Podcast appearances and mentions of Joe De Sena

Herb Thompson had already made it. He was Drill Sergeant of the Year, on a clear path to a top enlisted career, and could have stayed where it was safe. He didn't. In this conversation with Joe De Sena, Special Forces veteran Herb Thompson explains why he walked away from the secure path to chase the dream he had since childhood: becoming a Green Beret.   Herb breaks down fear of failure, why most people talk instead of act, how he survived Special Forces selection without feedback, and what it took to rebuild purpose after retirement. This episode is about ownership, sacrifice, and performance under uncertainty. You will leave with practical rules for taking action, handling discomfort, and building a life around what you are willing to earn.   Things You Will Learn: Why ownership matters more than motivation when the goal gets hard. How to break overwhelming pressure into small, winnable steps. Why sacrifice, not talk, is what turns a dream into a result.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Own Your Journey Rule: puts responsibility for progress back on you. Small Chunk Execution: breaks hard goals into immediate next steps under pressure. Sacrifice Filter: clarifies what you are willing to give up to earn what you want.   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Herb Thompson is the only person in Army history to earn both Drill Sergeant of the Year and the Green Beret, a path built on hardship, childhood trauma, and a refusal to quit under extreme pressure. His journey spans combat missions, brutal selection courses, and a post-military identity rebuild that demanded a new kind of discipline. Herb now helps high performers redefine purpose beyond titles through writing, speaking, and leadership development.    Connect to Herb: Website: https://libertyspeaks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herb-thompson-libertyspeaks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_ The Transition Mission Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082RL1SJ2   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

Nine soldiers in a hilltop position. Rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire from every direction. Seven killed. One man left on the radio, calling for help that was not coming. That is where this episode begins. In this Memorial Day special of The Hard Way, Joe De Sena sits down with four men who faced the most extreme physical and mental breaking points a human being can endure.   Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts fought alone and was wounded at a remote observation post in Afghanistan after losing seven teammates around him. Navy SEAL leader Leif Babin breaks down how extreme ownership and the refusal to quit create an advantage when everyone else is suffering. Navy pilot Keegan Gill was ejected from a fighter jet at 695 miles per hour, shattered nearly every major bone in his body, and spent two hours drowning in the Atlantic. Green Beret Nick Lavery lost his leg to machine gun fire in Afghanistan, then fought his way back to become the first above-knee amputee to return to active duty special operations.   Each story delivers a concrete lesson in endurance under fire, ownership of outcomes, and the decision to keep going when quitting is the logical choice.    Things You Will Learn: Why the person who hangs on one minute longer is the one who wins. What extreme ownership looks like in combat and why it builds lasting toughness in any environment. Why asking for help is not a weakness, and why the toughest operators on the planet treat mental health the same as a broken ankle.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Outlast the Field: You do not need to be the best. You need to be the last one still moving when everyone else stops. Extreme Ownership: Own every failure. Share every lesson. The ego hit is temporary. The growth is permanent. Burn the Boats Standard: No Plan B. Meet the standard or die trying. Gray area does not exist at the highest level.   If this episode moved you, do not just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Guests Bios:   Ryan Pitts: Medal of Honor recipient. On July 13, 2008, at a remote observation post in Wanat, Afghanistan, Pitts was wounded in the opening seconds of a massive enemy assault that killed seven of his fellow soldiers. Alone and bleeding, he continued fighting and called for reinforcements on the radio, holding his position until help arrived. He was 22 years old. Pitts spent a year recovering at Walter Reed and has since dedicated himself to sharing the stories of the men who fought beside him and the importance of seeking help when the fight follows you home.   Leif Babin: Former Navy SEAL officer and co-author of Extreme Ownership. Babin led SEAL operations in Ramadi, Iraq, during some of the most intense urban combat of the war. He lost teammates in action and carried those lessons into leadership consulting, teaching that owning your failures — not hiding them — is the foundation of real toughness and lasting performance.   Keegan Gill: Former Navy fighter pilot. During a training exercise over the Atlantic, a system malfunction sent his jet into an unrecoverable dive. He ejected at 695 miles per hour, two seconds from impact. The force shattered both arms, both legs, broke his neck, and caused a traumatic brain injury. His parachute release malfunctioned, and he spent two hours being drowned by his own chute in freezing water before rescue. He woke up two weeks later in a trauma center.   Nick Lavery: Green Beret and the first above-knee amputee to return to active duty special operations. On his third deployment to Afghanistan, machine gun fire destroyed his right leg. From his hospital bed, he committed to returning to his team with no backup plan. After two years of rehabilitation and 14 weeks of assessment, he returned to the same team that was with him when he was wounded and deployed back to Afghanistan seven weeks later. He served 20 years total.   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

At 29 years old, Matt Grace weighed 129 pounds and walked into his mother's house after a three-day crack and alcohol binge. She told him that if he was going to die, it would not be in her house. That was the boundary that started everything.   On this episode of The Hard Way, Joe De Sena sits down with Matt Grace, author of God Doesn't Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life That Almost Killed Me, a former ABC TV reporter who overdosed in a newsroom and spent 13 years destroying every relationship through addiction, manipulation, and enabling.   Matt breaks down how his father's well-intentioned spoiling robbed him of grit and ambition, how his family's enabling nearly killed him, and what happened the morning he got on his knees with a rifle beside him and prayed out of sheer desperation. They also dig into why parents loving their kids too much can be a death sentence, why service is the foundation of lasting recovery, and how structured accountability and community pull people out of destruction.   Things You Will Learn: Why enabling and over-providing destroys a young person's ambition and capacity to endure hardship. The difference between a boundary that saves a life and a rescue that ends one, and what it takes to hold the line. Why service and community replace the void that addiction fills, and why recovery without purpose does not hold.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Hard Boundary Setting: Draw the line. Hold the line. Let consequences teach what words cannot. Service as Structure: Replace self-obsession with outward action. One hour helping someone else is one hour not destroying yourself. Earned Identity Over Given Identity: Stop handing outcomes to your kids. Let them grind. Let them earn. The struggle builds the person.   If this episode moved you, do not just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Matt Grace is an author and transformational recovery expert who has spent more than two decades sober after overcoming addiction himself. With a degree in Addiction Studies and over 10,000 hours mentoring individuals and families, he has dedicated his life to helping people break destructive cycles and rebuild their lives. His work focuses on long-term sobriety, mindset transformation, and guiding people through the difficult but necessary process of reclaiming responsibility and purpose.   Connect to Matt: Website: https://mattgrace.com/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattsavinggrace TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@MattSavingGrace  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattsavinggrace/  God Doesn't Relapse: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/God-Doesnt-Relapse/Matt-Grace/9781637635506   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

A Marine intelligence collector walked through rocket blasts, absorbed traumatic brain injuries he never reported, and came home to hallucinations so severe he planned to end his own life. Dennis Connors, a Marine Corps veteran, human intelligence operator for a tier-one unit, Paralympic silver medalist, and world champion cyclist, sits down with Joe De Sena to break apart the moment grit stops working and what has to replace it.   Dennis lays out his four pillars of perseverance: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community. He explains why toughness without honesty becomes a death sentence, why identity tied to achievement collapses under pressure, and how cycling gave him both a recovery tool and a tribe that pushed him toward the help he refused to ask for.   Things You Will Learn: When grit becomes a liability and what structured perseverance looks like before breakdown hits. The four pillars that replaced white-knuckling it and why each one matters in sequence. Why identity tied to achievement collapses under pressure, and what to anchor self-worth to instead.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Four Pillars of Perseverance: Vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community. A structured framework for long-term recovery and sustained performance. Grit vs. Perseverance Distinction: Grit handles short-term strain. Perseverance handles the years. Know which mode you are in before it fails. Identity Separation Protocol: Detach identity from a single role so transitions do not destroy self-worth.   If this episode moved you, do not just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Dennis Connors is a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence veteran whose path changed after traumatic brain injuries and a stroke forced him to rebuild his life through adaptive sport. He went on to become a Paralympic silver medalist and world champion, continuing to chase challenge through paracycling and paraclimbing, embodying resilience, reinvention, and purpose through adversity.   Connect to Dennis:  Website: https://dennisconnorsusa.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dc_rides_trikes/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcridestrikes   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

