Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Ken Rideout | Mindset, Discipline & Why Not You? (PART 2)

Episode Date: April 23, 2026

#939. In Part 2, Ken Rideout gets into the mindset that took him from rock bottom… to doing things most people wouldn’t even attempt. We talk about why the hard path is usually the one that actually pays off, the truth about discipline (and why motivation isn’t enough), and how fear of embarrassment holds so many people back before they even start.Ken opens up about some of the most embarrassing and painful moments of his life—from being publicly humiliated as a kid to the thoughts that followed—and how those moments shaped the way he thinks today.We also get into obsession, identity, and whether it’s possible to truly change your mindset… even if you feel stuck. This part is full of perspective shifts, tough love, and the kind of honesty that might just make you rethink what you’re capable of.Part 1 was the story… Part 2 is the takeaway!If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Tonal: Right now, Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase with promo code VINE at Tonal.com.Paka: To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to WWW.PAKAAPPAREL.COM.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: (6:00) Why fear of embarrassment is the biggest thing holding people back(15:43) The most humiliating moment of his life—and how it shaped everything after.(39:40) The emotional moment he won the world championship.(42:35) The “why not you” mentality that can completely change how you see yourself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of Off the Vine is brought to you by Tonal. Right now Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your tonal purchase with promo code Vine at tonal.com and PACA. To grab your PACA hoodie, go to www.com. You're listening to Off the Vine with Caitlin Bristow. Hey, Vinoes, real quick, if you are listening right now, which obviously you are, you wouldn't be hearing this, can you hit the subscribe or follow button on whatever platform you're on? Please, that one simple thing helps more than you. than you even realize it allows me to keep growing on this podcast and making these episodes the best they can possibly be obviously for you. That's the only favorite I'm going to ever ask, okay? It truly

means the world to me. Thank you. Now let's get into it. Okay, Vinas, welcome back to part two of my conversation with Ken Wrightout. I love this conversation. If you haven't listened to part one yet, pause this and go back because you're going to want the full story leading into this. In this part, we get even deeper into everything, his mindset, the defining moments, and honestly, some of the most powerful takeaways from our entire conversation. So let's get right back into it. For people like who are such go getters, I feel like it's so important to have both. Like you are such a go getter in work and business and exercise. And to match that with like a go getter and trying to be a better person all the time is really important. So I'm glad that you are

into that. Thank you. But I would say that the go getter and the all the kinds of things that you just said, those are survival tools. Like when I haven't lived my life like, that, that's, I hope people are listening to this. I get it on the surface, I can seem very aggressive and a go-getter and I'm doing all this. When I haven't done that and stayed on the gas and being aggressive with everything that I do, I'm looking for relief through drugs and other shortcuts. And the easy road has never paid well. Right. The only road that has paid me, any dividends has been the road that is difficult. And I tell my kids, the road to heaven feels like hell. And the road to hell feels like heaven, but they both end up in very different places. Always take the harder choice.

God, that's a good lesson. It's a truth. It is the truth. If you want to be fit, you have to work out and eat right and it isn't easy. Right. That's why when you see someone that's fit, it's novel. You respect them. You're like, if nothing else, that person knows grit, determination, and they know the power of delayed gratification. Because you do not see results this week, next week, maybe even three weeks, it's months of showing up diligently working, running down a dark hallway where you're like, where is the effing light? Yeah. And even when you see the light, to me, the greatest compliment when I go anywhere and someone's like, wow, you're in really good shape. There's a part of me that's like, I could be better. Yeah. So it's like a blessing and a curse. When I look at you, I think of someone

who's like the most gritty and determined, like all the things that you've done is crazy. Because like, I mean, listen, there are lots of girls out there. And I think it's, I think it's very difficult for women like, to be taken considered gritty and, and, like, aggressive without, and look, you aren't without getting, like, pushback from people on the internet. Because when people give you pushback or a negative towards you,

I always think to myself, like, that you're telling me, the hater is telling me more about themselves than you. They're like, they hate something about you that is missing in their own life. Because no one who's successful would look at you and be like, I don't like her. Why?

Because she's on every show that's, that's cool. She's hustling. She's trying. She's putting herself out there. I think that people just think it's easy to just show up, get on TV, be yourself, and like get the negative pushback that you can get. Where I'm like, you think that she has some special superpower that she's immune to this negativity and this hatred?

What's the purpose of trying to hurt someone's feelings? It drives me fucking crazy when I hear that. I'm like, if you don't like her, go off and don't comment at all. Why tell me that you're a jealous, insecure buzzard? All you have to do is keep it. scrolling. Yeah. Why how fucking bored are you that you have time to disparage someone else? I wish I had enough time to even look through social media. Never mind. Stop. Post something nasty and be like, what do they do? Do they call their friends after and be like, Sally, look at what I said about

Caitlin. I got her good. I got her with a zinger. I got her good. Yeah, you know what? Would it make you feel better if you actually did hurt her feelings and you made her cry? What, what? Now what? Do you feel like you got a gold star for that? That's, I always want to. And my question would always be, if I was to ever have an interaction, which this would never happen with a troll in real life, because they would never say this in real life. Of course. Would it just be like, okay, and like what? What did I do to you? Yeah.

What is your purpose here? Like, do you feel better now? That's right. Yeah, what is it? But it's kind of like, thank you for saying all those things about being gritty because I think, like you said, your wins kind of blew up. And now you get, people get to read this book of so many losses that you've had and what you actually went through to have these big wins. And I think a lot of people on social media just see other people's wins and don't see their struggles. And I was just part of something where I was finding myself so critical of other women.

