In this episode, Joe se Sena is having an insightful conversation with TeamSnap CEO Pete Frintzilas. Pete shares how facing challenges as a child of immigrants built his resilience and success. He discusses lessons learned on instilling a strong work ethic in kids without spoiling them. Joe and Pete also discuss how continuous learning and seeking guidance from mentors fueled their growth and empowered them to overcome obstacles. Discover actionable advice on prioritizing your career early, deve...
Apr 30, 2024•18 min
Victor Antonio knows what it's like to struggle. Growing up in poverty-stricken Chicago housing projects, he faced an uphill battle. But through grit and determination, he climbed his way to the top. In this fascinating episode, Victor pulls back the curtain on his amazing success story. From food stamps as a child to writing bestsellers, he shares the pivotal moments that changed his trajectory. Learn Victor's unorthodox tactics for understanding customers on a deeper level. Discover how he tra...
Apr 23, 2024•29 min
In this episode of The Hard Way podcast, Joe De Sena interviews Paul Foster, the founder of the iconic fitness brand Reebok. Tune in as Foster recounts growing up in a family shoe business plagued by infighting, and his risky decision to break out on his own with his brother. Listen how this small startup found its big break by pivoting to capitalize on the aerobics craze just starting to sweep the nation. Foster shares the story of how resilience, innovation, and an openness to new opportunitie...
Apr 16, 2024•23 min
The Lovesac founder Shawn Nelson started with a silly college project - giant beanbags. Now he leads the top-selling couch brand in America. How did he go from dorm room side hustle to building a business worth billions? Tune in as Shawn shares his wild journey of overcoming failures, bankruptcy and naysayers. Plus, hear Shawn and Joe discussing the couch controversy and finding common ground in their philosophies of pushing limits. Get practical tips on developing grit, balancing work and rest,...
Apr 09, 2024•26 min
When does pursuing your goals mean neglecting your relationships? For high-performing couples, maintaining intimacy may become hard and require intentionality. In this episode, Amy Wine shares her strategies for helping elite athletes, entrepreneurs and busy professionals prioritize connection - even when life gets hectic. Learn a system for designing communication around each partner's unique rhythms and needs. Learn about the "married roommate" trap and how to overcome it. Discover Amy's techn...
Apr 02, 2024•24 min
While most would have quit after repeatedly getting cut from teams, Dre Baldwin refused to give up on his basketball dreams. This episode shares his incredible journey from benchwarmer to going pro, despite the countless setbacks along the way. You'll learn how he maintained an unstoppable motivation to improve day after day through strategies like constantly problem-solving new approaches. Dre also discusses the mindset it takes to achieve big goals, emphasizing the importance of working with o...
Mar 26, 2024•20 min
Tired of conflicting advice on diabetes? This episode sets the record straight. Dr. Robbie Barbero, who reversed his own Type 1 diabetes with a plant-based diet, unpacks the science on what really causes insulin resistance.ro You'll be shocked to learn it's NOT sugar as you've been told. Dr. Barbero reveals new research proving dietary fat - not sugar - is the true culprit behind the diabetes epidemic. He'll also share his own protocol for reversing pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes through a hig...
Mar 19, 2024•29 min
This episode follows the transformation of successful entrepreneur Andy Goldstrom from a results-driven corporate executive to a compassionate parenting coach. Faced with his own daughter's mental health struggles, Andy realized the tough love approach that worked in business failed his family. Through difficult lessons and parent coaching certification, Andy learned to see issues through his child's eyes. Now he shares these hard-won insights to help others strengthen bonds with kids facing unp...
Mar 05, 2024•25 min
Tired of being average? Want to take your game to the next level and become unstoppable? This episode will show you how to maximize your innate strengths, tap into your deepest interests, and unleash an unstoppable drive to win. Former military strategist James King shares his science-backed approach to identifying your "sweet spot" and aligning your goals in a way that ignites your full potential. Spartan CEO Joe De Sena opens up about applying these principles to build an empire and change mil...
Feb 27, 2024•23 min
In this episode, marketing pioneer Seth Godin shares his proven strategies for building viral movements and brands. He and the Spartan founder Joe De Sena talk about the power of cultivating small, passionate communities over mass appeal. Godin draws from his experience helping top brands connect through stories and building a community. He explains how understanding the way ideas spread socially unlocked his viral successes. Seth points out that the most successful brands are built like "religi...
