The Mean Grit Podcast

From Navy Diver to World Record Holder: Rob Sembiante’s Grit in Life & Leadville! What does it take to finish the legendary Leadville 100 in under 24 hours—with just 4 minutes to spare? In this episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, I sit down with Rob Sembiante, an ultra-endurance athlete, Navy veteran, real estate investor, and e-commerce entrepreneur who has built his life on one principle: bet...

Josh Coleman's Journey Through Loss, Love, and HUNDREDS of Miles | Mean Grit Podcast"This wasn’t just my wife. This was my best friend, my everything."When tragedy strikes, how do you keep going? In this deeply personal and powerful episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, we sit down with Josh Coleman, a man who turned unthinkable heartbreak into fuel for a life lived on foot. After losing...

🎥 Why Is Grit So Personal? | Interviews from Western States 2025 with Hellah Sidibe, Rachel Entrekin & MoreIn this special episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, we travel to the legendary Western States Endurance Run 2025 to ask a powerful question: What is grit? From world-class champions to everyday warriors, this episode captures raw, unscripted answers that will leave you inspired to dig deep...

How far would you go to be the best? For Devin Graham, a.k.a. Devinsupertramp, the answer is: 11-mile hikes, shark-infested waters, and filming across four seasons—all for a single shot. In this inspiring episode of The Mean Grit Podcast, host James Julian sits down with one of YouTube’s most iconic filmmakers to uncover the raw hustle behind the viral adventure videos, cinematic stunts, and billi...

🎙 Mean Grit Podcast – Episode 19What does it take to turn a noisy middle school classroom into a symphony of discipline, joy, and grit? In this inspiring episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, we step off the trail and into the music room with Angela Harman, a middle school orchestra teacher who's not only changing the way kids learn music — she's changing lives. Angela brings fun, energy, and...

Mean Grit Podcast – Episode 18What if running could save your life—and someone else’s? In this moving episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, we head to the top of a mountain (literally) with Adam Burns, a 22-year-old runner on a mission to run across the entire state of Utah to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Adam opens up about the dark moments of his teenage years, the inspiration he found in...

What do you do when your body is falling apart, your brain is seeing lions and wizards, and you're still 100 miles from the finish? Bear Lee "bear_lee_running" ran the Cocodona 250 on 35 minutes of sleep, fighting hallucinations, blisters, and brutal terrain — but his story goes way beyond the miles. In this raw and honest episode, Bear opens up about mental health, resilience, and the mindset it...

Are you the VILLAIN or THE HERO in your own story? I sit down with author & father, Peter Taylor to discuss his Hero's Journey. Overcoming addiction, infertility and the fear of becoming a father, Peter is brave enough to talk about the things that most men don't want to. The feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt were crippling. That's when Peter decided to face the darkness and be...

🔥 LOSERS QUIT WHEN THEY FAIL. WINNERS FAIL UNTIL THEY SUCCEED. | Mean Grit at the 2025 Cocodona 250 ultramarathon race. This episode hits different. Fresh off volunteering at the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon and hearing Olympic gold medalist Nick Baumgartner deliver a keynote that shook my soul, I unpack a powerful week of real stories — heartbreak, heroics, and what it means to chase a goal so bol...

What does it take to knock doors for 8 years straight and still show up with a smile? In this episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, host James Julian sits down with Brayden Searle, a top-performing door-to-door sales leader, to explore the mindset behind true resilience. From getting guns pulled on him in Texas to leading sales teams with heart and vision, Brayden shares what it means to go from failu...

The Power of Pacers, Grit, and Heat Stroke ComebacksAt mile 40 of the Zion 100, Jacob Cheney was facing heat exhaustion, vomiting, and thoughts of quitting. What followed was a raw, emotional journey through heat, hallucination, and hellish climbs — saved by grit and three dedicated pacers. In this episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, James Julian joins Jacob and his pacers to recount the chaos, cour...

