What does it take to prepare for an Ironman—and what do you learn about yourself along the way?

Dylan Kaplinger joins us for the second time on The Simple Healthy Life Podcast to talk about completing an Ironman, the training that got him there, and the challenges that inevitably showed up along the way.

We talk about motivation, discipline, overcoming barriers, and what happens when the excitement of pursuing a big goal wears off and you're left with the work itself. Dylan shares his experience pushing through difficult moments, navigating setbacks, and continuing to move forward when things don't go according to plan.

But the conversation goes beyond endurance sports. We explore what pursuing something genuinely difficult can teach us about growth, resilience, self-belief, and becoming better in everyday life. Whether you're training for an Ironman, working toward a personal goal, or simply trying to improve some part of yourself, there will always be barriers between where you are and where you want to go.

The question is what you do when you meet them.

There is always some distance between where we are today and where we want to be. We call that space “the gap.”

In this episode of The Simple Healthy Life Podcast, we talk about what actually fills that gap: the barriers, habits, circumstances, fears, expectations, and everyday realities that make change more complicated than simply deciding what you want and going after it.

We break down practical ways to identify the barriers standing in your way, understand why they keep showing up, and build strategies that work with your actual life. Because barriers are inevitable. Motivation changes, schedules fall apart, unexpected problems arise, and even well-designed plans eventually meet resistance.

Whether you’re trying to improve your health, build better habits, change your career, strengthen a relationship, or become a different version of yourself, learning how to navigate the gap is part of the process. We discuss goal setting, behavior change, motivation, self-awareness, problem solving, and actionable strategies for meeting yourself where you are while continuing to move toward where you want to be.

What happens when one chapter of your life ends and you have to figure out who you are without it?

In this episode of The Simple Healthy Life Podcast, we sit down with Jay Soares to talk about his time in the military, the lessons he carried with him from service, and the transition back into civilian life. Jay shares how his experiences shaped his understanding of discipline, identity, purpose, and the person he wanted to become.

We also explore his transition into a career in media, the challenges that come with building a new identity after military service, and the role spirituality has played throughout his journey. Jay opens up about his relationship with faith, finding God, and how that process has influenced the way he understands his experiences and approaches life today.

This conversation touches on military life, veteran transition, career change, spirituality, faith, personal growth, and the search for meaning that can accompany major changes in our lives. It's a thoughtful look at what we carry forward from the chapters that shape us—and how those experiences continue to influence who we become.