#92 - Ed Latimore - Tactical Habits of Pro Boxer and Best Selling Author

✅ Ever wondered what a heavyweight boxer, chess player, and best-selling author thinks about winning at life? ✅ Ed Latimore brings unfiltered insights on self-improvement, overcoming adversity, and finding fulfillment—even after a knockout. ✅ Host Martin Foster digs deep on "Passing The Torch" as Ed shares hard-hitting lessons from the ring, his toughest battles with self-doubt, and how real strength starts at the front door. ✅ Whether you’re seeking motivation or strategies for leveling up, this episode will challenge the way you define success—and inspire you to fight for more.

Tap into the conversation now! 🔥 #PassingTheTorch #EdLatimore #Podcast #SelfImprovement

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Background:

Ed Latimore is a best-selling author, former professional heavyweight boxer, and competitive chess player. His writing focuses on self-improvement and a practical approach to stoic philosophy.

In the episode, Martin Foster and Ed Latimore explore a variety of themes including military experiences, personal growth, travel, health and fitness, boxing, and the journey of podcasting. 

They share insights on transitioning from military life, the importance of relationships, and the impact of travel on personal development. The discussion also delves into the challenges of maintaining health and fitness, the realities of boxing, and the evolving landscape of podcasting. 

Ed offers valuable advice on self-defense and the significance of having clear goals in life. He reflects on childhood coping mechanisms, the importance of mastering the basics in a fast-paced world, and the lessons learned from confronting difficulties in life. 

The discussion culminates in Ed's insights on gratitude, personal growth, and the wisdom he wishes to pass on to the next generation.

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Resources:

Website: https://edlatimore.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edlatimore/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edlatimore 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/EdLatti 

Book – Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life

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Mentioned:

James Clear

Ryan Hawk

Jean Racine

Book - An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases

Denzel Washington

Chadwick Boseman

Idris Alba Stringer Bell

Michael B. Jordan

Military Influencer Conference 

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Key takeaways include:

Resilience is built by confronting hardship, not avoiding it. Ed’s perspective that “we don’t grow despite the storms, we grow because of the storms” hits home. Embracing discomfort is what forges real strength—both physically and mentally.

Respect trumps being liked. Ed reflects on the difference between respect and popularity, highlighting that true relationship capital is earned by standing for something, not just blending in. “Respect is an investment—you get back what you put in.”

Mastering the basics and building structure beats chasing instant gratification. Ed credits his progress (from boxing to math to writing) to focusing relentlessly on fundamentals, taking handwritten notes, and setting clear goals—not shortcuts or distractions.

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Quotes:

“We don’t grow despite the storms, we grow because of the storms.”

– Brad Thompson

“Alcohol will give you nights that you can’t remember, but will never forget.” 

- Ed Latimore

“The heaviest weight at the gym is the front door.”

- Ed Latimore

The Power of Clear Goals: "I prefer knowing exactly what I'm working towards and, and having that be my North Star. When I have that, then I know that and everything else kind of flows behind it."

Embracing Freedom After a Comeback: "the cool thing about coming back is like no one really expects anything of somebody who's been off for, for almost nine years and is now, you know, has a four in the, in the tens place of their age. So I had, I had a lot more freedom mentally to experiment with things that I thought would work and, and really break down and understand things in terms of my training and my recovery."

The Power of Giving Credit: (About James Clear) "He didn't have to do that, but he did. And, and not only did he give me credit for the things I've said, he. There's an idea in the book that he gives me credit for and that really, it's one of those things that like you can't measure the impact it has, but it has had an impact clearly on, on people finding me, on people being interested in what I have to say, people following my content."

Personal Responsibility vs. Environment: “Because if you change environments and you got the same problems, we know it's not the environment.”

The Power of Presence: "sometimes the, the best way to make a difference in somebody's life is just to be in their life. You don't have to do much else."

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Time Codes:

00:00 Content Fatherhood Reflections

04:53 "Experience and Freedom in Fighting"

07:24 "Gratitude for Acknowledgment in 'Atomic Habits'"

12:50 Exercise: Powerful Antidepressant

14:15 Writing a Book: Challenges and Control

17:02 Chasing Approval vs. Earning Respect

22:11 Embracing Detachment: Comedy Over Tragedy

24:10 "Change Environment, Break the Cycle"

27:20 Childhood Struggles: Psychological and Physical

32:58 "Patience with Rescue Animals"

34:19 Mastering Basics Amidst Distractions

37:27 "Why I Prefer Physical Books"

42:37 Writing for Growth and Feedback

44:02 Grit: Persistence and Improvement

49:19 Thanking Myself: A Personal Reflection

53:20 Recording Audiobook Challenges

56:24 "Passing the Torch: Self-Acceptance"

57:18 Promote Podcast Engagement