Welcome to the final episode of season 9 of The Business of Endurance, and what an episode it is. 

Today, we have the incredible Chris McCormack - Ironman World Champion, founder of Super League Triathlon, and one of the most successful and respected figures in endurance sports. 

In this conversation, Chris opens up about his remarkable journey: from leaving a career in business to move to France and pursue triathlon, to becoming one of the sport's greatest athletes. 

He shares the highs and lows of his career, including the pivotal moments that shaped his mindset and the mental resilience required to overcome failure.

But it’s not just about his athletic achievements. Chris reveals how he transitioned from athlete to entrepreneur, using the same principles that made him successful in sport to disrupt the triathlon industry with Super League. 

Along the way, he delves into the power of goal-setting, the importance of physical fitness in business, and how his experiences have shaped the legacy he’s building today. 

This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, adaptability, and creating lasting impact. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone looking for inspiration, you won’t want to miss this one.

Highlights:

• Mind Over Muscle: Developing mental resilience to overcome fear, setbacks, and imposter syndrome.
• Legacy & Lessons: Why backing yourself, stating your goals, and taking chances matters - in sport and business.
• From Business to Sport: Leaving a corporate career to chase a triathlon dream in France.
• Accidental Triathlete: How naïve confidence and saying “yes” to opportunities launched Macca’s pro career.
• Breakthrough Moments: From sleeping rough in France to winning his second-ever World Cup race.
• Kona Obsession: Turning repeated failures into two Ironman World Championship victories.
• Smack Talk Strategy: Using psychology and presence to make rivals second-guess themselves.
• Embracing the Suck: Training to master the “pain cave” and win the battle inside your own head.
• Old Bull Wisdom: The power of patience, calculated risk, and learning from early career mistakes.
• From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Applying sporting grit to disrupt triathlon with Supertri.

Links:

Connect with Chris through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maccanow/

Connect with Chris through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mccormack-macca/

Connect with Chris through his website: https://macca.com/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

In this episode of The Business of Endurance, we’re joined by the incredible Matt Trautman - an athlete whose journey embodies the essence of resilience, reinvention, and mental toughness. 

From competing as a white-water kayaker to becoming a world-class triathlete, Matt’s story is one of overcoming obstacles, including a severe spinal injury, and finding the strength to not only recover but to thrive. 

Matt opens up about his path to recovery after a life-changing crash, his transition from professional athlete to coach, and how his background in kayaking and yacht racing shaped his approach to endurance sport. 

He shares invaluable lessons on building resilience, dealing with setbacks, and finding purpose beyond the racecourse. 

If you’re looking for insights on long-term performance, mental fortitude, and how to tackle life’s hardest moments with grit and grace, this conversation is for you. 

Highlights:

• Resilience Through Setbacks: Overcoming physical and mental challenges, including a life-changing spinal injury.
• From Whitewater Kayaking to Triathlon: How kayaking set the foundation for Matt’s endurance career.
• Adapting to Injury: How Matt embraced a slow recovery to return to triathlon stronger.
• Load Management in Training: Respecting recovery to avoid setbacks and enhance performance.
• Influence of Mentors: How coaches like Brett Sutton shaped Matt’s career and coaching style.
• Dealing with Concussions: The psychological and physical challenges of recovering from a concussion.
• Team and Community Support: The value of camaraderie and encouragement during tough times.
• Retirement Decision: How family and shifting motivation led Matt to step away from professional triathlon.
• Building a Strong Endurance Base: The benefits of developing a physical foundation through varied sports.
• Mental Resilience and Goal Setting: Using small, achievable goals to regain fitness post-injury.

Links:

Connect with Matt through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattytrautman/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What does it take to lead one of Britain’s most iconic sports into a new era? 

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Dutton OBE, CEO of British Cycling, to unpack how purpose-driven leadership, bold decision-making, and emotional intelligence are shaping the future of sport. 

From orchestrating the ground-breaking Rugby League World Cup to overseeing the path to Paris 2024 and beyond, Jon shares the untold stories behind elite performance, everyday cycling, and the entrepreneurial mindset needed to drive systemic change. 

