The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

The first 2 minutes of something new is often uncomfortable, perhaps scary! Waking up earlier than normal = uncomfortable. But it’s just those first 2 minutes you gotta get through! LESSONS: Comfort is the enemy The discomfort goes away after only a few minutes Remind yourself that you CAN build momentum that works in your favor. Make an internal deal with yourself to just do 1 thing moving forward. Remember, doing 1 thing is 100% more than zero! LINKS: More about Zach https://zacheven-esh.com Read “The Spartan Way” https://www.spartan.com/en/race/learn-more/race-types-overview?article=the-spartan-way-book SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP & Zach: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Follow Zach on Instagram https://instagram.com/zevenesh Follow Zach on Twitter https://twitter.com/zevenesh Zach’s STRONG Life Podcast https://apple.co/2vFaCv1   CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host & Show Notes: Zach Even - Esh © 2019 Spartan

We all blame. Your spouse gets an earful when you forgot your kids lunchbox, the customer service agent becomes the punching bag when you accidentally deleted your photos from your iPhone, or your supervisee gets a talking to when you forgot to check your schedule. Blaming is never really a useful tactic but we do it because we struggle with difficult feelings. So we offload them. Feelings of disappointment, especially in yourself, can spawn lots of blaming because we struggle to tolerate that feeling. Reminding yourself that even painful feelings can be tolerated and worked through can help you move away from blaming behaviors.    LESSONS:  Understand and remind yourself that blaming is one tactic that we use to offload difficult and painful feelings.  Build up some distress tolerance around those feelings by sitting when them, breathing, and using positive affirmations.    SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP AND DR. L: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Dr. L on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drlarapence/   CREDITS:   Production Team: Heather Knox, Knox Creative; Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host: Dr. Lara Pence Synopsis: Dr. Lara Pence   © 2019 Spartan  

The Death Race. Its name alone can be enough to undermine your confidence. An old friend of the podcast, Don Devany has taken the nickname of the Death Race “Taskmaster.” A decade long veteran of the infamous Death Race, he has inspired legions while they perspired to heroic feats of greatness. Joe De Sena sat down to talk with Don days after he cycled cross country east to west & back again! 9145.5 miles of riding to raise funds for DECA Journey for the One Step Ahead Foundation for kids with mobility issues. What is it that makes one athlete complete the Death Race and another fail? Did those lessons influence Don in his cross country journey? He shares lessons learned from not quitting and falling into the proverbial ditch. Is there a secret to success? Is it “burning the boats”?. To Joe Don is a “testament to what resilience is all about and understands what makes people tick & what makes them break!” There are some people that are simply from another era. Don oozes from every pore the archetype of a medieval knight / renaissance henchman with the mind of a grand philosopher. As Don is famous for saying: GET IT DONE! LESSONS Feed the engine Food / shelter/ water is what truly matters Maintain your “machine” Reduce your options- don’t have a plan B Burn the obstacles in your mind before you begin Reframe your points of reference Don't go into challenges with preconceived notions Pedal On! LINKS https://onestepaheadfoundation.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/deca-journey/ The Death Race https://life.spartan.com/post/worlds-toughest-race   This episode of Spartan Up is brought to you by Shady Rays Polarized shades you can afford to lose or break - because they’ll replace them for free. Go to www.Shadyrays.com and use code SPARTAN for 50% off 2 or more pairs. TIME STAMPS 0:00 Joe De Sena introducing the one and only Don Devany 0:57 Shadyrays.com intro “Built for Adventure” 1:20 Interview begins as Death Race is about to start 3:25 “Feeding the engine” to be on the bike 12+ hours a day 4:30 A thousand reasons to fall in the “ditch” 6:15 Being grateful and appreciative for “anything more” 7:15 The bottom of Maslow’s pyramid 8:25 Biking across America… both ways! “tasting & drifting the Country” 10:15 An I-Beam in the icy river- just move forward! 13:00 Masonry and getting it DONe. 14:30 Teaching kids to earn their dollars & “learn life” 15:47 Shadyrays.com break “Built for Adventure” 17:08 Interview continues with “maintaining your machine” 18:05 Lessons from a decade as a Taskmaster 20:00 Challenges to overcome on the road 22:00 Perspective and frame of reference of the struggle 27:00 Taking away the option of a Plan B 28:50 Survive the here & now: “pedal on 29:30 Joe De Sena reflects on the interview with Don the Taskmaster 33:55 Shadyrays.com close “Built for Adventure” - special offer for Spartans! SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow Spotify https://spoti.fi/2UOLnQx Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host: Joe De Sena Synopsis – Sefra Alexandra | Seed Huntress Production Assistant - Andrea Hagarty © 2019 Spartan

