In this episode of HawkeTalk, I sit down with Dean Karnazes—ultramarathoner, bestselling author, and a man who redefined what’s possible when you follow your passion. Before becoming a household name in endurance sports, Dean lived a typical corporate life, complete with a six-figure salary and a marketing job at GlaxoSmithKline. But on his 30th birthday, something shifted. After a night out, he impulsively ran 30 miles—despite not having run in 15 years. That unplanned run reignited his love for movement and sparked a journey that would take him to the world’s toughest races.

Dean shares how he balanced his corporate job with grueling training, often sneaking out on lunch breaks for runs and prepping for ultramarathons through sleep deprivation and sauna sessions. He walks us through running 100-mile races, surviving 129°F in Death Valley, and eventually running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. His leap into full-time running came after the surprise success of his book Ultramarathon Man.

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In this episode:

• (00:00) Childhood memories of nonstop motion
• (02:00) Hiking Mount Whitney at age 11
• (12:45) The brutal 50-mile race and qualifying by accident
• (14:45) Western States 100 and early race training
• (27:00) The North Face, 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days
• (32:14) Dean’s advice: Stay curious

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

About Our Guest

Dean Karnazes is a Greek-American ultramarathon runner, bestselling author, and endurance athlete known for pushing the boundaries of human potential. Once a marketing executive, Dean left the boardroom to become one of the world’s most recognized ultrarunners. He’s completed some of the most extreme races on Earth, including 135 miles through Death Valley and 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. Today, he speaks globally, writes, and advocates for staying curious and uncomfortable.

Dean Karnazes

• Dean Karnazes Website
• Dean Karnazes on Instagram
• Dean Karnazes on Facebook
• Dean Karnazes on X
• Book: Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of HawkeTalk, I sit down with Dean Karnazes—ultramarathoner, bestselling author, and a man who redefined what’s possible when you follow your passion. Before becoming a household name in endurance sports, Dean lived a typical corporate life, complete with a six-figure salary and a marketing job at GlaxoSmithKline. But on his 30th birthday, something shifted. After a night out, he impulsively ran 30 miles—despite not having run in 15 years. That unplanned run reignited his love for movement and sparked a journey that would take him to the world’s toughest races.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He fainted in a hospital hallway. Quit law school after just two weeks. Got robbed—twice—on his way to high school. And for a while, he sold jewelry just to pay rent. So how did that guy end up helping Apple launch the Macintosh, becoming one of the most influential voices in tech, and helping Canva grow into a global design powerhouse?

In this episode, I sit down with Guy Kawasaki, a man whose life defies the clean-cut success stories we often hear. Born and raised in Hawaii in a lower middle-class family, Guy’s journey took off not because of privilege—but because of grit, curiosity, and the occasional wild twist of fate.

We dig into the pivotal moments that changed everything: the joyride in a Porsche 911 that sparked his ambition, the winding road through college majors and a short-lived attempt at law school, and the serendipitous friendship that opened the doors to Apple—no résumé polish required.

We also talk about his career after Apple: from venture capital to writing bestselling books, and most recently, his work with Canva—a company that reignited his passion for democratizing access to powerful tools.

Whether you’re just starting out or feel like you’ve taken a detour, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t linear—and the messiness might just be the point.

In this episode:

• (00:00) Growth mindset & grit
• (12:41) Dropping out & MBA journey
• (15:09) Sales experience & Cutco lessons
• (20:58) Networking, relationships & “nepotism”
• (25:04) Working at Apple & Steve Jobs
• (39:29) Signal platform & secure communication

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

About Our Guest

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing executive, author, speaker, and entrepreneur best known as Apple’s original Macintosh evangelist and Chief Evangelist at Canva. A psychology major turned tech visionary, Guy helped define how products get adopted and movements are built. He’s written 17 books including The Art of the Start, Enchantment, and Think Remarkable. Today, he hosts the podcast Remarkable People and continues to inspire creatives, marketers, and entrepreneurs around the globe.

Guy Kawasaki

• Guy Kawasaki's Website
• Guy Kawasaki LinkedIn
• Guy Kawasaki YouTube
• Remarkable People Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.