Choose Hard with Cody McBroom

What does it take to earn the nickname "The Terminator" in the Special Forces? For Kevin Smith, it was squatting 450 lbs, deadlifting 550 lbs, and running seven 6-minute miles followed by an 8-mile ruck—all in a single four-hour window.
In this episode of Choose Hard, Cody McBroom sits down with Kevin "The Terminator" Smith, a former Special Forces Medical (18D) and Intelligence Sergeant (18F) turned online trainer. We dive deep into the reality of operating at an elite military level for 12 years and the "Identity Death" many veterans face when transitioning to entrepreneurship.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The "Terminator" Origin: The legendary feat of strength and endurance that earned Kevin his name.
- The Junk Volume Trap: Why "smoke sessions" and training until you puke are actually detrimental to tactical selection.
- Hybrid Training for Selection: How to balance the barbell and the pavement to become "hard to break" in high-stress environments.
- The "Land Nav" Mindset: How navigating a forest at night with a 60lb ruck translates to running a business and personal growth.
- Recovery as a Discipline: Re-wiring Type-A hard-chargers to realize that 8 hours of sleep is as productive as an extra 5-mile run.
- The Anti-Mediocrity Standard: Why society is moving away from "Hard" and the true cost of modern comfort.
- Whether you are preparing for SFAS, RASP, or simply looking to eliminate mediocrity from your own life, Kevin’s "no-BS" approach to training and psychology is a masterclass in Choosing Hard.
Follow Kevin on IG at https://www.instagram.com/terminator_training/ 
GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 
📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com

❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:
⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com
ℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:
⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}
⇨ https://www.tailored-coaching.com/mentorship-coaching {Mentorship w/ Cody}
📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:
⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com
🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:
⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 
💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):
https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD
🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:
- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ 
- APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ 

GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 
💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠
IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠
YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠
INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

In this high-velocity Round 2 Q&A, Cody McBroom is joined by Arielle DeYampert, Director of Coaching at Tailored Coaching Method, to answer 15 burning questions for online fitness and nutrition coaches. Putting 60 seconds on the clock for each topic, they move past the "fluff" to provide tactical, intuition-led answers derived from over a decade of industry experience.
From the psychological nuances of onboarding to the raw math of business scaling, this episode is a masterclass in professionalizing your online coaching practice.
In this episode, we dive into:
- The Onboarding Error: Why failing to set appropriate expectations is the number one mistake new coaches make.
- The Check-in Container: How to streamline weekly responses to 5–10 minutes while maintaining deep client connection.
- Reducing Churn: Why you should treat the client in front of you as if they are the only lead you will ever get.
- The "Coach’s Cap": A realistic look at how many clients one coach can handle (hint: it's between 50–60) before the service begins to downgrade.
- Sales Call Mastery: Why features don't sell—benefits and human connection do.
- Systemization vs. Customization: Using principles as your "templates" and methods for your individual tweaks.
- Knowing When to Hire: Why Cody believes you should experience burnout once to truly understand your capacity before delegating.
- The Proof of Concept: Why lack of transformations or social proof is the ultimate red flag in a coaching business. 
Whether you are trying to break past your first 10 clients or looking to automate your billing and administrative "dirt" to focus back on the craft, this episode provides the "Choose Hard" blueprint for your business growth.
- Submit Your Coaching Q&A: choosehardpodcast.com
- The Mentorship: Tailored Coaching Mentorship
- In-Person Mastermind (May 2026): Limited to 30 seats—https://www.tailored-coaching.com/tailored-live-mastermind 
- Follow the Podcast on IG: @choosehardpodcast

GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 
📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com

❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:
⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com
ℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:
⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}
⇨ https://www.tailored-coaching.com/mentorship-coaching {Mentorship w/ Cody}
📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:
⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com
🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:
⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 
💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):
https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD
🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:
- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ 
- APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ 

GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 
💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠
IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠
YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠
Resources & Mentions:INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