And as soon as they opened up and I heard anything about their childhood, I immediately loved them because I was like, oh my God, this explains so much. This is why you are the way you are. And then that's how my mindset is with trolls. I'm just like, you poor thing. Yeah. I feel so sorry for whatever life you've had to live that you are in this position where you're not taking your win. and like doing something with your life, you are actually just sitting at home miserable,

being angry at other people's wins. And watching other people do the things that you wish you would do. And you wish, exactly. I don't know if you feel this way, but like, again, with my book, I'm like, anyone who doesn't like something about me or feels like that is unrealistic or anything negative. I'm like, you realize that everything I have

is available to everyone. I have nothing special. And I'm sure that you probably think like to the women who might be negative, like you realize you can go and try out for these shows. You can go do dancing when it starts. You can change your life. You can start a business. You can people would rather disparage someone else than take the risk of going to do something big and failing.

Like if you don't fail, you're not even trying. Well, it's the people who succeed are the people who are not afraid to fail and do it over and over again until they succeed. That's the secret to all of this is if you're afraid to embarrass yourself and you're afraid of to get negative pushback from other people. Like you are losing before you even start. Because at the end of the day, your opinion of yourself is the only opinion. that matters. Yeah. We all get caught up in it. I don't want to see people talk shit about me. Right. But they will. This guy sent me a guy sent me this really nice email like to my to my business website of all places. So strange. But he's like, hey, I worked with you during this period and I got to be

honest. I'm really sorry. I thought you were a real dick. And he's like, I really didn't like you. And I wasn't very nice to you. But I'm so sorry. I had no idea what you were going through and what you had gone through. And I'm so proud of everything. It was like the nicest thing ever. part of me was like, yeah, you were a dick. I ought to punch you in your face. But then I was like, with the power of an apology. Exactly. That's like one of my favorite things. If I choose to respond to somebody and I genuinely want to know where they're coming from or if they're okay in life, if I ever say something back to someone who said something nasty, I go, hey, I see you have like a daughter in your profile and I'm somebody's daughter and I'm just out here trying

to live an honest life and be myself. What would you say if somebody hated on your daughter for just being true to herself. And like that usually does something. And it either goes one of two ways where they go like, yeah, my daughter would never be you. Or they go, oh my gosh, I think of you as like, you know, a character that's not even a real person like and they'll apologize. And I feel so much better. And then I feel like maybe I stop them from going ahead and bullying another person. Like maybe those small little wins are big wins. I agree. I had a guy one time say a bunch of nasty shit to me and I look at his profile and it's like has like a Bible. over us in it and he's got pictures of his kids and I'm like, brother, this is not very Christian of you,

especially. I mean, what would you say if your kids saw this comment? Look at how I talked badly about this guy. What have I done to offend you? Yeah. And it was literally something like, some guy sent me a message yesterday. Like, I hate you. You have nothing on Goggins.

I thought it was a goof. I wrote back on the DM. That was the only comment. I go, you hate me? Question you? He's like, I hate you more than anyone on the Instagram. David Goggins will kill you. I'm like.

Oh, those people scare me, though. scare me. So all I could do is be like, if I ever saw you, I'd beat the shit out of you and David Gagons and then blocked him before he could respond. And for the record, I don't know David Gargans and he seems like a nice guy. That is so funny. That's sometimes I love a mic drop into a block and I'm like, ha ha. Exactly. Exactly. I sent him a singer and then blocked him. I know. And some people go like, oh, you know, when they go low, you go high and like, no, no, no, no. Sometimes I love. Sometimes I kick them in the balls and then dip. And then it makes me go high again because then I go, okay, well, I couldn't have hit that high without going there low.

Another great one is when someone says something really shitty that's completely out of line, screenshot it with their name, posted on my story, and be like, look at this. Yeah. And people are like, listen, I've never bought followers. Everything I have is organic. I'm not trying to like be anything but myself. And when I post stuff like that, the people that are my friends go ballast. They're like, this guy sucks and they start tagging him and everything.

And I'm like, I hope you're having a great day. I know. That's what I always say, let's send this person some love. They clearly need like a prayer. And they get anything but love. Yeah. Yeah. It's, I love being petty sometimes.

I think that's totally okay. I have a question just going backwards for a second because I was talking about the two like going from one addiction to another. Do you think there's danger in swapping one obsession for another? Yes. Okay. Tell me. Yeah. I think you can be completely obsessed, miss a lot of important things in life.

But whether it's right or wrong, my justification for exercising the way I do is that your mental and physical health is your number one. responsibility. It has to take priority to everything. Yeah. Because if you're not healthy and don't take care of yourself, there's a chance that someone else will have to take care of you for you. And I do not want my kids or my wife to have to do anything for me. So yes, can it come across as selfish? Definitely. And again, I don't profess to have the answer. Don't do what I do. Disclaimer. Ken has no answers. He's surviving. But I exercise like my life depends on it and I prioritize it over everything. But like if we go as an example, we take the kid skiing. I get up at 4.30 in the morning and run up and down the mountain in Aspen in the freezing cold with my whole ski suit on with goggles in a blizzard.

But when I get that done, I'm like, I'm done for the day. I'm going to have so much fun. I'm going to eat burgers for lunch. Yeah. I'm going to like have fun. But why do you think doing things hard, that physically hard, like running up and down a mountain in Aspen at 430 in the morning? How about up and down the driveway at onsite for 10 miles in the pitch dark in January? No. I couldn't see anything and I'm running up and down a driveway. like this. But what is the, what is that proving to yourself? Does it actually change the like dopamine for you or you act? It makes you happy or what is it that like changes you mentally doing that? You pick your heart and you choose very hard things to do. Because when I haven't, I've behaved like

a complete loser. So this really does take you out of that. It's like my kind of like my personal or self-regulation. It's like I know that for that time I'm going to feel good about myself. And the feeling people always say, do you get a runner's high? I'm like, Yes, as soon as I'm done running, I feel high. Really? But I don't enjoy one step of it. You're kidding. I'm suffering the whole time.

