Jon Acuff's Blog

Welcome to part two of our five part series on soundtracks! This episode is specifically for parents with kids. I’m pulling three random soundtracks from our Parents with Kids card deck and breaking down why they matter. You’ll discover why you can fast forward childhood but you can’t rewind it (and what that means for decisions like when to give your kid a phone), why tired beats regretful (a soundtrack my daughter taught me when she studied abroad in London), and why family shows up (even when it’s a three year old’s birthday party or driving a 24 foot Penske truck down the East Coast). These aren’t just nice ideas. They’re the repetitive thoughts that turn into remarkable actions that turn into remarkable results. If you’re a parent trying to navigate the narrow window of childhood, this episode will give you language for the culture you want to create in your family.

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What if three simple phrases could transform your relationship? In this episode, I’m kicking off a brand new five part series on soundtracks by diving into the couples deck. I’m pulling three cards at random and breaking down why these soundtracks matter for your marriage or relationship. You’ll discover why every good relationship costs the same exact thing (hint: it’s not money), why you should never, ever ask your spouse to be your accountability partner (seriously, change that setup right now if that’s you), and how crisis magnifies kindness in ways you can’t imagine. Plus, I’ll share why you should never make big decisions when you have crisis brain and what a double thumbs up from a stranger during COVID taught me about small gestures. Whether you celebrated Valentine’s Day or not, these soundtracks will help you build a stronger, healthier, more fun relationship.

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81% of people work after dinner, drowning in back to back Zoom meetings where they doodle under the table, only to do real work at night. Sound familiar? In this episode, I sit down with Juliet Funt, author and consultant who helps companies turn scrap time into steel, transforming low value work into high purpose, innovative time. We dive into the signs of toxic culture, why anxious deference to the CEO is a red flag, and how to spot when you’re stuck in an unhealthy organization. Juliet shares her unconventional path from growing up as Alan Funt’s daughter (yes, from Candid Camera) to discovering the power of white space, taking four years to world school her three boys across 14 countries, and why most executives need therapy. Plus, we tackle the fascinating question: do people change via desire or disaster? Her answer might surprise you. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spending unspeakable amounts of time doing work you hate, this conversation will change how you think about your day.

The post From Scrap to Steel: How to Turn Wasted Work Into High Value Time appeared first on Jon Acuff.

Patrick Lencioni built a multimillion-dollar business, sold 10 million books, and became one of the most influential leadership voices in the world. But here’s what you might not know: he never had a five-year plan, turned down opportunities to scale, and prioritized loving his work over maximizing revenue. In this episode, Pat shares the behind-the-scenes story of building The Table Group, why he kept his team at just 15 full-time employees while empowering thousands of consultants, and how saying no to growth actually gave him an unfair competitive advantage. You’ll discover why his wife gave him their house fund to start the business, how he protects time with his family despite constant opportunities, and why one of their core values is “we want to love coming to work every day.” If you’re building something or thinking about starting, this conversation will completely reframe how you think about success.

The post We Wanted to Love Coming to Work Every Day: Building a Business Without Burnout with Patrick Lencioni appeared first on Jon Acuff.

Why can’t leaders win anymore? No matter what you say, someone’s upset. In this conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, host of one of today’s most influential leadership podcasts, we unpack why 49 hours a week on our phones has created 100 different experiences in a room of 100 people. From the woman who won’t use plastic cutlery to why your weird uncle believes conspiracy theories, we explore how discipleship by algorithm is fragmenting society. We also talk about the false immediacy of social media, why high performers have the strongest inner critics, the Mount Rushmore of books we recommend, and what it takes to build relationships with people you admire without jumping levels of intimacy. Plus, Carey shares why the work is the reward, how he retaught himself to read books, and why he’s pursuing mastery in his 60s. If you’re a leader trying to navigate this fragmented world, this conversation is for you.

The post The Algorithm Is Retraining Your Mind (And Why You Can’t Win as a Leader) appeared first on Jon Acuff.

