The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

The founder of Bar beverage has 5 tenets for success: be audacious, authentic, tenacious, obsessive and inspire others to be great. No wonder he built a company that just sold for 1.8 billion. A company that uses the civet to represent the highest achieving employees, has to be a little different. Bai has bucked many beverage company trends and has been incredibly successful. See the quirky company tour in this week's episode, the secret Bag basement, and hear how he built the company and drives innovation. Lessons: 1. You can't fail by working hard. 2. If you're able to unbelieve, life can be unbelievable. 3. To be successful with your product you need to be able to read and tap into the zeitgeist. Be nimble. Link: UNBELIEVE – http://www.drinkbai.com/unbelieve The Unbelievers Trailer https://youtu.be/-Y9CHW3Aqvg CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, & Dr. Delle with guest Chris Irving Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

What's the point? Is it money? Is it something more? Roman gathers today's most influential icons and leaders to do what's NBDB (Never Been Done Before.) How can we drive culture in a positive direction? Roman Tsunder thinks he's found a way. In this episode, he explains his mission with PTTOW (Plan To Take On the World) and WORLDZ, and tells Joe how he carved out success from rejection. When he received 73 rejection letters in response to 72 applications, it just meant "yes" must be coming soon. Hear his story and how he now works to shape our world. Lessons: 1. Don't just preach to those that agree, reach out to the unindoctrinated. 2. The lowest points in your life can be the greatest pillars for growth. 3. To be the best, cultivate a healthy obsession for what you do. Link: PTTOW http://pttow.com/ WORLDZ http://worldz.us/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, & Dr. Delle with guest Zach Even-Esh ( http://zacheven-esh.com/ ) Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Dan Pena is an F-ing maniac! He lives in a castle in Scotland, has run ultra-marathons, has made and lost fortunes, never uses a cell phone and his motto is just F-ing do it (obviously). He's a living contradiction. He speaks at Oxford but you can still hear the echoes of his gritty upbringing on the streets of East L.A. in his voice. He can dance the waltz, play tennis and golf, but you wouldn't want to mess with him. He knows how to make money, fast. And he'll tell you and you had better listen to him. Lessons: 1. Whatever gives you confidence, do that. 2. Indecision is the worst decision, 3. Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Links: The Official Website of Dan Pena. http://www.danpena.com/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, & Dr. Delle Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

"Love is the answer" is the conclusion you might expect from a new age guru not a successful internal medicine doctor and trauma center director as Dr. Erika Schwartz was. But she always went against the grain of conventional protocol. Only now are her views starting to be vindicated. She urges doctors to connect with their patients and for patients to take greater responsibility for their health. How can they do this? Joe and Dr. Erika Schwartz discuss the ways modern medicine has gone astray and how to steer it back onto a more righteous path in this episode. Lessons: 1. The patient and doctor should be on equal terms since the patient lives in their body and is the expert of their own state of being. 2. Teach others through your own healthy lifestyle. 3. Bringing people together is crucial in a disconnected world and the ultimate connection is called love. Links: Dr. Erika Schwartz https://www.drerika.com/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, & Dr. Delle Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Is Paleo the best diet? The CrossFit pioneer who authored "The Paleo Solution" says maybe. Results may vary according to who you are. The point is you'll need to experiment a little. Similarly when he started the first CrossFit gym. Rob Wolf didn't have the franchise model or rule book, He had to write it himself. If you're going to be successful, he urges you to do the same. Listen this week to learn why Robb Wolf got into CrossFit, wrote "The Paleo Solution," why you should read his new book "Wired to Eat," and his secret to success. Lessons: 1. Sometimes you succeed because you're left with no other choice. 2. Experiment: try something for a month then determine its cost/benefit for you. 3. Run with your passion and find people who will compensate for your weaknesses. Links: Robb Wolf's new book "Wired to Eat" https://robbwolf.com/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, & Dr. Delle Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Have you given up? Know someone who has? There's an answer for everything and Peter Cohen thinks he has it. We live a life our ancestors may have envied, largely free of hardship, so why are so many unsatisfied? Why, Cohen asks bluntly, is the world so messed up? A lot of us, he says, have simply given up. It shouldn't be this way. Cohen taps from a career of helping people and seeing his wife beat the odds of "terminal" cancer to give you strategies to optimize your life. Three Lessons: 1. Striving keeps us vital. 2. Action leads to inspiration, not the other way around. 3. Always have an ikigai, a reason for being. Links: Pete Cohen's Podcast mi365 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mi365s-podcast/id1090082990?mt=2 www.Mi365.me CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye & Dr. Delle Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

