What if the life you’ve been chasing isn’t the life you actually want? What if the ladder of success you’ve been climbing is leaning against the wrong wall, and no matter how high you go, you still feel empty, tired, and unfulfilled?
That’s the question Joe Gagnon, elite endurance athlete, CEO, high-performance coach, and author of Living Intentionally, had to ask himself after decades of chasing titles, status, and the next big milestone. From the outside, his life looked like a success story. He was leading multimillion-dollar companies, checking all the traditional boxes of achievement, and rising in his career. But inside, he felt stuck. His health was deteriorating, his energy was drained, and the drive that once fueled him now felt more like a trap.
On this episode of the Plant Based Eating for Health podcast, Joe shares how he completely transformed his life by stepping back, asking hard questions, and making small but consistent changes. These changes eventually led him to a vibrant plant-based lifestyle, an intentional mindset, and the physical endurance to complete feats most people would never attempt.
From Stagnation to Strength
Joe’s turning point came when he realized he couldn’t run a mile. That was a wake-up call. He had spent so much time succeeding professionally that he had lost connection with his physical health and personal fulfillment. He began by writing down what he was doing each day to track even the smallest bits of progress. One push-up. One mile. One blog post. Those small steps added up.
What started as a personal effort to regain control became the foundation of a new life built around purpose, performance, and plant-based nutrition. Over the years, Joe has completed six marathons on six continents in six days, as well as multiple Ironman races. His next hurdle is the Badwater Ultramarathon, alternately known as the Badwater 135 or the “world’s toughest foot race.” He credits much of his stamina and recovery to his plant-based lifestyle.
Why Plant-Based Nutrition Became His Edge
When Joe first began his health journey, he focused on movement. Then came nutrition. Once he gave up alcohol, it became clear that his performance was tied directly to how he fueled his body. He began eliminating meat, dairy, and ultra-processed foods, and the results were undeniable. Within days, he felt lighter, faster, and more mentally clear. His digestion improved, his recovery time shortened, and he gained a sense of vitality that went far beyond fitness.
Joe believes food is foundational to everything. It affects how we sleep, how we think, how we show up for others, and how we feel about ourselves. When you remove the foods that dull your energy and cause inflammation, your entire life changes. You can think clearly. You can move with intention. You can lead with authenticity.
Breaking Free from Default Living
A major theme of Joe’s new book Living Intentionally is breaking out of what he calls “default mode” living. Many people go through the motions, following the path they think they’re supposed to take, only to reach a point of burnout or dissatisfaction. Joe encourages people to pause and reassess their lives, beginning with a simple exercise: track how you spend all 168 hours in a week. Then ask yourself, “Is this who I want to be?”
According to Joe, intentional living starts with defining your why. Why do you want to feel better? Why do you want to change? Once your why is clear, the how becomes easier to build. Whether it’s eating cleaner, moving more, sleeping better, or finding a more supportive community, the key is to start small and stay consistent.
The Five Pillars of a High-Performance Life
Joe outlines five core areas to focus on when designing a more intentional life:
- Movement – Daily physical activity, even if it starts with a walk around the block.
- Mindset – Building resilience through practices like breathwork, journaling, and reframing discomfort as growth.
- Nutrition – Eliminating ultra-processed foods and animal products for better energy, digestion, and longevity.
- Sleep – Protecting your rest and allowing your body to recover and restore.
- Community – Surrounding yourself with people who uplift and support your goals.
These pillars are not about perfection. They are about creating momentum. Joe reminds us that real change doesn’t require a complete overhaul overnight. It begins with one conscious decision at a time.
Living by Design, Not by Default
Today, Joe helps others find the same clarity and purpose he discovered. Whether he’s coaching executives, speaking to audiences, or running through Death Valley in 120-degree heat, he lives by the principle that we all have untapped potential waiting to be accessed. And it starts by making one choice to live with intention.
“Give yourself time and grace. You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be present,” Joe says. “Once you start to feel better, you won’t want to go back. That’s where the real transformation begins.”
To learn more about Joe Gagnon’s journey and his book Living Intentionally, visit TheHighPerformanceLife.net.
Pre-order the book and take your first step toward the life you’re meant to live.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[01:00] Extremes in life allow you to live fully.
[03:30] Pushing the limits lets us see what we are made of.
[06:00] Hitting the wall of complacency.
[11:00] Substances that kill desire, motivation and health.
[14:30] Evolving our life by the choices we make.
[16:30] A different kind of food pyramid.
[19:00] What we consume does matter.
[24:00] From unable to run a mile to six marathons in six days on six continents.
[26:30] The next big challenge for Joe.
[28:30] Foundation for confidence.
[33:00] Solutions to improving health, happiness, and serenity.
[36:00] Box breathing to get out of the box.
[39:00] 2,000 pull ups is just the start.
About Joe Gagnon
Joe Gagnon, is obsessed with unlocking human potential. As an ultra-endurance athlete, CEO, coach and author, Joe is driven by a simple mission: helping people realize they are capable of far more than they think is possible. Over the years, he has led six companies as CEO, coached elite performers, and pushed himself to physical and mental extremes, completing six Ironman races, running 100-mile ultramarathons, and finishing six marathons on six continents in six days.
As CEO of Raynmaker, he is building an AI-powered sales platform designed to help small businesses grow smarter and faster. As a high-performance coach, he partners with bold, ambitious leaders to break through self-imposed limits and lead lives of deeper purpose and greater impact.
Joe’s life and his new book, Living Intentionally, are rooted in the belief that growth happens on the edge. It’s in the uncomfortable, uncertain, and transformational moments that we discover who we really are. Every step he takes is guided by the principles of grit, grace, and groundedness. Whether he’s building a company, mentoring a founder, or speaking on stage, his goal remains the same: to inspire others to live intentionally by design, not by default.
Follow Joe on the following websites:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegagnon/
https://substack.com/@joecurious
https://www.thehighperformancelife.net/
https://www.instagram.com/thehighperformancelife
About Kathleen Gage
Kathleen Gage is a multifaceted professional, renowned as the founder of Vegan Visibility. With certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University, she’s a seasoned business consultant, keynote speaker, and marketing strategist.
Kathleen’s impact extends to hosting the Vegan Visibility Virtual Summit, a niche event supporting vegan and plant-based entrepreneurs with top-tier training from industry experts. Since establishing her business in 1994, she’s navigated economic challenges across various sectors, including high-tech, healthcare, and publishing.
Her influential voice resonates through popular podcasts like “Vegan Visibility” and “Plant Based Eating for Health,” where she advocates for a sustainable, compassionate world and provides guidance to thousands globally. Moreover, as an award-winning speaker and past president of Utah’s National Speakers Association chapter, Kathleen excels in crafting effective marketing strategies.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kathleen resides in Central Oregon, where she champions animal rescue and enjoys outdoor activities. Her commitment to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world shines through in both her personal and professional pursuits.
Be sure to check out the Podcast Guesting Proposition Blueprint https://veganvisibility.com/podcastblueprint