Like magnesium, zinc is a mineral that’s present in many of the body’s functions. We talked about Magnesium in another episode and if you remember it’s important because it’s involved in many different ways in your body’s cellular activity. Well zinc is another much needed mineral and let’s talk about why! EPISODE SCRIPT Zinc might not be as ubiquitous as magnesium, but it’s still very important to pay attention to in your diet. Why? Because the body lacks a specialized zinc storage system! Zinc has a lot of benefits, but three in particular can have a big impact on your daily health. First, zinc supports your immune system. While you only need a little zinc to have your immune system work well, a deficiency could have dire consequences. That’s because zinc is the ingredient necessary to activate T-cells, which are important for two reasons: 1) T-cells attack infected and cancerous cells and 2) they help to control and regulate immune responses. A measure of how important T-cells are for the immune system is that some of the worst aspects of HIV result from the virus’s attack on T-cells. Second, zinc has an impact in the process of healing wounds. Specifically, it’s important because of the way it interacts with collagen. Collagen is a protein that maintains the structure in skin and other kinds of connective tissue. Zinc, in turn, helps in the production and remodeling of collagen, which is a key property that boosts tissue growth in and around a “wound bed,” thus promoting healing. Third, zinc has great properties that can help you with the common cold. Many people find that zinc lozenges can help cut down on the severity and duration of a cold. One study found this zinc remedy could cut down on the length of a cold by 40 percent! The theory is that zinc helps to reduce inflammation in and around the mouth and throat, where much of the cold virus resides. So, now that you know that you need zinc, where can you find it? Oysters are a great source, so if you’re at happy hour, have a few to make up for that beer! Red meat, lobster and poultry are also good sources. For vegetarians, beans, nuts, dairy products and especially whole grains help with zinc intake. Since zinc isn’t stored in the body, people who are prone to zinc deficiencies either have trouble absorbing it, take in too little, or use up too much. In the first case you’ll find people with digestive disorders or diseases associated with metabolism, like liver disease. In the second case, vegetarians who aren’t eating oysters and red meat could become zinc deficient without some compensating strategies. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding use a lot of zinc for their baby’s needs and may also run low. Remember, because your body can’t store this important mineral, don’t take it for granted. Think zinc. Key Terms and Ideas: The only source of zinc comes from what we eat (either from food or supplements) because the body lacks a specialized zinc storage system. T-cells are a “type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.” (MedicineNet) Collagen is a protein that maintains the structure in skin and other kinds of connective tissue. LINKS & RESOURCES: Cathy Thomas Hess, "Monitoring laboratory values: zinc, copper, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E," Advances in skin & wound care 22.5 (2009): 240, https://journals.lww.com/aswcjournal/Citation/2009/05000/Monitoring_Laboratory_Values__Zinc,_Copper,.12.aspx, accessed April 2019. Joseph Nordqvist, “What are the health benefits of Zinc?” Medical News Today, December 5, 2017, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263176.php, accessed April 2019. William S. Shiel, “Medical Definition of T Cell,” MedicineNet, https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11300, accessed April 2019. “Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals,” National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements, March 13, 2019, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/, accessed April 2019. Follow Dr. Nada on: Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nada-milo... Sage Tonic www.sagetonic.com Sage Tonic on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sagetonic/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppo... Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod CREDITS: Producer: Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Writer and Host: Nada Milosavljevic MD, JD © 2019 Spartan

We’re afraid to tell others what they need to do. We’re afraid to tell others to step up and stop being lazy, stop being a clock puncher, stop being average! LESSONS: There is nothing wrong with telling others that the standard of excellence is NOT being met by them. Tell them to step it up and tell them how to do it! Challenging others might be scary at first, but you will be helping the individual and yourself by expressing why you are demanding excellence. You have achieved more in your life by pushing yourself. Perhaps a Coach or mentor pushed you as well. Someone is waiting for you to push them! LINKS: More about Zach https://zacheven-esh.com Read “The Spartan Way” https://www.spartan.com/en/race/learn-more/race-types-overview?article=the-spartan-way-book SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP & Zach: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Follow Zach on Instagram https://instagram.com/zevenesh Follow Zach on Twitter https://twitter.com/zevenesh Zach’s STRONG Life Podcast https://apple.co/2vFaCv1   CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host & Show Notes: Zach Even - Esh © 2019 Spartan

