OM DENNE EPISODE
Josh Komen built his identity around being able to outwork almost anything. Then leukaemia took away his health, athletic future and the identity he had built around them.
Josh is a former competitive New Zealand 800-metre runner, two-time acute myeloid leukaemia survivor, author, speaker, breathwork coach and father.
In this conversation, Josh and Chris explore what happens when relentless effort becomes the only response you have. Josh discusses losing an identity built around performance, learning to ask for help and discovering that real strength sometimes means adapting rather than pushing harder.
They also examine pressure, breathwork, resilience, fortitude, fatherhood and why our greatest strengths can become liabilities when they are used without flexibility.
Connect with Josh: https://www.joshkomen.com/
Learn more about Aegis Leadership: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/
Thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for powering the Fireside Leadership Podcast, you can check out their latest roasts here:
https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/
This episode includes discussion of cancer, depression and suicidal thoughts. In New Zealand, call or text 1737 at any time for free support. If there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety, call 111.
CHAPTERS
00:00 When hard work becomes a trap
00:30 Meet Josh Komen
01:19 What running taught Josh
02:27 Discipline when motivation disappears
03:43 Visualisation and mental repetitions
07:41 Learning to tolerate pain
09:02 When discipline becomes a trap
11:14 Cancer and the loss of identity
12:48 The strength required to ask for help
17:11 Finding meaning after survival
18:18 Pressure, breathing and better decisions
23:08 Resilience versus fortitude
28:27 Why discomfort matters
33:42 Controlling attitude and attention
37:40 Redefining success
40:58 Fatherhood and protecting attention
43:35 Slow is fast
45:46 Connecting with Josh