We talk values, resilience, media disruption, and why mindset - not just physiology - is becoming the biggest predictor of success in sport and business. 

Whether you're an athlete, a business owner, or simply looking for leadership inspiration, this conversation is a masterclass in navigating challenge with clarity, ambition, and integrity. If you’re ready to think bigger and lead better-this episode is for you.

Highlights:

• Leading with Purpose: How purpose-driven leadership is reshaping British Cycling and driving systemic change.
• Resilience Through Adversity: Navigating setbacks, including the postponement of the Rugby League World Cup, with determination and values.
• The Role of Values in Decision-Making: How making difficult decisions in sport, such as postponing an event, is grounded in core values like authenticity and inclusivity.
• Building a Positive Culture: How Jon is fostering a culture of trust, loyalty, and collective responsibility within British Cycling.
• Social Impact Through Sport: Leveraging cycling as a tool for social mobility, community cohesion, and tackling inactivity.
• Creating Opportunities for All: British Cycling’s commitment to engaging the entire population, from young children to seniors, in cycling.
• The Growth Mindset: How a growth mindset is key to success in both sport and business, and how British Cycling encourages it within its athletes and team.
• Entrepreneurial Leadership: How Jon’s entrepreneurial approach is helping British Cycling thrive in a constantly evolving environment.
• The Power of the Grand Depart: The monumental impact of bringing the Tour de France to the UK in 2027 and its potential for inspiring the nation.
• Navigating Change in Media: How the shift in TV coverage and media rights is influencing the future of cycling and British Cycling’s role in that transformation.

Links:

Connect with Jon through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-dutton72/

Visit the British Cycling Website: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What if the key to Olympic gold - and a life well-lived - came down to only a stride? 

In this episode, we sit down with Alistair Brownlee: two-time Olympic champion, endurance icon, and someone who’s been redefining what it means to win - on the course, and in life. 

We dive into a decision that perhaps changed everything - walking away from Cambridge University - the power of brotherhood, and why helping his brother over the finish line in Mexico taught him more than any medal ever could. We explore risk, identity after retirement, and why winning doesn’t always feel the way you think it will. 

Whether you're chasing your own endurance goals or navigating high-pressure decisions in life or business, this conversation delivers hard-earned wisdom, straight from one of sport’s most driven minds. This is about resilience, reinvention, and finding joy in the journey - even when the finish line keeps moving.

Highlights:

• The Power of Small Margins: How winning by a stride is about preparation, not just confidence.
• Pressure is a Privilege: Turning pressure into performance by reframing expectations.
• The Brotherly Bond: How helping a sibling at the Olympics taught more than a gold medal.
• Making Life-Altering Decisions: The leap from Cambridge University to a full-time triathlon career.
• Resilience Through Failure: Why failure is a stepping stone, not the end, on the road to success.
• Confidence vs. Self-Belief: Why self-belief, grounded in preparation, is the true foundation of performance.
• Daily Habits Drive Success: How routines and understanding motivations are key to long-term achievement.
• From Athlete to Entrepreneur: The shift from elite sport to building successful businesses.
• Inspiring the Next Generation: Creating opportunities for young people to experience triathlon through free events.
• Simplicity in Nutrition: Why effective endurance nutrition is all about simplicity and smart choices.
• Balance in Performance: The importance of moderation and balance, including the role of alcohol in professional sport.

Links:

Connect with Alistair through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-brownlee/

Connect with Alistair through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alistair.brownlee/

Visit the Brownlee Foundation Website: https://www.thebrownleefoundation.org/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

Today’s episode is a little different - because today’s guest is... me. Well, not exactly me, but my digital doppelgänger: AI Charlie. 

That’s right, I’ve created an AI version of myself, trained on everything I’ve ever said on this podcast and beyond, and today, I’m putting him in the hot seat. Why? Because I wanted to test something: Can an AI trained on my conversations, thoughts, and beliefs deliver insight, inspiration, and maybe even a little wisdom about the world of endurance sports, just like Claire & I aim to do with our guests each week? 

Think of this as an experiment in self-reflection, curiosity, and the ever-evolving relationship between humans, performance, and technology. We dive into some of the core themes of The Business of Endurance - mental resilience, balance, performance, and purpose - but through the lens of someone - or something - that knows me perhaps a little too well. 

