The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

Ryan Pitts didn’t quit when it mattered most. Outnumbered, wounded, and under relentless fire, this Medal of Honor recipient kept fighting. Ryan shares what combat taught him about grit, why brotherhood beats fear, and how to build real toughness in life outside the battlefield. Raw lessons on resilience, sacrifice, leadership, and mental strength, straight from someone who’s lived it. No excuses. Listen, learn, and get tougher.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:25 Meet Ryan, Medal of Honor recipient 01:48 Growing up in New England 02:47 Joining military service 03:56 Enlisting at age 17 04:20 Early Army struggles 04:55 The crucial battle in Afghanistan 06:38 Wounded under heavy fire 08:47 Training instincts kick in 10:58 Incredible acts of heroism 12:32 Challenges of coming home 14:49 Mental health culture shift 16:01 Medal of Honor explained 18:36 Life after military service 19:54 Hard things worth doing 20:49 Coaching kids and values 21:24 Contact details shared 21:30 Upcoming Spartan races 22:09 Closing final notes   Connect to Ryan: Website:  https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/pitts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

What happens when a Navy SEAL, a Spartan founder, and a Murph workout collide? You get hard truths about grit, discipline, and why your circle determines your ceiling. Jacob Werksman, Navy SEAL, author, and leadership coach at Harvard, breaks down the “meal to meal” mindset from SEAL Hell Week, the power of positive peer pressure, and how to turn suffering into fuel. “From finding people who force you to level up to sharpening self-awareness and presence, this talk rips success down to the basics that actually matter. If you’re serious about growth, press play and get uncomfortable.   Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Navy SEAL Jacob Werksman 00:20 Early Murph start & peer pressure 01:38 SEAL culture & leveling up 03:08 Positive tension in life & work 04:14 Community sets your limits 04:46 Lessons from Joe’s family life 05:22 Energy givers vs. takers 06:33 Harvard & Victory Strategies 08:29 what separates great leaders 09:46 Books: Leadership of Life Sport & Mastering Your Gap 12:50 Can anyone be a SEAL? 15:43 Therapy in endurance challenges 16:39 Addicted to the “suck” 17:10 Three tips for a great life 20:50 Getting teams to do hard things   Connect to Jacob: Website: https://www.victory-strategies.com/aboutjacob Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jacob_werksman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwerksman/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXGyuRzeve0&ab_channel=VictoryStrategies

What kind of mindset does it take to train 7 years for one climb? Tommy Caldwell did exactly that before finally conquering the Dawn Wall in a 19-day climb that changed the sport forever. He also survived a kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan that tested his endurance in ways no mountain ever could. Tommy shares the lessons he learned through fear, pain, and grit. Tune in now and learn how to build the mindset to push past your own limits.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:27 Meet Tommy Caldwell 01:47 Growing up climbing with his dad 02:33 Free climbing vs. free soloing explained 03:13 Climbing the Dawn Wall 04:50 Seven years of training for one climb 05:43 Physical and mental training routines 06:38 Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan the full story 10:24 How the climbers escaped captivity 11:19 Losing a finger in a construction accident 11:45 Building “obstacle immunity” through adversity 15:34 Endurance sports and human limits 16:14 What’s next for Tommy 17:59 Mindset & finding strength in community 20:52 The Dawn Wall bool & film     Connect to Tommy: Website: tommycaldwell.com Instagram: instagram.com/tommycaldwell Facebook: facebook.com/1tommycaldwell LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tommy-caldwell-0472a98a Twitter/X: x.com/tommycaldwell1

What would it take to hit ONE MILLION push-ups? Kevin Cullum did it! Not by chasing world records, but by proving the power of consistency, grit, and accountability. In this episode, he shares his Hammer Method for setting massive goals, building unstoppable momentum, and starting even when it feels impossible. Ready to push past your limits? Watch now, subscribe, and join the Spartan journey.   Timestamps: 00:00 1 million push-ups in 10 years 00:58 How did it all start 02:00 Why people can’t stay consistent 03:33 Accountability & the Hammer Method 07:30 The power of momentum and identity 09:42 Starting the 1 Million Pull-Up Challenge 11:47 Overcoming childhood anxiety and self-doubt 13:26 Building pull-up strength from the ground up 14:37 No need for fancy setup 15:22 Make a choice & just start 18:13 Where to find Kevin 19:15 Spartan race challenge invitation 20:27 How to fit training into a busy family life 21:30 Final thoughts: making time and building discipline   Connect to Kevin: Instagram: @1million_pullups YouTube: @1_millionpushups

