Real Talk: Disability, Job Failure, and Finding Endurance with Kyle Coon

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone talks with adventure athlete and Paralympian Kyle Coon. Kyle shares his journey from a confident college graduate struggling to find work—even landing a rejection from a grocery store—to transforming his life through endurance sports and embracing imperfection. His candid conversation highlights the challenges and unexpected turns that shape our personal growth.About the Guest:Kyle Coon is a two-time Paralympian, endurance athlete, keynote speaker, and Exactly What to Say Certified Guide. After losing his sight at the age of six, Kyle has dedicated his life to pushing limits—whether summiting Kilimanjaro as a teenager, competing on the world’s biggest athletic stages, or helping individuals and teams unlock their highest potential. A passionate advocate for high-performance living, he shares his journey of resilience, adaptability, and achievement through speaking engagements, coaching, and content creation. When he’s not training for his next challenge, Kyle is focused on fostering a community committed to excellence and living without limits.Main Topics Covered:Kyle’s experience growing up blind and developing a strong support networkThe reality check and emotional impact of post-college job hunting setbacksHow rejection led Kyle to rediscover physical fitness and ultimately pursue endurance sportsThe transformative role of mentorship and community in finding new pathsA behind-the-scenes look at competing in triathlon as a blind athleteReflections on overconfidence, growth, and advice for younger adultsKyle’s current projects and how technology enhances his lifeQuote from the Episode:"At the end of the day, there is no best. There's only better." — Kyle CoonTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction and Kyle’s definition of “home”01:12 – Kyle’s non-work passion: Chess04:18 – Facing setbacks after college and personal reflection10:53 – Losing his vision as a child and its life impact18:38 – From adventure sports to marathons and triathlons23:50 – Finding a running mentor and learning about triathlon29:22 – Progression from entry-level running to Ironman and Paralympics34:47 – The mechanics of racing as a blind triathlete37:10 – Would Kyle have chosen endurance sports if life went different?38:48 – Advice to his younger self40:25 – Kyle’s current pursuits and where to connectConnect with Kyle Coon:Website: KyleCoon.comInstagram: @ironkyleAlso mentioned in the show United In Stride https://www.unitedinstride.com/Never Miss a Moment of Imperfect AdultingWe invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.Why subscribe?Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast appGet guest offers delivered straight to your inboxAccess all important links in one convenient placeCatch the highlights even when you don't have time to listenAre you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guestHere are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofjFor Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stonebefore that I used Kit. Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors