In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion breaks down why so many rodeo athletes unknowingly turn temporary struggles into permanent labels, and how those labels begin shaping every decision they make in and out of the arena.

You'll learn why your brain starts searching for evidence to support the story you've been telling yourself, how to separate what happened from who you are, and how to start building an identity based on where you're going instead of where you've been.

Whether you're a roughstock rider, roper, barrel racer, or any athlete chasing consistency, this episode will challenge the way you think about confidence, discipline, injuries, and performance.

In this episode: Why mid-season is when most athletes lose confidence How identity shapes your performance more than you realize The difference between what happened and who you are Why your brain looks for proof of the stories you tell yourself How to reframe negative self-talk The power of adding the word "yet" A simple question that builds discipline every day: "What would a disciplined person do right now?" Why mental toughness isn't eliminating negative thoughts—it's refusing to let them make your decisions

At Champion Living Fitness, our mission is bigger than building stronger rodeo athletes. We want to help you become the kind of person who performs with confidence, handles adversity well, and continues growing long after the season is over.

A huge thank you to the partners that help make this podcast possible.

Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment has been building some of the best roughstock equipment in the industry for over 40 years. Whether you're a bareback rider, saddle bronc rider, or bull rider, they've got the gear you need to compete with confidence.

Check them out here: https://www.barstowprorodeo.com

Use code BARSTOWCHAMP26 at checkout to save on your next order.

If you're serious about improving in the arena, you also need to download the RodeoNow App.

It's one of the best tools available for rodeo athletes. Watch rides and runs from across the country, study stock, review your own performances, and learn from the best—all in one place.

Download it here: https://rodeonow.com

Champion Living x Hooey Collection

The new Champion Living x Hooey collection is officially live!

If you want to represent the Rodeo Athlete lifestyle with gear built for life in and out of the arena, check out the latest drop.

Shop Here: https://championlivingfitness.com/collections/hooey

If you're ready to stop guessing and start training with a plan built specifically for rodeo, apply for a FREE Performance Consultation today.

Apply Here: https://championlivingfitness.com/sign-up

Timestamps

00:00 Summer Update 01:08 New Hooey Collection Drop 02:54 Sponsor Updates 05:26 Why Mid-Season Is So Hard 06:11 The Identity Trap 08:02 Separate Performance From Identity 10:56 Every Decision Casts a Vote 14:50 Rewriting Your Self-Talk 16:53 What Mental Toughness Really Is 18:29 Coaching & Final Thoughts

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Listen to the Champion Living Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere podcasts are available.

Back from the greatest outdoor show on earth. Straight out of the locker room at Calgary Stampede, I sat down with Brandon Thome, Executive Director of Canadian Sports Medicine for Rodeo, to talk about what's really going on with rodeo injuries and how to keep your body in the game.

We break down:

• Injury trends — timed-event overuse vs roughstock acute injuries
• Why pec tears, biceps strains, and dislocated shoulders are on the rise
• Red flags you can't ignore (groins, recurrent shoulder dislocations)
• Rehab vs surgery — when to cut, when to wait, and when prehab is the answer
• Why rodeo has no off-season and how to train around it
• Recovery tools — ice after, heat before, and what actually works
• How to build your personal sports medicine dream team

Plus, a tribute to Richie Champion's final ride, and the new Rodeo Athlete/Rodeo Ready collection with Hooey.

Timestamps: 00:00 — Back From Calgary 03:54 — Common Injury Trends 06:10 — Roughstock Injury Shifts 08:06 — Red Flags to Fix 12:00 — Building a Support Network 14:23 — Canadian Healthcare for Rodeo 17:08 — Smart Surgery Questions 22:17 — Bulletproofing Athletes 27:53 — Recovery Tools & Timing 31:17 — What's Next for Rodeo Care

In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion breaks down why the summer run is really a 90-day stress test. Long miles, late nights, heat, pressure, poor recovery, inconsistent nutrition, and repeated exposure to competition all create a level of cumulative fatigue that most athletes never account for.

• Why competing is not the same as being physically prepared
• The hidden cost of cumulative stress during the summer run
• How to identify early signs of overreaching and burnout
• Building work capacity for rodeo performance
• Strength reserves, aerobic capacity, and movement quality
• Recovery strategies that actually work
• How to stay strong during the busiest part of the season
• Practical nutrition, hydration, and sleep recommendations
• Using the Rodeo Now App to improve preparation and performance

A special thank you to our partners at Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment and the Rodeo Now App for supporting this episode and helping advance the sport of rodeo.

