Taking Chances – Why Not You? —the podcast where we dive into the bold moves, the big dreams, and the everyday people who prove that the impossible is just a dare waiting to be answered.

Next week's guest, Evan Kilstrom, embodies transformation in its purest form. A 2019 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and a three-season lineman for Iowa State, Evan played under the bright lights of the 2020 Big 12 Championship and helped clinch a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oregon. But his story didn’t stop when the clock ran out.

After tipping the scale at 340 pounds, Evan made a radical decision to take control of his path. In less than a year, he shed over 100 pounds, reshaped his life, and set out on a journey most would call impossible. From running a marathon on a whim to conquering the legendary 2024 Leadville Trail 100 in under 30 hours (Finish time of 29:40:01), Evan redefined what strength looks like—inside and out.

Now an engineer at John Deere in Moline, Evan’s story isn’t just about physical endurance. It’s about vision, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of growth. So, sit back, get inspired, and ask yourself the question Evan has been living out loud: Why not you?

No incredible accomplishments are done alone, he had a team of amazing friends, and family to support him.

Join us for an electrifying episode with Dr. John Byrne, Professor Emeritus at St. Ambrose University, professional speaker, and expert in goal setting and motivation—

Taking Chances is now proudly supported by our friends Johnna and Austin Chesney, the amazing owners of four iconic establishments in the Quad Cities: The Public House, The Ridge Social Drinkery, Oak Grove Tavern, and Candy’s Back Bar.

Dr. Byrne is no stranger to pushing the limits. A 6-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher and 2024 Lead Challenge conqueror (yes, that beast of a series includes the Leadville Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville 10K, and the legendary Leadville Trail 100 Run), his story is nothing short of epic. Born and raised in Iowa, he’s gone far beyond the rolling plains—tackling an Ironman Triathlon and even summiting Mt. Rainier.

In this episode, he dives into his Leadville experience, the mindset needed to conquer the impossible, and the deeper philosophy of setting bold, soul-stirring goals. He’ll also share what’s next on his path—and how you can take his strategies and apply them to your own life.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to do the truly hard things, this episode is your blueprint. 🎧 Listen now and get inspired to chase your own summit.

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨 Ultra-running fans, get ready for an inspiring conversation with none other than John DeDoncker—a legend in endurance sports! John is an 8-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher, a Leadman finisher, and a Western States 100 miler finisher—but he's aiming for something even bigger: becoming a 10-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher! Hailing from the Quad Cities, John grew up in East Moline and has lived in FIVE of the Quad Cities! He graduated from the University of Iowa (Tippie College of Business) and earned his JD from Iowa College of Law in 1988. A former President of TBK Bank Midwest Division, John’s journey from playing golf and tennis to conquering ultra marathons is truly remarkable. His story is one of grit, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence—and I promise, it’ll leave you motivated to chase your own big goals! Please like and subscribe to the channel!

Let’s celebrate the incredible journey of John DeDoncker together. #UltraRunning #Leadville100 #Endurance #Inspiration #JohnDeDoncker #PodcastRelease 🎤🏔️🏃‍♂️

Welcome to Taking Chances - Why not you? where we dive deep into the minds of the world's best athletes, thinkers, and visionaries. Today, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with a true legend in the world of ultrarunning—Michael Wardian.

If you’ve ever glanced at the leaderboard of an ultra-distance race, chances are you’ve seen his name at the top. Michael holds too many race records to list here, but if you’re curious, you can find the staggering details at Michael Wardian's Results.

From dominating the U.S. National 100 km Championship to claiming multiple U.S. 50 km and 50-mile titles, Michael has pushed the boundaries of human endurance time and time again. But how did he get here? What drives someone to run—sometimes for days on end—through pain, exhaustion, and every obstacle imaginable?

In this conversation, Michael takes us on a journey through his incredible career, sharing insights into his training, his mindset, and what it truly means to be one of the greatest ultra runners in the world.

Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss this.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Curt Johnston, a 2018 Leadville 100 Trail Race finisher, for a conversation packed with grit, determination, and a whole lot of heart. We reflected on his early days playing basketball in high school and college, his quest to break 46:00 at the Bix7, and—most importantly—his incredible comeback from a DNF in 2016 to crossing the finish line at Leadville in 2018. Curt shared his physical and mental approach to preparing for that redemption race, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

Oh, and today’s a special day—Curt turns 49! So be sure to send him a birthday shoutout. And what’s next for him? Maybe a big buckle in Leadville. IYKYK. Tune in!

Hey everyone, quick heads-up—this episode’s audio is a little rough. I got a new camera, and somehow the recording defaulted to the computer’s mic instead of our fancy setup. Rookie mistake, but the conversation is still top-notch.

Pat and I sat down to chat about Memorial Day, growing up in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the role of sports in shaping our lives. We talked about his journey from playing football as a kid to competing at the University of Iowa, then making the leap to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. We also covered his experience with the NFL Combine, the grind of training, and the challenges of transitioning between different stages of his career and life.

Despite the audio hiccup, this one’s a great listen—let’s get into it.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Mark Dowdle, who has won the Wausau Limitless last man standing ultra marathon two years in a row. This year he ran for 39 hours and covered 158 miles. We discussed his race experience, his perspective as the returning champion, and his future plans including his goal of becoming a professional backyard ultra runner. Topics also included training, support crews, group runs, and the motivations behind participating in such events.

Pat sits down with me and we talk about our Mom's, what it was like growing up, Running, Training, Work, Business and of course we couldn't do this without talking about the 2016 Leadville Trail 100 race, the race across the sky. Hope you enjoy it.