You're kidding. For the most part. I mean, if I run with like, I have friends, we have mutual friends that I run with. Yeah. I feel great. We have great conversations and it's fun. That I like. Because we're also running at a conversational pace.

Right. But when I'm, you know, when I'm working, I'm like, I'm at work. What are you listening to? Music, podcasts? Most of the time, podcasts and audiobooks. Ah. What do you like to learn about? Like, what is your podcast of choice?

I love listening to guys tell military stories about military operations, like raids on, like getting Obama or bin Laden or when they got Maduro down in Venice. I just like the operational aspect of military. I missed my calling. I should have been in the military. But so now I live vicariously. I could definitely see you doing that. What's the guy's name who actually shot Obama? Like he was the-Rab O'Neill.

Yes. He was a huge bachelor fan and I went to a Dallas Cowboys football game with him. I'm not surprised. I think a lot of people are into different shows. for the longest time. But isn't that such a funny thought? No, I think it's,

I think it's, it's just a matter of who wants to be honest about it. Like, especially- He goes and kills Osama and then he watches Bacheloret at night. Like, I used to watch, um,

the real housewives with my wife all the time. But then that stuff got, it got to the point where I was like, this is poisonous. These people, the way these people behave, the way these people behave is disgusting. Tell me about it.

The emphasis on material shit and the pettiness. I can't imagine grown women treating each other the way those women treat each other on all of the shows. I'm like, grow up. Not only are you behaving like that, but there's a camera on you. Grow up. I always think that.

Like even when I was on Bachelor and Bachelorette when people were behaving a certain way, I'd be like, you guys, there's cameras everywhere. Like this is going to play out on TV. 100%. It would like blow my mind. You know what I think about when people want certain material possessions or someone's like, I really want this watch. And listen, I like material stuff.

I like a nice car. I like a watch that. I do. Yeah. But one of the things that I say is if someone, if I catch myself obsessing about something. or someone else, I always think, let's just say it's a watch. I really want this watch, man.

I love that watch. And then you think, what's going to happen when I get that watch? And having had some nice things, I know that for the first week or two, and you probably know this too, for a first week or two, you're like, look at this thing is so awesome. Eventually, the novelty wears off. It just becomes a watch. It becomes more of a burden where you're like, where did I leave it? I got to think about where I parked my car because it's nice.

I don't want anything to bang it. And you're like, what the fuck am I doing? And why do I want this? Do I want other people to validate me and be like, oh, my God, look at how. expensive his watches. Right. And then the truth is, anyone that would be impressed by that, I don't even want to be friends with them. I have the same run through of that kind of shit in my head all the time. Because even when I'm driving, my 74 Bronco that I'm obsessed with, I always think, God, this is so embarrassing. People probably look at me and think I think I'm so cool.

But really, I'm just like, that was a dream car of mine since 2011. And I worked so hard. And it was like when I got that, it was such an accomplishment for me. And I was so proud of it. Yet, here I am embarrassed to drive it. Because I'm like, people probably think like, Oh, you think you're cool and you're Bronco? I'm like, no, I just this is my dream car. Like I'm like, yeah, I think I'm real cool. I'm going to even think about what I'm wearing in it. I want to wear my cowboy hat.

I had a, I love BMW M5 and I had one when I first moved here. And Dustin Porre, the UFC fighter, he was here visiting me and we went to dinner with our wives. And we pulled up to Eddie V's on Broadway and we go to get out of the car. And like four like college age redneck kids pull up next to us. And the kid leans out of the car like real close to my face. He's like, that car's a piece of shit. I'm like, the car that's like my greatest source of pride and now you want to sell the.

And of course, I was like, get out of that fucking car. And I'm like this. And then we were laughing afterwards. And my wife's like, can you imagine if those guys got out and realized that they were fighting with you and Dustin Gloria? Yeah, seriously. Like interim UFC champion. And he was laughing too. He's like, oh my God, that would have been so funny if those guys got out of the car.

They would have been hit with left and rights so many times. They would know what hit them. Seriously, it would just be like two seconds of a bit bitting but down by. But to your point, someone's like the car, like the car was so nice. that someone felt a need to be like, Doc, I don't want you to think you're better than anyone else. Let me remind you, you're a piece of shit, and so is your car. I'm like, Jesus.

I wish I could just like ignore that stuff, but I had to like attack. Well, it is who you are. You're being true to yourself. That's very true. Again, disclaimer, don't be like me. Well, I think it's important to learn lessons also from other people and not make the same mistakes. You're here to show us what we shouldn't do. All joking aside, that's what I'm doing.

Like, someone asked me like, oh, you're. parents going to be upset about the book. I'm like, this whole book is like self-deprecation about myself. Yes. I talk about the things that happened to me that were the most embarrassing things in my life, the entire football field at my own high schools chanting that I suck in the biggest game of the year. I wanted to kill myself.

I was literally like suicidal after that. I'm like, I cannot believe. I'm the quarterback of the football team. I should be the hero. And now the whole fucking stadium is chanting right out sucks. Oh, my God. So writing about that in there, writing about getting. cut from the hockey team, it was mortifying.

Yeah. But my hope in telling this is like, people who don't know me and only know me from Instagram could easily paint a picture of that I have a life that maybe someone would admire. But I say, if you think that anyone is perfect and that anyone has this like ideal life, like, grow up. Instagram's a highlight real. No one's posting in their bloopers.

I'm so sick of people online who don't have any level of self-deprecation. I can't handle. I've dated people like that. I've seen friends turn on Instagram and do that. And I'm just like, I have that such a hard time just showing up in general on social media lately. Yeah. Because I'm like, I feel like I'm trying too hard even when I'm self-deprecating because I'm like, am I doing this as performative or am I actually showing up authentically?

