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Choose the Hard Way

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by Andrew Vontz

147 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
74

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality87
Social94
YouTube76
Engagement30
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Podcast Overview

Conversations about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. Guests from pro cycling, sports, politics, business, tech, journalism, the military and more. Resilience, grit, mental health, high performance, mindfulness. Host Andrew Vontz is an entrepreneur & founder of One Real Voice, the strategic & coaching consultancy for podcast guests & hosts. Previously, he was a Strava executive; a communications leader at the human performance company, TRX; and a journalist with hundreds of bylines in dozens of top outlets including The LA Times, Outside Magazine, Rolling Stone and more.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

11/9/2018

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74

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality87
Social94
YouTube76
Engagement30
Learn more
8
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
9
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
51 minutes
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good
Show Notes Quality
3.0/5

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for The PE Guy - Johnny Hilbrant Partridge on grief, bouncing back, & an overnight success 11 years in the making

June 17, 2026

The PE Guy - Johnny Hilbrant Partridge on grief, bouncing back, & an overnight success 11 years in the making

<p dir="ltr">Choose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. <br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">One of my favorite comedians is Johnny Hilbrant Partridge, aka The PE Guy. His comedy operates at the intersection of private equity, hyper-conspicuous consumption, and radical insecurity. He is hilarious, and if you don't know his work, you soon will.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to laugh go to @johnnyhilbrant, if you want to know who Johnny is, you're in the right place. This conversation is about the decade-plus Johnny spent working to become a comedy pro that preceded him blowing up as The PE Guy. We talk about the way life events and the sudden death of his twin sister shaped who he is, what he makes, where he is headed, and more.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">A quick personal update. After three rounds of chemo, my cancer treatment took an unexpected turn last week. A PET scan showed we were successfully killing cancer. But my doctors told me it wasn't killing cancer fast enough to cure me. I'm going back to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for another biopsy later this week and when we get those results back, they'll figure out what my new course of treatment will be. —</p> <p dir="ltr">I'm confident we will cure it, and being in this limbo is scary, for me, and for my family.  Whatever the road ahead is, we will get to cured, and I thank you for all of your love and support.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">Please hit five stars and subscribe to Choose the Hard Way everywhere you listen.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">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.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">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.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">When you're ready to be great, DM __https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod__ or reach out to <a href= "mailto:hello@onerealvoice.com">hello@onerealvoice.com</a>.<br /> —</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To support this work, become a paid subscriber to the Choose the Hard Way Substack at __https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com__.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">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.<br /> —</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at __https://www.laufcycles.com__.<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: __https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/__<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">One Real Voice: __https://www.onerealvoice.com/__<br /> <span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> —</span></p> <p dir="ltr">Instagram: __https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod__<br /> <span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> —</span></p> <p dir="ltr">LinkedIn: __https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/__<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Johnny Hilbrant Partridge: __https://www.instagram.com/johnnyhilbrant__<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">Johnny Hilbrant Partridge on TikTok: __https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnyhilbrant__<br /> —</p> <p dir="ltr">Due to My Role: __https://www.duetomyrole.com__<br /> —</p> <p> </p>

Episode thumbnail for Dr. Stephen Seiler - You're not Pogacar, don't train like him. Breathing, Polarized Training, Joy, & High Performance

May 13, 2026

Dr. Stephen Seiler - You're not Pogacar, don't train like him. Breathing, Polarized Training, Joy, & High Performance

