Episode notes
Courage Talks Season 10, Episode 4 featuring Megan Eckert – an elite ultrarunner, world-record holder, dedicated special education teacher, and high school track/cross-country coach from Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this inspiring episode, Megan opens up about her remarkable journey: transforming from an unhealthy lifestyle and reluctant beginner in 2016 to pushing the absolute limits of human endurance. We explore mental resilience (including how her ADD diagnosis became a superpower in ultras), the power of community and crew support (especially with her husband Joe as crew chief), holistic…
Podcast
Courage Talks
Hetal Sonpal · Learning · English
Inspired by my father's acts of courage in his biography, Against All Odds, I am inviting guests on my first-ever podcast to talk about their experience with courage. Hear from them about their stories of courage and moments in their personal and professional life that brought out the best in the
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S11 · E3 · 18 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Courage Talks S11E3 Prof Ashish Kaul
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟭, 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯 - 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗞𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘! Excited to host Prof. Ashish Kaul, Professor of Marketing & Digital Marketing, Brand Engineer, Strategist, Coach, Writer, Speaker, and passionate Mountaineer. With nearly 30 years of rich corporate experience, Prof. Kaul has shaped brands and strategies at some of the finest organizations including FCB, Lowe Lintas, McCann Erickson, Nielsen, Bharti Airtel, ICICI, Eicher, and Royal Enfield. He has led marketing and strategy functions across B2B & B2C categories and has also served as a Fractional CMO for an FMCG company.…
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S11 · E2 · 11 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Courage Talks S11E2 Ashiish V Patil
🎙️ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟭𝗘𝟮 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗩 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹 This episode features a powerhouse conversation with Ashiish V. Patil, a celebrated storyteller and creative mind in Media & Entertainment. With 30+ years of experience, Ashiish has shaped culture through bold, heart-touching stories that make people feel, laugh, cry, think, and act. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆: • 𝗘𝘅-𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗧𝗩 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 – Rebooted youth culture with blockbuster shows like Roadies, Splitsvilla, Bakra, and MTV Music Awards • 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺𝘀, 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗷 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺𝘀. Worked with superstars like…
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S11 · E1 · 3 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Courage Talks S11E1- Dhurv Agarwalla
🚀 Courage Talks Season 11 Episode 1 is now LIVE! Excited to kick off Season 11 with Dhruv Agarwalla, Co-founder & former Group CEO of REA India (Housing.com, Makaan.com & PropTiger.com).In this powerful conversation, Dhruv shares the real courage behind building and scaling one of India’s biggest prop-tech empires. Here’s what you can expect: The bold calls that shaped a category leader Navigating massive market shifts and tough decisions Leadership lessons from 14 years at the helm The lonely side of building at scale — and what it really takes If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or leader…
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S10 · E6 · 27 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Courage Talks S10E6 - Aarathi Swaminathan
🎙️ Courage Talks Season 10 Episode 6 is Aarathi Swaminathan She quit a 13-year corporate fashion design career to chase an Olympic dream she once thought was lost… and became the 1st Vegan Female IRONMAN of India . Meet Aarathi Swaminathan IRONMAN Certified Coach | Deputy Race Director – IRONMAN India & IRONKIDS India | Athlete Services Director – HYROX India & YOSKA Technology Solutions From a silver & bronze medalist in state & national track & field to transforming from 85+ kg (junk food era) to a lean, strong 60 kg endurance athlete, Aarathi’s journey has been amazing. Her remarkable…
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S10 · E5 · 21 Mar 2026 · 58 min
Courage Talks S10E5 - Gaurav Pant
🎙️ Courage Talks Season 10 Episode 5 From leading high-stakes operations at one of the world’s most respected education organisations to conquering some of India’s toughest ultras, this episode is pure proof that leadership and endurance are the same game . Meet Gaurav Pant Senior Director – India Operations, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Ex-Citibank & Fullerton India | Certified Marathon Coach (REVO₂LUTION / ISSA) In 2014, inspired by Mumbai’s running culture and the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Gaurav started running as simple “ME TIME”. What began as fitness quietly became his…
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S10 · E3 · 7 Mar 2026 · 57 min
Courage Talks S10E3 Pankaj Madaan
Courage Talks S10E3 is live – featuring Pankaj Madaan 🎙️ Pankaj is an ultrarunner (Spartathlon finisher, multiple 100-mile racer, podium at The Border 100 Miles in 18:23 PB), HYROX athlete, and the Fastest Ultra Runner in Haryana 2024. He's now deep in prep for Badwater 135 – the world’s toughest foot race. In this episode, we dive into: What it really takes to keep moving when your body is begging to stop How the same resilience, precision, and strategic execution from 100+ mile ultras translates to leading large-scale marketing teams Coaching athletes to chase real performance…
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S10 · E2 · 27 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Courage Talks S10E2 Sundeep Singh
Sundeep Singh is an MD at Accenture, a 3-time Boston Marathon qualifier, and an ultra-runner who did 100 half-marathons in 100 straight days. Now his brand-new book "In the Long Run" has just hit shelves this year! This is his second book, after his first, Chasing the Horizon , which documented his growing-up journey and his cracking the IITJEE, became a super-duper hit. From barely being able to run 1 km (and dropping 22 kg after one random job interview changed everything) to chasing sub-3-hour marathons, Sundeep's story is highly inspiring. Sundeep is a very popular motivational speaker,…
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S10 · E1 · 21 Feb 2026 · 1 hr
Courage Talks S10E1. Kenneth Posner
Courage Talks Season 10, Episode 1 features the extraordinary Kenneth Posner—known as Barefoot Ken! Ken is a former Wall Street analyst, Airborne Ranger veteran, and one of the most inspiring endurance adventurers. His feats include: Completing 115+ marathons/ultras (including NYC, Boston, Badwater x2, and Leadville) Setting fastest-known times on brutal routes like the 292-mile Badwater Double (record still stands), 350-mile Long Path thru-run, and 70-mile Shawangunk Ridge Thru-hiking the John Muir Trail and Long Path** Climbing high peaks like Mt. Illimani (21,122 ft) and Mt. Whitney…
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S9 · E6 · 14 Feb 2026 · 50 min
Courage Talks S9E6 Vijayaraghavan Venugopal
Courage Talks S9E6 with Vijayaraghavan Venugopal (Co-founder & CEO of Fast&Up!) Vijay's journey is a powerful blend of corporate grit, entrepreneurial courage, and elite athletic discipline: Left a successful 13-year pharma career (including heading China operations at Lupin) at age 38 to pursue something more meaningful. Spotted a major gap in credible local sports nutrition while starting serious running in 2012. Co-founded Fast&Up in 2015 with just three products and a small team—bootstrapped through grassroots activations like early-morning hydration stations at running events. Grew the…
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S9 · E5 · 6 Feb 2026 · 41 min
Courage Talks S9E5 Dr Jenny Hoffman
🚀 Courage Talks S9E5 Dr Jenny Hoffman 🚀 Harvard quantum physicist, mother of three, and the woman who shattered the women's world record for running across America! In November 2023, Jenny ran 3,032 miles from San Francisco to New York City in an astonishing 47 days, 12 hours, and 35 minutes – beating the previous record by over a week and officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest woman to cross the U.S. on foot. She did it after heartbreaking setbacks: a devastating knee injury in 2019 (after 2,560 miles) and a hamstring tear that delayed her 2022 attempt. Through…
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