Running Across America: The 2,500-Mile Journey with Patrick McGlade, Author of Six Miles Per Hour

What does it take to wake up every single morning and average 30 miles on foot across an entire continent? In this episode of The AM Lift, host Travis Hovel sits down with friend, veteran ultra marathoner, and author Patrick McGlade to break down his coast-to-coast trek across America—a 2,553-mile journey to raise funds and awareness for juvenile arthritis, and the inspiration behind his book, Six Miles Per Hour.

Patrick opens up about the physical toll and mental battles of running across the country, how those grueling months shaped his perspective on humanity, and the endurance mindset that carried him from the open highways into some of the most punishing 100-mile mountain trail races in the world.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• The Coast-to-Coast Blueprint: The origin, logistics, and grit behind running 2,553 miles from California to Georgia for a cause bigger than himself.
• The Six Miles Per Hour Mindset: Why steady, unsexy forward progress will always outperform bursts of fleeting motivation.
• The Reality of Daily Friction: How to stay focused when your body is broken, the weather turns hostile, and you still have 20 miles to go before sunset.
• The Good in People: Patrick’s surprising takeaway from meeting everyday Americans on backroads and small towns across the nation.
• From Highway to High Altitude: How lessons from the transcontinental run translated into competing in brutal mountain ultras like Leadville, Ouray, and Bighorn.

Whether you're training for an endurance milestone, fighting for a meaningful cause, or grinding through an uphill climb in work and life, Patrick’s story is a masterclass in putting one foot in front of the other.

(Note: Patrick's book Six Miles Per Hour chronicles his 2010 run across America in support of juvenile arthritis.)

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The Math That Changes Everything: Launching The Parent Math with Sam Feeney

Time isn't just passing—it's compounding, and the math of parenthood and legacy is non-negotiable. In this special release episode of The AM Lift, host Travis Hovel sits down with close friend, neighbor, and author Sam Feeney to mark the official launch of Travis's new book, The Parent Math.

Together, they dig into the origin of the book, the raw conversations that shaped its message, and why looking hard at the numbers isn't about guilt—it's about waking up to intentionality before the clock runs out. Sam brings a unique perspective as both a trusted sounding board throughout the writing process and a voice dedicated to helping people live deliberate, meaningful lives.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• The Origin of The Parent Math: The personal catalyst and pivotal moments that turned an idea into a published reality.
• The Reality of Finite Time: Why doing the actual "math" on our relationships cuts through daily distractions and clarifies what truly matters.
• Behind the Process: An honest look at the discipline, doubts, and daily routines required to write and finish the manuscript.
• From Awareness to Action: Practical takeaways on how to transition from simply "being busy" to showing up with genuine presence for the people you love.

Whether you're looking to recalibrate your priorities, build a deeper legacy with your family, or push through your own creative finish line, this conversation offers a powerful reminder to make every single day count.

The Parent Math is officially available now.

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Vision Answers Where, Purpose Answers Why: What Holds Up When Passion Runs Out

Vision gives you a destination, but purpose is the only thing that survives when the initial excitement fades. In this episode of The AM Lift, host Travis Hovel breaks down the critical distinction between fleeting passion and genuine purpose—and why having an anchor outside of yourself is what pulls you through the 4:30 a.m. alarms, the cold garages, and the seasons where nothing feels easy. 

Drawing on lessons from military selection pipelines, Herb Brooks' 1980 Olympic hockey team, and the sobering arithmetic of finite time with family, this episode delivers a blueprint to stop running on emotional fumes and start building around a standard that lasts. 

What you’ll get from this episode:

• Purpose vs. Passion: Why passion is an unreliable mood, and how true purpose acts as a load-bearing foundation that keeps you moving when motivation disappears. 
• The Selection Filter Mindset: How candidates survive the crucible of BUD/S and Ranger School by radically micro-chunking time and focusing outward on teammates instead of personal ego. 
• The Arithmetic of Finite Time: Why understanding the non-negotiable math of our days shifts your focus from "how much can I get done?" to "who am I actually doing this for?" 
• A 4-Question Purpose Audit: A concrete, practical framework to strip away borrowed expectations, identify your real "why," and hold the line on the days you don't feel like it. 

If you’re tired of restarting your habits every time excitement dies down, tune in to discover what it actually takes to anchor your discipline in purpose. 

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From Melbourne to the NFL: Overcoming 2 ACL Tears with Adam Gotsis

Making it to the NFL is hard enough—doing it from Melbourne, Australia, while battling back from two separate ACL tears demands a different level of resilience. In this episode of The AM Lift, host Travis Hovel sits down with NFL defensive lineman Adam Gotsis to break down his against-all-odds journey from Australian rules football to the gridiron, and how relentless mental toughness carried him through devastating physical setbacks.