Starting a company feels like eating glass for breakfast. Every morning. Olympic rowing hopeful turned five-time founder Patrick Sweeney sits down with Joe De Sena to break down exactly what it takes to cross the belief gap that kills most startups before they ever gain traction.   Patrick went from setting rowing records at UNH to finishing second at the Olympic Trials in the single scull, then carried that same pain tolerance straight into building and exiting technology companies. He explains how the OODA loop, a military fighter pilot doctrine, can replace startup chaos with a weekly cadence. Patrick also unpacks why 95% of top CEOs admit to impostor syndrome and how shared belief maps prevent the illusion of alignment that tears founding teams apart.   Things You Will Learn: Build a shared belief map that exposes hidden misalignment before it breaks your team. Run weekly OODA loop stand-ups that replace startup chaos with structured cadence. Apply the belief gap framework to test hypotheses, track market-product fit, and know when to hit the kill switch.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: OODA Loop Stand-Up: A 30-minute weekly cadence to observe, orient, decide, and act so founders stop reacting and start executing. Shared Belief Map: A team alignment exercise that surfaces hidden disagreements between cofounders and forces clarity on core beliefs versus testable hypotheses. Belief Gap Framework: A model for tracking internal believers (employees, partners) and external believers (customers, investors) to measure whether your startup is crossing from conviction to traction.   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Patrick Sweeney built a life that looked successful on paper: serial entrepreneur, investor, multiple exits, but beneath it lived a quiet, persistent fear that kept him playing small. A rare leukemia diagnosis forced a confrontation with mortality and sparked a complete mindset rewiring: fear wasn't the enemy, it was fuel.   Since beating cancer, Patrick has turned that philosophy into action, setting cycling world-firsts on Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, competing in extreme endurance races, authoring the Wall Street Journal bestselling book Fear Is Fuel, and teaching leaders how to convert anxiety into calculated risk, resilience, and bold execution.   Connect to Patrick:  Website: https://www.pjsweeney.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefearguru/?_ga=2.160567998.289526298.1772475980-622572230.1772475980  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatrickSweeneyFearGuru/?_ga=2.265952780.289526298.1772475980-622572230.1772475980  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefearguru/?_ga=2.265952780.289526298.1772475980-622572230.1772475980  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9llimdnGK79yk3K_ihYQEQ  X/ Twitter:  https://x.com/PJSweeney?_ga=2.265952780.289526298.1772475980-622572230.1772475980  Book Patrick for an event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnMjHNo9Bs   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

A stiff knee looked like a minor problem. Two days later, it was swelling toward the size of a basketball.   Then doctors opened it and found an infection eating him from the inside out. Zachary Garner is a Green Beret, firefighter, and ultra-endurance athlete, and this episode is built around visible stakes: brutal deployments, a catastrophic Ironman crash, traumatic brain injury, seizures, and a fight with flesh-eating bacteria that spread from hip to ankle, into his bloodstream, bones, pelvis, and heart.   He was told it could end fast. He was moved to Mass General, spent time in the ICU, had two strokes, and coded twice. Zachary breaks down what kept him moving forward: discomfort as training, purpose as a stabilizer, loyalty as a standard, and service as the operating system. You'll leave with disciplined rules you can apply when you're stuck, overwhelmed, or looking for excuses.   Things You Will Learn: How to use purpose as a coping mechanism when quitting starts to feel logical. How to normalize discomfort so you don't fold under pressure. How loyalty and service create structure when civilian life feels flat after high-intensity environments.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Do-It-For-Them Anchor: keeps endurance and resilience steady when motivation drops. Discomfort Reps: builds mental toughness through repeated, controlled exposure to discomfort. Service-First Operating System: aligns discipline, responsibility, and daily actions to a clear purpose.   Let's make it something similar to this: If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Zachary Garner is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret who's survived traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, a near-fatal car accident, and necrotizing fasciitis that nearly took his life. Instead of giving up, he's turned pain into purpose, riding across the country, carrying weight for miles, and competing in extreme endurance events to raise awareness for veteran mental health.   Connect to Zachary: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-garner-253605170/ St. George Fire Department: https://www.stgeorgefire.com/   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

Pinned against Arctic cliffs with no way out, Jim Baird realized the truth too late. One bad decision had put him and his brother in a position where no one was coming to help.   In this episode of The Hard Way, Joe De Sena sits down with Alone season 4 winner and extreme explorer Jim Baird to break down remote survival, mental strain, and the consequences of poor judgment in unforgiving environments.   Jim explains why Alone was mentally harder than his most dangerous expeditions, how hardship builds real resilience, and why ownership matters when things go wrong. This episode gives you practical lessons on discipline, endurance, and making better decisions under pressure, grounded in real stakes.   Things You Will Learn: How to recognize when a bad decision becomes a survival problem and what to do next. Why mental endurance breaks faster than physical strength in isolation. How small, daily discomfort builds real resilience and consistency.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Consequence Ownership: Accept and solve the problem once the decision is made. Controlled Discomfort Training: Use small challenges to build endurance and discipline. Mental Endurance Under Isolation: Manage uncertainty, fatigue, and slow decline.   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Jim Baird is a Canadian adventurer and wilderness survival expert best known for winning Alone Season 4, where he and his brother endured 70 brutal days in the remote wilds of Vancouver Island. A filmmaker, ultrarunner, and passionate outdoorsman, Jim has built a life around testing the limits of human endurance and extracting hard-won lessons from nature. His journey embodies resilience, adaptability, and the deep mindset transformation that comes from facing the wild head-on.   Connect to Jim: Website: https://www.theadventurer.com/ Baird Country Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@BairdCountryPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbadventurer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbadventurer/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jim-baird-the-adventurer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jbadventurer?lang=en   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

Machine gun rounds took his right leg in Afghanistan. Nick Lavery decided that wasn't the end. He's an active-duty Green Beret with 5th Special Forces Group, and he went back to the teams as an above-the-knee amputee after a 14-week assessment designed to answer one question: asset or liability. In this conversation with Joe De Sena, Nick breaks down the hard part people miss. The low points. The doubts. The shift from proving himself to owning responsibility for the men beside him and their families. He explains why standards beat feelings, why emotion and logic can't drive the same decision, and why physical training is the most honest way to build mental toughness. You'll leave with practical rules for discipline, resilience, and performance under pressure, built from real stakes.   Things You Will Learn: How to transition from 'prove it' to ownership so your discipline holds when motivation collapses. How to separate emotion from decisions by letting a team or standard run the logic when you can't. How to use physical training as a daily discipline tool to build mental toughness that you can measure.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Asset vs. Liability Standard: clarifies performance and responsibility under high stakes. Analysis vs. Dwelling Rule: turns setbacks into usable data instead of emotional loops. Physical Training as an Operational System: builds discipline, endurance, and mental toughness with objective metrics.   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Nick Lavery is an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces Warrant Officer who became the firstabove-the-knee amputee to return tocombat as a Green Beret after losing his leg to an IED in Afghanistan. Instead of accepting retirement, he chose the harder path and rebuilt himself toreturn to war with his team. His story represents elite leadership under extreme adversity, reclaimingidentity after trauma,and radical ownership in the pursuit of high performance.   Connect to Nick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-lavery-a691871ba/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenicklavery/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nick.Machine.Lavery/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNVniNJKTYRZpTmfyJJjtA    We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

Get AudioBooks for Free Best Self-improvement Motivation Build Mental Toughness: De Sena & Kwik's Guide Strengthen your mindset with Joe De Sena and Jim Kwik. Build resilience, discipline, and peak performance. ⁠We Need Your Love & Support ❤️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 3 Audiobooks Free -

Most people in the gym aren't training hard enough. Dr. Layne Norton has competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting for over two decades, holds a PhD in nutrition, and says the biggest driver of progress isn't fancy programming or influencer meals; it's intensity and consistency.  In this conversation with Joe De Sena, Dr. Layne breaks down what actually builds muscle, why proximity to failure matters more than exercise selection, how to structure protein and calories for muscle or fat loss, and why discipline beats motivation every time.  If you want simple, evidence-backed rules for strength, hypertrophy, and long-term performance, this episode delivers practical standards you can apply immediately.    Things You Will Learn:  How training close to failure determines muscle growth.  How to structure protein and calories for muscle gain or fat loss. Why consistency matters more than motivation in long-term performance.    Tools & Frameworks Covered:  Intensity as the Drug / Volume as the Dosage: clarifies how muscle growth is stimulated.  1% Rule for Fat Loss: protects lean mass while cutting weight.  Discipline Over Motivation Model: separates feelings from execution.     Let's make it something similar to this: If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.    Dr. Layne Norton, PhD, is a renowned expert in nutrition and protein metabolism, as well as a natural bodybuilder and powerlifter. As the Founder of Biolayne and the Carbon Diet Coach app, Dr. Layne focuses on evidence-based research to debunk fitness myths, building his credibility through both rigorous research and brutal physical execution.    Connect to Dr. Layne:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biolayne/?hl=en   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LayneNorton/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMBA83S0TnfTlTeE5j1mgQ   Biolayne Website: https://biolayne.com/   Carbon Diet Coach Website: https://www.joincarbon.com/   The Dr. Layne Norton Podcast: https://biolayne.com/podcasts/    We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

