Acta Non Verba

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with legendary self-defense expert and fear management coach Tony Blauer for an in-depth discussion on betrayal, resilience, and the power of managing fear in business and life. Tony shares candid stories of being betrayed by trusted partners and employees over his 40+ year career, revealing how he's shortened his recovery time from months to mere hours through the principles he teaches. The conversation explores the "timeline of violence" concept applied to business relationships, the importance of trusting your instincts, and why fear—when properly managed—becomes your greatest asset rather than your enemy.
Episode Highlights
[4:18] Betrayal is Inevitable for Innovators - If you're creating something original and breaking new ground, people will copy you. Tony shares how he went from taking months to recover from betrayal to processing it in 24 hours by building his "resilience muscle" through experience and applying his own fear management principles.
[33:34] The Three I's: Instincts, Intuition, and Intelligence - Tony reveals the core of his SPEAR system's soft skills: your instincts give you a "bad feeling," your intuition whispers warnings, but cognitive dissonance often makes you ignore both. Learning to trust these signals and "choose safety" is critical in business partnerships, relationships, and dangerous situations.
[53:54] You Can't Be Brave If You're Not Afraid - The primary ingredient of courage is fear. Tony explains why there are things in life you must do afraid, and you'll never not be afraid of them. The key is managing fear rather than eliminating it—mismanaged fear is always negative, but managed fear is always positive.
[69:50] The Rational-Lie - We all rationalize why we should or shouldn't do something, but when you put a hyphen between "rational" and "lie," you realize you're selling yourself a story. Tony shares how recognizing your rational-lies—whether in business decisions, relationships, or self-defense situations—is the first step to making better choices.
Tony Blauer is a pioneer in close-quarters combat, self-defense, and fear management training with over 40 years of experience. He created the SPEAR System (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response), the world's only behaviorally-based self-defense protocol founded on neurobiology, kinesiology, and psychology. Tony has trained military special forces, law enforcement agencies, and martial artists worldwide, and his research on fear and human performance has influenced everyone from Hollywood actors to elite operators. He's also developed the "Know Fear" program, teaching people how to convert fear into fuel for peak performance in high-stress situations. At 65, Tony continues to innovate and mentor through Blauer Training Systems, sharing hard-won wisdom on resilience, courage, and the intersection of physical and psychological preparedness.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
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In this episode of Acta Non Verba, former Marine counterintelligence operator and Paralympic silver medalist Dennis Connors joins Marcus to discuss the true meaning of perseverance beyond grit. Dennis shares insights from his time in special operations, his journey through PTSD and stroke recovery, and how vulnerability, discipline, and community create sustainable high performance in leadership and life.
Episode Highlights
[2:31] The Intelligence Behind Special Operations - Dennis explains his role in human intelligence collection for special operations and why keeping servicemen safe was the number one priority—not just gathering information.
[26:30] The Four Pillars of Perseverance - Dennis breaks down why grit alone isn't enough for long-term success and introduces his framework: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community.
[46:00] Leading Leaders: The Transition from Operator to Mentor - A powerful discussion on what it means to lead leaders, the importance of empowering your team, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools.
[57:54] The Road to LA 2028 - Dennis shares his goal to win Paralympic gold at the 2028 LA Games and the challenges Paralympic athletes face in funding their Olympic dreams while maintaining careers.
Dennis Connors is a Paralympic silver medalist, two-time para cycling world champion, and former Marine counterintelligence operator who served with special operations forces. After suffering strokes that left him paralyzed, Dennis rebuilt his life through adaptive sport and now works as a keynote speaker and leadership coach. He's a TEDx speaker whose talk on redefining perseverance challenges the traditional "grit mentality" and offers a more sustainable framework for overcoming adversity. Dennis helps military, corporate, and athletic organizations translate high-performance lessons into practical leadership insights.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson examines one of philosophy's most provocative questions: Was Seneca a hypocrite? Through the lens of Stoic philosophy and Roman history, Marcus explores the dangerous cognitive trap of hypocrisy bias and challenges listeners to examine their own inconsistencies before judging others.
Episode Highlights
[0:45] The Seneca Question: Was the wealthy Roman philosopher who forced loans on conquered peoples truly living by Stoic principles, or was he a hypocrite?
