Podcast
Endurance Diaries
Hosted by Ashley Ljesevic · EN
Endurance Diaries brings together athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, CEOs, thought-leaders, and everyday changemakers to share stories of resilience, pivotal moments, and lessons learned along the journey. Authentic and inspiring, these conversations remind us that while our paths look different, the endurance to keep going lives within all of us.
Whether through lived experience or topic-focused reflection, each episode invites curiosity, connection, and personal growth while highlighting the strength we carry to persevere.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP 100: Special Guests, Moments to Reflect, and the Endurance to Keep Going
Dec 2201:18:30Tap to summarizeIt’s the Endurance Diaries 100th Episode Celebration!If you can, this one is best experienced in the video version, with surprise drop-ins and moments you won’t want to miss.You’ll hear from special guests offering encouragement, wisdom, and perspective for wherever you are on your journey. There’s laughter, honest dialogue, and space to pause and reflect with a lot of gratitude.Featured Guests: Jeff Mallory, Kevin Rutherford, Carlos Hernandez, Nancy Gale, Van Lai-DuMone, Jenn HuffmanWatch on Spotify/YouTube.
Transcribe →EP 99: Curiosity as a Way Back to Yourself | Kelvin Wang on Healing, Identity, and Connection
Dec 1500:48:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode you’ll learn how curiosity can become a compass through pain, healing, and reinvention.Kelvin Wang is a first generation Chinese American and walking quadriplegic, whose life shifted after a near death car accident in December 2017. He reflects on the people who showed up, how small moments of humanity and connection carried him through the unknown, and how these experiences continue to shape the way he move sthrough the world today.Together we discuss living life in chapters, the ongoing nature of healing, and what it means to be mask off in a world that rewards performance. Kelvin also shares how creativity and the performing arts helped him restore a part of himself he thought he lost.
Transcribe →EP 98: How Adding Variation Helps You Perform Better | Dr. Andy Bass, Pittsburgh Pirates Mental Performance Coach
Dec 800:42:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode you'll learn why adding variation to your life and routines might be one of the most powerful tools you have for performance and self-development.Dr. Andy Bass, mental performance coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, shares how his own experience with the YIPS reshaped the way he thinks about identity, resilience, and what athletes need beyond their sport. He reflects on why so many high performers feel trapped inside narrow definitions of success, and how small shifts in our habits and environments can open the door to creativity and freedom.Together we explore the science of motor learning, why our minds crave variation, and how small moments of trying something new can expand our capacity. We also discuss burnout, the role of therapy, and the importance of having people who help us notice what we can’t always see in ourselves.
Transcribe →EP 97: How to Walk Through Hard Seasons and Build Endurance for the Process with Former MLB Catcher Michael “The Fort” McKenry
Dec 100:43:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I'm joined by former MLB catcher and Pittsburgh Pirates fan favorite Michael “The Fort” McKenry for a raw conversation on faith, identity, and endurance.Michael shares his journey through baseball and the challenges that came with injuries, surgeries, and transition. He opens up about his evolving relationship with God, what it means to be planted where you are, and why he believes the process shapes us far more than the outcome.Together we explore the mental side of performance, why questions are essential for growth, and how young athletes can build resilience now, not just when adversity hits.
Transcribe →EP 96: Dr. Yosi Amram on Spiritual Intelligence and Leading from Abundance
Nov 2400:39:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode, you’ll learn the meaning of spiritual intelligence (SI), how it complements emotional intelligence (EI), and why leading from abundance creates more clarity, connection, and fulfillment.Dr. Yosi Amram’s story spans war-torn Israel, the heights of tech entrepreneurship, and the depths of personal transformation. After leading two companies to successful IPOs, a spiritual awakening shifted his path from ambition and burnout to meaning and alignment. In this conversation, we discuss how clarity emerges from self-awareness, the power of connection in leadership, and how surrender can open us to new possibilities.Yosi is a licensed clinical psychologist, CEO leadership coach, and award-winning author of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired. Featured in Psychology Today, USA Today, and Forbes, he brings a rare blend of science, leadership, and soul to his work. Today, he helps leaders awaken deeper self-awareness and lead from wholeness, authenticity, and love.Learn more at https://yosiamram.net/
Transcribe →EP 95: Going from Bitter to Better and the Neuroscience of Not Giving Up | Emily Kile, MHS
Nov 1701:01:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode you’ll learn what it looks like to move through bitterness, uncertainty, and change with compassion and endurance to keep going. Emily Kile is a human behavior expert, founder of Workzbe and author of Bitter to Better. Emily’s work blends faith, neuroscience, and lived experience to help people understand what’s happening inside their own minds when life gets hard.Together we explore the emotional tension that arises in seasons of transition, how bitterness can sneak up on us, and why awareness is foundational to growth. Emily also shares the stories that shaped her book, including navigating divorce, raising her children with intention, and redefining success after burnout.
Transcribe →EP 94: Listening to the Nudge and Leaning Into Your Unique Genius | Casey Berman
Nov 1000:44:01Tap to summarizeFormer attorney Casey Berman, founder of Leave Law Behind, and creator of the Unique Genius Framework, joins the podcast to explore how discernment, curiosity, and courage guide us through times of change. Casey shares his own story of leaving law and finding clarity on the other side of uncertainty, offering perspective and tools that anyone can apply in their career and life. Together we unpack how to recognize when it's time to pivot and take small, confident steps toward what’s next.
Transcribe →EP 93: What's It Take to Run 340 Miles from LA to Vegas? Connie Blumenthal's Experience of Blind Ambition
Oct 3100:27:30Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you say yes to something you’re not fully prepared for, but step into the unknown anyway?In this episode, endurance athlete Connie Blumenthal shares her once-in-a-lifetime experience running 340 miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas as part of The Speed Project, one of the most extreme unsanctioned endurance races in the world.Throughout our conversation, Connie reflects on what it means to find peace in discomfort, take the pressure off performance, and reconnect with yourself through movement.
Transcribe →EP 68: A Sailboat, a Calling, and a Connection to Hope | Danny Moroney
Feb 24, 202500:43:50Tap to summarizeDanny Moroney is the president and CEO of Hope Fleet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential supplies and services to vulnerable children and families in the Caribbean and Latin America. On this episode, Danny shares how a trip to Jamaica at age 14 sparked a vision that led him on a unique journey and ultimately to the humanitarian work he is doing today.Chapters00:00 Introduction and the Beginning of Hope Fleet11:36 Navigating Challenges: Growth and Self-Discovery16:20 Responding to Crises and Community Needs21:41 Leadership and Team Dynamics22:56 Embracing Change and Growth24:09 Facing Challenges and Building Resilience26:34 Lessons from Experience30:18 The Power of Collaboration34:05 Faith and Purpose in Action40:37 Vision for the Future
Transcribe →EP 67: Committing to the Vision | Keith Brigham
Feb 17, 202500:42:00Tap to summarizeKeith Brigham is a former Division 1 Football Player at the University of Memphis dedicated to helping the youth reach their potential.Throughout our conversation, Keith shares the unique challenges he faced along his journey and the importance of faith and resilience. He emphasizes the significance of understanding one's why in both sports and life, and the power of vulnerability in sharing our stories. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Journey as a Student-Athlete 05:40 Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience11:11 Faith as a Driving Force16:10 Navigating Life Changes and Responsibilities19:24 The Impact of Parenthood on Athletic Perspective20:46 Transitioning from Player to Coach23:21 Defining Success26:13 The Importance of Knowing Your 'Why'29:19 Personal Journeys and the Role of Vulnerability36:54 Creating Space for Authentic Conversations
Transcribe →