Michele Hartwig is a passionate runner, race director, and all-around trail enthusiast from Crystal Lake, Illinois. Michele has chased personal goals with precision and heart—like the time she ran 63.25 miles in under 12 hours, earning her that coveted “100K Under 12 Hours” shirt and a 2nd-place overall female finish. But it’s not just podiums that make her proud. What fuels Michele most is helping others discover their strength. As a race organizer, she's created events that foster friendships, confidence, and personal breakthroughs. Her own journey—from childhood trauma and paralyzing anxiety to peace found through running—adds a deeply personal layer to her mission. “If I can help someone stop hurting like I used to hurt,” she says, “that means more than any finish line.” She now averages about 20 miles a week and spends more time hiking and biking with her husband, whose resilience after injury mirrors Michele’s commitment to adapting without giving up. She’s powered by AC/DC, motivated by watermelon and post-ultra hamburgers, and carries her handheld water bottle and fanny pack like a badge of honor. Her mantra? “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.” It’s a philosophy that’s carried her through countless miles—and continues to carry others forward.

Today's guest embodies endurance, dedication, and heart. Meet Erin Montgomery, a force of nature from Clinton, Iowa, where she lives with her partner Todd and their four loyal labs. By day, she’s shaping young minds as an educator in Camanche and coaching cross country, basketball, and track. But Erin's impact doesn't stop there—she’s a dedicated dog breeder, raising labs with care and purpose… and she’s an ultrarunner whose stats are jaw-dropping:

🏃‍♀️ More than ten races of 100 miles or more

🏅 A five-time finisher of the Mines of Spain 100 miler

💯 And yes, she’s conquered the Potawatomi 150 miler!

In 2015, Erin blazed another trail as the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, bringing the lessons of grit and adventure into classrooms nationwide. She continues to work with Iditarod Education, connecting students with this legendary race through her passion and experience.

Whether she's on a school track or a rugged trail deep in the wilderness, Erin shows us what it means to live boldly, push limits, and never settle.

🌟 This episode is a celebration of perseverance, purpose, and the magic of saying "yes" to the road less traveled.

🎙️ Welcome to Taking Chances – Why Not You? – the podcast that celebrates bold moves, relentless grit, and the power of transformation.

Today’s guest is living proof that it’s never too late to chase greatness.

💪 Mark Ironfield grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts, where his love for lifting began in a basement with old-school cement weights (IYKYK). Football and sports were part of the mix, but it was the iron that truly called to him. That passion led him to Pep’s Gym, where he discovered powerlifting—and at just 21, he started competing.

But here’s the twist: Mark didn’t win his first meet until he was 47 years old. And since then? He’s been unstoppable. Breaking records, dominating meets, and proving that age is just a number. After turning 50, he won every single meet he entered—and he’s still going strong.

🏠 Today, Mark runs a free powerlifting gym out of his basement, welcoming anyone willing to put in the work. His only rule? Show up early. He lives by Lombardi time—if you’re 15 minutes early, you’re on time.

Mark is a husband, father of three, business owner, and world-record-holding powerlifter. His story is one of perseverance, passion, and paying it forward.

📈 Check out his records: Open Powerlifting – Mark Ironfield

📸 Follow him on Instagram: @mark_and_dee_ironfield

📹 Watch him in action on YouTube: @Ironfield100

Let’s dive into Mark’s incredible journey—and ask the question we always ask: Why not you?

🎙️Taking Chances: Why Not You? Episode Featuring Brandon Bartz

What do you get when you mix adrenaline, vision, grit—and just a little bit of crazy? You get Brandon Bartz.

In this episode of Taking Chances – Why Not You? I sat down with the guy who never outgrew the wild side. From motocross tracks to trail runs, from launching four CrossFit gyms across the Quad Cities to leading races as a director, Brandon is a one-man movement. He helped bring CrossFit to a whole region, sparked a fitness community of over 500 strong, and still finds time to be a husband, a dad to three and a man driven by deep faith.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Brandon’s path is anything but linear—it’s bold, unpredictable, and packed with purpose. Whether he’s sprinting through singletrack or spinning on two wheels with a biking habit he just can’t quit, this trailblazer has a knack for doing things differently... and doing them big.

Tune in as we explore what happens when you say yes to the chaos, take the leap, and bet on your own transformation. This one’s fast, raw, and full of heart. Let’s ride. 🏁

Welcome back to Taking Chances – Why Not You?—the show that celebrates transformation, resilience, and the people who lead with heart. Today’s guest is the force behind one of the most iconic road races in the world. She’s a trailblazer, a leader, and a self-proclaimed back-of-the-pack champion who knows that “forward is forward.” Michelle Juehring is the Race Director of the legendary Quad-City Times Bix 7, celebrating its 51st year this summer in Davenport, Iowa. With over two decades of experience in race ops, sponsorships, and athlete hospitality, Michelle doesn’t just organize events—she creates experiences that inspire thousands to lace up and show up. Named one of Iowa's Most Influential Business Leaders and a national voice in endurance sports, Michelle’s journey has taken her from court-side operations in pro basketball to pulpit leadership in community ministry—and everywhere in between. She's finished 27 marathons, conquered the Wisconsin Ironman. So, whether you run, walk, crawl, or cheer from the sidelines—this conversation is for anyone ready to take a chance on the next bold step. Let’s dive in with Michelle Juehring

Straight from the bayou country - West Monroe, LA, Stephen Paul’s music is inspired by his cajun roots and classic country. Combining a traditional 90’s country style with a modern country sound, Stephen offers a refreshing voice to country music and its fans.

