Habits and Hustle, Episode 488

Guest: Alvaro Nuñez
Host: Jennifer Cohen
Date: September 30, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Jennifer Cohen sits down with endurance athlete, entrepreneur, and author Alvaro Nuñez to discuss his extraordinary feats—including his recent completion of the world’s toughest cycling race, Race Across America (RAM), where he cycled over 3,000 miles nonstop in under 12 days and lost 30 pounds. Alvaro opens up about pushing mental and physical boundaries, the power of finding your “why,” the importance of actionable habits, and how resourcefulness, consistency, and vulnerability shape both personal and professional success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Is Alvaro Nuñez? (07:10–08:00)

• Background: Alvaro describes himself as someone wanting to "live life to the fullest." He’s an entrepreneur with businesses in real estate and marketing, a helicopter pilot, skydiver, and a bestselling author of Level Up.
• Philosophy: Constantly seeking connection with people and new challenges, especially in ultra-endurance.

2. The Race Across America (RAM): Physical Feats & Mental Battles

What Is RAM? (07:58–10:59)

• Details: Over 3,000 miles coast-to-coast, nonstop, from California to New Jersey, with 150,000 feet of elevation – “That’s like five times Everest.” (08:08)
• Challenge: Riders must reach time stations within cutoffs or be disqualified. Solo category requires qualifying, and most are professional cyclists.

Alvaro’s Experience (08:34–11:12)

• Completion: Finished the race with just a few hours to spare.
• Endurance: Averaged 23 hours per day on the bike.
• Physical toll: “I lost 30 pounds on the race in 12 days.” (08:57)
• Sleep deprivation: Sometimes rode 36 hours straight, surviving on one hour of sleep at a time, often sleeping in his team’s car.
• Nutrition & Logistics: Support came from a 10-person team, RVs, vehicles, and sponsors—costing over $150,000. (11:38)
• Sponsors: “10X Health was the biggest one. So thank you, guys.” (11:28)

Mental Struggles & Hallucinations (12:13–14:03, 24:41–28:01)

• Before the Race: Nearly quit due to lack of preparation, money, and support.
• Personal Catalyst: News of his father’s cancer provided a “why” that pushed him through.
  • “We made this agreement where if I didn’t quit during the race, he wouldn’t quit during his treatment.” (15:41)
• Hallucinations: “I was starting to see people flying… I thought people were shaking me out of the bike…” (24:49)
• Injuries: Multiple crashes, loss of sensation in hands/feet, still recovering a month later.

Quote, Alvaro:
“When you have a massive goal, there is two outcomes. You either make it or you don’t. The difference is if you quit... and if you take quitting out of the equation, then there is only one outcome.” (19:17)

3. The Power of Purpose and “Finding Your Why” (16:13–18:24)

• Personal Story: His father's diagnosis and words of encouragement became Alvaro’s anchor during moments of exhaustion.
• Audio Motivation: Listened to messages from his father during the race, reminding him of childhood lessons in resilience.
• Broader Insight: Sometimes, your “why” will find you “in the most unexpected way.” (18:05)

4. Consistency, Devotion, and the Compound Effect (30:44–33:12)

• Consistency: The most important trait Alvaro attributes to his ability to persevere. “Consistency compounds.” (30:44)
• Devotion vs. Motivation: Motivation fades, but being truly devoted to a goal lasts.
• Habits as DNA of Success: Routines are the foundation for high achievement. “The DNA of your success lays on your routines.” (31:39)

5. Hustle, Resourcefulness, and Creating Opportunities

• Leveraging Tennis for Success: Alvaro shares his journey from being a tennis player, leveraging coaching to connect with influential and wealthy individuals, leading to roles in business and marketing. (34:23–37:06)
  • “It only takes one client to then start trickling from there.” (35:10)
• On Struggle and Resilience:
  • Picking up trash after a career setback, says “the quality of your life depends on how you act in the painful moments.” (41:22)
  • Adversity builds resourcefulness and character, often providing the real superpowers for future success.

6. Vulnerability, Reflection, and Retreats

Silent and Darkness Retreats (44:05–48:01)

• Vipassana & Law of Impermanence (Anicca): Attended a 10-day silent retreat—everything, good or bad, will pass.
• Seven-Day Darkness Retreat: Pure darkness, alone. Resulted in profound self-realization:
  • “I was always having this projection of, like, I got it... am I really there?” (48:01)
  • Emerging with clarity about true happiness and need for vulnerability.

Disconnecting to Reconnect (50:21–55:36)

• Value of solitude: Modern life is over-connected; real growth can come from disconnecting from technology and reflecting deeply.
• Comparison as the “thief of joy”: Social media drives discontent; true connections and conversations matter more for well-being.

7. Using Endurance for Awareness & Purpose

• Marathon des Sables: His first big ultra-endurance race—six marathons in six days across the Sahara, carrying a backpack with the weight of depression, inscribed with names from his community struggling with mental health.
  • “It was the consistency of doing one step after the other that kept me going.” (60:53)
• Vitamin A—Action: “If you don’t take that one [vitamin], you’re out.” (58:01)

8. Habits & Daily Routines (65:39–75:32)

Key Non-Negotiables:

• Doing something hard every day: “Cold plunge, marathon, something that is hard.” (65:56)
  • “I used to do for two years marathon Monday. Every Monday a marathon.” (66:04)
• Never Miss a Monday: “Momentum. If you can start the week like that, then everything else feels easy.” (67:09)
• Time disconnected: “Time for myself… just observe… meditate or breath work.” (73:25)
• Start with gratitude: “Three things you’re grateful for… puts you in a great mindset.” (73:41)
• Focus on your 'why': “Remind yourself every day.”
• “Clean engine”: Be conscious of nutrition, especially in the morning.

On Alcohol & Healthy Choices (74:45–75:44)

• Both don’t drink. Alvaro: “Zero alcohol.” (74:45)
• Jen: “Eliminating alcohol really early in life… makes a major difference in aging well.” (75:00)

9. Action, Creativity, and Blending Passions (77:44–85:50)

• Alvaro’s creative approach to business: Combining real estate with wellness, skydiving, and piloting for immersive property experiences.
• Encourages blending passions for outlier success: “Connect your passions… that’s what makes you an outlier.” (80:09)

10. Failure, Action, and Lasting Success (85:52–87:15)

• Importance of persistent action: “If you are taking action every day, one failure will give you a lesson… and eventually you’ll start seeing more successes.” (86:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Quitting:
  • “If you take quitting out of the equation, then there is only one outcome. You’ll make it.” —Alvaro (19:17)
• On Purpose:
  • “Sometimes the why will find you in the most unexpected way.” —Alvaro (18:05)
• On Action:
  • “Vitamin A stands for action. If you don’t take that one, you’re out.” —Alvaro (58:01)
• On Success:
  • “The DNA of your success lays on your routines.” —Alvaro (31:39)
• On Struggle as Strength:
  • “The quality of your life depends on how you act in the painful moments.” —Alvaro (41:22)
• On Blending Passions:
  • “Why would you have your job and then do your passions on the side when you can combine it all?” —Alvaro (81:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:10 | Alvaro introduces himself, trip summary | | 08:34 | Race Across America specifics, the solo experience | | 10:59 | Nutrition, logistics, sleep deprivation | | 12:13 | Motivation: His father's cancer diagnosis | | 15:41 | The “no quitting” pact with his father | | 19:17 | Philosophy on quitting, determination vs. talent | | 24:41 | RAM hallucinations and mental struggle | | 30:44 | Consistency and "compound effect" philosophy | | 34:23 | Tennis hustle as a path to networking/entrepreneurship | | 41:22 | On adversity and character | | 44:05 | Silent and darkness retreats, law of impermanence | | 50:21 | Modern social disconnection; comparison, technology issues | | 57:11 | Marathon des Sables—the weight of depression campaign | | 65:39 | Core daily habits and routines | | 74:45 | On quitting alcohol and longevity | | 77:44 | Real estate, skydiving, and blending passions | | 85:52 | Power of action, creative business approaches |

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a raw, motivational, and highly actionable look into what it takes to push beyond mental and physical boundaries, and why finding your authentic “why” can be the most powerful tool for achieving the extraordinary. Alvaro’s stories not only inspire, but also provide a masterclass in resourcefulness, resilience, and the benefits of integrating all sides of yourself into a meaningful and impactful life.

Connect with Alvaro Nuñez:

• Instagram: @alvaronunez
• Book: Level Up (available on Amazon)

Host: Jennifer Cohen (@therealjencohen)