Yes! There actually is a right way to plan! Whether you are planning to run errands, planning to change your relationship with food, or planning to start a new workout routine, knowing what works and what doesn’t can help. A phenomenon called the planning fallacy can get us into trouble when it comes to planning because here we tend to overestimate our abilities because we assume perfect conditions and ignore past data. When we assume perfect conditions, we disregard all of the things that could make the road more rocky and the path more of a struggle. And when we ignore past data, we take the approach of this being the ‘first time’ and leave all of the great wisdom from past failures in the past. How do you get around this? First, assume imperfect conditions. Assume struggles and mud will slow you down and plan for it! And next, take wisdom that you’ve gained from the past in regards to what you’re planning for and use it in the present. LESSONS: Understand the planning fallacy: the tendency to overestimate your abilities because you assume perfect conditions on your route and you ignore data from the past. When you start out, consider what struggles and roadblocks you might encounter and plan accordingly. Bring with you data from the past in terms of what’s worked and wasn’t hasn’t, and use it in the present. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP AND DR. L: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Dr. L on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drlarapence/ CREDITS: Production Team: Heather Knox, Knox Creative; Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host: Dr. Lara Pence Synopsis: Dr. Lara Pence © 2019 Spartan

What do cage fighting and gluten free waffles have in common? Vince Nance. Vince and Joe De Sena cook up a great interview that discusses operational leadership, the rigors and rewards of Brasilian Jiu Jitsu and the importance of women’s self defense. Anarchy has never tasted so good!    LESSONS Don’t punch unless you mean it (always act with full intention Start where you are! Adjust as needs change  Leave deep tracks  Designate mental real estate to your commitments  Legacy = people, love and action  You can’t make excuses and learn at the same time LINKS https://anarchywaffles.com This episode of Spartan Up is brought to you by Duke Cannon. Visit Dukecannon.com right now to get 15% off your first order with the promo code SPARTAN. Free shipping on orders over $35   TIME STAMPS  0:00 The Col, Johnny & Dr. L introduce episode 1:15 Dukecannon.com sponsor intro 1:40 Vince & Joe De Sena begin by making waffles 4:30 Battling with the pancake tycoons   5:30 Growing up with martial arts  8:30 Lessons from the cage 11:30 Dukecannon.com sponsor break 15:00 Efficiency of living where you work  16:00 Women’s self defense training  18:15 Leaving your tracks  19:00 The illusion of starting at the end 21:00 The keys to Brasilian Jiu Jitsu  23:00 Letting go of your own preconceived notions  25:00 Importance of women learning self defense 26:00 Organizational leadership  27:00 Keeping the ego in check  30:15 The Colonel, Johnny & Dr. L discuss how to apply these lessons to your life  37:55 Dukecannon.com sponsor close   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow Spotify https://spoti.fi/2UOLnQx Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod   CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena, Col. Nye, Johnny Waite & guest host Dr. Lara Pence Synopsis – Sefra Alexandra | Seed Huntress  Production Assistant - Andrea Hagarty   © 2019 Spartan  

Brian "Tosh" Chontosh says: Defining what Initiative is seems fairly easy. Now, let’s discuss it from a lack of and where we are responsible for others lacking it. When I find myself frustrated with others I like to ask myself what guidance or information or incentive am I not providing to excite initiative from them. On another vein, I also find myself getting frustrated with others who are acting with hyper or too much initiative. Again, it could be a function of many things, but I like to ask myself the same questions of what am I not doing or providing? Then, I always put myself in check to make sure I don’t ever take too much or not enough when I am supporting others’ causes. LESSONS: Ask yourself what your responsibility is in helping others take appropriate initiative Check in and identify if you are taking too much or not enough when supporting others SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP AND Tosh: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Tosh on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tosh.crookedbutterfly/ CREDITS: Producer: Marion Abrams, Madmotion,llc. Host: Brian “tosh” Chontosh Show notes: Brian “tosh” Chontosh © 2019 Spartan