Most athletes lose their edge because they don’t recover right. The mattress innovator Jack Dell’Accio reveals breaks down why deep sleep and REM sleep drive peak performance, how pros are using sleep recovery hacks to gain an advantage, and why the mattress you sleep on can change everything. Learn how to recover faster, perform stronger, and push past limits. Want the Spartan edge? Hit play and level up your sleep.   Timestamps: 00:00 Jack’s roots & childhood in Montreal 02:08 Hockey life in Canada and Florida 03:20 Panthers games & working with NHL players 06:44 How Jack entered the mattress business 09:54 Sleep study: boosting REM & deep sleep 11:27 What makes Essentia mattresses different 14:46 New Boca Raton factory & expansion plans 18:02 Where to find Essentia & customer loyalty   Connect to Jack: Website: myessentia.com Instagram: @jackdellaccio / @essentiagram Facebook: facebook.com/myessentia LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jack-dell-accio-96966423 YouTube: youtube.com/user/essentiaworld Twitter/X: twitter.com/essentia

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Matt Prouty, a police officer showing what real community leadership looks like. When Matt Prouty saw addiction and homelessness destroying his community, he didn’t wait for policy—he built a street team, set up shower programs, and met people where they were. No excuses. No red tape. Just real action. This is a raw, inspiring look at what happens when one person steps up and leads from the front.   Watch now—and ask yourself: where could you step up in your own community?   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:20 Meet Matt Prouty 01:36 What’s Matt’s Superpower 02:56 The Reality of Homelessness and Drug Use 04:15 Faith-Based Community Housing Models 05:44 The Role of Local Communities 07:06 How Matt’s Upbringing Shaped His Mission 09:13 From Law Enforcement to Outreach 10:14 Shower & Laundry Program 11:23 Playing the Long Game in Outreach 12:14 Team-Based Street Outreach Works Best 13:38 The Growth of Police-Led Outreach 15:04 How Can People Help 16:16 How Project Vision Was Born 17:28 How to Donate to Project Vision   Connect to Matthew & Project Vision: Website: https://projectvisionrutland.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectvisionrutland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvisionrutland

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Navy SEAL veteran Gus Gustavson for an unforgettable look at what it truly takes to build unshakable grit.   From a small-town upbringing and a Mormon mission in Brazil to surviving Hell Week. Not once, but twice. Gus reveals how discipline, purpose, and mental toughness shaped every step of his journey.   You'll hear how his military mindset now fuels a powerful mission to train law enforcement and save lives. Whether you’re chasing your next Spartan finish line or just trying to push through life’s obstacles, this episode will challenge your excuses and reset your perspective.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Meet Karl Gus Gustavson 02:07 Background & High School 02:35 Coaches Who Built Character 03:38 Gus’s Mormon Mission to Brazil 04:43 Mission Work as a Rite of Passage 06:50 Learning to Communicate & Coexist 07:53 Returning from Brazil and the 9/11 Turning Point 08:49 Why He Joined the Navy SEALs 11:17 Injuries and Perseverance in SEAL Training 13:54 Getting Assigned to the “Wrong Coast” 15:19 Reflections on His SEAL Career 17:33 Perspective from WWII Veterans 19:01 Physical Struggle Builds Mental Strength 19:49 Life After the SEALs 20:52 Support from the Spartan Community   Connect to Karl Gus Gustavson: Website: https://c1p.org  Instagram: @kgus245 (personal) / @community_first_project (organization) Facebook: Community First Project LinkedIn: Community First Project

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Jessica Cox, a woman born without arms, yet a licensed pilot, black belt in Taekwondo, and living proof that limits are self-imposed. Together, they explore how hardship builds mental toughness, why fear is a choice, and how you can turn obstacles into fuel. Jessica’s story will shatter your excuses and shift your mindset. If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and start living without limits—this episode is your wake-up call.   Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Jessica Cox 00:19 Born Without Arms 01:02 Gratitude and First-World Comforts 02:30 Childhood Struggles and Resilience 05:22 Her Parents’ Role in Building Confidence 06:17 Dealing with Bullying and Finding Self-Worth 08:39 Became the first armless pilot 10:33 Obstacles Build Discipline 11:18 Inventing the Dressing Tool 12:21 What Holds Most People Back 13:59 The Power of Facing Fear 14:57 The Impossible Airplane Project 17:36 Jessica’s 30-Year Journey in Taekwondo 19:36 Final Words & Future Collaboration     Connect to Jessica: Website: https://www.jessicacox.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rightfooted  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacox  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rightfooted  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicacox

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with performance coach and father of five, Joe Greco, to talk about what it really takes to build grit in your kids, your career, and yourself. From Spartan-style parenting to leading high-performing teams, Joe shares battle-tested strategies for mastering discipline, staying purpose-driven, and unlocking your full potential. Whether you’re a parent, a leader, or just tired of making excuses, this one’s for you.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:27 Meet Joe Greco 01:55 Early mornings & discipline 02:34 Five daughters & Death Camp invitation 04:30 Redefining success beyond money 06:33 Expressions of gratitude 09:07 Joe’s life tools and values 10:46 Mentors, teens & leadership 13:24 Understanding People Better 15:30 How to add value in life 17:48 The story of the Naval Academy 20:57 The meaning of tradition at military academies 21:43 Where to find Joe Greco 22:15 The origin of the name Palio 23:24 The horse race in Siena   Connect to Joe Greco: Website: palioinc.com Instagram: @palioinc LinkedIn: Joseph Greco