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My guest today is ultra-endurance athlete, CEO, and author Joe Gagnon — a man who’s run 6 marathons on 6 continents in 6 days, six Ironman Triathlons and over 90 marathons and ultra-marathons.
What I find most powerful about Joe’s story is not the epic nature of his physical and business achievements — it’s the intentionality behind them. Joe describes living intentionally as, “standing naked in front of the mirror of your own life.”
It’s not about going big for the sake of it — it’s about going deep. Meeting yourself in the dark… and not turning away.
So many of the insights Joe shares in his new book, Living Intentionally: How Intentionality enables Success, Fulfillment and Growth deeply resonate with me.
One that hit hard: “Without grace, grit turns into punishment.”
This is a conversation about breaking-through without breaking yourself. And loving yourself not for the performance, for the person you are.
I hope it’s as timely for you as it has been for me.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The cost of not living with intention — and what “having his ladder leaning up against the wrong wall” cost Joe.
• The G3 Method — Grit, Grace, and Groundedness — and how Joe balances fierce drive with deep compassion.
• Why asking “What do I really want?” can be so uncomfortable — and why it’s worth it.
• How your “why” is like a garden — something that grows and evolves.
• “Without grace, grit turns into punishment.”
• Joe’s grounding rituals, his wife Anthea’s “pink robe strategy,” and how he uses intentional habits to stay centred in a world of extremes.
• How Joe avoids letting high achievement become his identity — and the inner work it takes to stay aligned with purpose.
• Joe is plant-powered — the connection between what fuels your body and what fuels your purpose.

There are so many quotes I want to pull from Living Intentionally and share with you — however I’ll keep it to just one, and highly recommend you read the book yourself.

This one will especially resonate with my vegan friends… and honestly, with anyone who’s ever felt the tension between who the world expects them to be and who they truly are:

“Groundedness is about alignment. It’s the internal compass that keeps us steady when life pulls us in every direction. It’s the difference between being driven by external expectations and being guided by internal purpose.”

A powerful reminder to pause and reflect: What’s really guiding me right now?

Purchase: Living Intentionally: How Intentionality enables Success, Fulfillment and Growth.
Joe’s Substack: @joecurious
Joe’s website: https://thehighperformancelife.net/

Connect with Joe across the socials: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

That’s it for this week in Healthification.

Plant Positive Journal Version 2 (printed and fillable PDF)
This journal and daily planner follows a twelve month format however is not dated so it is perfect to use at ANY time of the year.

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With love and gratitude plant friends.

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