie Double Wood 12-year Single Malt, plus a Heavy Bottom Whisky Glass set, and a chance to appear as a guest on the show when you enter the giveaway below!

How to Exercise Your Emotions: Confronting The Weaknesses That Constrict Your Identity And Force You To Cope with Former Baywatch Actress, Activist & Vegan Proponent, Alexandra Paul

If you’re someone who feels that your environment and relationships are hindering your ability to honestly express who you are, learning how to confront them — along with the weaknesses they create — will undoubtedly free you from your constraints. Today with my guest, actress, activist, & health coach Alexandra Paul, we will discuss why most people end up suffering from mental and emotional weaknesses, how simply “coping” is not the answer, and what it takes to truly break free from the pain driven by a lack of authentic expression. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s a raw and vulnerable discussion. Our conversation touches on Alexandra’s own experience of how social constructs forced her to repress herself and why the avoidance of pain causes more of it, driving us into addictive behavior and further weakening our minds/bodies. Join us as we sip Monday vegan, non-alcoholic whiskey and delve into the insights that will give you permission to be honest with yourself about where your standards lie and how to use emotional discomfort as an ally for personal performance.

Wise Words from this episode:
Poisons in the environment — whether they be emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual — greatly affect how we express ourselves along with what emotions we carry. What in your own environment could be harming your well-being?

From Killer to Healer: Lethal Sniper Addresses PTSD and How We Can Stop It For Ourselves with Retired Navy SEAL, William Branum

If you’re the type of person who’s constantly grinding, who never slows down to take a break or take care of yourself, actively changing this combative nature into natural motivation will undoubtedly ease your mind and improve your performance. Today with my guest, retired Navy SEAL sniper William Branum, we will discuss the mindset of rigidity and weakness versus that of bravery and vulnerability when it comes to seeking help, and why success heavily depends on which path you take. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s fundamentally truthful. Our conversation touches on William’s experience of PTSD, how it can be sparked by any abrupt life change (rather than just from combat), and why seeking natural, unconventional methods of recovery makes you a better “fighter” in life. Join us as we sip The Ardbeg Wee Beastie NEAT and delve into the insights you need to push beyond your limitations for a healthier, happier way of being.

Wise Words from this episode:
For better or worse, everything comes to an end. These transition points can be remarkably difficult to process (especially for high performers) and can contribute to PTSD in varying degrees, so don’t feel “bad” if you’re struggling more than usual.

Caffeinating Your Relationships: Creating Stimulating Storylines Into Everyday Life with Professional Screenwriter and Award- Winning Publicity Strategist, Melissa Cassera

If you’re the type of person who feels life is not as animated as you want it to be, embracing your passions and obsessions head-on despite societal expectations is key. Not only will it help make your day-to-day life more exciting, it will also ultimately push you towards personal growth, allowing you to unlock the multi-dimensional version of yourself. Today with my guest, professional screenwriter & award-winning publicist Melissa Cassera, we’ll touch on the mindset and character truths that can - and will -“caffeinate” your inner creativity for a more enjoyable personal and professional life. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s quite the story. Our conversation explores how Melissa challenges the one-dimensional notion of separating the personal from the professional and proves that conforming to what others define us to be is one of the biggest mistakes we can ever make. Join us as we sip the classic Jameson Cold Brew Whiskey NEAT and dig into the insights you need to know to guide yourself towards a life filled with passion and satisfaction.

Wise Words from this episode:
Think of yourself like a movie or television character when it comes to your business. Are you showing up as a flat, one-dimensional version of yourself; are you playing a supporting role in your own life? If so, this is likely the source of your boredom!

