Recommending Rich Roll
I want to recommend a podcast to you. This is actually the only podcast I save every time and the only one I never miss.
Have you heard of Rich Roll?
I don’t know if I would call his book, Finding Ultra, an autobiography … but it’s certainly a tale of the ordeal of finding one’s calling—and a tremendous introduction to the man himself.
Rich Roll is an ultra-marathoner/swimmer/cyclist/Ironman/you-name-it endurance athlete who hit his stride at age fifty-one. He’s also a husband and father, a passionate advocate of plant-based nutrition, and much much more.
But the guests and subject matter of his podcasts range far more widely than what I’ve just hinted at.
Just in the past few weeks he’s interviewed Matthew McConaughey, Adam Skolnick, David Goggins, not to mention his own wife Julie Piatt (the latest of multiple times), who’s a fascinating personage in her own right.
I love the podcasts because I’m totally in synch with Rich’s point of view, his passions, and his curiosity about events, about politics, about how to live in these insanely trying times. He gets the guests that I myself would like to talk to, and he asks them the questions that I would ask if I were there.
And Rich Roll himself is a fascinating personality. He’s been up, he’s been down, he’s been sideways. He has reinvented himself over and over. And I would say (I’m not sure he’d agree) that in his mid-fifties he’s at the top of his game.
Myself, I’m not a podcaster. I never will be. I would not be good at it. But I love the idea of sitting across a table from an eclectic range of fascinating men and women … and digging into their heads to find out what they’re thinking right now, how they live their lives, what they feel about what’s going on in the world, and how they are taking action (or not) within all these spheres.
That’s the Rich Roll podcast. There are a lot of terrific podcasts out there, but his is the one I never miss.
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
Thanks for this recommendation, but I have to disagree that you wouldn’t be good at podcasting – we’d all tune in to listen!
Okay, on your recommendation. I scrolled through the list and see the guy does have some impressive guests.
I downloaded the conversations with Charles Eisenstein (talking about his essay “The Coronation,” which introduced me to the thinking of Charles Eisenstein), Annaka Harris (married to Sam Harris, and talking about consciousness), and the Finn Tero Isokauppila, talking about “Healing Mushrooms.”
Long-form podcasts are great for getting the in-depth insights that one can’t get in a three-minute Good Morning America spot. But ouch… 2.5 hours? I’ve found that running playback at 1.5x speed is totally do-able, and if the person isn’t already talking like a farm auctioneer, 2.0x speed.
GottagonowIhaveworktodoandabouttwelvepodcaststolistento.
Yes! To Mr. Jansen.
And you, Steven, too — for the idea of Rich Roll. Anyone who rejects middle age is my kind of middle-ager.
Rich is great! Had him on my podcast a few years back.
I read his book Finding Ultra when it first came out. It is one of those books that just stays with you for life. Human’s can achieve so much by pushing past their comfort zone!
Humans…. not Human’s. Had to correct myself on a writers blog of all things. lol.
I hate ads popping up in my face, I generally read around them in traditional magazines/newspapers. I hate the ‘noise’ of shotgun marketing.
What do I love? I love to listen to the products people I trust are using, supporting, sponsoring, etc. Referent power inn the leadership/social science realm, is why this is so effective.
Rill Roll’s book is added, as is ‘The Practice’.
As for a Steven Pressfield podcast? I’m in Mary’s camp, I know I’d listen for sure.
bsn
Rich is an amazing guy. Having read almost all of your work, Steven, I can see why you would be drawn to him. To further embellish Rich’s story, I hired him to be my attorney for a movie project, a true story about two famous athletes, brothers in arms, who shared a radiant moment relived by fans across decades. These two great friends went in different directions, one becoming a homeless addict, the other a poster boy of right living. One saved the other. The story resonated deeply with Rich and he guided me through the processes of building a movie. I relate the background because at the time, Rich was at his nadir. He confided in me regarding his personal challenges. But I never perceived a gloom and doom, why me?, attitude. It was during the recession and the aftermath of 2009. My film didn’t work out but I am so glad to have seen the resurgent Rich accomplish so damn much and his sharing of his journey.
Wow, great story, Shep. Ups and down in our movies and books, major ups and downs in our lives. That’s what adds a dimension of depth to everything Rich does. Thanks for writing in.
My oldest son was a high functioning alcoholic like Rich, but two and half years ago made a fatal combination of a drug and alcohol. He was an English teacher and writer like his mom and he was one hell of a guitar player. I listen to Rich and think how fortunate he was to get to the other side. I am drawn to him because of his story and how he interviews people with such insight and caring. I always wish I could sit down and talk to him and I’d love to meet his parents.. When I heard the episode where he told so much of his story, even though painful, I still loved that he could be vulnerable enough to share it with his audience. He is remarkable. And I think his wife is too. I’m glad to hear your a fan too.
Hey Steven, first time commenting on your blog. I’ve signed up for your email list and this is the first Writing Wednesdays post. I never heard of Rich Roll but I’m going to listen to his podcast now. Thanks for the recommendation.
His podcast is the one I never miss!
2048
Rich Roll rocks! He is as real as a human being can get.
Have you heard of Dutch athlete Wim Hof?
Can recommend him, too.
Thank you very much for this podcast. I was just looking for a new podcast because I had already listened to everything I had planned for myself before. And then there’s trail running, I just got carried away with it. I like that during such races, all the runners do not throw garbage into nature, but carry it to the trash can.
Thank you for sharing such a great bog it is very helpful
Speaking of persistence, and overcoming resistance… I have a very strong memory of being in a running shoe store in late summer of 2012. I was randomly browsing, and a guy walked in with a few things under his arm, asking to talk with a manager or owner. During the conversation, he offered that he was an author of a new book about ultra running and he’d love it if the bookstore would buy some copies to sell.
It took about 5 minutes, but the store politely turned him down. I felt awkward on his behalf. I wished him luck, for I had my own book (different topic altogether) and I was terrified of having THOSE conversations. I was so terrified that I had very few of them. But it’s clear that THIS GUY was going to have many more, until he succeeded. Because THIS WAS RICH ROLL, trying to hustle his book before anyone know who the F he was, before anyone cared. Before the podcast.
Keep pushing. Keep trying. And this is a message to myself, too. It always is. xoxoxoxo
Really amazing post, I love to read this amazing book, I hope I will find it soon. But for now, I am looking for a fast payout casino, I earn lots of money by play simple betting games. But their pay-out system is very slow. If you know where I can get it then please let me know.
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