Why Pushing Harder Isn’t Always the Answer

Three ACL tears forced JT Winston to confront a question he couldn’t train his way out of: who are you when you can’t do the thing that makes you feel most like yourself? In this episode of The Board Talks, Cameron Hogan sits down with JT, a former Division I athlete and founder of Aypex, for an honest conversation about ambition, recovery, and learning to listen to yourself. JT shares how trying to rush his physical recovery left anger and frustration unaddressed, why external rewards became an unreliable foundation for his motivation, and what changed when he started making room for rest. About Our Guest JT Winston JT is innately curious about the human experience and has always been adventurous, constantly open to exploring new places, trying new things, and doing his best to solve the most pressing problems around him. He grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado, went to California for university, and has lived in Austin since 2022. After a brief stint working in sustainable energy, he founded his current company, Aypex, where he’s on a mission to improve human health and happiness. As a former Division 1 athlete and ample time overcoming injuries, including 3 ACL tears and a partial shoulder replacement, he developed a deep passion not only for human performance, but also understanding the healthcare industry as a whole. His work at Aypex led to a novel model of human health where mental and physical health are treated as a dynamic, networked system, and he continues to refine the approach with the broader goal of helping people close the gap between where they currently are and where they want to be in life. Outside of work, JT is an avid runner, lover of the outdoors, two-stepper, proud Greyhound owner. Follow JT on Instagram and LinkedIn, and explore Aypex at aypexmove.com. About Our Host Cameron Hogan Cameron Hogan is Head of Expansion for The Board Walks and co-founder of The Board. He built the infrastructure that helps the walks thrive in over 20 cities, stewarding the systems and host relationships that preserve the intimacy and trust at their heart. He brings the same curiosity to building a global community that he brings to a conversation, and shares his contemplations on Substack every Thursday. Follow Cameron on Instagram, Substack, X, and LinkedIn. Join the Board Join The Board, our curated global network for people who’ve built a full life but still haven’t found the right room. Join the Board The Friday Debrief The best moments from the trail, in your inbox every Friday.20,000+ people. 20+ cities. One global conversation. The Friday Debrief This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theboardwalks.substack.com