Spartan Up! - A Spartan Race For The Mind!

One of the World’s Fittest Men, began his journey to health at 39. As a full-time ultra-endurance athlete, Wellness Evangelist & plant-based nutrition advocate- he believes we all must “be more audacious in our aspirations.” On this episode he allows us to rethink our relationship with nutrition, our obsession with protein and how to access our “vast reservoirs of untapped potential.”   LESSONS:   Ask yourself what you want your life experience to be Always strive to maximize your potential Don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress to your fitness and nutrition Mood Follows Action: train yourself to be consistent regardless of your emotional state Don’t be afraid to set goals that scare you TIME STAMPS:   6:30 : “Plant based diet isn’t just celery & carrots” 7:15 : How to promote longevity 11:00 : Are you a fan of moderation or prone to extremes? 12:20 : An existential crisis at 39 years old: being pudgy & a heart scare 12:45: Recalibrate your relationship with food, nutrition & fitn

LESSONS:1. You must be ready to receive help. Someone could be willing to help you, but if you're not ready to receive it you will miss it.2. You never know when what you say may have a profound impact on someone.3. Life is not linear.4. Success is not something someone gives you, it's a feeling that comes from within.   This episode of “Spartan Up!”  is sponsored by Athletic Greens.  Get 20 travel packs free when you order at https://athleticgreens.com/spartan    LINKS: More ABout Frank Ferrante https://www.mayispeakfrankly.com/ SUBSCRIBE:   Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow   YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT   Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP:   Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod CREDITS:   Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc.   Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra, and Col. Tim Nye with special guest this week Zach Even-Esh   Synopsis – Matt Baatz  

Just START, a message from boxing promoter Barry Hearn that can’t be emphasized enough. This episode deserved an encore because we cannot overemphasize the importance of not taking your life for granted. Life is a gift, you must not abuse it. Hearn wanted to be a heavyweight boxing champion, but his path lead him to be a promoter instead. His own passion seem harsh at times, but that’s only testament to how strongly he believes in the power of the individual to create a meaningful life.   Lessons: At first take a scattergun approach in life; don’t set limits and then hone in on your passion. Start an hour earlier and end an hour later. Champions are impressive, but the people at the back of the field who refuse to give in may be even more impressive. 4. Life is a gift, do not squander it! Links: Matchroom Sport: Home  http://www.matchroomsport.com/ SUBSCRIBE:   Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow   YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT   Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN

For 200 episodes Joe and the podcast team have been seeking the secrets to living the Spartan Way.  This week Col. Nye turns things around asking Joe what that process has taught him, and then he digs in and asks Joe’s wife Courtney if all this stuff is for real. Courtney doesn’t make many public appearances, so you won’t want to miss this one. Hear what happened when she spotted an eccentric barefoot runner in a wetsuit running in her direction.  Clearly, she’s a true Spartan!   This week’s show takes place at the scene of Spartan Agoge 009 in Pittsfield, VT. Joe, the Col. and special guest Zach Even-Esh talk about some of their favorite takeaways and how they inspired Joe’s new book The Spartan Way.   Lessons: You were born with all the tools you need to get through life. You don’t necessarily need any new ones. Practice adversity. Be passionate, but have fun. Links: The Spartan Way | Joe De Sena | Macmillan This episode of “Spartan Up!”  is sponsored by Athletic Greens.  Get 20 travel packs FREE when y

“Lucky” to have cerebral palsy? That’s what Zach Anner says in what is unexpectedly our funniest podcast episode yet! Most people work all their lives to become comfortable asking for help and showing the world their true selves, weakness and all. Zach Anner skipped all that. Using what he’s learned he created and stars in his own YouTube show “Workout Wednesdays,” in which he shows how spectacularly he can fail and shares what he calls “inspirational jokes.” It’s disarming, inspirational, genuine and really funny! He has parlayed his compelling voice into a memoir, If at Birth You Don’t Succeed, and as a writer on an ABC sitcom “Speechless.” Anner may fail at many things, but he is masterful at being himself. Lessons: 1. A visible disability can be a gift in that it’s a route to greater authenticity.
 2. With the right perspective, terrible experiences can be transformed into great stories.
 3. Failure blazes an alternative route to success.
 LINKS: If at Birth You Don't Succeed http://ifatbirthyoudontsuccee

