The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

When I find myself getting frustrated, struggling with events or life, being disappointed by others or my expectations it's usually because I'm investing too much emotional energy in the area of interest. Or, not enough energy in the area of control. When we find ourselves going down the emotional or irrational mind path we need to create a trigger to get us back into rational and process oriented...

Ginseng has recently gained popularity for those looking to get an extra edge on the job, or to improve daily focus. It also has rejuvenating qualities that can support an increase in energy. There are two main varieties of ginseng, American and Asian (Korean) that have slightly different benefits, so talk to you doctor to make sure you're taking the appropriate one for your needs. In addition to...

Kevin Gillotti talks with Ashley Heller, Kaci Monroe, Emilee Smith about what it takes to race together as a team & the nuances and considerations before a race, and out on the race course, and building a team & working with others to get the job done. TAKE AWAY POINTS: Consider your teammates across several criteria beyond just friends Be sure to train together as a team Know each teammates stren...

Sometimes, as Spartans, we get so caught up in doing more, that we actually work ourselves into the ground. That maximal work pushes you into the red zone. Here's how to work smarter, not just harder! LESSONS: Identify what you are taking too far (fitness, work, nutrition, etc) to the point that things are actually working against you. Learn from your mistakes and, most of all, learn from the mist...

Insecurities can pop up at any time. We all have them and some of us use certain strategies to keep them at bay. One insecurity that can rear its ugly head, especially when we are in a group setting, is that around contribution. Sometimes we may hear our inner critic exclaim, "you've got nothing to contribute. Be quiet." Typically, this is stemming from a fear of rejection or judgment. Working to...

He was a sick young kid who went from doctor to doctor looking for a diagnosis, finally realizing to truly find a solution he would have to become a Doctor himself. Hear his take on fasting, saunas, cold showers and the best food to start the day. His holistic solutions are a hybrid of Functional medicine, Ayurvedic medicine & genetics that uses state of the art lab testing to guide holistic and t...

Our attitudes on how we approach or what we define winning as sets the stage for success across all endeavors. Winning is putting points on the board until the very last second. Being so driven that you constantly seek ways to do better, push harder, find more, etc… This is my attitude towards winning, it does not ever change per scenario or circumstance. Sportsmanship, Tolerance, Balance come int...

Just when you thought you knew all the reasons why exercise is good for you, a new scientific discovery gives us yet another one. Today on Spartan Health we're going to talk about something called "brown fat" or "good fat." WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Recent research has found some possible explanations for why a substance called "brown fat" can actually increase your metabolism. Its beneficial qualities h...

After a solid 2018, Timmie Brann is on the Spartan Pro Team for the first time in 2019. She talks about opening a gym that allows her to help people of all levels. Her gym gives people the opportunity to try a lot of different things. She also discusses why she is an OCR nerd, and keeping her race day look on point. LESSONS: If you want to race fast, train fast. Try a variety of things in training...

Bringing you some fire from a Teddy Roosevelt book in today's episode! This book is a reminder that our work is a gift. It is something we GET to do, not something we HAVE to do. LESSONS: Reconnect with WHY you started working the job you currently have. Find the deeper meaning behind your work. The deeper meaning might be as simple as your job giving you the ability to put food on the table. Take...

Imposter syndrome is something we all struggle with from time to time. It occurs when you doubt your own contribution and experience yourself as fraudulent in any given situation. No matter how common this way of thinking is, however, it's not healthy and if you don't build resilience around it, your self-esteem can suffer. It's important to catch yourself when you engage in such thinking and work...

Pete Tanzilli, a police officer shot in left hip in the line of duty, faced chronic physical issues from the incident, he speaks with us just before taking on his first Spartan Race with the Task Force Sentinel / OEW team. Chris Thorp has served in many uniforms, from EMT to Police Officer. As a public servant he's had to deal with many tragic and difficult situations. In a small gesture of gratit...

