🎙 Ep. 167 — From Benchwarmer to Ironman: How Shawn Hoyt Leads with Discipline, Grit, and Growth

What does it take to completely reinvent yourself—physically, mentally, and professionally—in your 40s and 50s?

In this episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, host John Gallagher sits down with Shawn Hoyt, an everyday athlete and driven professional who went from average beginnings to completing marathons, Spartan Races, ultramarathons, and Ironmans—all starting later in life.

But this isn’t just a fitness story—it’s a leadership masterclass.

🔥 You’ll learn:
✅ How to create unstoppable momentum through discipline
✅ Why consistency beats motivation in business and life
✅ How recovery and reflection fuel peak performance
✅ The “What If?” mindset that drives reinvention
How real community, even on social media, fuels lasting growth

Whether you're a professional leader, endurance athlete, or someone in midlife ready for your next big chapter, this episode will challenge what you think is possible.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to lead uncommonly.

🔗 Connect with Shawn Hoyt:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnhoytstayactive/
🌍 Website: https://www.shawnhoytstayactive.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf6xdHLwTXnMx9RfEjpQF1IvvT15sBbUAKqNg4aWlQymrCtsdOQ598my0DlZg_aem_MPZ_lcX5Vg0N3ysWK30IEg

🎧 Like this episode?
🔔Subscribe for more uncommon leadership conversations
📲 Share this with a leader who needs to hear it
💬Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Shawn.


🚀 Want to elevate your leadership or team performance?
📞 Schedule a FREE coaching call with me: https://coachjohngallagher.com/freecall/

🔗 Connect with me, John Gallagher:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohngallagher/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjohngallagher/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingChampions/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/coachjohngallagher?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacNCnPo_FY8Bu35xQgLEkEgkpf28Cfc5XNV9Xx2awTwh3JUE6zoUVFaxUQV6w_aem_b_Kvk_EzQQAcuuQIco6Scg

Until next time—Go and Grow, Champions! 💪

#UncommonLeader #CoachJohnGallagher #Leadership #UncommonleaderPodcast #ShawnHoyt #IronmanMindset #LeadershipPodcast #MidlifeMomentum #DisciplineEqualsFreedom #ConsistencyOverMotivation #WhatIFMindset #UncommonJourney

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me

What’s the secret to building a breakthrough leadership team?

Mike Goldman says it starts with growth, fulfillment, and impact.

In this episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, I sit down with Mike—bestselling author, leadership team expert, and host of The Better Leadership Team Show—for a powerful conversation on what it takes to lead well as your company scales.

Mike shares a personal story about his grandfather that changed his view of purpose forever—and sparked a lifelong mission to help leaders create meaningful, people-first cultures. We talk hiring pitfalls, tough people decisions, self-leadership, and why alignment (not consensus) is the key to progress.

You’ll also get a sneak peek into Mike’s upcoming book, The Strength of Talent, and his favorite leadership reads you won’t want to miss.

🔗 Connect with Mike Goldman:
Website: https://www.mike-goldman.com/
Books & Resources:
1️⃣ Performance breakthrough 👉 https://www.mike-goldman.com/performance-breakthrough
2️⃣ Breakthrough leadership team👉 https://www.mike-goldman.com/break-through-leadership-team
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgoldman10/

🎧 Like this episode?
🔔Subscribe for more uncommon leadership conversations
📲 Share this with a leader who needs to hear it
💬Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Mike.

Rate & review the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite platform—it really helps!

🚀 Want to elevate your leadership or team performance?
📞 Schedule a FREE coaching call with me: https://coachjohngallagher.com/freecall/

🔗 Connect with me, John Gallagher:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohngallagher/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjohngallagher/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingChampions/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/coachjohngallagher?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacNCnPo_FY8Bu35xQgLEkEgkpf28Cfc5XNV9Xx2awTwh3JUE6zoUVFaxUQV6w_aem_b_Kvk_EzQQAcuuQIco6Scg

Until next time—Go and Grow, Champions! 💪

#Leadership #MikeGoldman #UncommonLeaderPodcast #BreakthroughTeams #LeadershipDevelopment #SelfLeadership #TeamPerformance #BusinessGrowth #CoachJohnGallagher

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me

What happens when you achieve everything society calls "success" but still feel empty inside? Dr. Sharon Spano walks us through this profound paradox that affects countless high-achieving leaders.

Drawing from her extensive experience as a consultant with a PhD in human organizational systems, Dr. Spano reveals the hidden patterns that create what she calls "the emptiness of success." We explore how accomplished professionals with million-dollar homes and impressive careers often reach out for help when they realize material success hasn't delivered the fulfillment they expected.

Dr. Spano shares powerful insights about the "hidden loyalties" we carry from our family histories that unconsciously shape our relationship with success. Through moving client stories, she demonstrates how seemingly innocent parental advice like "you have to work very hard in America or you'll be left behind" can create lifelong patterns of never feeling enough despite extraordinary achievements.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Dr. Spano opens up about raising and eventually losing her disabled son, and how this profound experience shaped her capacity for empathy and understanding in her work with leaders. This heartfelt discussion illuminates how our greatest challenges often become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions.

For leaders feeling trapped in the hustle culture, Dr. Spano offers practical wisdom for moving toward harmony: recognize work will never be completely done, identify your top priorities each day, and practice being fully present wherever you are. Her approach integrates professional growth with character development, creating what she calls "the other side of potential."

Take the first step toward breaking free from empty success by visiting SharonSpano.com/uncommon-leader to access her Leader's Edge assessment and discover where you stand in the stages of human development.

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me