The Hard Way With Joe De Sena - podcast cover

The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

Joe De Sena
Learn the Spartan mindset. Founder & CEO of Spartan Race and NY Times best-selling author, travels the globe seeking and answers authors, academics, athletes, adventurers, entrepreneurs, CEOs and thought leaders. It will shift your thinking, make you laugh and and give you the tools you need. He’s on a mission to find the secrets to success in all aspects of life. Not only does Joe interview epic people, he has brought together an amazing panel to break down and analyze every aspect of these interviews. We give you the ultimate blueprint and action steps to assimilating these powerful conversations into your own life.
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Episodes

Did they Get This Wrong About COVID?/ Joe De Sena & Ivor Cummins

Biochemical Engineer and Complex Problem Solving Specialist Ivor Cummins talks about the conclusions he's come to based on Covid data. At Spartan, we do the hard things. Today that means tackling a difficult conversation. Joe De Sena invited Ivor to share his information with you. Please, listen all the way through, give it some thought, and then let us know what he got right, and what he got wrong. Two things we can ALL agree on - we need to have open discussion and review of the data, and we s...

Nov 02, 202045 minEp. 608

There's No One to Save You, How to Prepare for an Expedition/ ENDURANCE

Ben Friberg, extreme endurance paddler talks with Johnny Waite, of Spartan Up Podcast, about how to prepare for the really big, self-supported, expedition-style adventures where you will be truly on your own. An example is Ben's dream crossing - the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska, alone on a stand-up paddleboard. Ben Stresses the importance of preparation - doing your research, knowing your gear and your body, and considering how to handle absolute worst-case scenarios, including injuries....

Oct 31, 202022 minEp. 607

Pain is Easy to Forget / LA RUTA

Pain is easy to forget, says Louise Kobin, 4x La Ruta race winner. In this episode, our first in the La Ruta series, Louise and Spartan Up La Ruta series host Roy Wallach introduce you to the 3-day, cross-country mountain bike race known as La Ruta. In this episode, you’ll learn about Louise’s first La Ruta race, specifically... -A deep dive of the 3-day race and the challenges presented throughout -Lousie’s mindset after she fell behind by 20 minutes on day two, yet still managed to pull-out a ...

Oct 29, 202021 minEp. 606

You Should Be Breathing Through Your Nose! Journalist James Nestor Explains

James Nestor, author of the hugely popular book "Breath" explains his deep research. Should you be breathing through your nose? The answer is YES! Today on the Spartan Up podcast, He tells Spartan Founder & CEO Joe De Sena how breathing affects your performance. He also explains the history, the science, and some simple steps you can take to improve your breathing. As Nestor says “If you stick with this, the benefits are profound, you will most likely gain performance, you'll be able to reco...

Oct 27, 202036 minEp. 605

How Losing a Loved-one Motivated Gabe Dean's Return to the Mat / COMBAT

Spartan Combat athlete Gabe Dean (@DabeGean) discusses his comeback to the mat, and how the passing of a family member helped motivate his return. Gabe Dean is an assistant wrestling coach at Cornell - one of the top wrestling programs in the country - and was a 2x NCAA Champion for the Big Red. Gabe recently returned to competition, and that’s the focus of our conversation today. Please Enjoy! Find out more at https://spartancombat.com/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow You...

Oct 24, 202026 minEp. 604

How to keep driving when life throws you a Curveball / DEKA

Adapting to drastic life changes Ryan KentRyan Kent (instagram: dr0p_the_hammer) was a full-time, professional athlete until Covid hit. Now, he’s a full time worker with a pro athlete’s training load. Tune-in to learn how Ryan is adapting to the new normal, while still maintaining his fitness. SPONSOR This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by TrueForm Runner. Save 10% with the code ‘Spartan 10’ at TrueFormRunner.com/Spartan. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: ...

Oct 22, 202013 minEp. 603

Are your Instincts Holding you Back? Joe De Sena interviews Rebecca Heiss, PhD

Evolution has left you with two basic drives - to survive and to procreate, but evolutionary biologist Rebecca Heiss, Ph.D. tells Joe De Sena how understanding those drives can lead us to overcome fears and achieve success. Fear, says Heiss, is an ancient signal meant to keep us alive, but most things we fear today are not life-threatening. In this interview, she shares tactics to replace you A.N.T.s (automatic negative thoughts), to use triggers to heighten consciousness and to think like a Spa...

