Chief Endurance Officer

How can an endurance mindset help you overcome brutal setbacks in both sports and executive leadership? Today’s guest is an unstoppable serial entrepreneur and Ironman ambassador. Introducing Stan Freemon, President and CEO at Hunter Freeman Group. Stan partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how he pushed through a catastrophic 35-minute transition delay during an Ironman to finish strong and how he applies that same relentless drive to executive recruiting. He also delves into why true leadership requires emotional resilience, deep relationship-building, and keeping life’s challenges in perspective.

Takeaways:

• Turning Setbacks into Motivation: When unexpected obstacles throw your plans off course, like losing a transition bag in a race, mental toughness is what keeps you moving forward.
• Relentless Persistence in Business: Executive recruiting and deal-making require an unwavering commitment to seeing things through without giving up.
• Relationship-First Leadership: True business success comes from establishing trust directly with company leaders rather than relying on transactional processes.
• Gaining Life Perspective: Pushing through grueling physical challenges, like pushing a chariot for a young athlete with special needs, reminds leaders that everyday workplace problems are easily manageable.
• The Endurance Network: Engaging in extreme sports naturally connects high-performing CEOs and entrepreneurs who share the same discipline and drive.

Quote of the Show:

"I do not give up, period. You can ask everybody that works for me. I mean, when I smell blood in the water, it's a done deal." - Stan Freemon

Links:

• Stand Freemon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-freemon-421a19145/
• Stan’s Email: [email protected]

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

How can lessons from extreme military service and 90 back-to-back ultramarathons transform business leadership and problem-solving? Today’s guest is a truly inspiring Oxford-trained chemist, world-class endurance athlete, military pioneer, and venture investor! Introducing Dr. Charlotte Kirk, Founder and CEO at CK Ventures and Venture Partner at Decarb Ventures. Dr. Kirk partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how running the Pacific Crest Trail and serving on military frontlines established a sense of calm and perspective that helps her navigate high-stakes clean energy investing. She also delves into why stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing joy, and interviewing investors for alignment build long-term business success.

Takeaways:

• Reframing Mission-Critical Problems: Extreme environments teach leaders that while business problems are important, keeping calm and maintaining perspective allows space for creative solutions.
• "No Plan Survives First Contact": In both the military and venture capital, adaptability is paramount; leaders must constantly innovate when unexpected obstacles arise.
• Side-by-Side Leadership: Taking candidates or team members out of formal settings and into side-by-side environments (like walking or trail running) reveals authentic character and builds trust faster.
• "You Can't Compete with Someone Having Fun": Approaching tough athletic or entrepreneurial challenges through a lens of joy and gratitude sustains long-term performance better than negative pressure.
• Investor Alignment Matters: Founders should interview potential investors as rigorously as investors evaluate them to ensure shared personal values during difficult times.

Quote of the Show:

• "Yes, it's mission critical, but no one's gonna die tomorrow. And sometimes that helps reframe the problem and take a pause, and actually we can think creatively through it." - Charlotte Kirk

Links:

• Charlotte’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-charlotte-kirk-00923b1a6/
• CruxLine Capital’s Website: https://www.cruxline.capital/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

How can an endurance mindset transform business leadership and create lasting company legacy? Today’s guest is an accomplished CEO, CPA, podcast host, and endurance athlete who embodies the power of trusting the process! Introducing Trevor Gilmore, CEO at The Menke Group. Trevor partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how he built discipline through competitive cycling and marathons and transitioned into leading a top ESOP advisory firm. He also delves into why employee ownership acts as the ultimate long-term exit strategy for value-driven leaders.

Takeaways:

• Trusting the Training Process: Success in business and athletics is rarely a straight line; consistency, morning routines, and grinding through difficult days build long-term resilience and results.
• The Power of Group Motivation: Training alongside high-performing peers elevates individual performance, whether pushing up a steep climb or leading a company through challenging economic shifts.
• ESOP as the "Endurance Exit": Employee Stock Ownership Plans offer business owners a flexible way to preserve company culture, maintain independence, and reward loyal staff over a long time horizon.
• Identifying ESOP Candidates: Companies with strong cultures, human capital value, and next-generation leadership in place make ideal candidates for employee ownership.
• Authentic and Honest Communication: Whether launching a niche podcast or evaluating deal pipelines, candor and long-term commitment drive meaningful reach and credibility.

Quote of the Show:

"Some days you don't feel like doing it, but that and grinding through gets you better over time, and that certainly translates to life success." - Trevor Gilmore

Links:

• Trevor Gilmore’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorjgilmore/
• The Menke Group’s Website: http://www.menke.com
• Trevor’s Email: [email protected]

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/  

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

What if the hardest year of your life became the reason you could handle anything after? Today's guest is a builder who turned a personal breaking point into the blueprint for a growing business. Introducing Dan Mosko, CEO of Altura Performance and founder of Elevation Everest. Dan partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how he built a high-altitude endurance race company while working 85-90 hour weeks at his corporate sales job, all while his home fell apart around him, foundation, roof, and plumbing failing at once. He also delves into what it really takes to leave a stable career and build something of your own, one problem at a time.

