Shows
Choose the Hard WaySharice Davids - MMA fighter, Congresswoman, White House FellowSharice Davids is a congresswoman from Kansas, a former White House fellow, a lawyer, and MMA fighter with 7 fights including two professional bouts. She joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat p/b Choose the Hard Way to share stories about training, fighting, and her hardest workout ever. — United States of Sweat is the series where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health, and the sports they love. — Please hit subscribe & give this show a 5-star rating wherever you listen or watch. —
2026-02-1847 minChoose the Hard WaySharice Davids - MMA fighter, Congresswoman, White House FellowSharice Davids is a congresswoman from Kansas, a former White House fellow, a lawyer, and MMA fighter with 7 fights including two professional bouts. She joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat p/b Choose the Hard Way to share stories about training, fighting, and her hardest workout ever. — United States of Sweat is the series where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health, and the sports they love. — Please hit subscribe & give this show a 5-star rating wherever you listen or watch. —
2026-02-1847 min
Choose the Hard WayJeff Troesch - Mental Performance Coach to NFL, MLB, NBA World Champions & OlympiansChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Jeff Troesch, one of the most experienced mental performance coaches in elite sport. For nearly four decades, Jeff has helped athletes and teams win at the highest level, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, Olympic Games, and Grand Slams. — Special thanks to our title sponsor Blockchain.com, the most trusted name in crypto with over $1 trillion in transactions to date. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today. — Jeff has worked with the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, U.S. Socc...
2026-02-1253 minChoose the Hard WayJeff Troesch - Mental Performance Coach to NFL, MLB, NBA World Champions & OlympiansChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Jeff Troesch, one of the most experienced mental performance coaches in elite sport. For nearly four decades, Jeff has helped athletes and teams win at the highest level, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, Olympic Games, and Grand Slams. — Special thanks to our title sponsor Blockchain.com, the most trusted name in crypto with over $1 trillion in transactions to date. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today. — Jeff has worked with the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, U.S. Socc...
2026-02-1253 min
Choose the Hard WayFriends, Sweat, & Tears: the Shocking AYF Finale LIVE from Pace Ranch in TucsonThe dramatic JK Normatec addiction intervention, detonating Mt. Lemmon records, the Dan Swenson World Tour 2026 bid, traveling with SciCon bike bags, and the applied high performance practices of aging parents going big in the desert. — Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton + Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to debrief on their Abandon Your Family LIVE! training camp in Tucson, AZ at Pace Ranch. — Special thanks to Pam Alexander and Tucson cycling community legends Paul and MaryAnn Wiederhold. — JOIN US: — Andrew...
2026-02-021h 02Choose the Hard WayFriends, Sweat, & Tears: the Shocking AYF Finale LIVE from Pace Ranch in TucsonThe dramatic JK Normatec addiction intervention, detonating Mt. Lemmon records, the Dan Swenson World Tour 2026 bid, traveling with SciCon bike bags, and the applied high performance practices of aging parents going big in the desert. — Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton + Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to debrief on their Abandon Your Family LIVE! training camp in Tucson, AZ at Pace Ranch. — Special thanks to Pam Alexander and Tucson cycling community legends Paul and MaryAnn Wiederhold. — JOIN US: — Andrew...
2026-02-021h 02
Choose the Hard WayAbandon Your Family 30,000 Roundtable - Spencer Martin, Andrew Vontz, Jonathan Kaplan, Paul RedmayneTears, chamois cream, glory. Carb slurry was downed by the gallon and tears were shed in garages and at dinner tables around the world as the community collectively gave everything to secure midpack glory at select gravel major and minor races in mid 2026. — This episode is a conversation about the Abandon Your Family 30,000 experience with Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod & special guest Paul Redmayne in the UAE, a 4x outdoor Everester who drops the shocking truth th...
2026-01-2152 minChoose the Hard WayAbandon Your Family 30,000 Roundtable - Spencer Martin, Andrew Vontz, Jonathan Kaplan, Paul RedmayneTears, chamois cream, glory. Carb slurry was downed by the gallon and tears were shed in garages and at dinner tables around the world as the community collectively gave everything to secure midpack glory at select gravel major and minor races in mid 2026. — This episode is a conversation about the Abandon Your Family 30,000 experience with Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod & special guest Paul Redmayne in the UAE, a 4x outdoor Everester who drops the shocking truth th...
2026-01-2152 min
Choose the Hard WayJens Voigt on East Germany, Parenting Six Kids, Crashing at 70 km/h and Life after 17 Tours de FranceJens Voigt raced the Tour de France 17 times, wore the yellow jersey, won stages in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and set the Hour Record on the track at age 43. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz how crashing at 70 km/h changes you in ways the world doesn't see and the long arc of a life in sport. — This episode explores Jens' childhood and upbringing in the former East Germany, his path through a state-run sports academy, and what it was like to build a career inside professional cycling without ever being th...
2026-01-151h 08Choose the Hard WayJens Voigt on East Germany, Parenting Six Kids, Crashing at 70 km/h and Life after 17 Tours de FranceJens Voigt raced the Tour de France 17 times, wore the yellow jersey, won stages in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and set the Hour Record on the track at age 43. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz how crashing at 70 km/h changes you in ways the world doesn't see and the long arc of a life in sport. — This episode explores Jens' childhood and upbringing in the former East Germany, his path through a state-run sports academy, and what it was like to build a career inside professional cycling without ever being th...
2026-01-151h 08
Choose the Hard WayPatrick J. Murphy - 1st Iraq War Veteran Elected to Congress - Former Under Secretary of the ArmyPatrick J Murphy, First Iraq War Veteran Elected to Congress and Former Under Secretary of the Army — Patrick J Murphy was the first Iraq War veteran elected to the United States Congress and later served as Under Secretary of the Army. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz for a wide-ranging conversation on service, leadership and responsibility. — This episode explores what it means to engage seriously with people who hold different points of view and why stepping outside an echo chamber is a necessary discipline, not a political stance. —...
2026-01-0757 minChoose the Hard WayPatrick J. Murphy - 1st Iraq War Veteran Elected to Congress - Former Under Secretary of the ArmyPatrick J Murphy, First Iraq War Veteran Elected to Congress and Former Under Secretary of the Army — Patrick J Murphy was the first Iraq War veteran elected to the United States Congress and later served as Under Secretary of the Army. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz for a wide-ranging conversation on service, leadership and responsibility. — This episode explores what it means to engage seriously with people who hold different points of view and why stepping outside an echo chamber is a necessary discipline, not a political stance. —...
2026-01-0757 min
Choose the Hard WayThe 10 Pack is Next - AYF500 Day 8 - Andrew Vontz, Jonathan Kaplan, Spencer MartinOn day 8 of the Abandon Your Family 500, Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With share stories of deep fatigue, angry families, and the kind of indoor training glory you can earn but can't buy. — They explore the strain this challenge has placed on their friendship, and why they can't wait to do it again, slightly differently, in two weeks when they kick off the Abandon Your Family 30,000. — But first comes the second installment in the Choose the Hard Way Abandon Your Fami...