Purging The Toxic Ego: How Holistic Bodywork Forced Me to ‘Get My Mind Right’ and Surrender To My Real Purpose with International Athletic Performance Coach, Todd Durkin

If you’re a professional facing a life-altering situation and feel it’s steadily draining the passion from your soul, rest assured this is an opportunity not a detriment - a chance to surrender to pain and explore where it’s meant to take you. Today, with my guest international athletic coach & Under Armour training advisor Todd Durkin, I’ll demonstrate just this with a story, one where extreme vomiting during recovery forced him, an injured NFL hopeful, into the unknowns and onto a new path that would shape his wildly successful career all while changing the lives of millions. Our conversation will reveal how Todd’s mindset was transformed from rigid selfishness to the service of others and why it was the holistic healing work he did after nearly becoming paralyzed that finally ‘got his mind right.’ Join us as we sip the Kilbrin 10 Irish Whiskey NEAT and delve into a few insights that will assist you with finding a life of selfless purpose and satisfaction with success.

Wise Words from this episode:
It’s undoubtedly cliched but it’s also accurate: true change can only come from within. You have to want it-and be willing to put in the time and emotional labor-to see a real shift in who you are or how you act.

Murder Made Me a Better Mother: Hope for Those Parenting in Pain, with Gold Star Widow & Best-Selling Author, Barbara Allen

For the parents out there, who struggle under immense stress and feel like you just cannot catch a break, I’ve got a story here that will show you just how strong you are no matter what you face, and why the love you have for your children is the source of this strength. Today we hear about a story where a husband murdered in Iraq radically transformed a woman in fear into a fearless mother, with my guest, Gold Star Widow and Award-Winning Author, Barbara Allen. And I’ll tell you it’s full of intense ups and downs. Our conversation reveals how Barbara was forced to face her deepest fears after losing her husband and why her faith allowed her to find resilience, courage, and success even in her darkest moments. She used this hope to become a beacon for others to build a better life no matter the odds. Join us as we sip The Redbreast 12 NEAT and dig into the insights that can inspire new ways of facing and overcoming your life’s challenges as a parent.

Wise Words from this episode:
When parenting in pain, you must insist on getting the help you need. You cannot let your ego override the insistence of assistance. Pride in the face of possible failure leads to blind spots in problem solving and attention to detail.

The Winning End Of A Strikeout: Using Faith To Discover The Futility Of Tying Our Identity To A Dream with Former MLB Pitcher, Josh Kalinowski

To those of you who strive to achieve your dreams at all costs but feel like your life is over the moment you even slightly fail, it’s time to reevaluate what your purpose might actually be. Today, with the support of my guest, CEO of Man-Made Josh Kalinowski, I’m bringing you a story about why tying who you are to what you do might actively cause you to experience more failures and less successes. Our conversation unveils how Josh’s professional baseball career abruptly collapsed and left him feeling lost. It was in those dark moments he discovered his faith, and his calling to help other men discover who they were meant to be as well. Join us as we sip Whistle Pig Small Batch Rye NEAT and delve into the insights you need to better get to know yourself and what you’re meant to do during your time on this planet.

Wise Words from this episode:
When life throws you a curve ball, are you leaning on your faith and taking ownership of what it provides you in these pivotal moments? Do you even know what to put your faith in? If not, throw yourself into the discovery process of what's meaningful.

Confined In the Abyss: The Leadership Philosophies Of A Cold War Nuclear Submarine Officer, with Jon Rennie

For those of you who have ever felt constricted by your leadership abilities, this conversation might be just what you need to discover strength where you’ve only ever seen limitations. Today, with the help of my guest, CEO of Peak Demand Inc. Jon Rennie, I’ll bring you into a world where confinement gave birth to tighter team function and optimal leadership. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s pretty enlightening. Our conversation reveals how Jon’s humble beginnings molded his teamwork spirit, turning him into a successful Cold War Naval Officer who thrived in small spaces under immense pressure, and later, a businessman capable of running several successful companies. Join us as we sip The Old Forester Original Batch NEAT and dig into the insights that can help you develop a more successful, sustainable leadership style, regardless of what restrictions you may find yourself encountering.