After building a multimillion-dollar pool and construction business in college, and creating a Wall Street trading firm, Joe De Sena set his sights on ripping 100 million people off their couches by creating the Spartan lifestyle. He moved his family to Pittsfield, Vermont to operate an organic farm, a bed and breakfast, and a general store for hikers. It was here his passion grew for ultramarathons, adventure races, and endurance events, and thus the idea for Spartan was born. With more than one million annual global participants at more than 270 events across more than 40 countries, Spartan offers heats for all fitness levels and ages, from beginner to elite and Kids as young as four-years-old. The brand has transformed more than seven million lives since it was founded in 2010. Joe turned an interest in endurance racing into a passion. His racing resume is the stuff of legend – over 50 ultra-events overall and 14 Ironman events in one year alone. De Sena is also the New York Times Best Selling Author of "Spartan Up" and "Spartan Fit," and recently released his third book, "The Spartan Way." Connect with Joe: www.joedesena.com or www.spartan.com BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team come to your school, club or coaching event? Looking for leadership training for yoru student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Summer and Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, "Did that practice really hit the mark?" you will love what they have created. Zone 14's next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

After building a multimillion-dollar pool and construction business in college, and creating a Wall Street trading firm, Joe De Sena set his sights on ripping 100 million people off their couches by creating the Spartan lifestyle. He moved his family to Pittsfield, Vermont to operate an organic farm, a bed and breakfast, and a general store for hikers. It was here his passion grew for ultramarathons, adventure races, and endurance events, and thus the idea for Spartan was born. With more than one million annual global participants at more than 270 events across more than 40 countries, Spartan offers heats for all fitness levels and ages, from beginner to elite and Kids as young as four-years-old. The brand has transformed more than seven million lives since it was founded in 2010. Joe turned an interest in endurance racing into a passion. His racing resume is the stuff of legend – over 50 ultra-events overall and 14 Ironman events in one year alone. De Sena is also the New York Times Best Selling Author of "Spartan Up" and "Spartan Fit," and recently released his third book, "The Spartan Way." Connect with Joe: www.joedesena.com or www.spartan.com BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team come to your school, club or coaching event? Looking for leadership training for yoru student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Summer and Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, "Did that practice really hit the mark?" you will love what they have created. Zone 14's next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

When everything breaks, excuses disappear and standards are exposed. Joe De Sena sits down with Johnnie Yellock, Air Force Combat Controller, combat search and rescue operator, IED survivor, Spartan finisher, and Sons of the Flag advocate. Johnnie lays out the hard rules he lived by after a combat injury that nearly ended his career and changed his body permanently. No motivation. No self-pity. Just ownership, discipline, and action. This conversation delivers simple rules for resilience, accountability, and performance when comfort is gone and quitting would be easy.   Things You Will Learn How to keep standards when injury and setbacks remove excuses How ownership replaces emotion in recovery and daily action How discipline built before crisis determines outcomes after impact Tools & Frameworks Covered What's Next Rule: Forces forward action instead of reflection Standards Don't Change Principle: Maintains discipline regardless of damage Team Before Self Rule: Sustains performance through shared responsibility If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Johnnie Yellock II is a retired U.S. Air Force Special Operations Combat Controller and Purple Heart recipient who survived a life-changing IED blast in Afghanistan. After enduring 33 limb-salvage surgeries and years of grueling rehab, he rebuilt his identity and turned pain into purpose. Today, he speaks across the country about resilience, the hidden battles of trauma, and finding new ways to serve beyond the uniform.    Connect to Johnnie: Website: https://johnnieyellock.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jyellock2  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonsOfTheFlag  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnieyellock YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonsOfTheFlag  Twitter/X: https://x.com/sonsoftheflag    We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

In this powerful Business Mastery conversation, Tony Robbins sits down with Anastasia Soare — founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills — to break down what it really takes to build a billion-dollar brand from nothing. Anastasia escaped Communist Romania in 1989 with no money, no English, and a three-year-old daughter. She arrived in Los Angeles at 31, started her business at 40, and went on to build Anastasia Beverly Hills into a $3 billion global company while creating an entirely new category in the beauty industry.  In Part 2 of this conversation, Tony and Anastasia go deeper into the mindset behind that success — the 12 years she spent traveling to Nordstrom stores every weekend to prove her concept, the Golden Ratio technique that revolutionized eyebrow shaping, and the relentless commitment to quality that allowed her brand to stand out in a crowded market.  They also discuss how to survive market shifts, adapt during crises like COVID, compete when others copy your success, and why the problems you face as an entrepreneur are often proof that you're growing.  The episode concludes with a powerful live Q&A where Tony is joined by both Anastasia and Spartan founder Joe De Sena. Together they answer raw questions about grit, leadership, raising resilient children, and staying hungry even after you've achieved success.  This isn't just a beauty story. It's an immigrant story. It's a story about starting late — and refusing to quit. As Anastasia says: "If you believe in your product, don't you ever give up."  If you've ever thought, it's too late to build something extraordinary — this conversation will change your mind. Want to experience transformational growth for your own business? Join Business Mastery, happening virtually and in person from August 12–16, 2026, to learn directly from Tony Robbins and world-class faculty.  Secure your spot to Business Mastery here: https://tonyr.co/4cB5IkU 

Quitting at the right time takes more discipline than pushing to the top. Elite high-altitude mountaineer David Göttler talks with Joe De Sena about turning around 100 meters from Everest without oxygen, using fear as data at 8,000 meters, and why getting down is mandatory. They break down decision rules, ego control, endurance, and training mental toughness before the crisis hits.   Hard standards matter. Disciplined decisions wins. Resilience must hold when energy and clarity drop.   Things You Will Learn: How to set hard turnaround rules and keep them. How to use fear as a signal, not a weakness. How to train in discomfort so performance holds under pressure. Tools & Frameworks Covered: Pre-Set Rules: Decide at sea level. Execute at 8,000 meters. Hard Turnaround Time: Summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory. Discomfort Training: Train tired. Train cold. Train when you don't feel like it. If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   David Göttler's relationship with the mountains began in fear—at age ten, he froze in panic during his first climb and didn't return for three years, before choosing persistence over comfort and committing his life to the mountains.   Now an elite high-altitude mountaineer known for climbing light and fast without supplemental oxygen, he has summited multiple 8,000-meter peaks and learned that survival at the edge depends on discipline, self-awareness, and the strength to turn back when ambition threatens good judgment.   Connect to David: Website: https://david-goettler.de/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_goettler/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/David.Goettler.alpinist/?locale=es_LA  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@david_goettler    We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text MessageMarch Madness doesn't just create upsets, it exposes pressure. When a Blue Blood full of NBA-bound freshmen meets an older underdog with nothing to lose, the scoreboard can lie and the clock tells the truth. I'm David Kaiser, and this Mojo Minute breaks down the anatomy of the NCAA Tournament upset so you can see Cinderella coming before the final buzzer.We start with the real advantage most fans ignore: expectation weight. Favorites carry draft stock, school history, and the fear of becoming a meme, which quietly turns “talent” into tension. Then we borrow a mental model from Joe DeSena's Spartan Up and the “iceberg of pain” to show how underdog coaches shrink a massive task into something playable: don't win 40 minutes, win the next four. In college basketball, the media timeouts become “telephone poles,” giving teams a set of winnable segments and a way to build belief brick by brick.From there, we walk the second-half checkpoints that decide upset alert status: under 16, under 12, the under-8 pivot point, and the under-4 pressure cooker where the crowd and the entire country start pulling for the little guy. You'll hear how St. Peter's turned Kentucky's environment into a weapon, and how Fairleigh Dickinson's numbers against Purdue reveal the same blueprint in the box score. We finish with an upset cheat sheet: red flags that the favorite is getting tight, green lights that the underdog is ready, and exactly what to watch the next time your bracket is on the line.If this changes how you watch the tournament, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves bracket chaos, and leave a review so more fans can learn to watch the clock instead of chasing the score.Key Points from the Episode:• blue blood talent vs underdog experience and freedom• expectation weight as the favorite's hidden weakness• Joe DeSena's “iceberg of pain” and shrinking the task• “win the next four minutes” as the core mental strategy• media timeouts as built-in checkpoints under 16, 12, 8, and 4• under-8 timeout as the psychological pivot point• under-4 timeout as the moment the crowd and country flip• red flags for a tight favorite and green lights for a confident underdog• an upset cheat sheet for spotting bracket-busters liveBe sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resources.Until next time, keep getting your mojo up.Other resources: Want to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly!

