From Coach to Novelist: Martin Rooney on Reinvention, Risk & Red Pens | Ep. 431 with Martin Rooney
Release Date: 06/16/2025
Todd Durkin IMPACT Show
Hello IMPACT SHOW passengers, this is your captain speaking —Todd Durkin, coming to you LIVE from 35,000 feet altitude somewhere between San Diego and Whitefish, Montana! This one’s different as I could not contain my excitement enroute to Montana for our annual Mountain Retreat. I just HAD to hit record because my mind was in major FLOW mode and the lessons were downloading! This episode is all about MINDSET — how to stay calm in chaos, find clarity in the climb, and keep your faith strong even when life gets turbulent. Because just like flying, life doesn’t always give...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
Alright my friends—this one’s a little different. For Episode 452 of The IMPACT Show, I flip the microphone and let my good friend, business partner and brother in arms, Travis Barnes, take over as host of the podcast. If you don’t know Travis, he’s the co-founder of IMPACT-X Performance, a fellow Fit-Pro, author, speaker, husband, father, and someone who has been through the fire and has come out even stronger. He’s also a man of faith, incredible perseverance, and someone I truly respect. In this week’s episode, Travis interviews me on all the BIG NEWS, with the...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
My friends… this might just be the biggest episode I’ve ever done. I mean it. Buckle up, because today I’m dropping the biggest news of my entire fitness career. Yup — you heard that right. After 25+ years of building, growing, evolving, and praying on what’s next… I’m fired up to officially announce that I’m opening IMPACT-X Performance San Diego (Carmel Mountain Ranch) coming Q1 of 2026! That’s right, baby--a brand new 5,000-square-foot sanctuary of fitness, recovery, coaching, and faith. A place where the soul sings, the spirit soars, and lives...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
We’re diving deep into the final 5+ lessons from my “25 Lessons in 25 Years” series — and I promise you, this one’s going to stir your soul. This episode is all about the next version of you, your habits, your mindset, and how to live your WHY with focus, fortitude, faith, and fire. After 25 years in the trenches — training, coaching, building businesses, leading people, and walking through both triumphs and trials — these final lessons are the culmination of everything I’ve learned about impact, growth, and living life on purpose. So grab...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
WOW—We are back with more of my Top 25 Lessons in 25-years. Today we have lessons #11 through #20 and I believe it’s going to light a spark in your soul. These are the lessons forged through years of sweat, setbacks, and success in business, life, and leadership. From how to create deep, internal change… to the power of mentorship, team culture, and mindset… this episode is all about leveling up who you are and how you can lead even more effectively. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’re covering today: Lesson #11: The deepest and most profound change happens on the...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
We are about to drop some wisdom today! It’s amazing how much you learn over two and half decades of life. For today’s episode, I was reflecting on 25-years in the brick & mortar space and the many lessons I’ve learned in the fitness, coaching, sports, and business world and woah…I came up with a lot. These lessons are hard-fought, soul-earned wisdom that life, business, and faith have taught me over a quarter century in the trenches. Today, I’m sharing 10 of my 25+ lessons learned over 25 years. Some will hit quick and sharp. Others will go deep. But...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
A few years ago I shared my Reinvention Series that was wildly popular (Ep. 301-306). It shared my 3.5 year period of going through a terribly difficult time that included a debilitating back injury, 2nd knee replacement, sleep apnea diagnosis, being burnt-out, and ultimately exiting Fitness Quest 10 from day-to-day operations. What I realize now is that it was all a setup for what is about to be NEXT. I recently made a huge decision that is setting up my next step in business & life. But I had to take the FIRST step before advancing to the NEXT step. After 25-years of being in...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
This week’s IMPACT SHOW episode is something special. I’m coming to you LIVE from Christian Unified High School’s Chapel Service where I had the honor of speaking to 800+ middle and high school students. Man, I LOVE firing up the youth and speaking LIFE into the next generation. There’s nothing like the energy of a room full of young champions ready to grow, learn, and chase greatness. Regardless of age though, today’s message will most likely resonate deeply. In this powerful chapel talk, I share a few of my favorite Words That Will Change Your Life—words that...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
This week is special. I’ve got my lovely bride, Melanie Durkin, back on the podcast—and for good reason. September is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this conversation hits close to home. Melanie shares her powerful story of losing her 19-year-old brother to suicide back in 1998, how it rocked her world, and the healing journey that followed. Together, we open up about grief, faith, family, and the daily habits that support mental wellness. In this episode, we talk about: Breaking the stigma around mental health. Why losing her brother at a young age was...
