Every adventure is shaped by the person you become along the way. Over the past few weeks on the On Adventure Podcast, I’ve had three guests whose stories remind us that endurance isn’t just for the ultramarathoner, creativity isn’t limited to artists, and purpose doesn’t fade with age. Whether you’re chasing a mountain summit or simply trying to live your great life right now, there’s something here for every Everyday Explorer.
Lisa Smith-Batchen – Growing Into Greatness
When Lisa joined me on the show, she talked about what it means to age with purpose and how greatness is something we grow into, not something we’re born with. A legendary ultrarunner and coach, she’s spent four decades helping others find their “why.” Yet what struck me most wasn’t her resume of Badwater finishes or her coaching accolades—it was her humility.
Lisa believes we start out average, grow to good, and—through years of work and grace—arrive at great. She reminded me that greatness doesn’t disappear when the podiums do; it just shifts shape. For anyone feeling like their best miles are behind them, Lisa’s story is proof that you’re still the same explorer—you’ve just found new trails to run.
Tom Kubiniec – Claiming Your Own Authority
Tom’s adventure started on a different stage: under the bright lights of Los Angeles rock clubs. A former heavy-metal guitarist turned entrepreneur, he eventually became the “gun-storage guru” leading a global security company. His story is a master class in reinvention and risk-taking.
When a U.S. Army colonel once asked who he was, Tom boldly replied, “I’m the leading authority in small-arms storage and armory design.” At the time, he wasn’t—but he became it. His lesson to the rest of us? Sometimes you must stake a claim before you’ve earned it, then back it up with relentless learning and integrity.
Tom also spoke about embracing failure as fuel for innovation. At his company, the motto is “fail fast.” For the Everyday Explorer, that’s a reminder that forward motion often begins with falling down—then standing back up with new wisdom and another idea.
Vincent Antunez – Endurance as a Teacher
Vincent’s story weaves together service, resilience, and quiet perseverance. A retired Army Major and physician assistant, he spent more than three decades in uniform before turning his focus to ultra-endurance racing. From the Vol State 500K to multi-day stage races across the desert, Vincent has learned that the real battle isn’t with blisters or heat—it’s with the mind.
He told me the “three Bs” that can take you out of any race: belly, balls of your feet, and brain. The last one, he said, is the hardest to overcome. His solution? Keep an optimistic outlook, one step at a time. For Vincent, endurance has become his greatest teacher—shaping how he views pain, humility, and what it truly means to finish strong.
Keep Moving Toward Your Own Great Life
Lisa, Tom, and Vincent couldn’t be more different in background, yet their paths converge on a shared truth: growth happens at the edge of discomfort. Whether you’re building a business, raising a family, or running your next race, the lessons from these three explorers are clear—keep learning, keep adapting, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Listen to their full conversations on the On Adventure Podcast—and keep chasing the life that calls you forward.