What happens when you set a goal for 20,000 followers in six months and hit half a million instead? Caitlin Campbell built a seven-figure coffee business in the public eye, navigating viral videos, negative comments, and sudden fame along the way. In this episode, Caitlin shares how she went from youth pastor to coffee entrepreneur, why video 2000 was the one that changed everything, and the mindset shift that helped her turn trolls into traction. We dive into the reality of building a business on social media, why she’s deliberately not opening a brick-and-mortar shop yet, and what it’s like when strangers hug you in coffee shops. If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion into a business or wondered how to stay consistent when the middle feels like a slog, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom. Plus, you’ll discover why the algorithm doesn’t care if people love you or hate you—it just wants engagement.

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What if everything you thought about optimism was wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Gervais, high-performance psychologist who’s worked with the Seattle Seahawks, Felix Baumgartner, and world-class performers across every field. We dive deep into why optimism isn’t naive positivity but the ground zero of mental toughness, how Felix overcame crippling claustrophobia to jump from 130,000 feet, and why every world’s best performer Michael has worked with is fundamentally optimistic. You’ll discover the difference between grounded optimism and naive optimism, why your brain’s survival bias is working against you, how to extinguish fear using systematic desensitization, and why mastery requires looseness, not control. Plus, Michael breaks down the power of “yes, and” conversations, becoming a researcher of amazing, and why emotions are running the whole show. If you’ve ever thought optimism was soft or unrealistic, this conversation will change your mind.

The post Hope Is an Act of Open Rebellion: Why Optimism Is the Secret Weapon of World-Class Performers appeared first on Jon Acuff.

Dr. James Hewitt spent years teaching Fortune 500 companies and Formula One teams how to optimize performance—while ignoring his own advice. Then he found a lump in the shower. In this fascinating conversation, James shares how a late-30s cancer diagnosis forced him to confront a hard truth: he wasn’t superhuman. We dive deep into the science of human performance, from why heart rate variability matters more than sleep tracking to how your mindset about stress can fundamentally alter your physiology. You’ll discover why the “monk mode” mentality is flawed, how self-compassion beats perfectionism, why vacation research says 3-4 days works better than two weeks, and the 3P model that explains why high performers struggle to celebrate wins. Plus: why James speaks out loud in hotel rooms, his $15,000 watch collection paired with socks full of holes, and the Mount Rushmore of performance books you need to read.

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Don’t know what to get for that person who has it all? I’ve got you covered. This year’s Try This Gift Guide features 11 items the Acuff house absolutely loved or made in 2025—from the card game that teaches you everything about a person (SkyJo) to the weighted backpack that’s making me look ridiculously in shape (GoRuck), to the brand-new Soundtracks Card Decks that are the perfect stocking stuffer. You’ll also discover the best calendar ever made (yes, I’m biased), customized luggage tags that will save you at the airport, a book about bookstores that will restore your faith in humanity, and the greatest running shoes I’ve ever owned. Most of these are pulled straight from our Amazon order list, so they’re easy to get and quick to ship. Get ready to surprise and delight everyone you know—from travelers to runners to book lovers to that spunky aunt in Santa Fe. Merry Christmas!

The post The Try This Gift Guide 2025: 11 Hidden Gems You Won’t Find Anywhere Else appeared first on Jon Acuff.

I am my niece and nephew’s favorite uncle—mostly because I’m their only uncle, but a win is a win. Election years turn every family gathering into “squirrely uncle season,” and Thanksgiving is ground zero. You’ve got relatives who think differently, believe differently, and this year, vote differently. Before you get into a political argument that could cost you a decades-long relationship, here’s one soundtrack to remember: “Politicians are temporary, family is forever.” In this episode, I’m breaking down why you shouldn’t do long-term damage over short-term politicians, how to set boundaries with difficult relatives, and what Andy Stanley said about winning arguments but losing relationships. This will be the 8th or 9th president of my lifetime—I’ve only had one dad and one mom. Do the math before you flip the table. And whatever you do, don’t grab the pecan pie on your way out. Nuts ruin dessert.

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