[S3] Ep. 9 - Isaac Kenyon: Seeking Connection, Finding Purpose

Apr 28

Isaac Kenyon (on erg) with friend Jordan Williams. Together they set the world record for tandem longest continual row (2 person) Male 20-29 LTWT, April 1-3, 2022.

Isaac Kenyon (L), with his crew during the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Isaac Kenyon (L), with his crew after completing the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Join our Patreon community for early access to episodes, discounts, and more.

Isaac Kenyon just set his third ultra-distance world record on the Concept2 indoor rower. This follows on the heels of other huge achievements, like rowing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and swimming the English Channel. We dive into the philosophy and motivation that helped him break free of the lure of screen time, and the coping mechanisms necessary to take on audacious challenges. Through it all, Isaac's advocated for the environment and Autism awareness.

“I’ve been in the dark places a lot. At 48 hours I may have said ‘Hello darkness my old friend’ about 100 times. One of the major things of getting through those moments is checking in with yourself, and knowing and accepting you’re not feeling great right now, but to give up is a short cut.” - Isaac Kenyon

GUEST
Isaac Kenyon
www.isaackenyon.com
IG - @isaac_kenyon
Twitter - @kenyon_isaac
LinkedIn - Isaac Kenyon
YouTube channel

TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
01:53 - Rapid Fire Q&A
04:04 - Rowing Week: Scale of 0-10
04:54 - World record for C2 tandem longest continual row (2 person) Male 20-29 LTWT to raise awareness of Autism
06:40 - Tandem partner Jordan Williams: From novice to world record holder in 5 months. Training, self-care, technique triggers
11:24 - Finding motivation, getting out of dark places, the importance of a support network, coping mechanisms
17:44 - An invitation to row the Atlantic was Isaac's introduction to rowing
22:25 - The tipping point from “outdoorsy guy” to seeking audacious challenges, exploring, and honing new skills
24:35 - The way into adventuring: start small
26:55 - 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: training, nutrition and communications, losing sight of shore, and swimming with whales
36:55 - 2019 Ted Talk: Seeking a balance between outdoor time and screen time; how the Atlantic row changed his relationship with technology
39:45 - Regulating brain chemicals, substituting outdoor time for technology
45:24 - Being a part of the first digital generation, FOMO, and never seeing people again
50:50 - Up next: Setting a speed record for swimming the 7 biggest seas in one year
53:25 - Flying the flag for the outdoor time in exchange for screen time
58:15 - Letterboxing