Johan and I go back.
We once made a film together called Jump. A film shot for suicide prevention. Heavy subject, but we approached it with care. With intention. It ended up being something really beautiful. It was also the first film I ever directed. It was cool project because it was always screened with a live music score and therapists on site.
We’ve been friends ever since.
Life did what life does. We both left NYC. He went back west, started building a life, raising kids. I moved to Nashville building mine too. Time passed the way it always does with old friends.
So this conversation was really just a chance to catch up.
Somewhere along the way, we went right back to where we first connected - trying to save the world by dealing with our traumas in public.
Johan is also a coach. (Some people would call him an inspirational speaker. I wouldn’t. Not because he’s not inspiring, but because the term is corny and too small of a box for what Johan offers the world.) When I first met him, he was inspiring students in auditoriums, these days he works with pro-athletes, top-executives and people operating in super-human capacities.
What strikes me about what he works on with them is how incredibly down to earth and wholesome the work is - it’s the same stuff we all need to get into. We talked about how we show up. The stories we carry and the ones we aint trying to pass on.
And right now, seems like the what he is working on right now, is at home.
“The greatest work of my life right now is parenthood.”
Johan Kalilian
We Got into the 90-second pause.
That moment where instead of rushing or forcing something, you just stop and be with your child before you just rush through. Just pause instead of forcing everybody to go so quickly. All you need is 90. Good tip.
We got into what parenting actually is about.
We both grew up thinking you’ve got to make something happen, shape your kids into something. But Johan pushed back on that. What if the real work is just making your kids feel safe?
We got into him coaching parents to be parents, athletes to be athletes and commitments to be commitments.
He’s working with athletes, executives, and parents, helping people see what’s really going on underneath performance. We touched on commitment, coaching, and what it actually takes to follow through on something.
And toward the end, we got into something that stuck with me:
“Life is the ultimate canvas.”
Johan Kalilian
As an artist, the idea that i can paint a life resonates with a lot of sentiments I’ve been feeling. That one stayed with me.
We got into a new and upcoming podcast of his: More Than One Thing.
Definitely something to look out for.
Have a listen for yourself.
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Johan and I have committed to part two.
You have any questions you want me to ask Johan? Let me know.
