Smile, Or You're Doing It Wrong: Andy Glaze On Relentless Positivity, PTSD, & The Healing Power Of Movement
Andy Glaze shares his inspiring journey from addiction to becoming a successful ultra-endurance athlete, emphasizing the healing power of movement and the importance of positivity. He discusses personal growth, the value of failure, and how transformation is achievable for everyone over time.
Summary
In this conversation, ultra-endurance athlete Andy Glaze reflects on his transformation from a troubled youth engulfed in substance abuse to a thriving athlete known for his relentless positivity. Glaze discusses the impact of his parents' divorce on his early life, which led him to substance abuse and a chaotic lifestyle. He reveals how a combination of intense experiences, including therapy, wilderness programs, and eventually a commitment to fitness, helped him turn his life around.
Glaze's journey into running began when he started working out in his mid-twenties after experiencing panic attacks due to a sedentary lifestyle. He found solace in exercise, which alleviated his anxiety and paved the way for his eventual involvement in endurance sports. He emphasizes that running became a necessary outlet not just for physical health but also for managing the PTSD he developed from his experiences as a paramedic.
Throughout their discussion, Glaze iterates the theme that failure is an essential part of growth. He acknowledges numerous setbacks during his recovery, ultimately urging listeners to focus on consistent efforts rather than seeking immediate results. By sharing his story, he aims to inspire others to embrace their paths and to realize that transformation is attainable at any stage of life. Glaze concludes by discussing the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and inspiring others through personal growth, highlighting the ripple effect one's journey can have on those around them.
About this episode
Andy Glaze is a firefighter paramedic, ultrarunner, and the author of “Smile, or You're Doing It Wrong.” This conversation explores the space between falling down and getting back up and how movement becomes a catalyst for emotional healing. We discuss Andy's descent into addiction, the inflection point that rerouted his life, the limits of running as a coping mechanism, the algorithm of transformation, and more. Andy doesn't hold back about how he got here. I'm a fan. Enjoy this one! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Birch: For 27% off ALL mattresses👉🏼https://www.BirchLiving.com/richroll Plant Power Meal Planner: Get $20 off an annual subscription with code PLANTPOWER20👉🏼https://meals.richroll.com WHOOP: The all-new WHOOP 5.0 is here! Get your first month FREE👉🏼https://www.join.whoop.com/Roll Mill: Get $75 off your fully automated food recycler with code RICHROLL + 90-day risk-free trial👉🏼https://www.mill.com/RICHROLL Rivian: Electric vehicles that keep the world adventurous forever👉🏼https://www.rivian.com BetterHelp: Get 10% OFF the first month👉🏼https://www.betterhelp.com/richroll Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors👉🏼https://www.richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at https://www.voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange
Key Insights
- Andy Glaze experienced a downward spiral into addiction following his parents' divorce, which led him to heavy substance use at a young age.
- He describes the early stages of his addiction as a coping mechanism for the emotional turmoil he faced during his teenage years.
- After a series of failed attempts to find help and address his addiction, he attended a wilderness therapy program that exposed him to physical endurance challenges.
- Glaze credits a significant transformation in his life to the guidance of a therapist who helped him connect his drug use to underlying emotional struggles.
- He maintained sobriety through a therapeutic boarding school but fell back into substance use after completing college.
- A traumatic bicycle accident and a subsequent panic attack served as Glaze's rock bottom moment, prompting him to reassess his life choices.
- He found that ultra-running offered not just a physical outlet but a mechanism to manage the symptoms of PTSD from his years as a paramedic.
- Glaze advocates for recognizing failure as an integral part of the growth process, emphasizing that it is necessary to pursue difficult goals regardless of the risk of failure.
- He posits that positive mindset and motivation can lead to a ripple effect in communities, encouraging those around him to seek improvement.
- Glaze promotes the idea that incremental changes, such as dedicating 30 minutes daily to self-improvement, can lead to substantial transformations over time.
- He highlights the importance of sharing personal journeys, as they can inspire others who are stuck in challenging situations.
- In discussing the balance of running as a passion versus a potential harmful obsession, Glaze acknowledges the need for deeper exploration and understanding of one's mental health.
Topics
Transcript
So I've been sleeping on a Birch mattress for the better part of about five years at this point. And one thing I would say is that having a great mattress is one of those things you don't really fully appreciate until you experience the difference night after night. Yes, it has enhanced my sleep quality courtesy of the quality of its responsibly sourced materials, things like organic cotton and natural latex, fabricated to be solid but comfortable to support the body without being overly soft and so you can sleep cool. Also, and you may not know this, most conventional mattresses are made with all manner of synthetics that create chemical off-gassing. This is not good, which is another…
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