Episode #141 - Round 2 - Grace Benvenuti, Endurance Sport Influencer

Grace and Seth reconnect after a year to discuss Grace’s shift from a structured job to life as a cyclist and content creator. They explore the mental challenges of racing, imposter syndrome, social media identity, and the balance between personal growth and public perception. Grace shares insights on brand partnerships, financial realities, and self-advocacy, while both reflect on the importance of support systems, friendship, and navigating mental health with honesty and gratitude.

Grace’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/grace_benvenuti/

Z2: https://z2alwayschasing.com/

Z2 Code: STUPIDQUESTIONS

SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/contact

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
How's it going everybody? And welcome back to another
edition of the Stupid Questions podcast.
Today in the pod, we're going tobe talking with the Grace bin
Venuti. She was on about a year ago in
July. This is her round two interview.
She is an avid cyclist, creator of content that is fun and
funny. She has done a lot of different
things, has had quite a wild last year.
She's just finished the Levi's Grand Fondo Race and Sea Otter

(00:23):
not too long ago, so go and check out her profile and
everything else. But without further ado, want to
introduce you to this round two awesome conversation with Grace
Vinvenuti Hang. On we're back.
We're back. How's it going?
I am a little bit scattered because I couldn't find my
favorite pair of shorts before this SO.
For the video, Yep, can't. See them but as soon as that

(00:48):
like I'm like where are they because I'm like Oh no I lost
them but I'm so excited to be here it's been almost a year
since we've talked I. Mean we've talked.
Has it been a year already? July or June?
Yeah. Well, this will come out.
Yeah. In May.
Yeah. It's crazy.
Time flies when you're having fun.
I guess you have moved quite a bit.
A lot's happened in your life. I guess you should probably just

(01:09):
give me the play by play of everything that's happened that
you care to share. Yeah.
First off, how are you? Because.
I'm good. Yeah, no, I'm good.
So I'm here, a California nativenow in Norcal, Redding, CA
Gorgeous area. We have had nothing but sunshine
for probably the past three weeks now and I'm absolutely
loving it. We're in like the mid to high

(01:31):
80s and I've gotten to know quite a few different cyclists
in the area, so now I've got like people to ride with so I
don't feel as lonely. My wife's loving her fellowship
program she's made some really close friends there she's
actually made more friends than me, which is for those who know
me and my wife is kind of AI don't know if it should be

(01:51):
shocking but I'm typically the more extroverted easy to find
new people. But because of her work
situation, she's been able to connect with more people and
thankfully, like all the people she works with are just really
solid people. And that makes a huge difference
when you ever you have a job period, but let alone like a
stressful job, like figuring outhow to take care of patients.

(02:12):
So she's she's been doing good, which means I've been doing
good. I for a while few months ago was
struggling with just like the being lonely thing, but have
started to get out of that headspace a little bit more,
focus on gratitude a bit more. And really this enough can't be
said. It's not just small talk about
the sunshine. The sunshine helps me to be able

(02:32):
to just enjoy my day so much more.
A nice, classy rainy day every once in a while to go in a
coffee shop and, you know, have the cozy vibe is good.
But other than that, yeah, no, I'm doing good.
Haven't raced this year yet but yeah, that's that's me in a
nutshell. Yeah, yeah, Rain kills my vibe.
I need it to be sunny like everywhere I go.
But no, honestly, a lot has happened in my life since we

(02:54):
last spoke. And I think that if you go back
and listen to our podcast together, I think pretty much
everything that we were talking about either came true or we
like lightly touched on it. There were parts where you were
like talking about like the job that I was in at the time, no
longer in that job. I was actually part of like a
restructuring of teams like a week or two after that podcast

(03:17):
came out. And then that just, you know,
dropped. And I had been, I would say 10
months of not working a nine to five or an office job has been
honestly so crazy. And then, yeah, so I was in San
Francisco and then I was like, oh, I'm going to move to Marin

(03:38):
and take on cycling and do that.And I was making a good paycheck
to do that and support myself. And then it all like shattered
away. Just fell apart.
It fell apart and I was like totally not structured enough to
do that move financially and nothave that support of that nine
to five job that I was in. So I was locked into a really

(04:01):
expensive lease for like 6 months and then I got out of it
and I was like, I need to go back to San Francisco, be where
the people are and the rent is cheap and I'm like 24 at the
time. So I'm like, I need to just be
amongst the people. And I think that like
discrepancy in my life with the job restructuring and also just
all the moves and stuff really put fitness and everything on a

(04:24):
back burner. And there was a time where like
my social kind of was at a little bit of a standstill
because my psyche and everythinggoing on in my life was just so
overwhelming and chaotic that I just could not focus or be
present. I was still pumping out content,
still producing, still doing that, but it just was a lot of

(04:46):
chaos internally behind the scenes.
And it's so funny, like right after I moved, I was like, I'm
never going to date even though I like wanted to date and meet
someone. I'd meet my boyfriend literally
the week I get let go from that job.
And it was absolutely crazy because he found me through my
crazy Instagram reel where I waslike 01 day.

(05:08):
I'll meet my husband through my crazy Instagram reels or
whatever because this is the newdating scene.
And I actually messaged him first because he followed me and
like thank God. I was like looking through who
was like following me and my like activity page.
And I was like, oh, his profile picture was really funny.
So I sent him Adm said hi and hewas like, we need to go get

(05:30):
dinner. And he's a mountain biker.
He knows so much about the bike space to be honest that he knows
way more than me and he has beenracing ever since.
He was like 1314 years old. He's from Carmel, so like sea
Otter classic he. Yeah, he's done it 12th.
Sea Otter this year and I went wow.
So yeah, that's crazy. And then I also finished the

(05:51):
Iron Man Sony .3 in Santa Cruz. Yeah, how was that the first
official getting through a full like half distance Iron Man?
It was honestly so rewarding forme because it felt like I could
check the box off of that great feat that I've always wanted to
do for so long. But I think something that I

(06:13):
need to work on is the fact thatI constantly uproot or have
these tremendous goals where like when I did cross the finish
line, I was like, OK, what's next?
Like we did that it some. It didn't leave me with the
conquering feeling I think that I wanted, but it felt great to
finish. It's kind of a weird double

(06:35):
edged sword. I don't know if you felt that
way with racing where you're like, I have this goal and
sometimes I think for me I like the struggle of things a lot
more to get there where that feels more fulfilling for me
than hitting the finish line. Yeah, no, I think it's, it's
different for everybody. I've I've been at different
seasons. I would call them of the

(06:56):
endurance world where in the very beginning, you know, I, I
did a couple of triathlons just because they seemed cool.
And then I did one with some cousins, a Sprint and they
completely demolished me. And that day I decided like, oh,
I'm going to do a 70.3, I'm going to beat them.
And you know, and that led me ona journey of three to four
years, which I started to progress really quickly, like
most people do in any new thing.You kind of hit this trajectory

(07:19):
of you're gaining a lot of ground really fast, but then
things start to plateau a littlebit.
The law of diminishing returns and you know, you're increasing
like with pros, they're like, oh, I'm going to increase.
Maybe, you know, if I can do a half percent or a percent better
this year, like that's a huge win.
So not that I'm at that level, but I definitely started to
experience a bit of that plateauand was so married to the
numbers. And you know, I did my first

(07:41):
ever Iron Man after kind of coming to the tail end of that
married to the numbers mindset because I had had a horrible
race at Chattanooga 70.3. I think it was like 2 years ago
just because I was so oh I need to hit these numbers.
I need to go this fast. I need to better the time I did
the year before. Well, mental headspace was just

(08:02):
not even there and I was just all over the place on that race.
Basically decided I was going todo bad before I even started.
So like that was the one experience.
And then you know, that was in May go to September and did the
full. I came in with a completely
different mindset and like I wasso happy and just thankful on
that race. When I got like 5 minutes into
the Iron Man, like full distancebite, I just started crying

(08:25):
because I was like, this is suchan amazing thing.
And then I came down the finish chute and I'm just like bawling.
And it wasn't even the like, oh,I finished this great thing,
which that was definitely part of it.
Like I'm done. I did it.
But just being able to go through that and weather kind of
the dark periods that I've had mentally in the past became very
much a focal point of how I decided I needed to approach
racing, approach training, approach life, approach,

(08:46):
anything. So it taught some some real
lessons there, but I have done different things in my life for
it. Like you say, you feel like
you've kind of half finished it.So that kind of leads me to the
question of, you know, what's going on deeper there for you
that you feel like you haven't actually gotten?
Like is it because of how you view your performance?