<p dir="ltr">Dr. Stephen Seiler coined the term polarized training and systematized the 80/20 method used by Tadej Pogacar, Kristian Blummenfelt, and the world's top endurance athletes. </p> <p dir="ltr">—<br /> <br /></p> <p dir="ltr">From the New York Times to the podcasts of Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia, and Rhonda Patrick, Dr. Seiler's polarized training method and zone 2 and vo2 max protocols have become an often misinterpreted cultural obsession.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> I'm on the Fast Talk Labs advisory board with Stephen and I thought it would be fun to hear directly from Stephen how he thinks about polarized training, its application for masters athletes versus World Tour riders Pog, to hear more about Stephen's emergent research into the relationship between breathing, training zones, and its application in real life.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">This episode was recorded before I learned I had cancer. I just completed round two of chemo for b-cell lymphoma. Thanks to everyone for your support and positivity as I move towards being cured. I'm sharing about my experience @hardwaypod and on the Choose the Hard Way substack, and I'll be doing an episode about it soon as well.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> A heads up, part 2 of this interview coming soon. I often have people who haven't been racing bikes and running their entire life reach out to me who have heard something Huberman said or read Attia's book Outlive asking for advice about how to do zone 2 and vo2 max workouts, aka polarized training.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> For part 2, I invite Seiler and one of these athletes on the show to do a live case study and analysis.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p>Please hit five stars and subscribe to Choose the Hard Way everywhere you listen.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> To support this work, become a paid subscriber to the Choose the Hard Way substack, link @hardwaypod on Instagram, in the show notes, and you can go direct at __https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com__.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> That's where I share my thoughts about these episodes, my cancer journey, family, bike racing, zen, and life.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at __https://www.laufcycles.com__.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> The media landscape has changed and senior leaders must excel in unscripted forums like podcasts, fireside chats, and town halls. I started my consultancy One Real Voice at __https://www.onerealvoice.com__ to help industry leaders thrive in these open-ended and dynamic formats 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 hello@onerealvoice.com.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon.<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Andrew Vontz on Instagram: __https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod__<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Andrew Vontz on Substack: __https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com__<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Andrew Vontz on LinkedIn: __https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/__<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> One Real Voice: __https://www.onerealvoice.com__<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Dr. Stephen Seiler on X: __https://x.com/StephenSeiler__<br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /> Dr. Stephen Seiler on LinkedIn: __https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-seiler-668202a/__</p>

Episode thumbnail for Veteran & Maine US Senate Candidate Graham Platner: Combat Fitness, True Strength, & The Defense Insecurity Complex of Hegseth, RFK Jr., and Elon Musk

April 21, 2026

Veteran & Maine US Senate Candidate Graham Platner: Combat Fitness, True Strength, & The Defense Insecurity Complex of Hegseth, RFK Jr., and Elon Musk

<p dir="ltr">Graham Platner is a Marine Corps and Army infantry veteran with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and a candidate for US Senate in Maine. He is also a lifelong student of fitness and strength whose training evolved from grunt-era running and calisthenics to CrossFit, Rob Shaul's Mountain Tactical programming, and Jim Wendler's 5-3-1.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">He joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat p/b Choose the Hard Way to talk combat fitness, the multi-hour firefight his squad survived on zero water because everybody was fit, and what true strength actually looks like.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Graham has seen real strength under fire. What he sees in Hegseth, RFK Jr. and Elon Musk is masculine insecurity with access to power, and the difference between power OVER people and power WITH them.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew joined live from the cancer floor at Maine Health Hospital in Portland, Maine, three days into a five-day chemo drip. Go to <a href= "https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/">https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/</a> or @hardwaypod on Instagram for a full health update. Thank you for all of the positivity and support. Please keep it coming.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">United States of Sweat is the series where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health, and the sports they love. It's part of Choose the Hard Way, the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. </p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Please hit subscribe & give this show a 5-star rating wherever you listen or watch.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">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.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">That's why Andrew Vontz started <a href= "https://www.onerealvoice.com/">https://www.onerealvoice.com/</a> 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.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">When you're ready to be great, DM <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod">https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod</a> or reach out to <a href= "mailto:hello@onerealvoice.com">hello@onerealvoice.com</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">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.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">To support Choose the Hard Way, please become a paid subscriber of <a href= "https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/">https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">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.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at <a href="http://www.laufcycles.com">www.laufcycles.com</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: <a href="https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/">https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: <a href= "http://www.onerealvoice.com">http://www.onerealvoice.com</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Instagram: <a href= "http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod">http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: <a href= "https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/">https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Jonathan Kaplan Instagram: <a href= "http://instagram.com/jonny99kaplan">http://instagram.com/jonny99kaplan</a></p> <p dir="ltr">—</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Graham Platner's path to the US Senate on Instagram: <a href= "http://www.instagram.com/grahamformaine">http://www.instagram.com/grahamformaine</a></p> <p> </p>

147 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Choose the Hard Way?

Conversations about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun.

Guests from pro cycling, sports, politics, business, tech, journalism, the military and more. Resilience, grit, mental health, high performance, mindfulness. Host Andrew Vontz is an entrepreneur & founder of One Real Voice, the strategic & coaching consultancy for podcast guests & hosts. Previously, he was a Strava executive; a communications leader at the human performance company, TRX; and a journalist with hundreds of bylines in dozens of top outlets including The LA Times, Outside Magazine, Rolling Stone and more.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates bi-weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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