The Hard Way w/ Joe De Sena

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 unprecedented challenges.
 
Tune in as Andy discusses his pivotal journey with Spartan Race founder Joe De Sena. Hear real-world strategies for setting boundaries, building trust and finding perspective - even in divorce. Discover how simple acts of attunement can ease parenting pressures in our hyper-connected world.

Connect with Andy: www.parentsjourneycoaching.net
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:43 Mental health challenges
04:03 Learning curve and coaching
08:11 Authoritative parenting styles
09:35 Setting boundaries around dating
11:10 When to allow the use of phones
12:56 Kids today have too much pressure
17:12 The importance of exercise for anxiety and depression
18:30 Welcome to Holland parable
20:57 Three things for parents to do
23:08 Kids need support and understanding

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 millions of lives.
 
Discover the secrets of the world's top performers and leave with an action plan to optimize your body and mind for total excellence.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:42 Who is James King?
02:45 Studying performance science at the University of Edinburg
09:26 Key goals to pursue in order to excel
12:42 Leaning into strengths or fixing the weaknesses?
15:01 How hard is it to figure out your interests?
17:41 Just start doing something
20:22 Finding your sweet spot
23:13 The University of Better

For more insights into James King, be sure to explore:

Social Media Handles-
Instagram: @jamesaking_
LinkedIn: @acceleratingexcellence
Youtube: @acceleratingexcellence
Twitter: @jamesaking

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B15MT2F9?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WC2SR2T9WSA12ZZCTFDP

Spotfiy: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=be50920d345347ea

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

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 "religions" that unite people through shared experiences. He also talks about happiness as a choice and the advantages of the world we live in.
 
For anyone wanting to inspire a change, this conversation provides valuable lessons on spreading ideas that uplift, becoming a viral phenomenon, and establishing movements that empower lives.

Episode presented by MudGear
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:42 The world is not your customer
02:08 Is a small audience enough?
04:31 The secret to becoming viral
08:01 The success of Joe’s New York restaurant
09:10 What would Seth as a head of Spartan?
13:33 How did Seth find his path?
14:25 Being happy is a choice
16:47 Building a brand is building a religion
18:36 The war in Ukraine from a marketing perspective
21:12 How can you find Seth?

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 blueprint for well-being, success and real relationships - without macho posturing or martyrdom.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:15 How can we define masculinity?
04:40 The balance of challenge and acceptance
07:51 Going too far in achieving the mission
12:08 The fear of stopping and relaxing
15:54 Six pillars of well-being
19:52 The meditative path is the warrior path

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, and backstage encounters that led him to create a very sought-after agency. His story is an inspiration for anyone willing to keep chasing their dreams against all odds.
 
Highlights:

00:00 Intro
00:43 Craig Levinson’s family and background
02:34 Moving to the United States at 19
05:13 Playing college basketball and getting injured
08:18 Creating a supplement brand and failing
11:31 Pivoting and finding a way through
13:10 Meeting his faith in the backstage of Ellen DeGeneres show
15:33 Working with A-list clients
17:34 Thee things important for success
20:48 How to find Craig?
21:54 Final words

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 kids off devices and onto the field.
 
Whether you're a parent wanting to role model wellness or a community member passionate about youth sports, this show will energize and inspire you to join Amy's movement. Discover practical ways to weave activity into everyday life and help reverse the inactivity crisis - one kid at a time.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:43 Who is Amy Bantham?
02:27 The lack of physical activity in kids
04:59 What can school and parents do?
08:26 Kids going outside for recess policy
11:12 What can we do?
12:32 How can people join the Move to Live More movement?
14:17 Start with a small activity

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 fire within Jacob. Now, he's building the future of healthcare, one that ensures no one has to fight for their life alone. Get ready to be inspired to reclaim your health and well-being.
 
Highlights:
00:15 Jacob Peters's journey into health space
05:04 Choosing Entrepreneurship Over Military Career
07:45 From Lego reselling company to Wall Street
09:57 A start-up started by solving Microsoft’s problem
13:28 Lego blocks translated into business building
17:06 Jacob’s health problems after COVID vaccine
26:14 The help of holistic physicians
28:51 Jacob’s current business in health space - Superpower
33:03 Three things everyone should be doing every day

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 how their chance meeting in Iceland sparked their amazing friendship and partnership. Plus, discover little-known industry tactics that have fueled a drinking epidemic worldwide.
 
