Choose the Hard Way

Sharice Davids is a congresswoman from Kansas, a former White House fellow, a lawyer, and MMA fighter with 7 fights including two professional bouts. She joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat p/b Choose the Hard Way to share stories about training, fighting, and her hardest workout ever. 
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United States of Sweat is the series where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health, and the sports they love.
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Please hit subscribe & give this show a 5-star rating wherever you listen or watch.

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The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.
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That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
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Jonathan Kaplan is the founder of WRITE CADENCE STRATEGIES, helping individuals and organizations navigate Washington, shape policy and manage reputational risk. He also writes RIDING WITH, a newsletter and podcast exploring the intersection of pro cycling, media, business and politics. Find that at ridingwithkaplan.substack.com.

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To support Choose the Hard Way, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/.
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The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
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With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today no experience required.
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Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
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One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
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Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/
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Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/
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Jonathan Kaplan Instagram: http://instagram.com/jonny99kaplan

Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Jeff Troesch, one of the most experienced mental performance coaches in elite sport. For nearly four decades, Jeff has helped athletes and teams win at the highest level, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, Olympic Games, and Grand Slams.
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Special thanks to our title sponsor Blockchain.com, the most trusted name in crypto with over $1 trillion in transactions to date. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today.
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Jeff has worked with the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, U.S. Soccer Federation, USA Track & Field, IMG Academy and David Leadbetter's Golf Academies, and has coached Olympic medalists in both summer and winter Games since 1988.
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Jeff is also the author of One Day Better, a practical guide to building mental strength drawn from decades inside professional and collegiate sport. You can learn more about him and the book on instagram at https://instagram.com/8020_books.

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Applied high performance and behavioral science are two pillars of the method I use in www.onerealvoice.com, my strategic communications practice that helps senior leaders thrive in open-ended, long-form communication formats. I've found Jeff's book to be a great resource that has given me new and practical ideas that I've enjoyed exploring. 
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To support Choose the Hard Way, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/.

—
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.

—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.

—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].

—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today no experience required.

—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.

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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/

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One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com

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Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/

The dramatic JK Normatec addiction intervention, detonating Mt. Lemmon records, the Dan Swenson World Tour 2026 bid, traveling with SciCon bike bags, and the applied high performance practices of aging parents going big in the desert. 
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Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton + Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to debrief on their Abandon Your Family LIVE! training camp in Tucson, AZ at Pace Ranch.
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Special thanks to Pam Alexander and Tucson cycling community legends Paul and MaryAnn Wiederhold.
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JOIN US:
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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
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One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
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Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/
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Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search
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Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/
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ONE REAL VOICE - BE HEARD
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders.
—
That's why I started my consultancy, https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.

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When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
|—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
—

Tears, chamois cream, glory. Carb slurry was downed by the gallon and tears were shed in garages and at dinner tables around the world as the community collectively gave everything to secure midpack glory at select gravel major and minor races in mid 2026.
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This episode is a conversation about the Abandon Your Family 30,000 experience with Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod & special guest Paul Redmayne in the UAE, a 4x outdoor Everester who drops the shocking truth that he rides a 12-inch wide Brooks saddle on his indoor bike.
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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
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Paul Redmayne: https://www.instagram.com/paul.redmayne/?hl=en
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Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search
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Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/
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Choose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This episode is about living that philosophy and how you can, too.
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The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders.
—
That's why I started my consultancy, https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
—
JOIN US:
—
One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
—
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/

Jens Voigt raced the Tour de France 17 times, wore the yellow jersey, won stages in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and set the Hour Record on the track at age 43. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz how crashing at 70 km/h changes you in ways the world doesn't see and the long arc of a life in sport.
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This episode explores Jens' childhood and upbringing in the former East Germany, his path through a state-run sports academy, and what it was like to build a career inside professional cycling without ever being the protected rider.
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This is a conversation about parenting six kids, literally carrying teammates through hard times, aging and how he stays World Tour fast to feel good and have fun.
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To support Choose the Hard Way, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/.
—
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
—
Jens Voigt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejensie/
—
Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
—
One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
—
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/