2025-12-2440 minChoose the Hard WayThe 10 Pack is Next - AYF500 Day 8 - Andrew Vontz, Jonathan Kaplan, Spencer MartinOn day 8 of the Abandon Your Family 500, Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With share stories of deep fatigue, angry families, and the kind of indoor training glory you can earn but can't buy. — They explore the strain this challenge has placed on their friendship, and why they can't wait to do it again, slightly differently, in two weeks when they kick off the Abandon Your Family 30,000. — But first comes the second installment in the Choose the Hard Way Abandon Your Fami...
2025-12-2440 min
Choose the Hard WayFrosted Flakes & Point Break - Chase Wark x WUKAR Fit x Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan - #AYF500 Day 6Chase Wark pounds Frosted Flakes & puts in 4.5 hours on a single bottle of water in his in-laws' 15-degree garage to pass the 760 km mark -- and Kip Taylor -- on the Abandon Your Family 500 leaderboard on day 6. — Art O'Connor, aka WUKAR Fit, strength coach to pro cycling's biggest names including Chase, World Champion Keegan Swenson and many more, reveals why Patrick Swayze is the secret to high performance on the trainer. — Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With reveals the indoor / outdoor hybrid approach that is taking D.C. and the Abandon Your Family 500 community by storm. — Spence...
2025-12-2124 minChoose the Hard WayFrosted Flakes & Point Break - Chase Wark x WUKAR Fit x Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan - #AYF500 Day 6Chase Wark pounds Frosted Flakes & puts in 4.5 hours on a single bottle of water in his in-laws' 15-degree garage to pass the 760 km mark -- and Kip Taylor -- on the Abandon Your Family 500 leaderboard on day 6. — Art O'Connor, aka WUKAR Fit, strength coach to pro cycling's biggest names including Chase, World Champion Keegan Swenson and many more, reveals why Patrick Swayze is the secret to high performance on the trainer. — Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With reveals the indoor / outdoor hybrid approach that is taking D.C. and the Abandon Your Family 500 community by storm. — Spence...
2025-12-2124 min
Choose the Hard Way#AYF500 Day 4 - Mad Watts: Carb Fury - Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan Reflect on the Event of the YearAbandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 4 with Jonathan Kaplan and Andrew Vontz. Reflections on bad sleep, big carbs, and the skirmish between Front Range legends Andy Leach and Kip Taylor to top out first and complete #AYF500 in an FKT of under four days. — Day 4 sees the Kingpin, Big Spence, continue his secret training during the Boulder blackout. When will he switch his rides from "private" to "everyone" and deliver the big surprise sure to put him in the headlines? — Heads up. We have a full-length interview with Jens Voigt coming soon...
2025-12-1926 minChoose the Hard Way#AYF500 Day 4 - Mad Watts: Carb Fury - Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan Reflect on the Event of the YearAbandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 4 with Jonathan Kaplan and Andrew Vontz. Reflections on bad sleep, big carbs, and the skirmish between Front Range legends Andy Leach and Kip Taylor to top out first and complete #AYF500 in an FKT of under four days. — Day 4 sees the Kingpin, Big Spence, continue his secret training during the Boulder blackout. When will he switch his rides from "private" to "everyone" and deliver the big surprise sure to put him in the headlines? — Heads up. We have a full-length interview with Jens Voigt coming soon...
2025-12-1926 min
Choose the Hard Way#AYF500 Day 3 - Boulder Storm - Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan - Abandon Your Family 500 2025Abandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 3 brings big drama when 100 mile-per-hour winds mean the power grid goes offline in Boulder and Big Spence has to skip the daily recording to keep banking secret miles to upload later at an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, Andy Leach powers over the top and dominates the leaderboard while Meg Volz enters the chat and shows her family what commitment looks like. Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With logs another signature indoor / outdoor Norwegian method dual threshold workout day and continues his love letter to High Fidelity with hopes of getting Nick Hornby into...
2025-12-1816 minChoose the Hard Way#AYF500 Day 3 - Boulder Storm - Andrew Vontz x Jonathan Kaplan - Abandon Your Family 500 2025Abandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 3 brings big drama when 100 mile-per-hour winds mean the power grid goes offline in Boulder and Big Spence has to skip the daily recording to keep banking secret miles to upload later at an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, Andy Leach powers over the top and dominates the leaderboard while Meg Volz enters the chat and shows her family what commitment looks like. Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With logs another signature indoor / outdoor Norwegian method dual threshold workout day and continues his love letter to High Fidelity with hopes of getting Nick Hornby into...
2025-12-1816 min
Choose the Hard Way#AYF500 Update 2 - Kip's Stealth Century Knock Out - Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, & Special Guest Kip Taylor - Abandon Your Family 500 2025A deep dive on the big action and family fallout from day one of the Abandon Your Family 500 in a groundbreaking conversation with Andrew Vontz / Choose the Hard Way, Spencer Martin / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan / Riding With, and the front range legend Kip Taylor (of Kip's Corner fame) making his highly anticipated Choose the Hard way debut. Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer press Kip on his 11th-hour upload of a 105-mile ride on day one. Get a look inside the high-stakes world of #AYF500 strategy from one of the masters of the game in this discussion of the o...
2025-12-1723 minChoose the Hard Way#AYF500 Update 2 - Kip's Stealth Century Knock Out - Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, & Special Guest Kip Taylor - Abandon Your Family 500 2025A deep dive on the big action and family fallout from day one of the Abandon Your Family 500 in a groundbreaking conversation with Andrew Vontz / Choose the Hard Way, Spencer Martin / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan / Riding With, and the front range legend Kip Taylor (of Kip's Corner fame) making his highly anticipated Choose the Hard way debut. Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer press Kip on his 11th-hour upload of a 105-mile ride on day one. Get a look inside the high-stakes world of #AYF500 strategy from one of the masters of the game in this discussion of the o...
2025-12-1723 min
Choose the Hard Way#AYF500 Special Update 1 - w Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, & Andrew Vontz - Abandon Your Family 500 2025Nothing says I love you like abandoning your family to get in shape for your endurance sport. The Abandon Your Family 500 is a challenge to ride 500 km on planet earth or on a virtual cycling platform over the course of 10 days brought to you by Choose the Hard Way / Andrew Vontz, Beyond the Peloton / Spencer Martin, and Riding With / Jonathan Kaplan. During the #AYF500, Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer will be doing minisodes to share their experience participating in one of life's most rewarding experiences: having fun doing something hard with your friends. Follow along here and a...
2025-12-1621 minChoose the Hard Way#AYF500 Special Update 1 - w Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, & Andrew Vontz - Abandon Your Family 500 2025Nothing says I love you like abandoning your family to get in shape for your endurance sport. The Abandon Your Family 500 is a challenge to ride 500 km on planet earth or on a virtual cycling platform over the course of 10 days brought to you by Choose the Hard Way / Andrew Vontz, Beyond the Peloton / Spencer Martin, and Riding With / Jonathan Kaplan. During the #AYF500, Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer will be doing minisodes to share their experience participating in one of life's most rewarding experiences: having fun doing something hard with your friends. Follow along here and a...