Oct 20, 202033 minEp. 602

How to Take On Your First Trail Race / TRAIL

How do you find the motivation to start your first trail race? Tune-in to hear professional, ultra-racer Mike Wardian (@mikewardian) tackle this question. Mike has set world records for the fastest time for 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and has also completed some of the most difficult races in the world like the Badwater Ultra. SPONSOR This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by Athlet Brewing. Place your order today to get free shipping on two 6-packs or more. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Po...

Oct 17, 20206 minEp. 601

Building an Expedition Support Crew / ENDURANCE

What goes into success in an expedition or adventure race? One huge element is your support crew. Spartan Up endurance host Johnny Waite talks to Ben Friberg, who has paddled from Cuba to the US and completed numerous ultra-paddle events, about what makes a solid crew. The main lessons in this podcast are: 1 - Planning is Everything 2 - Work with optimists 3 - The importance of preparation This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by Durolane. Visit Durolane.com to learn more. SUBSCRIBE: App...

Oct 15, 202014 minEp. 600

Addicted to Tech? An Expert Explains How to Overcome It / Adam Alter and Joe De Sena

How many hours a day do you need to use your feet to get to your phone? One? Two? zero? Adam Alter, author of "Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked," has made a study of the outsized influence addictive technology has had on us and some basic steps to counteract it. An associate professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, his research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology. Today on Spartan Up podcast Adam Alter and Joe De Sen...

Oct 13, 202031 minEp. 599

How to Overcome Self-Doubt with a Six-Time Team USA Wrestler / COMBAT

Kat Shai is a 6x Team USA member for women’s wrestling, She’s competing at the national tournament this weekend, aiming to make the 2021 Olympic team. In this episode, Kat talks self-doubt, her experience with it after the 2016 Olympic team trials, and how to overcome it. Find out more at https://spartancombat.com/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW US: Spartan Combat: https://www.instagram.com...

Oct 10, 202053 minEp. 598

Improve Your Daily Discipline with Todd Durkin / DEKA

Welcome to the DEKA series here on the SpartanUp podcast. Professional trainer Todd Durkin talks about that all important moment when you don’t ‘feel’ like doing what needs to be done, and how to persevere. About Todd - Todd Durkin is an internationally recognized strength, speed and conditioning coach, body-worker, author and motivational speaker. He is the founder of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA, an award-winning health and human performance facility where he works with a high-profile cli...

Oct 08, 202011 minEp. 597

Sex is the third pillar of wellness / Cindy Eckert & Joe De Sena

Cindy Eckert has seen incredible success in the pharmaceutical industry challenging the boys club with the “little pink pill.” She and Joe De Sena talk about the crossovers between overall health, diet, and good sex, about challenging the status quo, and her advice for female entrepreneurs going against the odds. Cindy says " I think that good sex is the trifecta of wellness. We talk about physical health, mental health, and sexual health is a component of that. I mean, that's my perfect Venn di...

Oct 06, 202038 minEp. 596

TRAIL / Navigating Mid-Race Rough Patches

Michael Wardian is the first guest on our new Spartan Up Trail running series, Michael is a professional marathon and ultra-marathon racer. He’s set world records for the fastest time for 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and has also completed some of the most difficult races in the world like the Badwater Ultra. Michael shares expertise on how to overcome the rough patches in races, particularly when those rough patches are related to nutrition and diet. He tells a few stories of his toug...

Oct 03, 202016 minEp. 595

Eat These Foods During Your Next Ultra / ENDURANCE

Back again, Courtney Dauwalter shares her diet / meal-plan for an ultra-endurance race. About Courtney: Courtney Dauwalter is an ultra-marathon racing champion. She was named Ultra Runner of the Year in 2018, and has won some of the most prestigious races in the endurance world, such as the Moab 240 and Western States. Follow Courtney at @courtdauwalter. This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by Lumen Metabolism Tracker. Visit Lumen.Me to order and use the code Spartan50 for $50 off. SUBS...