In Part 1 of this Business Mastery 2026 conversation, Tony Robbins sits down with Joe De Sena, Founder & CEO of Spartan, the global endurance brand that's pushed millions of people to test their limits across 40+ countries, to unpack the mindset, resilience, and decision-making required to build a global business from the ground up. Joe shares how nearly losing everything during the pandemic reshaped his leadership, why "fire, ready, aim" beats waiting for the perfect plan, and how deliberately choosing discomfort builds the mental toughness required to lead at scale. Together, Tony and Joe explore why most people quit before they ever begin, how to iterate your offer until the market responds, and why mission-driven leadership outperforms motivation when the pressure is on.  This is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders — and for anyone who wants to build something meaningful without waiting for ideal conditions! *Want to experience transformational growth for your own business? Join Business Mastery, happening virtually and in person from August 12–16, 2026, to learn directly from Tony Robbins and world-class faculty.  *Secure your spot to Business Mastery here: https://tonyr.co/4cB5IkU

Winning early often creates weak habits later. Veteran coach and founder of Changing the Game Project, John O'Sullivan, joins Joe De Sena to explain how coaches and parents lose athletes by lowering expectations, misusing recovery, and chasing short-term wins. They lay out simple rules for building resilient competitors, setting non-negotiable standards, and letting kids struggle without stepping in. This conversation delivers clear, experience-based guidance for developing athletes who can handle discomfort, take ownership, and perform under pressure. Things You Will Learn: How standards drive long-term athlete development Why struggle and loss are necessary for resilience How parents and coaches should enforce accountability Tools & Frameworks Covered: Standards-First Coaching: creates clarity and accountability Purpose vs. Outcome Thinking: keeps development ahead of winning Recovery Discipline: balances effort without lowering standards Resilience isn't taught through speeches. It's built through standards, repetition, and discomfort. Start there. No more excuses. Spartan.com. John O'Sullivan spent decades inside competitive sport as a player, coach, and team leader, experiencing firsthand the physical pressure, emotional strain, and identity challenges that shape athletes over time. After seeing how ego, fear, and external pressure erode performance and joy, he committed his career to rebuilding sport around discipline, purpose, and long-term development. His work represents three core themes: resilient leadership, mindset-driven performance, and building character through intentional struggle. Connect to John: Website: https://changingthegameproject.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctgprojecthq/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingTheGameProject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohnosullivan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel Twitter/X: https://x.com/CTGProjectHQ We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race. 

Raising resilient kids requires more than just protection from discomfort. It requires teaching them how to move through it with confidence and strength. In this episode, Spartan founder Joe De Sena and clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Pence share the core principles from their book 10 Rules for Resilience for Families and challenge many modern parenting norms. We talk about boundaries, consistency, discipline, movement, nutrition, screen time, and why overparenting can unintentionally create anxiety and insecurity in children. This conversation may stretch you, spark reflection, and encourage meaningful shifts in how you show up as a parent. Take what resonates, leave what does not, and trust yourself as you raise capable, grounded humans. Topics Covered In This Episode: Teaching resilience in children Why boundaries create security Overparenting and anxious kids Building grit and mental toughness Raising capable, independent adults Show Notes: Find a Spartan Race near you  Follow @realjoedesena on Instagram Follow @drlarapence on Instagram Read 10 Rules for Resilience Mental Toughness for Families  Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD's  online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood. Listen to today's episode on our website Joe De Sena is the founder and CEO of Spartan and the Death Race, the world's leading endurance sports and wellness brand with a community over 10 million strong. He is the New York Times bestselling author of three books, Spartan Up!, Spartan Fit, and The Spartan Way. De Sena also hosts the Spartan Up! Podcast, which features weekly interviews with some of the world's greatest minds in business, sports and leadership. His mission—transforming 100 million people through the Spartan lifestyle. More at: www.joedesena.com Dr. Lara Pence is a clinical psychologist and Chief Mind Doc at Spartan. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Dr. Pence is one of the most sought-after therapists in the community, having served on the Board of Directors for Embody Love Movement and The Elisa Project. In 2018, Dr. Pence founded LIGHFBOX, a company that helps individuals build self-mastery and mental resilience through daily exercises and challenges. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, the BBC, Glamour, Vogue, WebMD, Psychology Today, and The Huffington Post. More at: www.drlarapence.co INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.

Most people don't fall apart overnight. They drift when structure disappears. In this episode, former U.S. Army veteran, health and wellness entrepreneur, and podcast host Chase Chewning joins Joe De Sena to break down what happens when identity, purpose, and community are stripped away. Chase lays out the hard lessons from medical discharge, career-ending injury, and loss, and how discipline, ownership, and community rebuild momentum. This is a blunt conversation about resilience, daily structure, and choosing responsibility when comfort is easier. Listeners will learn how to reset after loss, why discipline beats mindset, and how to move forward without excuses.   Things You Will Learn: How to rebuild identity after injury, loss, or a forced reset Why community is required for resilience and long-term performance How ownership replaces motivation and keeps you moving Tools & Frameworks Covered: Ever Forward rule: move despite pain and uncertainty Community as structure: accountability when discipline slips Ownership principle: take responsibility, no matter the circumstance If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Chase Chewning's life is a story of breaking down and rebuilding stronger. After serving six years in the U.S. Army and enduring devastating injuries that left him learning to walk twice, Chase transformed pain into purpose.    Today, through his hit show Ever Forward Radio and his work in wellness and podcast education, he shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, mindset, and the power of turning struggle into strength.   Connect to Chase: Website: www.chasechewning.com www.operationpodcast.com   Instagram: @everforwardradio @operationpodcast   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race. 

Most people quit when progress slows. Max King kept going and got better. In this episode, two-time world champion endurance athlete Max King sits down with Joe De Sena to break down what actually sustains performance over decades. They talk about why discipline beats motivation, how putting races on the calendar removes excuses, and how managing injuries early keeps careers alive. This conversation focuses on endurance, ownership, and staying competitive long after others fade. You'll take away simple rules for training consistently, handling setbacks, and building resilience that holds up under pressure. Things You Will Learn: • How to stay competitive as others quit • How to use discipline instead of motivation • How to manage injuries without stopping Tools & Frameworks Covered: Calendar Commitment Rule: creates accountability through fixed deadlines Outlasting Approach: wins through consistency and experience Early Injury Response: prevents small problems from ending progress Max King is an elite American endurance athlete who built his career by repeatedly choosing the hardest path, successfully competing across track, road, mountain, trail, and ultra-distance racing at a world-class level. From Olympic Trials and world championships to 100-kilometer suffering and iconic Fastest Known Times, his journey reflects relentless discipline, mental adaptability, and deep respect for durability over ego. Now he coaches the same way: build resilience, stay useful under pressure, and stay elite for life. Connect to Max:

Get AudioBooks for FreeBest Self-improvement MotivationBuilding Mental Toughness | Joe De Sena & Jim KwikBuild unstoppable mental toughness with Joe De Sena and Jim Kwik. Discover powerful mindset, resilience, and performance strategies to overcome any challenge.Get AudioBooks for Free⁠We Need Your Love & Support ❤️https://buymeacoffee.com/myinspiration#Motivational_Speech#motivation #inspirational_quotes #motivationalspeech Get AudioBooks for Free Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pressure reveals the truth. It shows what you trained and what you avoided. In this episode, strength coach, strongman gym owner, mental conditioning coach, and licensed therapist Brian Alsruhe talks with Joe De Sena about why discipline fails before strength and how missed decisions under stress lead to quitting. They break down using physical hardship to train the mind, stacking small wins daily, and choosing discomfort to build resilience. The listener gains simple rules to perform under pressure, own outcomes, and stop making excuses.   Things You Will Learn How pressure exposes weak discipline How to build mental toughness through daily discomfort How small decisions decide long-term performance Tools & Frameworks Covered Stacked Wins: build discipline through daily action Pressure Training: sharpen decision-making under stress Discomfort Practice: strengthen resilience before it's required   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Guest Bio: Brian Alsruhe is a strength coach, strongman athlete, and founder of NEVERsate Athletics, a global community built around resilience, discipline, and personal accountability. His background in counter terrorism and his work toward a graduate degree in clinical mental health shaped his approach to physical and emotional endurance under real pressure. Brian's life represents three core themes: overcoming adversity through discomfort, using strength as a tool for transformation, and teaching people to become harder to kill in both body and mindset.   Connect to Brian: Website: https://www.neversate.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neversate  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Rt7E2JVz4fPmC8AhjDoaA    

