MTNTOUGH Podcast w/ Dustin Diefenderfer

Dustin Diefenderfer Founder and CEO of MTNTOUGH Fitness

Welcome to The MTNTOUGH Podcast, hosted by Dustin Diefenderfer, founder of MTNTOUGH, the #1 fitness app for the dedicated. In this podcast, we explore holistic physical, mental, and spiritual toughness through backcountry hunting, military, and mountain sports. Each episode offers practical tips, expert insights, and inspiring stories for hunters, first responders, and outdoor enthusiasts. Enhance your training with MTNTOUGH's functional fitness programs—train at home, gym, or on the go. Get your first month free with code MTNPOD at mtntough.com.

  1. 6d ago

    Jake Harriman: Don’t Waste a Good Life | MTNPOD #187

    Jake Harriman—Naval Academy grad, Force Recon Marine, Bronze Star, founder of Nuru International and The Brickyard (formerly More Perfect Union)—joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast on a simple fear: you can live a good life and still waste it. After years off-grid fighting extremism through livelihoods, he came home and didn’t recognize the country he’d fought for. Now he’s building higher ground, not just common ground—40,000 Americans swinging hammers together, Civic Valor in schools, and five steps from his book Rescuing the Idea of America: believe, serve, connect, lead, restore. Also: loneliness, agency vs. the algorithm, and why one life changed is enough. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – A good life can still be a wasted life 00:00:37 – Intro: Marine, Nuru, The Brickyard 00:03:02 – West Virginia farm, “I can’t” was not allowed 00:06:45 – Coming home after 15 years downrange 00:11:00 – From 1,000 members to 40,000 00:15:11 – Young men ready to obey, unsure what the step is 00:17:28 – Civic Valor and servant leadership 00:21:02 – Loneliness, agency, and go help somebody else 00:33:42 – Coffee and encourage challenge 00:46:54 – Believe, serve, connect, lead, restore

    Jake Harriman: Don’t Waste a Good Life | MTNPOD #187
  2. Sep 24

    Fitness Lab Discussion | Coaches Sarah & Nick: How We Program MTNTOUGH + Your Questions

    Get to know MTNTOUGH Coaches Dr. Nick Bechtold and Sarah Maschino as they open a new lab-side conversation: who they are, how they landed at MTNTOUGH, and how the programming actually gets built. They cover the path from elite sheep-hunt training to on-ramp, foundations, Always Ready 50+, and what’s coming next (No Gear 10, SV20). Then they answer two of the most common support questions—how to pair MGDs with running, and what to do mid-season when on-ramp feels light but foundations feel like too much. Drop your questions in the comments. Stay dangerous. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🐐 MTNTOUGH Hunting & Feature Films: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eFTVUIBWJ3_x4n-R2mBwzYw 🧪 MTNTOUGH LAB Visits (We Take All Our Podcast Guests Out Of Their Comfort Zone): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eFCubYhEQntQexFEmT7BMkl 🥵 MTNTOUGH Challenge Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eG2Q69GAR9st2U-4oK0Whlq 💪 Free MTNTOUGH Workouts & Protocols: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eGBSuC3fHqjP8mf50CDENA1 S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPE 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "YT1MFREE" @ https://mtntough.com/ ________________________________________________________ What is MTNTOUGH Fitness? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:08 – Shooting with SIG, getting ready for season 00:01:34 – Why this new coaches podcast exists 00:02:35 – Coach Nick’s path: PT, Billings, joining the lab 00:05:36 – Coach Sarah’s path: Vanderbilt soccer to MTNTOUGH 00:10:53 – What MTNTOUGH is after 10 years 00:15:32 – 50+ testimonials and hanging the boots back up 00:18:00 – Elevator pitch: who the programming is for 00:20:31 – Coming soon: No Gear 10 and SV20 00:23:41 – Q: How to combine MGTNTOUGH with running 00:27:45 – Q: On-ramp vs foundations during hunting season

    Fitness Lab Discussion | Coaches Sarah & Nick: How We Program MTNTOUGH + Your Questions
  3. Sep 21

