When you’ve got something big on the horizon that matters to you - a race, a presentation at work, a meeting with your boss - it’s important to go into it with a strategy in mind so that you can be as successful as possible. The Three C’s of Success are one way to enter into the arena of an experience with confidence, courage, and clarity. Each principle will give you that extra edge that you’re looking for as the nerves and insecurity begins to stir. LESSONS: Moving into something that matters ...
Feb 19, 2020•3 min•Ep. 516
Jen Welter became the first female coach in the NFL. How do you achieve a goal when there is no roadmap? A commitment to greatness in each moment. “ if we can change football, we can change the world .” says Dr. Jen Welter. She never listened to the doubts of others and at 5’ 2” went toe-to-toe on the field and got up after every tackle. She broke the glass for female athletes in this sport and as she said - breaking glass is contagious. Earning a Masters in Sports Psychology and PhD in Psycholo...
Feb 18, 2020•28 min•Ep. 515
Guest host Patrick Sweeney, the Fear Guru, is back for week 2. Now that you know that the survival instinct is driven by the amygdala, our 2 million-year-old operating system and anytime we feel a threat it tries to take over, what can you do about it? Learn the two ways that we make decisions in life – the one that leads to shame, regret and failure, and the other way, the Spartan way, that leads to growth, happiness, success and fulfillment. To know when those critical decision points present ...
Feb 14, 2020•6 min•Ep. 514
Host Dr. L says: Undoubtedly, you will be asked in your lifetime to give advice. This may come from a family member, a friend, a colleague, or perhaps even a stranger. What’s important to remember is that giving good advice isn’t always considering what you might do in that situation and then providing feedback. The best advice is actually given when you consider the source - who are you giving the advice to, what is their history, and what experiences in theif life might shape how they move for...
Feb 12, 2020•3 min•Ep. 513
How do you go from being the worst kid on the team to a 2018 Olympic silver medalist and two time XGames Gold medalist? Freestyle skier Alex Ferreira tells Joe De Sena and Johnny Waite the secret: unfaltering dedication, relentless training, infinite repetitive practice and truly believing in yourself are the keys! Alex walks us through how his visualization process, it includes running every turn and every second of his runs 100’s of times through his mind before he even puts his skis on. Alex ...
Feb 11, 2020•32 min•Ep. 512
Guest host Patrick Sweeney, the Fear Guru, answers the questions: are you hardwired to respond to threats with a fight, flight or freeze reaction? How does that survival instinct affect your decision-making and happiness? In this introductory episode, you’ll find out what the amygdala (a MIG da la) is and how it impacts our life. You’ll also find out if we a courage center to counter-act that fear center and if so how we can access it. This is the first in a series of four mini Spartan Up podcas...
Feb 07, 2020•5 min•Ep. 510
Like many of the concepts we discuss on Spartan MIND, self-doubt is one that we can all relate to because we ALL have elements of self-doubt. Some of us struggle with more self-doubt than others but we can all use similar strategies to work through the self-doubt. Implementing an internal dialogue that observes where the self-doubt may be coming from can be a useful tactic. Evaluating the intensity of the self-doubt and knowing that, to some degree, we all experience a little can also give you s...
Feb 05, 2020•6 min•Ep. 510
Melissa Hartwig Urban created the WHOLE30. What you may not know is the story behind it. At a young age Melissa experienced trauma that later fueled an addiction to drugs. Later she found sobriety but replaced her addiction with a craving for fitness. When challenged by a friend to experiment with a 30-day clean diet, she realized she had a complicated relationship with food. Soon after, the WHOLE30 was created. Her journey is one of self-reflection and she shares her story with a refreshing fra...
Feb 04, 2020•30 min•Ep. 509
Dr. L says: Keeping yourself accountable is a skill that many people often have to practice and refine over time. There are a few steps that you can take to ensure that you hold yourself accountable. Remember first and foremost to set realistic goals for yourself. Yes, they can be lofty and seemingly difficult but let’s not make impossible goals. Setting reminders for yourself can be a useful and simple way to ensure that are consistently checking in with yourself. Also, asking yourself why your...
Jan 29, 2020•4 min•Ep. 508
Jeff Vernon learned grit and perseverance as a kid in the family business. Those lessons carried him through a series of entrepreneurial successes and brought him where he is today - disrupting the fitness industry with a treadmill that makes you work harder and run better. In the sport of OCR or Crossfit coaches work on perfecting a series of skills training, but overlook proper running form. As humans understanding our gait and how to properly propel ourselves is imperative! Not only to preven...
