The Grit Show
The Grit Show

The Grit Show

James and Sunny Lawrence

Overview
Episodes

Details

On this podcast, we delve into the essence of grit! Join us as we explore the lives of some of the most resilient individuals, some well-known and some seemingly regular, unraveling the unique qualities that set them apart. Meet your hosts, James Lawrence, the Iron Cowboy, and his wife, Sunny Lawrence.

Recent Episodes

 34. Eric Hinman: Finding Balance in Business, Wellness, and Community
NOV 7, 2024
34. Eric Hinman: Finding Balance in Business, Wellness, and Community
Welcome to the Grit Show! On this episode we sit down with Eric Hinman—a multi-faceted entrepreneur, wellness enthusiast, and former triathlete known for his disciplined approach to balancing business and fitness. Eric’s journey began with his father guiding him into entrepreneurship, leading him to start an insurance agency, launch a successful software company, open a gym, and create a thriving content-driven personal brand. Along the way, he’s not only built multiple businesses but also developed his own philosophy on blending fitness, wellness, and community. In this episode, Eric shares how reshaping his environment helped transform his life and perspective. He dives into the challenges and mindset required for entrepreneurship, emphasizing resilience and strategic thinking. From building ambassador programs for early-stage wellness brands to crafting his own wellness routine, Eric offers insights that resonate far beyond the business world. Eric opens up about his fitness evolution—from CrossFit to endurance racing—and how he’s avoided injury through balance and contrast therapy. He sheds light on actionable wellness habits, essential supplements, and why knowing your body's unique needs is so important. Having once struggled with weight, Eric recalls his life changing experience of hiring a personal trainer and learning to listen closely to expert advice. From returning to food fundamentals and focusing on unprocessed nutrition to the profound impact of community, Eric discusses why stripping away ego and evolving our identities is key to genuine growth. This conversation is for anyone looking to understand the grit behind real success, wellness, and the journey to lifelong health. Based in Denver, Eric is a hybrid athlete (5x Ironman), serial entrepreneur, and brand builder, who specializes in scaling early-stage consumer and wellness brands. Some of Eric’s partners include Ten Thousand, Slate, Ice Barrel, SISU, HVMN, The Normal Brand, Blokes, MASA Chips, Kane, Flux, GORUCK, Kreatures of Habit, and more. Eric believes in the long-term vision of the brands he partners with and his portfolio of angel investments in the wellness space includes companies such as Ten Thousand, HVMN, Beam, Slate, Ice Barrel, The Real Cereal Co, Kane Footwear, MASA Chips and more. You can find Hinman on Instagram⁠ here⁠. Website Please send your guest requests to [email protected] or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Keep tuning in to embrace the grit!
play-circle icon
57 MIN
 33. Bishoi Khella: Beyond the Scale - A Story of Reinvention
OCT 30, 2024
33. Bishoi Khella: Beyond the Scale - A Story of Reinvention
Welcome to the Grit Show! On this episode, we chat with Bishoi Khella, who takes us through his incredible, often bumpy journey of weight loss, self-discovery, and finding purpose. Bishoi opens up about what it was like growing up as the “chubby kid” and how, in high school, he worked hard to drop from 260 to 180 lbs. But after starting his own business at 22, the stress piled on, and old habits crept back in, pushing him up to 350 lbs. Bishoi describes avoiding the scale like it was the plague and shares the tough reality of childhood food restrictions that left him clueless about healthy habits. He also reflects on those moments of “how did I get here?”—the panic attacks, feeling out of control, and the overwhelming guilt that became a moral compass for him. When life felt chaotic, Bishoi turned to journaling to make sense of his emotions, and he realized how much stress his body was carrying. A low point came on a trip with friends; being out of shape meant he couldn’t fully enjoy it, and it was a wake-up call that pushed him toward change. That’s when he discovered the 75 Hard program, which, as he describes it, “changed everything.” He shares how he embraced “chasing discomfort,” raising his standards, and getting so committed to his goals that nothing else mattered. For Bishoi, if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way. Today, Bishoi challenges himself in different ways and is passionate about helping others do the same. His journey has also refined his social circle; it’s smaller now but filled with quality connections. Bishoi’s story is down-to-earth, relatable, and packed with insights about grit and resilience that make this episode a must-listen. You can find Khella on Instagram here. Please send your guest requests to [email protected] or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Keep tuning in to embrace the grit!
play-circle icon
58 MIN
 32. Anders Hofman: Pushing Past Limits to Make Dreams Reality
OCT 24, 2024
32. Anders Hofman: Pushing Past Limits to Make Dreams Reality