    Mike Sarraille: A Soldier Dies Twice | Brotherhood After the Teams | MTNPOD #186

    Mike Sarraille—former special operations leader, Chief Talent Officer at a veteran-owned company, and the man behind Fox Nation’s Final Flight: The Men of Extortion 17—joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast on what companies still get wrong about veteran talent, why eight guys from the same platoon now work under one roof, and why a soldier dies twice: once in the field, and again when his name is spoken last. He covers the seven-continent skydive with Andy Stumpf, building brotherhood after the DD-214, the harsh cost of high performance (divorce, empty tank, no “balance”), his forthcoming book Teams, and why telling other men’s stories is the work he wants to do for a lifetime. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – What companies still misunderstand about veterans 00:01:21 – Chief Talent Officer and placing hundreds of vets 00:02:20 – Final Flight: The Men of Extortion 17 00:03:01 – Rally Point Oscar and the 520th platoon 00:06:52 – A soldier dies twice 00:07:59 – Seven continents, seven jumps, six days 00:16:35 – Isolation of men after the teams 00:38:27 – The harsh realities of being mission-driven 00:42:28 – Terrell Owens: there is no balance in greatness 00:51:46 – If your legacy is telling other men’s stories

    Mike Sarraille: A Soldier Dies Twice | Brotherhood After the Teams | MTNPOD #186
  4. Sep 14

    Leif Babin: Extreme Ownership When You Can’t Control the Situation | MTNPOD #185

    Leif Babin, former Navy SEAL officer, Task Unit Bruiser platoon commander in Ramadi, and co-author of Extreme Ownership, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to talk leadership when the title, the body, and the plan get stripped away. He covers attitude as the one thing you still control, cover and move as real teamwork, why the best leaders stop trying to prove themselves, the cost of not explaining the “why,” and the actual fix for leadership fatigue: decentralized command instead of being the easy button. Also: family as your highest leadership job, and honoring the teammates who didn’t come home. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – Humility vs. leaders trying to prove themselves 00:00:39 – Intro: Task Unit Bruiser, Extreme Ownership, Echelon Front 00:06:08 – Mental toughness when physical capability is stripped 00:08:19 – Control your attitude when you can’t control the situation 00:12:16 – Cover and move: leadership is influence, not a title 00:15:58 – “God is with you, mighty warrior” in Hell Week 00:49:31 – The cost of not explaining the why 00:53:11 – Connect the dots so the team owns the mission 00:58:14 – Leadership fatigue and burnout 01:01:15 – Decentralized command: stop being the easy button

    Leif Babin: Extreme Ownership When You Can’t Control the Situation | MTNPOD #185
  5. Sep 9

    John Wayne Walding: What They Don't Tell You About Survival | MTNPOD #184

    John Wayne Walding spent seven years in 3rd Special Forces Group. On April 6, 2008 in Shok Valley, Afghanistan, a sniper shot took the lower half of his right leg. He tied it to his thigh and kept fighting. This episode is about April 7th—the hospital bed, the word “can’t,” and the battles that don’t come with a medal. John talks about being raised by his grandparents after both parents went to jail, becoming the first amputee to graduate Special Forces sniper school, choosing pain over pills, quitting drinking after Chris Kyle’s death, 15 years of sobriety, and why every man needs mat carriers who will drag him to Jesus instead of the bar. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – The battle after the medal 00:01:17 – Intro: Shok Valley, Silver Star, first amputee sniper 00:06:41 – Parents in jail, raised by Sam and Grace 00:16:45 – April 7th and the word “can’t” 00:19:23 – Faith: God is real and you’re not Him 00:51:46 – Pills or pain 00:55:30 – Chris Kyle’s death and quitting drinking 00:59:35 – 15 years sober 01:03:42 – Mat carriers and the social pillar 01:11:43 – Closing: trust Him and you’ll know your way

    John Wayne Walding: What They Don't Tell You About Survival | MTNPOD #184
  6. Aug 31

    Jim Ramos: Why Men Never Talk About Marriage Until It’s on Fire | MTNPOD #183

    Jim Ramos, founder of Men in the Arena and MTNTOUGH spiritual growth coach, is back to talk about his new book Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage. He unpacks why men will talk about money, work, drinking, and porn for years—but stay silent on marriage until it’s a dumpster fire. The conversation covers the revival among Gen Z men, the difference between being mountain tough and marriage tough, practical digital and relational boundaries, building a wall around your home, and what to do when your wife seems done. Direct, biblical, and built for men who want to lead well at home. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.Men's personal struggles often go unspoken until a crisis hits. Learn how to address these challenges before they break you.00:00:00 – Why men hide marriage until it’s SOS 00:03:54 – Is a revival waking the warrior in men? 00:09:04 – Gen Z men running toward God, not women 00:18:56 – Mountain tough vs marriage tough 00:21:10 – Shame, sex life, and why guys stay silent 00:39:12 – The digital world and the porn pipeline 00:43:08 – Non-starters: texts, trips, and compliments 00:48:27 – Guardrail 10: Build a wall (preside, protect, provide) 00:52:39 – Safe or stupid: rapid-fire marriage boundaries 00:58:08 – What if she doesn’t want to save the marriage?

