The 29029 Podcast

We've all experienced 2020.  We know that it's been a tough year. Yet, we have come together in many different instances, in many different moments as a community.  And we have much to look forward to in 2021.   This episode of the 29029 podcast, the 29029 team shares their top moments from this year.  Read more about the top moments here. 

In September 2012, Leigh Sojonky was in the best shape of her life.  She had just completed Ironman Canada as a celebration of spending the previous 20 years as a shadow of her former 250-pound self.  Then it happened. While waiting in traffic, the car behind rammed into her at full force. The accident resulted in all of her neck muscles tearing, a serious head injury and crippling back pain. She went from peak physical fitness to not making it past noon without having to lie down. She spent the next 6 years of her life, unable to move her body the way she wanted to. That was until she learned about 29029. There was something intriguing about the event, that set her on a path of redemption and revelations about what was possible.  One step at a time, she worked towards finding her inner-endurance athlete.  Her incredible journey is a tale of perseverance, and never ever giving up on what is possible.

One of the most inspiring and impactful members of the 29029 community, Susan Porter joined Travis McKenzie on November 19, 2019. She was in the midst of her battle with cancer.  A year later, she's winning the fight and is determined to reach 29029 feet in 2021.  This is her story and it will move you. It is a story of community, of perseverance and overcoming. It's a tale from the mountain, that translates to any mountain! 

Coach Brent Pease is an endurance athlete, husband, dad, brother and friend.   He's also the man with a plan when it comes to reaching 29029 feet. As a participant you've seen and likely followed the guidance of Coach Brent in your preparation. He's the face of 29029 from a 'roll up your sleeves and get ready' point of view.  But what about his life away from the mountain? What are the big moments and opportunities he's taken on in his personal life? Find out more in today's episode of Tales From The Mountain as Coach Brent sits down the Travis McKenzie.  "I've quit a lot of jobs to become an endurance coach." said Coach Brent. Along with his brother Kyle, he is the author of Beyond The Finish and the co-founders and lead the charge for inclusion through the Kyle Pease Foundation.  In this episode you'll hear about Brent's athletic background, how he became involved in 29029 and some of the most impactful moments he's experienced on the mountain.  This is an entertaining episode, with plenty of lessons and motivating messages to Keep Climbing!

"Climbing a mountain over and over again. There was something about the event that drew me in. I couldn't believe that anybody could possibly do that. What are my chances, a Singaporean living in Singapore, finding out about this event!" Today we welcome Sylvia Saw McKaige to the show - our favorite Singaporean, who like many of our participants has been opened up to a world of possibility as a result of her 29029 experience.  Sylvia's journey to reaching 29029 feet is ongoing, and she's not giving up until she gets there. Hear the story of how she first heard about 29029, her athletic background and what she has gotten out of the 29029 community thus far. 

Welcome to Season 2 of the 29029 Podcast.  In this season we'll hear from inspiring members of the 29029 community as they share their Tales From The Mountain.   You will hear the life-changing our guests go on as they take an Everest sized challenge one that is so profound that their lives are transformed as a result.  Today's guest is Britton Barbee - His journey to 29029 started as a 300+ pound college football player who lost his identity following a season and career-ending injury. His physical, mental, and cultural struggles have made him a better husband, father, and friend and he shares how his focus and dedication have enabled him to embrace a new identity.  An endurance athlete.  You can read more of Britton's story here. To learn more about 29029 - head to 29029everesting.com and don't forget to come back for more Tales From The Mountain. 

Welcome back to the 29029 podcast - it's a joy to be back with the fourth and final installment of Season 1 - The Origin Story. In the first three episodes, we covered the lead up to the first 29029 experience at Stratton Mountain, Vermont.  The goal of the podcast's first season is to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how Jesse Itzler and Marc Hodulich built the 29029 brand and experience.  Today we discuss and emphasize the wins and the learnings from the first event and how that has translated into future events.  Let's join Marc as he talks about what it takes to show up with seemingly, unlimited energy on the event weekend!

Welcome back to the 29029 podcast.  In episode 2 of the 29029 podcast, we took an inside look into co-founders Marc Hodulich and Jesse Itzler's thoughts and feelings of creating a brand new event and category.  We also covered some of the most impactful parts of the 29029 experience and how they came to life.  In today's episode, we take a deep dive into what the first 29029 event was like for Marc, Jesse, and the team and, most notably, the first group of participants who took on the challenge.  Let's pick things up with Jesse arriving in Vermont for the first 29029 event in 2017. 

Welcome back to the 29029 Podcast - I'm your host, Travis McKenzie this is episode 2.  In the first episode, we heard from 29029 co-founders, Marc Hodulich and Jesse Itzler. They discussed the early stages of their relationship and their mutual love of smoothie bowls.  We talked about how the concept for 29029 came to life through a test event in the North Georgia mountains and a look behind the scenes of how the iconic 29029 logo was born.  Today, you'll hear about what it was like to put the 2017 Stratton event on sale for the first time, and where ideas for some of the most impactful parts of the 29029 experience came from and some of the less than successful elements of the first event that can only be discovered through trying.  Let's climb right in...

To the general public - It began with a simple question - Do you have what it takes to Everest?  And with that 29029 was born.  As is true with any business, there are many iterations and checkpoints to get to launch day and beyond. And in the first season of the 29029 podcast, that's what you're going to hear, the real story, the no holds barred version of The Origin Story.  A behind the scenes look at creating a brand new company and a brand new event! Sporting events are often known and categorized by their distance: the 100-meter dash, 26.2 miles for the Marathon, or 140.6 in the Ironman. And as 29029 co-founders Jesse Itzler and Marc Hodulich quickly discovered, it's rare for events to be measured by vertical gain. So the thought became, is this even possible.  In this episode, you'll hear from 29029 founders, Marc Hodulich and Jesse Itzler, as the recall the beginning of their relationship, how the concept for 29029 came to be, and they describe a day to test whether achieving 29029 feet on foot was possible! You'll also hear about how the name, brand, and logo came to be.  This is an entertaining account, and many of the stories have never been shared before!  Let's start climbing!