When the mission ends, discipline gets exposed. What happens when the uniform comes off and no one is giving orders anymore? Former Army Airborne Infantry soldier and nonprofit founder Jonathan Milkovich joins Joe De Sena to talk about life after service, losing structure, and rebuilding standards from scratch. They cover the gap between military experience and civilian reality, why discipline must become self-directed, and how endurance training, competition, and finish lines replace lost mission and purpose. This episode delivers clear rules for ownership, structure, and performance when no one is watching.   Things You Will Learn How to keep discipline when orders and structure are gone How to rebuild purpose through standards, not motivation How competition and finish lines create accountability   Tools & Frameworks Covered Calendar-Based Challenges: create urgency and structure without external orders Endurance Training & Finish Lines: rebuild identity through proof of work Checklist Ownership Systems: replace motivation with repeatable discipline  If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Jonathan Milkovich is a military veteran who struggled deeply after transitioning out of service, losing the structure, identity, and sense of purpose that once defined his daily life.   Through endurance racing, he rebuilt discipline, clarity, and self-belief, discovering that physical challenge could become a pathway back to meaning. That journey led him to found Operation WarriorFit, centered on purpose after service, discipline through fitness, and rebuilding identity through shared challenge.   Connect to Jonathan: Website: https://www.operationwarriorfit.com/new-page-1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkovichjonathan/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Operation-WarriorFit-61569077765518 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangmilkovich

What holds when everything breaks is not motivation, talent, or hype? It's rules built under pressure. In this episode, elite ultra-endurance athlete and coach Jeff Browning, aka Bronco Billy, talks with Joe De Sena about how distance exposes weak standards and why rules, not motivation, decide who finishes. They break down hard calendars, pre-set rules, and the cost of quitting under pressure. This is a straight talk on ownership, preparation, and making clear decisions when fatigue hits. Listeners leave with simple rules they can apply immediately to training, work, and life.   Things You Will Learn How setting rules in advance prevents quitting under pressure Why long distance and hard deadlines force discipline faster than motivation How finishing hard things builds repeatable resilience   Tools & Frameworks Covered Hard Calendars: Force daily accountability and consistent action Pre-Set Rules: Remove emotional decision-making under fatigue Finish vs. Quit Framework: build resilience by training completion, not comfort   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Jeff Browning, known as Bronco Billy, is one of the most durable and decorated ultrarunners on the planet. With over 200 ultras and 40+ career wins including 32 victories at the 100 - mile distance he's proof that grit, adaptability, and discipline can outlast age and adversity. From farm chores in Missouri to near-death mountain moments, Jeff's story embodies endurance through hardship, mindset mastery, and the pursuit of longevity through "the hard way."   Connect to Jeff : Website: https://www.gobroncobilly.com/about-jeff-browning/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobroncobilly 

Pressure doesn't ask if you're ready. It hits, and most people freeze. Retired Navy SEAL officer and combat leader Jason Redman talks with Joe De Sena about Hell Week, Ranger School, combat failure, recovery, and the rule of getting off the X. They break down why thinking too long gets you stuck, why quitting in the moment is a mistake, and how discipline is built by moving first and fixing it later. The takeaway is direct: act under pressure, own the outcome, and build resilience through discomfort, not comfort.   Things You Will Learn: How to act when pressure hits Why hesitation keeps you stuck How discipline is built through movement   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Get Off the X: act before conditions improve Never Quit in the Moment: avoid bad decisions under stress Awareness–Preparation–Action: stay effective when plans fail   If this episode hit, don't sit on it. Get off the X. Take action. Subscribe to the podcast. Follow for more hard rules. Check Spartan races, books, and resources at Spartan.com. Own the work.   Jason Redman is a former U.S. Navy SEAL whose life was transformed by combat injury and near-death experience, turning that hardship into a powerful message of resilience, leadership, and human potential. After being severely wounded in Iraq and undergoing dozens of surgeries, he authored bestselling books and built a career speaking and coaching on overcoming adversity, teamwork, and mindset. His core themes: "get off the X" (moving from crisis to action), leadership under pressure, and the belief that greatness is within you regardless of circumstance.   Connect to Jason: Website: https://jasonredman.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonredmanww/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonredmanww/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-redman-b8324210/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlcniaDl7BxOLMCn-EoXqw  

When everything gets hard, discipline decides the outcome. This episode cuts through the noise and shows what holds when the body quits and motivation is no longer an option. Explorer, ultra-endurance athlete, and expedition leader Ray Zahab talks with Joe De Sena about surviving cancer, crossing the Arctic, disconnecting from distraction, and choosing action under pressure. A no-nonsense breakdown of ownership, resilience, and rules tested by real pressure.   Things You Will Learn: How to keep moving when energy is gone and comfort is no longer available Why simple decisions outperform complex plans under pressure How repeated hardship forges real resilience through action Tools & Frameworks Covered: Stop or Go Rule: eliminates hesitation and forces commitment Calendar Discipline: enforces action before emotions interfere Discomfort as Training: conditions mental and physical endurance through exposure  If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Ray Zahab went from being a sedentary smoker to one of the world's most accomplished ultra-endurance explorers, running thousands of kilometers across the planet's harshest environments. His journey from unhealthy habits to global expeditions reveals the power of mindset shifts, resilience, and purpose-driven adventure. Through his non-profit impossible2Possible, he transforms exploration into education proving that breaking limits, physically and mentally, can empower others to do the extraordinary.   Connect to Ray: Website: https://zachbitter.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachbitter  YouTube: https://zachbitter.com/hpo 

Your mind quits before your body does. That's where most people fail. World-record ultra-endurance runner and endurance coach Zach Bitter sits with Joe De Sena to talk about what breaks people when the miles stack up. Discipline under load. Mental control past mile 60. The rules that keep you moving when quitting makes sense. They cut through ego, impatience, and comfort, explain how to manage mental breakdowns, and show why comfort destroys performance.   Things You Will Learn How to hold the line when your mind tells you to stop How to manage fatigue without negotiating with yourself How to build endurance through structure, not motivation Tools & Frameworks Covered Zoom Out / Zoom In Rule: keeps you moving by shrinking the problem and controlling focus Low-Intensity Discipline Model: builds endurance without burning out or quitting early Anti-Comfort Execution Rule: removes easy exits to maintain forward momentum   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Zach Bitter is an American ultramarathon runner who set world records in the 100-mile and 12-hour runs, showcasing the limits of human endurance. A former collegiate athlete turned elite ultrarunner, Zach has built his career around disciplined training, mental toughness, and strategic performance. As a coach and podcaster, he helps others develop resilience, focus, and sustainable methods for peak endurance.    Connect to Zach: Website: https://zachbitter.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachbitter  YouTube: https://zachbitter.com/hpo

"Comfort absolutely murders your passion for life."  Progress comes from earning results the hard way—through discipline, physical effort, and daily standards that do not bend when motivation fades. Comfort weakens execution, while controlled hardship sharpens judgment, energy, and resilience. Whether in business, health, or life, the ability to persist when things get hard determines who lasts and who fades out.  Joe De Sena reflects on a life shaped by hustle, structure, and relentless effort—from early business lessons learned as a teenager to walking away from Wall Street in pursuit of something more alive. He shares how Spartan began as a failed idea, survived a decade of losses, nearly collapsed during the pandemic, and still grew into a global movement with a single mission: get people off the couch and back into ownership of their lives.  Joe is the founder of Spartan Race, bestselling author of Spartan Tough, and a lifelong advocate for physical challenge as a gateway to mental strength. His work has influenced millions worldwide by blending endurance, mindset, and discipline into a framework that rewards action over comfort.  Expert action steps:  Win the morning – Wake up early, train first, and earn your day before distractions take over.  Manufacture discomfort – Use cold exposure, physical challenge, and discipline to sharpen focus and resilience.  Eliminate friction – Remove social media consumption and processed habits that dilute energy and execution.  Learn more & connect:  https://joedesena.com/  IG: @realjoedesena Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

