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The Rich Roll Podcast

How One Man Overcame Alcoholism, Lost 150 Pounds & Conquered Badwater, The World’s Toughest Footrace

The Rich Roll Podcast

Rich Roll

Education, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.713.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2014

⏱️ 150 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

I’m obsessed with the idea that we can all do and be better. That's what this show is about — a loud and clear call to action. A graceful nudge to help anyone and everyone not just understand, but actually believe that we are all capable of so much more than we often allow ourselves to accept. Enter David Clark. It’s fun to interview the celebrated. But quite honestly there is just something far more personally gratifying about sharing the story of an anonymous, everyman hero. What truly moves and inspires me are tales of regular people with regular problems who courageously meet severe challenges head on; do something unexpected and astounding that strains the boundaries of what we imagine possible; and come out the other side transformed with life lessons that can benefit us all. Much like my conversation with Josh LaJaunie ( RRP #63 is a must listen if you haven’t already and in my top-5 most downloaded shows), this interview will move you. It will touch you. It will erase whatever obstacles and excuses you rely on that perpetuate bad habits, keep you stuck and reinforce denial. My sincere hope is that David's story will help you really get that no matter what your circumstances or environment, that you always hold the power to implement personal change that can profoundly alter the trajectory of your life — beyond your wildest imagination even. I was first introduced to David by my friend Mishka Shubaly ( another RRP fave with a shocking 5 appearances on the show ). I didn’t know anything about him, but when Mishka says he's worth investigating, I investigate. I winced at photos of a guy pushing 320 pounds, prematurely aged, red-faced and bloated, cocktail in hand. I know an alcoholic when I see one, and this image of David cut a little too close to home. A guy who looked like hell, red lining towards death without a care while wrecking havoc, destruction and woe in the lives of loved ones and anyone and who happened to cross his path. Then I saw a picture of a fit and slim 165 pound athlete crossing the finish line at insane ultra-marathons like the Leadville 100 and Badwater – a 135 mile run across Death Valley in 130-degree July heat — widely considered to be the world’s two toughest footraces. The 320+ pound guy, who looked like some kind of menacing Archie Bunker-esque uncle you’re scared to talk to bore almost no resemblance to that runner achieving things that would impress even the most accomplished marathoners. To say that I was amazed by the astounding extent to which he had seemingly transformed his life would be an understatement. My first thought was, can this be real? But when I looked closely, it was undeniable. It was indeed the same guy. I needed to know more. I needed to know how he did it. So I reached out to David and he sent me his self-published memoir, Out There: A Story of Ultra Recovery*.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to the Rich Roll Podcast episode 113 with David Clark.

0:17.7

The Rich Roll Podcast.

0:20.6

Greetings citizens of the Earth.

0:22.5

My name is Rich Roll and I am your host.

0:24.4

Welcome to my podcast.

0:26.5

Thank you for listening.

0:28.2

Thank you for spreading the word with your friends.

0:30.2

Thank you for Instagramming all the cool ways and places where you enjoy the show.

0:34.6

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter at RichRoll.com where you can find tons of great

0:38.4

products and services to take your lifestyle next level.

0:42.4

And thank you for supporting the show by clicking through the Amazon banner at at RichRoll.com

0:46.6

for your Amazon purchases.

0:48.0

Hey guys, this shows free.

0:50.4

It's always going to be free.

0:52.6

Support us with this simple, not time consuming act.

0:56.8

Come on, what are you guys doing?

0:58.4

Thank you so much for everybody who has been doing that.

1:00.3

By the way, we really appreciate it.

1:02.2

So anyway, each week I sit down with the best and the brightest and health wellness diet,

1:07.9

nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

1:11.3

I got world-class athletes.

1:12.7

I got doctors.

...

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