Feb 20, 2024•25 min
In this episode, Joe De Sena interviews Michael Holt from Savage and Saint on redefining masculinity through integrity, authenticity and inner strength. They discuss growing up tough and how it shapes character, plus the importance of discipline and relaxation in achieving goals and relationships. Michael shares his daily wellness routine of meditation, breathing, nutrition and movement - practical self-care habits that unlock spiritual growth and sustainable energy. Discover an empowering bluep...
Feb 13, 2024•23 min
Craig Levinson has overcome countless obstacles on his journey from South Africa to Silicon Valley. After immigrating as a teen, he chased his basketball dreams in the US only to have a devastating injury end his career. But he refused to quit, pivoting to build supplement brands and manage inspirational clients. Through it all, 3 principles have guided him: accountability, consistency, and self-care. In this episode, Craig shares gripping tales of his moves across the world, business failures, ...
Jan 23, 2024•24 min
Tired of kids glued to screens when they should be running around outside? Frustrated with the lack of PE and recess in schools? Dr. Amy Bantham has had enough - and she's starting a revolution to get our youth active again. As the founder of Move to Live More, Amy is trying to empower families and schools in a fight against physical inactivity. In this motivating episode, she shares why movement matters for mental and physical health, tips for fun family fitness, and innovative solutions to get...
Jan 16, 2024•16 min
Jacob Peters almost died after a COVID-19 vaccine left him hospitalized. Instead of accepting defeat, he was driven to help others avoid similar struggles. His new company Superpower aims to put people in charge of their health data and connect them to innovative care. This episode follows Jacob's incredible journey—from building Legos into a six-figure business as a teen to founding a major health tech company after a chance meeting on Wall Street. But it was facing his mortality that lit a fir...
Jan 09, 2024•36 min
Tired of the same old drinking culture? In this unconventional podcast episode, Spartan CEO Joe De Sena joins forces with wellness entrepreneur Ruari Fairbairns to drop bombshell strategies for helping people take back control over their lives from Big Alcohol. From waking guests at dawn with burpees to proposing "water-only" bars, these disruptors will challenge your assumptions with their boldest ideas yet for growing the global sobriety movement. You'll also get the surprising backstory of ho...
Jan 02, 2024•24 min
In this fascinating discussion, Dr. Jeff Karp, a top biomedical innovator pulls back the curtain on the difficult journey medical breakthroughs must take to actually help patients. From navigating financial hurdles and clinical trial complexities to manufacturing challenges, hear the surprising barriers promising cures often face on their journey to your local pharmacy. You'll also get an inside look at how real solutions are being developed. Discover how a nasal spray was created to potentially...
Dec 26, 2023•20 min
Tired of synthetic pleasures leaving you unfulfilled? Former financier and entrepreneur Seth Goldstein knows how easy it is to fall for fake dopamine hits. But he firmly believes that through discipline and authentic challenges like the Spartan Race, people can find genuine happiness and fulfillment. In this episode, Seth shares his journey of creating an authentic snack brand called MASA Chips. From identifying a problem and analyzing reports to frying small batches of chips and testing the pro...
Dec 19, 2023•14 min
Tired of feeling drained? Struggling with inflammation or other health issues? Mason Kuhr shares his holistic approach to tapping into your inner strength. Through simple daily rituals like cold exposure, meditation, and burpees, Mason has optimized his energy levels, productivity, and recovery. He'll reveal how reconnecting with nature can boost your immunity, testosterone, and more. You'll also learn Mason's unique take on making wellness accessible and how Stampede Network is revolu...
Dec 12, 2023•15 min
Dominic Schlueter was a regular kid who loved running. Through consistency, the right influences, and taking action on his dreams, he's built a thriving podcast and brand at just 18 years old. In this episode, Dominic recounts how from a young age he found joy in challenging himself on the track. That drive soon led him to seek out greater obstacles through podcasts and books. And it inspired him to start his own show to share the stories of people that he found inspiring. Dominic talks about hi...
