Podcast Summary: Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Episode: Confidence Classic: Win the Inner Game and Rise Stronger with Ben Newman
Air Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Heather Monahan
Guest: Ben Newman, Performance Coach, Speaker, Author

Episode Overview

In this powerful “Confidence Classic” episode, Heather Monahan sits down with renowned performance coach and bestselling author Ben Newman. Together, they explore the roots of true resilience, uncover strategies for winning one’s inner game, and discuss the foundation of building lasting confidence. Through intimate stories of adversity and triumph, Ben shares actionable advice on personal growth, the power of mentorship, the necessity of discipline, and practical steps for listeners ready to take their lives—and mindsets—to the next level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ben’s Origin Story: Adversity as Fuel

• The Power of Writing Your Own Story
  • Ben shares how early adversity shaped his life, recounting his mother’s fierce determination as she battled a fatal illness.
  • Quote: “My mother wrote: ‘Beat the statistics. Beat the odds. Live with a disease that is chronic and fatal. Believe in yourself. Combat anything with purpose in life.’ And my mother taught me that your purpose overtakes your pain.” — Ben (03:58)
• Turning Pain into Purpose
  • Ben describes how his mother passed on her journal and inspired him to keep writing her story—an act he calls his “burn,” or source of inner fire.

2. The Role of Support and Mentorship

• The People Who Lift Us Up
  • Ben credits counselors, teachers, coaches, and family members for guiding him through hardship.
  • Quote: “I was an emotional wreck… but I had coaches and mentors and family members who helped me through it. Without those people, I would not be the man I am today.” — Ben (06:10)
• Mentorship from John Gordon
  • The story of meeting author John Gordon, who profoundly impacted Ben’s spiritual journey and life clarity.
  • John’s daily prayer:

    “God, what is my use for your purpose and guide me towards that purpose. Jesus, if you are who you say you are, show me the signs. I’m open to receiving this if it is meant to be.” — John Gordon (09:14)

  • Ben describes practicing this prayer daily for 14 years, leading to transformative “signs” and life changes.

3. Embracing Faith, Signs, and Vulnerability

• Openness to Guidance
  • Ben recounts finding a brochure about Jesus in his coat pocket—an unexplained moment he considered a sign.
  • “To this day I have no idea how this got into my overcoat… that was the first big sign that I said, okay, this daily prayer is causing something to happen.” — Ben (12:48)
• Encouragement for Listeners
  • Heather and Ben issue a challenge: Try the daily prayer for a month and notice the results.

4. Inner Game: Mindset, Coaching, and Consistency

• Control Over Mindset
  • Ben emphasizes the daily choice to direct one’s thoughts and actions:

    “You have control over your mindset… that could be a powerful first step to get this year off to a great start.” — Ben (15:17)

• Coaching and Accountability
  • Even elites need coaches (Ben currently has two), and everyone benefits from outside perspective.
  • Heather reiterates the value of investing in oneself—not just for knowledge, but for self-worth.
  • Ben encourages starting with accountability partners if resources are tight.
• The Long Road to Success
  • Ben recounts how his work with top athletes began by volunteering for his high school basketball team—emphasizing that big opportunities grow from humble beginnings and years of consistency:

    "You never know what will happen when you say yes and stop worrying about the money… Money, winning—it’s going to be a byproduct of giving your all by saying yes and taking it one day at a time.” — Ben (18:54)

  • Heather and Ben both underscore: mastery is the result of incremental, unsexy daily effort, not overnight success.

5. The ‘Prize Fighter Day’ Concept

• Discipline Over Time
  • Ben suggests defining daily actions in three areas: personal growth, professional excellence, and service to others, calling this a “Prize Fighter Day.”
  • Quote: “My definition of consistency is every damn day… and when you focus on being your best with great discipline one day at a time, the byproduct is winning at very high levels.” — Ben (25:52)

6. Ben’s Book & Podcast: Uncommon Leadership & The Burn

• Purpose of ‘Uncommon Leadership’
  • Ben’s book honors mentors who shaped him, offering practical lessons for high-level performance and resilience.
• The Burn Podcast
  • Explores what lights people’s inner fire (“burn”), including Heather’s own story.
  • “A lot of coaches and speakers talk about ‘why’ and ‘purpose,’ but they forget to talk about that burn, that fire that actually ignites why and purpose …” — Ben (28:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purpose Overtaking Pain:
  “When you face challenge, that’s when you can find your greatest strength.” — Ben (04:28)

• On Saying Yes and Building Relationships:
  “You never know what will happen when you say yes… The relationships behind each jersey and ball, that’s why I do what I do.” — Ben (19:47)

• On the Reality of Success:
  “So many people will tell us how great they want to be. Yet, when we go and have a conversation with their action, that’s when we see the real story.” — Ben (25:14)
  "Nothing great happens without the willingness to put in the work every day." — Ben (27:40)

• On Confidence:
  “That confidence often doesn’t come from when you win. Oftentimes confidence comes from when you overcome.” — Ben (23:21)

Key Timestamps

• 03:30–05:35 — Ben’s childhood adversity & his mother’s journal
• 07:10–10:10 — The impact of mentorship & the daily prayer
• 12:00–14:30 — The power of faith, signs, and “surrender”
• 15:10–16:30 — Mindset control and the challenge to listeners
• 16:45–20:30 — Ben’s first opportunity in sports: the high school basketball team
• 21:00–23:10 — Importance of coaching, accountability, and continued investment
• 24:28–26:35 — The long road, patience, and the “every damn day” mentality
• 27:54–29:11 — Release of The Burn Podcast and Uncommon Leadership
• 29:11–End — Final call to action and how to connect with Ben’s resources

Actionable Takeaways

• Try the Daily Prayer: Adopt the daily prayer or affirmation to prompt openness and clarity in your life.
• Choose Discipline Over Excitement: Commit to daily, incremental personal and professional habits to build true confidence over time.
• Invest in Yourself: Whether through mentorship, coaching, or accountability partnerships, seek perspectives that challenge and support your growth.
• Say Yes to Small Opportunities: The journey to greatness begins with small, sometimes unpaid steps—be open and patient.

Further Resources

• Ben Newman’s Book: Uncommon Leadership
• Podcast: The Burn (Heather Monahan is a featured guest in Season 4)
• Heather Monahan’s Book: Overcome Your Villains

This episode is a masterclass on confronting adversity, the power of mentorship, and building confidence through daily discipline. Whether you’re starting out, facing a setback, or looking to push to your next level, Ben’s story and advice serve as a timely inspiration—reminding us that resilience, action, and openness to help are the keys to winning your inner game.