People are kidnapped, run away to the circus, sell a business for 1.7 Billion, complete the explorer's grand slam, and just talk philosophy, grit, and resilience. Today the team previews the next batch of podcast episodes. We have guests that will change your frame of reference, give you tools to change your life, and teach you to rewrite your own story

When a leader changes his life, the implications can be great. With fifty pounds shed in five years, Ric Urrutia now sets an example for his 550 employees and for his family. His company, Taos Mountain Software, has been growing for twenty-five years and his clients include all the biggest names in Silicon Valley. What makes for a successful employee? What are the secrets to running such a successful company for so long? The answers are not what you'd expect. Lessons: 1. The best employees are those who are gritty and hungry, not necessarily the ones with prestigious degrees. 2. Get out of your comfort zone and expand your career horizons. 3. Lead by example, you affect more people than you realize. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Knowing your opponent wins championships. For Olympic fencer Jose Luis Abajo this has been paramount to his success. Self-knowledge too, knowing what will bring out the best in himself. It's what's in the mind that wins the match. This has meant being prepared for the unexpected, for just about anything that comes his way. How do you get ready for unfathomable circumstances? Abajo has a few secrets you can follow. Lessons: 1. We're still animals and have the survival instinct; discovering that part of ourselves can be transformative. 2. Let "no" motivate you. 3. The moment you are prepared to lose is also the moment you start to win. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Paradigms are made to be broken. Question everything. But do it in such a way that is data driven and informed by the best possible research. That means question the gut instincts, question what you've "always done," and question the ideas you see on social media. This is the way Jack Easdale has maintained the prominence of a billion dollar business. How can you apply this to your life? Find out on this week's podcast. Lessons: 1. The two most dangerous statements are--that's the way we've always done it and that's just the way it is. Always challenge the existing paradigm. 2. Utilize good, vetted research. 3. Winging it is not going to suffice when there's a lot at stake. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Kombucha, heard of it? If you have, GT Dave is the reason. He says Kombucha, and restores an essential balance to your body. The Kombucha King dropped out of high school to spread his love of this drink after seeing it's positive effect on his mother's recovery from cancer. In the process he created a $600 million category--one that he still dominates. In this episode you'll hear the story behind his love of Kombucha, and how he blazed his own path. Lessons: 1. Gradual, organic growth can yield authentic and powerful results. 2. Health is often about restoring balance in your body, not about the total eradication of threats. 3. If it feels true, focus on your particular journey without being unduly swayed by outside pressures. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

This mountain warfare instructor accepts no excuses; just learn and do. He speaks with the same force of confidence that he hopes to instill in others. First growing up gaining woodsman skills in Maine and then later through a 36 year tenure in the military, Smith always sought and found strong role models from who to learn. That learning soon transitioned into leadership and mentoring. His methods are deceptively simple, but are you strong enough to see them through? Lessons: 1. In order to see yourself in new ways you need to change your exposure. 2. Give one tool at a time; don't overwhelm them with the whole kit. 3. Do the job; do your best; pay attention. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

What is a "Not to do" list and why would you need one? Dean Graziosi found business success at a young age. It was a way to gain control in his own life in what felt like an out of control world. He has been doling out, through books and television, the techniques and wisdom that worked for him for nearly twenty years. It's the mindset, he says, not the medium. The principles are the same whether you're selling real estate, flipping cars, or building Spartan Race. He shares a few surprising concepts in this interview: Lessons: 1. Make a not to do list. 2. Don't drive without putting the settings in the GPS. 3. Your "why" may change, but always have one. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