Oct 01, 202013 minEp. 594

Real Life Lessons from Ancient Greeks / Ryan Holiday & Joe De Sena

Ryan Holiday studies the place where ancient Greek philosophy meets current day high achievers with books like "Lives of the Stoics," "Ego is the Enemy," "The Obstacle is the Way," and "Stillness is the Key." He tells Spartan Race founder the lessons he learned from each of these explorations and how he applies them to his life. From his morning routine, to his thoughts on exercise, and his method and philosophy for writing ten successful books.

Sep 29, 202042 minEp. 593

How to Build Winning Teams with Army Wrestling Coach Kevin Ward //Spartan Combat

Kevin Ward received a master class in team-building, while working under legendary, Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith. Now, Kevin is the head coach at Army and is recognized as one of the premier coaches in the country. In this episode, Kevin shares how-to, tactical advice on how to build teams from the ground-up. Find out more at https://spartancombat.com/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay F...

Sep 26, 202045 minEp. 592

ENDURANCE/ How to Grow Your Endurance with Courtney Dauwalter 591

Courtney Dauwalter is an ultra-marathon racing champion. She was named Ultra Runner of the Year in 2018, and has won some of the most prestigious races in the endurance world, such as the Moab 240 and the Western States. Follow Courtney at @courtdauwalter. Courtney shares how-to advice on how to grow your endurance. In this episode, we cover… -Competitiveness doesn’t know genders -Discovering ultra-running -How to grow your endurance -When your normal distance is 100 miles -How to rest your body...

Sep 24, 202018 minEp. 591

Arianna Huffington: Burnout Is Real with Host Joe De Sena

While building the incredibly successful Huffington Post Arianna Huffington suddenly collapsed. The diagnosis - burnout. Yes, burnout is a real, medical condition and it threatens all of our health. Over the next few years Arianna explored the consequences, the cure and the prevention of burnout - today it's her life's work. Spreading the anti-burnout gospel through her books like "Thrive" and "The Sleep Revolution" and her company Thrive Global teaching resilience and behavior change. In this c...

Sep 22, 202028 minEp. 590

DEKA / How to Lead YOURSELF - Act it to Be it with Alicia Streger

Business, fitness and leadership coach Alicia Streger joins Yancy Culp and Jarod Cogswell on the DEKA series of Spartan Up. Fitness pro Alicia Streger drives home the importance of acting as if you were your future self AND shares 3 actionable, revenue-generating tips for gym owners. LESSONS Trust yourself to make decisions quickly (and nerve second guess yourself after the fat, simply adjust and pivot as required). Adjust the plan, never the goal Act As If...Walk as your future self. Have clari...

Sep 19, 202042 minEp. 589

Travis & Mark Macy - Eco-Challenge vs Alzheimer's with host Joe De Sena

Ultrarunning father & son Travis & Mark Macy were excited about the return of Eco-Challenge Fiji and planned to race - Travis on a younger competitive team, Mark on team "Stray Dogs." Plans changed after learning 66-year-old endurance racer Mark Macy was facing Alzheimer's. He’d won the grueling Iditashoe 100-mile snowshoe race and competed in 9 Eco-challenges - but this race would pose a special challenge, but also unique rewards. Joe De Sena, a veteran endurance racer himself, trades t...

Sep 15, 202033 minEp. 588

The Most Challenging Year of My Life with Mike Amine / COMBAT

Mike Amine is the CEO and president of Wealth Strategies Financial Group. He was an NCAA runner-up in 1988 and competed for a spot on the US greco team in 1992. In this conversation, we focus on a 12-month period that was, as Mike called it, the toughest 12 months of his life. Find out more at https://spartancombat.com/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW US: Spartan Combat: https://www.instagra...