And I get that sometimes I just throw my phone and go like, I can't even do it. I agree. Every time I, if someone asks me to record an ad or something and talk to the camera, I'm like, I hate talking to the camera. I very rarely do it because I'm like, I feel like such a narcissist. Yeah. I get it. Like I actually enjoy talking to the camera, but I feel like I've lost the joy for it because of just like being so overwhelmed with people online at all times.

And like everyone's trying too hard to be someone. Well, if I can give you some advice, I would say, stop worrying about them. Keep doing what you're doing for you. Look at the brand that you've built for yourself. Look at the life that you've built for yourself. Yeah. Stop worrying about the three people that are talking shit and think about the three million that actually like you. But it's almost this person.

I like judging myself. I know. But you're letting the. these other haters influence you. Jelly Roll said this to me one time. He's my friend. He said, I said, look at this motherfucker.

Look what this guy said to me. I'm going to say, he goes, hold on. Let me see that. He goes, there's like 15 comments. 14 of them are awesome. And one guy said something negative. Unless you respond to the 14 awesome ones,

don't you dare respond to the one hater. You're insulting everyone else. And that's what I say the same thing to you. Your haters are very loud. Yeah. If I hear them, I'm like, oh, she must be driving. this must be hurting her because it hurts me because I'm like, she's my friend.

Like, why the fuck you're doing this? But recognize those people are deeply, deeply flawed and keep doing the things that you're doing that are working. You don't have this show, these brand deals, the wine, the TV shows, if more people don't like you than dislike you. Right. So if you keep that in mind and just be like, you know what, you could walk on water. There's going to be people that will tell you it's because you can't swim.

Right. You could cure cancer. They'd be like, she's a bitch. Yeah. She's done this. I bet she uses Botox like, who gives the fuck? What do you care? If you think, when you walked in her, I was going to say, wow, I always hesitate because

if I say to someone like, wow, you look so pretty, my wife's like, people might take that the wrong way. And I'm like, I don't care. I want to, if someone tells me I look good, I'm so happy. Yeah, I'm stoked. But when you walked in, I was like, wow, you look so pretty. So if someone says, she did this, she did that. I'd be like, you should ask her exactly what she did because whatever she did is working.

She's very pretty. That's so kind. All right, I personally feel like the hardest part about working out. It's not in the workout. It's the mental load of it all, like figuring out what to do, how to do it, how long to do it for. If you're doing it right, sometimes I feel like that's enough to just make you just skip it all together and be like whatever. But that's why Tonal makes it so much easier to actually stay consistent. It's a full strength training system and personal trainer built into one sleek setup right in your home.

So you start with a quick assessment and Tonal sets the perfect weight for you. then adjusts as you get stronger literally down to the pound so you're always being pushed but never guessing and it gives you this is one of my favorite parts the real-time coaching cues because while you're working out they're literally coaching you through it and i love it because you don't have to second guess your form or if you're doing something wrong and there are also so many different workouts literally so many different workouts to choose from there's strength arrow hit yoga mobility so you can switch it up depending on your mood and it just takes the overthinking out of working out and lets you focus on actually seeing results i love my tonal So right now, Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your tonal purchase with promo code Vine. That's tonal.com and use promo code Vine for $200 off your purchase. Tonal.com promo code Vine for $200 off. I really didn't know the power of exercise mentally and physically, obviously, until I started lifting weights. Yeah.

And it took me a full year to even see any results. And I was like, I don't care because how it made me feel mentally. I was like, this is so good for my body dysmorphia because I am leaving here feeling so strong, not caring as much what my body looks like, which then in turn, I always say once you work on the inside mentally and physically, the outside falls into place. And it's just like, I always want to tell people like they can do it too because your whole mindset and everything that you write about and everything about who you are, you really think anyone is capable of changing their mindset like this. I know. I was not a tough kid. I was scared of my own shadow. I was, I've made a

made every mistake. I mean, I was a degenerate loser drug addict. I mean, I was making money. Okay, but I was faking my way through life. I wasn't happy. I was suicidal. Like, if you had $10 billion and you wanted to kill yourself, would you be winning? Like, that's not winning. Right. So if I could turn this around and become the person I am today, anyone can. And to women out there are thinking about lifting weights. Like, I always laugh when people like, I don't want to lift weights. I don't want to get too big. If lifting weights and getting huge was that easy, every single guy you know would be a bodybuilder. Yeah. Yeah. And, but there's, is only one way to get, first of all, muscle is the organ of longevity.

If you want to live a long time, you have to have muscle. It's not up for debate. You have to have grip strength. You have to be able to do squats. So if you go into the- I did a dead hang for two minutes this morning. That's awesome. Yeah. I try to do it. I don't even know if I could do it for two minutes. I can do 20 pull-ups, but I don't know if I can do I can do one pull-up, but I can hold myself up. That's a huge measure of longevity is grip, strengthen and dead hang. Don't they say that you should be able to put your suitcase up above? For sure, you should be able to do that.

Yeah. But if you want to live a long, healthy life, you have to be lifting weights. And as you know, you lifted weights for a year, didn't see a difference. When you go to the gym and lift weights to everyone, the weightlifting session should be intense. It doesn't have to be long, but it should be very uncomfortable. If you're doing like tricet pushdowns and talking to someone, you are not working hard enough. Agreed. It has to be like, right.

No, I'm like, I go into psycho mode when I work out. Do you know who Kevin Klug is? I know the name. Clug Fitness. He like, Oh, yeah, yes, yes. Yeah, he trains me twice a week. And I'm like, I walk out of there thinking I'm a bro.

