Goals are great. But far more important is who you become in the pursuit of said goals. Focus on the inside work. Process over results. Craft over competition. Ritual over routine. Recalibration over resolution. And watch your world change.After an extended break, the ever-so-popular Coaches’ Corner edition of the podcast is back with not one Olympian, not two Olympians, but three Olympians on deck.Packed with past podcast faves, today’s panel features endurance legend and Coach’s Corner OG Chris Hauth, swimmer Caroline Burckle, and track and field turned marathon superstar (and my Malibu Triathlon relay teammate!) Alexi Pappas.For those new to the pod, Chris is a sub-9 hour Ironman champion, a former Olympic Swimmer and professional triathlete, a veteran of many an ultra-endurance challenge, my ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship teammate, and one of the world’s most respected endurance coaches.Caroline (aka Burks) is a former elite competitive swimmer & Olympic medalist with 23 All American titles, 2 NCAA individual victories & NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year accolades to her name. She is the co-founder of RISE, a mentor program that pairs Olympic athletes with young elite athletes for support and guidance.And finally, Alexi is a runner, award-winning writer, poet, actor, and filmmaker. In addition to setting the Greek national record in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Olympics, Alexi has co-written, co-directed, and co-starred in three feature films and authored the bestselling memoir Bravey, a primer on self-actualization, surviving trauma, and pursuing disparate dreams.Today Chris, Caroline, & Alexi share sage advice on everything from endurance, training, goal setting, and more.But this is not your average kick in the pants “new year-new you” narrative. Instead, it’s a collective effort to voyage beyond the tired tropes and well-trodden bullet points. Courtesy of Olympic, experience-based wisdom, it’s about leveraging fitness to evolve, grow, and live according to your values.Not only will this conversation set you on a better path to actualizing your goals, but—more importantly—it will put you on a healthy and sustainable, long-term trajectory to becoming the better, more self-actualized you within.To read more, click here. You can also watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Chris, Caroline, and Alexi are some of my favorite people. This trifecta is over the top. My hope is that their words inspire you to bust through analysis paralysis and any preconceived notions you have about who you are and what you’re capable of.Enjoy!Rich

In this enlightening discussion, Olympic medalists Nicole Davis and Caroline Burckle share their insights on setting intentions for the new year. As experienced mindset coaches, they emphasize the importance of fresh starts and how to let go of past failures. The duo highlights the value of visualization and self-trust in achieving personal and professional goals. They also reflect on the power of supportive relationships and the role of discipline in navigating aspirations. With their unique perspectives, they inspire listeners to embrace growth and purpose in 2025.