When feeling stuck, what do you do to get back in the game? What's the one thing you can do right now? Mordechai Winer discovered a series of simple steps that changed his life. A self-made success in business, he had been unable to control his eating or his weight. What he discovered was that it wasn't about restrictions, shame, and punitive measures, but a few simple steps. Learn what those things were and the best way to apply them in this week's episode. Lessons: 1. Eliminate excuses. 2. Look for successful moments ins your life to apply to your current struggles. 3. Commit to simple daily rituals that will make positive change a matter of course. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan Lessons: 1. Eliminate excuses. 2. Look for successful moments ins your life to apply to your current struggles. 3. Commit to simple daily rituals that will make positive change a matter of course. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

One of the most successful women in the venture capital field and dedicated runner, Elizabeth took her cue from her mother. Come hell or high water her mother would be out the door at 4 am to swim or run, and in her 70s she's still at it. Similarly, Weil never stops driving toward success. Within her hectic schedule of career, and raising twins, she stresses the importance of "non-negotiables." They are key to a successful career and happy life. She describes them and her three keys to success in this interview. Weil shows us how it is possible to achieve balance even when you build your life to precipitous heights. Lessons: 1. Life's too short. Work in a location you love. 2. Make the important parts of your life non-negotiable then commit. 3. Create a personal advisory committee. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Olympic marathoner Rod Dixon believes in the transformative power of physical activity so much that he started the Kids Marathon program. He won the New York Marathon in 1983 and an Olympic Bronze, now his program trains kids to run as soon as they enter school. The schools are realizing that keeping kids active brings test scores up, improves student's focus and brain power, and reduces the reliance on pharmaceuticals to keep the more rambunctious kids in line. What Dixon also found through his program is that the healthy habits percolate up to the adults. Lessons: 1. Instead of medicating kids in school, keep them active. 2. Physical and nutritional education are essential. 3. Kids are capable. Links: Rod Dixon's KiDSMARATHON http://www.kidsmarathonfoundation.org/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Is it possible to develop a surfing culture without an ocean? What would that mean? Keno Knieriem left the navy and to developing surf parks on man made lakes that simulate Hawaiian waves with his company Honokea. It is either the best thing or worst thing to happen to surfing. Will it nurture a whole new generation of surfers who would not experience the sport otherwise? Will introducing the sport to the masses allow for the proper amount of respect to grow around it? The company hopes to spread not only surfing but the traditional values that com with it. Lessons: 1. In the spirit of aloha, give all that you can. 2. Start at zero, carrying no expectations, everyday. 3. You must go through a rite of passage to appreciate what you have. Honokea Surf Parks http://honokea.com/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

You excel in ANY situation. Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Cornell University Dr. Greg Eells explains how. In this interview describes how Viktor Frankl created meaning out of senseless and horrific circumstances. Frankl was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp and not only maintained his wits but retained the wherewithal to help the other prisoners. This shows the vital role that an imperturbable set of values can have in directing a productive life. Eels discusses some easy to follow guidelines to build this same sense of resilience. They may not be as easy to execute and incorporate into a routine, but that's on you, Lessons: 1. To be resilient remember SAVES: Social connections, Attitude, Values, Emotional Acceptance, and Silliness. 2. We are not punished for our attitudes we are punished by them. 3. You can make meaning out of even the most trying circumstances and in so doing persist. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