2025-12-1621 min
Choose the Hard WayThe Abandon Your Family 500 Challenge w/ Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, Andrew Vontz - p/b Kip's CornerChoose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This episode is about living that philosophy and how you can, too. Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod discuss the history and lore of the Abandon Your Family 500. The #AYF500 is a challenge to do what endurance athletes do best--focus on themselves, ignore their families and real life obligations and ride 500km between December 15 and 25.
2025-12-1326 minChoose the Hard WayThe Abandon Your Family 500 Challenge w/ Spencer Martin, Jonathan Kaplan, Andrew Vontz - p/b Kip's CornerChoose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This episode is about living that philosophy and how you can, too. Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod discuss the history and lore of the Abandon Your Family 500. The #AYF500 is a challenge to do what endurance athletes do best--focus on themselves, ignore their families and real life obligations and ride 500km between December 15 and 25.
2025-12-1326 min
Choose the Hard WayColin Allred - NFL, Congress, the Senate Race - United States of Sweat - with Andrew Vontz & Jonathan KaplanFormer NFL linebacker & Texas Congressman Colin Allred joins hosts Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat, presented by Choose the Hard Way. Allred played at Baylor and for the Tennessee Titans before a neck injury ended his NFL career. He went on to earn a law degree from Berkeley, work in the Obama administration, and win a U.S. House seat in 2018. After a close Senate race in 2024, he's back on the campaign trail, running again to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Allred talks about the mindset it takes...
2025-11-1251 minChoose the Hard WayColin Allred - NFL, Congress, the Senate Race - United States of Sweat - with Andrew Vontz & Jonathan KaplanFormer NFL linebacker & Texas Congressman Colin Allred joins hosts Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat, presented by Choose the Hard Way. Allred played at Baylor and for the Tennessee Titans before a neck injury ended his NFL career. He went on to earn a law degree from Berkeley, work in the Obama administration, and win a U.S. House seat in 2018. After a close Senate race in 2024, he's back on the campaign trail, running again to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Allred talks about the mindset it takes...
2025-11-1251 min
Choose the Hard Way15 Minutes Is Enough to Train – Spencer Martin (Beyond the Peloton / WEDU) x Andrew Vontz (Choose the Hard Way / One Real Voice))Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU / Peacock's Tour de France team & Andrew Vontz, co-host of the Beyond the Peloton podcast & creator of the Choose the Hard Way podcast & newsletter talk about why 15 minute training sessions count and how we get it done on the road, at the playground with the kids or at home. We're both dads, bike racers and recovering perfectionists who have found 15 minutes is plenty of time to get in an impactful workout. Marketing might persuade you to think you need an hour, a $20,000 bike, and a $12 recovery shake to stay fit.
2025-10-1721 minChoose the Hard Way15 Minutes Is Enough to Train – Spencer Martin (Beyond the Peloton / WEDU) x Andrew Vontz (Choose the Hard Way / One Real Voice))Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU / Peacock's Tour de France team & Andrew Vontz, co-host of the Beyond the Peloton podcast & creator of the Choose the Hard Way podcast & newsletter talk about why 15 minute training sessions count and how we get it done on the road, at the playground with the kids or at home. We're both dads, bike racers and recovering perfectionists who have found 15 minutes is plenty of time to get in an impactful workout. Marketing might persuade you to think you need an hour, a $20,000 bike, and a $12 recovery shake to stay fit.
2025-10-1721 minChoose the Hard WayJosh Turek - 2x Paralympic Gold Medalist - U.S. Senate candidate from Iowa - ex Pro Wheelchair Basketball PlayerJosh Turek knows how to win. A U.S. Senate candidate, current Iowa State Legislator, and two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA, Josh joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way. This is the show where politicians and policymakers share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. Josh has faced adversity his entire life. Born with Spina Bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, he overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12. Later he was cut from the Team USA w...
2025-10-0346 minChoose the Hard WayJosh Turek - 2x Paralympic Gold Medalist - U.S. Senate candidate from Iowa - ex Pro Wheelchair Basketball PlayerJosh Turek knows how to win. A U.S. Senate candidate, current Iowa State Legislator, and two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA, Josh joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way. This is the show where politicians and policymakers share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. Josh has faced adversity his entire life. Born with Spina Bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, he overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12. Later he was cut from the Team USA w...
2025-10-0346 min
Choose the Hard WayPro Cyclist Payson McElveen - The Hardest Ride Is the One You Don't See - on Creativity, Pressure & What Comes NextChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz (@hardwaypod) in conversation with pro cyclist Payson McElveen (@paysonmcelveen), Red Bull athlete and creator of the With Pace podcast & Riding with Pace YouTube channel. In a sport filled with mustaches, Payson McElveen has the most famous mustache. Payson's palmares includes a pair of wins at The Mid South, two marathon mountain bike national championship titles (2017, 2018) and his films and podcast are among the biggest in offroad cycling. His With Pace podcast is a great listen and one of the biggest in endurance sports. His adventure films are hugely po...
2025-09-101h 13Choose the Hard WayPro Cyclist Payson McElveen - The Hardest Ride Is the One You Don't See - on Creativity, Pressure & What Comes NextChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz (@hardwaypod) in conversation with pro cyclist Payson McElveen (@paysonmcelveen), Red Bull athlete and creator of the With Pace podcast & Riding with Pace YouTube channel. In a sport filled with mustaches, Payson McElveen has the most famous mustache. Payson's palmares includes a pair of wins at The Mid South, two marathon mountain bike national championship titles (2017, 2018) and his films and podcast are among the biggest in offroad cycling. His With Pace podcast is a great listen and one of the biggest in endurance sports. His adventure films are hugely po...
2025-09-101h 13
Choose the Hard WayStephen Starring Grant - Author of MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding HomeChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Steve Grant, author of the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. With rave reviews in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Yorker and The Atlantic, the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home is one of the hottest literary debuts in recent memory. Steve is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has been a marketing consultant and behavioral economist for more than 25 years. He's also...
2025-08-201h 06Choose the Hard WayStephen Starring Grant - Author of MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding HomeChoose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Steve Grant, author of the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. With rave reviews in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Yorker and The Atlantic, the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home is one of the hottest literary debuts in recent memory. Steve is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has been a marketing consultant and behavioral economist for more than 25 years. He's also...
2025-08-201h 06
Choose the Hard WayOne Hour to Train - What do you do? w/ Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU x Andrew Vontz of Choose the Hard WayYou've got an hour or less to train, what do you do? Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton newsletter & podcast + WEDU's Outcomes / The Move takes a break from the Tour de France to join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to talk about what they do when life and work are at max stress and you have little time to workout. Is Zone 2 really the right move if you have a few hours a week to train and you're a cyclist, runner or triathlete with a long training history and navigating highly stressful mom...
2025-07-1619 minChoose the Hard WayOne Hour to Train - What do you do? w/ Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU x Andrew Vontz of Choose the Hard WayYou've got an hour or less to train, what do you do? Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton newsletter & podcast + WEDU's Outcomes / The Move takes a break from the Tour de France to join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to talk about what they do when life and work are at max stress and you have little time to workout. Is Zone 2 really the right move if you have a few hours a week to train and you're a cyclist, runner or triathlete with a long training history and navigating highly stressful mom...