For too long, talking about mental health has been a social taboo.Shame prevents confronting our struggles. The pressure of our daily lives exacerbates the problem. Compound that with society’s lack of mental health education and you create an epidemic of mental health disorders ranging from chronic stress and anxiety to loneliness and depression. PTSD. And of course, suicide.The solution to these problems is complicated. But it always begins with talking about them.Today we do just that. Introducing a masterclass on all things mental health, my second in a new ongoing series of compilation-based deep dives.The conversations excerpted for this episode feature some of the best, most inspiring exchanges I’ve had on the topic of mental health, with practical takeaways and bite-size chunks of advice that you can apply in your life today.The full episodes for guests featured in this episode can be enjoyed here: RRP 464: Lori Gottlieb: Stories From A Therapist In Therapy RRP 416: Johann Hari: On Lost Connections RRP 579: Alexi Pappas Is Bravey RRP 468: Quelling Stress With Rangan Chatterjee, MD RRP 565: Caroline Burckle On The Power Of Vulnerability RRP 584: Steven Pressfield On The War of Art RRP 330: Drs. Dean & Ayesha Sherzai RRP 393: Guru Singh On Disrupting Depression RRP 424: Sarah Lee On The War Inside RRP 557: Hakim Tafari On Reinvention FULL BLOG & SHOW NOTES: bit.ly/richroll613YouTube: bit.ly/mentalhealth613Note: If you missed our first deep dive, a masterclass on all things microbiome, click here.Final Note: This conversation traverses difficult emotional terrain. If you are struggling, please raise your hand and reach out for help. For a catalog of resources, you can visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness and if you are experiencing suicidal ideation, know you’re not alone. I encourage you to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1(800) 273 – TALK.I sincerely hope you find this experiment helpful, instructive, and inspiring.Peace + Plants,RichHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Working out offers a healthy path towards self-actualization. But it can also be used to avoid ‘working in’, perpetuating denial of that which must be confronted.What’s the difference between the two? Ask Chris Hauth + Caroline Burckle and they’ll both agree: the answer is intention.Over the last few years, it’s been a tradition to host periodic performance fitness deep dives with my long-time coach, Olympian, former professional triathlete, and fellow endurance fanatic Chris Hauth in a series erstwhile referred to as Coach’s Corner. Unfortunately, the pandemic derailed the regularity of this institution, our last observance of this sacred ritual conducted exactly one year ago on Zoom.In apologetic atonement for this grievous oversight, today we restore balance to the Universe, graced with the presence of not one but two Olympians because Chris and myself are joined by Caroline Burckle—an audience favorite many of you will fondly recall from RRP #565 this past December.For those new to the show, Chris is a sub-9 hour Ironman champion, a former Olympic Swimmer, a veteran of many an ultra-endurance challenge, my ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship teammate, and one of the world’s most respected endurance coaches.Caroline (Burks) is a former swimmer & Olympic medalist with 23 All American titles, 2 NCAA individual victories & NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year accolades to her name. She runs RISE, a mentor program that pairs Olympic athletes with young elite athletes for support and guidance.This is a super fun round table discussion on how to bring purpose and intention to our strength and endurance goals.It’s about how to create opportunities for personal growth, resilience, and the adaptability that athletic performance and this pandemic present and demand.It’s about the power of self-curated adventures in lieu of formal competition. It’s about what sport can teach us about patience, self-love, and discipline. And it’s about showing up and doing not only the physical work but also the internal work.In other words, it’s not just about working out. It’s also about working in.FULL BLOG & SHOW NOTES: bit.ly/richroll595Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/rrpitunesChris & Caroline are two of my favorite people. But the combo is over the top. This union is so charmed, what was once dubbed Coach’s Corner is now rebranded as Coaches’ Corner.Peace + Plants,Rich

Becoming an Olympic medalist doesn’t tell the story. It wasn’t until the klieg lights dimmed that she was compelled to meet herself. The inner journey that ensued forged the amazing person she’s now become.Meet Caroline Burckle. Friends call her Burks.A fellow former competitive swimmer, today’s guest is a 23-time All American and 2-time NCAA Champion. In 2008, she was crowned NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year in recognition of breaking Janet Evans’ legendary 500 freestyle NCAA record—a seemingly impossible task and the oldest record on the books at the time. Later that same year, Caroline would qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where she won bronze as a member of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay.More interesting however, and certainly more relatable, is Caroline’s path post-swimming. A close cousin to my conversations with Olympians Anthony Ervin, Apolo Ohno and John Moffet, hers is a hard-wrought journey of self-discovery shrouded in institutional neglect and even, at times, abuse. Let’s just say she weathered some shit. But she faced it. She showed up and did the work. And she emerged at peace with her past and her self—now hellbent on helping forge healthier lives for the next generation of Olympians.Beyond the play-by-play of Caroline’s storied career, her experiences as a young swimmer, and what it was like to stand on the Olympic podium, this is a conversation about the psychological struggles she faced as a prodigious athlete. Her battle with depression. And her familiar addiction to people-pleasing.It’s also an alarming exposé on the harmful paradigms perpetuated by calcified athletic institutions—and what we must be done to better support the next generation of Olympians.But more than anything, this is a playbook on how to find power in vulnerability. How to listen to your body. And most importantly, how to use your voice.One of my very favorite people, Burks and I are buddies going back several years. A powerhouse and a humble empath, her energy is infectious. And I’m honored to share her story with you today.The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.May her words inspire you to seek own your truth. To ask for help. Lean into vulnerability. And never stop learning.P.S. Links to a comprehensive collection of news coverage specific to the sensitive events discussed in this episode can be found in the show notes below.Peace + Plants,Rich