Like I'm like, I can fucking even up. I'm so strong. Like I leave him feeling like I could do anything because we do not talk. We blare like 90s rock, screaming music. And he just puts me to work. And I love it. The best thing you can do when you're going into a workout if you're not feeling it is just do some jumping up and down jumping jack, swinging your arms around, acting a bit crazy. But move your body like frantically to warm it up and like get your nervous system ready for it.

Let's go. It's time. Because like, you know, I always lift weights in the afternoon and I'm running in the morning. So I'm always tired when I go in there. But as soon as I get my body aroused and woken up, I'm like, okay, it's time. And all these little things work. But you have to bring that kind of intensity and that kind of like focus. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.

You won't see gains. It has to be a little bit more uncomfortable. But if you do do that, you will notice yourself get stronger quickly. I did. And I've now been doing it for six years. And I'm just like, I consider myself a beast. And I love it. I feel so strong.

And he always says to me, shut your fucking brain off and let's get weird. And I'm like, me, ugh. Well, listen, whatever you think about yourself, it's true. If you think you're a loser and you're lazy and you're weak, then maybe you are. Yeah. But if you think you're a loser. a beast while you're in the gym. What do you care?

Your opinion is the only one that matters and you can convince yourself of anything. Self-talk is very powerful. I mean, people will talk themselves into killing themselves. I know. I know. So the same way the power of the inner voice is so strong,

you can also use it for good and be like, I'm a killer. I'm getting them. I've done it races. I mean, I did it for winning the mirror ball. I was like, I,

you know I can do this. Like I went, I just go into a mode where like nobody can stop me. And then I go into other modes. where like everyone could stop me and I'm a little bench in the corner crying. That's exactly right. But you got to just get out of that. Like for people who are listening, maybe they're not addicts, but they're stuck.

Yeah. And what do you think the first thing they need to change is their habits or their mindset? Like what's the first shift? The first thing when it comes to do's and don'ts is cut out the don'ts. So if you're making bad decisions, if you're eating bad food, like cut the don'ts out, just stop doing the things that you know to be counterproductive. And the next thing is to do is like, I'm not a rah, ra guy. I don't need to like, if I scream and yell at you at the gym and like in the moment,

okay, that's good. That's good motivation. Uh-huh. But discipline comes from like in your heart. It's at your core. The discipline is like, I posted a video a few months ago. Remember we had, I mean, obviously you know the ice storm. The first day of that ice storm, I was out running and I had to do a 15 mile run and I had

a longer beard. And when I stopped, it's, I mean, it's raining, snowing. So I stopped and I turned on the camera. I'm like, all right, 15 miles down. I didn't realize it until I looked at the video. My beard was covered with ice like this. I looked like a crazy person. I had a hood on.

It was the like most, it was the craziest video. It was got the most response of any video I've opposed to because people are like, okay, he's crazy. But I was like, I had to do this. And here's the thing. If I don't do this today, the way it's snowing and what's coming and the cold that's coming, I'm not going to be able to get outside for a few days. So I ran on the treadmill for three days because it was treacherous.

Right. My branches were falling as I was running. I couldn't even let my dogs out to go to the bathroom because they had to like pee on the like right outside the door where it was covered because the trees falling. It was crazy. It was like Armageddon here. Yeah, it really was. The point is like that comes from discipline.

Motivation ain't getting me out there. I didn't want to do that. I hated every step of it. But the discipline that I have and the rewards that I've received for being disciplined kept me going. But that isn't a screaming rah-rah cheerleader. You have to be your own cheerleader. And it's a quiet discipline like a ninja.

Like I get up. Oh, I don't want to run today. And then there's that quiet like alpha voice that's like, mother, you're running. Yeah. Don't let's not do this the hard way. Yeah. And that voice, you know, maybe in the beginning of my journey was like 50 and a half percent

to 49 and a half beta of like, oh, I don't want to run. I don't feel good. My leg hurts. My bum hurts. I don't want to do anything. And then this voice just now is like, this is the only voice that's like, it's not a debate, dude. You're going.

So don't even like, I don't even. My mind doesn't even go to like, should I run? Unless I'm really sick or injured. I'm going. I am not an early bird. I do not like mornings. I am such, I'm more of a night owl, even though I still go to bed like eight. I did not get any sleep last night.

I have like the worst cramps. I was like blacking out from pain. Oh my God. And I was like, you know what's going to make you feel better is moving your body. Yep. And those last thing I wanted to do, but I just didn't even hit snooze. I just got up. But there are other days where I'm like, I want people to also be like, okay, you could

take a day off. Definitely. I'll take a day off. But I think it's the mindset of being like, I always do the three, two, one. I just go three, two, one. And then I just get up. I don't know where I heard. that somebody said it either on a podcast or Instagram or whatever, but I was like, it's so simple

but so hard at the same time. You just go, if you don't want to get up and you don't want to get, you just count yourself down three, two, and you just don't give yourself another option. And I did that this morning. And what do you know? I felt so much better after. I mean, I still came home and complained about cramps and was like, I'm in pain. But I felt so much better. And I was like, wow, I can do anything. And I learned with Kevin, he doesn't give a fuck what you're going through. You're here to work and let me put you through it because it's going to make you feel better. doesn't care if you puke after or like what you're feeling. And I went in. I was like, oh, I'm still so sore from your Monday workout and like I'm on my period and my cramps. And he goes,

okay. Yeah. And then literally didn't change the thing. I think you might have pushed me harder. But I'm like, I like that. Yeah. Well, that's what everyone needs. And I don't even, I don't have a snooze button. I mean, if I set an alarm, which is rare, it's on my phone. And I don't, is, is there a snoo's function on the phone? Yeah. I don't know. I just, I just get up. Oh, I'm a victim to the snooze. I get up. I'm like, And the other thing is I'm always so sore when I wake up my wife's like, wouldn't you like to wake up and not be sore? I'm like, oh my God, people do that? I don't like waking up not sore because that means I didn't work hard. Well, I don't think that I've ever done it in like five years.