So buckle up for a conversation with... my AI-Clone. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll uncover something new about what it means to endure.

Highlights:

• The Trifecta Morning Routine: Why Movement, Mindfulness, and Growth Fuel Peak Performance
• Conversations with Your Digital Doppelgänger: Can AI Reflect, Inspire, and Challenge Us?
• Ruthless Prioritisation and Delegation: What High-Performers Teach Us About Time
• Fuel to Thrive: The New Nutrition Rules from Elite Endurance Athletes
• Why Range Before Niche Builds Resilience, Adaptability, and Long-Term Excellence
• Culture Is the Glue: Why Humor, Purpose, and Belonging Turn Teams Into Powerhouses
• Injury Prevention for Longevity: Consistency, Strength, Recovery, and Listening to Your Body
• Metrics That Matter: From HRV to Gratitude – Measuring Progress in Sport and Life
• Marginal Gains Done Right: Why Small Changes, When Aligned, Deliver Massive Results
• A Final Habit to Transform Your Day: Move, Reflect, Learn – Every Morning

Links:

Connect with AI Charlie on the Trusted Team Website: https://thetrusted.team/

Connect with the real Charlie Reading through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorspeakercoach/

Connect with the real Charlie reading Richard through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliereading/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What does it take to be the fastest in the world - not once, but time and time again? And what can business leaders learn from world-record-breaking athletes? 

Today, we sit down with Richard Oakes, a four-time world champion, national record-holder, and co-founder of Team Ohten Aveas, the world’s fastest masters cycling team. 

But Richard isn’t just dominating the track - he’s also reshaping how high-performance thinking applies in the business world, coaching elite firms to work smarter, perform under pressure, and embrace marginal gains for success. 

In this episode, we uncover the secrets of elite endurance - from pushing past plateaus to balancing ambition with longevity. Richard shares how data, resilience, and the mindset of a champion can transform not just your performance, but your career and health. 

If you want world-class strategies to go faster, think sharper, and achieve more, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. 

Highlights:

• Why the Process, Not the Prize, Fuels Champions
• The Pain, Power, and Purpose Behind an Hour Record
• The Equation of Excellence: Relentlessness, Integration, and Human Energy
• Balancing Elite Performance and a Full-Time Career: No Excuses, Just Clarity
• Mind Over Muscle: How Meditation, Energy Awareness, and Embodied Healing Drive Recovery
• From Marginal Gains to Paradigm Shifts: Finding the Edge in an AI World

Links:
Connect with Richard through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakes_worldchampion/

Connect with Richard through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-oakes-87646020/

Visit the Ohten Website: https://ohtengroup.com/

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review. 

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What does it take to endure? To win? And to keep coming back? In this episode, we sit down with one of the most iconic figures in endurance sport - Ironman champion Kathleen McCartney. 

You may know her as the winner of the legendary 1982 Ironman, the race that gave us 'The Crawl.' But her story didn’t stop at the finish line. Kathleen shares the mindset that took her from an inexperienced college student to an Ironman world champion in just a year. 

She opens up about coming back to racing after kids, rebuilding herself through endurance sport after divorce, and the wisdom she’s gained from coaching. She reveals the greatest lessons she learned from legendary mentors, including Bill Bachrach, and the surprising friendship that brought her back to Kona decades later. 

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone looking to overcome life’s challenges, Kathleen’s story will inspire you to redefine what’s possible. 

Highlights:

• Winning 1982 Ironman: A Shared Moment of Sporting History
• Returning Stronger: Ironman Comebacks Through Motherhood and Divorce
• Friendship Forged in Competition: Completing Kona with Julie Moss
• Coaching with Purpose: TriDot and Smarter Training Principles
• Cancer, Community, and Comebacks: The Mike Levine Story
• Mental Strength for Life: Endurance Lessons Beyond the Finish Line

Links:
Connect with Kathleen through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathmccartney/?hl=en

Connect with Kathleen through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-mccartney-94652268/

Connect with Kathleen through TriDot: https://www.tridot.com/coach/kathleen-mccartney

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review.

