
HawkeTalk
No one decides to wake up one day, walk across Antarctica, or leave their bohemian parents and join the Navy Seals. Or any number of crazy, amazing things that people do. These aren’t the dreams most kids have. And yet, fascinating people have done them. How? Why? HawkeTalk is a podcast all about the origin stories of the most interesting people in the world. Today, you know our guests are famous athletes, authors, and entrepreneurs, but there’s so much more to the story. How did they navigate upbringings that seem so far from what they eventually became? What pivotal moments steered them in a new and fascinating direction forever? Buckle up: Everyone loves a good origin story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jul 9, 2024 • 47min
123. Isaac Boots: New York Times' Breakout Star of Virtual Fitness
‘Tough times don’t last, tough people do’ is a cliché we’ve all heard a time or two. It’s a phrase coined by the one and only Robert H. Schuller, a noted evangelist and public speaker who garnered fans, followers, and admiration during his life. The phrase simply means that people who can get through and come out on the other side during a tough bout in life have developed the resilience and fortitude to survive anything. This belief is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary and continues to be the mantra of millions of overcomers. Today on HawkeTalk, I sit with Isaac Boots. Isaac is a man who overcame his fair share of dark days, growing up impoverished in Hawaii and ostracized by family and friends. He never blinked, instead maintaining a singular focus on what he wanted and how he saw himself, which ultimately led to him building the life he’s currently enjoying. We sit and discuss his journey from slumming on the floors of NYU to making it on Broadway to Torch’d – his latest endeavor that is taking the fitness world by storm!In this episode:(2:05) – Isaac reveals that he is a product of teen parents.(5:00) – His upbringing prepared him for his move to New York City and, later, Hollywood. (10:37) – At the age of five, Isaac realized he was gay. (15:21) – Living on the floor of a friend in NYU.(22:00) – West Side Story leads to bigger things for Isaac, including 12 years on Broadway.(25:02) – The strategy that came with being on Broadway for 12 years. (29:10) – A pivotal call comes five days after West Side Story ends.(29:51) – Brooke Shields!(30:20) – His career as a choreographer takes flight.(35:45) – The word about Torch’d gets out in the Los Angeles streets. (40:48) – The pandemic expands the Torch’d brand and helps serve a larger purpose. (45:34) – Your only competition is you.Our GuestBorn and raised in Hawaii, Isaac is a celebrity trainer, choreographer, and Broadway dancer with a long list of credits to his name. While using his experience crafting routines on the main stages of the pop music world and training artists to sculpt their bodies in preparation for their demanding projects, Isaac created TORCH’D, a sustainable workout that burns fat, builds stamina, and achieves visible results.Resources and LinksHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/Isaac Bootshttps://isaacboots.com/pages/abouthttp://instagram.com/isaacbootshttps://twitter.com/isaacbootshttps://www.facebook.com/isaac.calpito.9 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 9, 2024 • 2min
[Trailer] Isaac Boots: New York Times' Breakout Star of Virtual Fitness
'Tough times don’t last, tough people do’ is a cliché we’ve all heard a time or two. It’s a phrase coined by the one and only Robert H. Schuller, a noted evangelist and public speaker who garnered fans, followers, and admiration during his life. The phrase simply means that people who can get through and come out on the other side during a tough bout in life have developed the resilience and fortitude to survive anything. This belief is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary and continues to be the mantra of millions of overcomers. Today on HawkeTalk, I sit with Isaac Boots. Isaac is a man who overcame his fair share of dark days, growing up impoverished in Hawaii and ostracized by family and friends. He never blinked, instead maintaining a singular focus on what he wanted and how he saw himself, which ultimately led to him building the life he’s currently enjoying. We sit and discuss his journey from slumming on the floors of NYU to making it on Broadway to Torch’d – his latest endeavor that is taking the fitness world by storm! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 2, 2024 • 40min
122. Anna Tobias: Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion Sailor