Dec 05, 2023•23 min
Joe De Sena sits down with a young entrepreneur Lukas Pakter, the founder of the SquidHaus fitness apparel company, to discuss sensitive global issues with nuance, as well as Lucas' unconventional path to building his booming athletic apparel brand. Lucas shares his viral strategy of leveraging an "influential army" of top fitness creators to take over the scene. He plans to sell thousands of discounted tickets to Joe's Spartan Race using influencer codes, donating over $1M to charity in the pro...
Nov 28, 2023•27 min
In this powerful episode, Spartan founder Joe De Sena sits down for an in-depth conversation with the amazing Brian Johnson, also known as the Heroic Philosopher CEO. They discuss Brian's strategies for building anti-fragile confidence through consistent action. Brian shares how we can close the gap between who we are and who we want to be by doing what we say we'll do. He explains the importance of living each day with virtue and intensity. Joe and Brian also discuss forging strength through ch...
Nov 21, 2023•36 min
In this hard-hitting episode, bestselling author Michael Easter joins Joe De Sena to discuss the dangers of our addiction to comfort in the modern world. They explore how technologies like social media and junk food use the same psychological tricks as slot machines to hijack our brains. Easter reveals the "scarcity loop" that makes these activities so addictive. They also debate controversial solutions like taxing junk food and mandatory military service. This thought-provoking discussion will ...
Nov 14, 2023•35 min
Joe De Sena interviews Craig Siegel who is an author and motivational speaker. While having a successful business on Wall St Craig felt unfulfilled. He re-invented himself and constantly pushed himself into discomfort until he found a passion that would get him out of bed in the morning. He now helps others find their true potential and calling.
Nov 08, 2023•24 min
Joe De Sena sits down with Co-Director of Christspiracy, Kameron Waters who talks about his upcoming film which he and his co-director bought back from Netflix making it the first of its kind to do so. This is the sequel to the popular Seaspiracy, What the Health and Cowspiracy which explores The Spirituality Secret kept hidden for thousands of years. To help Kameron buy the movie back from Netflix they are launching a kickstarter which you can find here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Nov 01, 2023•52 min
Jessie Kanzer, author of UNLOCKING YOUR INNER ZELENSKY shares profound life lessons drawn from Volodymyr Zelensky's words and actions, and shows us how we too can access our Inner Zelensky to improve how we lead, conduct ourselves, and how we live. Jessie Kanzer, a half-Ukrainian child of the USSR who had a small part in Zelensky’s first major film, sees Zelensky as "a spiritual leader for our times." Joe sits down with her to discover what we can do to become better leaders. For those intereste...
Oct 03, 2023•25 min
On this episode Joe De Sena interviews Eric Frohardt who is a retired Navy Seal and purple heart recipient. Eric talks about his time in active service and his transition to becoming COO of Defy. Episode presented by Mudgear.
Sep 20, 2023•26 min
On this episode of The Hard Way Joe De Sena sits down with Ed Hajim, a successful Wall Street executive who persevered through some of life's hardest tests as a young child. Ed was kidnapped by his father at 3 years old and left in foster care and continued to fight through all the obstacles in front of him to now living a life of giving back to younger generations. In his latest book, The Island of the Four P's, he created a fable that helps prepare the youth for their future. To learn more abo...
Sep 12, 2023•33 min
Joe brings on longtime friend and an original Spartan; Zach Even Esh. Joe and Zach talk about why it's important to toughen up in modern times and what the reasons are for the increase of softness in society.
Aug 08, 2023•35 min
Andrea Miller is the founder and CEO of YourTango, an independent, purpose-driven publisher focused on relationships, emotional resilience, love, and self-empowerment tha attracts more than 23 million unique visitors each month organically. Joe and Andrea talk about the loneliness epidemic and how the modern tools out there have made fostering relationships more difficult than ever. For more info head to: https://www.yourtango.com/
Jul 18, 2023•27 min
Joe interviews Angelo Poli who is the founder of Metabolic Profiling (MetPro), which is an advanced methodology that analyzes a person’s specific response to diet and activity, and adjusts based on their personal needs and goals. Angelo breaks down his process for helping thousands of people achieve their goal weight and how the metabolism works differently for every single person. For more info head to: metpro.co/spartan
Jul 05, 2023•31 min
