Podcast Summary
Empowering Yourself to Become the Best Version of You: Unlock your authentic self, pursue dreams, and support friends in their endeavors, as emphasized by Rich Roll on the Rich Roll podcast.
Learning from this episode of the Rich Roll podcast is the importance of empowering oneself to become the best version of oneself. Rich Roll, an ultra endurance athlete, author, and health advocate, emphasizes the need to unlock the authentic self and pursue dreams. He shares his experiences of meeting inspiring individuals on his plant-based journey and starting the podcast to spread their knowledge. At the Vegetarian Summerfest, Rich is speaking and attempting to interview various speakers, including his friend Vinnie Tortoric, host of America's Angriest Trainer podcast. They have contrasting perspectives on nutrition but remain friends and support each other. Vinnie recently published a book, "Fitness Confidential," and Rich invites him on the podcast to discuss it. Rich emphasizes the challenges of writing and promoting a self-published book and expresses his support for his friend's work. Overall, the podcast highlights the importance of self-empowerment, friendship, and spreading knowledge.
Vinny's honest account of the fitness and weight loss industries: Listeners can support the podcast by using the Amazon banner ad, leading to financial growth and hiring a producer, while also entering a T-shirt contest and staying updated via the newsletter.
Vinny's new book is an entertaining and honest account of his experiences in the fitness and weight loss industries. He pulls back the curtains on these industries and shares his perspective on what works and what doesn't. Vinny's book is a page-turner, filled with his no-BS approach, and it's currently available on Amazon. Another key takeaway is that the podcast is growing, and to help cover its expenses, listeners can use the Amazon banner ad on the show's website to make purchases. This not only helps the podcast financially but also allows for the hiring of a producer to help with post-production and free up the host's time to focus on recording interviews. Lastly, there's an ongoing T-shirt contest for listeners who share pictures of themselves reading Flying Ultra or listening to the podcast, and soon, the Plant Power T-shirts will be available for sale. To stay updated on these developments, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the newsletter on the show's website. Innovative apparel brand On was also mentioned as a sponsor, with a focus on their next-gen premium fabrics and commitment to technology and testing that sets them apart from competitors.
Exploring Fitness, Creativity, and Meaningful Conversations: Stay active, engage in meaningful conversations, and pursue creative projects for personal growth and inspiration. Check out Voicing Change Media for thought-provoking podcasts and On.com/richroll for high-performance running apparel with a discount.
This conversation covers a range of topics, from fitness and health to creativity and existential questions. The speaker shares his experiences with On's high-performance running apparel and announces a partnership with Voicing Change Media, a new media consortium featuring thought-provoking podcasts like "Soulboom" with Rainn Wilson. The discussion also touches on the importance of self-care, as the speaker prepares for the release of his own book, "Fitness Confidential," and reflects on the writing process, comparing his traditional publishing route with Vinny Tortrich's self-publishing experience. The conversation ends with a light-hearted exchange between the speaker and Vinny, showcasing their camaraderie and shared sense of humor. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of staying active, engaging in meaningful conversations, and pursuing creative projects. For those interested in fitness, podcasts, or personal growth, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration. To learn more about Voicing Change Media and its offerings, visit voicingchange.media. To get 10% off On's high-performance running apparel, visit on.com/richroll and use code richroll10 at checkout.
Achieving a low Amazon ranking for self-published books: Reaching a low Amazon ranking (<1,000) is a significant achievement for self-published authors, boosted by sales, marketing efforts, and audience engagement.
Having a high Amazon ranking for your self-published book is an important indicator of its success. This ranking can fluctuate frequently and is influenced by various factors such as sales volume, pre-orders, and marketing efforts. Reaching a low ranking, especially under 1,000, is a significant achievement for a self-published author with no major company backing. This ranking can be boosted through various means, including social media mentions, word-of-mouth, and developing a loyal audience. It's essential to take screenshots of good rankings for future reference. Aiming for a ranking below 10,000 is a victory, while getting under 1,000 is an exceptional result. Building an audience through blogging, podcasting, and social media can help boost your book's visibility and sales. Ultimately, the power to succeed lies in the author's hands, and developing a loyal audience is the future of marketing.