[2:10] Understanding Hypocrisy Bias: How our tendency to judge others' inconsistencies more harshly than our own blinds us to truth and derails meaningful discussions.
[6:16] The Marcus Aurelius Paradox: Even the revered philosopher-emperor struggled with anger daily and made questionable decisions like allowing his son Commodus to take power.
[7:38] 30-Day Reflection Challenge: Three critical questions to examine your own hypocrisy, how you judge others, and whether imperfect messengers can still deliver truth.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with JC Glick, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and CEO of the Commit Foundation, for a deep conversation about leadership, transformation, and the power of questioning our assumptions. They explore how multiple truths can exist simultaneously, the dangers of concrete thinking in a complex world, and why being willing to be wrong takes more courage than being right. The discussion moves from philosophy and cognitive bias to veteran transition, AI as a thought partner, and the critical difference between transition and transformation.
Episode Highlights
[3:33] The Philosophy Tree: JC proposes creating a "philosophy tree" tracing Tony Blauer's influence on modern warrior-philosophers and discusses why Tony deserves recognition as a philosopher, not just a self-defense expert.
[6:49] Multiple Truths Exist: JC challenges the idea that you must stand firmly on everything, arguing that multiple truths can exist simultaneously and that your truth doesn't make someone else's false.
[34:49] Transition vs. Transformation: JC explains the critical difference: "Transitions happen to you. Transformation is a deliberate process with a desired outcome." He uses the powerful metaphor of turning a can into a Tesla.
[46:00] AI as Hybrid Intelligence: The conversation shifts to AI's potential as an equity builder and thought partner rather than an answer machine, with JC advocating for "hybrid intelligence" that superpowers human thinking.
JC Glick is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with 11 combat tours in the 75th Ranger Regiment and Asymmetrical Warfare Group. As CEO of the Commit Foundation, he leads a transformational organization helping special operations veterans, their spouses, intelligence community members, and allied forces reconstruct their identity and purpose beyond military service. JC is the author of Meditations of an Army Ranger and A Light in the Darkness, and contributes regularly to Forbes on topics of resilience, innovation, and purposeful human connection. His work is grounded in evidence-based adult development theory and focuses on helping individuals transform rather than simply transition.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Denny Giamazzo, leadership and resilience speaker, veteran, and author of the new bestselling book "Wired for Action." Denny shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and foster care to becoming an infantry sergeant and successful software sales professional. This raw conversation explores authentic leadership principles forged in combat and tested in the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of taking action, building the right network, and leading with both strength and empathy.
Episode Highlights:
1:08] - Overcoming Adversity Without Special Operations Background Denny discusses why he almost didn't write his book, feeling his story wasn't "special" enough without a Green Beret or SEAL background. His mentor John Doolittle convinced him that his relatability—surviving childhood abuse, foster care, and combat—makes his message even more powerful for everyday people facing their own battles.
[10:05] - The Leadership Lesson That Changed Everything Fresh into a leadership role before deploying to Afghanistan, Denny shares his critical mistake of leading without empathy. He reveals the turning point when he learned that demanding respect doesn't work—you have to earn it by showing your team you genuinely care about them while maintaining high standards.
[34:22] - Nearly Dying Before Deployment Denny recounts the harrowing story of almost dying twice during surgery from an infected wisdom tooth extraction at the end of basic training. This medical emergency kept him from deploying to Iraq but gave him time to earn his sergeant stripes ahead of peers who did deploy.
[50:03] - The Power of Strategic Networking Denny explains why he turned down multiple introductions to Nick Lavery before finally meeting him in person at a speaking event. He emphasizes that networking isn't about kicking down doors or DMing everyone—it's about being strategic, adding value, and doing it the right way.
Denny Giamazzo is a leadership, resilience, and business engagement speaker, bestselling author, and U.S. Army veteran (11 Bravo Infantry). Born two months premature and raised in foster care after experiencing childhood abuse and losing his mother to AIDS, Denny defied statistical odds to serve his country and build a successful career in software sales at companies like Oracle and Workday. He co-hosts the "Be the Standard" podcast and is a key member of Nick Lavery's Forge community. His new book "Wired for Action" is currently #1 in the military category on Amazon.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.