MTNTOUGH Podcast w/ Dustin Diefenderfer

Every month we host a live Q&A on different topics surrounding the MTNTOUGH ethos. Watch our first Q&A with our Director of Mindset Phil and our Founder Dustin as they dive into questions from our app subscribers around mental toughness, purpose, and grit.

Margaux Alvarez is a 7x CrossFit Games athlete, Titan Games finalist, and Tactical Games athlete, though her endeavors extend far beyond the competition floor. Alvarez is also the founder of GOAT wine and Celeste by MA, her fitness app.  Dustin sits down with Margaux Alvarez to learn more about her intrinsic motivation and how she stays disciplined through her entrepreneurship endeavors and fitness pursuits.  Margaux doesn't take a single day for granted and has found a way to push her edge year after year in fitness, business, and life. Margaux doesn't settle and doesn't take a day for granted. A powerful episode if you are looking for inspiration to overcome adversity and tackle your next big milestone.

"My mind, depleted and fatigued to an extent I've never experienced or imagined." Becca Boylan ran 475 miles across Montana in 24 days and that is just the start of the story. She ran for her mother who is battling Leukemia, but along the way, she was able to better understand and process the beauty that exists in pain and suffering. The redemptive power of running allowed her to hold joy in one hand and pain in the other. This life is fragile and Becca shares the importance of digging into your experiences, learning from them, and helping others in their journey.

Collin Cottrell looked in the mirror three years ago and decided to change his life. He chose to become the best version of himself, from a husband to a father, friend, and even a runner! He runs crazy long distances and he brings the best out in the people around him. Collin's life transformation is truly amazing. Listen and learn how he stays committed to continual improvement.

We're excited to welcome Sam Magro to the MTNTOUGH podcast. An acclaimed adventurer and mountain guide, Sam brings a wealth of experience from around the globe. As the owner and Chief Guide for MAG, he has spent nearly two decades professionally guiding on rock, ice, skis, and alpine terrains from the US to Europe, Alaska, and South America. His commitment to excellence in his craft is evident in his impressive array of guided ascents, including 2,000′ 5.12 rock climbs, WI6 ice routes, and ski descents of couloirs up to 50 degrees. Sam is not only a seasoned guide but also an innovator in his field. He has developed climbing curricula for Montana State University, MAG, and even the Bhutanese government, creating new climbs in the Himalayan foothills. His philosophy centers on the belief that guides should continually push their personal limits to improve and refine their skills.Beyond his outdoor achievements, Sam holds an impressive array of certifications including AIARE Avalanche III/PRO 2, Wilderness First Responder/CPR, and is a proud member of the Gallatin County Search & Rescue Team. He's also a two-time recipient of the prestigious Mugs Stump Award for new routes in Alaska and Chile.Outside of his professional life, Sam is a dedicated father of one, with twins on the way, reminding us that the greatest adventures often happen off the mountain.Join us in this episode as we delve into Sam's wealth of experiences, achievements, and the wisdom he's gained from a life spent between the earth and the sky.

Michael Easter stands at the forefront of the intersection between modern scientific discoveries and ancestral wisdom, pioneering improvements in health, life significance and professional performance. His passion drives him to journey across the globe, immersing himself in the company of intellectual giants and those who choose to lead extreme lives. His insights and experiences are shared globally through his published works, podcasts and television appearances.He is the mastermind behind the bestselling book, “The Comfort Crisis,” which has resonated worldwide and has been translated into 10 languages. Its impact has been so profound that it has been embraced by Major League Baseball teams, elite NCAA D1 football programs, prestigious universities, law institutions, multinational corporations and top-level military units.Michael's work emphasizes that while science offers many solutions, it doesn't capture the full spectrum of human experience and well-being. His approach uniquely bridges the measurable and the immeasurable, interweaving diverse fields such as medicine, anthropology, theology, philosophy and authentic accounts of ordinary individuals achieving extraordinary feats.Michael firmly asserts that profound insights and understanding are not found in the confines of a screen. His adventurous spirit has led him to interact with monks in Bhutan's ancient monasteries, lost tribes in Bolivian jungles, US Special Forces in secret locations, genetic scientists in Iceland, underworld figures in Iraq and CEOs in Fortune-500 boardrooms, among others.His pioneering ideas and work have reached over 60 countries and earned the endorsement of esteemed individuals, including CIA directors, Navy SEALs, Olympic gold medalists, renowned physicians, Pulitzer Prize winners, spiritual and environmental leaders. His writings are featured in reputable publications like Men’s Health, where he serves as a contributing editor, as well as Outside, Men’s Journal, Cosmopolitan, Vice, Esquire, Scientific American and Women’s Health. He has been a guest on top-rated podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience, Art of Manliness, Impact Theory, NPR and EconTalk.Michael has provided his expertise to elite universities, medical schools, Fortune-500 companies, government agencies and significant nonprofits across the nation.Apart from his global adventures, Michael is an esteemed professor in the journalism department at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), where he co-founded and co-directs the Public Communications Institute.He resides on the outskirts of Las Vegas, where the desert begins, with his wife and their two dogs, Stockton and Conway.Michael's 2% Substack:The 2% represents the philosophy that only about 2% of individuals choose the more difficult path, which is also the one that provides greater long-term rewards. It's based upon a study that found only 2% of people choose to take the stairs when an escalator is available—a metaphor for the harder, but more rewarding path in life. This mindset, which is emblematic of the determined, gritty and persevering, is core to the mission of this new platform.In a world where health and wellness information can be oversimplified by mainstream media or overcomplicated by influencers, 2% with Michael Easter aims to provide a reliable and practical middle ground. It leverages cutting-edge science, expert insights and wisdom across various disciplines to deliver health and performance advice that's both profound and applicable in everyday life.There's a free newsletter where you can get access to two free posts per week and an upgraded subscription with a wealth of additional value. At MTNTOUGH, we fully endorse Michael's product and services. We feel it aligns with our values and pursuits. We encourage you to sign up for Michael's free newsletter and consider subscribing. We believe it will be a valuable tool in your arsenal of high quality information, self improvement and growth.