Staying true to your vision despite opposition: Persistence and trusting in your vision can lead to success, even when faced with rejection or compromise offers.
Persistence and staying true to your vision can lead to success, even when faced with opposition or being asked to compromise. The speaker shared a story about trying to publish a book that was rejected by several traditional publishing companies who wanted him to split it into two books. Despite their offers, he refused and held firm to his belief that the book should be published as is. Eventually, his perseverance paid off when a big agency in New York took on the book and saw its potential as a runaway bestseller. The book, which was described as "no BS" and "just the facts," became a success and trended high in the memoir category, placing it among notable figures like Hillary Clinton and Tina Fey. The experience serves as a reminder that trusting in your vision and staying true to your work can lead to great rewards.
Staying committed to goals during adversity: Despite life's challenges, staying focused and committed to goals can lead to success, as demonstrated by a fitness trainer and cancer survivor who grew his business with celebrities and persevered through treatment.
Overcoming challenges, whether they be in business or personal life, requires resilience and adaptability. The speaker, a fitness trainer and cancer survivor, shared his experiences of growing his business with celebrities and dealing with a life-threatening illness. Despite the challenges, he remained present and focused, even during his cancer treatment, which he referred to as "chemo parties." His story highlights the importance of staying committed to one's goals, even in the face of adversity, and the power of community support during difficult times. The speaker's background as a fitness trainer, mountain bike racer, and ultra cyclist also underscores the theme of perseverance and pushing through challenges to achieve success.
Focusing on the initial stages of an endurance event: Endure the initial stages, stay hydrated, and be prepared for unexpected challenges in long-distance races.
Endurance athlete training involves pushing oneself during the initial stages of a race or event, while understanding that the real challenge lies ahead. The speaker shares his personal experience of focusing on completing the first 200 miles of a race in under 10 hours, while acknowledging the upcoming challenges. He also emphasizes the importance of proper hydration and electrolyte supplementation during training and races, particularly in extreme heat conditions. The speaker's story also highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected challenges, as illustrated by his encounter with a representative from Amgen, the company that produced the life-saving drug he used during his cancer treatment. This encounter occurred at the exact location where he received his cancer diagnosis, adding an unexpected and poignant twist to the story. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of mental and physical preparation, as well as the role of chance encounters and unexpected circumstances in endurance events.
Bringing a Self-Published Book to Market: Hiring professionals for cover design, formatting, and printing is essential for a polished self-published book. A poorly designed cover and improper formatting can deter potential readers. Consider producing an audiobook for unique content and audience engagement.
Self-publishing a book involves more than just writing the manuscript. It requires hiring professionals for cover design, formatting, and printing. The process can be costly and time-consuming, especially for those who want a professional product. The interviewee shared their experience of going through this process with their co-author, and they discovered that without a professional cover and proper formatting, the book may not look appealing or fit well on various electronic devices. Although the book is now available in Kindle and paperback formats, the authors are considering producing an audiobook if sales warrant it. The interviewee also mentioned that some listeners have commented that the book's tone matches Vinny's podcast persona, and they believe that the author's unique ranting style would be best conveyed through an audiobook recording. However, the author is still undecided on whether to produce an audiobook.
Racial representation in endurance sports: Despite socioeconomic barriers and lack of resources, the speaker remains optimistic about promoting representation and inclusion in endurance sports.
Racial representation is lacking in certain areas of endurance sports, such as marathons, triathlons, and ultra-athletes. The speaker noted that while there are successful black athletes in these fields, their numbers are significantly lower than their white counterparts. The reasons for this disparity are multifaceted, including socioeconomic factors and lack of access to resources for training. The speaker also shared his experience being labeled racist for acknowledging this issue. Despite the challenges, the speaker remains optimistic and continues to promote representation and inclusion in sports. Regarding the publishing process, the speaker discussed the importance of formatting and marketing a book for various platforms and the unexpected workload that comes with promoting a published work. The speaker shared his personal discomfort with having his picture taken for the book cover and the overwhelming nature of marketing efforts. Despite the challenges, the speaker expressed pride in his work and the importance of getting the word out to potential readers.