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What does it take to break free from the corporate grind, build multiple businesses with zero industry experience, and push your body to the absolute limit in some of the toughest endurance races on the planet? 

Today’s guest, Simon Dent, has done it all. From working as a solicitor in the City to promoting celebrity-packed nightclubs, to building some of the most successful marketing and publishing agencies in sport - Simon’s journey is anything but conventional. He’s also completed the Marathon des Sables, one of the toughest races on Earth, and is now on a mission to reduce plastic waste in the sports industry. 

In this episode, Simon shares the mindset shifts needed to leave a secure job, how endurance sport shapes elite entrepreneurs, and why most footballers go bankrupt - and how to avoid the same financial traps. If you want lessons in resilience, reinvention, and making your passion your business, this is one you can’t afford to miss.

Highlights:

• From City Lawyer to Mental Health Crisis
• Building Business: The Power of Surrounding Yourself With Experts
• How Ultra Running Became Therapy
• Business and Endurance: Lessons From Each World
• Marathon des Sables: Blood, Sweat and Friendship
• Save Our Souls: Creating Sustainable Sports Equipment
• Financial Education: Why Footballers Go Bankrupt
• The Brisbane to Sydney Run Challenge

Links:
Connect with Simon through Instagram: https://instagram.com/ultraentrepreneur

Connect with Simon through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-dent-9509b728/

The 2025 Dallaglio RugbyWorks & British and Irish Lions Ultra Endurance Challenge: https://justgiving.com/page/ultra-endurance-challenge

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review.

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What if one voice could change the way you see endurance sport - and even yourself? Today, we’re joined by an iconic voice of Ironman, Paul Kaye - the man who’s called thousands of athletes across the finish line and witnessed some of the most powerful moments in the sport. 

But Paul isn’t just an announcer. He’s an Ironman finisher himself, a master of storytelling, and someone who truly understands why endurance sport transforms lives. 

In this episode, Paul shares the most unforgettable finish line moments, the power of music to fuel performance, and why Ironman is more than just a race - it’s a life-changing experience. 

We also dive into his own endurance journey, what makes Ironman South Africa so special, and the deep “why” that drives us all. 

Whether you’re an athlete or just looking for inspiration, this episode will make you rethink what’s possible. Let’s get into it.

Highlights:

• The Journey From Radio to Ironman Finish Line Icon
• Turning Grief and Divorce into Personal Fuel
• Crafting Magic Moments at the Finish Line
• The Art of Emotional Announcing, Not Ego
• Using Music to Heighten Race-Day Drama
• Balancing Emotion During Tragedy and Crisis
• Reflections on Kona vs. Nice: A World Champs Split
• Why Silence and Stillness Matter More Than Hype

Links:
Connect with Paul Kaye through his Website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review.

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

What does it take to reinvent an entire sport? Well, today we sit down with Chris Williams, the commercial leader behind Supertri, the revolutionary triathlon league, shaking up endurance sport From securing game-changing partnerships to creating a team franchise model that financially supports athletes. 

Supertri is on a mission to make triathlon faster, more exciting and more sustainable for pros and fans alike. But Chris's journey goes far beyond boardrooms. He's an endurance athlete himself, and in this episode he shares the jaw-dropping story of his attempted Atlantic row and the dramatic rescue that followed. 

We talk about resilience, risk and bouncing back from failure, as well as what endurance sport can teach us about success in life and business. So if you want to know how the sport is evolving, how to push your limits and how to turn passion into opportunity, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. 

Highlights:

• Chris’ Unconventional Journey into Sports Business
• From Rowing the Atlantic to Finding Purpose
• The Role of Psychology in Leadership and Sales
• Lessons in Resilience from a Life-Threatening Capsize
• Anchoring Emotions with "Where Do I Need to Be?"
• Supertri’s Mission to Modernize Triathlon
• Creating High-Impact, Short-Course Triathlon Events
• The Power of Storytelling in Growing the Sport
• Supertri’s Mixed-Gender Team Franchise Model

Links:
Connect with Chris Williams through LinkedIn.

Please Subscribe to Business of Endurance on Apple Podcasts, leave a comment, and give us a 5-Star review.

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline