Join Greg Inglin as he goes deep with Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of the Spartan Racing Series, entrepreneur, author, and lifelong advocate for pushing the limits of human potential. From his gritty childhood in Queens to nearly losing the Spartan business during COVID, Joe shares hard-won wisdom about resilience, doing the impossible, curating mental toughness, raising strong kids, and building an enduring global movement around challenge and community.
Joe opens up on the business’s near-collapse and recovery after the pandemic, why endurance and hardship are crucial to growth, and how lessons from a pool cleaning business, Wall Street, and failed attempts to get into Cornell shaped his relentless drive. Hear why he believes everyone needs to put a hard date on the calendar, why community is the real magic of Spartan, and how seemingly small habits and perspectives can transform lives—even in the face of daunting obstacles.
What You Can Expect from This Episode:
- How Joe went from Queens kid to global fitness leader
- Turning personal struggle and business failure into fuel for growth
- What the pandemic taught about business, adaptability, and grit
- The role of community and friendship in overcoming big challenges
- Practical advice for parents to raise more resilient kids
- How military values, global travel, and “failing forward” keep Joe and Spartan innovating
- Science-backed reasons to do hard things for your body and mind
Guest Resources:
Joe on IG: @realJoeDeSena
Joe’s Email: joe@spartan.com
About My Guest: Joe De Sena is CEO and founder of Spartan, adventure racer, author (including "10 Rules for Resilience for Families"), and a passionate advocate for getting uncomfortable and transforming lives through adversity. His events have drawn millions worldwide and inspired tattoos, community, and even military integration.
Guest idea? Feedback? Connect with Greg on his website or LinkedIn.
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Want to skip to the good part? Here’s this episode’s segments:
00:00 From Vermont to Florida: A New Chapter
03:54 The Spartan Empire: Growth and Impact
07:02 Endurance and Upbringing: Shaping a Resilient Mindset
09:50 The Journey to Cornell: Academic Perseverance
12:59 Wall Street to Spartan: A Career Transition
15:53 Finding the Endurance Bug: A Personal Transformation
18:49 Building a Business: From Hobby to Spartan Race
21:51 Challenges and Triumphs: The Spartan Journey
24:48 The Pandemic Impact: Resilience in Business
27:52 Resilience in Business: Overcoming Financial Struggles
32:37 Harnessing Doubt: Finding Strength in Naysayers
37:19 Cognitive Benefits of Hardship: Changing Biology Through Challenges
38:33 Raising Resilient Kids: The Role of Parents in Toughening Up
41:14 Curating Mental Toughness: Overcoming Self-Doubt
42:35 Defining Resilience: Learning from Life Experiences
43:43 Failing Forward: The Mindset of Persistence
45:25 Future of Spartan: Motivating Change in Society
47:18 Learning from Global Perspectives: Innovation Through Diversity
48:26 Finding Fun in Challenges: The Thread of Enjoyment
51:51 Impact on the Military: Building Connections Through Hardship