Bert Sorin, president and co-owner of Sorinex, discusses his diverse athletic and entrepreneurial background. Topics include Sorinex's durable strength training equipment, Bert's athletic achievements, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, and collaborations with American Giant and Ironclad. They also share anecdotes about Rambo-inspired bows, meeting Jimmy Lyle, and admiration for John Millius. Other highlights include book publication dates, a hiking competition, outdoor challenges, physical fitness, and the Hooten Young whiskey brand. They emphasize staying true to childhood dreams, the importance of packaging and marketing, training tips, and the versatile center mass bell.
Bert Sorin is a multi-talented athlete, business owner, and ambassador advocating for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.
American Giant supports American manufacturing and philanthropy through limited edition products.
The Shoot to Eat challenge promotes daily practice and focus through target shooting and rewards participants with a meal if they hit the kill zone.
The Winter Strong and Summer Strong events unite individuals passionate about the outdoors, strength training, and primitive skills through immersive gatherings.
The podcast prioritizes genuine connections and collaborations within the outdoor and strength training community, showcasing real products and brands without paid placements.
The importance of finding passion, resilience, embracing struggles, and creating extraordinary experiences are discussed as key elements for personal and professional success.
Deep dives
American Giant and the Rescue 22 Foundation
American Giant is a clothing brand that supports American manufacturing and the Rescue 22 Foundation. They created a limited edition hoodie to fund a service dog for a veteran.
Conversation with Bert Soren
The podcast episode features a conversation with Bert Soren, the president and co-owner of Soren X. They discuss UFC fights and the importance of martial arts training for kids.
Shoot to Eat Challenge
There is a challenge called Shoot to Eat, where participants take one shot at a target, and if they hit the kill zone, they get a meal. The challenge lasts for 15 days and encourages daily practice and focus.
Meeting Sylvester Stallone
The podcast host shares the experience of having a Zoom call with Sylvester Stallone, where they discussed his influence on movies and his roots in strength training.
Winter Strong and Summer Strong events
The Winter Strong and Summer Strong events are annual gatherings that bring together an extraordinary group of people who are passionate about the outdoors, strength training, and primitive skills. Winter Strong is an immersive event focused on outdoor skills and experiences, while Summer Strong is a seminar-style event that combines talks, demonstrations, and training sessions. These events feature a diverse lineup of speakers and participants, including athletes, knife makers, whiskey companies, and more.
Guest appearances and collaborations
The podcast episode highlights various guest appearances and collaborations with individuals and companies within the outdoor, strength training, and gear industries. These collaborations are based on real connections and relationships, without any paid product placements. The focus is on supporting and promoting friends and like-minded individuals and companies, fostering a sense of community and trust.
Incorporating real products into the show
The podcast episode also mentions the inclusion of real products and brands into the show. This includes the use of Sorenex equipment, Everly Stock bags, Sig Sauer firearms, and other branded items that add authenticity to the scenes. The decisions to incorporate these products are based on personal connections, trust, and the desire to maintain a genuine representation of the characters and their world.
Supporting veteran-owned companies
The podcast episode highlights the support for veteran-owned companies and products. From featuring Hooten Young whiskey in the bar scene to working with knife makers and other veterans, the focus is on supporting and collaborating with companies that align with the values and passions of the speakers and participants. This creates a meaningful and authentic representation of the outdoor and strength training community.
Passion and Purpose after Military Service
The speaker discusses the importance of finding passion and purpose in life after leaving the military. They highlight the significance of recognizing one's passion and using it to build a fulfilling life and career. They emphasize the value of leveraging military experiences, both positive and negative, as a foundation for future endeavors and passing on valuable lessons to others.
Resilience and Thin Air
The speaker reflects on the importance of resilience in pursuing one's passion. They draw parallels between the challenges faced in the business world and the mental and physical demands of military training. They highlight how pursuing a passion with a strong drive and resilience can lead to extraordinary experiences and achievements.
Struggling Well and Embracing Challenges
The speaker emphasizes the importance of embracing struggles and challenges in life and reframing them as opportunities for growth. They encourage individuals to maintain a mindset of continuous improvement and to focus on what they have accomplished and overcome. They highlight the value of learning to struggle well and finding joy and fulfillment in the pursuit of one's goals and dreams.
Creating Extraordinary Experiences
The speaker discusses the importance of creating extraordinary experiences both personally and in business endeavors. They emphasize the value of providing exceptional customer experiences and going above and beyond to exceed expectations. They also highlight the importance of pursuing one's passions and dreams, focusing on quality over quantity, and making a positive impact on others' lives.
Bert is a hunter, hammer thrower, Highland Games athlete, and the president and co-owner of Sorinex.
Sorinex was founded by Bert's father Richard Sorin in 1980. The company has been making some of the industry's most durable strength training equipment for more than 40 years. The gear they make is utilized by professional athletes, service members, and students worldwide.
Bert is a 4-time Track and Field Division 1 All-American (Hammer and 35lb. Weight Throw), Southeastern Conference Champion, former Weight Throw record-holder, and an Olympic trials athlete. He is also a professional Highland Games athlete and Highland Games Amateur Division World Champion.
He is an ambassador of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, an organization that leads the effort to plan, fund, design, and build the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
