Running the Sahara, Raising Millions, and Finding Purpose in Prison | Charlie Engle

Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

As Charlie Engle's teenage sons dropped him off at the gates of federal prison, he faced his lowest point. Sentenced to 21 months for mail fraud, he had lost his career, reputation, and freedom. Despite his history of overcoming addiction and running across the Sahara, this challenge was the hardest. Initially consumed by anger and fear, Charlie turned to running daily. He inspired fellow inmates, earning the nickname "Running Man" and forming a running group. In this episode, Charlie reveals the mindset shifts that turned his lowest point into triumph, rebuilding his life post-incarceration into one of influence.

Charlie Engle is an ultramarathon runner, author, and motivational speaker. He is also known as the “Running Man” who ran 4,600 miles across the Sahara. He is also known for co-founding H2O Africa with Matt Damon, which later became Water.org.

In this episode, Ilana and Charlie will discuss:

- The pivotal moment that sparked his journey to sobriety

- Embracing extreme ownership for personal growth

- The incredible story behind the Sahara expedition

- Staying motivated against all odds

- Managing team dynamics in extreme situations

- Life lessons from his time in federal prison

- Leveraging vulnerability and resilience for success

- Obsession as the key to success

- Why passion trumps knowledge

- The danger of staying in your bubble

- Achieving big goals through consistent small steps

- How to build unshakeable confidence

- And other topics…

Charlie Engle is an accomplished ultramarathon runner, author of Running Man, and motivational speaker known for his extraordinary endurance feats and inspiring life story. His remarkable journey of running across the Sahara Desert and overcoming addiction has been documented in the film, Running the Sahara, narrated and produced by Matt Damon. Besides his athletic achievements, Charlie co-founded H2O Africa, which later became Water.org, raising millions for clean water initiatives. He continues to inspire audiences worldwide through his speaking engagements, focusing on resilience, overcoming adversity, and the power of perseverance​.

Connect with Charlie:

Charlie’s Website: https://www.charlieengle.com/

Charlie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-engle-3644676/

Resources Mentioned:

Water.org: https://water.org/

Running the Sahara narrated by Matt Damon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481222/

Running Man: A Memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Man-Memoir-Charlie-Engle/dp/1476785783