What makes a true warrior? SEALFIT founder Mark Divine brings mindfulness, strength and a holistic perspective to success. Joe and Mark talk about the value of ritual as a means to shed distractions and turn inward. It’s a way to reach your higher self, to feel oneness with the world and live according to your principles. Humanity needs each person, so it is your human obligation to take the best possible care of yourself - mentally and physically. What steps to Joe and Mark suggest? Listen and learn. Lessons:
 1. A meditation practice elevates your perspective.
 2. Physical, mental and spiritual growth should not be separated.
   Links: SEALFIT https://sealfit.com/ BURPEES FOR VETS www.couragefoundation.net UNBEATABLE MIND https://unbeatablemind.com/ Mark Divine’s Book “The Way of the Seal” https://www.amazon.com/Way-Seal-Mark-Divine/dp/1621454037/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528125646&sr=8-1&keywords=way+of+the+seal SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/Sparta

To hear “Come on down!” on the Price is Right isn’t just about luck or persistence, it’s also about a secret. That secret is the third door. When Alex took a hard left turn in life, leaving the path through medical school that his family had anticipated since his birth and started working on a book about the underpinnings of success, he found that door. He set out to write the book he needed to read. The irony is that he figured out as much on his JOURNEY to interview successful people as he did from the luminaries themselves. Though there is no substitute for first-hand experience, Banayan has a lot of wisdom to share about hacking success. This is a great story and features a guest appearance from our friend Cal Fussman. Lessons: 1. The writing’s on the wall; you just don’t think it’s for you.
 2. Go knock on people’s doors. Literally.
 3. There are three doors in life: the one you wait in line for hoping to get in, the VIP entrance for the privileged, and the third door. There’s always a way in if you loo

Star volleyball player Gabby Reece’s is one half of a power couple with husband Laird Hamilton. The wisdom she’s gained as a public figure, a pro & Olympic athlete, a sports model, a mother, and as partner to an alpha guy like Laird caused our podcast team to nickname her “Yoda.” Gabby has an unexpected message of accepting and nurturing people as they are and how they choose to define their objectives. She may have even shifted Joe’s paradigm, but we doubt it, yet there’s a good chance she’ll adjust yours. Although we would have loved interviewing her husband Laird too, serendipity had him rescuing Hawaiians from floods brought on by torrential rainfall and that meant we received “Yoda’s” wisdom uncut. Lessons: 1. It can be a show of strength to let someone else take the lead.
 2. Your kids are not hearing you or listening to you, but you can be certain that they’re watching you.
 3. Another interpretation of “the meek shall inherit the earth” is that they all had swords, they just didn’t unsheath them.

The Ice Man, Wim Hof, is crazy for life. He embodies Spartan values: becoming comfortable being uncomfortable, changing your point of reference and finding your true north with passion. Not surprisingly, he shares Joe’s enthusiasm for cold showers, though he suggests to start with a 30 second one. His methods are unique even as his message is conventional, still it cannot be stressed enough: Nature is our ultimate mentor. If this is the first time you’re hearing Wim Hof’s theories, prepare for a rush. Lessons: 1. Real comfort is achieved through gradual exposure to the elements and letting the body adapt.
 2. Breathe fully and believe you are the master of yourself.
 3. You need to optimize both your body and mind to reach your true potential. One doesn’t work effectively without the other.
 LINKS: The Wim Hof Method https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Wim Hof Facebook https://www.facebook.com/icemanwimhof Wim Hof Twitter https://twitter.com/Iceman_Hof Wim Hof Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iceman_hof AFTERS

What do you want to do with your time on this planet? Yanik Silver has taken this question and applied it to his business, Maverick 1000, harnessing entrepreneurial energy to make a difference in the world. But you’d be mistaken to think it’s only outcomes that matter. Silver has researched and discovered methods to find joy scrubbing the burnt in grease from a pot and direction in a world full of “self help” gurus. He bases his life and work on an experimental approach which includes study, meditation, games, journaling and some inspired doodling. How can you better focus on the journey and true north? This Spartan Up episode provides a map. Can you name the 6 big lessons in this episode? Lessons: 1. Find your center of balance in which you take action but still allow things to happen.
 2. Experiment: try things on long enough to see of they fit into your life.
 3. Journal: to add coherence to your life, to help you focus your monkey mind, to make you happier. 
   Links: Maverick1000 https://maverick1000.com