Being smart won't save you when pressure shows up. Why intelligence fails without discipline, ownership, and the ability to read what isn't written? CodeBreaker Mindset author, former investment banker, journalist, and venture partner Chitra Nawbatt talks with Joe De Sena about making decisions under stress, voluntary versus forced pivots, and why comfort keeps capable people stuck. The focus is on simple rules, earned judgment, and building discipline that holds when conditions get hard.   Things You'll Learn: How to recognize unwritten rules before they cost you momentum How to make decisions under pressure instead of freezing or defaulting to comfort How to build discipline that allows you to pivot before life forces it Tools & Frameworks Covered: CodeBreaker Mindset: A discipline for reading unwritten rules before they break you Voluntary vs. Forced Pivots: A rule for moving early instead of waiting for failure to decide for you Pattern Recognition Under Pressure: A method for making cleaner decisions when stress and noise increase   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Chitra Nawbatt is a multidisciplinary executive known for building businesses, guiding leaders through high-stakes decisions, and developing the CodeBreaker Mindset framework. Her career spans investing, media creation, and interviewing top leaders on growth, innovation, and resilience. She represents the themes of strategic pressure, personal reinvention, and disciplined mindset transformation.   Connect to Chitra Nawbatt: Website: https://www.chitranawbatt.com/about-chitra   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chitranawbatt/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChitraNawbattPage   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitranawbatt/   Twitter/X: https://x.com/chitranawbatt     

Most people fail under pressure because they never trained for it. What holds up under pressure is built long before comfort disappears. Army veteran, burn survivor, speaker, and actor JR Martinez sits down with Joe De Sena to break down how discipline is built before the crisis, why weak standards collapse fast, and how ownership, autonomy, and daily reps create real resilience. They cover parenting without rescue, pausing instead of reacting, using discomfort as data, and why refusing to lower standards is non-negotiable. Listeners leave with clear rules for holding the line when pressure hits.   Things You Will Learn: Why pressure exposes weak standards and untrained discipline How refusing rescue builds strength, autonomy, and resilience How to stay in the fight when stress removes comfort Tools & Frameworks Covered: Pressure as the Test: Shows what was actually trained No-Rescue Parenting and Leadership: Builds ownership and accountability Pause Before You Break: Keeps control when pressure spikes Timestamps: 00:38 Childhood responsibility and building autonomy early 07:37 When pressure exposes weak standards 13:15 Learning to pause instead of reacting under stress 17:45 Pressure as a test not a punishment 20:49 Using hardship as data instead of excuses   If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Connect to JR Martinez: Website: https://jrmartinez.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjrmartinez/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjrmartinez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrmartinez/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JRMartinez83  Twitter/X: https://x.com/iamjrmartinez

What if the hardest years of your life turned out to be the ones that made you unstoppable? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill break down why your greatest advantage is not your wins but the wisdom you have gained along the way. Drawing on Warren Buffett's final shareholder letter, he explains how reflection, long-term thinking, and the ability to navigate uncertainty shape the leaders who endure. Whether this year felt like a breakthrough or a struggle, you will see why your future can still be greater than your past. Here's what you'll learn: Why your setbacks, mistakes, and “learning years” compound into your most valuable advantage How to think beyond the next month or quarter and make decisions that hold up years from now What it takes to stop punishing your past self, extract the lesson, and move forward with clarity If you're ready to enter the next year wiser, stronger, and more intentional, this episode shows you how. ---- 02:08 — The lesson from Warren Buffett's final shareholder letter and its relevance for long-term thinkers. 04:51 — Understanding the difference between a winning year and a learning year. 05:06 — How shifting from short-term decisions to five- and ten-year thinking changes your outcomes. 06:45 — The Navy SEAL “no finish line” analogy and why uncertainty shapes the strongest leaders. 08:10 — Why you must stop punishing your past self and evaluate decisions based on the information you had at the time. 10:13 — The real timeline of results and why growth depends on your starting point and expectations. 15:33 — How to know when your firm is truly ready to scale and why waiting to feel “ready” keeps you stuck. 20:23 — Making tough personnel decisions and why keeping the wrong people holds your entire team back. ---- Links & Resources: Warren Buffett Warren Buffett's Final Letter to Shareholders ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 412. Why Doing Hard Things Is the Ultimate Advantage with Joe De Sena 383. AMMA — Why Comfort Will Quietly Destroy Your Law Firm 370. Why Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Growth with Verne Harnish

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." — Winston ChurchillWelcome to our annual holiday gift guide!These are the items that have made the biggest impact on my life throughout the year, and I know they'll do the same for you or for someone else if you're giving them as a gift.What made the biggest difference in your life this year? Leave a comment to let us know.Onward,JamesPS —⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We just passed 10M+ views on YouTube! ⁠Join 23K+ other subscribers on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when discipline meets adversity? In a world where comfort wins too easily, true progress begins with facing hard challenges head-on. Joe De Sena talks with Zeus Fitness founder and adaptive coach Jake Weiner about building grit through adaptive training, creating community for athletes with disabilities, and turning mindset shifts into lasting confidence.   Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Learned: Mindset Reframing: Jake explains how shifting "I can't" to "I'll try" transforms both athletes and parents, proving that confidence is built one small win at a time. Adaptive Coaching Approach: Training without specialized equipment—just smarter coaching, personalized cues, and consistent feedback. Environment and Community Design: Creating a supportive gym culture where athletes mirror each other's discipline, replacing isolation with shared strength. Routine as Ritual: Building daily movement habits that anchor mindset and consistency—discipline treated like brushing your teeth. Perspective Shift Practice: Using the mantra "It could be worse" to ground gratitude and push through discomfort.   Closing Insight: "Discipline turns obstacles into opportunity—because every hard thing you face trains both body and mind."   Listen & Subscribe: Apple: The Hard Way Podcast Spotify: The Hard Way Podcast   Short, Impactful Content: Instagram: @thehardwaypodcast From host directly: @realjoedesena   Join the Spartan Community: Find Your Next Spartan Race: spartan.com/en/race/find-race For everything Spartan: spartan.com   Timestamps: [00:10] The Mission Behind Zeus Fitness Jake explains how Zeus Fitness became a training ground for adaptive athletes. [03:25] Reframing the Mindset Jake shares how shifting mindset changes how athletes, parents, and coaches face challenges. [11:48] Building Rituals That Outlast Motivation Consistency beats intensity. Discipline becomes automatic when workouts are treated like daily hygiene. [15:21] The Power of Community and Spartan Grit Jake explains how his athletes train year-round for Spartan Races—proving that shared purpose and team energy build more than strength; they build resilience. [20:40] A Lesson in True Commitment One athlete skips Disneyland to make his workout. A reminder that when purpose is strong enough, excuses disappear.

He beat cancer four times, kicked addiction, then found freedom in the mud. Nick Klingensmith went from victim to Spartan, trading comfort for purpose and excuses for effort. He shares what it takes to rebuild when life keeps knocking you down and how to find a WHY so strong it outlasts pain, excuses, and fear. Stop waiting. Move and get free. Watch now!   Timestamps: 00:00 Nick's Childhood and Early Life 00:28 Getting a Cancer Diagnosis 01:09 Staying Positive Through Cancer 01:52 Other Health Issues 02:42 Hitting Rock Bottom & Alcoholism 04:39 The Turning Point & Spartan Races 05:49 The First Race & Rediscovering Freedom 07:13 Addiction to Progress 07:50 Writing the First Book 08:54 The Power of Feeling Alive 10:27 Finding Spartan Community 12:30 Advice for Those Stuck on the Couch 13:40 How to Connect to Nick 14:23 Find Purpose & Dream Bigger 16:26 Choosing Strength Over Victimhood 19:01 Perspective and Gratitude 20:16 Overcoming Fear & Embracing Scars  

Today's wisdom comes from The Spartan Way by Joe De Sena.   If you're loving Heroic Wisdom Daily, be sure to subscribe to the emails at heroic.us/wisdom-daily.   And… Imagine unlocking access to the distilled wisdom form 700+ of the greatest books ever written.   That's what Heroic Premium offers: Unlimited access to every Philosopher's Note. Daily inspiration and actionable tools to optimize your energy, work, and love. Personalized coaching features to help you stay consistent and focused   Upgrade to Heroic Premium →   Know someone who'd love this? Share Heroic Wisdom Daily with them, and let's grow together in 2025!   Share Heroic Wisdom Daily →