2025-07-1619 minChoose the Hard WayFrom Start up to End up - From The Better Lab to One Real Voice & Beyond - Andrew Vontz x Shannon JonesSubscribe to the Choose the Hard Way substack at www.alwaysthehardway.substack.com for a look behind the scenes of this episode and human-generated insights about bikes, zen and life. Walking away from an executive role at a high-growth unicorn to go all-in & start up your own company sounds cool. What happens when a highly promising start up with an awesome product becomes an end up and your funding and life savings are gone? This episode is an inside look at Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz's journey as co-founder of the venture-backed sleep te...
2025-05-202h 00Choose the Hard WayFrom Start up to End up - From The Better Lab to One Real Voice & Beyond - Andrew Vontz x Shannon JonesSubscribe to the Choose the Hard Way substack at www.alwaysthehardway.substack.com for a look behind the scenes of this episode and human-generated insights about bikes, zen and life. Walking away from an executive role at a high-growth unicorn to go all-in & start up your own company sounds cool. What happens when a highly promising start up with an awesome product becomes an end up and your funding and life savings are gone? This episode is an inside look at Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz's journey as co-founder of the venture-backed sleep te...
2025-05-202h 00
Choose the Hard WayDrew Dillman & Dylan Johnson - Gravel Racing 90210 -- The Lifetime Grand Prix, BWR and BeyondDylan Johnson and Drew Dillman join @vontz to talk about pro gravel racing 90210 and the fun they had battling for 17th place at the final race of the Lifetime Grand Prix series, Big Sugar down in Bentonville, Arkansas, home of Walmart and the global epicenter of competitive cycling. We get into the past, present and future of pro gravel, why community matters, especially if you're going to travel somewhere to compete, and more. Dylan and Drew are ½ of the Bonk Bros podcast, superstar YouTubers and run Ignition Coaching together. Choose the Hard...
2023-11-081h 24Choose the Hard WayDrew Dillman & Dylan Johnson - Gravel Racing 90210 -- The Lifetime Grand Prix, BWR and BeyondDylan Johnson and Drew Dillman join @vontz to talk about pro gravel racing 90210 and the fun they had battling for 17th place at the final race of the Lifetime Grand Prix series, Big Sugar down in Bentonville, Arkansas, home of Walmart and the global epicenter of competitive cycling. We get into the past, present and future of pro gravel, why community matters, especially if you're going to travel somewhere to compete, and more. Dylan and Drew are ½ of the Bonk Bros podcast, superstar YouTubers and run Ignition Coaching together. Choose the Hard...
2023-11-081h 24
Choose the Hard Way#100 - Hard Things Build Stronger Humans Who Have More Fun - Andrew Vontz x @BlakeoftodaySix years ago, I launched Choose the Hard Way to inspire more people to embrace the idea that doing hard things builds stronger humans who have more fun. My guests are among the very best in the world at what they do and I've been lucky that they've graciously shared their stories here. To celebrate 100 episodes, I'm doing something different and sharing more of my story--a story about a friendship that has pushed me to do hard things for 15 years and counting. This podcast isn't about hacks, tricks and shortcuts. It's about the powerful things...
2023-09-2758 minChoose the Hard Way#100 - Hard Things Build Stronger Humans Who Have More Fun - Andrew Vontz x @BlakeoftodaySix years ago, I launched Choose the Hard Way to inspire more people to embrace the idea that doing hard things builds stronger humans who have more fun. My guests are among the very best in the world at what they do and I've been lucky that they've graciously shared their stories here. To celebrate 100 episodes, I'm doing something different and sharing more of my story--a story about a friendship that has pushed me to do hard things for 15 years and counting. This podcast isn't about hacks, tricks and shortcuts. It's about the powerful things...
2023-09-2758 min
Choose the Hard WayVeloworthy Founder Brian Co on Covering Unbound Gravel, Belgian Waffle Ride & Pro Gravel Racing from the Inside the Way It has Never Been Covered BeforeVeloworthy founder Brian Co on building a sports media empire solo while working full time and raising a family. Brian has single-handedly built a dedicated following by profiling top cycling pros and providing an inside look at the world of gravel cycling that traditional media outlets have failed to capture. Now, Veloworthy is one of the most influential media properties in cycling. Brian talks with Andrew Vontz about his journey from filming local bike races to covering the biggest pro gravel races across the country like Belgian Waffle Ride, Unbound Gravel and more. Hear about...
2023-06-2839 minChoose the Hard WayVeloworthy Founder Brian Co on Covering Unbound Gravel, Belgian Waffle Ride & Pro Gravel Racing from the Inside the Way It has Never Been Covered BeforeVeloworthy founder Brian Co on building a sports media empire solo while working full time and raising a family. Brian has single-handedly built a dedicated following by profiling top cycling pros and providing an inside look at the world of gravel cycling that traditional media outlets have failed to capture. Now, Veloworthy is one of the most influential media properties in cycling. Brian talks with Andrew Vontz about his journey from filming local bike races to covering the biggest pro gravel races across the country like Belgian Waffle Ride, Unbound Gravel and more. Hear about...
2023-06-2839 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 WayIan Boswell: 2021 Unbound Gravel Champion, Retired World Tour Pro Cyclist on Competition, Balance, Starting Over and the Past, Present & Future of GravelAfter being forced to retire from professional cycling due to a series of concussions, Ian Boswell reinvented himself as a dominant force in the new world of gravel racing - and he's not looking back. The 2021 Unbound Gravel 200 champion was formerly a member of Team Sky, the world's top pro cycling team at the time, where he competed in all three grand tours of Europe - the Giro, the Vuelta, and the Tour de France. But it's not just about winning for Boswell. He's focused on balancing family life, homesteading, and a full-time job at t...
2023-06-141h 04Choose the Hard WayIan Boswell: 2021 Unbound Gravel Champion, Retired World Tour Pro Cyclist on Competition, Balance, Starting Over and the Past, Present & Future of GravelAfter being forced to retire from professional cycling due to a series of concussions, Ian Boswell reinvented himself as a dominant force in the new world of gravel racing - and he's not looking back. The 2021 Unbound Gravel 200 champion was formerly a member of Team Sky, the world's top pro cycling team at the time, where he competed in all three grand tours of Europe - the Giro, the Vuelta, and the Tour de France. But it's not just about winning for Boswell. He's focused on balancing family life, homesteading, and a full-time job at t...
2023-06-141h 04
Choose the Hard WayBen Davis: Navy SEAL Veteran, MTB Racer, Mountaineer + Veteran Outdoor Advocacy Group Exec. DirectorAfter a decade as a United States Navy SEAL, Ben Davis is now conquering peaks, competing in races and coaching. He is also the executive director of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group (VOAG) - a non-profit that promotes access to outdoor adjunct therapies for all veterans. In his last few years of service, he completed numerous mountaineering endeavors and has since competed in some of the most challenging mountain bike and ultra running races in the world, including the Leadville 100. He now lives in Colorado's front range and works as a cycling and endurance sports coach for...