Welcome to the Grit Show! In this episode, we sit down with Anders Hofman, the man behind Project Iceman, where he became the first person to complete a full Iron Distance triathlon on the icy continent of Antarctica. Hofman takes us on a journey through his Danish upbringing, where playing it safe was the norm, and dreaming big seemed impossible. From his childhood dream of becoming a professional football player to being told repeatedly that his aspirations were unrealistic, Hofman shares the pivotal moment when he quit his stable job and pursued the unthinkable challenge of Project Iceman. Hofman discusses how our limitations are often self-imposed, and the only people who say something is impossible are those who haven’t done it themselves. He emphasizes that chasing a dream draws the right opportunities and people into your life and that fulfillment comes from following the passions that ignite your inner child. Through intense training, navigating extreme weather, and dealing with unexpected challenges like freezing goggles and encounters with wildlife, Hofman demonstrates how resilience and adaptability are key to overcoming life’s storms. In his words, "If I have to crawl, I am going to crawl," a mindset that carried him through both the brutal Antarctic conditions and the pursuit of his lifelong dreams. As Project Iceman comes to a close, Hofman is now chasing his next dream—becoming a professional football player, beginning a new journey in a foreign country, learning to trust the process once again. Join us for a riveting conversation filled with lessons on courage, perseverance, and the power of following your own path, no matter the odds. Project Iceman Instagram  Please send your guest requests to [email protected] or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Keep tuning in to embrace the grit!
play-circle icon
64 MIN
31. Daniel & Nina Dayton: Finding Strength in Unity
OCT 16, 2024
31. Daniel & Nina Dayton: Finding Strength in Unity
Welcome to the Grit Show! In today's episode, therapists Daniel and Nina tell their entire story—how they met, their family trials and experiences, and what it's been like working as therapists together. Nina starts by sharing the story of her family's immigration to the USA from Cuba. This led her to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, meeting Daniel at church when they were 12. They share what it was like growing up together and then growing together through a young marriage and being young parents. Daniel and Nina talk about getting their bachelor's degrees in psychology together, which led them to start foster programs and do therapy for kids. Parenting is discussed, as they share advice for those waiting until they are "ready" to be parents. As they reflect on their life and how much they took on at once, they talk about how they handled the weight of it all, including unexpected challenges like the health problems that their son ran into. They dig a little deeper into that experience, about how their son was bedridden and in a wheelchair for three years, and how they navigated this experience, still trying to make life positive and fun. It took years for them to find out that he had still's disease. Experiences like this taught them the importance of fathers and mothers and how they complement each other. Daniel is the idea-er, and Nina is the implementer. More than therapists, they are investors, house flippers, and business venture-minded. They share things they have learned throughout their lives, like accepting adversity and some of the most common struggles they hear as therapists. This is followed by the formula that treats anxiety and depression better than medication. They talk about how feelings are amazing but not amazing decision-makers. They share their formula for being a WE in a marriage. There is some focus on the masters vs. disasters of a relationship. Anxiety is also discussed, and they talk about some of their observations of what seems to cause this and treat it. They are dream chasers, and this episode talks about being able to do anything you want, even if it means going to school and getting therapy licenses at the same time. These two love working together, complement each other with their different styles, and offer bucketfuls of advice on honoring themselves and finding peace through adversity. Please send your guest requests to [email protected] or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Keep tuning in to embrace the grit!
play-circle icon
80 MIN
30. Tandi Suitter: Finding Fortitude Through Mixed Martial Arts
OCT 9, 2024
30. Tandi Suitter: Finding Fortitude Through Mixed Martial Arts
Welcome to the Grit Show! Growing up as the middle child in a family of nine kids, Tandi had a great childhood. But as a young teen, she picked up the drug and drinking habits of her older siblings. At 14, she ran away from home with her boyfriend. As she was trying to stay warm in a recycling bin during the Utah winter, a truck picked her up and crushed her. After somehow surviving, she dropped drinking but ended up getting pregnant at 15. As a result of the abuse of her boyfriend, her son was born with cerebral palsy. In 2001, Tandi discovered a newfound source of confidence through fighting, a skill she practiced to protect herself. She talks more about how this snowballed into a career in the MMA. Along the way, she found love and support in her husband, who stepped up as a father figure to her son, who only lived until he was 18. She talks about their last moments together and opens up about their bond. As she reflects on her life, Tandi shares her passion for helping others, especially children, find their strength and confidence through combat training. Drawing from her own journey, she offers advice to parents whose children struggle the same way that she did. This episode touches on suicide, IVF, and other experiences that have affected Tandi on her way to who she is today. Combat Classes Instagram Please send your guest requests to [email protected] or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Keep tuning in to embrace the grit!
play-circle icon
62 MIN