What if the only way to build unshakable success is to suffer for it every single day? As part of the “Road to the Summit”, a special series ramping up to the 2025 Game Changers Summit this November 12–13, we're revisiting some of the most powerful conversations ever featured at our events. In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, we're throwing it back to the 2023 Game Changers Summit, where Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of Spartan Race, took the stage to unpack what it truly takes to lead with grit, persistence, and purpose.   From cleaning pools for mobsters in Queens to building a global fitness empire that nearly collapsed during the pandemic, Joe's story is a masterclass in resilience. He reveals that doing hard things isn't punishment but preparation, and that embracing discomfort builds the kind of resilience that separates those who survive from those who succeed. Here's what you'll learn: Why embracing adversity every day builds the grit required to win How to find your “why” — and use it to push through the toughest moments What it takes to turn pain, persistence, and purpose into long-term success If you want to build a life that can't be broken, this episode will show you how to earn it. ---- Show Notes: 02:43 – Joe recalls growing up in Queens surrounded by hustlers and mobsters — and the lessons that shaped his early work ethic. 07:26 – The business advice Joe received from a mob boss that taught him the value of showing up early, going above and beyond, and never asking for money. 11:53 – Joe shares how his repeated rejections from Cornell taught him the power of persistence and delayed gratification. 18:46 – The creation of Spartan Race — how Joe turned his passion for endurance and suffering into a global fitness empire. 20:44 – Joe reveals how the pandemic nearly destroyed Spartan, costing $50 million, and why grit kept him from quitting. 25:42 – The story of the Japanese marathon monks and what extreme commitment looks like in practice. 33:48 – Why manufacturing adversity every day — through cold showers, burpees, and hard choices — is the key to building lasting resilience. Links & Resources: Spartan Race Tough Mudder Spartan Up! by Joe De Sena 10 Rules for Resilience by Joe De Sena Joe de Sena ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. —- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 364. How to Train Your Brain for Unbelievable Success 353. How He Trained His Mind to Never Quit — Using Something You'd Never Guess with James Lawrence 198. A-List Athletes — The Mindsets of Champions

“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” — Will RogersJoe De Sena is a New York Times bestselling author, fitness icon, and the founder of Spartan—a global movement that's transformed 15M+ lives through its world-renowned endurance events and lifestyle programs.After a successful corporate career, Joe left it all behind to pursue a more meaningful mission: to get 100 million people off the couch. What started as a few races in Vermont has exploded into a global fitness phenomenon, with over 1M+ participants across 40+ countries every year.Joe has personally completed more than 50 ultra-events, even completing 14 Ironmans in a single year. He now trains others to build mental toughness, embrace discomfort, and live with purpose.In this episode:• How to strengthen your mindset through physical challenges.• The daily discipline behind elite performance.• Why modern life makes us soft — and what to do about it.• How to build a healthy, loving, and resilient family.

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Matt Prouty, a police officer showing what real community leadership looks like. When Matt Prouty saw addiction and homelessness destroying his community, he didn't wait for policy—he built a street team, set up shower programs, and met people where they were. No excuses. No red tape. Just real action. This is a raw, inspiring look at what happens when one person steps up and leads from the front.   Watch now—and ask yourself: where could you step up in your own community?   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:20 Meet Matt Prouty 01:36 What's Matt's Superpower 02:56 The Reality of Homelessness and Drug Use 04:15 Faith-Based Community Housing Models 05:44 The Role of Local Communities 07:06 How Matt's Upbringing Shaped His Mission 09:13 From Law Enforcement to Outreach 10:14 Shower & Laundry Program 11:23 Playing the Long Game in Outreach 12:14 Team-Based Street Outreach Works Best 13:38 The Growth of Police-Led Outreach 15:04 How Can People Help 16:16 How Project Vision Was Born 17:28 How to Donate to Project Vision   Connect to Matthew & Project Vision: Website: https://projectvisionrutland.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectvisionrutland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvisionrutland

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Navy SEAL veteran Gus Gustavson for an unforgettable look at what it truly takes to build unshakable grit.   From a small-town upbringing and a Mormon mission in Brazil to surviving Hell Week. Not once, but twice. Gus reveals how discipline, purpose, and mental toughness shaped every step of his journey.   You'll hear how his military mindset now fuels a powerful mission to train law enforcement and save lives. Whether you're chasing your next Spartan finish line or just trying to push through life's obstacles, this episode will challenge your excuses and reset your perspective.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Meet Karl Gus Gustavson 02:07 Background & High School 02:35 Coaches Who Built Character 03:38 Gus's Mormon Mission to Brazil 04:43 Mission Work as a Rite of Passage 06:50 Learning to Communicate & Coexist 07:53 Returning from Brazil and the 9/11 Turning Point 08:49 Why He Joined the Navy SEALs 11:17 Injuries and Perseverance in SEAL Training 13:54 Getting Assigned to the “Wrong Coast” 15:19 Reflections on His SEAL Career 17:33 Perspective from WWII Veterans 19:01 Physical Struggle Builds Mental Strength 19:49 Life After the SEALs 20:52 Support from the Spartan Community   Connect to Karl Gus Gustavson: Website: https://c1p.org  Instagram: @kgus245 (personal) / @community_first_project (organization) Facebook: Community First Project LinkedIn: Community First Project

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Jessica Cox, a woman born without arms, yet a licensed pilot, black belt in Taekwondo, and living proof that limits are self-imposed. Together, they explore how hardship builds mental toughness, why fear is a choice, and how you can turn obstacles into fuel. Jessica's story will shatter your excuses and shift your mindset. If you're ready to stop playing it safe and start living without limits—this episode is your wake-up call.   Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Jessica Cox 00:19 Born Without Arms 01:02 Gratitude and First-World Comforts 02:30 Childhood Struggles and Resilience 05:22 Her Parents' Role in Building Confidence 06:17 Dealing with Bullying and Finding Self-Worth 08:39 Became the first armless pilot 10:33 Obstacles Build Discipline 11:18 Inventing the Dressing Tool 12:21 What Holds Most People Back 13:59 The Power of Facing Fear 14:57 The Impossible Airplane Project 17:36 Jessica's 30-Year Journey in Taekwondo 19:36 Final Words & Future Collaboration     Connect to Jessica: Website: https://www.jessicacox.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rightfooted  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacox  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rightfooted  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicacox

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with performance coach and father of five, Joe Greco, to talk about what it really takes to build grit in your kids, your career, and yourself. From Spartan-style parenting to leading high-performing teams, Joe shares battle-tested strategies for mastering discipline, staying purpose-driven, and unlocking your full potential. Whether you're a parent, a leader, or just tired of making excuses, this one's for you.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:27 Meet Joe Greco 01:55 Early mornings & discipline 02:34 Five daughters & Death Camp invitation 04:30 Redefining success beyond money 06:33 Expressions of gratitude 09:07 Joe's life tools and values 10:46 Mentors, teens & leadership 13:24 Understanding People Better 15:30 How to add value in life 17:48 The story of the Naval Academy 20:57 The meaning of tradition at military academies 21:43 Where to find Joe Greco 22:15 The origin of the name Palio 23:24 The horse race in Siena   Connect to Joe Greco: Website: palioinc.com Instagram: @palioinc LinkedIn: Joseph Greco

In this episode, Joe De Sena talks with Ironman World Champion Chelsea Sodaro about how to stay driven, balanced, and resilient as a high-achiever and mom. She opens up about the challenges of returning to elite sport after childbirth, the importance of mindfulness and gratitude, and how to keep going when things get tough. This is a powerful conversation about purpose, perseverance, and showing up for what matters most. If you've ever struggled with balance, burnout, or staying motivated, this conversation will reignite your purpose and prove that it's possible to thrive, not just survive.   Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Chelsea Sodaro 00:13 What's her secret to success? 00:49 Handling daily struggles and staying disciplined 01:08 Balancing motherhood and elite sport 02:16 Work-life integration vs. balance 02:55 Returning to racing after childbirth 04:23 Staying grounded through parenting 05:36 Joe's Ironman wake-up call 06:37 What's next for Chelsea? 07:56 Triathlon vs. Spartan 09:02 Tips & Tricks for Daily Life 10:59 Gratitude as a superpower 12:16 Life after winning: chasing the next goal 13:23 Balancing ambition with contentment 14:19 Final thoughts and staying connected   Connect to Chelsea: Website: chelseasodaro.com Instagram: @chelseasodaro  Facebook: Chelsea Sodaro Twitter / X: @ChelseaSodaro X (formerly Twitter)