But just getting- Also, running will really do it a number on your body. A piece to hell out of my body. I'm almost 55 years old. Okay, I really didn't think I could be influenced into loving a yet another hoodie. But here we are. You all know that one piece in your closet that you just keep reaching for no matter what. Like you wear it on repeat. throw it in your suitcase, grab it for errands, lounging, everything that is officially this pack a hoodie for me.

The material. It's made from alpaca fiber, which I'd never tried before, but it's actually softer than cashmere, and it's warmer than wool, and then somehow still breathable, so you're not overheating, but you're also never cold? I don't know, it's kind of the perfect balance. And it's actually made for real life. So thermo-regulating, it's odor resistant, super durable, not one of those hoodies that just loses its shape after a couple washes. I always wear mine. I wear it non-stop. Around the house, outrunning errands, even traveling.

I love it to travel in. I'm sure all the people on my socials have seen me wear it do. I feel like there's no shame in my pocket game. I wear it every day all day, so I'll just say that. And also, I love that each piece is made in Peru and comes with its own little hand-wven inka idea, which connects it back to the artisans who made it. How cute is that?

It just feels, I don't know, a little more meaningful than your average hoodie as well. So if you've been wanting to upgrade your go-to hoodie, this is it. To grab your PACA hoodie, go to www.pacca apparel.com. That's www.p.p.a-a-a-apparel.com. What were you doing before you were on TV? I was teaching spin classes and working at a restaurant. Exactly. Yeah.

So you were getting by, but you were far from wealthy. Oh, my gosh. I didn't even have, I couldn't get a credit card to be approved because I had no credit. And you're in Canada, right? Yeah. I have a friend called Nick Woodhouse, who was the owner of Authentic Brands Group. They owned Reeboks, Forever 21, Brooks Brothers, Champion, guest jeans. Yeah.

He was selling sneakers in a shoe store in Fort McMurray, Canada. Oh, my God. Hours north of like Edmonton. Oh, I know where Fort McMurray is. Yeah, that's where the guys are to work on the oil rigs. As an adult. Yeah, wow. He then comes down to the U.S., they buy,

this brand tap out and they eventually roll up all these brands and do these like royalty slash licensing deals for these big well established brand spider ski wear yeah i took my family ski and i told them i was going spider sent us like 10,000 dollars worth of uniforms for everyone that's they've been an awesome part so he initially was just a fan of the things i was doing and i had a partnership with rebuck who they owned this guy now lives in a house i don't want to embarrass him when i was there he's like someone just offered me 65 million dollars for my house $65 million. His house, in his wife's closet, I hope he doesn't get mad at me, Nick, I'm sorry, is a Chanel

store. They get invited to the front row of the Chanel store in Paris, burkin bags, floor to ceiling. He's, we go in his bathroom. I'm like, this is insane. He's like, yeah, it's modeled after the Tom Ford store on Fifth Avenue. And that's what it looked like. That would scare me. I would be like someone's definitely breaking in and murdering me and robbing me.

one of the only gated communities in Miami on the water, big Rivas yacht, like so big that you need a crew. Like, again, as an adult, selling sneakers in a, not his own shoe store, a sneaker sales. He moved down to the U.S., started working in fashion, him and a partner, Jamie Salser. They bought tap out, took a bath, raised a little bit of money. I don't know what they bought next, but they would eventually buy Reebok Brooks Brothers forever 21, want juicy coutor. Oh my gosh. They own everything.

And now it's like, it's like multi-billion dollar business. That's unbelievable. And he is the nicest guy in the world. Oh, that makes it so much better. The nicest guy in the world. Wow. But I love him because he's like, he's into fashion. And like, you know, if you didn't know him, you could easily dislike and be like,

this guy has everything like. Right. Right. You know, Louis Vuitton, the cool looking colored duffel bags, like always like the coolest stuff. Yeah. Like he was at the Chanel store and he had like a Chanel pocket chain to a wallet. And I was like, I notice every little detail.

And I'm like, dude, I am obsessed with that. I wouldn't wear it, but I love it on you. And he's like, I just like shit like that. But Nick Woodhouse, best guy in the world. Oh, I love that. Can you please tell Jellyroll that he is on my vision board for podcast guests? Yes. He's literally, I'll show you up when we go downstairs.

I have a framed photo that says in my 2026 favorite guest does. And it like that it's a picture. of him because I'm just manifesting. Have you had Bunny X-O on? I would love to. I would take her and then him both together. I don't care. I'm obsessed with her. Have you reached out? Yes. She was going to come on my podcast once or I was going to go on hers. I can't remember what happened, but something happened. And then we were like, oh, we'll revisit and then we haven't. Philip Franklin Lee, who owns sushi by scratch. I interviewed him last night on my podcast. What a incredible story. But they have a restaurant. He has the burger joint in Jelly's restaurant downtown. They had a ribbon cutting ceremony today at a

new burger spot in the gallery downtown. So Philip is here, and so I might go see them later. So he might be there. Tell jelly, I said. All right. Done. I said it.

