The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: "What 2025 Taught Me About Discipline"

Host: Shawn French
Release Date: December 29, 2025

Overview:

This solo episode is Shawn French’s heartfelt, no-filter recap of his personal and professional growth through 2025 as both the host of The Determined Society and in his own life. Shawn dives deeply into the discipline, accountability, and self-improvement that fueled a year of explosive podcast growth and richer, more meaningful connections. The episode is a candid invitation for listeners to reflect on their own “one thing” holding them back—and to carry forward lessons of discipline, authenticity, and gratitude into the new year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “One Thing” Principle & Personal Growth

• Identifying Root Causes:
  • Shawn opens with vulnerability about imposter syndrome and discomfort in his own skin, noting that poor self-care was a bottleneck for both life and the show’s success.
  • "There was a massive, gaping void I had inside of me…not feeling very comfortable in my own skin led me to having a lot of other problems." [01:59]
• Direct Correlation to Success:
  • Improved physical health led to better mental clarity, more patience, and increased on-air performance.
  • "If I didn’t fix it, I don’t know where the show would be right now." [00:28]
  • "The direct correlation to me being successful on this microphone and in front of this camera is me taking care of myself off camera, period. End of story." [03:13]
• Encouraging Listeners to Identify Their Own Roadblocks:
  • Listeners are challenged to pinpoint and tackle the singular problem limiting their growth (relationships, vices, presence at home, etc).
  • "The one thing that sits on the frontal part of your mind every day…that is your opportunity to attack." [16:01]

2. Podcast Achievements & Growth Metrics

• Record Growth:
  • From 1.23 million listens in 2024 to over 8 million in 2025.
  • "We absolutely destroyed that growth. It was an amazing year." [22:45]
• Milestone Guests & Impactful Conversations:
  • Highlights interviews with celebrities like Jay Leno, William H. Macy, Kathy Ireland, Jamie Kennedy, Bijou Bot Marcus, Morgan Luttrell, and personal friends/mentors like Jeff Delaney and Matt Dillon.
  • "I don’t think I ever even thought that would be possible, sitting down in Jay Leno’s garage…” [08:13]

3. Culture, Authenticity & Being “Seen”

• Authenticity as a Brand:
  • Shawn reflects on feeling unseen in the early years of the show, and gratitude for finally connecting with and being recognized by his audience.
  • "The first year I feel very, very seen by the audience. I get messages all the time about how the show is helping them." [29:30]
• Staying True to the Show’s Mission:
  • While guest lineups may fluctuate between A-listers and everyday heroes, the goal remains to share stories of overcoming adversity with grit and discipline.

4. Teamwork, Support, and Leadership

• Shoutouts to Team & Partners:
  • Recognizes the dedication of his production crew, close friends, partners, and his wife.
  • "I was able to assemble a team of amazing partners… including my production team, Grit Media… I know they have my back." [39:00]
• Delegation and Trust:
  • Shawn credits letting go of micromanaging—leaning on his team and focusing on his strengths—as critical to 2025’s quantum leap forward.

5. Discipline, Consistency, and Doing the Work

• Heavy Lifting, Literally and Figuratively:
  • Records up to nine episodes in a day; brings discipline from fitness into podcasting workflow.
  • "This is my third episode today… For those of you that are podcasters, that's a heavy lift." [49:02]
• No “Magic Bullet”—Just Consistency:
  • The “secret sauce” is daily, consistent action and holding oneself and teammates to personal standards.
  • "There was no magic bullet. Just doing the work, guys. Staying consistent, staying within the standard." [53:18]

6. Advice & Encouragement to Listeners

• Reflect Without Shame:
  • Powerful encouragement to review personal progress, but not to judge or shame oneself, even if progress wasn’t linear.
  • "Do not shame yourself. If you stayed stagnant or if you backslid. Don’t. You’re still breathing. You’re here, you’re listening to this, you still have air in your lungs. God blessed you with another day.” [44:19]
• Think in Decades, Not Days:
  • Shawn refutes the “1%” myth of success, advocating for persistence and long-term perspective.
  • "If you think in terms of decades, like, how can you go wrong?" [47:05]
• 2026 Focus: Visibility and Community:
  • Thanks listeners for loyalty; calls for sharing the podcast and offering feedback as they look to an even bigger year ahead.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Who am I to be in this room?... it was just a moment in 2025 where I had to get better personally, because it was holding me back.” [00:01]

• “If you’re tuning in for the first time right now, it’s like, why is this asshole rambling like this? … Because it means something.” [02:41]

• “The conversations got so much better. I was quicker on my feet… I had this amount of clarity that I never had before.” [05:45]

• “The one thing that you’re sitting there every single day thinking about… that is your opportunity.” [16:01]

• “For the first three and a half years, I just didn’t feel seen… then all of a sudden it made sense to people because I stayed true to what the backbone of the show was.” [29:26]

• “If you look back at your year—are you further ahead than you were last year? Did you make progression?... Do not shame yourself.” [44:15]

• “Only 1% of people… make a real splash and make a real financial business out of it are the ones that don’t freaking quit.” [47:35]

• “There was no magic bullet. Just doing the work, guys. Staying consistent, staying within the standard.” [53:18]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–03:30| Personal honesty: “Getting Better” and owning the year’s growth | | 05:15 | How lifting & nutrition transformed his confidence & communication | | 08:13 | “Surreal guests”: Jay Leno, Marcus Luttrell, innovation & community| | 16:01 | The “one thing” – pinpointing and fixing root personal struggles | | 22:45 | Record-breaking podcast listenership and growth | | 29:30 | Feeling "seen" by the audience—authenticity and connection | | 39:00 | The team, partners, and letting go of control | | 44:19 | Listener encouragement: reflection, no shame, and forward drive | | 47:05 | On thinking in decades; “1% myth” and not quitting | | 53:18 | The real secret: Consistency, standards, and teamwork | | 57:00 | Final gratitude and call to action: community, feedback, sharing |

Takeaways for Listeners

• Growth is intentional and personal: Shawn’s message is that professional success cannot outpace personal integrity and self-care.
• Be radically honest: Identifying and attacking your own limiting habits or mindsets is essential for meaningful progress.
• Consistency wins: Persist through discomfort, focus on the “mundane,” and results will compound over time.
• Celebrate progress of all kinds: Whether you leaped forward, stayed put, or even slipped back, don’t judge—keep moving.
• You’re part of the journey: Listener loyalty, sharing, and feedback are vital, and Shawn is openly appreciative—and wants to hear from you.

In Shawn’s words:
"What I need you to do is take that ownership of what’s going on with you and implement that into your life… growth, getting better. That’s what 2025 was about for me and about for the show." [36:34]

If you’re returning, you’re part of the progress. If you’re new, this isn’t just a show—it’s an invitation to grow alongside the determined.