Takeaways:

• Dan describes the "endurance mindset" as the ability to consistently deal with pain and keep moving forward. He credits this to having "proof points," past hard experiences that prove you can handle whatever life throws at you next.
• While building Elevation Everest and working 85-90 hour weeks at his day job, Dan's house experienced simultaneous major failures, foundation, roof trusses, and a sewage backup, all at once. He got through it by leaning on the memory of finding his breaking point at mile eight of an Ironman marathon and breaking the crisis into smaller, manageable pieces.
• Elevation Everest was born from Dan's own transformational Ironman finish-line experience and a gap he saw in the market for a more accessible high-altitude endurance event. He and his team cold-called resorts until they found the right partner in Winter Park, Colorado.
• Running a large-scale endurance event involves far more behind-the-scenes complexity than athletes typically realize, including venue partnerships, sponsor sourcing, aid station logistics, and contingency planning for the unexpected, like a moose that chased participants through the woods during last year's race.
• To grow the athlete community, Dan's team has added race-weekend engagement, monthly community calls on gear and training, and guest speakers like 18-time Everest summiter Tendi Sherpa, all offered at no additional cost to registered athletes.
• Looking ahead, Dan plans to expand Elevation Everest to new locations, explore new race formats, and grow Altura Performance, his supplement company focused on helping people acclimatize, perform, and recover in the mountains.
• For anyone considering leaving a corporate job to chase an entrepreneurial dream, Dan advises building a financial runway, validating the plan with people who've done it before, and finding an accountability partner. He reminds listeners that entrepreneurship is simply an endless stream of problems to solve, one at a time.

Quote of the Show:

• "Don't be surprised if it's harder than you expect, but also don't be surprised when it's more fulfilling than you expect." - Dan Mosko

Links:

• Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-mosko/
• Altura Performance’s Website: alturaperformance.com
• Elevation Everest Website: elevationeverest.com
• Discount Code: CHIEFENDURANCE

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

What begins as one difficult step can become a complete transformation.

In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Gregory McDonough sits down with Nick Hancock, Founder and CEO of Maximum Mileage Coaching, certified running and performance nutrition coach, competitive ultrarunner, and creator of the Max Mile app. Nick shares how endurance helped him navigate some of life's most difficult challenges, from overcoming mental health struggles to supporting his wife through her battle with stage four cancer.

Together, they explore the mindset required to persevere through adversity, the power of consistency over perfection, and why sustainable success, whether in business, athletics, or life, is built by showing up every day. Nick also shares how he transitioned from a successful corporate career to building a thriving coaching business dedicated to helping everyday athletes achieve extraordinary goals.

Takeaways:

• Endurance is about reaching the next aid station. Nick explains that endurance isn't always about thinking miles ahead. During life's most difficult moments, success often comes from focusing on the very next step, maintaining hope, and continuing to move forward even when the destination feels overwhelming.
• Reinvention begins with one small decision. Nick's running journey didn't start with elite ambitions, it started by throwing away his cigarettes, lacing up the only shoes he owned, and running a few hundred meters around a local football pitch. Small decisions, repeated consistently, became life-changing habits.
• You don't have to be exceptional to call yourself a runner. One of Nick's strongest messages is that identity isn't earned through pace or race times. If you run, you're a runner. Removing comparison from the equation allows people to focus on their own growth and enjoy the journey.
• Consistency beats intensity. Whether coaching first-time marathoners or experienced ultrarunners, Nick sees the same pattern over and over again: the athletes who consistently execute the fundamentals ultimately outperform those who rely on occasional breakthrough workouts or bursts of motivation.
• Great coaching starts with understanding the whole person. Training plans alone don't create success. Nick believes coaches must understand their athletes' work schedules, family responsibilities, stress levels, sleep, nutrition, and recovery in order to create sustainable progress.
• Technology should enhance expertise, not replace it. As the creator of the Max Mile app, Nick embraces AI as a tool that removes repetitive administrative work while allowing coaches to spend more time building meaningful relationships and delivering personalized guidance.
• Success comes from serving others with excellence. Nick's transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship demonstrates that building a successful business starts with providing exceptional value. By delivering elite-level coaching and continuously investing in his athletes' success, he has built a thriving coaching company centered on trust and long-term relationships.

