I've known Joel for almost 20 years. Let that sink in for a second. Two decades. We met when he hired me for a job, and somehow, through company changes, career moves, busy seasons, and all of life's chaos, we've stayed friends. But here's the thing that hit me during our recent conversation: In 20 years, Joel and I have probably only spent about 30 maybe 40 hours together outside of work. Maybe less. When I realized this, it stopped me cold. How is it possible to have such a

When my friend Heath Thurston first connected me with Joe Morton, I knew I was in for something special. Heath has this knack for introducing me to people who just get it —people who understand that real transformation happens in the space between struggle and breakthrough, in the relationships that hold us when everything else falls apart. Joe Morton is one of those people. He's an endurance athlete, host of the "A Cup of Joe Podcast", and a guy who's proving every single da

I have to be honest - when Alyssa Smith told me her four-year-old was cooking eggs in their kitchen in South Korea, I had flashbacks to my own childhood and how my parents instilled in us so many amazing skills. Our conversation shows how that worked for her child and my brothers and I. See, Alyssa isn't just any parent. She's spent nearly two decades as an international educator teaching kids on two continents, holds two master's degrees, and is certified in positive discip

I've had dozens of conversations on KneeToKnee, but there are moments in certain episodes where I feel the air in the room shift. My conversation with Jesse Munns was one of those moments. Jesse came into the studio as a veteran helicopter pilot—nearly 20 years of flying high-stakes missions, from Vegas tours to EMS helicopters, from offshore oil rigs to agricultural spraying. The resume is impressive. The outside looked successful, driven, accomplished. But that's not the st

I've been a fan of Scott Christopher since I first watched The Best Two Years way back in the day. There was something about his presence on screen—authentic, funny, real—that just connected with me. So when I had the chance to sit down with him for Knee to Knee, I was genuinely excited. What I didn't expect was the gut-punch of a story he shared about his childhood. Scott grew up in a single-parent home, raised by a mom who was doing everything she could to make ends meet.

Twenty years. That's how long I've known Ty Bennett. And until last week, we hadn't spoken in a decade. But when our mutual friend Julie kept mentioning his name during a recording session, something clicked. I picked up the phone, and just like that, we were back—Knee to Knee—talking about what really matters in leadership. Ty is the founder of Leadership Inc., a bestselling author, and someone who's spent 15 years traveling the world helping leaders build trust and influenc

As a former firefighter, my default lens on health has usually been Western, tactical, and practical. “Breathe” was something we yelled to each other on the fire ground, not a doorway into healing trauma, grief, and anxiety. That perspective started to shift for me during a KneeToKnee conversation with somatic therapy coach and mental health advocate Jamie Hinckley. Jamie's Journey Jamie’s path into somatic therapy began in one of the hardest ways imaginable. In 2021, her dom

Introverts are often told, “Just put yourself out there,” as if forcing more small talk in louder rooms is the answer. Yet many already are showing up—to barbecues, church, school events—and still end up near the food table, in the kitchen, or on the couch scrolling a phone while everyone else seems to know exactly what to say. This isn’t a lack of desire for connection; it is usually a mix of anxiety, self‑protection, and a nervous system that has learned people can be risk

Some conversations stick with you long after the mics are off. My recent chat with Julie De Jesus was one of those. She shared a raw, life-changing story that perfectly illustrates why authentic human connection isn't just nice to have—it's life-saving. And in today's chaotic world, it's exactly what we need more of. Julie opened up about hitting rock bottom at 21, when toxic leadership at work triggered her first panic attack in a bathroom stall. What started as anxiety spir

In today’s fast-paced and digitally driven world, building and maintaining healthy, lasting relationships can feel like a daunting task. From the early stages of dating to long-term commitment, young adults face unique challenges that impact their emotional connections and social growth. Recently, on the KneeToKnee podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Brian Willoughby, a professor at Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life, to explore the science beh

In the fast-paced world we live in, genuine connections seem to be fading. In a recent episode of the podcast, I share the profound significance behind the show's rebranding to "Knee to Knee". This concept goes beyond mere conversation; it embodies the essence of empathy, understanding, and real human connection. In this episode I open up about two pivotal experiences that shaped his understanding of meaningful connections. The first story takes us back to his early twenties

The Power of Community: My Conversation with Cotie Williams and PossAbilities On a recent episode of my KneeToKnee podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Cotie Williams, the Director of Community Development and Outreach for PossAbilities, a program under Loma Linda University Health. Cotie’s passion for supporting individuals with permanent physical or intellectual disabilities, as well as military veterans, really inspired me. Since 2008, she and her team have gr

Ward Clapham - author - joins Mark Marrott to talk about the connections made through "Positive Tickets."

Life coach Kim Giles - founder of the 12 Shapes Relationship System - unpacks what drives human connection, conflict, and healing.

Author Chris Williams talks about his journey from tragedy to forgiveness

Amberley Snyder’s journey reminds us of the essential power of connection, resilience, and gratitude.

This is the story of Mark Marrott, who defied the odds and turned a childhood challenge into a marathon triumph.

In a world where leadership often feels reduced to checklists and metrics, Joseph Cope—known as “The Empathy Guy”—offers a trans-formative perspective.

Dr. Paul Jenkins, psychologist and founder of the The Positivity Model, shares deep insights into cultivating meaningful relationships that enrich our mental and emotional well-being.

Mark Marrott and Joel Steedman explore the trans-formative process of healing after a catastrophic 40-foot fall.