Use Discount Code: Barstowchamp24 at checkout for Barstow Pro Rodeo needs!

The Rodeo Now App gives athletes access to ride footage, stock information, performance analysis, and tools to help competitors prepare smarter and perform better.

What happens when you willingly sign up to do something that seems impossible?

In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion welcomes JR back to the show to relive their recent Spartan Race experience—a challenge that tested far more than physical fitness. From brutal carries and slippery climbs to deep mud bogs, barbed wire crawls, and a dramatic finish through the fire pit, this race became a powerful lesson in resilience, teamwork, mindset, and discovering what you're truly capable of when quitting isn't an option.

For JR, the race represented something even bigger. After feeling like he'd hit a plateau, Spartan reignited the "one more rep" mentality that has fueled so much of his journey. Together, Doug and JR discuss how pushing beyond perceived limitations creates growth, why surrounding yourself with the right people matters, and how adversity often reveals strengths you didn't know you had.

The conversation is packed with hilarious moments, hard-earned lessons, and practical insights for athletes, competitors, and anyone chasing growth in life.

Along the way, they recount unforgettable race moments, including navigating treacherous obstacles, surviving the infamous mud bog, completing a grueling barbed-wire army crawl where JR lost his pants while his uncle threw dollar bills onto the course, and ultimately crossing the finish line after 2 hours and 22 minutes of relentless effort.

The episode also highlights JR's mission through the Spur Your Way Out Foundation, which helps individuals overcome obstacles by providing access to life-changing equipment and opportunities. Donations help fund resources such as FES bikes, track chairs, and other adaptive equipment that empower people to continue pursuing an active and meaningful life.

To learn more or support the mission, visit:

www.spuryourwayout.com

In This Episode

• Recapping the Spartan Race experience
• How adversity reveals hidden potential
• Why mindset matters when things get difficult
• The power of teamwork and accountability
• Lessons learned from pushing past perceived limits
• Building resilience through challenge
• The role of physical and mental toughness
• JR's future goals and upcoming challenges
• The mission behind Spur Your Way Out Foundation

Support the Show

A special thank you to our partners who help make the Champion Living Podcast possible:

Barstow Pro Rodeo Producing world-class rodeos while helping preserve and grow the western way of life.

Rodeo Now App Your one-stop source for rodeo news, standings, schedules, athlete content, and everything happening in the sport of rodeo.

00:00 Room Recording 02:06 Race Recap Intro 10:05 Race Day 20:26 The Bog 38:48 The Fire Pit Finish 41:35 Reflections & Mindset 46:15 What's Next & The Foundation

In this episode of The Champion Living Podcast, Doug sits down with Eric Lore of Lore Fitness to break down the truth behind peptides, GLP-1 medications, recovery protocols, blood work, gut health, and real performance optimization.

The fitness industry is flooded with misinformation around compounds like BPC-157, TB500, semaglutide, and GLP-based therapies. Eric explains what these compounds actually do, where they may help, the risks involved, and why foundational health habits still matter most.

The conversation also dives into inflammation, injury recovery, nervous system function, nutrition, blood markers, and the future of human performance optimization.

Whether you're an athlete, outdoorsman, or someone trying to improve your health, this episode delivers a balanced conversation around one of the fastest-growing topics in fitness and recovery.

Huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting the show.

Shoutout to Barstow Pro Rodeo. If you're looking for some of the best rodeo gear in the game, make sure you check them out and use discount code BARSTOWCHAMP26 to save on your order.

And to the RodeoNow app, one of the best ways to stay up to date with rodeo news, standings, content, and everything happening in the western industry. Download today in the Apple App and Google Play store for FREE!

In this solo Champion Living Podcast episode, host Doug Champion explains why high performers aren't more motivated—they're more structured. He breaks down how motivation is an emotion that fades when life gets chaotic, and why athletes (especially in rodeo) often live reactively based on how they feel, creating inconsistency and burnout. Doug argues that structure creates freedom by removing daily self-negotiation, and that real transformation is repetitive, built through small decisions and routines that shape identity over time. He offers a practical starting point: establish minimum standards or a "baseline" you won't fall below (e.g., mobility, workouts, protein, scripture, water, sunlight), and focus on tiny actions repeated long enough to compound. He also highlights how tools like the Who We Fit app are built to provide direction and consistency when motivation is gone

Interested in training? Tap link below.

https://championlivingfitness.com/sign-up

Big thank you to our sponsors: Barstow Pro Rodeo, if you're serious about your gear, this is where you need to be looking. Use code Barstowchamp26 at checkout to save. And the Rodeo Now App, your go-to for staying up to date with everything happening in the rodeo world. We appreciate the support from brands that are pushing the industry forward.

