{"podcast":{"title":"First Principles","slug":"first-principles-7708985","podcast_index_feed_id":7708985,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/PODAGEN4765221373","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/06eebd2a-0779-11f1-826e-37926ac18342/image/fca7c8febd1441fc3b0d54084418b06d.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Adrian Wells","episode_count":324,"summary":"First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had. Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew? Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most \"revolutionary\" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses. You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applied to the stuff that matters in your work and life right now. Multiple new episodes drop daily, so there's always something fresh when you need it. Follow now if you're ready to think better, not just…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T16:19:48.696188+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/first-principles-7708985"},"episode":{"title":"Rich Roll Was Alcoholic at 40, Then Became Ultra-Marathon Champion in 2 Years","slug":"rich-roll-was-alcoholic-at-40-then-became-ultra-marathon-champion-in-2-years","published_at":"2026-07-11T18:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/first-principles-7708985/rich-roll-was-alcoholic-at-40-then-became-ultra-marathon-champion-in-2-years","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/first-principles-7708985","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PODAGEN7848239406.mp3?updated=1776258419","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PODAGEN7848239406.mp3?updated=1776258419","summary":"At 40 years old, Rich Roll was a burned-out alcoholic lawyer who couldn't climb a flight of stairs without getting winded. Two years later, he completed five Ironman-distance triathlons in under a week across five Hawaiian islands. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down how Roll's transformation proves that radical life changes aren't just possible at any age - they're often more powerful when they happen later in life. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • The exact moment that sparked Roll's transformation from alcoholic to ultra-athlete (it wasn't what you'd expect) • How he fueled elite performance on a 100% plant-based diet, getting all his protein from vegetables and grains • Why starting athletic training at 40 gave him advantages over athletes who started younger • The mindset shift that turned a guy who couldn't walk upstairs into someone completing the EPIC5 challenge 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who thinks it's \"too late\" to make a major life change. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the \"too late\" myth [01:45] Rich Roll's rock bottom moment at 40 [03:30] The first 30 days that changed everything [05:15] Plant-based performance secrets that shocked nutritionists [07:30] Why age became his competitive advantage [09:45] The EPIC5 challenge breakdown [11:30] Three takeaways you can apply today This isn't another feel-good transformation story. It's a blueprint for how to rebuild your life when everyone thinks your best years are behind you. Roll didn't just get sober - he redefined what's possible in middle age. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes drop daily, so your next breakthrough insight is always one tap away. 🔍 Topics: life transformation, addiction recovery, plant-based nutrition, ult…","meta_description":"At 40 years old, Rich Roll was a burned-out alcoholic lawyer who couldn't climb a flight of stairs without getting winded. Two years later, he completed f…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2597,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/first-principles-7708985/episodes/rich-roll-was-alcoholic-at-40-then-became-ultra-marathon-champion-in-2-years/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/first-principles-7708985/rich-roll-was-alcoholic-at-40-then-became-ultra-marathon-champion-in-2-years.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}