One Lung but Plenty of Hope - Greg Gerardy episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 22, 2026 · 52 MIN

One Lung but Plenty of Hope - Greg Gerardy

from The Balanced Athlete Car Convos; About Purpose, Balance and Play! · host jessieblujean

This is part one of two! Today’s guest is someone who embodies grit, resilience, and the absolute refusal to accept limitations. Greg Gerardy is a cancer survivor, a father, and an endurance athlete who has accomplished what most people with two lungs will never attempt. After losing the function of his right lung to a rare, aggressive tumor that wrapped around his spine and shoulder, doctors told Greg he only had a few years to live and would eventually lose the use of his limbs becoming a paraplegic resulting in death after his body finally shuts down. But he proved them wrong—again and again. Greg has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, completed multiple marathons, including the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, and even became one of only two people ever to finish an Ironman Triathlon with one functional lung. He has literally died on the table and was brought back to life. Greg's story has been featured across Oklahoma media as he continues to push boundaries, most recently being among the first two people with one lung-alongside his friend Sean to not only try but to successfully complete and cross the finish line together-The Great World Race: seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents.  Beyond the races, Greg shares his journey to inspire others who feel stuck, discouraged, or written off. His message is simple but powerful: you don’t have to give up hope, and you don’t have to stop chasing what lights you up.  I’m thrilled to have him here today to talk about resilience, mindset, and what it really means to redefine what’s possible. Daily Oklahoman KFOR 2Wra024 Survivor.net Cancer Survivor with 1 Lung Runs His 5th Marathon 7 on 7 in 7 Facebook Instagram One Breath  Why Not a Lung Transplant?  

This is part one of two! Today’s guest is someone who embodies grit, resilience, and the absolute refusal to accept limitations. Greg Gerardy is a cancer survivor, a father, and an endurance athlete who has accomplished what most people with two lungs will never attempt. After losing the function of his right lung to a rare, aggressive tumor that wrapped around his spine and shoulder, doctors told Greg he only had a few years to live and would eventually lose the use of his limbs becoming a paraplegic resulting in death after his body finally shuts down. But he proved them wrong—again and again. Greg has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, completed multiple marathons, including the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, and even became one of only two people ever to finish an Ironman Triathlon with one functional lung. He has literally died on the table and was brought back to life. Greg's story has been featured across Oklahoma media as he continues to push boundaries, most recently being among the first two people with one lung-alongside his friend Sean to not only try but to successfully complete and cross the finish line together-The Great World Race: seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents.  Beyond the races, Greg shares his journey to inspire others who feel stuck, discouraged, or written off. His message is simple but powerful: you don’t have to give up hope, and you don’t have to stop chasing what lights you up.  I’m thrilled to have him here today to talk about resilience, mindset, and what it really means to redefine what’s possible. Daily Oklahoman KFOR 2Wra024 Survivor.net Cancer Survivor with 1 Lung Runs His 5th Marathon 7 on 7 in 7 Facebook Instagram One Breath  Why Not a Lung Transplant?

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One Lung but Plenty of Hope - Greg Gerardy

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This episode is 52 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 22, 2026.

What is this episode about?

This is part one of two! Today’s guest is someone who embodies grit, resilience, and the absolute refusal to accept limitations. Greg Gerardy is a cancer survivor, a father, and an endurance athlete who has accomplished what most people with two...

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