A Wilder Life Fitness That Feeds the Soul: Why Your "Why" Matters More Than Your Workout
Ever felt “too comfortable” in life and craving a real challenge? Then this episode is for you.
In this episode of A Wilder Life, Eric Edmeades sits down with Brian Keane, ultra‑endurance athlete, bestselling author of The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset, and mental toughness coach. Brian opens up about his journey from primary‑school teacher in London to conquering extreme endurance races like the Marathon des Sables and Arctic ultras, then scaling Kilimanjaro with his own tribe of followers. Their conversation weaves through evolutionary mismatch, the power of gratitude, designing rites of passage in modern life, and moving beyond fear into intentional growth.
Key Takeaways:
→ Belief in possibility: You’re not a tree—if you don’t like where you are, you can move.→ Gratitude rewires anxiety: You can’t feel anxious and grateful at the same time—practice gratitude to gain mental toughness without needing an ultra‑race.→ Design your challenges: Intentional, “tribal” or group adventures (e.g., Kilimanjaro, Sahara) recalibrate mindset, resilience, and connection.→ Teach like a kid’s classroom: Simplify language to third‑grade level and evoke engagement—the same skill that made Brian’s book a bestseller.→ Own your triggers: “Pain is your path to freedom”—lean into difficult emotions like shame or regret to unlock transformation (vs. numbing with food/Netflix).
More from Brian Keane:
Find him delivering daily movement inspiration and deeper mindset insights on Instagram or tune into The Brian Keane Podcast for long‑form conversations about resilience, ancestral connection, and thriving in a digitally overloaded world.
Quotes from Brian:
“You’re not a tree—if you don’t like where you are, you can move.”
“Mental toughness isn’t all about grit, grind and bear it; it’s about being grateful for the things you do have.”
“Pain is your path to freedom.”
Brian’s Bio
From primary‑school teacher to ultra‑endurance athlete, bestselling author, and founder of The Fitness Mindset coaching programs, Brian combines deep pedagogy training with firsthand experience running six back‑to‑back marathons through the Sahara, Arctic 100‑mile ultras, and leading groups up Kilimanjaro and (soon!) to Everest Base Camp. His work bridges evolutionary brain design, mental resilience, and modern-day empowerment.
Stay Connected
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Instagram & Shorts: Daily movement hacks, mindset reels, and that current “60 workouts in 60 days” challenge
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Podcast: The Brian Keane Podcast (deep dives into mindset, coaching, ancestral life, and human performance)
Let us know what mindset insight landed for you—and if you’re craving your own chosen “rite of passage,” maybe there’s a Wilder Life expedition in your future 😉
Connect with Brian:
Website: https://briankeanefitness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brian_keane_fitness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briankeanefitness
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrianKeaneFitness
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briankeanefitness?lang=en
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ng/podcast/the-brian-keane-podcast/id1153346936https://open.spotify.com/show/5lS8hGo8gVOESMhgNIcH5O