His doctor forbade world champion power lifter Robert Herbst to lift anything when he was a child with scoliosis. Eighteen world championships and twenty one consecutive national championships later, what compelled him to rebel? Herbst believes in managing risk but errs on the side of throwing caution to the wind. It's paid off spectacularly. His MO in all his successes, including his Clark Kentian day job as a lawyer, is that as soon as he identifies a challenge, he burns his ships. He makes an irrevocable commitment. Period. Lessons: 1. Better to fail on the stage, than fail by staying home. 2. Make an irrevocable commitment to your goal. 3. Be physically active enough that it becomes a need. Links: Make America Fit Again (TM). http://w8lifterusa.com Robert Herbst on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIT0iclJGOGQ68uKvFgJu1uvYjo50amBu CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Demali Elliott mentors young women in challenging situations through creative and introspective activities to redirect their stories onto a positive trajectory with her program Petals-N-Belles. It is a rigorous program designed to help those ready to receive that help, sixty- eight young women at last count. The organization, largely staffed by volunteers, utilizes physical and mental challenges like rock climbing, trapeze and yoga to build emotional wellness and resilience. In this podcast Elliott describes three qualities she's seen in the girls that have most inspired her own success. Lessons: 1. Model energy that will energize those around you. 2. Bounce back. Be inspired by the ability of children, they fall and get up every day. 3. Dream big, you can fill in the details later. Link: Petals-N-Belles http://petalsnbelles.org/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Musical prodigy Ray Ushikubo emulated what he saw on television and, contrary to what you might fear, discovered his passion. At five years old and with the help of supportive parents he his calling. Are there days he doesn't want to practice? Or course. But he practices without fail and is fast approaching the theoretical 10,000 hours of study to reach virtuosity. Ushikubo is already well on his way. Find out what it takes to go so far so fast so young. This young man has advice we can all learn from. Lessons: To alleviate anxiety, focus 100% on the task. Many times when setting out to accomplish a big task it's beneficial not to know what exactly you're getting into. An appreciative audience is a great motivator. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Marcello (an author and physics professor at Dartmouth College) and Kari (with a Ph.D focussed on trauma and PTSD,)decided to build an obstacle course in their backyard. What's the connection? Marcelo, the physicist, sees OCR and physics as a way to go beyond the known boundaries. Kari, the psychologist, sees it as a way to get out of our heads and connect with the physical, a vital way to get past anxiety. Both agree it's a great way for their family to develop life skills that translate into our personal and professional lives and transcend the inevitable resistance we face each day. Lessons: 1. Get in touch with your physical side to become a whole person. 2. Introduce mystery, possibility and the unknown into your world in order to transcend your boundaries. 3. The important thing is not to meet your goal but keep trying to meet your goal. LINKS: Marcello Gleiser http://marcelogleiser.com/ Kari Gleiser https://www.aedpinstitute.org/faculty/kari-gleiser-phd/ CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Son of pioneering Hawaiian surfer "Buffalo" and a living legend in his own right, Brian Keaulana had two mentors. The first was his father who taught him to share the ocean's bounty. The second was the ocean itself which served as a playground, school and church. Before he and his siblings could walk their father would toss them into the surf. Keaulana, who calls himself a "Waterman," uses this wisdom as a stunt coordinator on projects like Hawaii-Five-O, teaching ocean risk management and mentoring at risk kids. Lessons: 1. The ocean, through its unpredictability, teaches you to be in a state of constant readiness. 2. Transcend fear is through knowledge. 3. He shares the brilliant acronym S.S.A.F.E. - protection from any danger. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Starting Health Warrior, a business borne out of a passion for health and fitness, moved Daniel Gluck away from Wall Street. He seized the opportunity to fill a niche in a food industry dominated by overly processed and high sugar offerings with healthful chia based alternatives. He was inspired by the legendary Tarahumara Indians who, fueled with chia seeds, are the ultra endurance runners described in the book "Born To Run." Gluck talks about what it takes to build something from scratch and how building this business changed his life for the better. Lessons: 1. Follow your passion even if it means struggling through hardship to find it. 2. Celebrate the wins; don't dwell on the losses. 3. Focus on the big picture of how it's going to work without getting mired in the day to day problems. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Battling addiction late in the Vietnam era, the US Army's Deputy Chief of Chaplains Brigadier General Thomas Solhjem found redemption through his faith and other's mentorship. As he realizes now, isolation, though a common strategy, is the worst way to deal with adversity. Reaching out to others and sharing your experiences is an admission of strength. He has spent an extremely long time in the military, forty years with thirty of those as a chaplain, helping others cope with the rigors of battle and drawing strength from trying circumstances. Solhjem sources his vast experiences to tell us how to be better people. Lessons: 1. The person who overcomes adversity is the person who is able to channel strength from outside theirself. 2. Post traumatic order is finding a positive context for hardship and becoming stronger as a result. 3. Resilience is the integration of elements into your life that enable you to be flexible. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Running across the Sahara, all 4600 miles, 50 miles a day for 111 consecutive days. That's what Ultrarunner Charlie Engle did to raise 6 million dollars for H20 Africa (now Water.org). In doing so he took his passion and did good with it. Engle overcame addiction and an unexpected jail sentence, but instead of running away from adversity, he embraced it. He started running marathons which turned into a gateway for more daunting races like ecochallenges. All told he's been racing for 30 years. His top piece of advice: attempting to make your life easier is a mistake. Lessons: 1. Welcome some suffering when it enters your life, some of the greatest lessons are from hardship. 2. Keep forward momentum going. 3. Find a way to use what you love to improve the world. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Behavioral scientist & expert on adventure, Jon Levy knows what makes Spartans tick. He wrote a book about it, The 2AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure. A big reason why people undertake challenges outside their comfort zone is to reach flow state, a zen like sense of timelessness, total absorption in an activity, and sense of mastery. The IKEA effect, loving an activity according to the amount of effort you invested in it, also explains how Spartans are made. But the real gift of adventure, Levy explains, is it's transformative power. In this episode, Levy explains how to live a fun and exciting life and gain success in the process. Lessons: 1. Say yes to experiences. 2. Do something a little outside your comfort zone to help induce a state of flow. 3. Take advantage of the winner effect by getting some easy victories and building momentum for larger challenges. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2017 Spartan

