What if the biggest lever for healing our fractured world is our own health? Not just physical fitness, but the full spectrum of mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

In this episode of Mission Driven You, Will Samson sits down with Brian von Ancken—early Tough Mudder employee, former Barry’s leader, community-builder, and founder of the Wellness Growth Mastermind—to explore how the wellness movement is evolving and why it matters far beyond cold plunges, wearables, and workouts.

Brian shares the personal story that shattered his “should life” and set him on a mission to redefine what health actually means. From obstacle courses where strangers pull each other over walls, to the pressures entrepreneurs face to “do it all,” Brian offers a grounded, human perspective on the future of wellness—and the cultural transformation already underway.

If you care about resilience, connection, or building a life with intention, this conversation will shift how you think about health, community, and human agency.

📘 Show Notes

In this episode, we explore:

1. The State of the Wellness Industry

• From the days of Arctic Enema to cold plunges in every backyard
• Why wellness is both more advanced—and more overwhelming—than ever
• The line between innovation and snake oil, and how to tell the difference

• How obstacle events create unexpected belonging
• Why helping others is a core human need we no longer get to practice
• The surprising reason community is more important than the workout itself

• How miscarriages and divorce forced a reckoning
• A silent retreat that turned into a mental marathon
• What Brian discovered about emotional and spiritual health that no one teaches us

• Why health is the root system beneath loneliness, division, and disconnection
• The “total health formula” and why there is no one-size-fits-all approach
• The rise of wellness tourism, longevity science, and personalized health

• The two-minute morning practice Brian uses every day
• Why strength training may be the simplest path to long-term wellbeing
• The value of men’s groups, masterminds, and communities that tell you the truth

Brian paints a hopeful picture of a future where:

• Schools teach mindfulness and emotional intelligence
• Workplaces normalize breathwork, movement, and recovery
• Wellness becomes as common as brushing our teeth
• Communities inspire healthier choices instead of numbing distractions

Website: https://www.brianvonancken.com (or the site he prefers—share if different)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvonancken/

Wellness Growth Mastermind: (Add link if provided by Brian)

🧠 Key Quote from the Episode

“Living a healthy life is living an intentional life. And intention is the first step toward agency.” — Brian von Ancken

▶️ Listen now to learn:

How health becomes a form of empowerment…

Why community matters more than perfection…

And what the wellness movement can teach us about the future of humanity.