July 8, 2025

Episode 9: Fitness That Feeds the Soul: Why Your ‘Why’ Matters More Than Your Workout

Show Notes

Ever felt “too comfortable” in life and craving a real challenge? Then this episode is for you.

In this episode of A Wilder Life, Eric Edmeades sits down with Brian Keane, ultra‑endurance athlete, bestselling author of The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset, and mental toughness coach. Brian opens up about his journey from primary‑school teacher in London to conquering extreme endurance races like the Marathon des Sables and Arctic ultras, then scaling Kilimanjaro with his own tribe of followers. Their conversation weaves through evolutionary mismatch, the power of gratitude, designing rites of passage in modern life, and moving beyond fear into intentional growth.

Key Takeaways:

→ Belief in possibility: You’re not a tree—if you don’t like where you are, you can move.→ Gratitude rewires anxiety: You can’t feel anxious and grateful at the same time—practice gratitude to gain mental toughness without needing an ultra‑race.→ Design your challenges: Intentional, “tribal” or group adventures (e.g., Kilimanjaro, Sahara) recalibrate mindset, resilience, and connection.→ Teach like a kid’s classroom: Simplify language to third‑grade level and evoke engagement—the same skill that made Brian’s book a bestseller.→ Own your triggers: “Pain is your path to freedom”—lean into difficult emotions like shame or regret to unlock transformation (vs. numbing with food/Netflix).