Last question about your book. I just feel like writing, obviously, what you've written about is so personal. Was there anything you were scared to include? It wasn't that I was scared to include it. It was just embarrassing. Like,

I don't want to talk about people saying I suck. I don't want to talk about getting cut from the hockey team. Like, that's why I say, like if someone's offended by something in the book, I think I look like the worst. idiot in the book. I mean, I talk about the addiction. I don't want to talk about that stuff. I want to talk about winning races and being the best. I'm the best. Look at me. But you don't get to

appreciate how important those wins are without understanding the losses and especially all the self-inflicted wounds. Yeah. Was that the hardest probably to write about is, yeah. That stuff is embarrassing. Like, eventually I talked about it so much and it was so prevalent in my mind that eventually I was like, I just had accepted it. But when friends were reading it, there was, like, dude, I can't believe the guts to write all this stuff. And I didn't even, I was so taken aback. I wouldn't even ask them what they were referring to. I was just like, oh, you know, it's just my story.

But I remember distinctly one of my friends being like, man, I would never have had the guts to talk about some of those things. And I'm like, oh, my God, is it that bad? Yeah, is this bad? But the way, the reason that I was able to get cool with the manuscript when it was finished as my wife read it. And she's like, this is awesome. Wow. She read the last chapter I had sent it to her.

And I'm like, read this. I'm sitting in my office. She's sitting in the kitchen and I kind of hear her sobbing and I'm like, she knows the story. It's about when I won the world championships and I come out and I'm like, what's up? She's like, oh my God. I know everything that happens and I am on the edge of my seat. She's like, I want to run a marathon and my wife's like not interested. Yeah, yeah.

And she's like, this is so awesome. I feel like I could do anything. And I was like, it works. It's working. I said, my book agent was like, if they cry, they buy. Yeah. I love a book that makes me cry, especially out of like motivation. You will definitely cry.

Oh my God. When the race starts, it's like a big, I think it's the last chapter. When the race starts, like this, I'm standing on the start line. And the people in the age group world championships, we have numbers on our front and back. So I know you can identify the people your racing against within the Chicago Marathon. Obviously, there's the pro race. I'm not going to win the whole Chicago Marathon. But there is the race within the race.

And so you had to qualify the people that were in it. We had special numbers so you could identify each other. So I'm standing on the start lines purposely. So no one is in front of me. and the only people in my age group that are going to pass me have to run past me and I can identify them. I know I'm going to be in the top three. There's only one or two guys that have a chance.

And right out the gate guy I don't even know runs past me like I'm standing still. And I'm like, if that guys can run like that the whole day, and I don't want to be second. I've already been second. I don't care. I'm not there to participate. Yeah.

And then about halfway through this Belgian guy who won it the year before and my age group runs by. And a lot of these guys know me for whatever reason. And he's like, hey, what's up? Can't keep going. and I'm like, hey, there's a guy up the road in our age group, like, go get him. Like, you know, I'm trying to help him. At this point, I'm like, I want to step on your neck, but I'm not a bad sport.

Yeah, yeah. And he goes to get him and takes off. And this is at like, 13 miles. And I had so many moments of being like, I'm just going to throw in the towel. I'm just going to take it easy. You know, to run that fast, two, two, 29, two hours, 29 minutes and 10 seconds. Wow. Takes every ounce of effort.

That's insane. And you have to be on the gas the whole time. So the whole time you're on the limit, like, am I going to make it to the finish line? Right. Like it's going to be, you're like, you're burning matches. And I'm like, if I, please don't let me burn the last match until I cross the finish line. But when I cross the finish line, I want the match to be the whole book is on fire. Yeah.

So at 20 miles, I see the Belgian guy standing on the side of the road stretching his hamstring. And I'm like, oh, shit, he's out of it. Maybe I'll get second. Okay. Like the other guy had so far ahead. Then with like two miles ago, I see him. And I'm like, oh, I have a momentary anxiety attack because I'm like, now I have to go. And I'm already.

running as fast as I can. So it's not like I can just start sprinting. I already am sprinting. And I just, I dig in so deep and I just go past him. But when you pass someone when you're running in a race for the win, like in a competitive nature, you have to go by them where you take their will to fight. Like if you just waddle past them and they jump on you and you're going as fast as you can, like the person in front is doing a little bit more work than the person in back who's drafting. So as I go past him, I'm like, I have to go. I'm all in now. Yeah. And it's like a mile and a have two miles to go. And that's a long way when you've already run 20. I just start running. I get past him and I just keep going. And I don't hear his footsteps right behind me. I'm like,

oh my God, I don't think he's going with me. And you don't want to look back either because that's a sign that you're fading. And like you'll never see the guy who's passing and winning looking back until maybe the last like 10 yards when he's flying. Yeah. But looking back is a sign of distress to me. Whether it's true or not, I think that's a universal like takeaway. And as I turn to go, there was, you take a right turn in Chicago with about a little less than half a mile to go and then a left turn with about a tenth of a mile. And as I turn, I catch him and I'm like, oh, I got a decent leader. I'm like, I'm going to do this. But you're still like sprinting and I end up beating them by both of them by less than one minute.

And I wanted both of those guys had run three minutes faster than I'd ever run in my life the same year as that race. But on that day, like I said, there might be people that are faster in the world. But on that day, the guys in my age group, I beat them. and I shouldn't have. Wow. But I just, if I didn't keep that mindset of like, no, have some integrity, have some character. You did all this training. Maybe you can run on your best time ever, which was like 228 in change.

So I was close. And I was rewarded with the win. And I was like, oh, my God. And I called my wife. And I don't think she realized the gravity of the race. She knew that all the races were important to me. And I had won four of the six world marathon majors for men over 50. So I had won Boston, Tokyo.

New York and then I went Chicago and I got second in Berlin and London. Because you win money for that too, right? In New York, I won the Masters 40 and over and I won like five grand or something. Oh, I thought I was born that. No, no, no, not a lot of money. I've won like three or four races. I've won a few thousand dollars. And I just framed the check.

I don't need the money. I just want the check. But when I call my wife, she's like, oh, my God, oh, you did it. Oh, good. You know, I was like, no, no, this was the World Championship race. This was the age group world championship. She was like, what? I had no idea.