Not wanting to spend his life on the sidelines, blind athlete Pete Cossaboon started participating in Spartan events. He sought out and found a way to achieve this seemingly impossible goal. Nelson Diaz has dedicated himself to facilitating the implausible achievements of adaptive athletes through compassion and action. The events only have meaning and purpose to the degree that they can be applied to life at large and to what extent the athletes can use them to tell their unique story to the world. Lessons: - Any new situation, when confronted, evolves from fear to adaptation. - If life is a dash between you birthday and your death day, measure your value by the lives you have you changed in the interim. - Avoid distractions to the degree that they are diverting you from the main purpose of your life. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

Trauma care is a creative process for Dr, Jeffrey Upperman. He mentors young surgeons by throwing them in a room together with very little to work with and let their ingenuity and communication skills come to the fore to solve a problem under duress. He points out that these skills are becoming a lost art in the age of texting and tweeting but they are no less vital in forming a successful person. Upperman in his years as a general surgeon took cues from his father, a man who prided himself in working with his hands, and stresses the importance of upbringing, yet acknowledges that the whole community bears responsibility for nurturing a success. Lessons: 1. Creativity is key in emergencies, and it can be learned. 2. We are all responsible to hold each other accountable. 3. We need rites of passage to learn to cope under duress.

Cal Fussman, author as well as a writer for Esquire, went on a ten year worldwide journey with little money to his name. He subsisted on the good will of others, most often on those he met on the bus ride to his next destination. It was the perfect way to satisfy his insatiable curiosity and hone his interviewing skills. In this episode Fussman will talk about how to make everyday an opportunity for adventure and connection. Lessons: 1. Ask a canned question and you'll get a canned answer. Talk to people with authenticity. 2. When starting a big project don't reflect long enough to talk yourself out of it; just keep going forward. 3. Treat each day like a unique experience. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

When your business is in trouble, this is the guy you need. Tim Gentry develops people to motivate his own success. As an Ironman competitor he exemplifies strengthening the body as a way to maintain a powerful mind, something he believes many business people neglect to their detriment. His suggestion: keep it simple and do just one thing every day. Listen for more tried and true methods to persevere and thrive. Gentry shares some gems on this week's podcast. Lessons: 1. Focused on the people in your business,and let hurdles dissolve to white noise. 2. To revive someone who is lagging, put them in charge of others. 3. Write down all the great things that are happening in your life and read them when you need inspiration.