    Jim Ramos: Why Men Never Talk About Marriage Until It’s on Fire | MTNPOD #183
  7. Aug 24

    Mitch Ammons: From Heroin Addiction to Elite Marathoner | MTNPOD #182

    Mitch Ammons, two-time U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier and 2:14 marathoner, shares one of the most powerful redemption stories you’ll hear. After nearly a decade of heroin and hard drug addiction, repeated rock bottoms, and multiple rehabs, he got sober in 2015 and rebuilt his entire life through running. In this conversation he opens up about the deep need for community that drove both his addiction and his recovery, the power of identity change, the parallels between “just one more” in addiction and ultrarunning, and how the fitness tribe became the healthy belonging he always craved. Today he’s a successful realtor, husband, and speaker proving no one is too far gone. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – Intro: Mitch Ammons’ Remarkable Redemption Story 00:03:06 – The Common Thread: Ultrarunners Running From Something 00:07:32 – How Wanting to Fit In Led to Drugs 00:15:41 – From Recreational to Hard Drugs & Instant Addiction 00:17:23 – The Power of Identity Change 00:20:19 – The “Hot Fitness Girlfriend” Moment That Started It All 00:36:19 – What Finally Worked: Fully Committing to the 12 Steps 00:43:31 – Community as the Key to Happiness (Both Sides of the Coin) 00:50:58 – Why He’s Drawn to Ultras & Last Man Standing 00:57:45 – Closing: Gratitude for the Second Chance

    Mitch Ammons: From Heroin Addiction to Elite Marathoner | MTNPOD #182
  8. Aug 17

    Jason Schlarb: Ultra Running, Anxiety & Finding Purpose in the Mountains | MTNPOD #181

    Jason Schlarb, Hard Rock 100 champion, Air Force veteran, elite ultrarunner, and coach, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a raw conversation on mental toughness, the dual nature of anxiety as both fuel and burden, and the 2020 rock-bottom moment that forced a healthier mindset. He unpacks nature vs. nurture, why so many endurance athletes are running from something, the modern need to manufacture adversity, and the critical role of community and relationships in true happiness. From coaching the next generation to balancing big mountain adventures with fatherhood and local roots, Jason shares hard-won wisdom on thriving for the long haul. Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer. V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T 🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo __________________________________________ W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S? MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go. Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes. 00:00:00 – Intro: Jason Schlarb’s Resume & Purpose-Driven Endurance 00:04:13 – Nature vs Nurture & Growing Up Competitive 00:06:57 – Anxiety as Fuel and the Cost of Never Being Content 00:11:03 – 2020 Rock Bottom: Losing Sponsorship, Relationship & Finding Gratitude 00:18:41 – Are Elite Ultrarunners Running Away from Something? 00:27:04 – Why Humans Need to Manufacture Adversity in 2026 00:36:25 – Community, Happiness Studies & the Individualistic West 00:41:11 – Blue Zones, Costa Rica & What Really Makes People Thrive 00:52:05 – What’s Next: Coaching, Athlete Management & Family 00:55:27 – Closing: Real Talk on Purpose Behind the Miles

    Jason Schlarb: Ultra Running, Anxiety & Finding Purpose in the Mountains | MTNPOD #181
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About

Welcome to The MTNTOUGH Podcast, hosted by Dustin Diefenderfer, founder of MTNTOUGH, the #1 fitness app for the dedicated. In this podcast, we explore holistic physical, mental, and spiritual toughness through backcountry hunting, military, and mountain sports. Each episode offers practical tips, expert insights, and inspiring stories for hunters, first responders, and outdoor enthusiasts. Enhance your training with MTNTOUGH's functional fitness programs—train at home, gym, or on the go. Get your first month free with code MTNPOD at mtntough.com.

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