Episode 312 - DARE MIGHTY THINGS

Episode 312 - DARE MIGHTY THINGS

In this episode of the "Thick and Mystic Moment" podcast, host Robert John Hadfield discusses the intriguing life and career of Joie Chitwood and Evel Knievel.
Hadfield starts by sharing historical tidbits about Joie Chitwood, a race car driver and stunt performer from the mid-20th century. Chitwood was notable for his participation in the Indianapolis 500 during the 1940s and for being one of the first to wear a seatbelt in the race—primarily to help control the car rather than for safety. Chitwood eventually shifted his career from racing to stunt shows, acquiring and rebranding an existing stunt show as the "Joie Chitwood Auto Daredevil Show."
The narrative then transitions to a more detailed account of Evel Knievel, whose real name was Robert Craig Knievel. Hadfield vividly describes how Knievel's early exposure to Chitwood's stunt show in Butte, Montana, deeply influenced him. The story follows Knievel’s trajectory from a rebellious youth in Butte to a daredevil superstar. Knievel’s career was marked by his high-risk, high-drama stunts that often ended in spectacular crashes, which paradoxically bolstered his fame.
Significant stunts discussed include Knievel’s disastrous attempt to jump the fountains at Caesar's Palace, which resulted in severe injuries and a coma but catapulted him to fame. Hadfield also covers Knievel’s ill-fated attempt to jump over the Snake River Canyon in a rocket, which ended similarly disastrously but added to his legend.
The episode delves into the philosophy of risking spectacular failures to achieve success, using Knievel's life as a metaphor for daring to attempt mighty things despite the potential for spectacular setbacks. Hadfield concludes by reflecting on the importance of striving for greatness and how Knievel’s legacy lives on in the world of extreme sports and beyond, epitomizing the ethos of daring to achieve the extraordinary, as echoed in a quote from Teddy Roosevelt.
Overall, the podcast presents a compelling mix of historical anecdotes, personal reflections, and life lessons drawn from the exhilarating lives of two of America's most famous stunt performers.