info_outlineTodd Durkin IMPACT Show
I just got back from prison. Yep—you read that right. Melanie and I, alongside legendary author & philanthropist Bob Goff and the Love Does team, spent a full day inside San Quentin State Prison in northern CA. And let me tell you, it was one of the most powerful, life-changing experiences you could only imagine. Today’s episode is raw, real, and fresh—we recorded it just days after getting back. You’ll hear from both me and Melanie as we share what we saw, what we felt, and the incredible lessons we learned from the men inside those walls, many of...
info_outlineStrap in—because this episode is an absolute ENERGY EXPLOSION. In this week’s episode, I sit down with one of my closest friends and legendary coach and speaker, and now fiction author Martin Rooney, as we talk about personal reinvention, mindset, creativity, and his newest bold adventure: writing a thriller novel. Yep—you read that right. Martin’s latest project, Blood Feud: Raising Cain, is his first-ever fiction thriller—and it’s already making waves. Think Reacher… but better. (My family binge-watched the series AND read Martin’s book. The verdict? The book wins!
But this episode is about more than a book. It’s about:
- What it means to REINVENT yourself at any age
- Why you must keep saying “yes” to new challenges
- How to take bold creative risks—even if you fail
- The power of persistence, red pens, and the ONE connection that changes everything
- How to discover the “one-person” who could potentially open up doors to you fulfilling your dreams
- Lessons in leadership, family, and living a life of constant evolution
- Martin and I go back over 30 years, and in this conversation, we bring the fire, the stories, and the wisdom. Whether you’re in fitness, business, writing—or just feeling the nudge to pivot—this episode is for YOU.
If this episode fired you up please be sure to share it with your friends and family.
You can tag us on IG at:
@ToddDurkin
@theMartinRooney
#ToddDurkin #MartinRooney #IMPACTShow #Podcast #BloodFeud
#Reacher #PerformBetter
Grab Martin’s book: Blood Feud: Raising Cain → [Get Yours Here]
Want to write your own book?
Reach out to Scriptor Publishing Group as they can help you go from
dream to self-published to #1 Best-Selling Author. Check them out and set
up a discovery call today at www.scriptorpublushinggroup.com
Martin Rooney is no stranger to the fight. An internationally renowned fitness expert and combat sports specialist, Martin has spent over three decades in the trenches of physical and mental warfare. With a Master of Health Science and a Bachelor of Physical Therapy from the
Medical University of South Carolina, alongside a BA in Exercise Science from Furman University, Martin’s journey has been anything but ordinary. A former D-1 javelin thrower, U.S. bobsledder and two-time Guinness World Record holder, Martin is also the creator of the Training for Warriors system, which has transformed lives around the globe. His
expertise doesn’t stop there—he’s a Kodokan judo black belt and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt who has trained UFC champions, Olympic medalists, and world champions in a number of different disciplines. He has also shared his hand fighting programming with the NY Giants, NY Jets and the University of Notre Dame football. As a professional speaker, Martin has presented for Fortune 500 giants like Nike and Prudential and visited with elite military organizations like the Navy SEALs and Army Rangers.
Now serving as Chancellor of Lionel University, Martin has penned 12 previous books, but BloodFeud: Raising Cain is his first foray into thriller fiction. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and four daughters. And as you might imagine, they put him through his paces every day.