Every four years, millions of viewers sit in front of their screens to watch the Olympics. Viewers are awed by the immense athletic gifts they see in front of them, stirred by medal ceremonies, and often walk away with the thought that one day the person on that podium could be them. But in reality, only a handful of people have what it takes to make that dream become a reality. It takes hard work, dedication, and a level of discipline that is unimaginable to the common person. My guest today is Anna Tobias, and she is one of the few who have sat, watched the Olympics, and decided that would be her destiny. A native of Dunkirk, England, Anna was exposed to the sport of sailing at an early age. It wasn’t, however until she landed in the United States did that interest transform into a passion, a passion that would lead to her becoming a fixture on the Olympic and World Championships stage. Today she stops by to talk with us about how she found her calling, the struggles she had along the way, and why she’s targeting the 2024 Paris Olympics for her comeback. It’s an amazing conversation with an incredible competitor.In this episode(2:34) – Anna reveals that she has been sailing since the age of 2.(5:31) – Anna ran cross-country track and other sports during high school. (11:51) – Losing her mental edge helps put everything into perspective. (17:01) – Falling flat in her first international event. (21:41) – The impact of the third-place finish on her Olympic dreams. (25:31) – Just sail and go for it and get the Gold was her attitude!(30:00) – The London Olympics and retirement. (30:40) – Anna laments the costly mistakes that cost her gold in 2012.(35:57) – Anna gets back into sailing and still competing in CrossFit. (37:27) – Anna reveals how and why she got her sailing passion back. (38:03) – Her desire is for an American to bring home the gold in 2024.Our GuestAnna Tobias, a successful American sailor and former Olympic gold medalist in the laser radial class (2008), transitioned to CrossFit in 2011 during her preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Although she qualified for the Southeast CrossFit Regional, Tobias opted to prioritize her Olympic training. In 2013, she made her CrossFit Games debut, consistently ranking in the top 22 in subsequent years, achieving her personal best of 9th place. Notably, Tobias claimed the overall victory in the Masters Class at the 2018 CrossFit Games. Today, she dedicates her time to training, coaching other athletes, and managing T2 CrossFit in South Fayette, Pennsylvania. Hawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/Anna Tobiashttps://www.instagram.com/atunnicliffetobias/https://www.ussailing.org/news/coach/anna-tobias/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 2, 2024 • 42sec
[Trailer] Anna Tobias: Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion Sailor
Every four years, millions of viewers sit in front of their screens to watch the Olympics. Viewers are awed by the immense athletic gifts they see in front of them, stirred by medal ceremonies, and often walk away with the thought that one day the person on that podium could be them. But in reality, only a handful of people have what it takes to make that dream become a reality. It takes hard work, dedication, and a level of discipline that is unimaginable to the common person. My guest today is Anna Tobias, and she is one of the few who have sat, watched the Olympics, and decided that would be her destiny. A native of Dunkirk, England, Anna was exposed to the sport of sailing at an early age. It wasn’t, however until she landed in the United States did that interest transform into a passion, a passion that would lead to her becoming a fixture on the Olympic and World Championships stage. Today she stops by to talk with us about how she found her calling, the struggles she had along the way, and why she’s targeting the 2024 Paris Olympics for her comeback. It’s an amazing conversation with an incredible competitor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 2024 • 40min
121. Sarah Storey: 5x Gold Medalist in Paralympic Games
Making it to the Olympics is quite an accomplishment. Athletes train for years to be at their peak for a sliver of time, shunning the outside world, driven by a singular focus of being recognized as the best in their chosen sport. When you sit back and think about how incredible it must be to reach that point, you can’t help but stand in awe of their immense talent and greatness. The only thing greater than making it to multiple Olympics … is making it to multiple Olympics in different sports.Today on HawkeTalk, we’ll spend time with Sarah Storey, a woman who has done just that. She’s the most decorated Paralympian in history who first burst on the scene as a swimming phenom. Once she decided to hang up her goggles instead of swimming off into the sunset, she grabbed a bike and became a world-class cyclist, dominating the road in the same fashion she did in the pool. She joins us today to discuss her path to greatness, how she overcame her disability, and the advice she gives others dealing with their own. If you’ve been sitting back, too afraid to jump into the game of life, listen to Sarah Storey, and you’ll get all the inspiration you need!In this episode:(1:42) – Sarah’s athletic career begins at age 6.(4:28) – Sarah discusses the disability in her left hand. (10:30) – At 12, the level of competition grows.(15:54) – Two golds, three silvers, and a bronze medal at 14 at the Barcelona Olympics. (20:26) – Socialization challenges lead to mental health and eating disorders. (30:00) – Looking at the 2012 Olympics.