(09:07):
Is it? What do you think it is?
I think for me, like I do have to say, going back into the
feeling of being in that race, the swim was so anxiety
producing for me where I would like swap at each buoy.
I think coming into it, I had myimmense amount of followers that
grew very, very fast. And then I would get a lot of

(09:28):
DMS from people saying like, oh,like what time are you shooting
for? What's this and this and this.
And I'm like, for me, I just want to finish and finish at
least like happy and strong and not collapsing on the floor.
Like I didn't go in it wanting to get 4 hours or five hours.
I physically wasn't there and being able to finish that swim

(09:49):
was very, very much a proud moment for me.
Because yeah, sure. I was like OK, I know I can
finish the bike, I know I can finish the run.
I like already told myself I finished the Iron Man 70.3 when
I finished the swim because thatwas my Iron Man.
I would say the swim. Yeah, that previous experience.
Yeah. And it was crazy being able to

(10:09):
do that and then hop on the bikeand then get on the run.
And something that I experiencedduring the run was someone who
had been, like, heckling me in my DMS for a really long time.
Like I'm very active and like I interact with people all the
time in there and I check my hidden as much as I can to try
to like talk to people and grow my community and connect.

(10:30):
And I noticed that someone that used to always like Heckle me
was actually like right outside when you exit out of the like
the run, the transition area. Yeah.
And like going out from the, thebike to the run, etcetera.
And I was getting on my, like, run leg and he was following me

(10:50):
on his mountain bike and, like, heckling me and telling me to
run faster. And just like, I knew exactly
who that man. Yeah, it was horrible.
I knew exactly who he was. And he kept weaving in and out
of the run course. So like he was in the way of so
many of these athletes and he kept getting like called on by
like people at the race being like, get out of the way, get

(11:12):
out of the way. And that just really annoyed me.
But I knew like because I had mywatch on and I like knew my
timing in my head. I was like, I know I'm not going
to get like disqualified from this race.
I timed this perfectly for me tobe able to walk parts of the run
if I needed to. I started the aid stations.

(11:33):
When I did, I was like cheering people.
I was like physically well enough to cheer on other people
who were passing me by or with me in it and like talking to
them and like being like we're doing this together and that not
more to me than like a time in in terms of like the internal

(11:54):
stuff. I think for me, because
everything with the bike world is so, you know, like everyone
knows everything it. Seems.
Yeah, it seems I don't necessarily know everything.
And I came into that race using my $400.00 Specialized
marketplace bike from the grandma.
And I didn't have a try bike. Definitely could not afford a

(12:18):
nice bike at the time. Was really scrapping it because
of the job layoff and just like going through that.
And that like really messed me up.
And I think I could have finished a lot better, could
have, would have, should have ifI had a better bike.
Was like more dialed in and not like stressed out with stuff

(12:41):
going on in my life. And the Heckler?
Yeah, Another thing, my parents didn't go to the race and I was
like a little bit sad. They had like some sort of
fundraiser for shelter dog, which is so funny, but I was
going to go by myself. And it was like the second or
third week that my boyfriend Carson, I started dating and he

(13:01):
was like, I'd love to go to thisrace with you and support you.
And I was like, no, I literally told him I was like, I don't
want anyone to go with me. Like personally, I don't know
how I'm going to act in the morning.
Like we just started dating. I don't want to scare you away.
Not that I'm like a monster in it literally, but I was like, I
need my like alone time or like to be able to do like pre race
rituals and be like comfortable league, like getting ready and

(13:24):
like using the restroom and stuff like that like that.
A lot of triathletes like too. And I like told myself a little
bit before I was like, I really,really like him and I want him
to be a part of this and be ableto be there with me because I
would love to support him and all of his endeavors.

(13:45):
And like I, I see things as likea sliding glass door moment of
either connection or disconnection.
So you can, you have the opportunity to connect with
someone or you have the opportunity to disconnect with
someone. And I chose connection rather
than disconnection in that moment.
And like I took the, I don't want to say ego because there

(14:06):
was no ego, but I, I took the like the shell off and I was
like, I want to connect with youand I want you to be.
Yeah, you're able to be vulnerable.
Yeah, great word. Looking for that one.
Yeah. So with the bike stuff, I think
that like sometimes, since I don't know as much as like so
many other people in the bike space, sometimes I have this

(14:27):
weird imposter syndrome being like in this world and how it
has taken off because I need, I sometimes struggle with the
belief that like I deserve to behere because I don't, There's
no, because I think that it's just like I sometimes struggle
with the, the feeling of like knowing that I, I deserve what

(14:50):
I've built. And I think that's like a crazy
concept for me because I mean, it hasn't even been a year of
this and like already did a shoot with like specialized
doing their 2025 spring launch. And that's like blasted online.
And then it's like brand partnerships and like, I, I

(15:11):
guess I need to be more confident in it.
I did work hard for this. And like I did put myself in a
space where like I am a hustler in that.
But I think it's just like kind of a crazy concept to believe
that it like happened because I didn't, I always knew like
something like this was going tohappen for me because I've
wanted to be in this space, but I didn't know how.

(15:31):
So I think I'm trying to keep upwith my own self.
Yeah, what do you think would need to happen?
And maybe you feel this way now,but what do you think would need
to happen for you to sit in the moment of acceptance and just
say like, yeah, I do deserve this or like this happened and
this is a good thing. And I do believe I'm I'm
supposed to be here even if you don't have all of the bike

(15:53):
technology. And by the way, I'll just say
really quick, I know quite a fewpros who literally knows almost
nothing about how to do any bikemaintenance whatsoever, like
simple things like changing a disc rotor or, you know, adding,
I don't know, tubeless wheels orwhatever.
So you're not alone in that, in that space.
But what do you think would needto happen for you to feel like,
oh, this is it? Like I deserve this, this is who

(16:15):
I am, and that's OK. I think that's like such a great
question because I was actually talking with a brand who hired
me to do some work for like bikecontent and being at like races
and stuff. And I was talking to the person
at the event and they were talking about like other races
that they were doing that didn'thave anything to do with bikes

(16:38):
that were like marathons, half marathons, like that type of
stuff, like those events. And I was like, no way.
I'd love to be a part of that. And she's like, are you a
runner? And I'm like, I think I had to
be able to run to like do a halfIron Man.
But also like I got like ever since I was a little kid, I used
to run and like, I think what's hard is that people online want

(17:03):
to pigeonhole you into one thing.
So you have a niche. And I think that's a part of
like branding in the greater scheme of like how people
identify you and also like how you can identify yourself, quote
UN quote. But sometimes I feel like, am I
just known as bike girl or like we're all on a bike?
Like wears a kitten is pretty like I think my content has

(17:24):
shifted from like making funny jokes on the bike that were
inappropriate and all this otherlike stuff to being like, I'll
always have that with me. But like now I want to shift the
tide and be known for just someone who like is that.
And I think that that's sometimes a, a fear of mine of
like, being known for one thing and having so many different

(17:49):
hobbies and also passions and like, passion for mental health
and connecting like you do. Like, you're not just a
triathlete, you're a podcaster, you're husband, you're someone
who's a friend, like all that other stuff.
And I think that's like a weird thing for me to conceptualize.

(18:09):
Yeah. I don't know.
Now that makes total sense. I've actually talked about this
on a few other podcasts with people along the ideas typically
around professional athletes, Like they get known to be that,
and that's kind of all they are and who they are to people
outside. But then especially us who are
younger have a hard time disconnecting from the reality

(18:30):
that what we do isn't who we are, but there are
characteristics of the values that we place and whatever
sphere of influence that we're in that we can pull out and take
to any other things. So for me, yeah, when I was in
college, when I started my own first small business, it was the
first time that I became populararound something and known for
that thing. And so I really latched on to

(18:50):
that, like this is who I am. But then it I felt like you were
saying as time went on, I got tobe known as like the hammock guy
or the business guy. I felt like I was painted into a
corner. But it took some, it took a
couple tearful days and hard conversations to realize like,
oh, I can back away from that and that's not who I am.
And I can reinvent myself because now people who come
across me for the first time, they're going to know me as the

(19:11):
podcast guy or or the triathlon guy or whatever.
And yeah, it's, it's it takes some getting used to, but people
only know what we tell them. One of the most profound quotes
and pieces of motive. I don't know if motivation is
right word, but pieces of inspiration or what's the word
I'm looking for just guidance that someone gave me.

(19:31):
This is a guy who was the Co founder of Oakley Sunglasses and
I was trying to, you know, come up with this concept for my
first business and how I would portray that to people.
And I would always kind of apologize for certain aspects of
the business that I wasn't comfortable about.
And he said, well, you know, people only know what you tell
them. And for whatever reason that
like really stuck with me because I realized like, yeah,

(19:52):
that's true. Like I'm not trying to be
deceitful. But to that point, whatever you
talk about, whatever you do, like that's kind of what starts
to define who you are to other people.
But you can always add a circumstance.
Of actions or whatever it is to change the way that people
perceive you. And that's a buzzing and a
curse. It's, it's a, it's a viable

(20:13):
tool, but it can, yeah, it can swing both directions.
Yeah, I like, I we both like as people who do create, we both
are putting ourselves out there vulnerably to not know how
people are going to take us. And I think that's something
that a lot of people who digest and take content in need or I

(20:34):
would like them to understand, not need to understand because I
don't want to make anyone feel acertain way if they don't want
to. But there's so much more than
someone who is creating and posting content.
Like we work, we do all this other stuff.
We have like our own like minds to support and everything.
And I think there needs to be a lot of, like, grace, no pun

(20:55):
intended, for people who do, like, put themselves out there.
Like we don't ask to have peopleon bikes Heckle us at races and
follow us and like, track US anddo all this other stuff.
Are you being stalked? Do people stalk you now?
Like, are you? Do you have to deal with that?
I have been stalked before, not in like a crazy like way, but

(21:17):
like I, I noticed like there wasone time when I was, it was like
kind of at the beginning and it was at like my other apartment
that I was at and I like got followed.
And then I was like, OK, I can'tgo to like my apartment.
I need to like move or not move.But I was like pretending to go
somewhere else or like there'll be times where people will know

(21:39):
who I am and I know they like want to say something and I'm
like, I don't want to be like, I'm grace.
Yeah, I'm like, I was like, I'm not like that big enough to be
like, let's take a pic. But it's funny when people like,
do recognize me because like, that's so awesome to be able to
like talk to people. And I think something that I
struggle with is like, since I'mbubbly and outgoing, I think

(22:01):
everyone's my friend and I, I'm sometimes the person who's like,
here's my number. Like text me whenever you want.
Like I would love to chat with you or like do a lot of like
voice message recordings with people who I follow to like talk
to them and like learn about them.
But like my following, and I think this is, I'm very grateful
for this, but I think this is like a part of the stalker

(22:23):
aspect is my following is 80% men and 20% women.
And I'm not saying that all men are stalkers or like women are
stalkers too for sure. But I think that sometimes my
audience doesn't know boundariesin that way.
Guys are dumb. I mean to your point like I.

(22:44):
Wouldn't be here without them, but like sometimes people take
it too far. Yeah, sure.
And to your point, like you said, you wanted to get away
from making kind of the inappropriate jokes, like, yeah,
a lot of guys have, I don't knowwhat's the best way to put this?
Just like they know no bounds. They, you know, they spend most
of time on the Internet and like, oh, she's a pretty girl.
Let me follow her and let me like her, you know, And they
kind of have these weird little fantasies.

(23:05):
So there's, there's definitely that.
So the fact that you're shiftingkind of the way that you portray
yourself, I think will probably help with that.
But yeah, I don't really have. I've leaned into it and I like,
I had the ability to lean into it because I like, like we
talked about in our first podcast, getting the reaction
out of people and like making people laugh.
Yeah. But I think that I've
definitely, like, toned it down and like, I've also asked my

(23:29):
boyfriend. I was like, sometimes I don't
want things to be like, disrespectful towards you or
like make you uncomfortable because I respect your character
so much and like, I want to be with you.
And he was like, no, it's like funny.
He's a very, like confident person in his own way.
Like he's not a jealous type, which is so great.
Yeah, it's great. It's funny because he'll go out

(23:50):
like he was at the Marin Enduro race and like he's been around
in San Francisco when people arelike your graces boyfriend and
he's like, yeah. No, he's famous.
That's funny. No, it's really, it's really
cute and I'm happy that I have like that support system with me
and I did get a new bike and I got Sorvello 2024 Caledonia.

(24:12):
Yeah, it's a sick bike. Literally the night before sea
Otter, I was like not ready for that race.
Just like mentally I was like I'm camping, I don't want to do
that. I like already sometimes still
struggle with the food and exercise stuff of like being
rigid and like being at a campsite and kind of like being
like in a group of people, like on kind of like other people's

(24:35):
terms and not being able to likerun away and go to like a heated
class or like it was freezing inthe morning.
I was like, I don't want to get on my bike.
Like if you really want to, you would you'll find a way.
But I was like really trying to lean into being comfortable and
like doing that. I wasn't prepared for that race
at all. And it was Carson's like 12th
sea Otter. We had a conversation the night

(24:57):
before and I'm like, I'm just not ready.
And he was like, you like had somuch time to prepare for this.
Like, this means so much to me. And then it like really hit me.
I was like, I've effed up. So yeah, I didn't even have my
bike charged. And I had.
To the night before. Am I worried?
No, I was so like, and then my race was that morning at like

(25:21):
9:00 AM, the circuit race, doingthe Laguna Seca track, and it
was around like 20 girls, 20 women.
And I did like the lowest cat race because I was like 5.
Yeah, we're doing it for fun. And there was like, I think no
one else in my category. So it was I was racing with pros

(25:42):
and like college pros. I was like last.
But it was like, funny. I like, I was like, this is fun.
So and then we started camping and everything.
But yeah, that race I was definitely not prepped for, but
it was so fun, like meeting everyone in the bike space and
the brands. And I ran into like, so many

(26:02):
like people who were pros that I'm like friends with online and
that was so fun. That is fun.
It's a fun part of racing to seeOtter.
Yeah. No I haven't, I think it would
be fun to do. Maybe next year.
This year I the only bike race in the California I've signed up
for is this WT fondo this weekend down near Mount Whitney

(26:24):
and I think it's Independence, CA.
That's going to be so cool. Yeah, I'm stoked.
Well, sort of stoked. My bike is.
It's a road bike and I'm putting35 wide tires on it and it's
going to be interesting for someof the sandy sections, of
course. But yeah, I should be fine.
I'm excited to go hard and see what I can do in the bike world.
But yeah. Yeah, I know, I know.

(26:45):
And then literally or the weekend that just happened.
Last yeah, Levi's. Yeah, I had Levi's, which is in
Windsor, where I was born and raised.
And yeah, so tell me about that race.
Yeah, so that race was really fun.
I went with two brands for that race and we had a photographer
videographer follow me and ride with me.