2023-06-071h 11Choose the Hard WayBen Davis: Navy SEAL Veteran, MTB Racer, Mountaineer + Veteran Outdoor Advocacy Group Exec. DirectorAfter a decade as a United States Navy SEAL, Ben Davis is now conquering peaks, competing in races and coaching. He is also the executive director of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group (VOAG) - a non-profit that promotes access to outdoor adjunct therapies for all veterans. In his last few years of service, he completed numerous mountaineering endeavors and has since competed in some of the most challenging mountain bike and ultra running races in the world, including the Leadville 100. He now lives in Colorado's front range and works as a cycling and endurance sports coach for...
2023-06-071h 11
Choose the Hard WayAlison Jackson: Paris-Roubaix Winner, Pro Cyclist + Content CreatorFrom growing up on a bison farm to winning the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Alison Jackson is now known for more than just her world class wins. The pro cyclist with UCI Women's WorldTeam EF Education–Tibco–SVB has also gone viral on TikTok. Alison has come a long way thanks to her unique blend of humor and athletic intuition. When she was younger, she trained in triathlons and ran competitively, even attending the University World Championships in Uganda. After committing to cycling, she quickly made moves to the top and represented Canada in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In t...
2023-05-3153 minChoose the Hard WayAlison Jackson: Paris-Roubaix Winner, Pro Cyclist + Content CreatorFrom growing up on a bison farm to winning the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Alison Jackson is now known for more than just her world class wins. The pro cyclist with UCI Women's WorldTeam EF Education–Tibco–SVB has also gone viral on TikTok. Alison has come a long way thanks to her unique blend of humor and athletic intuition. When she was younger, she trained in triathlons and ran competitively, even attending the University World Championships in Uganda. After committing to cycling, she quickly made moves to the top and represented Canada in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In t...
2023-05-3153 min
Choose the Hard WayChris Case: Scientist, Author, Endurance Athlete + Founder of Alter ExplorationEntrepreneur, scientist, and author Chris Case knows how to design a challenge. His company, Alter Exploration, curates intense, application-only custom cycling and trail running trips. Alter's experiences are built to test physical limits, foster emotional growth, and encourage mental evolution. As a former cycling journalist and lifelong endurance athlete, Chris has spent countless hours exploring the world by bike and on foot. He has degrees and research experience in neuroscience and clinical psychology, a master's degree in journalism and photography. His research led him to write The Haywire Heart, an insightful investigation into heart problems that affect...
2023-05-241h 08Choose the Hard WayChris Case: Scientist, Author, Endurance Athlete + Founder of Alter ExplorationEntrepreneur, scientist, and author Chris Case knows how to design a challenge. His company, Alter Exploration, curates intense, application-only custom cycling and trail running trips. Alter's experiences are built to test physical limits, foster emotional growth, and encourage mental evolution. As a former cycling journalist and lifelong endurance athlete, Chris has spent countless hours exploring the world by bike and on foot. He has degrees and research experience in neuroscience and clinical psychology, a master's degree in journalism and photography. His research led him to write The Haywire Heart, an insightful investigation into heart problems that affect...
2023-05-241h 08
Choose the Hard WayBen Delaney: Journalist + YouTuber on Racing Gravel, Reviewing Gear & Independent Cycling MediaAs a respected journalist, Ben Delaney has written and edited for top outlets like VeloNews, BikeRadar, and Cycling Weekly. He's also the director of content at FasCat Coaching. Last year, he decided it was time to take a crack at creating his own cycling content. Enter Ben's YouTube channel, The Ride. With a million views in just a year, it's clear that Ben has hit the mark. The Ride offers expert reviews on bikes, gear, and tires, as well as exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the toughest gravel races around. Though he...
2023-05-101h 04Choose the Hard WayBen Delaney: Journalist + YouTuber on Racing Gravel, Reviewing Gear & Independent Cycling MediaAs a respected journalist, Ben Delaney has written and edited for top outlets like VeloNews, BikeRadar, and Cycling Weekly. He's also the director of content at FasCat Coaching. Last year, he decided it was time to take a crack at creating his own cycling content. Enter Ben's YouTube channel, The Ride. With a million views in just a year, it's clear that Ben has hit the mark. The Ride offers expert reviews on bikes, gear, and tires, as well as exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the toughest gravel races around. Though he...
2023-05-101h 04
Choose the Hard WaySyd and Macky -- MTB Pro Cyclists x YouTubers - a no BS look at Van Life, Pro Athlete Life, Creator Life and riding the trail to 17 million viewsProfessional racing duo Syd Schulz and Macky Franklin are on a quest to race the best and most challenging mountain bike races in America, filming their adventures along the way to give viewers an unvarnished look at the reality of living on the road as professional cyclists. After traveling in a tiny orange car, then a series of (old, janky) white vans, they retired from life on the road and now live in Los Alamos, New Mexico where they train and prep for races around the world - like the recent Transandes Challenge, an epic expedition in...
2023-05-031h 08Choose the Hard WaySyd and Macky -- MTB Pro Cyclists x YouTubers - a no BS look at Van Life, Pro Athlete Life, Creator Life and riding the trail to 17 million viewsProfessional racing duo Syd Schulz and Macky Franklin are on a quest to race the best and most challenging mountain bike races in America, filming their adventures along the way to give viewers an unvarnished look at the reality of living on the road as professional cyclists. After traveling in a tiny orange car, then a series of (old, janky) white vans, they retired from life on the road and now live in Los Alamos, New Mexico where they train and prep for races around the world - like the recent Transandes Challenge, an epic expedition in...
2023-05-031h 08
Choose the Hard WayDylan Johnson: YouTuber + Pro CyclistDylan Johnson's skill on the bike, coupled with his popular YouTube videos about exercise physiology and racing tactics have put him at the forefront of cycling culture. He's a renowned professional cyclist racing in the Lifetime Grand Prix gravel and mountain bike national series and the co-founder of Ignition Coaching Co. In this episode, he talks to host Andrew Vontz about how he balances it all while remaining competitive in the ever-evolving cycling landscape. Dylan is also one of the hosts of the Bonk Bros podcast about the latest happenings in the world of bike...
2023-04-261h 02Choose the Hard WayDylan Johnson: YouTuber + Pro CyclistDylan Johnson's skill on the bike, coupled with his popular YouTube videos about exercise physiology and racing tactics have put him at the forefront of cycling culture. He's a renowned professional cyclist racing in the Lifetime Grand Prix gravel and mountain bike national series and the co-founder of Ignition Coaching Co. In this episode, he talks to host Andrew Vontz about how he balances it all while remaining competitive in the ever-evolving cycling landscape. Dylan is also one of the hosts of the Bonk Bros podcast about the latest happenings in the world of bike...
2023-04-261h 02
Choose the Hard WayCraig Dalton: Entrepreneur, Tech Founder & Host of The Gravel Ride PodcastCycling has influenced Craig Dalton in business and life. He is the dynamic co-founder and CEO of DODOcase and DODOcase VR, and current VP of Portfolio a Founder in Residence at Collaborative Fund. He's also the host of The Gravel Ride, a podcast that recently hit the one-million download mark. His passion for the bike industry led him to Dean Titanium, and he then applied the lessons from the world of cycling to fuel his leap into the competitive tech domain, where he founded DODOcase. In this episode, he shares a story with host Andrew Vontz about...