Wise Words from this episode:
To what degree has your ego infiltrated your leadership and management style? Can you even tell? If you’re struggling to pin this down, objectively look at how you react to feedback from subordinates - it’s a great measuring tool!

Readying for Retirement at 30: Dumping The Gen Z Attitude for Gen X Success, with Alex Chrusciel

To those of you who are younger corporate leaders or entrepreneurs that want more freedom within your challenging career, just know it’s going to require altering your mindset, attitude, and priorities to accomplish this goal. Today, with the help of my guest, Business Systems and Analytics Manager Alex Chrusciel, I’ll share the very principles that transform the limiting beliefs of FOMO and YOLO into sustainable, long-term success. Trust me, though, it’s not as hard as you might think - at least, as long as you’re willing to play the long game. Our conversation uncovers how Alex hit a point in his life where he felt stuck going through the motions, remorseful of where he’d ended up, and how that drove him to find the growth he craved. Join us as we sip The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 with a SPLASH of water and dig into the insights you need to know to propel yourself towards even your loftiest, most ambitious of goals and within a shorter period of time than you’d ever expect.

Wise Words from this episode:
It’s no secret that adulting can suck. But committing to it - prioritizing your personal growth, professional development, work, and play - is the only way to level-up your life in a holistic, balanced way.

Street Doctors: Relentless Commitment to Chaos with Paramedic, Tylor Gilbert

If you’re the type of high achiever who runs towards life’s most arduous moments, that means your leadership is innate - you’ve been blessed with the ability to thrive in any environment. Today, together with my guest, Paramedic Tylor Gilbert, I’ll be introducing you how his selfless mindset relentlessly focused on service to others has ultimately allowed him to experience a more optimal, fulfilling lifestyle. I’ll tell you right now, it’s respectable and refreshing to see. Our conversation uncovers how Tylor innately knew being fulfilled in life would only be possible through the pursuit of caring for others in their darkest moments, further demonstrating that commitment and care really does make the world a better place. Join us as we sip The Glendronach Original 12 with a SPLASH of water and dig into the insights that’ll show you just how relentless altruism can empower the lives of others while completely changing your own.

Wise Words from this episode:
“If not me, then who?” Sometimes it takes this type of mindset to push you into the situations or environments necessary to break down limiting beliefs and break through personal barriers.

Successful Failure: Getting Fired From Selling Hair Plugs Made Me A Great Podcaster with Brand Architect, Jason Cercone

To those of you who’ve been suddenly and surprisingly forced to take a different path in life, here’s an opportunity to see this change as the right step towards the life you’re meant to build. Today, with the help of my guest, Evolution of Brand Founder Jason Cercone, I’ll share a story where a successful corporate job abruptly ends only to positively transform a side hustle passion. And I’ll tell you right now; it should resonate with you. Our conversation uncovers how Jason’s mindset, emotions, and attitude allowed him to quickly adapt to the shock of suddenly losing a job he was thriving in, and, in turn, unveil where he was meant to channel his entrepreneurial spirit. Join us as we sip the Glendronach Original 12 NEAT and dig into the insights you need to know to prepare yourself for the winds of change you’ll undoubtedly face on your quest for ultimate satisfaction and success.

Wise Words from this episode:
You’ll never know how to best take the next step until you’re good with fucking up the one before it.

Suicide is a Laughing Matter: Why Mental Health Disorders are a Gift with Comedian, Frank King

To those of you who want a more rewarding life but have been told the way in which you think is “not normal”, it’s time for you to discover there’s another side of mental health — one that can help you achieve your goals. Today, with the help of former Tonight Show Writer Frank King, I share a story where thoughts of suicide actually ended up being more of a blessing and less of a curse, fueling a fearless desire to show the world how mental health issues can actually be valuable and not just detrimental. Our conversation uncovers how Frank embraced his inherited thoughts of suicide as a gift and used his innate comedic genius to not only create a successful, fulfilling life for himself, but also teach others like him how they can do it for themselves. Join us as we sip The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 NEAT and dig into the insights that might just help alter your mindset enough to take bigger risks and finally live like you’ve got nothing to lose.