(27:07):
And so the day before my sister picked me up in San Francisco.
I don't have my car in SF. Like gotten so many parking
tickets in the city that I'm like, I can't, I can't risk
having to give any more money away to SFMTA.
All the brand money that I worked so hard to.
Like just goes to the SFMTA. Like SFMTA and rent and like

(27:30):
some clothes and like food. So I'm like, I don't I cannot
budget anymore to this city. Love it, but not for me.
So she picked me up in her like 2 door civic Honda and we took
the wheel off and put the bike in.
And when I get heckled in the DMS, it's like, why don't you
have a bike rack? Like put it in this way?
And I'm like guys, like there's so much more context like I

(27:53):
can't it's so I like got in her car.
We put everything in and we wereshooting content for an energy
drink brand drinking it right now.
Love third so good ice pop shameless plug, but no,

(28:13):
literally we were shooting before and it was so sunny and I
was wearing like a short sleeve jersey.
I was like, oh, I haven't like raced in this one or I haven't
really like worn this one on thebike And then the next day it's
cold and. Freezing.
And then the photographer is like, you need to wear that same
jersey, so it's like it matches.The continuity, yeah.

(28:33):
Yeah, and I was like, oh, fuck. Or like freezing.
But she was such a good sport and so fun.
She's actually a former pro racer, so she had her, like,
camera on her back. Like she had another camera.
She was doing it while she was cycling with me and like would
race up ahead, like stopping bushes and like shoot.
Get all the shots. No, it was so fun.

(28:53):
And like to be able to be there and like be in Windsor where
everyone goes to like do this race was crazy.
I was like, I hate Windsor. I hate growing up here.
And then you get brought into the bike world.
And I mean, I like riding over there more than I do more in San
Francisco because no one's around me.
It's flat roads. And like, I don't have to deal

(29:16):
with like cars or anything because sometimes I still get a
little bit like anxious clippingin and clipping out.
And that brings me like, a lot of like internal anxiety.
And I like. Yeah, no, that was really fun.
And being able to race that likeI used to grow up and like learn
how to drive on those roads and like go with my friends to get

(29:36):
smoothies and stuff. And it was really sweet to be
able to like have that documented and.
When is this coming out? Is it still being like edited
and? It's still being edited.
We are in the works to get it out, I think maybe the end of
this month or the next month. And then yeah, even though I'm a

(29:58):
Rd. cyclist, somehow I got warped into mountain biking and
I'm going on a brand trip with GoPro to Arkansas to go mountain
biking. Oh, that's sick.
Is this going to be near the whole like where Walmart runs
the town and they have all thosetrails and whatnot?
I think that's probably where you're going.
I would imagine. We're going to bet.
Yeah, yeah. So we're going to fly fish.
I fly fished a couple times in Montana.

(30:20):
It's going to be so fun. And then we're going to go
mountain biking. But The thing is, Seth is we
we're in a group chat now. I've like revealed all of the
women who are like going on thistrip.
It's around like 10 other girls.We're in this beautiful, like
tree house in the middle of the woods and like, OK, who's going
with me on this? And everyone's starting to like

(30:40):
text and then send their handles.
Everyone is a professional fly Fisher.
That's going to be you. Hey, check out this D roller.
I'm like, OK, I'm like now like really good friends with the
marketing team at GoPro and I'm like, this is going to be such
good content for them, but. Also like it's.
Going to be so funny. There's I think two other girls

(31:03):
who are professional mountain bikers and then eight of them
are professional fly Fisher women.
And they're like one of them said I'm coming back from like a
competition to fish. And I'm like, my God, I'm
praying on a miracle. Yeah, sending funny pictures of
when everyone can catch a fish and I can't.

(31:25):
And I wanna bring that energy and set the precedent and make.
I'm excited too because I'm so excited to be able to do this
and like, who would have thoughtthat this would happen?
Yeah, talk about the the crossover cycling to fishing,
that's going to be quite nice for.
You then I like texted one of the girls who's like putting the
trip together and I'm like, I just want you all to know that I

(31:47):
would love an E mountain bike and if like I can't do it, I
would love to go like kayaking. Or something.
Yeah. We're all hang out with you and
get our nails done. Yeah, when is when is this trip
happening? This is May 2nd through May 6th,
so four days, which is going to be so fun.

(32:07):
And no, I'm so excited to like connect with everyone and make
this really, really exciting. I think brand trips has like
that was my 2025 bucket list to hit.
Like I write in my notes at the beginning of the year all the
things that I want to accomplishand this was one of them.
I was like, oh, maybe like a a fashion brand trip because I'm

(32:30):
like, I didn't know these peoplelike did excursions like this or
like in the space of, you know, outdoors life.
Then I got reached out to by a company in the alcohol space to
do a brand trip literally at thebeginning of January.
I was like, this is happening and it was to go like
snowboarding and like learn how to snowboard and like be with
the brand, etcetera. And then they like ghosted me

(32:53):
and I was so excited for that trip.
Weird. Yeah, I think another thing
being in the space and I think portraying and being like very
bubbly and outgoing people thinkthey can like walk over you or
like they don't expect me to like come back in an e-mail and
be very like precise and handled.
And like now that I am not managed by a management company,

(33:19):
I was for a couple of months andI realized that like wasn't for
me or that management company wasn't for me specifically.
I represent myself. So I'm like my own biggest
advocate. And I think that brands think
that they have this say all be all and can walk over creators.

(33:40):
I'm very intense in my approach,but like lead with kindness
because for 10 months this had has been my income and my way of
not living at my parents house and being a kid again.
And I like am very protective over my social media and I think
that that can come across sometimes with people that I'm
with or sometimes I don't want this to ever come across like

(34:03):
when I'm with my boyfriend that like content is like also number
one for me. And I think that that can be, I
guess it could be perceived as like egotistical or like selfish
in that way by some others. But I'm like, I don't want a
penny pinch anymore and like worry about my like next dollar

(34:27):
or like my next paycheck becauseI've been there.
And that's like literally a horrible feeling.
And I think that a lot of peoplewho consume content think that
these content creators make so much money and like, yes, they
can. And like now I'm at a point
where I like can't support myself with rent and some other
stuff for like another year if possible.
And I'm not in a job, but I'm still going to be like

(34:50):
budgeting, like I'm not at a point where I can like go on
these like trips, the Maldives and like all this other stuff
and like do that. So that's another thing I think
people who consume content need to realize that like it's a
hustling type of energy when like you're working with a brand
and they're late on an invoice and that was your rent payment.

(35:10):
Or they're late on an invoice and like you work with another
brand and they're net 30, net 60and you're not going to be paid
out until like. Two months, yeah.
And then you're like thinking about that.
And I've been in the space wheremy mom was a small business
owner and like she like was successful in that way and like
entrepreneurial. So I have that spirit in me.

(35:32):
I just take it to a level where it's intense and I reach out to
brands or they reach out to me and I, I want people to be
excited about like the biking world and like, like know that I
am a force. Like I've been described by so
many people that I've like been with family, friends, etcetera.
That like one word to describe me as an intense force.