In this episode we speak with Joe De Sena an accomplished athlete, leader, and founder and CEO of Spartan. His goal is to get 100 million people off the couch. His new book is called, Extreme Balance: Paradoxical Principle That Make Your a Champion. Life will throw many obstacles in your path, learn how an "unfixed mindset" can truly elevate your game. [powerpress] [box] Links Mentioned in This Episode Shokz- the industry leader and pioneer in open-ear headphone technology. Use code MTA for a discount! IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000.. AG1 Next Gen -get a FREE bottle of AG D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, AND 5 of the upgraded AG1 travel packs with your first order. Run the London Marathon in 2026 with Sports Tours International USA. They have guaranteed bibs! The Richmond Marathon on November 15, 2024 -America's Friendliest Marathon! Extreme Balance -book by Joe De Sena, Ben Askren, and David Sacks, Ph.D. [/box]

What happens when a 17-year-old signs up to swim 34km across freezing water—no wetsuit, no excuses—all to raise awareness for men's mental health?   In this raw, high-impact episode, Barney Ryder joins Joe De Sena to share how choosing discomfort, facing failure, and embracing the cold shaped his mind more than any victory ever could.   They talk resilience, grit, the power of movement over words, and why real change starts where comfort ends.   If you've ever needed a push to stop talking and start doing—this is it.   Timestamps: 00:00 Into 00:38 Meet Swimmer Barney Rider 01:02 Swimming the English Channel 02:12 The Biggest Mental Struggle 04:08 Gaining Weight to Survive 04:42 Overcoming the Failure 05:28 Success Can Be a Trap 06:36 Growth Needs Harsh Conditions 07:29 Mission: Men's Mental Health 09:13 Talk Less, Move More 11:24 Swimming with His Dad 13:15 Advice for Struggling Youth 14:15 Push Past Comfort Zones 15:52 Just Start, Figure Later 16:44 Big Swim Plans Ahead 18:23 How to Support Barney   Connect to Barney: Website: JustGiving – Barnaby Ryder Channel Swim  Instagram: @barnaby_ryder_

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with a Marine veteran, Rob Jones, who lost both legs to an IED—but didn't lose his drive, purpose, or grit.   Instead, he came back stronger, running 31 marathons in 31 days, winning a Paralympic medal, and building a powerful life rooted in service, family, and leadership. His story is a masterclass in resilience, perspective, and unstoppable mindset.   If you've ever felt stuck, defeated, or uncertain about your path, this episode will show you what's possible when you choose purpose over pain—and keep showing up, no matter what.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:48 Meet Rob Jones 01:11 Life lesson from the Marines 02:36 From selfish college kid to selfless soldier 03:47 Why selflessness matters for success 04:57 Can selflessness be taught in schools? 06:14 Ego, avoidance, and the courage to take responsibility 08:16 The IED that changed Rob's life 09:59 The power of perspective after trauma 11:23 Dark moments: Waking up after the blast 14:15 Projecting a hopeless future vs. choosing to live 15:02 Marathons, medals, and fatherhood 17:32 What's next for Rob 18:51 How do people find Rob 20:23 Final thoughts   Connect to Rob: Website: https://www.robjonesjourney.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robjonesjourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robjonesjourney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-jones-journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/robjonesjourney

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Dean Karnazes, one of the world's most relentless endurance athletes. Dean is an ultra-marathoner and is still competing hard at 60+.   From a spontaneous 30-mile run sparked by tequila to training like a Spartan with no gym, he shares powerful lessons on discipline, resilience, and building a body—and mindset—that doesn't quit.   You'll learn how micro workouts can transform your day, why breathing through your nose can upgrade your endurance, and how to push past your limits when your mind wants to give up. If you're looking for motivation to get moving, level up your habits, or stop making excuses, this is the episode you need.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:41 Dean's Spartan Roots 01:47 Why People Hate Running 02:57 The Drunken Start of Dean's Running Career 05:09 How He Stays Healthy Over 60 06:20 Nose Breathing and Ancient Spartan Tactics 06:56 Dean's Hardest Challenge: 50 Marathons in 50 Days 07:55 The Power of Not Thinking 09:49 What's Next: From Dead Sea to Everest 12:42 Advice for Regular People 16:49 The One Workout Everyone Should Do 17:11 Where to Find Dean     Connect to Dean: Website: https://www.ultramarathonman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultramarathon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deankarnazes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankarnazes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UltramarathonDean Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DeanKarnazes

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Jessica Buchanan, a humanitarian worker who was kidnapped in Somalia and held hostage for 93 harrowing days.   With no weapons, no training, and no escape in sight, Jessica relied on grit, faith, and the raw power of the human spirit to survive. She shares the terrifying details of her abduction, the mental strength it took to stay alive, and how she turned her pain into purpose.   If you've ever doubted your own resilience, this conversation will remind you: you are stronger than you think.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:50 Jessica's 93-Day Kidnapping Story 01:21 Realizing Inner Strength in Captivity 04:09 The Value of Manufactured Adversity 06:24 What Happened in Somalia 12:09 Building Mental Resilience, One Minute at a Time 14:48 The Rescue: Navy SEAL Operation 20:05 Life After Trauma and Finding Purpose 21:39 How to Connect with Jessica 21:53 Final Message   Connect to Jessica: Website: jessbuchanan.com Instagram: @jessicacbuchanan Facebook: Jessica Buchanan LinkedIn: Jessica Buchanan YouTube: Jessica Buchanan

In this episode, Joe De Sena talks with strength coach and entrepreneur Chris Duffin about what it really takes to become mentally and physically unbreakable.   Chris shares his powerful 6-phase framework for personal growth — from standing on the edge of a big decision to climbing out of rock bottom stronger than ever. You'll hear raw stories of failure, recovery, and the daily discipline it takes to build true resilience.   He explains why discomfort is essential for growth, how to train your mind like a muscle, and how small, consistent actions can carry you through even the hardest seasons of life. If you're facing setbacks, burnout, or just want to get tougher, this episode gives you the tools and mindset to rise.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:44 Meet Chris Duffin: The Mad Scientist of Strength 01:22 From Wilderness Trauma to Resilience Expert 05:19 How to Grow Through Hard Times 10:05 The Pit Is the Place 12:08 Don't Stay on the Peak Too Long 14:39 Squatting 800 Pounds a Day for 30 Days 18:16 Go Public, Find a Why, and Take It Day by Day 19:02 Helping People Build Mental Toughness 19:50 Merging Biomechanics and Mental Resilience   Connect to Chris: Website: https://chrisduffin.com Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Facebook: Chris Duffin – Kabuki Strength LinkedIn: Chris Duffin YouTube: @MadScientistDuffin  

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with CrossFit Games champion and Train Hard founder Jason Khalipa to explore what it really means to build grit, discipline, and lasting strength in a world that's getting softer by the day.   Jason shares the powerful life lessons he's learned through elite competition, fatherhood, and personal adversity. They dive into the “Never Zero” mindset, the Train Hard code, and why fitness isn't just about reps or aesthetics but about showing up strong for your family, your mission, and yourself.   Whether you're struggling to stay consistent, looking to level up, or just need a wake-up call, this episode will challenge you to train harder, live better, and never quit.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:42 Meet Jason Khalipa 01:13 Pushing through when you want to quit 02:07 The power of “why” and the right mindset 04:52 Jason's upbringing and the impact of immigrant grit 06:06 How to raise tough kids in a comfortable world 08:06 Jason's daughter's leukemia journey 08:57 Why fitness matters beyond the physical 10:37 Discovering CrossFit and building a gym empire 12:22 Jason's mission to help men train hard and do better 16:24 On fatherhood, energy, and avoiding the slow decline 19:44 “Never Zero” mindset: keep the momentum going 20:57 Practical & simple nutrition rules to follow 23:01 Where to find Jason and the Train Hard community   Connect to Jason: Website: jasonkhalipa.com Instagram: @jasonkhalipa Facebook: Jason Khalipa LinkedIn: Jason Khalipa YouTube: Jason Khalipa Twitter/X: @jasonkhalipa