The G3X Podcast EP 53: From Hockey to MMA—Evan Johnston on Trusting the Progress

I sat down with Evan Johnston, founder of Trust the Progress Clothing, to talk about the real story behind the brand—and the identity shift that shaped it. In “From Hockey to MMA—Evan Johnston on Trusting the Process,” Evan breaks down how 16 years of hockey led to a hard transition, why MMA became his next chapter, and how he turned a high school senior project into a message people can wear. We got into what happens when the sport you’ve always been becomes something you used to do—and how to rebuild your identity without losing your edge. Evan shares what “trust the progress” actually looks like day to day: discipline, community, and taking the next step even when you can’t see the full path. If you’re building a brand, chasing a goal, or trying to stay consistent while juggling work, training, and life—this one is for you. We talk business fundamentals, brand messaging, learning from others, and staying motivated when it gets heavy. I’m big on being rooted, rebuilt, and relentless—and this conversation is a reminder that progress is earned in the unsexy reps. One decision at a time. One day at a time. Follow Evan Johnston on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanjohnston._/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusttheprogressclothing/ Website: https://trusttheprogressclothing.com/ Subscribe for more episodes, watch the full conversation, and connect with me in the comments with what you’re working through right now. 00:00 - Intro 02:07 - Hockey to MMA shift 05:45 - Identity after sports 08:39 - Trust the Progress begins 09:13 - Brand evolution 12:54 - Risk in entrepreneurship 16:28 - Balancing life and business 18:41 - Work vs passion 21:43 - Business fundamentals 25:18 - Mid-episode reset 27:04 - Staying motivated 32:54 - Building community 35:03 - Trusting the process 36:03 - Final wisdom New episodes of The G3X Podcast drop every Friday at 10AM EST on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts! Follow G3X Fitness: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g3x_fitness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/g3xfitness/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@g3xfitness Threads: https://www.threads.net/@g3x_fitness Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/C4YzVOEG X (Twitter): https://x.com/g3xfitness BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/g3xfitness.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/g3x-fitness/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/328XYIL3tkDmUfZicaLT48?si=44f1c303d04b48d8 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-g3x-podcast-god-gym-grind-unfiltered/id1789874680 Visit our site for all kinds of God Gym Grind merch: https://g3xfitness.com/ Join me on Whatnot for live merch drops! Sign up using my referral link and get a $15 bonus on your first purchase! Plus, you’ll auto-follow me and be first in line to catch the drops https://whatnot.com/invite/g3xfitness Want to be a guest on the podcast? Sign up here: https://g3xfitness.com/pages/the-g3x-podcast Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and share! We’re building a community of warriors living the God Gym Grind lifestyle every day. #EvanJohnston,#TrustTheProgress,#entrepreneurship,#clothingbrand,#MMA,#sports,#identity,#motivation,#business,#community,#g3x,#theg3xpodcast,#godgymgrind,#stillbecoming