(35:55):
And it's that I think has brought me confidence.
And I think that I need to lean into that more in order to
accept that I do belong where I belong to.
Like, circle back on how we were, like, talking at the
beginning of this of like, yeah,the intensity is the reason,
like, why this has all come to fruition for me.
So I need to remember that. I feel like that like last three

(36:19):
monologues of me wasn't intense.No, that was really good.
I mean, there's. You were dying sometimes.
No, yeah. No, it's.
I don't have to eat rice and beans all the time or like do
that. It's not fun.
Yeah, no, it's not fun and I'm really thankful and happy to
hear that. Like you're able to start
figuring out how to represent yourself, pay some of your own

(36:40):
bills. Like that gives a lot of
confidence just to have the the power to say like that I am
self-sufficient for anybody no matter what stage of life
they're in is very nice. And then it also sounds like you
have a degree of control over your time that a lot of people
don't have, which is a like, I would say is worth more than

(37:00):
being the CEO of some Fortune 500 company, whatever.
Because a lot of these people, they said that these Helms of
responsibility steering the ship, but then they, they go
home and all they can do is think about work and that's all
they can do. And they're off time.
And even if on the vacation, like they're having to do that.
So the place that you're in. That's also what I do and like,
sorry. You are still doing that.
I constantly think about contentand like what my next funny

(37:22):
video is gonna be or like how I can do that.
And it's hard to turn that off. Yeah.
But I'm no like Tim Cook. Yeah.
You're not being bugged about tariffs every 20 minutes and
product lines that are coming out five years from now.
Yeah, it's definitely different.It's silly.
And like I also know that like the bike stuff, I'm not going to

(37:42):
be 24 years old and be able to be as like nimble as I can and
have this type of energy all thetime.
Like sometimes I'm like, I wonder when I will crash and
burn and I'm trying to hold on to this like energy as much as I
can. And I know content creation like
in a grander scheme of things, like because I live in the Bay
Area and like, because I'm surrounded by people who are

(38:04):
like software engineers in tech,like finance, etcetera.
I have a creative background andI felt like I don't belong here
in that way. And that's been a weird internal
like where do I belong? Like where should I go?
And I think wherever you go, there you are.
I will always have these problems.
When I lived in San Luis Obispo and then left school, I was

(38:28):
like, where do I belong? When I moved to Montana after
like a crisis of being broken upwith and like want to like be in
the outdoors, I was like, where do I belong?
I guess I belong there. San Francisco, Marin, wherever
you go, there you are. And like being a creative in the
space, like I know that sometimes this world is fleeting
or you can't like count on it necessarily for the long haul.

(38:52):
I guess that's self limiting beliefs and I'm not contributing
for MY4O1K. And like I'd love to own a house
one day and like be able to support a family and be a wife,
but also like contribute in likepositive ways financially,
etcetera. But I mean, I also welcome the
opportunity and the idea of being back in a nine to five job

(39:15):
and going back into that and like doubling down on like also
being on the bike and like making content, but also like
supporting myself in another way.
Because I think that's where I find a lot of like good
grounding this. And I think a lot of other
people who bike and are doing triathlons or endurance people

(39:38):
are very intense. And they also value structure
and like thrive and structure. I need that in order to set
myself straight. And like, yeah, that's something
that I did really well in when Iwas in the workforce in that way
of like waking up, doing my morning ride and spin in my room

(39:59):
and then like going to work and then coming back and then
Sonning or like. Doing a run and then thinner and
that and like I now am like on ADHD medication and I would not
have been able. I was diagnosed with ADHD like
what 24? Everyone knew I I had it.
Now having this medicine, I usedto be very anti medicine has

(40:23):
made me very productive and in line.
So that's allowed me to like, build my own structure when kind
of like the outside world or like content world or like plans
with training, quote UN quote, or like unstructured.
I guess maybe I need to have like another race or some sort

(40:44):
of like bike thing coming to life.
But I do have like running racesin the summer that I'm excited
about to get back into running. Yeah.
Yeah, there's so many things yousaid I could kind of reciprocate
and agree with. And also, yeah, yeah.
So I mean, first of all, yeah, everything that you were talking

(41:04):
about, there's seasons of life for everything.
So I would say, I would say justenjoy the season that you're in
right now. Like you are working for
yourself. You're able to have that
flexibility even though your brain and you know, it sounds
like it's running 24/7. Like I've been in that place a
few different times in life, especially when you're very
passionate about something and it's your baby and it's also
your livelihood like that that'sOK to have that season.

(41:27):
And like you're dating someone, you know, you're still having
your own apartment. You have expenditures are quote
UN quote relatively low comparedto what they could be having a
household thing. So I think that it fits for
where you are. And I wouldn't stress too much
about it leaving you at some point because it will.
You know, I'm 32, I think. Yeah, I'm 32 now and like I, I

(41:50):
used to be in that place. And now I, someone asked me in a
podcast the other day that I wason, they're like, you know,
what's keeping you up at night? And I was like, huh, I asked
that question to a lot of people, but nothing's keeping me
up at night. Like I literally sleep 90% of
the time very well. And I'm not stressing about
those different things. But when I have kids or, you
know, me and my wife were able to have kids here in the next
year or two, like I'm sure that'll change again.

(42:10):
And my motivations and the, the things that continue to wake me
up in the morning or keep me up at night will probably change.
And that's OK because it's all adifferent season of life.
And when that chapter comes, turn that page and be excited to
read what's what's coming next. Yeah, I think it's important to
be obsessed. And if you're not obsessed,
like, what are you doing? Yeah, do you care?
And I think that like it is really cool to care.

(42:31):
And I think the issue is, is like even in like society now,
everyone thinks it's so cool, like not to care.
And I think it's the art of likeshowing up and being yourself.
And that's why like I connected with you so quickly off the bat.
And I think a lot of your audience members continuously
come back to you is because you show up as you.
And that's like, people can feelthat and like, can people can

(42:56):
see it, but like, it's more of afeeling than anything because
you're not a clog in the wheel online of like content and like
pushing out podcasts and content.
Like you make it very thoughtfuland intentional.
I think like I was, yeah. I was so excited to be able to
like, run it back and like, do this again and talk and be able
to like, take your time because time is so valuable.

(43:19):
And I think that like, because I've been through so much
immense growth and a lot of likestress this past year, like last
2024 has been the best and the worst year of my life.
And like you said, what's keeping you up at night?
Like I would wake up, it was just probably around like
November, October ish. Like when I was getting out of

(43:43):
Marin and into SF, like I was waking up at 3:00 AM and not
being able to go back to sleep. I was like making funny stories.
Like I'm up at 2:00 AM again. Some guys like, what am I going
to do? And like, I just was constantly
up. And then I was like where am I
going to live next that I'm going to be able to afford
because I blew all my savings onmy 6 month rent period that I

(44:06):
was locked into in Marin and I had nothing.
I was waiting on like a net 30 to like get me through the end
of the month and then they were laid and then all this other
stuff. It just snowballed and I was
just so stressed and I found this apartment on Facebook with
like 3 random girls and it was really cheap rent in a really

(44:26):
good spot in San Francisco and Iwas living there for two months
and then at month 2 I found out that there was black mold and
rats in the house. Yeah, I remember you talking
about that. Yeah, and I got so sick and like
my face was so like. Beat up.
Acne and like I still am suffering the black mold detox

(44:49):
right now from my body. But I was so exhausted all the
time, tired, wasn't already ableto sleep thinking about like
finances, wasn't able to sleep because my room was like so
small and my bike was hanging onmy wall.
I didn't have like a side table like I had a clothing rack
because I didn't have a closet. Like everything was just like.

(45:12):
I. Slammed Yeah.
We went from like a one bedroom condo in a beautiful, wealthy
neighborhood in Northern California to $1000 of rent and
like, not being able, like, putting my arms up to the side
and like, holding them up. And it was just like, what am I
doing? Grace?

(45:32):
And that was just so crazy. And then facing the
repercussions of the mold situation is like still an
ongoing process. Like I use anti dandruff shampoo
to wash my face and I like drinkcelery juice when I can and it's
like palpable to me. But I feel like now I'm at a
spot where it's good. Like I live with my best friend

(45:54):
and I've never lived with a bestfriend or a in that way ever.
Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, she's also a cyclist and
also really creative. She's in like into fashion and
like she, I would say we complement each other very well.
And I am an intense person and she's intense in her own way.

(46:15):
But she's like soft and I'm softtoo when I need to be and all
this other. And yeah, we live together.
I have my own bathroom, my own room, no mold, a kitchen.
That's really nice. And I'm so grateful for that.
And she's so actually dammed hertoo.
I was like, I really like you. Let's hang out.
And that was back in like September and then.

(46:36):
That's how you got to know her. Yeah.
And then she was like, do you wanna, like, live with me in the
other bedroom? Like someone's leaving, like,
come and hang out and like, stay.
And yeah, no. She's been such a dream.
And I think she's definitely contributed to me feeling like
more sane and like my own self and turned around like a really
bad year into making now 2025 hopefully super amazing.