At age three, Stephen began his musical journey when his father gave him his first drum kit. Following years of involvement in music ministry at his church, Stephen began playing guitar and eventually pursued songwriting. Stephen graduated from the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) in 2013 and performed with a variety of local bands during his college career. In the fall of 2014, Stephen traded the local scene of Louisiana for Music City in order to pursue his career as an artist.

In 2023, Stephen played over 175+ shows and will continue to tour in early 2024, including his debut performance at Country Fest this summer. Stephen has already hit a few career milestones, making his arena debut with Justin Moore and has shared the stage with Tim McGraw, when McGraw invited him to join the stage in singing “I Like It, I Love It” in front of 15,000+ fans at Winstock Country Music Festival. Stephen has also shared the stage with Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Dylan Scott, David Lee Murphy, Chris Lane, Neal McCoy, Pat Green, and Mark Chesnutt.

Stephen has since surpassed 7 Million+ global streams across all streaming platforms with a 100k social impact. His 2023 releases, "Good For Nothin'", "Love To Learn", and "Who Needs A Bar" have caught the attention of thousands of fans and new listeners. Throughout Stephen’s career, his music has been supported by Apple Music’s "New in Country” and "The Ward Guenther Show", and Spotify’s “New Music Nashville”, "New Music Friday Country", and "Fresh Finds Country" playlists.

Taking Chances – Why Not You? —the podcast where we dive into the bold moves, the big dreams, and the everyday people who prove that the impossible is just a dare waiting to be answered.

Next week's guest, Evan Kilstrom, embodies transformation in its purest form. A 2019 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and a three-season lineman for Iowa State, Evan played under the bright lights of the 2020 Big 12 Championship and helped clinch a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oregon. But his story didn’t stop when the clock ran out.

After tipping the scale at 340 pounds, Evan made a radical decision to take control of his path. In less than a year, he shed over 100 pounds, reshaped his life, and set out on a journey most would call impossible. From running a marathon on a whim to conquering the legendary 2024 Leadville Trail 100 in under 30 hours (Finish time of 29:40:01), Evan redefined what strength looks like—inside and out.

Now an engineer at John Deere in Moline, Evan’s story isn’t just about physical endurance. It’s about vision, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of growth. So, sit back, get inspired, and ask yourself the question Evan has been living out loud: Why not you?

No incredible accomplishments are done alone, he had a team of amazing friends, and family to support him.

Join us for an electrifying episode with Dr. John Byrne, Professor Emeritus at St. Ambrose University, professional speaker, and expert in goal setting and motivation—

Taking Chances is now proudly supported by our friends Johnna and Austin Chesney, the amazing owners of four iconic establishments in the Quad Cities: The Public House, The Ridge Social Drinkery, Oak Grove Tavern, and Candy’s Back Bar.

Dr. Byrne is no stranger to pushing the limits. A 6-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher and 2024 Lead Challenge conqueror (yes, that beast of a series includes the Leadville Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville 10K, and the legendary Leadville Trail 100 Run), his story is nothing short of epic. Born and raised in Iowa, he’s gone far beyond the rolling plains—tackling an Ironman Triathlon and even summiting Mt. Rainier.

In this episode, he dives into his Leadville experience, the mindset needed to conquer the impossible, and the deeper philosophy of setting bold, soul-stirring goals. He’ll also share what’s next on his path—and how you can take his strategies and apply them to your own life.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to do the truly hard things, this episode is your blueprint. 🎧 Listen now and get inspired to chase your own summit.

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨 Ultra-running fans, get ready for an inspiring conversation with none other than John DeDoncker—a legend in endurance sports! John is an 8-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher, a Leadman finisher, and a Western States 100 miler finisher—but he's aiming for something even bigger: becoming a 10-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher! Hailing from the Quad Cities, John grew up in East Moline and has lived in FIVE of the Quad Cities! He graduated from the University of Iowa (Tippie College of Business) and earned his JD from Iowa College of Law in 1988. A former President of TBK Bank Midwest Division, John’s journey from playing golf and tennis to conquering ultra marathons is truly remarkable. His story is one of grit, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence—and I promise, it’ll leave you motivated to chase your own big goals! Please like and subscribe to the channel!

Let’s celebrate the incredible journey of John DeDoncker together. #UltraRunning #Leadville100 #Endurance #Inspiration #JohnDeDoncker #PodcastRelease 🎤🏔️🏃‍♂️

Welcome to Taking Chances - Why not you? where we dive deep into the minds of the world's best athletes, thinkers, and visionaries. Today, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with a true legend in the world of ultrarunning—Michael Wardian.

If you’ve ever glanced at the leaderboard of an ultra-distance race, chances are you’ve seen his name at the top. Michael holds too many race records to list here, but if you’re curious, you can find the staggering details at Michael Wardian's Results.

From dominating the U.S. National 100 km Championship to claiming multiple U.S. 50 km and 50-mile titles, Michael has pushed the boundaries of human endurance time and time again. But how did he get here? What drives someone to run—sometimes for days on end—through pain, exhaustion, and every obstacle imaginable?

In this conversation, Michael takes us on a journey through his incredible career, sharing insights into his training, his mindset, and what it truly means to be one of the greatest ultra runners in the world.

Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss this.