In this episode of the Choose Hard Podcast, Cody McBroom is joined by Arielle DeYampert, Director of Coaching at Tailored Coaching Method, to pull back the curtain on the real-world struggles online coaches are facing in 2026.
While the industry is flooded with marketing gurus and business "hacks," Cody and Arielle argue that high-quality coaching must come first. They share how TCM built a $1.5M yearly revenue business without relying on paid ads, proving that results and referrals are the ultimate growth engines.
In this episode, we dive into:
- The Certification Gap: Why most coaches lack the systems for effective onboarding, check-ins, and client communication.
- Tactical Mindset Coaching: How to help clients break the "all or nothing" cycle by removing judgment language (like the word "should") and building emotional resilience.
- Driven vs. Dragged: Understanding the pivot from pain-driven motivation to desire-driven fulfillment.
- Building Irresistible Trust: The framework behind moving a client from a stranger to a vulnerable, high-adhering advocate who refers to their entire circle.
- The Content Flywheel: How to repurpose one long-form video into scripts, reels, blogs, and emails to dominate search results (AEO/SEO) across multiple platforms.
- High-Agency Thinking: Why successful coaches must gather value even from people they personally dislike to solve problems for their clients.
Whether you are a new coach struggling with imposter syndrome or a veteran business owner looking to scale with integrity, this conversation provides the tactical, science-backed blueprint for professional coaching success.
- Submit Your Coaching Q&A: choosehardpodcast.com
- The Mentorship: Tailored Coaching Mentorship
- In-Person Mastermind (May 2026): Limited to 30 seats—https://www.tailored-coaching.com/tailored-live-mastermind 
- Follow the Podcast on IG: @choosehardpodcast

GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 
📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com

❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:
⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com
ℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:
⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}
⇨ https://www.tailored-coaching.com/mentorship-coaching {Mentorship w/ Cody}
📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:
⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com
🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:
⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 
💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):
https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD
🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:
- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ 
- APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ 

GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 
💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠
IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠
YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠
Resources & Mentions:INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

In this solo episode of the Choose Hard Podcast, Cody McBroom breaks down the essential systems every online coach needs to move from a "hobbyist" to a high-level professional. Addressing the most common struggles in the digital coaching space, Cody dives into the psychology of client retention, the art of the efficient check-in, and the specific "coach personas" that are actively killing your business.
Whether you are struggling to get your clients to track their food accurately or you want to trigger more organic referrals, this episode provides a tactical blueprint for improving the client experience. Learn how to help your clients navigate a true identity shift so that their results—and your working relationship—last a lifetime.
Attend The Live Mastermind on May 15-16th: https://www.tailored-coaching.com/tailored-live-mastermind 
Specific Topics Covered in Episode:
📌 The 4 Pillars of Client Retention
📌 5 Essential Onboarding Questions
📌 The 5 Versions of "YOU" Your Clients Didn't Hire
📌 How To Be More Efficient and Effective w/ Your Weekly Check-ins
📌 Helping Your Clients Track Calories More Accurately
📌 Simple Strategies For Increasing Your Client Referrals

GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 
📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com

❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:
⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com
ℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:
⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}
⇨ https://www.tailored-coaching.com/mentorship-coaching {Mentorship w/ Cody}
📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:
⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com
🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:
⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 
💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):
https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD
🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:
- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ 
- APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ 

GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 
💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠
IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠
YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠
INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

What happens when three friends in a group text decide to turn a shared passion for fatherhood into a business? You get Dad Gang, a brand that started with just $250 and has since sold over $30 million in hats. In this episode, I’m joined by co-founders Bart and EJ to pull back the curtain on one of the most inspiring entrepreneurship stories I’ve heard in years.
We dive deep into the "origin story" of Dad Gang—from selling out their first 100 hats in 36 hours to building a community of over 14,000 dads who support each other through the "forever marathon" of parenting. Bart and EJ open up about the hard transitions they made, including the moment EJ realized his daughter needed his presence more than his paycheck, leading him to resign from a 15-year career with no backup plan.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The Power of the Niche: Why they ditched "corny" dad gear to create a streetwear-inspired brand for the modern father.
- Operational Excellence vs. Marketing Magic: How staying in their "lanes" allowed them to scale to a million hats sold without the typical friction of a partnership.
- Fatherhood as Training: Using the challenges of parenting as a catalyst for personal growth and spiritual discipline.
- The "If You Know, You Know" Philosophy: The meaning behind their iconic side-hit and why community is the real product, not the apparel.
- The Lean Startup Model: Why they prioritize efficiency and profit over head-count and ego.
Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for the blueprint to scale or a dad trying to be the best role model for your kids, this conversation is a masterclass in choosing the hard path to build a life of alignment.
Connect with Dad Gang:
Website: dadgang.com

Instagram: @dadgang.co

Facebook Group: Dad Gang VIP (14,000+ members)

GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 
📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com

❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:
⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com
ℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:
⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}
⇨ https://www.tailored-coaching.com/mentorship-coaching {Mentorship w/ Cody}
📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:
⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com
🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:
⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 
💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):
https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD
🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:
- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ 
- APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ 

GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 
💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠
IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠
YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠
INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]