(47:00):
The best one, Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's super special to be able
to share a room with someone whoyou didn't really care about or
have a good friendship with. Because the closest friends that
I have of the top five, I'd say three of them are ones that I
was roommates with in college for at least a year.
And you go through a lot, like Idon't know what step or stage

(47:20):
you've been in and maybe you won't experience all of them,
but I went because I'm more of an intense personality.
I went through this phase of whois now the guy who's my best
friend's name is Daniel. I would go to hell and back for
this man, would do anything for him.
We have the deepest conversations of any human being
that I've ever had known. And but when we were roommates
together, like he ticked me off so bad and like, I would be so

(47:43):
mad at him. And he's like this very
apologetic, very soft guy. And I'm like, damn, just quite
apologizing all the time and allthe stuff.
So like we got through that. But now we're like the closest
ever. And like even in marriage, it's
the same way. The person that you can be, all
shades of the colors of emotion and attitude at one point, as
long as you come back around andwork through those moments like
those end up becoming like the real BFF.

(48:06):
You can't make old friends like,Oh yeah, yeah.
I agree. Like I, I think it's also
partially because I'm on medication, but I get into like
rampages of wanting to like clean and like get stuff in
order and like I will clean her toilets and walk into her room
and just clean her toilet and vacuum her room And like he's
like, do your thing, have fun. Or like I'll rearrange stuff and

(48:28):
she's OK with that. For me.
She's like, that makes you feel more like calm and safe in your
own self. Like go do it.
It's kind of fun. My toilet's clean.
Yeah, for real. Whoa, it's so great.
And then like we've been in those moments together where
we've been vulnerable with like stuff going on and our lives
with like her own family and like my family too.

(48:52):
And I've was on her floor like oh maybe 2 weeks ago, like
crying. And she was, like, helping me
with this, like, situation that I was in and, like, fights not
with her, but like with other people and just needing that
like, extra like, like, did I say the wrong thing?
Like, can you back me up? Like, what can I do?

(49:13):
And having that support system is so helpful because sometimes
when I go to, like, my sister for advice, it's not necessarily
advice that I think is helpful. Yeah.
Or need because we both have notexperienced similar things at
all. So going to Kenzie has been so
good. And she's an amazing human and

(49:37):
like I'm very lucky to have her.So.
And we've always talked we're like, this is like, I think the
last person that I'm gonna like live with until I live with my
boyfriend. And like my boyfriend even said
that to me. Like before I said that to
Kenzie. And before Kenzie said that to
me, he was like, she's gonna be the last person you live with
before you live with me. And I was like getting that

(49:59):
reassurance from its. Partner is so.
Great, because I'm like, well, I've already been planning
everything. Yeah, did you see my Pinterest
board? This is my ring, yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
Like stage 5 clinger. Yeah, he like let's he embraces
that side of me and makes me feel like I can like, I love the

(50:19):
color pink again. I can like wear dresses.
I don't need to be like super intense.
Like he takes care of things, wego out and about and he was
like, I love how like you just like look around at stuff and
just are like taking in life. Like I like watching that
through your lens because I was like, I can turn my brain off
when I'm around you. And that makes me feel like I

(50:41):
don't constantly need to have everything in order because my
life right now and like in the past had already been so
stressful and like, right, I'm experienced like microcosms of
stress. Like he's my piece and I can
like bring that to him. And it's helpful that he knows
bike stuff so much too because he's done maintenance on my

(51:01):
bike. He's built my gravel bike that I
have. Like, he goes to the races, he
puts my bike in his like, like on his, like, truck rack and he
takes care of, like, that stuff.And that is so nice for me also
to have someone who, like, showsup to my races and does that.
And I think that, like, the Sherpas need to be appreciated

(51:23):
too because, yeah, I don't like your wife.
Was she at your Iron Man's and everything, or were you with her
at that time? Yeah, so the 70.3, she was
there, she saw me Boo hooing at the finish line and she was
there for the full Iron Man, my first one as well.
And she also saw me Boo hooing for a totally different reason.
So yeah, she has been there for a lot of them whenever she's

(51:46):
working, sometimes if it's out of town and she won't be there,
but the majority of them she does come to.
And yeah, the the coolest thing I think for me Sherpa wise was
being in New Zealand at World Champs with my, my mom was
there, my sister was not there. I don't know why I said my
sister, my mom, my sister in So you can see down like 30

(52:20):
feet, just straight to the bottom.
And I was like. You out for the swim because the
swim is already kind of stressful where you like like,
oh, the open ocean, thinking about like wildlife in that
arena. No, it's a it's a Big Lake.
Actually, it is big out there are some big fish.
I do get a little leery of the ocean, but usually racing I'm
OK. I'm I enjoy the swim.

(52:41):
Typically it's one of the my stronger legs, but during that
race I jumped in and I kid you not, Grace, I got to the first
turn boy, and everything felt just so good and relatively
easy. And I was just crying in the
water like, this is so beautiful.
You know, you're like gasping for.
Yeah, it was that was the most that was the coolest experience
of my life. And then after that, taken

(53:02):
basically a month off of no training, just doing whatever.
I actually almost like killed myself doing this crazy 20 mile
up this mountain. Mount Fife coming down the
backside was just like way overgrown and I got lost on the
trail multiple times. And I was there's this crazy
plant in New Zealand that if youtouch it too much of it, it can
send you an anaphylactic shock. I forget what it's called, but

(53:24):
it basically can have you swell up.
And I was crawling on the groundtrying to find this trail again
and like I hit some of it and itcaused my hand to swell up a
little bit. Luckily it wasn't like a full
on, but there have been like farmers that have died going
through that stuff and it kicks up these needles and it's just
you're bad place. But anyway.
So I would not do like well in that.
Situation yeah, it was I, I kid you not, my heart rate got up to

(53:46):
like 180 because I was actually having like a like a panic
attack because I was like, I'm not going to be able to get out
of here. I ran out of water.
It took me like 3 hours longer than it was supposed to that it
was a crazy day but I learned some good lessons.
Don't go unprepared. I ain't going to do that.
And that's also crazy because thinking about getting back into
running again, like my heart rate spikes so high when I run.

(54:10):
And like some of the other experience on my like race at
sea Otter was I was, I was either having a panic attack.
I I think I would know if I was having a panic attack, but I was
like really panting so hard and like my chest was like seizing a
little bit. And I'm thinking to myself,
like, how can I really find my calm when I'm in these kind of

(54:32):
like intense moments? Because I have all like my
running races and summer coming up and like a part of me is
like, oh, my medication like also increases my heart rate and
all this other stuff. So I have to like dial in more
because that's a huge thing. And I'm like a heart rate.
Yeah, if you want, I can give you a link where you can set up

(54:54):
like a 30 minute free call with precision fuel and hydration and
they'll walk you through like how to set up nutrition wise and
for other issues that you might have if you want to do that.
I've done that. And then I, I, they're all I use
for all of my hydration stuff when it comes to salt and intake
and all that stuff. And how much to take per hour,
how much you sweat and salt per liter.

(55:14):
Yeah. I have to hook you up with them.
Yeah, they're really great. They're awesome team.
That's why I don't do this for sponsor plug, but I will plug
them because I really love theirstuff.
But anyway, so I want to shift gears a little bit and ask you a
couple other questions. So you talked a couple of times.
You touched on the fact that, like, you know, in the past you
were against medication. Now you are taking salmon.

(55:36):
It helps. I think that that should be
talked about more. My wife for a long time was
really against medication and now she takes some and his help
helped her. And we often take like
supplements, vitamins, whatnot to help with deficits in other
areas. And given the crazy things that
we all go through growing up nowwith food and the other issues
that we end up gaining from mycoplastics and whatever.

(55:56):
So I think that's important. But talk a little bit about that
and how how you were able to come to a position of mindset
change around that and accept that help.
I think growing up, I've always felt like I've been a burden or
something was wrong with me. I, I've always felt like, I
mean, I've been in therapy ever since I was like 8 years old.

