logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2019
2h 25m

You Can’t Hurt David Goggins: Going Beyo...

Rich Roll
About this episode



“You have to go to war with yourself before you can find peace”

David Goggins



I can think of no better guest to usher in 2019 than the mighty one himself.

Incontrovertibly the most inspirational person I have ever met, today David Goggins returns for his second turn on the podcast — a conversation that will catapult you into the new year with the tools and hard truth you need to chase huge dreams, shatter personal limits and transform your life wholesale.

Often referred to as the hardest man alive, David is the only member of the US Armed Forces to complete SEAL training (including three Hell Weeks), the U.S. Army Ranger School (where he graduated as Enlisted Honor Man) and Air Force Tactical Air Controller Training.

But David is perhaps best known for his superhuman feats of strength and ultra-endurance.

After several of his friends died in a 2005 helicopter crash while deployed in Afghanistan, David honored their memory by tackling the most difficult endurance challenges on Earth to raise funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college scholarships and grants to the children of fallen special ops soldiers.

Hence began a most unexpected yet remarkably storied athletic career as one of the world's most accomplished endurance athletes. Highlights include:


* 2005: ran 100 miles in under 24 hours on no training;

* 2013: world record for most pullups in a 24 hour period (4,030);

* 2007: 3rd place — Badwater 135 – a 135 mile ultramarathon across Death Valley widely considered to be the world’s most difficult foot race;

* 2006: 2nd place — Ultraman World Championships, a double-ironman distance race widely considered to be the world's most difficult triathlon;

* 2007: 1st place — 48-Hour National Championship endurance foot race, where he ran 203.5 miles, beating the previous record by 20 miles; and

* 2007 – 2016 — additional top finishes at dozens of the world's most grueling endurance races, including The HURT 100, Leadville 100, Western States & more.



But David’s greatest accomplishment isn't athletic. It's self-mastery.

From day one, David has faced a concatenation of seemingly insurmountable obstacles – poverty, psychological and physical abuse, obesity, learning disabilities, asthma, sickle cell anemia, and even a congenital heart defect that often left him competing — and winning — on a mere fraction of his actual physical capabilities. It's a scenario that would have buried the best of us. And yet, against all odds, David conquered them all, and ultimately found a way out.

It's the story of a man who transformed pain into obsession and, phoenix-like, rose from a state of utter desperation to take complete ownership of his life and total command of his mind to manifest a most extraordinary life.

David's implausible journey is laid bare in his recently released memoir, Can't Hurt Me* — one of the most honest, powerful and impactful stories of hardship, redemption and personal perseverance I have ever read. Certain books instruct. Others inspire. But it's the rare read that holds the potential to reframe your sense of personal capability and completely change your life. This book does just that — a statement I don't make lightly. I highly suggest



See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Up next
May 2022
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz On All Things Microbiome: Heal Your Gut, Sidestep Disease & Thrive
One of the most popular guests in the history of this podcast, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz ‘Dr. B' joined me back on episode #538 for a deep dive on the gut and honing our immune systems. Today we dive even deeper with a comprehensive investigation of the microbiome, why it’s important, ... Show More
3h 3m
May 2022
Roll On: Kristian Blummenfelt, The Ministry of Truth, & Sustainable Self-Growth
Welcome to another edition of ‘Roll On’, wherein Rich Roll and journalist & author Adam Skolnick riff on matters of interest across sports, culture, entertainment, and self-betterment.  Specific topics discussed in today’s episode include:Adam's latest NYT piece A Free Diver’s Tr ... Show More
1h 46m
May 2022
Gemma Newman, MD On Optimizing Hormone Health
Today’s episode explores nutrition, lifestyle  and overall well-being with a particular focus on hormone health – particularly (but not exclusively) women’s hormone health, aging, and reproductive care – with Gemma Newman., MD. A Senior Partner at a family medicine practice in th ... Show More
2h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2019
You Can’t Hurt David Goggins: Going Beyond Motivation & Why Mindset Is Everything
“You have to go to war with yourself before you can find peace” David Goggins I can think of no better guest to usher in 2019 than the mighty one himself. Incontrovertibly the most inspirational person I have ever met, today David Goggins returns for his second turn on the podcas ... Show More
2h 24m
Nov 2023
REPROGRAMMING Your Mind for Success with THE 40% RULE | David Goggins
This week on The School of Greatness podcast, I had the pleasure of sharing my conversation with David Goggins, someone who has mastered the art of pain and embracing his discomfort zone. Your brain is the most complex organ in your body. It needs to be pushed, tested, and challe ... Show More
1h 15m
Jun 2022
Take Control Of Your Life & Never Be Lazy Again EP 1280
Dean Karnazes has been named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World" by TIME magazine, was hailed one of the fittest men on the planet by Men’s Fitness. and was called "A real superhuman" by Marvel Comics fame Stan Lee. An acclaimed endurance athlete and NY Time ... Show More
1h 33m
Mar 2020
Can't Hurt Me Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds Part 1 of 2
For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare—poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US A ... Show More
7h 20m
Aug 2021
Courtney Dauwalter: Mindset Secrets From The World's Best Ultrarunner
We tend to think of high-performance athletes as superhuman—a rare species with extraordinary strength and a preternatural ability to suffer. But if you ask today’s guest what distinguishes the elite athlete and everyone else, she’ll say nothing. For her, the secret to high-level ... Show More
1h 46m
Dec 2021
RAAM Victor Leah Goldstein Turns Pain Into Fuel: Life Pivots & The Power of A No Quit, No Limit Attitude
What does it take to achieve the impossible? Don’t set limits. And never quit. Ever. The full embodiment of this ethos, today’s guest has never met an obstacle she couldn’t overcome, transcending every limit ever placed upon her. Her secret? Never give pain a voice. An extraordin ... Show More
2h 2m
Aug 2022
From Prison Guard to Endurance Star: Ken Rideout on Mindset, Non-Negotiables & Self-Accountability
The heart and soul of this podcast is personal transformation—and today’s story of metamorphosis is one of the most compelling, improbable, and inspirational tales I have ever heard. Narrating this epic saga is Ken Rideout, a guy who has transcended a litany of seemingly insurmou ... Show More
2h 16m
Nov 2023
Building High Value Relationships | David Goggins
Right now, we’d like to thank the sponsor of this episode: LifeMD. Looking to lose weight and improve your health? Embrace your journey towards a healthier and happier you, and achieve lasting sustainable weight loss with LifeMD by your side. Visit lifemd.com/CHARM to get started ... Show More
1h 21m
Jan 2023
#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life
David Goggins is a retired United States Navy SEAL, ultramarathon runner, triathlete, public speaker and an author. The ability to overcome challenges in life is one we will all need sooner or later. Make no mistake, discomfort is coming for you whether you're ready or not. Goggi ... Show More
1h 52m
Jan 2022
Joe De Sena On True Resilience, Choosing Your Hard & Why Discomfort Is Oxygen
We all have big dreams. But are you willing to pay the price required to make them manifest? There’s a big difference between those who quit and those who commit. At the core of that difference is one’s ability to tolerate discomfort. Discomfort is the price we pay for resilience ... Show More
1h 46m