richroll
@richroll • 140,359 subscribers
Ultra endurance athlete, bestselling author of FINDING ULTRA & host of THE RICH ROLL PODCAST. Run far, talk long. One Love https://t.co/T5TqaqT5Gx
Videos
On May 8, 2025 I underwent spinal fusion surgery, a 6 hour procedure in which I was filleted from front to back. First, my abdomen was opened up so that the surgeon could scrape out the disc between L5 and S1, replacing it with a perforated cage containing bone grafting material that was screwed into my vertebra. Then I was flipped over and opened up on my back so that my surgeon could screw vertical rods into L5 and S1 to secure my spine position to ensure the fusion sets properly. The procedure was successful, correcting 15 years of lower back debilitation due to severe Spondylolisthesis. However, the recovery process demanded I endure far more than I bargained for, debilitating me in ways I thought might handicap me permanently. For the first 3 months I could barely move. For the first six months my activity was limited to walking only. Pain was constant. At nine months I was still in so much discomfort, still so limited in my range of motion, still too unstable to do anything to elevate my heart rate. My weight ballooned. My muscles atrophied. My mood plummeted. And I was becoming resigned to the idea that my athletic identity (let alone performing extreme feats of ultra-endurance) was a thing of the past, a memory well behind me. But very slowly after that I began to turn a corner. At ten months, I finally felt stable enough to resume a very modest non-spine compressing return to fitness exercise regimen. Zone 1 indoor cycling, gentle core work, extremely low weight / high rep resistance training. Proceeding on a ‘less is more’ mandate in late November (which demands discipline for someone like myself prone to taking everything to the extreme, I just showed up every single morning to do what I could, and stop well before doing more than I should. Today I am down 35 pounds from November (207 to 171) including a body fat reduction from 20% to 11%. More importantly, I am beginning to feel like myself again. Grateful and hopeful. I still have a long way to go—it takes 12-18 months for the fusion to fully set. My surgeon was not optimistic that I will be able to run again. Time will tell of course, but I’m confident that provided I continue to proceed patiently that I have a future in which running can become part of my new reality. Towards that end I have a goal—which is to celebrate my 60th birthday this Fall by participating in the NYC Marathon. But here’s the thing. I’m not trying to return to who I once was. I’ve leaned into the stillness this experience has demanded of me to become someone new and better. I am posting this story not for external validation but rather to say that change is always possible. And the way to do it is the same way I have navigated every one of my many life transformations, from alcoholism to sobriety, from sedentary to middle aged ultra endurance athlete, and from a corporate lawyer career to becoming an author and podcaster: getting sober and staying sober: by taking contrary action consistently and religiously—one day at a time. As Chris Paul said on my podcast, “keep stacking days.” And remember, every obstacle life presents you is simply an opportunity custom-designed for your growth and evolution.
richroll441,693 views • 2 months ago
Put your phone down and find your purpose. Lifted from my convo with Adam Skolnick on looksmaxxing.
richroll42,019 views • 2 months ago
This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Maria Shriver (Maria Shriver), whose journey transcends the parasocial relationship we think we have with public figures. We explore her authentic journey of self-discovery through poetry, breaking free from family expectations, finding wholeness after heartbreak, and her groundbreaking Alzheimer's advocacy work. Maria offers a blueprint for self-preservation and wholeness, particularly relevant for anyone struggling to feel "enough" beneath the weight of others' projections. Now available everywhere you enjoy the podcast. Episode 900. ✌🏼🌱 - Rich
richroll126,758 views • 1 year ago
David Roche is the mad scientist of ultra-endurance. Every once in a while, a brash someone comes a long who has the audacity to defy convention and try something new and bold that others dismiss as likely to fail. Usually it does fail. But once in a blue moon it doesn’t, resulting in an unexpected leap forward that advances an understanding of optimal performance and the path towards mastery. David Roche is once such example of this, a former college football player turned trail runner and elite coach who, this summer, broke one of ultrarunning’s most revered records at the Leadville 100—in his first attempt at the distance. But more noteworthy is HOW he did it, by focusing on speed and intensity on a fraction of the mileage most would recommend (note: built upon an 18 year base). And by studying the habits of competitive eaters, leveling up his capacity to absorb an inhuman amount of carbohydrate fuel per hour, a strategy to better sustain his speed. David is fascinating, but not the maniacally performance driven data geek I expected from his popular social media posts, in which he transparently shares his curious endurance ways. He is genuine, and empathetic to a fault. This is a way of saying that his story isn’t just about running faster than anyone else—it’s a transformative journey disguised as an athletic adventure, revealing how extraordinary achievements spring from the courage to chase audacious dreams with love and vulnerability. David’s exploration into the pain cave confirms one of my favorite truths: we are all capable of far more than we imagine. Enjoy the podcast, which you can watch on YouTube and is streaming on all the pod platforms.
richroll72,913 views • 1 year ago
Vote with your wallet. A clip from my exchange with Harley Finkelstein (Harley Finkelstein), President of Shopify and entrepreneur who started his first business at 13. We explored his iconoclastic journey from DJ to leader of one of the world’s most transformative tech companies. Episode 878.
richroll49,832 views • 1 year ago
Ruari Fairbairns on the negative repercussions of alcohol on both mind and body. Episode 805✌🏼🌱
richroll23,225 views • 6 months ago
Take the one tiny action today. From my conversation with Sahil Bloom (Sahil Bloom), where we explore his iconoclastic framework of the Five Types of Wealth, practical tools for cultivating abundance, and the tiny actions that transform lives. Episode 886. ✌🏼🌱 - Rich
richroll35,752 views • 1 year ago
What drives us to sacrifice curiosity for the illusion of security? This week, I’m joined by Steve Magness (Steve Magness), a renowned performance expert and author of “Win the Inside Game.” We examine why our modern obsession with achievement often leads to self-sabotage and how our drive for external validation can become calcified into patterns that no longer serve us. Through the aperture of his journey from elite runner to pioneering coach, Steve reveals how social media hijacks our basic needs and why group identity threatens growth. His insights offer a framework for moving beyond survival mode to genuine thriving. We dive into the power of curiosity, the value of productive discomfort, and why sustainable excellence requires balancing growth with commitment. Now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and everywhere you enjoy the RRP. Episode 887. ✌🏼🌱 - Rich
richroll36,250 views • 1 year ago
This week on the pod, Nick Thompson (nxthompson) reveals how running helped him reconcile with a brilliant father whose promise dissolved into chaos. Now CEO of The Atlantic and a 2:29 marathoner at 44, Nick used running to break the patterns he inherited—so he could be a better father to his own sons. What he discovered in those miles might shift how you see your own inherited story. Now available. Episode 943✌🏼🌱
richroll13,303 views • 7 months ago
One brief conversation—sometimes a single guest—can change your entire perspective. I'm thrilled to share this delightful exchange with the one and only Elmo (Elmo), whose powerful insights are shaking the running world to its core. Advocating for a revolutionary idea—more softness in running—we discuss his worldview, his philosophy, and most crucially, what his last name is. Thank you Elmo. Our time together was short, but your wisdom vast. ✌🏼🌱 - Rich – with On #SoftWins
richroll19,531 views • 1 year ago