(56:17):
So I've always been made to feellike I need to improve or I lack
something. And for a long time, like I, it
needed more tools in my toolbox growing up and I couldn't
conceptualize with myself like, well, like I'm a whole person.
Like, why can't I make this chemical in my body or this like

(56:39):
happen on its own? Like there's already so much
wrong with me that I have to go like skip practice and stuff and
hang out with friends to go see someone I don't know for one
hour to two hours a week. And like do that.
Like I really need something else to make myself better.
Like what's going on with me? And then I was on like 200

(57:01):
milligrams of Zoloft for like OCD and like be very frank, like
suicidal ideations when I was inhigh school and also like my
time in college and I cold Turkey cut that medication off
and that was not a good. Thing No, that's dangerous.
Especially like being like high in that range and I didn't like

(57:23):
the fact that I had to be on something in those moments
because it made me feel like I Ilacked like nervous system
regulation and everything. And then going through like my
motions of the past year and everything and feeling like, Oh,
I like, I really do need something that keeps myself in
order. I don't experience my OCD like I

(57:47):
used to because my compulsions are under control and I can
really like I've done exposure therapy to get that in, lock my
suet like the the ideations likesometimes come back in and out
of waves, but I like learn how to handle that and ground
myself. But when it comes to like making
myself be organized and not forget things and not be late

(58:11):
and like make sure I'm in order.And there's so much more that
goes into ADHD and everything, but I think I had to come to
terms with accepting that I lackcertain chemicals in my brain
that make me normal, quote UN quote.
And like my mom described it in the way of like diabetes, like

(58:32):
if you're a diabetic, you take your insulin and there's nothing
wrong with that. And like also having someone in
the medical field who is aware of all of that stuff is helpful.
And like, I come from like that type of family and like, I guess
that's also the black sheep. And maybe your wife has

(58:52):
experienced this even though she's in the medical field.
Like I don't like when my parents are like people in my
life push pills on me or like, push like ideas.
Like I have to come around to iton my own and like be accepting
of that. I think it's like a really long
winded answer, but. That's a good answer.
Yeah, like I lack certain thingsand I need a little bit of help

(59:17):
or extra boost in order to be able to perform and function
properly or to my best ability. And I also like to accept that
I'm a disservice to others, my work and my production.
And like, I'm a disservice more so to myself 'cause I am the
most important person in my life.
No one else, not even my parents, not even my sister, no

(59:42):
one else in my life is importantto me as I am to me.
And that's something I stand by,even if it makes me selfish.
But I'm a disservice to me aboveall.
And I'm stuck with myself for the rest of my life and I have
to make it a happy home. And it's not a happy home if I'm
not together and I need to be together with the meds.
Yeah, no, it makes sense. I mean, so I went to this, this

(01:00:06):
is called Life App Three day retreat.
Actually, I'm going to send you the link to it.
Did I tell you about it last time?
Oh, OK, so that's this. It's this retreat that they have
in British Columbia, Canada, up in Camp Hope or in Georgia.
I can, I'll link it in the show notes and I'll even throw in
their little video so people cancheck this out.
It's a really awesome thing. Anyway, I went to it and they

(01:00:28):
had told this story about this guy in World War 2.
I don't remember his name. I'll have to Google it and maybe
I can link it in the show notes.But essentially he was a doctor
and there was this bad infectionthat was going across the I
don't know if it was the division or whatever it was, but
a lot of these people where wereneeding this very specific type

(01:00:50):
of medicine. He only had so much of it to
give. And Long story short, the
punchline was that this guy had gone through the situation
realizing that he had to basically triage and sell some
people, hey, you can't get medicine and others can't.
But he had, he kept one for himself.
And so like, that really drove home this point that, well, if

(01:01:10):
you can't apply your give the medicine to yourself, if your
cup isn't full of love to give to others or whatever, you can't
give what you do not have. So he had to like, essentially
focus on himself to a degree. And I think that, yeah,
especially in religious circles.And there's this concept of like
being selfless almost to 1's detriment.
And I, I think that there's a little bit more context involved

(01:01:31):
that you, like, you have to, youknow, care for yourself a bit.
Like even the golden rules, you know, do unto others as you do
unto you. And you we often forget about
the what we would do unto ourself.
Like it, like love others as much as you would love yourself.
Like, what does that truly mean?I think that there's a tainted
view of that like self love, self-care, it can be it

(01:01:51):
conflated and and abused, I think a bit.
But you do have to take care of yourself so that you can take
care of others. It's just like the whole put
oxygen on your on your mask first, so or on your face first
so you can apply it to someone else.
And those are like really important lessons that have to
be learned. Percent and like sometimes in
moments like that in in a relationship, it's not always
5050. Sometimes it's 8020 in the past

(01:02:13):
like 10 months of me being laid off and and like doing content
full time, like it's been a lot of 8020 and like he's 80, I'm
20. Sometimes 100% he is and I'm
not. And like I understand like even
in not just a relationship context, like yeah, I do put

(01:02:33):
myself first, but like it's for other people too.
And that makes it not selfish, because it's truly like, not.
Yeah, you have to accept the love that's coming your way.
I think that it as you go through different seasons of
life, too. I've seen this through eight
years of marriage that it goes up and down.

(01:02:55):
There have been times when I'm completely broken and my wife
has shown up to be strong in a way that I didn't even know
existed and and vice versa. And like you have to have that
give and take. But as soon as we focus, oh, I'm
only given 100 and you know, youkeep that mindset of only
thinking about yourself in that particular way, then I think
that that can lead to an unhealthy relationship.
But knowing after you go throughthe cycle a few times, knowing

(01:03:16):
that those tables will continue to shift and you know, the 8020
will turn into 2080 or whatever,like that's just just how life
goes. And that's the beauty of
companionship is that you can bethere.
You can go back and forth. And always like being like this
is silly. Sometimes you just have to laugh
and like life is silly and humorous and everything.
Also, great question. I think that like even I've seen

(01:03:38):
it in my like own family's life.Like a family member of mine is
now on medication and I don't know what they did and why they
functioned and lived life the way that they did when everyone
knew they needed it. And we're all like facing the
repercussions of that person. And you're like, you are so much

(01:04:02):
better now that you're on it andyou treat your family.
Members better, yeah, yeah, no, it's important.
So if somebody out there is considering it, I would say
entertain it. And you can always change.
Nothing's going to be perfect. Sometimes things don't work and
you can try different things, yeah.
Or different medications or whatever.
And yeah, I'm not a huge proponent of like, take medicine
for everything you want to deal with the symptoms.

(01:04:24):
But if you do have, like, a serious thing that is creating a
chemical imbalance, like, pursuethat, get that figured out
because, yeah, everybody deserves to be happier and live
a fuller life. Yeah, my personality hasn't been
altered. I'm just like speedy and like
kind of a little bit more witty and like experienced crashes at
around like 3 to 4:00 PM and I'mlike slumped but learn how to

(01:04:46):
regulate so. Yeah, for sure.
So let me ask you kind of one more question to get you in the
zone. What helps Grace get in the
zone? So I that can be business that
can be before you go on a bike ride.
I can give examples of what thatmeans to me, but I would love to
hear from you like what what helps you to get in the zone
your medication then maybe what else?

(01:05:07):
Well, First off, it used to be very like, I mean a part of it
is like appearance driven, but like I have taken a sabbatical
and I've cold Turkey spray tans and like I used to love being
tan because it made me feel likea little bit like slimmer and
all this other stuff. Really embraced my no fake tan,
my real brunette. Natural looks good on you.
Yes, thank you. Yeah, like last time we talked,

(01:05:30):
I was like Orange and I had. Donald, is that you?
Literally I had bright white hair, pretty much like pretty
blonde hair. And I would say for me, if I
like, I do lean on like the aesthetics of stuff.
Like every race I always have mynails done.
That's just like something that I love to do.
I also like I'm a skin picker, so when my nails are like done,

(01:05:52):
it makes me not pick my skin because I paid it got paid from
a brand deal to be able to like get my nails done.
Yeah, they're 30 days locked away on that.
I'm just kidding. But also like rings when I look
down on my bike, I like love to either fidget up my rings or
like have rings on when I get inthe zone.
I like love to take a shower before I work out.