(36:54) – Sarah is committed to making it to the Paris Olympics. (37:20) – Sarah discusses her future, but she has no concrete plans. (38:53) – Sarah encourages listeners to be extraordinary instead of ordinary.Our Guest Sarah Storey is the most decorated female Paralympian in history, with 16 gold medals, five silver medals, and three bronze medals. Born in Eccles, just outside of Manchester, she is a 29-time world champion in both cycling and swimming and an 18-time European champion. In 2005, a persistent ear infection caused her to switch full-time to cycling. Upon making the switch, her dominance continued as she set the para world record in the Women’s 3,000 individual race, breaking the record she previously set at The Tokyo Olympics. Sarah is a true champion and a shining testimony of the relentless human spirit and the willingness to persevere against all odds.Hawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/Sarah Storeyhttps://www.paralympic.org/sarah-storeyhttps://www.instagram.com/damesarahstorey/?hl=enhttps://twitter.com/damesarahstorey?lang=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 2024 • 1min
[Trailer] Sarah Storey: 5x Gold Medalist in Paralympic Games
Making it to the Olympics is quite an accomplishment. Athletes train for years to be at their peak for a sliver of time, shunning the outside world, driven by a singular focus of being recognized as the best in their chosen sport. When you sit back and think about how incredible it must be to reach that point, you can’t help but stand in awe of their immense talent and greatness. The only thing greater than making it to multiple Olympics … is making it to multiple Olympics in different sports.Today on HawkeTalk, we’ll spend time with Sarah Storey, a woman who has done just that. She’s the most decorated Paralympian in history who first burst on the scene as a swimming phenom. Once she decided to hang up her goggles instead of swimming off into the sunset, she grabbed a bike and became a world-class cyclist, dominating the road in the same fashion she did in the pool. She joins us today to discuss her path to greatness, how she overcame her disability, and the advice she gives others dealing with their own. If you’ve been sitting back, too afraid to jump into the game of life, listen to Sarah Storey, and you’ll get all the inspiration you need! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 2024 • 46min
120. Kikkan Randall: The 5-Time Olympian Kikkanimal
Being an Olympian requires grit, drive, dedication, and the type of discipline most of us will never quite understand. The sacrifices these incredible athletes make daily are unimaginable as they hone and fine-tune their bodies for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that comes every fourth year. Now, imagine you do this five times. That’s right. Training to be an Olympian for two decades seems unfathomable, but our guest did that today. On today’s episode of HawkeTalk, we meet the incomparable Kikkan Randall. She’s a five-time Olympian and Breast Cancer survivor who knows a thing or two about how to survive the tough times and make it to the other side. Today, she’ll give us an inside look at the hard work it takes to be a world-class athlete and how she leveraged those experiences to become a Cancer survivor. If you’ve been looking for someone to inspire you to get off that couch and begin going for it and putting your best foot forward, look no further!In this episode:(1:45) - Kikkan reveals that she began skiing at the age of 1. (5:21) – Kikkan reveals why she went back to being a cross-country skier. (10:00) – Making the Olympics as a youngster.(16:53) – Competitive life after the Olympics is discussed.(20:10) – The inspiration to build a women’s team emerges for Kikkan.(25:50) – The shocking performance of Kikkan and falling short of expectations. (29:52) – Kikkan develops a stress fracture in her foot and begins to worry.(35:38) – Her racing career officially comes to an end.(36:37) – The Breast Cancer diagnosis. (40:01) – Family becomes first, specifically her young son.(43:00) – Family and health are her top priorities. (44:50) – Closing advice for listeners.Our GuestKikkan Randall is a 5-time Olympian, Breast Cancer survivor, public speaker, and mother. When it comes to skiing, she’s royalty, and for more than two decades, her name was synonymous with the sport. A native of Salt Lake City before moving to Alaska, she became an icon early on, qualifying for the Olympians while just a teen. From there, her life as an athlete ascended, and she became the American face of the sport. Her 2018 Olympic Gold Medal race is one of the most captivating moments in the sport's history and the signature moment of those games. After retiring, Kikkan has continued championing the sport while grooming the next generation of American skiing professionals.Resources and LinksHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/Kikkan Randallhttps://www.kikkan.com/about/http://instagram.com/kikkanimalhttps://twitter.com/kikkanimal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 2024 • 1min