2023-04-191h 12Choose the Hard WayCraig Dalton: Entrepreneur, Tech Founder & Host of The Gravel Ride PodcastCycling has influenced Craig Dalton in business and life. He is the dynamic co-founder and CEO of DODOcase and DODOcase VR, and current VP of Portfolio a Founder in Residence at Collaborative Fund. He's also the host of The Gravel Ride, a podcast that recently hit the one-million download mark. His passion for the bike industry led him to Dean Titanium, and he then applied the lessons from the world of cycling to fuel his leap into the competitive tech domain, where he founded DODOcase. In this episode, he shares a story with host Andrew Vontz about...
2023-04-191h 12
Choose the Hard WayCameron Mason: Pro Cyclist + FilmmakerLong before Cameron Mason made it to the podium, he was filming and creating content about racing. Cameron is a Scottish professional cyclist and filmmaker who has amassed over 2.5 million views on YouTube documenting his experiences in cyclocross, road racing and mountain bike racing. His distinctive style on the bike and behind the lens caught the attention of Tom Pidcock and he now competes for UCI team Trinity Racing. Last season, he was a British national cyclocross champion, scored top five finishes in Belgium and had a 9th place finish at the World Championships. Cameron...
2023-04-1259 minChoose the Hard WayCameron Mason: Pro Cyclist + FilmmakerLong before Cameron Mason made it to the podium, he was filming and creating content about racing. Cameron is a Scottish professional cyclist and filmmaker who has amassed over 2.5 million views on YouTube documenting his experiences in cyclocross, road racing and mountain bike racing. His distinctive style on the bike and behind the lens caught the attention of Tom Pidcock and he now competes for UCI team Trinity Racing. Last season, he was a British national cyclocross champion, scored top five finishes in Belgium and had a 9th place finish at the World Championships. Cameron...
2023-04-1259 min
Choose the Hard WayKristen Faulkner: Journey from Venture Capitalist to Pro CyclistWhen Kristen Faulkner gave cycling a try in 2017, she was already excelling in a venture capital career and had eyes on making partner. Three years later, she turned pro while working at Threshold Ventures and quickly started crushing European stages. Now she's a pro cyclist for the UCI Women's Continental Team, Team Jayco–AlUla. The Harvard grad joins host Andrew Vontz and Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton for a conversation about the life experiences that have shaped her. Kristen talks about stress management, downregulation, becoming an expert learner and how growing up in the Alaskan wilderness wit...
2023-04-0559 minChoose the Hard WayKristen Faulkner: Journey from Venture Capitalist to Pro CyclistWhen Kristen Faulkner gave cycling a try in 2017, she was already excelling in a venture capital career and had eyes on making partner. Three years later, she turned pro while working at Threshold Ventures and quickly started crushing European stages. Now she's a pro cyclist for the UCI Women's Continental Team, Team Jayco–AlUla. The Harvard grad joins host Andrew Vontz and Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton for a conversation about the life experiences that have shaped her. Kristen talks about stress management, downregulation, becoming an expert learner and how growing up in the Alaskan wilderness wit...
2023-04-0559 min
Choose the Hard WayClay Cooper: @DiscoveryDeadlift, Creativity, and Powerlifting Through AnxietyAs far as doing hard things goes, Clay Cooper has got it down. He's a dad with a full time job who spends his free time deadlifting in nature. He started @discoverydeadlift in 2020 when powerlifting proved to be more than just an outlet for him to change his mental and physical health. Since then, he's hiked and deadlifted in over 180 unique locations across 10 states with his wife and kids. Clay joined host Andrew Vontz to talk about stereotypes surrounding anxiety and depression and how embracing our passions and doing difficult things can transform us into...
2023-03-2956 minChoose the Hard WayClay Cooper: @DiscoveryDeadlift, Creativity, and Powerlifting Through AnxietyAs far as doing hard things goes, Clay Cooper has got it down. He's a dad with a full time job who spends his free time deadlifting in nature. He started @discoverydeadlift in 2020 when powerlifting proved to be more than just an outlet for him to change his mental and physical health. Since then, he's hiked and deadlifted in over 180 unique locations across 10 states with his wife and kids. Clay joined host Andrew Vontz to talk about stereotypes surrounding anxiety and depression and how embracing our passions and doing difficult things can transform us into...
2023-03-2956 min
Choose the Hard WayTobin Ortenblad on Building a Career in the Changing Field of Gravel RacingAmerican pro cycling is changing. As riders adjust to year round competitions in multiple disciplines, Tobin Ortenblad has done more than just keep up. He started crushing in cyclocross years ago and now races mountain bike and gravel, too. Tobin, who has raced for Santa Cruz Bicycles since 2016, is now a member of Santa Cruz's in-house endurance team, htSQD, with Keegan Swenson and Alexis Skarda. He has over a dozen professional UCI Cyclocross wins under his belt, along with a Cyclocross National Championship title. This year he joins the best cyclists in the country to compete in...
2023-03-221h 12Choose the Hard WayTobin Ortenblad on Building a Career in the Changing Field of Gravel RacingAmerican pro cycling is changing. As riders adjust to year round competitions in multiple disciplines, Tobin Ortenblad has done more than just keep up. He started crushing in cyclocross years ago and now races mountain bike and gravel, too. Tobin, who has raced for Santa Cruz Bicycles since 2016, is now a member of Santa Cruz's in-house endurance team, htSQD, with Keegan Swenson and Alexis Skarda. He has over a dozen professional UCI Cyclocross wins under his belt, along with a Cyclocross National Championship title. This year he joins the best cyclists in the country to compete in...
2023-03-221h 12
Choose the Hard WayDJ Nightstalker: LA Drum & Bass Legend + USC Professor Chris MunizChris Muniz, aka DJ Nightstalker, has been enchanting crowds with his signature sound since the late '90s, where he started alongside heavies like Photek and DJ Rap. From warehouse raves to massive festivals like EDC Vegas and Nocturnal Wonderland, his impact on the drum and bass scene is undeniable. For decades, he's been an influential electronic music journalist and essayist and his writings have been published in outlets like Bassrush, Insomniac, URB, XLR8R, ATM and Kmag. He's also a professor at University of Southern California, and holds a PhD in creative writing and literature.
2023-03-151h 10Choose the Hard WayDJ Nightstalker: LA Drum & Bass Legend + USC Professor Chris MunizChris Muniz, aka DJ Nightstalker, has been enchanting crowds with his signature sound since the late '90s, where he started alongside heavies like Photek and DJ Rap. From warehouse raves to massive festivals like EDC Vegas and Nocturnal Wonderland, his impact on the drum and bass scene is undeniable. For decades, he's been an influential electronic music journalist and essayist and his writings have been published in outlets like Bassrush, Insomniac, URB, XLR8R, ATM and Kmag. He's also a professor at University of Southern California, and holds a PhD in creative writing and literature.
