The Real Truth About Grit (What You Can Learn from Loss) | Eric Hodgdon "The Grit Guy"

From corporate success to crushing grief - Eric Hodgdon (“The Grit Guy”) reveals what real grit and resilience actually mean when life hits hardest.

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In this powerful episode of The RUNEGADE Podcast, Mark and Todd sit down with 2x TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and transition coach Eric Hodgdon.

After navigating profound loss - including the death of his daughter - Eric left a successful 25+ year IT career to help high-achievers build resilient, purpose-driven lives.

Eric shares his unconventional take on grit: it’s not just “pushing through” - it’s training yourself to bounce back stronger than before. You’ll hear raw stories of divorce, grief, rebuilding, and how running and storytelling became tools for healing and growth.
Whether you’re facing setbacks in running, career, or life, this conversation delivers practical mindset shifts on resilience, mental toughness, and turning pain into purpose.

Key Topics Covered:
• What “grit” really means (and why most people get it wrong)
• Navigating grief, loss, and major life transitions
• Building resilience that goes above baseline after adversity
• Leaving corporate life for purposeful work
• The power of storytelling in healing and helping others
• Practical tools for developing mental toughness in running and daily life

“To me, grit is really about being faced with adversity or getting hit with something and not collapsing under the weight of it. But being able to come back not only to baseline, but to go above baseline based on training, based on that strength that you've built." - Eric Hodgdon

This episode is sponsored by Thrive Protein | Canadian made supplements, nutrition, and hydration to fuel all your adventures. Check them out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠thriveprotein.ca/en-ca use the code RUNEGADE to save 20% off your order.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome to Eric Hodgdon - The Grit Guy
7:09 - Eric’s journey through divorce, grief, and rebuilding
12:35 - The power of storytelling: From NFL injuries to healing others
17:25 - The misconception that time alone heals wounds
21:21 - Mindfulness and living in the power of the present moment
24:16 - Building resilience through repeated response and training
27:35 - Unlearning myths about grief, survival, and love
33:28 - Navigating the "why" in loss and the importance of next steps
44:28 - Reconnecting with purpose in the corporate world
1:00:36 - The significance of practice and incremental progress
1:07:29 - The art of storytelling: From childhood to impactful public speaking
1:11:15 - How storytelling actually rewires the brain and fosters connection
1:15:21 - The journey from fear to freedom in sharing your story
1:17:42 - The transformative power of TEDx and storytelling in healing
1:19:40 - How stories change lives in an instant

Connect with Eric
► Instagram: instagram.com/thegritguy
► The Grit Guy Website: thegritguy.com

Resources:
► The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle – Discover why struggle is essential for growth: a.co/d/0astYwkC
► Steven Pressfield - The War of Art – Overcome resistance and unlock your creative potential: a.co/d/0cv6CQ2H
► Runningman Festival – Recalibrate your mind, body, and spirit in September
runningmanfestival.com

We thank Eric for sharing his story and teaching us the true definition of grit, resilience, and how to overcome loss through storytelling.

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About RUNEGADE: RUNEGADE is what happens when two ordinary friends dare to practice the lost art of conversation, to better understand what it means to run, be a runner, to be human. We interview athletes, doctors, scientists, olympians, and every day athletes - those doers of Big Things - to help you navigate the run and life, a bit better.