Quote of the Show:

• "Running is a solo sport, but it's a team game.”  - Nick Hancock

Links:

• Nick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickhancockrunningcoach/
• Maximum Mileage Coaching’s Website: https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Greg McDonough talks with Tristan Wilson, a fourth generation family construction leader turned AI founder. Tristan spent eight years rising through his family's highway construction business in Louisiana, eventually managing the largest production facility of its kind in the state and leading the company's biggest industrial construction project ever, a two year onsite relocation. He later founded Edgevanta, a company built to fix one of construction's oldest problems: pricing and estimating. Tristan also shares his journey into ultrarunning, including two 200 mile races, a dislocated elbow at mile 37, and the DNFs that taught him as much as his finishes did.

Takeaways:

• Tristan's endurance mindset comes down to two lessons from long races: people are capable of far more than they know, and pain and agony are temporary while nothing else truly is, except the soul.
• Accountability partners, especially other founders at a similar stage, have been one of the biggest drivers of Tristan's growth in business, mirroring the crews and pacers that got him through his toughest ultra races.
• Tristan credits much of his networking success to giving value first, connecting people and helping others, rather than networking with an agenda.
• A painful early lesson as a young estimator, when his company left about seven hundred thousand dollars on the table on a paving bid, became the seed that eventually grew into Edgevanta, a pricing intelligence and estimating automation platform for heavy highway and civil construction companies.
• Tristan openly discusses his DNFs (Did Not Finish races) alongside his finishes, including pulling out of a race in Massachusetts and a 100K where a plantar issue ended his day, and says normalizing those setbacks is part of the journey.
• At one 200 mile race, Tristan dislocated his elbow at mile 37 while raising money for suicide prevention in construction, got it treated at a hospital, then returned to the course with his sister and another pacer to finish before the cutoff.
• Tristan's guiding business philosophy borrows a phrase he once heard: "Complexity is the enemy of execution," which pushes him to focus only on what matters most each day.

Quote of the Show:

• "Pain and agony is temporary. Nothing's permanent. Only your soul is permanent." - Tristan Wilson

Links:

• Tristan’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-a-wilson/
• Edgevanta’’s Website: https://edgevana.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

What does it take to build a career that spans NCAA water polo championships, an Olympic trials near miss, the founding of what became USA Triathlon, and over $400 million in verifiable business growth? In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Greg McDonough sits down with Carl Thomas, a veteran sports and entertainment executive with major leadership roles at Universal Studios, the Association of Volleyball Professionals, CAT Sports, and Speedo. At ASM Global, Carl helped build the commercial partnership team that drove growth leading to a $2.3 billion acquisition. He is also the host of the Best Boss Ever podcast.

Carl walks Greg through his path from competitive swimmer and two time NCAA water polo champion at UCLA to co-founding what is now USA Triathlon, helping design the distances that became the modern Olympic triathlon format, and lobbying the IOC for four years to get triathlon added to the Olympic Games. Along the way, he shares the lessons that shaped his endurance mindset in sport and in business.

Takeaways:

• Endurance is about never quitting while staying willing to adjust, adapt, and pivot as circumstances, age, or environment change.
• A pivotal moment came from his UCLA water polo coach, Bob Horn, who told a young and discouraged Carl, "Don't get your dauber down," and reminded him that speed is something that cannot be taught.
• Coach Horn's mantra, "You always win the fourth quarter," instilled a mentality of performing until the final buzzer that Carl carried into his business career.
• Carl helped design the swim, bike, and run distances that became the standard Olympic distance triathlon while working at Speedo in the early 1980s.
• He cofounded what became USA Triathlon and later helped found the International Triathlon Union, now World Triathlon, spending four years lobbying the IOC before triathlon was added to the Olympic program for Sydney 2000.
• From the earliest events of the US Triathlon Series, Carl and his partners awarded equal prize money to men and women, a commitment that never changed throughout the series.
• Naming rights and revenue strategy have transformed how venues generate value, a shift now playing out at the LA28 Olympic Games as brands pay to keep their names on Olympic venues.

Quote of the Show:

• "The future is not set in stone. It will evolve. It has to evolve." - Carl Thomas

Links:

• Carl's LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-a-thomas/
• DRVN Sports and Entertainment: https://www.drvnse.com/
• Carl's podcast, The Best Boss Ever: thebestbossever.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Crystal Hadnott was told she would need a cane for the rest of her life after a devastating accident left her partially paralyzed. Nine months later, she ran her first marathon.

That decision sparked a journey that has now taken her through more than 150 marathons and ultramarathons, up Mount Kilimanjaro, and into a career helping organizations build sustainable growth through strategy, systems, and leadership.

Crystal joins Greg to discuss how endurance training shaped her approach to fundraising and business, why every high performer needs "aid stations" for recovery and reflection, and the lessons she's learned from constantly challenging herself in sport and in life. She also shares how an accident led her into fundraising, why nonprofits need to think like businesses, and how maximizing your current strengths often matters more than chasing the next opportunity.

