I Dare You Podcast

Stop trying to do it all. This Father’s Day episode is your wake-up call—how to be the kind of dad, spouse, and leader who shows up when it matters.



My special guest is Jay Bilas. You know Jay as one of ESPN’s most trusted basketball voices. He joined ESPN in 1995 and has spent decades on the biggest stages in the sport, from College GameDay to the top men’s college matchups every week, plus NBA Draft coverage and major studio shows. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court.



Jay was a four-year starter at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski from 1982 to 1986. His 1986 Duke team set the NCAA record for the most wins in a single season with 37. While Jay was an assistant coach under Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils won back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992.



Jay has also distinguished himself on Twitter, having been named to Sports Illustrated’s “Twitter 100” for being among the 100 most essential Twitter follows in sports, and one of the 25 Most Powerful People in Sports Media by The Big Lead.



Since 1992, Jay has been a licensed attorney with the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, where he has specialized in commercial litigation. He serves on the National Board of the Coaches vs. Cancer Organization, the Board of Advisors of the Duke Brain Tumor Center, and the Board of Directors of The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This conversation isn’t about basketball.

It’s about presence, priorities, and the quiet power of doing the right things when nobody’s watching.



In this episode, Jay gets real about:

Why preparation is a form of toughness—and how it creates calm and confidence

The trap of believing you can “have it all” (and what to do instead)

The Father’s Day truth that hits hard: what your family actually needs from you

What kids remember most—and the simple standard that changes everything

Jay’s one-line job description for fathers: “Be there 100% when you’re there.”



This is your Father’s Day wake-up call. Listen—and then make one change your family will feel this week.



Follow Jay: @jbillis on X and Instagram.

Summer is where routines go to die.

Later nights. More travel. More “we’ll get back on track Monday.” And then it’s Labor Day… and you feel worse than you did in June.

In this episode, I’m giving you a Summer Fundamentals Reset—a simple, no-drama way to stop drifting and get back to basics without turning your life into a giant self-improvement project.

Because the truth is: when life gets loud (and summer gets loose), even high performers start handing themselves permission slips:

Skip the workout. Stay up late. Drink more. Eat like a teenager. “I’ll lock in later.”

And later becomes never.

So here’s what we’re doing instead: fundamentals.

You’ll learn:

Why successful people quietly abandon the basics (and how it happens without you noticing)

The one trap that’s costing you momentum: comfort disguised as “skipping”

Why your brain starts “shopping for novelty” when momentum stalls

A simple framework you can steal today: The Summer Fundamentals Reset — Call It. Pick It. Protect It.

A Summer Reset challenge to start in the next 24 hours (choose it → prove it → lock it in)

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about feeling clear, energized, and present again—so you can actually enjoy your summer.

Don’t use summer as an excuse. Use summer as your reset.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Grab your FREE, custom-designed PDFs (inspired by Start With Why by Simon Sinek) at idareyoupod.com:

5 “Why discovery” questions

Daring Purpose Tool (Belief → Action → Results → One sentence)

Start With Why Visual Synopsis (WHY / HOW / WHAT + trust + consistency)

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

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

TikTok: @idareyoupod

What does it really mean to win in life—and why do so many high-achievers still feel like they’re falling short?

In this episode of I Dare You, I’m joined by Chip Pugh, Team Chaplain for the Tennessee Titans and author of Made to Win: Six Practices of Jesus for Life on Mission.

Exclusive for I Dare You Podcast listeners, you can get your FREE copy of Made To Win and you only cover the cost of shipping. Click the link to get your copy!https://oakspress.com/dare

Chip has spent decades developing athletes, coaches, and leaders—serving in collegiate athletics, strength and conditioning, and leadership development roles (including at Tennessee Tech University)—and he brings a clear, practical framework for maximizing your potential.