Dr. Nada Milosavljevic MD says: Kidneys take a beating during times of extreme, extended exertion; there are natural ways to give them a bit of support. There's a host of beneficial foods, nutrients, and herbal teas and drinks that can aid in kidney cleansing, detox and optimal functioning. Hydration. Kidneys need water to create the urine that flushes out the majority of the waste in our bodies. So what happens when you don’t drink enough water? Essentially, waste starts backing up in your kidneys – and that can lead to kidney stones. Foods. In recent studies, brown seaweed has been shown to help reduce kidney damage from diabetes. Eating cranberries has been associated with a drop in urinary tract infections. And foods that have lots of calcium, like tofu or fortified cereals, help to reduce the possibility of kidney stones. Calcium binds with a compound called urinary oxalate that contribute to kidney stones. When it’s combined with calcium, that oxalate can be more easily excreted from your system. Beverages / Herbal Teas. A variety of drinks and herbal teas have attributes that can cleanse kidneys or reduce kidney damage. Examples of these are stinging nettle, sambong (an herb often used in the Philippines and Asia) and hydrangea. In the case of hydrangea, a recent study showed hydrangea given three days to mice could help to mitigate aspects of kidney disease. Nutrients. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil can be very beneficial to kidneys. Because Americans tend to have more Omega 6 oils that can contribute to kidney stones, taking a fish-oil supplement can add more beneficial Omega 3. In addition, Omega 3s actually slow down the metabolic processes of Omega 6s! Also, taking Vitamin B-6 can reduce the oxalates that can help create kidney stones. Our kidneys work really hard to rid waste, help with fluid balance, and they even make some hormones. After a tough race they need a little TLC. KEY TERMS & IDEAS Kidney stones: “These are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. Kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage if treated by a health care professional. Kidney stones vary in size and shape. They may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea. Rarely, some kidney stones are as big as golf balls. Kidney stones may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or brown.” (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Oxalates “are a natural substance in many foods. They bind to calcium during digestion in the stomach and intestines and leave the body in stool. Oxalate that is not bound to calcium travels as a waste product from the blood to the kidneys where it leaves the body in the urine. If there is too much oxalate and too little liquid in the urine, calcium oxalate fragments create creates. As the crystals begin to increase in number, they stick to one another to form a larger crystal known as a kidney stone.” (National Kidney Foundation) LINKS & RESOURCES: Cindy Kuzma, “No, Marathon Runners, You Don’t Have to Worry About Your Kidneys,” Runners World, April 18, 2017, https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20853413/no-marathon-runners-you-dont-have-to-worry-about-your-kidneys/, accessed April 2019. “Definitions & Factors for Kidney Stones,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, May 2017, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones/definition-facts, accessed April 2019. Mahsa Motshakeri, et al., "Effects of brown seaweed (Sargassum polycystum) extracts on kidney, liver, and pancreas of type 2 diabetic rat model.]," Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3910465/, accessed April 2019. Jessianna Saville, “What Are Oxalates and Why Are They a Concern for Kidney Disease Patients?” National Kidney Foundation, September 5, 2018, https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what-are-oxalate-kidney-stones, accessed April 2018. Sen Zhang et al., "Total coumarins from Hydrangea paniculata show renal protective effects in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities." Frontiers in pharmacology 8 (2017): 872, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5735979/, accessed April 2019. Follow Dr. Nada on: Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nada-milo... Sage Tonic www.sagetonic.com Sage Tonic on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sagetonic/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay FOLLOW SPARTAN UP: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppo... Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod CREDITS: Producer: Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Writer and Host: Nada Milosavljevic MD, JD © 2019 Spartan

Zach Even-Esh says: Sometimes, the very thing that you love is also the very thing that can break your heart. Ultimately, you must live your truth.   LESSONS: It’s OK to be vulnerable if you’re following and living your truth Focus on giving. Giving and helping others. Live your truth. Support people are doing good for other but can use your help. Do something for someone who can never repay you LINKS: More about Zach https://zacheven-esh.com Read “The Spartan Way” https://www.spartan.com/en/race/learn-more/race-types-overview?article=the-spartan-way-book SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpShow YouTube: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpYT Google Play: http://bit.ly/SpartanUpPlay   FOLLOW SPARTAN UP & Zach: Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/ Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod Follow Zach on Instagram https://instagram.com/zevenesh Follow Zach on Twitter https://twitter.com/zevenesh Zach’s STRONG Life Podcast https://apple.co/2vFaCv1   CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host & Show Notes: Zach Even - Esh © 2019 Spartan