Finding joy and fulfillment in the present: Despite the challenges of balancing new responsibilities and passions, it's essential to find meaning and satisfaction in daily life rather than seeking escape through external means.
While life's responsibilities and opportunities can be overwhelming, leading to a desire for simpler times, it's essential to find joy and fulfillment in the present. The speakers in this conversation reflect on how their lives have changed dramatically in recent years, with more responsibilities and opportunities, but also a shift away from intense training and focus on athletic pursuits. They acknowledge the challenges of balancing these new responsibilities with their passions and the occasional longing for a more simplistic lifestyle. However, they both express contentment with their current paths and see their work as an extension of their passions rather than a chore. They emphasize the importance of finding meaning and satisfaction in what one does every day, rather than seeking escape through material possessions or external validation.
Continuous Journey of Self-Care and Making a Difference: Understand that the journey of self-care and making a difference doesn't end, continue to find balance and make a positive impact.
The end of a challenging period or project is not a definitive endpoint, but rather a continuous journey requiring balance and self-care. The speaker shares his experience of focusing solely on work during a difficult time, only to realize that the end was not in sight. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of incorporating self-care into daily life and continuing to make a difference through various platforms, such as speaking engagements and podcasts. The speaker's podcast, "America's Angriest Trainer," has become impactful and reached a large audience, allowing him to share knowledge from various sources and make a difference in people's lives. The key takeaway is to understand that the journey continues and to find balance while making a positive impact.
Friendly relationships despite fundamental disagreements: Listening to diverse perspectives on a topic can lead to new opportunities and valuable connections in the triathlon community
Despite having fundamental disagreements, individuals can still maintain friendly relationships and learn from each other. This was evident in a past podcast episode featuring three individuals with differing opinions. The episode, which is archived and linked in the show notes, proved to be beneficial as it allowed listeners to hear various perspectives on the same topic. Additionally, the podcast has led to new opportunities, such as potential collaborations in New York and interactions with other industry professionals like Brett Blankner and Tawny Praizak. These connections have been invaluable and demonstrate the power of open dialogue and collaboration in the triathlon community.
Starting a book with an unconventional first chapter: Authors can break the norm by starting their book with an unconventional first chapter, like starting with Chapter 12 instead of the traditional first chapter, to engage readers and grab their attention
The speaker, Vinny, is a writer currently working on his second book, and he had an unconventional approach to writing his first book with the help of Dean. They struggled to write the first chapter, which is typically used to introduce the author to the reader. Instead, they decided to use Chapter 12 as the first chapter, starting the book with Vinny in a Hollywood meeting at Gallon Morey, a prominent management firm representing big talents like Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Roseanne Barr in the early 1990s. This unconventional approach allowed them to bypass the traditional introduction and jump right into the story. Vinny's second book is in the works, and he's working on ideas for it. He mentioned that his agent came up with the idea for another book based on their first one, but he's unsure if he'll collaborate with Dean again or write it himself.
Hollywood in the 80s and 90s: A lucrative industry for sitcom stars: During the 80s and 90s, sitcoms brought in huge viewership and syndication deals, making stars and even supporting actors wealthy or even billionaires. However, by the time the speaker arrived in Hollywood, the industry had changed, leading to smaller audiences and less ad revenue.
During the 1980s and 1990s, sitcoms were a major source of wealth due to their massive viewership and subsequent syndication deals. Stars and even supporting actors could become wealthy or even billionaires from these long-running shows. However, when the speaker arrived in Hollywood, the industry had changed, and the number of channels had increased significantly, leading to smaller audiences and less ad revenue. The speaker was brought in to help a star lose weight quickly, and despite his concerns about the safety and effectiveness of such rapid weight loss, he was persuaded by the offer of a large sum of money. The speaker, who was in his early thirties and had recently moved to Hollywood, had built a reputation for working with celebrities in New Orleans and had started his business in Los Angeles. This led to his being hired for the weight loss job.