You’ll learn why so many people never experience the joy of winning (because they were never trained to win), how to quiet the “distracting voices” that derail your calling, and why community isn’t optional if you want a life that’s strong, resilient, and mission-driven. Chip also shares a simple daily prayer and challenge that can change how you see people—and how you show up in the world.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

The 3-part pathway to winning: expect, aim, and train

Why identity comes before purpose—and how your words shape both

How to discern truth when doubt and adversity hit

The “life huddle” principle: why you need a few people who truly know you

The practice of “Invest in the One”—and the daily habit that brings purpose into focus

Chip’s message is direct, practical, and deeply encouraging—whether faith is central to your life right now or you’re simply searching for what you were made for.

Here’s the prayer you pray (the “one daily prayer” from your Chip Pugh episode script):

Lord, give me the eyes to see what You see today.

Prepare my hands to do what You have designed me to do.

Prepare my feet to go where You send me.

Please send me to the one who is ready to follow You…

and fill me with the skill to win them to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Connect with Chip:

X (Twitter): @Chip_Pugh

Instagram: @Chip_Pugh

Facebook: @ChipCPugh

Website: www.MadeToWinBook.com

You’re doing “pretty well”… so why do you still feel restless?

In this solo episode, I go straight at the quiet ceiling that keeps high performers from becoming who they know they’re capable of being—not more famous, not more followers… bigger in your leadership, health, relationships, impact, and purpose.

I break down two traps that shrink your thinking without you noticing:

The Doable Trap (I start using my past as the benchmark for what’s possible)

The “At least I’m not…” game (downward comparison that makes me feel better while I stay small)

Then I give you a simple, practical framework to break through the ceiling:

The Bigger Flywheel: Reference Point → Resolve → Risk

This one will challenge you, encourage you, and push you to choose the stretch—because comfort is a liar, and “ready” isn’t coming.

In this episode, I cover:

Why I can’t outperform the size of my aspirations (and neither can you)

How my “reference points” shape my identity—and my results

What I do when I feel bored, stuck, or under-challenged

The one “high-fail” move I believe you should keep in your life at all times

A 24-hour I Dare You Challenge to take action today (not “someday”)

If you thought of someone while listening, send them this episode with one line:

“I thought of you when I heard this.”

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Remember, as discussed in E218, grab your FREE, custom-designed PDFs (inspired by Start With Why by Simon Sinek) at idareyoupod.com:

5 “Why discovery” questions

Daring Purpose Tool (Belief → Action → Results → One sentence)

Start With Why Visual Synopsis (WHY / HOW / WHAT + trust + consistency)

Connect with Darrin Johnson:

www.idareyoupod.com

Instagram: @idareyoupod

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

TikTok: @idareyoupod

Recording artist and Broadway sensation Kelsie Watts joins The I Dare You Podcast for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a career that lasts—onstage and online.

Kelsie is making waves again with new original music, including her latest release “Made for Your Love,” and has become a viral singing phenomenon with 250M+ views and 3.5M+ followers across TikTok and Instagram. In this episode, she takes us behind the curtain on her journey from Lubbock, Texas (singing in church and studying music) to Belmont University in Nashville, to grinding through the “unseen years” that most people never hear about.

We talk about:

Why “overnight success” is a myth

The creative story behind “Made for Your Love” and Kelsie’s Whitney Houston inspiration

How understanding the business of music matters as much as talent



The Broadway reality: Kelsie’s run as Queen Jane Seymour in SIX! The Musical (including her iHeartRadio Music Award nomination for Favorite Broadway Debut) and what it’s like to step into high-pressure roles live



The message behind her acclaimed single “Fit In”—and why comparison is “the thief of joy”

The power of authenticity, preparation, and staying coachable after hearing “no”

Plus, Kelsie shares her simple “I Dare You” challenge—one small act that can change someone’s day.

Follow Kelsie: @kelsiewatts (TikTok) | @kelsiewattsmusic (Instagram)

Listen to her music everywhere you stream.

Remember, as discussed in E218, grab your FREE, custom-designed PDFs (inspired by Start With Why by Simon Sinek) at idareyoupod.com:

5 “Why discovery” questions

Daring Purpose Tool (Belief → Action → Results → One sentence)

Start With Why Visual Synopsis (WHY / HOW / WHAT + trust + consistency)