2023-03-151h 10
Choose the Hard WayBen Kovacs: Guardian Gym Founder, Serial Entrepreneur, BJJ Black BeltAs a black belt and entrepreneur, Ben Kovacs wanted to make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu more accessible. He founded Guardian Gym, a nonprofit dedicated to providing jiu-jitsu scholarships and training to young people around the world. Ben joins our host Andrew Vontz to discuss the intersection of good intentions and reality, and what it takes to build a lasting and effective nonprofit. Guardian has a unique strategy of using adult memberships to fund free youth after-school programs, while also providing affordable martial arts classes to the entire community. Since opening in Oakland, Guardian has scaled into an international model...
2023-03-0857 minChoose the Hard WayBen Kovacs: Guardian Gym Founder, Serial Entrepreneur, BJJ Black BeltAs a black belt and entrepreneur, Ben Kovacs wanted to make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu more accessible. He founded Guardian Gym, a nonprofit dedicated to providing jiu-jitsu scholarships and training to young people around the world. Ben joins our host Andrew Vontz to discuss the intersection of good intentions and reality, and what it takes to build a lasting and effective nonprofit. Guardian has a unique strategy of using adult memberships to fund free youth after-school programs, while also providing affordable martial arts classes to the entire community. Since opening in Oakland, Guardian has scaled into an international model...
2023-03-0857 min
Choose the Hard WayBenji Naesen: Lanterne Rouge co-host, Gamer, YouTuber Benji Naesen is a Belgian YouTuber who makes videos about gaming, cycling and his personal fitness journey. He's also the co-host of the Lanterne Rouge cycling podcast, one of the most popular pro cycling podcasts in the world. Benji went from streaming and creating content about the video game Pro Cycling Manager to working as an analyst for Jumbo-Visma, the best cycling team in the world. Andrew and Benji talk about his experience living life in a public way as an online creator, the sacrifices he has had to make to do it, why he walked away...
2023-03-011h 15Choose the Hard WayBenji Naesen: Lanterne Rouge co-host, Gamer, YouTuber Benji Naesen is a Belgian YouTuber who makes videos about gaming, cycling and his personal fitness journey. He's also the co-host of the Lanterne Rouge cycling podcast, one of the most popular pro cycling podcasts in the world. Benji went from streaming and creating content about the video game Pro Cycling Manager to working as an analyst for Jumbo-Visma, the best cycling team in the world. Andrew and Benji talk about his experience living life in a public way as an online creator, the sacrifices he has had to make to do it, why he walked away...
2023-03-011h 15
Choose the Hard WayJournalist Ashley Fantz on Co-Creating the #1 Podcast in the World & Having Open-Heart SurgeryOn the day that "Suspect II: Vanished in the Snow" rose to top of the iTunes and Amazon podcast charts, co-creator Ashley Fantz was rolled into an operating room at Stanford for open-heart surgery. Ashley reported, hosted and co-wrote the show that explores the facts behind the case of a child who was abducted and murdered in 1984. Before her work with Campside Media, Ashley's award-winning investigative journalism was featured in the likes of CNN, the Oxford American, Salon, and Newsweek, garnered widespread accolades and created real change in the world. In this episode, Andrew Vontz...
2023-02-2258 minChoose the Hard WayJournalist Ashley Fantz on Co-Creating the #1 Podcast in the World & Having Open-Heart SurgeryOn the day that "Suspect II: Vanished in the Snow" rose to top of the iTunes and Amazon podcast charts, co-creator Ashley Fantz was rolled into an operating room at Stanford for open-heart surgery. Ashley reported, hosted and co-wrote the show that explores the facts behind the case of a child who was abducted and murdered in 1984. Before her work with Campside Media, Ashley's award-winning investigative journalism was featured in the likes of CNN, the Oxford American, Salon, and Newsweek, garnered widespread accolades and created real change in the world. In this episode, Andrew Vontz...
2023-02-2258 min
Choose the Hard WayJustin Nassiri: Serial Entrepreneur, Navy Veteran, Founder & CEO of Executive Presence on Scaling + Growing in Business & LifeAs one of the most important professional channels, LinkedIn is increasingly critical - and tricky - to navigate. Justin Nassiri founded Executive Presence, a company that helps executives find the right way to show up for an authentic audience through consistent and relevant messaging. In this episode, Justin talks with Andrew Vontz about why he chooses transparency and vulnerability as a leader. Justin spent the last decade as a serial entrepreneur. He started multiple tech companies focused on marketing services, and launched Beyond the Uniform, the #1 podcast on iTunes for military career transition advice. He's also a...
2023-02-151h 03Choose the Hard WayJustin Nassiri: Serial Entrepreneur, Navy Veteran, Founder & CEO of Executive Presence on Scaling + Growing in Business & LifeAs one of the most important professional channels, LinkedIn is increasingly critical - and tricky - to navigate. Justin Nassiri founded Executive Presence, a company that helps executives find the right way to show up for an authentic audience through consistent and relevant messaging. In this episode, Justin talks with Andrew Vontz about why he chooses transparency and vulnerability as a leader. Justin spent the last decade as a serial entrepreneur. He started multiple tech companies focused on marketing services, and launched Beyond the Uniform, the #1 podcast on iTunes for military career transition advice. He's also a...
2023-02-151h 03
Choose the Hard WayNatalie Coughlin: 12x Olympic Medalist, Vintner & EntrepreneurNatalie Coughlin is one of the most successful swimmers in the history of the sport: a three-time Olympian, twelve-time Olympic medalist, and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She's also a mom, an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Gaderian Wines. In this episode, Natalie and Andrew Vontz discuss winemaking, competition, making music, rucking, lifting and jiu-jitsu. Plus how creativity and focus impact the way we navigate big transitions in sport, life and work - even after three Olympic gold medals. You can learn more about Natalie in the show notes. Watch on YouTube....
2023-02-081h 00Choose the Hard WayNatalie Coughlin: 12x Olympic Medalist, Vintner & EntrepreneurNatalie Coughlin is one of the most successful swimmers in the history of the sport: a three-time Olympian, twelve-time Olympic medalist, and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She's also a mom, an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Gaderian Wines. In this episode, Natalie and Andrew Vontz discuss winemaking, competition, making music, rucking, lifting and jiu-jitsu. Plus how creativity and focus impact the way we navigate big transitions in sport, life and work - even after three Olympic gold medals. You can learn more about Natalie in the show notes. Watch on YouTube....
2023-02-081h 00
Choose the Hard WayFitt Insider + Fitt Capital Co-Founder Anthony Vennare - Entrepreneur, Investor - From $0 to Leading the Future of Health, Wellness, Connected Fitness, Human Performance & CommunityFor serial entrepreneur and Fitt CEO, Anthony Vennare, community is the super power driving winning businesses in health, wellness & fitness. Anthony and his brother and business partner Joe have started and successfully exited multiple businesses in these spaces. Together they're the founders of Fitt Insider and Fitt Capital and have built a platform at the center of these industries. The Fitt Insider newsletter and podcast analyze industry headlines, trends and investment activity in the health, wellness, fitness & human performance business landscape. Fitt Capital invests in and advises mission-driven startups redefining well-being. To date, they've made...
