Shows
Choose the Hard WayRahm Emanuel - United States of SweatRahm Emanuel was the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, he served as the White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama, and as the Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. He also represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Welcome back to United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. Jonathan Kaplan is my co-host and the founder of WRITE CADENCE STRATEGIES, helping organizations na...
2025-08-0732 minChoose the Hard WayRahm Emanuel - United States of SweatRahm Emanuel was the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, he served as the White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama, and as the Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. He also represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Welcome back to United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. Jonathan Kaplan is my co-host and the founder of WRITE CADENCE STRATEGIES, helping organizations na...
2025-08-0732 min
Choose the Hard WayKeegan Swenson: 2023 Unbound Gravel Winner & htSQD CyclistKeegan Swenson continues to dominate the gravel racing world, winning this year's Unbound Gravel in tough conditions after a runner-up finish in 2022. Swenson's prowess on the dirt is also backed by his affiliation with Santa Cruz Bicycles htSQD, an elite group of multi-surface racers. It's no wonder that Keegan is known as the top gravel racer on a global scale: he also has the 2022 Lifetime GrandPrix series, Leadville Trail 100, and Sea Otter Classic wins under his belt, among many others. In a conversation with Andrew Vontz, Swenson reflects on his latest muddy victory, breaks down...
2023-06-2144 minChoose the Hard WayKeegan Swenson: 2023 Unbound Gravel Winner & htSQD CyclistKeegan Swenson continues to dominate the gravel racing world, winning this year's Unbound Gravel in tough conditions after a runner-up finish in 2022. Swenson's prowess on the dirt is also backed by his affiliation with Santa Cruz Bicycles htSQD, an elite group of multi-surface racers. It's no wonder that Keegan is known as the top gravel racer on a global scale: he also has the 2022 Lifetime GrandPrix series, Leadville Trail 100, and Sea Otter Classic wins under his belt, among many others. In a conversation with Andrew Vontz, Swenson reflects on his latest muddy victory, breaks down...
2023-06-2144 min
Choose the Hard WayPro Cyclist Alexey Vermeulen & Photographer Avery Stumm on YouTube, the Creative Process, Collaboration & StorytellingAlexey Vermeulen decided to leave the highest level of professional cycling in Europe to compete in gravel, road and mountain bike races back in the United States. In 2022 he won one of the biggest gravel races in America, the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego as well as the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race and took part in the Lifetime Grand Prix series. Avery Stumm is a videographer, photographer and creator who came up in the BMX scene. On their YouTube channel, Alexey and Avery, they tell the story of Alexey's experiences as a pro cyclist and break...
2023-02-011h 12Choose the Hard WayPro Cyclist Alexey Vermeulen & Photographer Avery Stumm on YouTube, the Creative Process, Collaboration & StorytellingAlexey Vermeulen decided to leave the highest level of professional cycling in Europe to compete in gravel, road and mountain bike races back in the United States. In 2022 he won one of the biggest gravel races in America, the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego as well as the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race and took part in the Lifetime Grand Prix series. Avery Stumm is a videographer, photographer and creator who came up in the BMX scene. On their YouTube channel, Alexey and Avery, they tell the story of Alexey's experiences as a pro cyclist and break...
2023-02-011h 12
Choose the Hard WayAcademy Jiu-Jitsu Founder, Black Belt, Mountain Bike Racer & Entrepreneur Hector BeltranHow does resilience transfer across disciplines? Andrew Vontz and co-host Blake Kasemeier sat down with Hector Beltran to talk about fine-tuning the balance of creativity and progress in any practice. Hector, co-founder of Academy Jiu-Jitsu in Downey, California, is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a mixed martial artist and a Bronze medalist in the Master division at the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships. He's also a coder, filmmaker, musician, and endurance athlete. He shares the value of being present with family and career, how tech influenced him to unlock new opportunities in business by breaking...
2023-01-181h 40Choose the Hard WayAcademy Jiu-Jitsu Founder, Black Belt, Mountain Bike Racer & Entrepreneur Hector BeltranHow does resilience transfer across disciplines? Andrew Vontz and co-host Blake Kasemeier sat down with Hector Beltran to talk about fine-tuning the balance of creativity and progress in any practice. Hector, co-founder of Academy Jiu-Jitsu in Downey, California, is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a mixed martial artist and a Bronze medalist in the Master division at the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships. He's also a coder, filmmaker, musician, and endurance athlete. He shares the value of being present with family and career, how tech influenced him to unlock new opportunities in business by breaking...