Jan 28, 2020•35 min•Ep. 507
Dr. L says: Life is short. It’s important to get the most out of life that you can and dive into all the adventure and awesomeness that sits at your feet. AND it’s critical that along the way we are weaving in a layer of compassion when things don’t go our way. When we fail, fall short of our goals, or come up short against our expectations, yes, learn from that but also make sure that you are bringing in some humor and not weighing yourself down with criticism. LESSONS: Weave self-compassion in...
Jan 22, 2020•3 min•Ep. 506
Kara Goucher is a true legend of the running world, from competing in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, to a bronze medal at the 2007 World Athletics Cross Country Championships (formerly IAAF), to the women’s fastest-ever half marathon, and third overall at the 2009 Boston Marathon! In this interview she discusses the importance of being vulnerable, challenging yourself, leaning into things that make you feel anxious and how much you can learn from something you’re not good at. Kara Goucher also...
Jan 21, 2020•28 min•Ep. 505
Dr. L says: It’s important that you are consistently and frequently checking in with yourself, and there are a couple of different areas, in particular, that might need attention. First, checking in with your own emotions is key because in order for you to make the next right choice you need to understand how you are feeling. Second, checking in with how you are feeling about your relationships is important. What are the ways that you feel either connected or disconnected? And lastly, checking i...
Jan 15, 2020•6 min•Ep. 504
Mike Bledsoe walked away from the success he earned in the fitness industry as part of Barbell Shrugged to look inward. He is now focused on how mindset influences your performance. By looking at language and how you view your own story, new revelations in your mental and emotional patterning can be revealed. What causes deep underlying pain in your body? It may actually be attributed to unresolved trauma from your past. In this interview, we discuss the benefits of breathing and the importance ...
Jan 14, 2020•33 min•Ep. 503
Spartan Up co-host Dr. L says: Often, we look outside of ourselves for motivation and inspiration, but if we dig deep enough we typically have everything we need inside of ourselves to make changes and live the kind of life that we are looking for. We must become the hero in our own story - not wait for someone else to step into that role. In order to do so, it’s important to identify a few things, including who the villains are in your story, the ones who become barriers to you getting what you...
Jan 08, 2020•3 min•Ep. 502
What’s the one thing we could do to improve the future? Raise better young people. Facilitate better parenting. Our country faces an epidemic of “fatherlessness.” Whether due to a father figure not physically being in the picture or mentally being distant - it is a massive obstacle that Justin Batt has been working to overcome with Daddy Saturdays. It’s not just for dad’s and not just on Saturdays, his book and his programs create a paradigm shift about how we look at our free time, how we engag...
Jan 07, 2020•35 min
Dr. L, Spartan's chief Mind doc, says: This is the time of year when many of us dive quickly into the pool of New Year’s Resolutions. Whether you like the word resolution or not, it’s helpful to take stock of what you want out of the next 12 months to come - or even just the next month itself. Setting goals can be an important part of moving towards that which you want and it’s also important to keep a few things in mind, like being realistic and using your support system around you. Have a wond...
Jan 02, 2020•6 min•Ep. 500
It’s not about what happens to you - but what you do with what happens to you. Chris Waddell, injured in a skiing accident in college, went on to medal in the 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002 Winter Paralympics and become a motivational speaker. He uses his positive perspective to shift the paradigm and concepts of “Nametags,” labels and limitations placed upon people with disabilities and challenges. His advice: In life, like in a ski race, race to the first gate! Always keep your skis pointed downhil...
Dec 31, 2019•37 min•Ep. 499
Although there might be some individuals who just seem more optimistic or positive, the truth is that we can all learn to practice optimism and weave some of the tenants into our life. The first element that was discussed includes shifting your perspective that sees things as permanent to seeing things as temporary. The second element is seeing events and painful experiences as singular, not pervasive.The last element of learning optimism is not taking things personally. Whether it’s insecurity ...
Dec 25, 2019•3 min•Ep. 498
When winning isn’t enough, try working to improve the “MOD,” or Margin of the Day. That’s the margin by which you win. One of Joe De Sena’s favorite quotes: “will it make the boat go faster?” Josh Crosby, world champion rower and co-founder of BDY SQD, attacks life with a voracious appetite. Dedicated to constant improvement and pushing himself farther, his perseverance, persistence and passion led him to success as a rower, in adventure racing, and to be a pioneer in the realm of rowing in mode...