How can lacrosse build a strong sense of self and propel young women to a winning attitude? Lukas Cash, in his extensive and successful lacrosse and leadership camps has found a way. He has a simple, straightforward but effective message to impart to young people. The key is to get them asking the right questions consistently so that they can resist the constant lure of peer pressure. What exactly are those questions that will raise you to the top of your game? Find out this Spartan Up episode. How can lacrosse build a strong sense of self and propel young women to a winning attitude? Lukas Cash, in his extensive and successful lacrosse and leadership camps, has found a way. He has a simple, straightforward but effective message to impart to young people. The key is to get them asking the right questions consistently so that they can resist the constant lure of peer pressure. What exactly are those questions that will raise you to the top of your game? Find out this Spartan Up episode.  Lessons:  1. Find out

Luis Escobar has made a life around distance running. He has run with the Tarahumara who run as a way of life and with homeless people using running to get “back on their feet.” If his name sounds familiar, he’s also the ultrarunning photographer featured in Born to Run, by Chris McDougall. In this episode we ask him what it is about ultra running that draws him, about his trip to Copper Canyon, Mexico, about the Tarahumara, and about the obstacles we all face in life. Lessons: 1. Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
 2. When it feels like it’s over and you get up and keep moving, that’s when the magic happens.
 3. People who still live steeped in tradition and culture and who don’t espouse material values are not poor. They often live a rich life. 
 Links: Back on My Feet https://www.backonmyfeet.org/ All We Do Is Run http://www.allwedoisrun.com/ Luis Escobar on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/luis_escobar/ This episode is brought to you by FOUR SIGMATIC. Join the mushroom c

What’s the connection between Mark Rampolla, Joe De Sena & Coconut water? It begins with dysentery, giardia and an ultra race in Fiji. Joe experienced all three and coconut water saved him.  Mark Rampolla, founder of Zico, was introduced to coconut water in the Peace Corps and Coconut water changed his life too when he decided it would be the vehicle for his next chapter in life.  Why coconut water? In this episode hear how he found his true north, stayed the course, and about the natural power of coconut water. Is it possible to create a life that includes great family, a successful business and a positive impact on the world? Let us know what you think after this episode.What’s the connection between Mark Rampolla, Joe De Sena & Coconut water? It begins with dysentery, giardia and an ultra race in Fiji. Joe experienced all three and coconut water saved him.  Mark Rampolla, founder of Zico, was introduced to coconut water in the Peace Corps and Coconut water changed his life too when he decided it wo

What does it mean to be a man? Ryan Michler, creator and host of the “Order of Man” Podcast, is studying that question. He’s not doling out advice from a pedestal, but from a near decade long struggle to get his life, and marriage, in order. One thing he discovered was that the best men don’t put up a front of invincibility. Do the things that scare you, not to convince yourself that you’re brave and valorous, but because this is the fast track to growth and self knowledge.  Find out exactly what it takes to be a great human, this Spartan Up! What does it mean to be a man? Ryan Michler, creator and host of the “Order of Man” Podcast, is studying that question. He’s not doling out advice from a pedestal, but from a near decade long struggle to get his life, and marriage, in order. One thing he discovered was that the best men don’t put up a front of invincibility. Do the things that scare you, not to convince yourself that you’re brave and valorous, but because this is the fast track to growth and self knowled

With eight thousand characters in Marvel Comics’ universe, even if you’re a rabid comic fan, you probably haven’t scratched the surface of their offerings. We talk with Mindy Hamilton, the SVP of global partnerships at this time honored brand, now under the mega company Disney. She started on her career track at a very young age when she assumed the editorial responsibilities of a newspaper she started with her friends. That love of collaboration and a passionate curiosity, helped drive her on the meandering and unexpected path to her current position. She shares what she’s learned along the way: Lessons: 1. To effectively connect to your work, get tactile with it.
 2. Don’t live in shame; move on.
 3. Be a receptive listener; don’t always try to push your agenda, a common mistake.
 LINKS: Link: Marvel.com   SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s

