Traka 100 Gravel Race Reflections

It’s Wednesday, May 13, 2026. I’m coming to you from a sun-drenched plaza in Barcelona after a morning of journaling, coffee, and a serendipitous run-in with a friend. Today, we’re talking about "Social Surface Area." Why does living in a walking city feel so different from living in a driving city? We explore the biological spark of the "unplanned encounter" and how to manufacture that feeling even if you’re stuck in suburban traffic.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, May 13, 2026. Let’s get real for a second: life doesn’t always go according to the business plan. I’ve been feeling some frustrations lately—business isn't exactly where I want it to be. But today’s reminder is for me as much as it is for you: There are no "good" or "bad" events, only the perspectives we choose to wrap around them. We’re diving into the Stoic discipline of controlling the one thing that can’t be imprisoned: your mindset.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Friday in Barcelona, and what started as a social game of paddle (padel) on a rooftop court turned into a masterclass in how the ego can sabotage our own happiness. Today, I’m breaking down a heated altercation that happened between courts and why "standing your ground" often costs you far more than you realize. We’re looking at the literal "math of an argument" and how to recognize when your ego is about to overcharge you.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Today, I’m revisiting a topic that struck a chord with many of you: the razor-thin line between confidence and arrogance. Inspired by a recent entry in The Daily Stoic (April 7th), we explore why the most dangerous thing you can do for your career—and your happiness—is to stop being a student. We discuss Epictetus's warning against "arrogant opinion" and why changing your mind is actually a sign of elite leadership, not weakness.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Thursday, May 7, 2026. If you started the year with a list of big, audacious goals and now, in early May, you’re looking at that list wondering what happened—welcome to the club. I’m getting honest today about my own "slippage" over the last few weeks. Between training for the Traka bike race, falling down the AI rabbit hole, and restarting Spanish lessons, my podcast and book progress took a backseat. Today, we talk about how to stop the guilt spiral and perform a "Priority Audit" to decide what stays, what goes, and what gets postponed.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Yesterday, we talked about the practical, high-efficiency side of AI—how it saved me five hours of research in a single morning. Today, we’re zooming out. We are currently living through what many call the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While past technological leaps (like the steam engine and the automobile) destroyed old jobs only to create millions of unimaginable new ones, there is a growing debate: Is AI different? We’re exploring the "Horse Poop" analogy, the rise of AGI, and what it means for the future of human work.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, May 12, 2026. If you’ve been listening lately, you know I’m falling deep into the AI rabbit hole—and for good reason. Yesterday, I tackled a project that usually takes me five hours of manual grinding (or $70+ in VA fees) and knocked it out in 15 minutes using Claude. I’m sharing the exact workflow I used to organize a VIP dinner for an upcoming HR conference in Portugal, and why I’m seriously considering shifting my business toward AI consulting.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, May 5, 2026. I just got back from Girona after finishing the Traka 100, the biggest gravel bike race in Europe. When I signed up months ago, 100 kilometers (60 miles) felt like an impossible stretch for a "sprinter" like me. Today, I’m breaking down the raw experience of the race, how I shaved nearly an hour off my practice time in just one week, and why you should sign up for that "scary" challenge—even if you aren't sure you can finish.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Today, we dive into Part 2 of my conversation with Angus Nelson, author of The Neuro-Resilient Leader. We tackle a paradox: why do some of the most "successful" people on the planet—entrepreneurs and high-performing leaders—live in a state of constant scarcity? Angus breaks down why this isn't about your bank account, but about the three internal enemies of your identity. We also share a personal moment about how Angus inspired my family's move to Spain.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Monday, April 13, 2026, and we are breaking format! Today marks the first-ever interview on this podcast. My good friend Angus Nelson joins me to discuss his brand-new book, The Neuro-Resilient Leader: The Internal Operating System for Leading at the Speed of Change. We dive into why so many leaders are "faking it" while feeling terrified inside, and why your only competitive advantage in an AI-driven world isn't your strategy—it's your humanity.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.