EP 204: Freight Train with Steve Blake

On this episode of The Project Endure Podcast, Joe Rinaldi sits down with Steve Blake — real estate broker, business owner, father, and endurance athlete — for a deeply personal and grounded conversation about responsibility, perspective, and showing up when life demands more of you than you feel ready for. Steve shares his journey of stepping into leadership of his family's real estate business after the loss of his father to pancreatic cancer, describing the experience as a true "trial by fire" that tested his resilience and character. He opens up about raising two children with special needs, including his son Freddie, who has a rare genetic condition, and his daughter Amelia, who was born profoundly deaf, and how those experiences reshaped his priorities, patience, and outlook on life. Joe and Steve explore the concept of control, discussing how fatherhood helped Steve focus on his attitude and effort rather than outcomes, and why consistency matters more than perfection in both fitness and life. The conversation also dives into endurance through sport, including Steve's journey to completing a sub-5-hour 70.3 triathlon and his pursuit of a full Ironman, as well as the parallels between training, business, and long-term growth. From grief and growth to discipline, perspective, and embracing life's unexpected path, this episode is a powerful reminder that endurance is built by continuing to move forward, even when the weight feels heavy. Give this episode a listen as we dive deep into Steve's life and learn about what persistence, perspective, and endurance mean to him.