Dec 24, 2019•31 min•Ep. 497
Spartan's "Chief Mind Doc" Dr. L says: Although there might be some individuals who just seem more optimistic or positive, the truth is that we can all learn to practice optimism and weave some of the tenants into our life. The first element that was discussed in the last episode included shifting your perspective that sees things as permanent to seeing things as temporary. Another way of thinking that can be helpful for you in building optimism is limiting your language and views around things ...
Dec 18, 2019•3 min•Ep. 496
Who has created your idea of success? Are you on the path you want should be on? Laura Gassner Otting, author of “Limitless” talks with Joe De Sena about carving your own way and revisiting what it is that ignites your passion. Don't be afraid of change, get comfortable being uncomfortable. Push yourself beyond what you thought was feasible, making the peaks & possibilities of life ahead of you Limitless! Joe is joined by Marko Cheseto, a Kenyan runner who lost both legs while on a running s...
Dec 17, 2019•38 min•Ep. 495
Host Dr. L says: Let’s move from 2019 into 2020 with a newly found practice of optimism! Although there might be some individuals who just seem more optimistic or positive, the truth is that we can all learn to practice optimism and weave some of the tenants into our life. One of the first ways that optimism can be more present in your life is by challenging the idea that painful things that happen in your life are permanent. If we begin to think of difficult times as temporary we are more likel...
Dec 11, 2019•3 min•Ep. 494
This former NFL player remembers the day his mother handed him over to foster care, he went on to play in the NFL and now uses his “Identity Shift” program to help people move away from old programming that no longer serves them so they can reach their highest potential. He tells host Col. Nye about his method and walks you through a series of defined steps: See Shift Sustain, Accept Dissect Discover, Design Develop Deploy, Drive Hive & Thrive. This is a powerful roadmap that allows you to c...
Dec 10, 2019•32 min•Ep. 493
Host Zach Even-Esh and his guest Col. Tim Nye talk about tactics to end indecisiveness. It can stress you out and often cause you to miss out on amazing opportunities. Here’s how to avoid missing out and start taking control of your life. LESSONS: Always be open to new opportunities. Avoid “Getting comfortable in your cage”. Action Always. Advance & Conquer. Moving forward is the key to your success. Staying in 1 place is stagnation. Avoid stagnation at all times! Most barriers are mental! S...
Dec 05, 2019•6 min•Ep. 492
Holidays are officially here! And with all the glitter, shimmer, and swanky bows comes stress, anxiety, and sometimes even a case of the holiday blues. So planning ahead for these emotional waves can put you in a position to better handle what’s ahead. There are a few key things to remember as we move into the holidays. Setting boundaries, keeping your priorities in line, and maintaining a routine are just a few ways that you can create a structure and sense of safety during the season. And star...
Dec 04, 2019•5 min•Ep. 491
The founder of Optimize sits down with the founder of Spartan for a power-packed conversation on participating in excellence, actualizing your potential and being a hero! How can you “Optimize” your life to be your absolute best? What can we learn from ancient Greek philosophers? And what do the roots of words teach us? Brian Johnson scours the greatest books to bring you the core concepts through his digital ecosystems, on how to reach your highest potential. Grab a pen Spartans, because this p...
Dec 03, 2019•38 min•Ep. 490
Do you ever feel stressed and overwhelmed? Of course, you do! That is how MANY people feel nowadays in this world that never stops or slows down. Zach Even-Esh and COl Tim Nye share some simple solutions to your stress. LESSONS: Take a short exercise break to recalibrate your mind and body. Take a short 10-minute walk (outdoors if weather permits) for some fresh air. Write down in a journal how you’re feeling and how you want to feel to help “release” your stress on paper. What is your favorite ...
Nov 29, 2019•6 min•Ep. 489
With the holidays around the corner, Dr. L reminds us, the practice of gratitude and the importance of giving thanks becomes a part of the season. Gratitude is important because it allows us to shift into the present and observe what it is in the now that we are grateful for. Maintaining a gratitude practice helps to give us space to experience joy and to reflect on some of the more difficult experiences that also bring us wisdom. Work to weave in your own gratitude practice this season - it doe...
Nov 27, 2019•4 min•Ep. 488
When he was just 8 years of age, his friend accidentally lit him on fire. The impact was severe. Undergoing decades of surgeries to treat the 65% of his body now covered in scars, Shay is a true Phoenix. His inner spirit, and his joyful charm, have been forged like steel through fire. In spite of constant pain he became an undefeated boxer, an Ironman and multiple time World Champion athlete, and in Tahoe a Spartan. As he says, obstacles are merely opportunities in disguise, face everything in l...
Nov 26, 2019•37 min•Ep. 487