Takeaways:

• Success is not built by pushing nonstop. Leaders need intentional aid stations for reflection, recovery, and recalibration if they want to perform over the long term.
• The goals you set at the beginning of the year should not be treated as permanent. Markets shift, industries change, and strong leaders reassess their plans often.
• Before pursuing the next shiny opportunity, make sure you've fully maximized the systems, strategies, and resources you already have.
• Funding is the fuel that keeps organizations moving. The challenge is identifying which revenue strategies truly support your mission and which ones create unnecessary strain.
• Building a strong core, both physically and professionally, creates longevity. The foundations you strengthen today support your performance years down the road.
• Difficult experiences can become your greatest teachers. Crystal's injury, recovery, and marathon journey all became data points that helped her better understand herself and her capabilities.

Quote of the Show:

"The addiction of accomplishing something that someone tells you you can't do became very real for me." - Crystal Hadnott

Links:

• Crystal Hadnott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalhadnott/
• CH Philanthropy & Fundraising’s Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crystal-hadnott-philanthropy-fundraising/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

What happens when the obstacles that shape your childhood become the foundation for everything you achieve as an adult? In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Greg McDonough sits down with Bishoy Tadros, sales leader, author, endurance athlete, host of the Mile 40 Podcast, and the first Egyptian to complete all seven World Marathon Majors. Bishoy shares his journey from surviving childhood leukemia and brain surgery to becoming an Ironman and accomplished marathoner.

Together, they explore how patience, perspective, and purpose helped him navigate decades of challenges, why endurance sports became a vehicle for personal transformation, and how embracing discomfort can reveal what we're truly capable of achieving. Bishoy also shares the powerful story behind his "Mile 40" moment and the lessons it continues to teach him about resilience, growth, and possibility.

Takeaways:

• Endurance mindset often begins long before endurance sports. Bishoy's battle with childhood leukemia, years of treatment, and eventual recovery shaped the resilience he would later rely on as an athlete and leader.
• Patience, perspective, and purpose became the three principles that helped him navigate adversity and continue moving forward despite repeated setbacks and rejection.
• Surrounding yourself with high performers can fundamentally change what you believe is possible for your own life and goals.
• During his defining "Mile 40" moment in a half Ironman, Bishoy overcame physical and mental exhaustion by breaking an overwhelming challenge into manageable pieces, one mile at a time.
• Celebrating small wins can create momentum during life's most difficult chapters and help sustain progress when the finish line feels far away.
• Some of the most meaningful achievements begin with a simple question: "Why not?" That mindset eventually led Bishoy to become the first Egyptian to complete all seven World Marathon Majors.
• Setbacks do not have to define your story. When approached with the right mindset, they can become the catalyst for growth, purpose, and impact.

Quote of the Show:

• "You were dealt this hand because you were built to play it." - Bishoy Tadros

Links:

• Bishoy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btadros/
• Mile 40 Podcast’s Website: https://mile40podcast.com/
• Bishoy’s email: [email protected]
• Bishoy’s Instagram: @bishoy_tadros

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

What does it take to keep moving forward through uncertainty, pressure, and challenge?

In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Greg McDonough sits down with Monika Sattler, CEO of Sattler Consulting GmbH, endurance athlete, keynote speaker, author, and cycling record holder. Monika shares how her experiences in both business and endurance sports have shaped her approach to high performance, resilience, and personal growth.

From setting cycling records across Switzerland to helping leaders navigate change, Monika discusses the importance of systems, consistency, and stepping outside your comfort zone. She also shares insights on redefining success, building sustainable performance habits, and why growth often happens when we stop waiting for motivation and simply commit to the process.

Takeaways:

• Creating systems and routines can be more effective than relying on motivation alone.
• Consistency comes from building habits that become automatic rather than constantly negotiating with yourself.
• Endurance sports can reveal how much deeper you can go when faced with adversity and discomfort.
• High performance requires learning how to continue through uncertainty, pressure, and change.
• Success is highly personal and should be defined by what genuinely matters to the individual.
• Stepping outside your comfort zone creates opportunities for growth and learning.
• Strength training can play an important role in supporting endurance performance.

Quote of the Show:

• "It's not about higher, faster. It's more about actually bringing the community together." - Monika Sattler

Links:

• Monika Sattler’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikasattler/
• Monika Sattler’s Website: http://www.monikasattler.com
• Monika’s email: [email protected]

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9 
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732 
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357 
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102 
• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

• Check out our Website: http://enduranceofficer.com/ 
• Community Discount Link: https://ceopodcast.myezrewards.com/signup/chief-endurance-officer-podcast  
• Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual 

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/