2023-01-251h 05Choose the Hard WayFitt Insider + Fitt Capital Co-Founder Anthony Vennare - Entrepreneur, Investor - From $0 to Leading the Future of Health, Wellness, Connected Fitness, Human Performance & CommunityFor serial entrepreneur and Fitt CEO, Anthony Vennare, community is the super power driving winning businesses in health, wellness & fitness. Anthony and his brother and business partner Joe have started and successfully exited multiple businesses in these spaces. Together they're the founders of Fitt Insider and Fitt Capital and have built a platform at the center of these industries. The Fitt Insider newsletter and podcast analyze industry headlines, trends and investment activity in the health, wellness, fitness & human performance business landscape. Fitt Capital invests in and advises mission-driven startups redefining well-being. To date, they've made...
2023-01-251h 05
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 WayPatrick Broe founder of Lanterne Rouge on Pro Cycling and Data-Driven Performance | Beyond the Peloton X Choose the Hard WayAndrew Vontz of Choose the Hard Way and Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton talk with Patrick Broe about high performance, team dynamics and race strategy inside the professional peloton. This episode is part of the Choose the Hard Way Life Cycles series that explores how bikes shape people and the world. To learn more about Lanterne Rouge, check out the show notes at ChoosetheHardWay.com. Beyond the Peloton is a podcast with in-depth pro cycling race previews, analysis, and rankings, hosted by Spencer Martin. You can find the podcast and subscribe to Spencer's newsletter...
2023-01-041h 49Choose the Hard WayPatrick Broe founder of Lanterne Rouge on Pro Cycling and Data-Driven Performance | Beyond the Peloton X Choose the Hard WayAndrew Vontz of Choose the Hard Way and Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton talk with Patrick Broe about high performance, team dynamics and race strategy inside the professional peloton. This episode is part of the Choose the Hard Way Life Cycles series that explores how bikes shape people and the world. To learn more about Lanterne Rouge, check out the show notes at ChoosetheHardWay.com. Beyond the Peloton is a podcast with in-depth pro cycling race previews, analysis, and rankings, hosted by Spencer Martin. You can find the podcast and subscribe to Spencer's newsletter...
2023-01-041h 49
Choose the Hard WayUser-Centered Design and Innovation with Chris CowartChris Cowart has applied the expertise in user-centered design he developed during 14 years at IDEO to innovate across the disciplines of product, partnerships, venture capital and business. His career spans Venture Capital with Montage Ventures, revolutionizing food systems with Treasure8, and designing many "first of their categories" including TiVo and Handspring at IDEO. Now as the Managing Director of the Nomura-SRI Innovation Center (NSIC), he is working to accelerate the adoption of Silicon Valley's disruptive technology innovation processes into corporate Japan. We talk about the socialization of ideas and seeing the future through design fiction, plus a Google X...
2022-11-301h 18
Choose the Hard WayMary Lemmer - Improv, Entrepreneurship & Transcending FearFor Mary Lemmer, improv was initially a means to recalibrate and reconnect to her life. Now, the fundamental response of "yes and" has become a guiding principle that changes the way she moves through the world. As the founder of Improve, she has led workshops for tens of thousands of people around the world - to individuals, companies, Fortune 500s, universities, and nonprofits - and she even gave a TED talk about the impact of improv on leadership. We talk about what she learned on her professional path from the gelato cart, to tech and...
2022-11-1656 min
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 WayIan Dille: Journalism, Pro Cycling, and Storytelling in the Age of TikTokIan Dille has always been someone who questioned the status quo. He's a freelance journalist and former pro cyclist who thinks social media can actually broaden our worldview - if used correctly. His long-form writing appears in outlets like Outside magazine and Texas Monthly, and his stories have been reproduced by This American Life and featured on Longreads. Perhaps even more impressive, he went viral on TikTok at age 40. Previously, Ian was a senior producer for the streaming service FloSports where he helped launch a cycling content platform, FloBikes, which broadcast most of the world's...
2022-11-021h 09
Choose the Hard WayDr. Kevin Sprouse: Training Habits, Sports Medicine, and Recovery Methods from Inside the Peloton to Personal HealthDr. Kevin Sprouse keeps high-performance athletes at the top of the podium with training and recovery - but often, it's on the bus rides, in the hotel, and on the road where he learns the most about how people thrive in life. Trained and certified in both Sports and Emergency Medicine, Dr. Sprouse now serves as the Head of Medicine for EF Education-EasyPost Cycling. In his private practice, Podium Sports Medicine, he works with elite and professional athletes across numerous sports and disciplines, including professional cycling, triathlon, PGA golfers, NFL and MLB players, Olympic track and field...
2022-10-261h 25
Choose the Hard WayBart Elmore: What Environmental History Can Teach Us About Food, Power, and the FutureThis week, we are digging deep on the relationship between humans, plants, animals and profit with Bart Elmore, who explains the necessity of a fundamental respect for nature. Bart is an associate professor of environmental history and core faculty member of the Sustainability Institute at the Ohio State University. He's also an award-winning writer who investigates the impact of big business on our environment. His most recent book Seed Money: Monsanto's Past and Our Food Future traces the path from Agent Orange to Roundup and the impact it has had on public health, the environment...
2022-10-191h 45
Choose the Hard WayJason McCarthy: Democratizing Fitness and Creating Community, One Ruck at a TimeCan human movement be used to repair the damage technology has created? Jason McCarthy thinks it can do much more than that; it can be the glue that holds our communities together. Jason served as a Green Beret and is the founder and CEO of GoRuck. After running 1,000 events a year and managing 500 GORUCK Clubs all over the world, now he's launched Sandlot Technology with the goal of democratizing and uniting fitness. Jason first joined us on Choose the Hard way to talk about his path from the Special Forces to entrepreneurship. In this episode, he shares what he...
2022-10-1257 min
Choose the Hard WayLynsey Dyer: Big Mountain Skiing, Activism, and the Importance of Getting OutsideWhether river surfing on the Snake River or capturing base jumping off of Half Dome, Lyndsey Dyer is committed to her overall mission of inspiring people to get outside. Lynsey is a legendary big mountain skier, filmmaker, photographer, activist and mom. In this episode, Lynsey invites us to explore the power of fun and the alchemy of community when we're in pursuit of going big. She's the founder of Unicorn Picnic and the host of Showing Up, a podcast about people who seek to live beyond limits. Lynsey's nonprofit, SheJumps, opens the door for more girls and...
2022-10-051h 03Choose the Hard WayLife Cycles: Eric Matthies x Andrew Vontz on the cycling TV pilot that didn't flyIn a land before YouTube and TikTok, a producer I knew introduced me to award-winning filmmaker Eric Matthies who shared my passion for cycling. Together, we created a TV pilot about cycling subcultures in Los Angeles. The show didn't get picked up, but the experience paid dividends we couldn't have imagined at the time. You can view the full pilot episode here. To see The Warriors alleycat film from the Bicycle Film Festival mentioned in this episode, go here. The Beastie Boys, Spike Jonze, Doug Aitken, Public Enemy, Soundgarden, a Tribe Called Quest, the Matrix, Man of S...
2022-04-071h 20