[Trailer] Kikkan Randall: The 5-Time Olympian Kikkanimal
Being an Olympian requires grit, drive, dedication, and the type of discipline most of us will never quite understand. The sacrifices these incredible athletes make daily are unimaginable as they hone and fine-tune their bodies for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that comes every fourth year. Now, imagine you do this five times. That’s right. Training to be an Olympian for two decades seems unfathomable, but our guest did that today. On today’s episode of HawkeTalk, we meet the incomparable Kikkan Randall. She’s a five-time Olympian and Breast Cancer survivor who knows a thing or two about how to survive the tough times and make it to the other side. Today, she’ll give us an inside look at the hard work it takes to be a world-class athlete and how she leveraged those experiences to become a Cancer survivor. If you’ve been looking for someone to inspire you to get off that couch and begin going for it and putting your best foot forward, look no further! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11, 2024 • 38min
119. Guillermo Rauch: Founder of Billion Dollar Startup Vercel
Child prodigy is a phrase that’s often overused. Some youngsters are indeed talented, but to classify them as prodigious is, in so many cases, a reach, to say the least. Prodigies are once-in-a-lifetime talents who grow their gift in unimaginable and seemingly unreasonable ways. And while they can’t always be defined or understood, when the world sits back and marvels at the blossoming of their gifts, it is truly something to behold. What’s even more incredible is how they apply themselves and their special talents to change those around them and, to a larger degree, the entire world for the better. You may characterize a prodigy by my guest today. Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch is a digital genius who started entrepreneurship as a preteen. His contributions to tech are legendary, and he continues to support innovation and pioneer new solutions, ideologies, and application theories. He joins us today to share his fantastic journey, looking back and forward and revealing the amazing job he and his organization are doing. You must listen to this discussion if you've decided to make your mark.In this episode:(1:12) – Guillermo discusses how his journey began. (8:24) – The sky is the limit with Open Source.(9:40) – At age 11, he becomes obsessed with becoming a hacker.(19:52) – Working on React with social media leader Facebook. (26:02) – The birth of Vercel.(34:33) – Vercel and AI. (36:04) – There is no shortcut to success. Our GuestGuillermo Rauch is a Software Engineer and CEO of Vercel. A native of Lanus, Buenos Aires, Argentina, he made his name and career via the web and Open Source. His early teens were spent advocating for and teaching others how to use solutions like Linux before later working with JavaScript and other web development. Guillermo later joined MooTools core team and got his first full-time job at the age of 18 after relocating to the United States. A serial entrepreneur, his first company was Cloudup, which was later acquired by Automattic, which powers WordPress. After several high-profile opportunities, he founded Vercel, where he currently guides their corporate vision servicing companies like The Washington Post, Porsche, Under Armour, and Nintendo. Resources and LinksHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/Guillermo Rauch https://vercel.com/ https://rauchg.com/abouthttps://twitter.com/rauchghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rauchghttps://www.instagram.com/guillermorauch/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11, 2024 • 2min
[Trailer] Guillermo Rauch: Founder of Billion Dollar Startup Vercel
Child prodigy is a phrase that’s often overused. Some youngsters are indeed talented, but to classify them as prodigious is, in so many cases, a reach, to say the least. Prodigies are once-in-a-lifetime talents who grow their gift in unimaginable and seemingly unreasonable ways. And while they can’t always be defined or understood, when the world sits back and marvels at the blossoming of their gifts, it is truly something to behold. What’s even more incredible is the many ways they apply themselves and their special talents to change those around them and, to a larger degree, the entire world for the better. My guest today is a man who checks every box if you’re looking to define a prodigy. Guillermo Rauch is the founder of Vercel and an amazing technology talent who began his entrepreneurship journey when he was a pre-teen. Since then, his contributions to the tech world have been legendary, and he continues to be a true champion for innovation while pioneering new solutions, philosophies, and application theories. Today, he joins us to discuss his amazing path, looking back and looking forward while giving us a glimpse into the incredible work he and his organization are focused on. If you’ve decided the time is right to begin making your mark, this is the discussion you’ve got to be a part of. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.