Wise Words from this episode:
What if a mental illness is not a genetic mutation but an amazing evolutionary adaptation? What if it’s actually mental ableness your peers cannot touch?

4-Year-Old Face Plant: A Life-altering Rodeo Experience Determined My Path to Success with “Mr. YouTube”, David Walsh

If you’re the type of high achiever who wants to blow past your own limits, embracing fear is the only way to accomplish this feat. Today, with the help of my guest, YouTube Marketing Expert David Walsh, I’ll be introducing you to an intense challenge and how this type of experience activates deeper potential. And I’ll tell you; it involves blood, sweat, and - not tears - but laughter. Our conversation uncovers how David realized charging toward challenges and opportunities for the experience rather than the result is where the magic lies in shattering personal limits. Join us as we sip the classic Jameson Irish Whiskey NEAT and dig into the insights you need to know to guide yourself through the right unknowns for higher levels of success.

Wise Words from this episode:
Think back to all the childlike, fearless pursuits you once chased after. What did you step towards without fear or consideration of consequence, and how does that compare to what you’re doing now?

How Walking into Flames Kept Me from Burnout: Life Lessons from Former Hotshot Firefighter, Scott Mulvaney

For those of you who want satisfaction with your success, it’s imperative to know who you are, what you stand for, and the type of environment you require to keep your energy consistently elevated. Today I’m exposing the type of standards and values that make this all possible with my guest, LIVETHEFUEL Founder, Scott W. Mulvaney. And I’ll tell you they’re simple, but very demanding. Our conversation uncovers Scott’s secret to an endless fuel source that he channels into his very successful health, business, and lifestyle brand. Join us as we sip The Balvenie Doublewood 12 ON THE ROCKS and dig into the insights you need to know about so you can tap into your own endless energy source.

Wise Words from this episode:
Conveniences are the natural enemy to high performance. Eliminate most of them and you’ll be amazed at how you rise to the occasion.

Aging in Reverse: The Secrets of Staying Youthful in Extremely Stressful Situations, with Greg Krino

To those of you in positions of high responsibility, I know you often find yourself stressed out, which can leave you feeling - and even looking - older than you really are. Today, with some help from my guest and former Air Force A10 Fighter Pilot, Greg Krino, I’ll be letting you in on certain “secrets” that can help you reverse this aging process. And I’ll tell you; it’s not what you expect. Our conversation uncovers how Greg is able to look so young for his age despite working not one but three of the most stressful jobs in the world. Join us as we sip The Balvenie Doublewood 12 NEAT and dig into the insights that can spark a little more youthfulness into your own life.

Wise Words from this episode:
Recognize that the tendency to want to “win” and “dominate” at all costs means you’re likely covering up some sort of personal inadequacy that’s hampering your personal power. You need to address this head on.

A Choice in Death: How Carrying My Mother’s Dead Body Forced Me to Find Purpose, with Jeff Wickersham

If you’re someone who wants to live as your best self, you should know that it requires intense, challenging, often scary experiences to discover what it takes to achieve this state. Today, I share a story that echoes this truth – one where a moment of facing death unleashed a renewed sense of leadership, purpose, and success in my guest, Peak Performance Coach Jeff Wickersham. And I’ll tell you; it’s pretty heavy and revealing. Our conversation uncovers the arduous choice Jeff was forced to make with his mother’s death, ultimately igniting his fire for life and giving him a newfound purpose. Join us as we sip The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 with a SPLASH of water and dig into the insights you need to know to spark more purpose and passion in your own life.

Wise Words from this episode:
Learning something without putting it into practice isn’t personal growth, it’s wasted time.

©2024 Wylie McGraw, Inc., All rights reserved.

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