(01:06:15):
I think that that. Before you work out.
Yeah, it's very counterintuitive.
Like I love feeling clean and not feeling.
Like I'm the same. Grossness on me always do like a
shower before I work out and like 1 after.
Sometimes I take like 3 showers a day.
It's. That's very common in this
triathlon world. I'm definitely the same way.

(01:06:35):
It's really bad for your hair, but I don't care.
Showering. I love having like an energy
drink, coffee, something to get me like going in the morning and
pumped up. And then I take these like gummy
vitamins that like are also likepartially like a little sweet

(01:06:56):
treat in the morning too. I love gummies.
Yeah, like they're not sponsoredsmarty pants gummy vitamins.
They have like sugar around them.
Like I like, I think it's like Pavlov or something.
It's or Freud or whatever where you like wake up and you're like
used to something or like you'reused to like a repetitive thing.
So like when you don't have it like something is.

(01:07:17):
Weird. Yeah.
So. Yeah, always have my gummy
vitamins. And then I've love listening to
EDM music or like fun upbeat music to get me going.
And I thrive in the mornings. I feel like you're a morning
person too. That really gets me amped up.
Like no matter. What?
Yeah, for sure. Yeah.
I my shower thing is like alwaysbefore bed, I have to take a

(01:07:40):
shower. Even if I took one an hour ago,
it's just like helps me calm down, even if it's not with a
ton of soap and whatnot. Just like to that feeling of
getting in the sheets nice and clean.
They're cool. We've been sleeping with it 66°
in the house at night. So like, yeah, that helps me get
in the sleep zone. But in the morning it's waking
up. Usually we'll read a few verses
on my phone or listen to like the Bible, OP or something.

(01:08:03):
Or I'll go make coffee for my wife.
I make her a lot her breakfast and then we have the day before
the lunch. So like my whole routine is
really cycled around her in the morning.
And then when she leaves and I kind of get my own coffee
sometimes and I'll get in the zone.
I like going to our local coffeeshop that allows you to see this
mountain chain right Outback andit's just like that gets me in,
so I'm for sure. Yeah, yeah, keeping a space

(01:08:24):
organized is so much for me. It makes me feel like I'm in
order. I always believe in the quote,
do it right or do it twice. So do it right the first time so
you don't have to do it again atthe time.
So I've now made it a point to always, like, keep others closed
because I was looking for the shorts.
But my bed's always fixed. And every single morning.

(01:08:48):
And I love to light, like, a candle if I'm working in my
workspace or just having that next to my bed.
Like, smells are important to me.
They get me in the zone. Yeah.
And it's like, obviously this doesn't pertain to now, but if I
had socks out and I just finished a workout, like put it
in the hamper right away or put it in the washer right away.

(01:09:11):
Like if I have my towel and I just finish a shower and it's on
my bed, we're going to hang it up like right away.
Making like sure good habits areformed because I'm in such a
nice space living with my best friend that like I want to
respect the space so much and set a precedent for myself.
And also like that bleeds off toeverything and anything that I

(01:09:34):
do. Also because of my organization
issues, I keep notes in my like app, like notes in my notes app
to be able to like remember things and like I delete them
when I finish them or at the endof the day.
And like when I have so much going on and Carson, I like come

(01:09:57):
back to each other at night and like have dinner or like go to
bed. I write like notes in my phone
of stuff that I like wanted to bring up or something that was
fun that happened in my day whenwe do our little like debrief
because I don't want to forget like the things that happened
and like I do forget those things and I need to keep it
organized for myself to remember.

(01:10:20):
Not that I have to have talking points when I'm with people.
And like, I didn't have any of that for this.
It was very casual. I like went to a workout class
and 2 minutes before to spare like got on like this is very
candid, but I think I do like tohave stuff that I can like look
back on and like remember the day to keep myself in order when
I have like conversations with my sister on the phone.

(01:10:42):
I'm like your advice on this. Yeah, that's awesome.
Well, thanks for sharing. It's been an honor getting to
sit and share some time with youagain.
I can't believe it's already been an hour and 10 minutes, but
yeah, I wish you all the best for 2025.
I would love to have you on again in the future.
Maybe not so long in between. And yeah, I'm truly excited to

(01:11:04):
see where it takes you. And I want to see this fly
fishing video that they're goingto create and also the the
Levi's Grand Fondo video. Whenever you have that, send it
to me as well. If it's done by the time we
release this, I'll throw it in the show notes.
Oh my God, yes. Thank you so much.
And like, like I said again, last time we talked, everything
we talked about was pretty much predicted or came to fruition.

(01:11:24):
You, you touched on the, oh, hope no one gets laid off.
There's a lot of layoffs in thatworld.
And I was like, oh, next week. And then I was like, oh, I
really want to maybe meet someone.
I'll meet them through Instagram.
That happened. I'm like, Seth, do you have any
Like we're going to, I'm doing alittle bit overtime.
Do you have any things for me for this upcoming year?

(01:11:47):
Because I feel like you're a psychic.
Definitely not a sidekick. No, I don't have any
predictions. I think that this is going to be
the year that you figure out your flow for what it means to
be a creator in terms of how to live financially, grow a little
bit smarter and wiser and the negotiations and contracting.
And yeah, hopefully continue to build your relationship with

(01:12:08):
Carson and figure out if he's the one.
And yeah, yeah, yeah. I think those are fair, though.
I mean, I don't, I don't have any hard predictions for you Do
seem like you're in a better place.
And. Yeah, I hope that you're able to
find some comfort, but also not be too comfortable.
Find some places that can continue to stretch and grow
you, whether that's the running races or, I don't know,

(01:12:31):
something that comes across yourpath that's going to allow you
to have another growth stretch and never waste a good crisis.
So never, no matter what happens, if something happens in
the next two weeks and it's justcompletely throws you for a
while, remember the conversationand know that you're loved.
Lots of people care about you, and then you're going to be able
to figure it out. Yes, never waste your suffering.

(01:12:51):
That's right. Oh, well, I had such a good time
and I like, really love and appreciate your energy and you
as a human being. And yeah, the world needs more
Seth Hills in their life. So.
Thank you, Grace. We don't want.
Too many Seth Hills. We just need one.
Yeah, exactly. Energy we need put me out of a
job. Yeah, no, it's literally.

(01:13:13):
You're very scarce so. Thank you so much to Grace for
coming on the pod and letting medive into your life again.
It's always fun having on round two interview people because it
allows me the opportunity to catch up with them.
And really what the show is all about is just making friends,
getting to know people more, andhopefully drawing out some
lessons that we all can learn from.
If you made to this point in thepodcast, thank you for being

(01:13:33):
here. If you could like comment,
subscribe on YouTube, that wouldhelp continue to grow the
audience there. If you are on Spotify or Apple
podcast, if you could comment orreview, leave one of those
reviews. That really does continue to
help grow the podcast. There.
Couple other things I asked the Zone 2 question.
If you are interested in checking out Zone 2, make sure

(01:13:53):
to do so. They have expanded into the US,
have been using their stuff. Let me show you.
This is our iced coffee gel. Anyway, they are really good
stuff. It's got this nice blend of
coffee flavor and it's not just your normal super sticky gel.
It has more of a liquid base. It's really nice.

(01:14:15):
Check out their stuff. Really have enjoyed getting to
work with that company and trulyuse their stuff before I ever
decided to sign any deal with them.
So check them out. If you also want to figure out
your nutrition and hydration strategy, check out Precision
Fuel and Hydration link in the show notes where you can set up
a 20 minute call where they can help run through and help you
figure out the best strategy foryour next performance on your

(01:14:38):
race. And I think that's it.
Thank you guys so much for jumping in and we'll catch you
in the next one piece.