I didn't know it was that big a deal. And I was like, well, I think maybe subconsciously I was so nervous because I had gotten second by less than a minute one time in London in this race. She was like, oh, my God, how happy are you? I said, I'm just, I'm not even happy. I'm just relieved. It's over. Yeah. It was like climbing a mountain.

You're like, oh, I did it. Yeah. Like, it took a while for me to like really appreciate it. Yeah. I was just happy it was over. That's wild. You've accomplished some pretty. You're a freak and I love you.

Thank you. That was like, that was the most genuine thing that just came out of my mouth. I was just like I had to say it. It's amazing. You are like, you really do make me feel like I can be capable of anything too. What do you mean you can be capable? Look at what you've done for yourself. Well, I need to remember that too.

You said you was teaching spinning working at a restaurant. Now you have a podcast and you won dance. Is that dancing with the stars? Like look at all the things that you've done. Look at the house that you're living in. I do have a life that people would kill for. I do try. Actually, not try.

I daily remind myself how proud I am of myself because I, I do a lot of inner child work. And I was like, your even 15 year old self would be like, we did it. Just getting in your car and being like, you're Bronco. Like, look at this. We have it. Yeah. But that's what I mean.

It's so easy to take this stuff for granted. And for the record, only freaks overachieve. Only weirdos do big things. Normal people do normal things. Yeah. I was saying this to someone the other day. Who was I talking to? I was talking to, oh, Louisa Nicola.

She's a, uh, not a neurosurgeon. a neurophysiologist. She does neurosurgery with a neurosurgeon. Okay. I was like, man, you are a lot. And she was like, what do you mean by that? I'm like, no, no, I mean it as a compliment. Like, if you weren't, you'd just be another neurosurge.

You'd just be another neuro person. But it takes a big person. It takes abnormal people to do abnormal things. Yeah, yeah. Think about every person who's wildly successful. You think Jeff Bezos is a normal guy? No. Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Porrier, Dana White.

These people are not normal. No. Whether you like it or not, you, you can. can't be normal and expect to have like abnormal results. No, that's like like Dave Portnoy, for example. I'm like, what the fuck is wrong with you? And I'm like, you're awesome. I love it.

It's in the same thought. I'm like, what's wrong with you? And you're a genius. He's a genius. And I love that people hate him so passionately. I'm like, I love it. I love even the things that I hate. I'm like.

Totally. I respect it. Yes. Because he doesn't care. Yeah, he doesn't give up. That's a guy who does not care. I strive to give as little fucks as he does in. life. And then the girl, the Alex, um, the one who did, um, call her daddy. Oh, Alex Cooper. Yeah. Yeah. Like she was just,

she was just a random chick who had a podcast on the bar stool network and now she's making like a hundred plus million dollars. Like, why not you? Like what I say to any girls or any women or any guys, they look like, why not you? What, what is so special about her? No, no disrespect to her. What's special about her? What's special about you? I'm telling you there's nothing special about me except what I think. Yeah. And guess what? Only you can decide what you think. Your mind is under your full control. One of the things as I've gone on this faith journey that always makes me a little bit emotional is there is like a passage

or I don't know what you would call it from something with Isaiah where the Lord says to someone, but who shall we send? Who will go? Like they have to go on some crazy mission. And I don't know who it was, but someone says, here am I, send me.

And that's what I think about. So Shelby's going for her last surgery for her breast cancer. And I said to her the other day, I'm like, and again, if people aren't into faith, keep fast forward. But I say to people that are into faith, like God only gives the people that can handle these challenges, the challenges. And if you think about it like that, it's a little bit easier to handle it. It's like, yeah, that's right.

I can handle this. I got this because it sucks. But it's like the people that has talk shit on the internet. God doesn't give that to the people that can't handle it. That might not be able to like cope with that emotionally, but they know you can. So they're like, here, have some of this. That's true. And it's a way of keeping you like on.

on the hustle on the grind and appreciating what you what you have it's like in a weird way you have to be grateful for your haters and the adversity it sucks no i hear you i i actually totally agree with that and like even your wife's health and everything she's gone through like it always stories like that put things into perspective too like you know she's such a she's such a warrior in so many ways and like even just a mother for kids and then stick through all of your bullshit that's right it's true She's a freaking warrior. And I just respect, I respect both of you so much. And I'm so happy you came on the podcast.

And I want everyone to know where they can find you on social media and find your book. Well, the book is available everywhere you buy books, national bestseller. Everything you want is on the other side of heart. It's killing it. Killing it. Yeah. It's the impact that's having on people, the notes that I have. I mean, even the blurbs.

Like I have a quote on the cover from Andrew Huberman. I have a quote from Reggie Miller, the NBA superstar, Dustin Porre, Tray Hardy, Sehill Bloom. I mean, there are so many. Gabby Reese, so many, like, awesome people gave me blurbs for the book, which I don't take for granted. But it's just very, very surreal. But it's available everywhere. Amazon, Audible. I read the audiobook myself.

People are enjoying that with my, I guess I have an accent. Yeah, you've lost an accent. I would love hearing your stories and the way you tell them to and your accent, yes. I love an audiobook. Yeah. Well, it's doing really well. And so that's it. And then I'm on Instagram.

It's really the only social media platform that I use Ken Rideout. I think that's what it is. Amazing. Well, thank you so much. And thank you for being so vulnerable in your book and sharing all the things that you didn't want to share but you did anyways because it's part of your story. Well, thank you for having me.

And I don't take it for granted that you allow me to share my story with your incredible audience. And obviously you have built an incredible platform. And to all the Off the Vine fans, I say, thank you. Please love me. They will. They will. Pluto TV has thousands of free movies and TV shows.

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