Sep 12, 202020 minEp. 587

ENDURANCE / Tales from the Amazon Eco Challenge

Deanna Blegg is our guest for this week’s Spartan Endurance episode. Deanna breaks-down the Amazon Eco-Challenge, as well as her background in competitive racing. Specifically… 1:08 Deanna’s first race 04:14 Biathlon & aquathlon racing 06:24 How to reignite the competitive flame 11:50 Age is just a number 15:23 How to manage injuries 20:45 Deanna on the “world’s toughest race”, the Amazon Eco-Challenge This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by TrueForm Runner. Save 10% on your purchas...

Sep 10, 202025 minEp. 586

Advice from the Ultimate Brain Hacker Jim Kwik with Joe De Sena

As a kid Jim Kwik was the “the kid with the broken brain,” but through curiosity and sheer will he learned to hack his own brain and today is recognized as one of the top brain trainers in the world. “I had three traumatic brain injuries before the age of 12. I had very poor focus. I was put in special classes took me three years longer to learn how to read. My teachers would have been surprised I read a book much less wrote a book.” The author of the best selling book “Limitless: Upgrade Your B...

Sep 08, 202042 minEp. 585

DEKA / The Origin Story with Joe De Sena

Welcome to the DEKA series here on the SpartanUp podcast. On today’s episode Jarod and Yancy interview Spartan CEO and founder, Joe De Sena. In this episode you’ll hear about TIME STAMPS 1:30 The origin story of DEKA 3:35 The warpath to impact 100m lives through fitness 5:01 Why DEKA 8:21 The grind to creating DEKA 12:53 DEKA is for the masses 15:19 Joe on going through the DEKA course 22:53 Why the gym is the shrine of the athlete 30:09 The future & impact of DEKA This episode of Spartan Up...

Sep 05, 202037 minEp. 584

ENDURANCE / How to Choose a Team for Your Next Endurance Event

Deana Blegg is our guest for this week’s Spartan Endurance episode. Deanna recently competed in the Amazon Eco-Challenge Fiji. She’s a veteran endurance racer and in this episode we talk about why and how to choose a team for your next endurance-event. This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by TrueForm Runner. Save 10% on your purchase by going to TrueFormRunner.com/Spartan . SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Spotify: https://open.sp...

Sep 03, 202021 minEp. 583

Does Quitting make you More Likely to Quit? Joe De Sena asks neurosurgeon Dr. Mark McLaughlin

A brain surgeon, author, and wrestling coach Dr. McLaughlin knows how obstacles affect your body & mind. He explains the science behind quitting and its effects on the brain, and why it’s critical to overcome obstacles. We get good at what we do, which includes quitting. Through his life experiences, he’s learned to metabolize fear using what he calls “Cognitive Dominance.” It allows you to make quick decisions in stressful situations, something we all need! Don’t be limited by fear and alwa...

Sep 01, 202036 minEp. 582

Embrace Discomfort //Spartan Combat

Matt McDonough is a 2x NCAA champion for the University of Iowa and a 3x All American. In this episode, we talk about embracing discomfort for the sake of your goals and dreams. Enjoy! Find out more at https://spartancombat.com/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW US: Spartan Combat: https://www.instagram.com/spartancombat/ Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spar...

Aug 29, 202058 minEp. 581

How to Win the Caring Game / DEKA

Welcome to the DEKA series here on the SpartanUp podcast. Chris Hinshaw is our guest for episode two. For those of you who missed episode one, Chris is one of the top coaches in the world, a former professional triathlete and the founder of Aerobic Capacity. In this episode we focus on how to win the caring game. TIME STAMPS 1:14 - How to win the caring game 05:08 - Winning the caring game with different types of athletes 12:42 - Role of the coach during CV19 This episode of Spartan Up! is broug...

Aug 27, 202015 minEp. 580

What Data tells us About Optimal Performance with WHOOP's Will Ahmed & Joe De Sena

Should you eat before bed? What’s the best time to train hard? What’s the simplest way to improve sleep? Can respiration rate changes identify COVID 19? Three pillars: strain, recovery, and sleep are vital to succeeding peak performance says WHOOP founder Will Ahmed. We are all trying to become the healthiest versions of ourselves - yet there are some physiological indicators that can’t necessarily be felt but can be measured. In fact, groundbreaking data from WHOOP tracking enabled a PGA tour p...

Aug 25, 202032 minEp. 579
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