Welcome to this edition of the Friday Footnotes. It’s been a big month for breakthroughs – both on the track and behind the microphone. From cutting-edge AI tools saving thousands in podcast production to legendary negotiation tactics that can transform your business game, here’s what’s making an impact right now.
Business of Endurance Podcast
Colin Cook: In this episode of The Business of Endurance, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Colin Cook – a man who has transformed his life from the grips of addiction to becoming an elite triathlete, a Sub 9 Ironman finisher, and coach to some of the sport’s best.
Colin’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence, and in today’s conversation, he opens up about these battles. From overcoming personal demons to building a thriving business and competing at Kona many times, Colin shares the lessons he’s learned about grit, mindset, and balancing life’s demands. You’ll hear powerful insights into leveraging tech & AI in endurance sports, maximizing recovery, and how to shift from destructive habits to life-changing passions.
Whether you’re chasing your first marathon or balancing family, career, and athletic goals, this episode will inspire and equip you to push boundaries, endure challenges, and live your most fulfilling life.
What I’ve Been Reading
When you think of elite performance, FBI hostage negotiators might not be the first professionals that come to mind. But their tactics apply to business, sales, and even endurance sports. Chris Voss, a former lead negotiator for the FBI, lays out psychological strategies that can transform your ability to persuade and close deals. If you’re in business (or ever need to win someone over), Never Split the Difference is essential.
TED Talk I’ve Found Interesting
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken, and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. In her TED talk How To Make Stress Your Friend, psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.
What I’ve Been Watching
Nottingham Forest fans are living through an unbelievable season – one that feels like a throwback to their golden era under Brian Clough. This documentary, I Believe in Miracles, captures the magic of that time, when Clough took a struggling team and led them to back-to-back European Cup victories. His leadership, vision, and sheer force of personality make this a must-watch for anyone who loves an underdog story (or needs a reminder that greatness often comes from bold, unconventional moves).
Quote of the Week
Brian Clough was as quotable as he was brilliant. Here are 3 gems:
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.”
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I wasn’t on that particular job.”
“If a player had a disagreement with me, we’d sit down for 20 minutes, talk about it – and then decide I was right.”
Tech I’ve Found Interesting:
Podcasting is evolving fast, and AI is leading the charge. Descript is a game-changer, slashing production time and costs – I’m personally saving over £1000 per month using it. Edit audio as easily as a text document, automatically remove filler words, and even generate ultra-realistic AI voiceovers. If you create content, this tool isn’t just useful – it’s essential.
The Trusted Team
