Podcast Summary: "Living on God’s Timing ft. Pacemaker Chené"
Podcast: Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby
Host: Joseph Shalaby
Date: November 14, 2025
Guest: Shane "Pacemaker" Chené
Main Theme / Purpose
This episode delves into the remarkable journey of Shane "Pacemaker" Chené, a young entrepreneur, trainer, and creator of Pace Fitness. The discussion centers on overcoming health adversity, the importance of mental and spiritual health, building a business grounded in purpose, and the role of faith and family support in realizing one’s potential. Together, Joe and Shane explore how life’s obstacles can become the foundation for meaningful work and service to others.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Shane’s Health Journey and the Genesis of Pace Fitness
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Early Diagnosis and the Pacemaker Story
- Shane shares being born with a rare second degree AV heart murmur (00:00).
- Pacemaker installed at age 16 following a serious knee injury—an event that led to the discovery that his condition had worsened (01:48-04:32).
- “So if it wasn't for me hurting my knee, I would never found out that the stage two moved into stage three. So that's where I go back to saying it's all God's timing…” (03:36, Shane)
- The recovery process was challenging, especially mentally, due to body image concerns and the visible presence of the device.
- Finding spiritual grounding and viewing the pacemaker as a gift, not a curse, shifted his mindset.
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Motivation to Serve Others
- After coming to terms with his own mental and physical battles, Shane recognized his mission: helping others overcome their own obstacles, whether physical, mental, or spiritual (04:35-05:52).
- "I know what it feels like to have something like a health condition stop you from feeling like you’re good enough." (05:25, Shane)
Building Pace Fitness: A Holistic Approach
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From Physical Training to Whole-Person Coaching
- Shane explains how his experience led him to focus not just on physical training, but also on mental and emotional wellness (00:28-01:37).
- "If their mind is right, if you feel good about yourself, you’re more likely to put more effort into your overall workout." (00:57, Shane)
- Pace Fitness is inspired by "pacing yourself at life," parallel to his experience with a pacemaker.
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Standing Out by Relating to All Ages
- Shane addresses the stereotype that pacemakers are for the elderly, using his own story to encourage young people to pay attention to their health early (07:05-08:09).
- “You would think a pacemaker, it’s just the 90, 90-year-old category, but no, everyone… here I am 16.” (07:51, Shane)
- Advocates for proactive health checks and destigmatizing discussions about internal and invisible health conditions.
Personal Growth: Family, Faith, and Identity
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Impact of Family and Movement
- Shane credits his mother and immediate family for grounding him and supporting a positive mindset (13:12-14:17).
- Describes the formative experience of traveling to Italy with his school orchestra (08:35-09:26), which broadened his perspective beyond his Detroit roots.
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Body Image and Self-Acceptance
- Struggled with self-image, wearing extra clothes to appear bigger, and gradually learned self-acceptance through his mother’s honesty and his own hard work (09:53-11:35).
- “Once you love yourself, life gets a lot more clearer, especially today, like Instagram society...” (11:05, Shane)
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Spiritual Awareness
- Faith became central after realizing he was going through the motions rather than engaging spiritually (11:35-12:16).
- Expresses gratitude for his adversity, believing it gave him wisdom beyond his years and helped him avoid negative paths (12:17-12:46).
Overcoming and Redefining Limitations
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Turning Setbacks Into Opportunities
- Shane always felt his condition could define him positively, thanks to his family’s encouragement and learning to ask for help (13:00-14:17).
- Urges openness about struggles as the key to healing and growth.
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Building a Brand Rooted in Mission
- Moving to California was pivotal; exposure to his brother’s (Chris Staples, professional dunker) world provided both pressure and valuable experience (14:38-16:30).
- The decision to create something deeply personal and impactful began in earnest after this move.
Business and Leadership Philosophy
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Staying Consistent Amid Distractions
- Acknowledges LA's many distractions but sees the abundance of opportunity as a motivator (16:34-17:13).
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Holistic, Faith-Inspired Coaching
- Shane’s approach is holistic, encompassing the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of clients (21:21-23:54).
- “It’s all about balance… it’s beyond just lifting heavy weights. It’s about longevity of life.” (21:24, Shane)
- Sees every client’s journey as unique, focusing on deep conversations rather than just a workout.
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Scaling the Impact
- Admits not having all the answers, but trusts in God’s guidance and takes each step in faith (24:00-24:20).
Advice and Vision
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Grounding Yourself in Setbacks
- Advice to those facing setbacks: ground yourself, express gratitude, accept help, and trust in the growth process through adversity (25:36-27:08).
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Personal, Family, and Business Goals
- Personal: Keep progressing, pace himself, and enjoy each step rather than rushing into the future (27:16-28:00).
- Family: Support and uplift his family, aiming to transmit generational strength (28:00-28:40).
- Business: Aspire to partner with the pacemaker company, become the face of diversity for the brand, and carry his message worldwide (28:40-29:35).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “That’s all God’s timing... I wouldn’t have had another checkup for, like, another six months and I would have had to find out the hard way.” (03:36, Shane)
- “When I speak to you, I’m speaking to the God in you, because God is in all of us. And I want to get that out of people.” (05:43, Shane)
- “Even just like, health. Health in general, I think we wait till it gets too late, especially men…we wait till something bad happens.” (06:36, Shane)
- “Where you are is not all you are. Just the change that I’ve made in the last two years is incredible. I never saw myself even being here right now.” (28:00, Shane)
- “When you’re in front of the pearly gates, what do you think God’s going to tell you?”
Shane: “Welcome home... You did a great job.” (29:42-29:45)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–01:46 – Shane’s health story and the origins of Pace Fitness
- 03:36–04:32 – God’s timing and the pacemaker surgery
- 05:25 – Finding purpose through helping others with similar challenges
- 07:05–08:10 – Breaking stereotypes about health, age, and pacemakers
- 09:53–11:35 – Overcoming body image issues and embracing self-love
- 12:17–12:46 – Spiritual growth and gratitude for adversity
- 14:38–16:30 – The influence of moving to California and family support
- 21:21–23:54 – Holistic fitness: blending physical, mental, and spiritual wellness
- 24:00–24:20 – Faith-based leadership: “taking the step before you see the stair”
- 25:36–27:08 – Shane’s advice for anyone facing setbacks
- 27:16–29:35 – Personal, family, and business goals
- 29:42–29:45 – The "pearly gates" moment: reflecting on life’s end with peace
Tone & Takeaways
This episode is deeply personal and motivational, marked by Shane’s humility, gratitude, and faith—qualities frequently encouraged and affirmed by Joe throughout the conversation. The tone is warm, encouraging, and practical, blending honest adversity with actionable insights relevant to anyone facing life’s obstacles.
Key takeaways:
- Health concerns can serve as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
- Mental and spiritual well-being are as crucial as physical health.
- Community, family, and faith form the foundation of long-term resilience.
- Building a meaningful business starts with authentic, lived experience.
- Embrace setbacks; they are often blessings in disguise.
Find Shane online:
Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat: @PacemakerShane (C-H-E-N-E)
Summary by the Coffeez for Closers Podcast Summarizer
