What if the secret to less stress, better health, and more peace of mind isn’t in adding more to your plate—but finally deciding what you’re done pretending you’ll ever do?
In this episode of the Phi Life Podcast, John Barban and Brad Pilon flip the personal development script and introduce a concept that’s equal parts refreshing and rebellious: The Never Do It List. Think of it as the anti-bucket list—a collection of things you’re officially crossing off forever. Not because you’re giving up, but because you’ve outgrown them, or they were never really serving you in the first place.
It all started when John saw a guy in his 60s grinding through a set of burpees at the gym—an exercise John hadn’t done in 20 years. That single moment sparked a thought: What if I just declared, out loud, that I’ll never do burpees again? And weirdly enough… it felt amazing. Like a weight had been lifted. A quiet, satisfying kind of relief that came from drawing a boundary, however small.
From there, things snowballed: skydiving, bungee jumping, riding a bike, lifting max weight for ego—not only did these make it onto the "Never Do It" list, but simply committing to not doing them brought a strange kind of clarity and confidence. Brad adds his own take, sharing how listing what he won’t do in business helped him feel more in control than any goal-setting exercise ever had.
This episode isn’t just about fitness or extreme sports—it’s about permission. Permission to opt out. Permission to stop chasing goals that don’t matter to you. Permission to drop the shoulds and the guilt that come with them. Whether it’s a fitness trend, a social expectation, or a lifestyle you feel pressured to adopt, drawing your personal line in the sand is empowering. It’s also a subtle act of rebellion against the constant “do more” messaging we’re all bombarded with.
Inside this episode:
- Why removing goals might reduce stress more than setting them
- How a single “no” can create surprising mental clarity
- The value of self-awareness in fitness, business, and life
- Stories of dumb injuries and regrets that shaped their “never again” choices
- Why it’s okay (and maybe brilliant) to only train 3 days a week
- The hidden power of restraint, simplicity, and aging like a realist
Whether you’re a former athlete, weekend warrior, or simply someone who’s tired of feeling like you’re always supposed to be doing more—this episode will give you the language and the courage to say “No thanks. That’s just not for me.”
👉 Listen now and start building your own Never Do It List. We promise—it feels way better than you'd think.
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WEBSITES
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https://johnbarban.com
https://bradpilon.com
https://www.totaltclinic.com/podcast-contact/
https://eatstopeat.com
https://www.ultalabtests.com