Adam shares what it takes to rebuild your body and mindset when everything gets stripped away, how to endure the lonely grind of long rehabs, and what pro-level standards really look like in the trenches.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• The Aussie-to-NFL Pipeline: How Adam discovered American football in Melbourne and transitioned to elite Division I college ball at Georgia Tech.
• The Rehab Mindset: The mental discipline required to endure the dark days of two major ACL tears and fight back to peak physical performance.
• Overcoming Odds & Skeptics: How to perform when the deck is stacked against you and draft stock hangs in the balance.
• Daily Standards in the Trenches: What sustained professional habits look like when your career depends on physical dominance and consistency.

Whether you're battling back from an injury, facing a major career pivot, or trying to lock down your personal discipline, Adam's story is a masterclass in putting your head down and getting the work done.

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Episode 3 

The Non-Negotiable Standard: What Your Goals Actually Cost

Success doesn't care how you feel about the work—it simply takes what it takes. In this episode of The AM Lift, host Travis Hovel breaks down Trevor Moawad’s hard-hitting playbook, It Takes What It Takes (along with key insights from Getting to Neutral), to help you stop negotiating with your daily discipline.

When you strip away emotional hype and excuses, achieving real results in your training, career, and life comes down to meeting an objective standard. Travis dives into how elite performers operate without relying on motivation, giving you the practical tools to hold your line under pressure.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• End the Emotional Bargaining: How to stop deciding whether you "feel like" putting in the work and simply execute the required standard.
• The Math of Excellence: Understanding that big goals have fixed, non-negotiable prices—and how to pay them consistently without burning out.
• Fact-Based Execution: How to use basic neutral thinking to evaluate setbacks objectively instead of spiraling into frustration.
• A Daily Standard Checklist: Practical steps to cut down time-wasting habits, audit your environment, and lock in the behaviors that move the needle.

If you’re tired of relying on fleeting motivation and want a clear, no-nonsense system for executing every single day, this episode will show you how.

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Episode 2: Dropping 100+ Lbs, Dominating the Platform, and Rebuilding Life with Craig Smith

Transformation isn't just about what you lose—it's about the grit you build along the way. In this episode of The AM Lift, we sit down with competitive powerlifter Craig Smith to unpack his journey from shedding over 100 pounds to claiming the top spot across seven different powerlifting competitions.

Craig opens up about the mindset shift required to turn his health completely around, the grueling transition from fat loss to elite barbell strength, and what standing on the platform taught him about discipline outside the gym.

In this episode, we cover:

• The turning point that sparked a 100+ lb weight loss journey
• How Craig transitioned from general fitness to competitive powerlifting
• The training and nutrition strategies behind winning 7 meets
• Overcoming self-doubt, plateaus, and lifestyle hurdles
• Practical advice for anyone looking to reclaim their health and build real strength

Whether you're looking to lose your first 10 pounds or add 50 pounds to your squat, Craig’s story proves that consistent work always pays off.

Subscribe & Listen: Hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform so you never miss an episode of The AM Lift. If Craig's story inspired you, leave a quick review and share this episode with a training partner.

Episode 1: Why Vision is the Terrain, Not the Finish Line

I think most of us treat vision like a simple dictionary term—something you see with your eyes. But in this episode, I want to redefine it: true vision is a vivid mental blueprint of a future that doesn't exist yet, paired with the conviction that you are the one to build it.

In this premiere of AM Lift, I explore why "vision" is the landscape you live in, not just a temporary checkpoint you hit. I break down the difference between fleeting goals and lasting vision, and why the latter keeps you moving when the finish line gets foggy.

In this episode, we cover:

• Vision vs. Goals: Why a goal is a one-time coordinate on a map, but a vision is the terrain you grow into for the rest of your life.
• The Mechanism of Sight: How your brain’s Reticular Activating System acts as a filter, turning your mental blueprints into a rehearsal your nervous system takes seriously.
• The Killers of Vision: How I identify when comparison, "realistic" fear, and borrowed opinions are dulling my focus, and maybe yours as well.
• Lessons from the Pros: Looking at the Nick Saban "Process" from 1995—why the best leaders focus on owning the "next six seconds" rather than just the final scoreboard.
• Personal Stories: I share a candid look at my own journey to becoming Colorado’s Strongest Man and the reality of writing my book—discussing the stops, the starts, and the discipline required to keep going.
• Strategies you can implement immediately to help push you along, whatever you are chasing. 

It takes what it takes. Let’s get to work.