For anyone looking to reclaim their freedom from alcohol or support loved ones, this can't-miss conversation provides the unfiltered insights you need to finally change your lifestyle. Are you ready to join the disruption? Listen now to get your game plan.
 
Highlights:

00:00 Intro
00:54 A crazy story about meeting in Iceland
05:07 You must be available for opportunities
07:02 Making the hard road easy
10:45 How to get more people to join?
15:15 Alcohol destroys our ability to deal with stress
16:36 Manipulations of the alcohol industry to increase alcohol consumption
19:34 Peer pressure and choosing not to drink
21:16 Helping people control drinking

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Ruari Fairbairns is the founder and CEO of OYNB, a leading figure in the health and well-being space. He was awarded Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland 2020, with OYNB also being named The Spectator’s Economic Innovator of the Year in the UK. Known for his passionate advocacy for healthier living, Ruari has been instrumental in steering OYNB to the forefront of the alcohol-free movement, inspiring over 100,000 people worldwide to reassess their relationship with alcohol and strive to become the best version of themselves.

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 block COVID transmission and learn about groundbreaking "medical superglue" aiming to revolutionize heart repairs.
 
If you've ever wondered what really happens after exciting discoveries are made in white coats and petri dishes, don't miss this amazing conversation revealing the untold story of how cutting-edge science becomes accessible healthcare.
 
Highlights:

00:00 Intro
00:45 Who is Dr. Jeff Karp?
02:30 Complexity of finding and commercializing new solutions
06:42 Dr. Karp’s new book overview
08:30 Indigenous holistic approach to health
09:44 Narrowing of the senses we use to experience the world
11:40 Spartan shield for your nose – Profi Nasal Spray
15:10 Developing glue that can work inside the body

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 product, he offers proven strategies for making a successful business without compromising your idea. He made a 100% healthy and satisfying snack to help people ditch addictive junk and feel the real thing!
 
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:52 A demand for discipline & challenge
03:00 Starve yourself of synthetic s**t
05:07 Cucumber salad vs Snickers
06:06 Seth’s MASA Chips Company
10:38 Figure out how to fail cheaply
12:18 Find a real problem and solve it

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 revolutionizing holistic living for the modern man or woman.
​​ 
​​Discover real stories of people healing from issues like infertility and immobility through bee products and lifestyle tweaks. Mason will motivate you to optimize your health and performance from the inside out by harnessing your spiritual power.
​​ 
​​Highlights:
​​00:00 A spiritual take on health and wellness
​​01:27 The benefits of bee bread
​​03:04 Making holistic wellness cool
​​05:50 Dopamine hacking
​​06:44 Mason’s daily routine
​​09:14 Meditation and dealing with stress
​​11:01 What’s next for Mason Kuhr?

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 his fascination with Joe’s podcast and “threats” from his dad to send him to Joe De Sena's infamous farm. Years later, he is having an interview with Joe himself and talking about pushing himself to the limit through running, life-changing lessons he learned about grit, a circle of influence, and turning passion into purpose.
 
Tune in to hear more from this fascinating young man!

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 process. Joe gives the plan his stamp of approval.
 
Viewers will learn Lucas's unique brand story, top tips for starting young, and lessons on accountability from these experienced leaders. With open discussion on controversy and actionable advice, this episode is a must-watch for anyone pursuing a business or looking to better understand complex issues.
 
Highlights:
00:00 Joe’s “controversial” post on IG
02:34 The conversation has to happen
04:06 We shy away from having a stance
05:59 What does SquidHaus mean and represent?
08:06 Finding a job vs. starting a company
10:04 Leveraging business through Spartan Race
14:34 How to start a business?
16:44 Three things every entrepreneur should do every day
19:55 Three books everybody needs to read
21:57 How to find Lukas Pakter?

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.

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/christspiracy/christspiracy-the-spirituality-secret?ref=1l5hn3

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 interested in the book please visit: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250894762/unlocking-your-inner-zelensky

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.

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 about Ed or buy a copy of his book visit: https://www.edhajim.com/