Spartan Up! - A Spartan Race For The Mind!

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 ch

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, Sef

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

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

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 – Mar

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

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, C

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