Mortgage officer and part of a Vermont family maple sugaring business, Ray Morvan found extreme multi day racing at random, after a battle with alcohol and opiate addiction. By helping him find community and a way to exert and build mental resilience it's exactly what the doctor ordered . He went on to compete in nine Peak Death Races which is almost certainly a record. We spoke with him at the Spartan Winter Agoge. Morvan credits stoicism for getting through life challenges that would break a lesser man. He is now championing the issue of addiction by assisting anyone who is willing to reach out to him. Morvan's phone line is open. Lessons: 1. Figure it out. There's always a way. 2. Simply put yourself out there, everyday, and have faith that it will get better. 3. In addition to PTSD think about PTSG - Post Traumatic Growth. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Tim Nye, Dr. Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz Copyright - 2016 Spartan

Damion Hahn came a hair's breadth away from making the Olympics and advises those not achieving there goals "be mad about it, then turn your attention to tomorrow." He channels that drive training a team that has been near dynasty for the last quarter century of Ivy League wrestling. They got there by honing raw talent. The best persist, the rest need to find their niche elsewhere. Hahn has seen this success translate into the wrestler's everyday lives and he shares the methods that have built such consistent winners. Lessons: 1. Everybody's motivated differently; adjust your approach accordingly. 2. Enter each day with a purpose! 3. Be part of a community that motivates you achieve.

This week's podcast features two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Christian Johnson and Chad Grills, disrupting the world of business. Johnson started Fotition a platform to unite brands people and charities to create a positive social outcome. He arrived at this idea by following his lifelong mantra, "creativity will save the world," which lead him to a vocation that will leave a legacy. Grills, a former Army infantryman, took note of better ways to do things during deployments in Egypt and Iraq and channeled them into a sharing and trading service for business assets called Twist.com. He discusses the ways he has used the challenges of the military and life to overcome obstacles. Lessons: 1, The problem is the solution (permaculture principle). 2, Learn to love the word no. Turn it into an opportunity to overcome challenge. 3. Ask yourself if you are living up to your life's mantra and serving the greater good. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra, Col. Tim Nye, Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

Nini Meyer created Positive Tracks as a way to get kids moving and involved with a cause through athletics. She has witnessed it not only helping the causes, but connecting the youth with each other and teaching them to manage risk, take on challenges and get active. Since not every child enters the program with the same resources, it also teaches them the vital lesson of using what they got at the moment and building from there. A lifelong volunteer who adopted ultra-endurance running well into her adulthood, Meyer found a way to combine the two into something exceedingly positive. Lessons: 1. Whenever you see the hazy outlines of a starting line begin to form, don't turn away. Run straight towards it. 2. You can't cross the ocean by staring at the sea. 3. Achieving challenging acts with groups creates a sense of shared struggle and perseverance propelling you towards your goal through

Helping runners move faster and injury free is the mission of Nathan Helming. A former Ironman qualifier, Nathan Helming runs programming for San Francisco Crossfit with a focus on helping runners and triathletes become better rounded athletes. He's taking this passion into a startup called The Run Experience which guides athletes through strength, conditioning and problem solving to reach their goals through online webinars. Frustration with chronic injury spurred by a too narrow focus on conditioning caused Helming to seek out SF crossfit with its philosophy of a more balanced approach. He is now adapting his experience to propel athletes past their limitations. Lessons: 1. Be process focused: set aside fear of the outcome and engage in the task at hand. 2. Understand that you have a choice at every moment. 3. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

The founder of Charity Water, Scott Harrison was a successful nightclub promoter living a life of decadence many might envy. He found himself hobnobbing with the beautiful people on a daily basis, but he had an epiphany on the beaches of Uruguay. Though he didn't lack materially he was morally, spiritually and emotionally bereft. He sold everything, took up residence in a friend's closet and volunteered in war torn Liberia, paying for the privilege. While there he found his mission: He would use his influence to help remediate the lack of clean water that often leads to disease for the 660 million people in third world nations who are affected. Lessons: 1. To change your life, and the life of others, it may be necessary to step into a new story of your life and scrap the old one. 2. The best way to motivate change is through the promise of positive action with tangible results and not through shame or guilt. 3. Do not compromise your values and morality; maintain your tenacity and you will find a way through the challenge.

