Live Elevated with Brian Pruett

What happens when success finally gives you everything.. and you still feel empty?
In this powerful conversation, former MLB All-Star Ian Desmond opens up about the inner battles most people never see, the pressure of elite performance, the moment faith changed everything, and why his life after baseball has been more meaningful than anything he achieved in the big leagues.
We talk about:
- fear of failure vs. pursuit of excellence
- how your inner voice shapes your confidence
- cutting anchors holding you back
- and how to lead with presence, service, and love, especially as a father and coach.
Ian shares deeply personal moments, from panic and mental blocks, to walking away from the game, to coaching his sons to a championship, to building real community impact in Sarasota through New Town Connection.
This episode is about identity, freedom, faith, and redefining success on your own terms.
If you’ve ever chased achievement but still felt unfulfilled.. this one will hit home.

Most men don’t fail because they lack ability.
They fail because they hold onto habits, mindsets, and behaviors that quietly keep them small.
These are 5 things I’m leaving behind to grow more in 2026:
1. Distracted living
If my attention is everywhere, my progress is nowhere. I’m choosing focus over noise.
2. Overthinking and indecision
Clarity comes from action, not thinking harder. I’m deciding faster and adjusting along the way.
3. People pleasing
Approval is expensive. I’m choosing self respect over validation.
4. Waiting to feel ready
Readiness isn't a feeling.. it's a decision. I’m moving BEFORE I feel confident.
5. Playing small
No more shrinking goals to match comfort. I’m raising my standards and stepping into my potential.
If you want more growth in 2026, start by letting go of what’s holding you back ⚡️
Stay tuned, subscribe for part two.
Apply for our next men's summit here: https://liveelevatedlife.com/summit-may26-apply

Most men aren’t broken.
They’re soft.
And the world is perfectly designed to keep them that way 🌎  
I know because I’ve lived it.
I’m a recovering softie myself. I haven’t arrived, but I’ve seen the patterns clearly.. in my own life and in the men I coach.
This episode is about waking up 🌞  
What keeps men soft:
• Comfort and distraction
• Late nights, scrolling, porn
• Blaming, complaining, defending
What keeps men hard:
• Discipline and routine
• Keeping promises to yourself
• Ownership of your life
By hard, I mean effective, awake, strong, healthy, focused, and dangerous for good.
Not reckless. Not angry. Grounded. Capable. Full of Love and Strength.
This is a call to wake up.
To stop drifting.
To become the man your future needs.

This is a raw conversation about addiction, redemption, fatherhood, faith, and what it really means to become a man you respect.

Michael opens up about growing up with an abusive father, the pressure to be perfect, and how that pain led him into heroin addiction and multiple overdoses. We talk about rock bottom moments, the unexpected people who stepped in at the right time, and the daily disciplines that helped pull him back into the light.

We go deep into presence, phone addiction, building businesses from solitude, creating a home full of love, and the hard moments that test you as a father and husband. This is an honest look at the inner battles men face and the quiet decisions that shape who we become.

If you care about becoming a present father, a grounded man, a better leader, and someone who finishes life with integrity, this conversation is for you.

This is real talk for men who want more from life and are willing to do the inner work to get there.

keep becoming ⚡️

As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to slow down and reflect on what actually moved the needle in my life..

In this episode, I share five core lessons from 2025 that I believe are essential if you want a stronger, healthier, more aligned 2026.

We talk about:

 • Why discipline is an act of self-respect

 • Why identity always comes before results

 • How faith and failure shape growth

 • Why letting go is just as important as leveling up

 • And why the people you do life with matter more than anything else

These aren’t motivational ideas. They’re rules to live by, with simple, tangible actions you can take right now.

If you’re tired of doing more but feeling less fulfilled, this episode is for you.

Let’s keep becoming more, together ⚡️