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Mean Grit Podcast — where we explore the power of doing hard things and the grit it takes to keep going.🎙️ Today’s guest: Phil Case, President of Max Connect Digital, father, mentor, mountain adventurer, and all-around grit machine. We hiked into the mountains to have a raw, real conversation about legacy, leadership, raising resilient kids, doing the hardest thing fir...

What drives someone to run 430 miles across Utah? For Mason Wright—aka  @buffrunner  - it's the single parent who works 3 jobs and never gets to rest. It’s his own mom. And it’s every person who's ever had to grind through life when the odds were stacked against them. In this episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, Mason shares his powerful story of running across Utah to raise money for The Sin...

Mean Grit Ep. 10 | From Trampoline Mogul to Politics with Case LawrenceIn Episode 10 of the Mean Grit Podcast, we sit down with the one and only Case Lawrence—founder of Circus Trix (a.k.a. Sky Zone) former congressional candidate, professor, and all-around disruptor. Known as the Godfather of Indoor Entertainment, Case shares his journey from startup chaos to political campaigns, and what he’s le...

🏔️ CLIMBING ANCIENT ART + SURVIVING NEW ZEALAND | Creighton Baird - Mean Grit Podcast Ep. 9In this episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, we sit down with  @CreightonBaird  world adventurer, survivalist, climber, and runner-up on the hit reality show Race to Survive: New Zealand 🇳🇿Right after an epic climb of Ancient Art in Moab (yes, THAT one), we dive into a conversation about doing hard things, livi...

🔎 Finding Your True Nature with Wes Christensen | Mean Grit Podcast Ep. 8In this powerful episode of the Mean Grit Podcast, I sit down with Wes Christensen to dive deep into the journey of self-discovery, masculinity, personal growth, and resilience. This is a must-watch for anyone looking to break free from societal expectations, build mental toughness, and step into their true potential.🔥 TOPI...

🔥 We're Going Streaking! (But Not That Kind…) | Mean Grit Podcast Ep. 7 🔥In Episode 7 of the Mean Grit Podcast, we're talking streaking—not the kind that gets you banned from football games, but the kind that builds unstoppable consistency in life. 🏆We’re joined by Jeff & Jami Downs, the creators of Streaking, a method that helps people develop habits and reach their goals by focusi...

Cowboys are tough sons of B******! But they make horrible podcast guests. Here's a different take for Episode 6 of the Mean Grit Podcast. This is a unique ode to my brother in the form of Cowboy poetry.#meangrit #podcast #grit #cowboys #ranching #cows #outdoors #trailrunning #running #motivation #funny #trials #dohardthings

Today we sit down with the Legend of the Wasatch, Dana 'Mud & Guts' Miller. 5 Time winner of the Wasatch 100, one of trail running's toughest races. Dana has ran thousands of miles over his lifetime of Ultramarathon running along with multiple triathlons, marathons, and other races. Known for his grit and tenacity on more than one occasion Dana started at the finish line, ran to th...

Episode 4 of the Mean Grip Podcast features an inspiring conversation with Taylyn Wilson, an 18-year-old student athlete committed to playing golf at Southern Utah University. Discover how Taylyn harnesses the power of a strong mind to perform under intense pressure—she even reveals her “fear vs. nervousness” approach to conquering high-stakes moments like her recent high school state championship...

What does it take to go from employee to entrepreneur? In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Wade, the innovative mind revolutionizing the indoor entertainment industry. The twist? He’s the guy who once fired me! We dive into Jordan’s journey from corporate executive to founder, the challenges of starting a business, and the key habits that drive long-term success. Plus, we put his speed to the...

Zachary Frisch a.k.a. TrailswithZach on Instagram decided to climb 1,000,000 feet of elevation in 2024. That is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 34.4 times! This amazing achievement is impressive but even more impressive is what he found on the way that made him reaching to even higher heights in 2025! A student from Arizona, called to the Mountains of Utah, he found a love for trail runni...

We introduce The Mean Grit Podcast with the ultimate Mean Grit Challenge, a 100 Mile Race! But if it wasn't for the CREW, this racer would have never seen the finish line. Listen in as we discuss how the Mean Grit crew became the pacers, motivators, and key elements to success on your host, James Julian's, quest to 100 miles.