With a military career spanning 26 years, retired Col. Fellinger has become a model of resilience and fitness. He asks that you bring him the hardest problems you have because he lives to overcome them. As he explains, it's a process and one that can be practiced but not necessarily mastered. After all, if you're not at least a little off balance, how are you challenging yourself and growing stronger? Joe and he discuss the most vital element to fitness--building mental strength through motivation, risk taking, mental agility and mental resilience. Lessons: 1. Remember the French Paratrooper's Prayer (to paraphrase): Give me Lord what others don't want, uncertainty, doubt, torment and battle, but also the courage, the energy and spirit to face them. 2. To stay motivated take the first step and you will soon create irreversible momentum, inertia that will take on a life of it's own. 3. Build mental resilience through facing challenges you didn't anticipate and generalizing the resultant confidence throughout your life.

The "man whisperer" Mammarella-D'Cruz runs men's groups that set them on a course to fulfillment. Clients, even billionaires, find they need help understanding how to achieve happiness. His ability was honed by the dire circumstances of his own childhood. After his family was placed on the death list in Uganda, Mammarella-D'Cruz spent a significant portion of his formative years on the run. This summoned his survival instincts, which were vital at the time, but when the threat eased were not helping him live the life he had dreamed. After a string of successful endeavours that left him wanting, he learned to live life to it's fullest and is helping others do the same. Lessons: 1. Find how your life's "script" impedes you, to move on. 2. It's more efficient to learn from other's mistakes than to make them yourself. 3. If your life is entirely run by your internal protector you are surviving and not living.

Adaptive athlete Amy Winters, is so resilient she was chosen to help struggling athletes complete the brutal 60+ hour Spartan endurance event Agoge. If you ask her, she won't credit rugged individualism for her perseverance. She relies on the strength of others to buoy her up as she does the same for them. It may be that the wellspring of grit that her loss summoned helped her to recognize and rouse that same potential in others. Lessons: 1. When you see something different about a person, smile with them. 2. Working as a team, as a community, you bring to the fore each other's strengths and lift each other towards completing the improbable. 3. To connect with people, disconnect from the screen. LINKS: One Step Ahead Foundation https://onestepaheadfoundation.wordpress.com/ One Step Ahead Foundation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OneStepAheadFoundation/

Coach of the highly successful wrestling program at Cornell, Rob Koll wasn't an overnight success. His virtuosity was years in the making, working hard and surrounding himself with the kind of motivating people that would eventually transform the program into a powerhouse. When asked, Koll denies that his methods involve any mystique. He simply doles out his nose to the grindstone, meat and potatoes work ethic with devastating consistency. Those who don't have the discipline to endure it fall by the wayside. Those who do, find themselves competing with the best and winning often. Lessons: 1. It's not how much you want to win that day; it's how much you want to win on all the days leading up to that day. 2. Even a mildly active wrestler is going to go through more pain, hardship and sacrifice than the average person on the street. 3. A supportive upbringing that instills good values is crucial. sfvd2d36

A restaurateur with 7 NYC restaurants and a passion for fitness, his restaurants have succeeded in large part due to Chernow's keen sense of emotional intelligence. One of the unique ways he keeps his staff happy is the emphasis he places on fitness in the workplace and the program he started to cultivate this. The interview takes place in Seamore's which specializes in locally caught species that are delectable but often overlooked. Dogfish, for example, is just as tasty as trendier fare. Chernow is working new projects with a voracious diligence Chernow can trace back to his childhood. As a kid he walked dogs and delivering food to transcend his family's modest lifestyle. Lessons 1. Don't underestimate anyone. There's no way of gauging how valuable a relationship will be down the line. 2. Don't "want," "need," or "wish" …. "do." 3. Cultivate a happy, cohesive team and the guests will be made happy as a matter of course.

UFC fighter "The Spaniard" and lifelong wrestler, Charlie grew up in normal circumstances. As he puts it "I'm just like you," he didn't have to overcome a great deprivation or trauma, he just worked hard and went on to great successes. Brenneman dispels the myth that you must follow a Rocky type trajectory to compete with the best. Instead he shares the simple steps he took, including surrounding himself with good mentors and Consistency. He arrived by realizing that in a sport like wrestling in which "heartbreak far outweighs the triumph" the journey is what matters. Lessons: 1. Being in a normal family that provides good core values and a supportive environment is an underestimated advantage. It doesn't take extraordinary circumstances to do extraordinary things. 2. Every opportunity, no matter how small, counts. Things add up. 3. If you don't move the proverbial line in the sand, you're never going to get best.