There's a pattern most athletes know all too well.

You miss a day. Maybe two. Life gets busy, travel stacks up, something throws you off your routine. And somewhere in that moment, a decision gets made—whether you realize it or not.

"I'll start again Monday." "I need to get back on track." "I messed it up."

And just like that, one missed day turns into a full reset.

In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion breaks down why this cycle keeps happening—and why the problem isn't the missed workout, the skipped session, or the imperfect week.

It's the story you tell yourself after.

Most people aren't lacking discipline. They're not lazy. They're operating under a standard that doesn't hold up in real life. A belief that if it isn't done perfectly, it doesn't count. That progress only exists under ideal conditions. And when those conditions break, so does the routine.

But consistency isn't built in perfect weeks.

It's built in the ones that don't go as planned.

Doug walks through a different approach—one that removes the idea of "starting over" entirely. One that replaces perfection with momentum. Where a missed day is just that: a day. Not a failure. Not a reason to reset. Just part of the process.

He introduces simple, practical rules that shift everything. Never miss two days in a row. Shrink your plan until it fits your real life, not the version of it you wish existed. Remove the "restart button" and continue forward, even if it's not perfect.

Because the athletes who improve aren't the ones who execute flawlessly.

They're the ones who stay in motion.

Along the way, Doug also shares updates on upcoming Optimal Performance Academy opportunities, including limited availability in bull riding and bullfighting, and discusses options for individualized coaching through Champion Living Fitness and the HooeyFIT app.

If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of stopping and restarting, this episode offers a different way forward—one built on consistency, not perfection.

If you're ready to build a plan that actually works with your schedule, your travel, and your season, you can apply for a free consultation here: Schedule Now!

Big thank you to our sponsors:

Barstow Pro Rodeo — if you're serious about your gear, this is where you need to be looking. Use code Barstowchamp26 at checkout to save.

And the Rodeo Now App — your go-to for staying up to date with everything happening in the rodeo world.

We appreciate the support from brands that are pushing the industry forward.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and Mindset Focus 00:24 OPA Camp Spots Update 01:22 Back on Track Trap 02:53 Missed Day Self Talk 04:50 Perfectionism Causes Restarts 07:42 Rule Never Miss Two 08:18 Shrink Standards Minimums 09:34 Remove the Restart Button 10:50 Coaching and App Resources 12:29 Wrap Up and Call to Action

If you've ever felt like pressure, nerves, or expectations are holding you back in competition… this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, Doug Champion breaks down one of the most overlooked aspects of rodeo performance: how your mindset, expectations, and internal narrative directly impact your results.

Most athletes think it's a physical issue, but more often than not, it's how they're interpreting the moment.

Doug dives into the concepts of pre-framing and reframing, showing you how to take control of your thoughts before and during competition so you can perform at your highest level when it matters most.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why pressure affects your performance (and how to fix it)
• The difference between pre-framing vs. reframing
• How your expectations shape your results in rodeo
• Why athletes struggle with interpretation—not ability
• How to control what you can and let go of what you can't
• The importance of preparation, fundamentals, and self-talk
• Why you should expect resistance—and how to handle it
• How to challenge limiting beliefs that are holding you back

Doug also shares updates on the upcoming Optimal Performance Academy (OPA) event, including limited remaining spots, and the return of VALD Athletic Performance Testing in partnership with the PBR Rider Development Group—designed to evaluate rodeo athletes beyond just their event performance.

Plus, a recap of a recent bear hunting trip with Mason Clements that sparked deeper insights into mental performance and mindset under pressure.

Big thank you to our sponsors:

Barstow Pro Rodeo — if you're serious about your gear, this is where you need to be looking. Use code Barstowchamp26 at checkout to save.

And the Rodeo Now App — your go-to for staying up to date with everything happening in the rodeo world.

We appreciate the support from brands that are pushing the industry forward.

If you're serious about becoming a more consistent, confident competitor, this episode will give you a new lens on how to approach your next ride or run.

👉 Want help improving your performance, mindset, and physical preparation as a rodeo athlete?

Apply for a FREE consultation with our coaching team here: Schedule Call Here

Inside Champion Living Fitness, we help rodeo athletes: ✔ Build strength that transfers to competition ✔ Improve mindset and consistency ✔ Stay healthy through long seasons ✔ Perform at their highest level when it counts

Listen on all platforms & watch full episodes on YouTube Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/champion.living Learn more: https://www.championlivingfitness.com

00:00 Welcome and Updates 00:08 OPA Camp and VOL Testing 01:08 Bear Hunt Reflections 01:45 Why Mindset Matters 04:25 Reframing Your Story 06:01 Hidden Beliefs and Lies 06:59 Preframing Expectations 07:55 Execution Over Winning 09:10 Expect Resistance 10:27 Questions and Next Steps 11:39 Sponsors and Wrap Up

This one was a damn good conversation.

