Consistency, culture, and community drive Episode 73 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Mike Rush, founder of Rush Running Company, to connect the running world with leadership in business and explain why long-term commitment beats short-term motivation.

The conversation opens with why people keep showing up for hard workouts: surrounding yourself with people who elevate and challenge you. After a quick “what’s in the garage” segment featuring the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, the discussion shifts into Mike’s journey from running at the University of Arkansas to coaching and building Rush Running into a nationally recognized community hub.

Mike explains why great leaders focus on people first, hire for culture fit, and build environments where accountability is built into daily habits. He shares how Rush’s Monday night speed group has stayed consistent for 18 years, growing from 24 runners to regular crowds of 70–130 — all built by simply showing up every week with no cost and no barriers.

They also unpack why most people quit goals early: lack of accountability and lack of community. Strong culture does not happen by accident — it is created through consistency, celebrating small wins, and removing negativity before it spreads. The episode closes by reinforcing that whether in running or business, real progress comes from surrounding yourself with the right people and staying consistent long after motivation fades.

KEYWORDS
consistency, leadership, culture, community, accountability, coaching, running, mindset, discipline, Rush Running Company

TAKEAWAYS
Consistency beats motivation
Culture must be built intentionally
Hire for values, train for skills
Accountability keeps goals alive
Small wins create momentum
Negativity kills team culture fast
Community makes hard work sustainable

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Elevation through community
00:23 Podcast intro
01:31 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack
03:07 Mike Rush and Rush Running
05:00 Staff-first leadership
11:25 Monday night speed group
32:06 Building lasting culture
44:06 Why people quit goals
48:10 Negativity vs culture
50:38 Small wins and momentum
01:12:18 Where to find Rush Running
01:15:52 Closing

CONNECT WITH RUSH RUNNING COMPANY

Rush Running Company is dedicated to helping runners of all levels improve through coaching, community, and expert support.

🏃 Website — https://www.rushrunning.com/

📘 Rushing Running Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/rushrunning

📍 Rush Running Fayetteville Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057123803763

📸 Rush Running Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rushrunningco?igsh=MTg1NjVqcmE2em53Mw%3D%3D

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Leadership, coaching, fundamentals, and long-term consistency drive Episode 72 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Shawn from Arkansas Track Club to break down what real leadership looks like, why fundamentals still win, and how fitness habits carry over into better decisions at work and at home.

The conversation starts with a quick “what’s in the garage” segment around the Ford Maverick and how practical tools support real business needs, then shifts into Shawn’s journey from college soccer to triathlon, learning to swim as an adult, and turning that curiosity into nearly two decades of coaching.

They discuss the overload of fitness advice coming from social media and why validating information matters before making changes. Shawn explains how he evaluates new ideas with evidence and athlete feedback, while keeping development focused on fundamentals — because elite progress is built through repetition, not trends.

Leadership becomes a central theme as Shawn explains that true leaders are not always the fastest, but the ones who show up, care about others, and earn trust over time. That trust-first approach applies to youth teams, adult athletes, elite competitors, and business leadership alike.

They also unpack how tools like TrainingPeaks and fitness trackers can support improvement, but only when paired with perspective. Data can help guide decisions, but perception, consistency, and long-term trends matter more than daily metrics.

The episode closes with practical advice for anyone getting started: start small, stay consistent, and focus on adding value instead of extreme changes. Whether it is running a short interval, walking regularly, or adding healthier foods, consistency is where real progress begins.

KEYWORDS
leadership, coaching, fitness, consistency, discipline, fundamentals, mindset, habits, endurance, nutrition

TAKEAWAYS

Leadership is built on trust and relationships
Fundamentals outperform trends
Validate information before changing habits
Data supports progress but does not replace perception
Consistency matters more than intensity
Strong teams improve individual performance
Small habits create long-term momentum
Adding value beats extreme restriction

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Leadership and relationships
00:58 Episode introduction and guest
02:10 Ford Maverick conversation
04:12 Shawn’s coaching background
05:59 From soccer to triathlon
09:16 Filtering fitness advice
16:40 Fundamentals vs trends
20:09 Leadership through trust
23:35 TrainingPeaks and tracking
26:52 Data vs perception
41:00 Starting small for momentum
50:38 Nutrition basics and consistency
1:01:21 Elevating your circle
1:07:27 Breaking big goals into steps
1:08:36 Closing

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Leadership, reflection, accountability, culture, and growth drive Episode 71 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers kick off the new year with an honest Year in Review, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently as they continue growing a multi-store family business.

The conversation focuses on why real leadership requires reviewing mistakes without defensiveness. The brothers reflect on wins around culture, community involvement, and placing the right people in the right roles rather than simply hiring to fill seats.

They discuss how leaning out the organization, strengthening internal culture, and using micro meetings helped improve clarity, accountability, and productivity across departments. These small, focused leadership conversations allowed them to peel back layers, address inefficiencies, and make better operational decisions.

The episode also covers lessons learned from new systems, delegation, and operational challenges, including construction delays and staffing gaps. Rather than reacting emotionally, the brothers explain how slowing growth at the right time protected long-term quality and customer trust.

The conversation closes with leadership lessons heading into the next year, emphasizing delegation, empowering managers, protecting culture during growth, and intentionally reviewing both successes and failures instead of rushing past them.

KEYWORDS
leadership, year in review, accountability, culture, family business, delegation, management systems, employee development, community, business growth

TAKEAWAYS

Honest review strengthens leadership
Culture matters more than speed
Right people in the right roles drive growth
Micro meetings create accountability
Systems only work when used correctly
Slowing down can protect long-term success
Delegation allows leaders to scale
Transparency builds trust
Reviewing mistakes prevents repetition
Growth requires reflection, not just momentum

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Reviewing mistakes without defensiveness
00:54 Episode introduction and year-in-review focus
03:09 What worked well this year
05:13 Right-sizing the team
08:34 Micro meetings and productivity
11:00 Manager ownership and accountability
14:29 Systems and process lessons
19:39 Why most businesses skip reviews
21:27 Construction and staffing challenges
25:20 Adjusting processes
30:00 Training and onboarding lessons
33:48 Priorities for the next year
37:26 Delegation and leadership growth
42:23 Closing reflections

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!