Last year, we put a call out to our community to share the ways MTNTOUGH has impacted their lives. Thousands answered, but one story stood out. We sit down with Scott to talk about his journey as a military man, family man and MTNTOUGHer.  While his day job is program manager for the Air Force’s MQ-9 Reaper, when he’s at home, he and his wife work to raise this next generation by focusing on a family motto that embodies their core values of trying hard, choosing wisely and bravely adapting to whatever life throws their way. Check out the feature film on Scott and his family: https://youtu.be/ZuJXr8klXik

Hanson lived on cruise control. He had a thriving career, designer clothes, and a jet-setting lifestyle. He practiced high-level jiu-jitsu, ran ultramarathons, and pursued academic interests, but nothing gave him what he craved: the antidote to suburban sedation. Hanson knew his life lacked balance. It served no purpose. It held no meaning. In an effort to connect with something true and real, he turned to the wilderness. Leaving the big-city office behind, he learned to hunt, trap, and live in harmony with the land deep in the backwoods of North America. There he discovered new significance and purpose while ultimately growing his career. Hanson detailed his tale in his book "Turning Feral: A Modern Journey of Hunting, Trapping, and Living Intentionally in the Wilderness. In this episode we dive into Zach's story, you won't want to miss it.

Tom Cuddy has a passion for how the body functions at high altitude and helps others apply a scientific approach to training.  As a scientist Tom shares how what needs improvement needs to be measured. Listen as Tom breaks down VO2 Max and Lactate Thresholds into layman's terms and emphasizes the importance for people to get tested regardless of where they live and their training goals.  This is an episode you don't want to miss if you are interested in taking your human performance to a new level with a scientific approach. 

Retired Major Donny Bigham served 27 years of service to the Nation in the Marine Corps and the US Army. He is humbled to have served in almost every position within the composite of an Infantry Rifle Company (Enlisted and Officer) and deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Yemen (greater than 45 months). Major Bigham was honored to be the First ever Strength and Conditioning Coach for the US Army (Conventional Forces) for the past six years while in uniform. He was instrumental in being part of the team that changed the US Army Physical Fitness test after almost 40 years and co-authoring the Occupational Performance Assessment Test for initial screening of future Soldiers. He designed the Tactical Athlete Performance Center (TAP-C) at Fort Jackson and Fort Benning, emphasizing true strength, mobility, and speed to increase lethality and survivability across six pillars for the Warrior! Lastly, the TAP-C is the first-ever center that trains over 600 Soldiers daily within a Combat Battalion designed under his tenure. He was recognized as the 2017 TSAC-Facilitator of the Year (Strength Coach). Also, Major Bigham was awarded the 2016 Army Male Athlete of the Year. He is a 2x IPF World Champion in Raw Powerlifting and the current drug tested IPF World Record Holder in the Squat. Currently, Major Bigham is a Ph.D. student at Rocky Mountain University pursuing a terminal degree in Human Sport and Performance.Major Bigham's military awards and schools include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault, Combat Infantry Badge, and Expert infantryman Badge. His strength coaching credentials include NSCA RSCC, CSCS, *D, TSAC-F, *D, RPR, USAW 1, FMS 1 & 2, TRX 1 & 2, Kfit 1 & 2. In addition to his military service, Major Bigham has also served as Head Strength Coach for North Western High School, Youth Pastor, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, High School Teacher (Math & Science), Head Varsity Baseball Coach, and Owner of OneTimePowerlifting L.L.C.