We finally linked up with the JR Vezain, and in person, and it went exactly where it needed to... talking about the stuff most guys avoid.

Why they're not winning. Why they stay stuck. And what it actually takes to change that.

We got into mindset, preparation, and the reality that just "working hard" isn't enough if you're not honest about where you're at.

There's a difference between guys who rodeo… and guys who are trying to become elite. This episode lives right in that gap.

If you've been showing up, putting in the work, and still not getting the results you want—this is one you need to listen to.

Rodeo Now App is what makes this whole thing even more real. Track your rides, break down your film, actually learn from what you're doing instead of guessing.

Go download it.

If this hits, send it to somebody who needs to hear it.

If you want to understand what it actually takes to win at the highest level in rodeo, THIS episode is it.

We sit down with Rodeo Houston Champion and Elite Steer Wrestler Holden Meyers to break down the real work behind the scenes: how he prepares, how he trains around injury, and how his faith shapes everything from competition to life decisions.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why high-quality reps beat high-volume practice for elite rodeo performance
• How Holden trains and competes while managing chronic elbow pain
• The advantage of building your own personal practice setup
• What it means to develop as a multi-sport athlete (and why it matters)
• How faith, prayer, and surrender influence performance under pressure
• The mental shift from chasing results → trusting the process and purpose
• Why your identity must go beyond rodeo if you want longevity
• Inside the Houston win and what separates top athletes in big moments
• How modern rodeo athletes need to train like complete professionals
• Details on the Optimal Performance Academy Steer Wrestling Event (Van, TX)

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Rodeo Now App (FREE performance tool for rodeo athletes) 00:42 – Welcome + introducing Holden Meyers 01:12 – Growing up in a rodeo family 03:25 – Multi-sport athlete development 04:39 – Pro rodeo prep: quality reps vs volume 05:29 – Training around elbow injuries 10:46 – Building a faith-driven mental game 13:55 – Traveling, discernment & surrender 18:27 – Obedience over outcomes 23:53 – Daily mindset: staying grounded 26:14 – The legacy of rope schools & mentorship 27:58 – Handling nerves on first runs 29:23 – Bringing prayer into coaching & clinics 31:26 – Mentorship, faith & community 34:03 – Identity beyond rodeo 34:56 – Why Holden partnered with OPA 35:43 – The demands of the modern rodeo athlete 37:26 – Breaking down the Houston win 40:40 – Upgrading the OPA curriculum 43:54 – Event registration + details 45:04 – Sponsors + Rodeo Now app 46:14 – Final thoughts

Featured Athlete: Holden Meyers

Holden Meyers is a Rodeo Houston Champion steer wrestler known for his disciplined preparation, technical precision, and strong faith. Raised in a rodeo family, Holden developed his skills early and continues to evolve as a professional by combining intentional practice, athletic development, and mental resilience.

Upcoming Event: Steer Wrestling Clinic (OPA)

We're bringing it all together in person.

📍 Van, Texas 📅 May 1–3 👥 Limited to 15 athletes

This is not your average clinic.

We're combining:

• Steer wrestling technique
• Strength & conditioning
• Mental performance
• Financial & career development

👉 Built for athletes who want to take this seriously. Register HERE: Click to register!

Tools & Resources Mentioned

Rodeo Now App (FREE)

• Record & review runs in slow motion
• Catalog your performance
• Research stock by name
• Build a smarter competition strategy

Key Takeaway

At the highest level, it's not about doing more—it's about doing what matters, better.

Holden's approach proves that:

• Precision beats volume
• Discipline beats emotion
• Faith beats fear

And if you want to last in this sport, you better build more than just your ride—you need to build yourself.

Big thank you to our sponsors:

Barstow Pro Rodeo — if you're serious about your gear, this is where you need to be looking. Use code Barstowchamp26 at checkout to save.

And the Rodeo Now App — your go-to for staying up to date with everything happening in the rodeo world.

We appreciate the support from brands that are pushing the industry forward.

Connect With Us

Follow for more:

• Strength & conditioning for rodeo athletes
• Mental performance
• Real conversations with elite performers

Champion Living Podcast – Helping you become a champion in sport and in life.Click to Subscribe on youtube