Will OCR be an Olympic sport? Ian Adamson wants to change lives and he approaches the Olympic initiative as an “incredible opportunity”, not as the “insurmountable Everest” it could appear to be. As Adamson is also one of the most successful adventure racers of all time, the challenge is in capable hands. This week, we ask Adamson what it takes to be exceptional, why some are driven to be, how a team can exceed the ability of its weakest member and more. It’s not in the genes. It’s not in the stars. It’s something within everyone’s reach. Find out what this week. Lessons: 1. A good team is FASTER than its weakest link.
 2. Excelling at sport is about summoning the innate abilities that make you human, and not exceptional.
 3. Mastering a sport is a kind of path to enlightenment: the journey starts out physical but evolves into emotional and, at its highest level, spiritual. 
 LINKS: About Ian Link: https://ianadamson.com/ About World OCR https://worldocr.org/ This episode is brought to you by FOUR SIGMATIC.

In sports and energy drinks Lance Collins is the top of the heap. How did he get there? By being fast, funded, cutting edge, and well branded for the last three decades. And, critically, by being passionate enough to have a near single minded purpose. He has made great fortunes and launched successful products time and again. What keeps him coming back for more?  Listen and learn what makes Lance tick this week on Spartan Up!  Lessons: 1. It’s not the big that eat the small, it’s the fast that eat the slow.
 2. Whatever your million dollar idea is, it must be disruptive. Don’t be a me too.
 3. Above all, if a product isn’t eye catching the rest doesn’t matter. 
   SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with

He sailed around the world, twice; the second voyage with his young family in tow. And in spite of starting a crabbing business in his teens and several other ventures throughout his adulthood, his expeditions are where Caspar Craven learned, along with his family, some of the most vital lessons in life, not the least of which is how to be alive. The most important skill they learned on the high seas through their many adventures is emotional resilience. Hear how they cultivated that resilience and how you can too on this episode of Spartan Up. Lessons: 1. Teach resilience by modeling resilience.
 2. Integrative learning through following a passion through all its aspects (math, science, humanities, etc.) can be a more effective teaching tool than learning each discipline in isolation and without context.
 3. Talk about what you want to do all the time until it becomes vivid and real to you, then figure out how to do it. 
 Link: Caspar Craven http://www.casparcraven.com/ READ his book”Where the Magic Happens

At age 70 she tried her first Spartan Race. At seventy two years old, 16.7 miles, five thousand feet of climbing at nearly two miles above sea level, she crossed the Lake Tahoe Spartan Race Championship finish line. For Marla Sweeney, this was the twenty third time in almost as many months of crossing that line. She started this endeavor while still managing pain from a head on car accident. Is that inspiring enough for you? Marla doesn’t consider herself special and will crush all your excuses. We celebrate her and all other strong women on International Women’s Day on March 8th! Lessons: 1. Compartmentalize. Find a way to break down big goals in tiny ones and tick them off one by one. Repeat.
 2. There’s always a way to adapt but you won’t find it sitting down.
 3. Get your whole family involved. You’ll strengthen bonds and have a support system. 
 SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay  http://spartan.com/185 FOL

Want to find your purpose? Go outside! That’s the sage advice from Steve Lulek, wilderness survival expert and adventure guide. Are we meant to live the bulk of our lives cloistered in cubicles, driving in steel boxes and staring at screens? How can we reverse these cultural norms in order to reconnect to the outdoors and ourselves in the process? This week Joe and Steve explore our true natures.  Lessons: 1. When you find who you are, it’s easy to let go of the things that don’t fit.
 2. Reframe adverse outdoor conditions into something to enhance the adventure.  There’s no excuse not to go outside.
 3. Feel overwhelmed? Sit silent in nature and observe to reground yourself.  Links: Green Mountain Rock Climbing http://www.vermontadventuretours.com/ This episode is brought to you by FOUR SIGMATIC.  Join the mushroom coffee revolution and save 15% using promo code SPARTAN www.foursigmatic.com/spartan SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http:/