February 07, 2025

Ep. 71 - Eric Hinman: Why Traditional Success Is a Lie—And How Adventure & Recovery Helped Him Build a Life by Design

1 hour 22 minutes

Eric Hinman: Why Traditional Success Is a Lie—And How Adventure & Recovery Helped Him Build a Life by Design

What if everything you thought about success was wrong? In this episode of The ALLSMITH Podcast, I sit down with Eric Hinman—Ironman athlete, entrepreneur, and adventure-seeker—who challenges the conventional wisdom of hustle culture and shares his blueprint for designing a life of freedom, fulfillment, and flow.

Eric takes us on a journey through his evolution from chasing money and status in his 20s to redefining success on his own terms—prioritizing adventure, recovery, and high-performance living. He opens up about the power of mentorship, the crucial role of community, and why testosterone optimization doesn’t mean endless endurance training.

Key Moments & Takeaways:

⏳ [04:15] The Illusion of Success – “I spent my 20s chasing the public perception of success—money, nice suits, and a ridiculous wine collection. None of it made me truly happy.”

⏳ [12:42] The Turning Point – How a morning routine and endurance training became his gateway to a more fulfilling life.

⏳ [21:30] Recovery Over Hustle – “Recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s the key to longevity and performance.” Eric breaks down his cold plunge and sauna protocol and how it’s changed his life.

⏳ [33:50] Strength vs. Endurance at 44 – “I feel better being less endurance fit and more well-rounded.” Why balancing training modalities has been the best thing for his testosterone and overall well-being.

⏳ [41:15] Designing a Life by Adventure – “Adventure is a mindset, not a destination.” How Eric builds his life around travel, nature, and community instead of work dominating everything.

⏳ [54:20] The Two Lists That Changed His Life – The daily reflection practice Eric started 15 years ago that gives him clarity, direction, and the ability to pivot.

⏳ [1:05:40] The Power of Mentorship & Paying It Forward – “I had mentors who helped me succeed. Now, I always offer time to help others who remind me of where I was.”

This episode is packed with game-changing insights for anyone looking to redefine success, optimize recovery, and build a life by design, not default.

Hit play and get ready to rethink what it means to truly live well.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.