Perfection is a wonderful ideal. But when we take it out of balance it can stagnate efforts and become an impediment to the essential action of 'start'. If we keep in mind that the ideation and planning phases that are only equal parts to the phases of rehearsal, execution, follow up, assessment, redesign & reiteration we might allow ourselves to just build momentum by getting started. You will sp...

One in three adults in the U.S. don't get a good night's sleep. Some reasons might be physical problems (like apnea) or mental distress. But for many, it's simply bad habits. Here are five easy ways to improve your chances for restful sleep. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Number 1: You're Using Electronics Right Before You Fall Asleep We've all done it – spending minutes or even hours scrolling through social...

We learn a little about Spartan Pro Team racer Ryan Kent. He talks about his running background, how he trains during the offseason, and finding a balance between strength and speed. He also has some tips for larger runners. LESSONS: Stay consistent for a higher fitness level Less volume on race week, maintain or increase the intensity Find things that suit your strengths on each course. SUBSCRIBE...

A long time ago a friend of mine and mentor told me that he kept specific books on his work desk, just so he could see the title. He told me how the title of the book alone would fire him up to do work, to set bigger goals and to get after it. I remember a book that did it for me was Jump In!: Even If You Don't Know How to Swim by Mark Burnett Here and there I would flip open the book to a random...

We may wish it weren't true but it is: You can't control how you feel at any given moment. You CAN however, control your response to how you feel. And you can absolutely learn to control your emotions. When we don't control our emotions, we run the risk of letting them control us by impacting our choices, decisions, and next moves without our consent. Learning how to control your emotions is a key...

Joe DeSena interviews Charlie Rocket at the Fenway Park Spartan Race.  "CEO Charlie" was successful in business, he managed the artist 2 Chainz to a Grammy! But he found himself overweight and seriously ill with a brain tumor, none of that so-called success mattered anymore. Charlie made a massive pivot from "CEO Charlie" to "Charlie Rocket!" In an honest, human and incredibly energetic and optimi...

If you say you are going to do something, then do it. Not a version of it. Not some approximation. Do exactly it. Not to is to set the new lowest standard or to invite confusion.   Look for those tiny simple things that you might do that create inconsistency with communication and action. It could be using the word 'try' or 'maybe' when establishing a performance metric. It could be punching the s...

Magnesium has some amazing properties for your brain and body. It also makes important contributions to many important processes in the human body. Two things that many of us have experienced are stress and muscle cramps. First, let's look at magnesium and its impact on stress, especially in relation to cortisol. Cortisol is the body's principal stress hormone. This hormone helps to keep us alert...

Kevin Gillotti talks with John Yatsko, an athlete not often seen on the OCR circuit but one who has the historical results & credentials to put worry into his competitors when he does show up. Kevin & John talk about staying elite level fit while living a nomadic lifestyle. LESSONS: Be resourceful If you are creative & dedicated, you can train anywhere Be disciplined with your time Consider phases...

The 4 AM club is something that Cory Gregory runs out of his gym in Ohio. You can create ANY type of "club" & it doesn't have to be at 4 AM! LESSONS: Building a club will build accountability for yourself and everyone else Pick specific days & times with a group and lock them down for whatever it is you want to improve: fitness, business, sports skills, etc. Make sure this group of people are peop...

For better or worse, life is filled with struggle and challenge. We, as humans, were built with a wide emotional range and often experience a variety of feelings, both joyful and painful ones. Nevertheless, we are bombarded with the message that one's life goals should be a constant state of happiness; that the pursuit of happiness should trump all. The problem with this goes back to that first se...

The Youngest GM in baseball history, Theo Epstein took the Red Sox to the World Championships after 86 years then did the same for the Chicago Cubs after a 108 years! What techniques did he use to change the culture of his organization? In this interview he explains how he chooses players (it has a lot to do with their mindset and resilience!), his theory on taking and giving credit, and the three...

Highly Competent: know your job, do your job, be quick to develop and eager to assume responsibility. Competence is acquired through training, practice, time under tension, experience - for sure. Let's just not keep making the same mistakes over and over, being told to do things repeatedly, and be happy with minimum standards. Low Maintenance: don't require a lot of special handling or attention....