2023-01-181h 40
Choose the Hard WayChoose the Hard Way X Beyond the Peloton: Worlds and Peak Performance with Cyclist Scott McGillAmerican professional cyclist Scott McGill seemingly came out of nowhere to win not only two stages, but also the points jersey at the Volta a Portugal this summer. On this special collaboration episode with Andrew Vontz and Beyond the Peloton host Spencer Martin, Scott talks about the framework that has enabled him to produce breakthrough performances around the world. Currently riding for Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling, Scott's uniquely adaptive approach to racing won him a spot on the American World Championship squad and a leadership role of the USA Cycling Team at the Maryland Cycling Classic. As...
2022-11-091h 03Choose the Hard WayChoose the Hard Way X Beyond the Peloton: Worlds and Peak Performance with Cyclist Scott McGillAmerican professional cyclist Scott McGill seemingly came out of nowhere to win not only two stages, but also the points jersey at the Volta a Portugal this summer. On this special collaboration episode with Andrew Vontz and Beyond the Peloton host Spencer Martin, Scott talks about the framework that has enabled him to produce breakthrough performances around the world. Currently riding for Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling, Scott's uniquely adaptive approach to racing won him a spot on the American World Championship squad and a leadership role of the USA Cycling Team at the Maryland Cycling Classic. As...
2022-11-091h 03
Choose the Hard WayLife Cycles: The Women's Tour de France with Documentary Filmmakers Jill Yesko & Ally DavisIn 2022, the women's Tour de France is back. What most people don't know is that there was also a women's Tour de France from 1984-1989. Uphill Climb is a documentary film that tells the story of that race and the legendary cyclists who competed in it.If you enjoy this episode, please give it a five-star rating on Spotify or Apple podcasts, subscribe and share it with a friend. My guests are the filmmakers behind Uphill Climb. Director Jill Yesko is a journalist, author and Fellow at the Center for Sports Communication & Media at The...
2022-07-2552 minChoose the Hard WayLife Cycles: The Women's Tour de France with Documentary Filmmakers Jill Yesko & Ally DavisIn 2022, the women's Tour de France is back. What most people don't know is that there was also a women's Tour de France from 1984-1989. Uphill Climb is a documentary film that tells the story of that race and the legendary cyclists who competed in it.If you enjoy this episode, please give it a five-star rating on Spotify or Apple podcasts, subscribe and share it with a friend. My guests are the filmmakers behind Uphill Climb. Director Jill Yesko is a journalist, author and Fellow at the Center for Sports Communication & Media at The...
2022-07-2552 minChoose the Hard WayLife Cycles: Losing the Unbound Gravel 100, Getting 2nd for the 2nd time + Pro Tips for Peter Sagan with @vontz x @blakeoftodayPro cycling World Champions, National Champions and World Record holders like Stephen Hyde, Ashton Lambie and past Hard Way guest Rebecca Rusch are among the legendary winners of the Unbound Gravel 100. Held annually in Emporia, Kansas it's one of the most prestigious and competitive gravel bike races in the world In 2022, multi-time cycling road race World Champion Peter Sagan, who has won 17 stages in cycling Grand Tours and has also won the Green Jersey at the Tour de France seven times, will toe the line. In 2015, I got second at the Unbound 100 for the second year i...
2022-06-011h 43Choose the Hard WayLife Cycles: Losing the Unbound Gravel 100, Getting 2nd for the 2nd time + Pro Tips for Peter Sagan with @vontz x @blakeoftodayPro cycling World Champions, National Champions and World Record holders like Stephen Hyde, Ashton Lambie and past Hard Way guest Rebecca Rusch are among the legendary winners of the Unbound Gravel 100. Held annually in Emporia, Kansas it's one of the most prestigious and competitive gravel bike races in the world In 2022, multi-time cycling road race World Champion Peter Sagan, who has won 17 stages in cycling Grand Tours and has also won the Green Jersey at the Tour de France seven times, will toe the line. In 2015, I got second at the Unbound 100 for the second year i...
2022-06-011h 43