Chasing Extremes, Finding Balance: Joao Andrade On Stress, Strategy, And Starting Over Business Of Endurance podcast

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Chasing Extremes, Finding Balance: Joao Andrade on Stress, Strategy, and Starting Over

5d ago 1:11:57

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Today, we welcome Joao Andrade - a man whose extraordinary journey from biotech entrepreneur to heart‑tested ultrarunner offers powerful lessons in health, resilience, and leadership.

In just five years Joao progressed from novice runner to conquering the legendary Badwater 135 - all while founding, scaling, and exiting a successful biotech business.

He’s also the co‑founder of One Hundred’s global endurance‐race series, he pitched and was initially backed by Stephen Bartlett on Dragons’ Den, and faced a near‑fatal heart event mid‑race.

This conversation digs deep: how Joao balances the demands of business and ultra‑endurance, uncovers the moment his body made him stop, and explores the mental shifts that fuel his rapid performance rise.

You’ll hear how business strategies mirror ultra‑race tactics, why body‑listening is non‑negotiable, and what it takes to lead with grit, heart, and vision. If you’re striving for a healthier, higher‑performing life - this episode is your roadmap.
Highlights:

Stress, Shock, Stop: A stress-driven arrhythmia, tachycardia, and blackout - his body’s non-negotiable wake-up call.
Badwater, Empty Finish: Crossing the line with nothing inside; the moment he learned outcomes aren’t the goal - alignment is.
IPO Grind to Ultra Mind: 120-hour weeks, a London float, and the realization that endurance can heal - but only if you change the load, not just add to it.
From Stem Cells to Safety Nets: Pioneer of a stem-cell insurance model - innovation aimed at certainty on life’s worst days.
Costa Rica’s Monster: 209 miles, two Everests of vert, night jungle - fear swapped for presence; joy found mid-suffer.
Design the Pace: Sleep, fuel, delegation, and boundaries - because the body keeps the score, and balance is a strategy, not a slogan.
Tap > Faint: Jiu-jitsu wisdom for life - know when to endure, and when to tap, reset, and return stronger.
Harder Than 200 Miles: For Joao, entrepreneurship beats ultrarunning on difficulty - daily problems, infinite rounds, no finish arch.
Dragons’ Den, Different Door: On-screen “yes,” off-screen no deal - then a better fit with Macca and a clearer path for The 100.

Links:

Connect with Joao on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joaoandradehq/

Connect with Joao on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaoandradeultraceo/

The One Hundred Website: https://onehundredtrail.com/en/

This episode was sponsored by The Trusted Team and 4th Discipline

Chapters

1. A Near-Miss: Heart, Stress, Wake-Up (00:00:00)

2. Meet Jao: Biotech to Badwater (00:00:30)

3. Subscribe Promise to Listeners (00:01:58)

4. Why Entrepreneurship Over Corporate (00:02:41)

5. Stem Cells 101 and Market Gaps (00:04:32)

6. IPO Lessons and Insurance Innovation (00:08:47)

7. Workaholism Meets Ultrarunning (00:11:35)

8. Overtraining, Stress, and Ignored Signals (00:14:05)

9. Hostile Takeover and Letting Go (00:16:24)

10. Badwater: Emptiness After the Summit (00:18:04)

11. Joy in the Hardest Race: Costa Rica 200 (00:21:03)

12. The 100: A Global Mountain Trail Vision (00:24:07)

13. Partnering with Macca and Pro Pathways (00:27:07)

14. Dragons’ Den: Pitch, Offer, Aftermath (00:30:05)

15. The Collapse: Mid-Race Cardiac Event (00:33:07)

16. Recovery, Redesigning Life, Best Results (00:36:12)

17. What’s Tougher: Startup or 200 Miles (00:38:20)

18. Mentors, Tapping Out, and Preparation (00:41:05)

19. Final Reflection: Advice to Younger Self (00:44:15)

20. Hosts’ Debrief: Lessons and Takeaways (00:47:40)

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