The importance of teaching sustainable habits and skills for long-term weight loss success: Focusing solely on weight loss without teaching clients sustainable habits and skills can lead to dissatisfaction and failure. Long-term commitment to teaching nutrition, diet, and lifestyle changes leads to stronger relationships and successful outcomes.
Focusing solely on the end result, such as weight loss, without teaching individuals sustainable habits and skills, can lead to feelings of failure and dissatisfaction. The speaker shares a personal story of a successful weight loss transformation that turned into a failure due to his lack of teaching the client how to maintain the weight loss. From this experience, he learned the importance of long-term commitment to teaching clients about nutrition, diet, and lifestyle changes, leading to stronger, more meaningful relationships with them. This approach, as seen in his long-term clients and relationships with celebrities like Haas, has led to the success of his career and the positive reception of his book.
Staying true to principles: Fitness trainer Vinny refuses lucrative opportunities that compromise his integrity and authenticity, emphasizing honesty and authenticity in his message.
Integrity and authenticity are non-negotiable for Vinny, a fitness trainer, even if it means turning down lucrative opportunities. Vinny's commitment to his principles is unwavering, whether it's refusing to compromise his methods on reality shows or declining endorsement deals for products he doesn't believe in. He believes in telling it like it is and pulling no punches, which sets his message apart from those who may sell out for financial gain. Vinny's experiences, such as his involvement in infomercials early in his career, have reinforced his belief in staying true to himself.
Unexpected conversations at a bar led to new connections: Seizing opportunities and staying authentic can lead to surprising outcomes and new connections in both personal and professional life
Unexpected opportunities can lead to surprising outcomes. The speaker shared a story about how he struck up a conversation with two women at a bar after they recognized him from his infomercial. This experience was a turning point for him, as he had recently moved to town and was feeling isolated. The encounter not only helped him make new connections but also boosted his confidence. Additionally, the speaker discussed his experience as an entertainment attorney, where he represented various clients in the film industry. He noted that not every deal leads to a successful movie, and it's essential to be selective and authentic in one's career. The industry's ebbs and flows, with trends and funding shifting over time, make it crucial to stay adaptable and persistent. Overall, the speaker's experiences highlight the importance of seizing opportunities and staying true to oneself in both personal and professional pursuits.
Maintaining authenticity and integrity in messaging: Balancing work and personal life while staying true to values is crucial for a fulfilling life. Prioritize decisions about time and resources to earn sustainably without compromising message or personal life.
Maintaining authenticity and integrity in messaging is crucial when considering sponsorships or monetization, even if it means forgoing larger deals that are misaligned with one's values. Balancing work and personal life is essential, and financial stability is important, but it's not the only factor. Prioritizing and making intentional decisions about the use of time and resources can lead to a more fulfilling life. Money may facilitate certain aspects, but it often doesn't solve underlying issues and can create new challenges. Ultimately, it's about finding a sustainable way to earn without compromising one's message or personal life.
Supporting Rich Roll podcast through Amazon purchases: Buying through Rich Roll's Amazon affiliate link helps fund the podcast and may lead to perks like shout-outs and swag
Supporting the Rich Roll podcast through Amazon purchases using the affiliate link on richroll.com is a win-win situation. It helps pay the bills for the podcast, and you can even see what other purchases have been made through the affiliate page. Vinny also mentioned plans for giving shout-outs and possibly offering swag to those who make significant purchases. Additionally, Vinny's new site is now up and running, and NSNG t-shirts are available for purchase. If you're interested in Vinny's work, be sure to check out his website, Vinny Torterich.com, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook. And don't forget to buy Fitness Confidential in Kindle or paperback through the Amazon banner ad on richroll.com for a worthwhile purchase for all involved.