A former infantry officer Josh Mantz was shot by a sniper in Baghdad. He flatlined, and his life was in the hands of a nineteen year old medic in the heat of battle. Mantz was revived ten minutes after the period that's considered survivable. When asked why, the medic said simply that he never gives up. Mantz moved on to Tesla, pioneers in electric vehicles. The atmosphere there is in some ways as intense as the military. Why? They too are mission driven. Outside of Tesla Mantz has harnessed his healing to help veterans heal from their trauma. Lessons: 1. You can't do it all alone, sometimes even your very life is in the hands of others. 2. Recognizing and absolving yourself of guilt and shame is the first step in overcoming trauma. 3. A solid sense of mission and purpose precedes any great accomplishment. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra, Col. Tim Nye, Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

Former Olympic downhill skier Doug Lewis decided at 8 he'd compete on the Wold Cup level. Success came very early, but during his first World Cup race at age 17 he broke his back. Failure, he now says, is critical to building confidence. He went on to win World Cup Bronze and represent the US in 3 Olympic games. The problem with peaking early is the looming question of what to do next - and will anyone care. Lewis chose to pass on the lessons he learned by creating a youth development program called Eliteam. He also chose to stayed close to ski racing and is a Skiing analyst for NBC for World Cup and Olympic games. Lewis is content with his life, but continues every day to look for new adventures and inspire kids to set lofty goals then dig deep to achieve them. Lessons: 1. Good coaches set goals challenging enough to spur growth but not so overwhelming they create despair. 2. Students should set goals they may never reach, they will provide direction and inspiration. 3. Confidence requires failure. 4. In any meaningful life path, ebbs and flows are inevitable.

The founder of a massive sports promotion company Matchroom Sport, started off without a clear direction. He says just start, take a scattershot approach and eventually you'll find your direction by the process of elimination. Aim high, then adjust. Hearn wanted to be a heavyweight boxing champion, but his path lead him to be a promoter instead. His own passion could comes across as draconian, but that's only testament to how strongly he believes in the power of the individual to create a meaningful life. Lessons: 1. At first take a scattergun approach in life; don't set limits and then adjust to find your place. 2. Start an hour earlier and end an hour later. 3. Champions are impressive, but the people at the back of the field who refuse to give in may be even more impressive.

His first memory is the moment his mother gave him away. Former NFL player, Anthony Trucks, wants to matter because his first memory in life was feeling like he didn't. At 14 a harsh remark by a girl in school shocked him into self awareness. Sheer force of will it set him on a course that has defined his life to the present day as a successful business owner, athlete speaker & author. Lessons: 1. Live a life that will produce a huge turn out at your funeral. 2. If you think the hand you've been dealt is an excuse, think again. 3. Practice effortless effort--that activity that resonates so deeply with you that the work you do starts to feel effortless.

Explorer and mountain biker Shannon Galpin brings cycling to Afghan women. The 2014 National Geographic Explorer believes bicycles are a vehicle for transformation in a society where this simple freedom and pleasure is denied to women and girls. This simple act, easily taken for granted in the West, provides them with a stronger voice so vital in what often appears like an insurmountable obstacle--positioning Afghan women in a place of greater equality. Lessons: 1. Simply doing something right can a powerful form of activism since it will inspire others to mirror you. 2. Hope and change prevail over fear. 3. Don't take even the simplest things for granted.

www.spartan.com/103 As a professional recruiter and founder of Executive Athletes Ken Lubin knows what it takes to build a career. As one of the ultra endurance athletes that built the epic Stone Steps in Pittsfield, Vermont he knows grit and hard work too. He says it's what will get you hired, and what will make you successful once you land a job. Knowing the company culture, offering them what they need is crucial too. Become the indispensable lynch. Building a massive network that includes all types of people, not just those who can obviously help you may be the most important step of all. Garner lots of career development gems in this week's episode. Lessons: 1. Be the guy that does the hard thing and you'll distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack. 2. Know the culture of where you want to work and find out how you can fit in. 3. Realize the power of the network: even when it doesn't look like a connection has any benefit at the time it may prove to be beneficial down the line.