#9: Dream Walkin'
Horses, Health Tips & Life Hacks
Hey Friends,
This week didn’t follow a neat theme—and honestly? That’s kind of the theme. Between work travel, side conversations, and a surprising number of snackable life lessons, I picked up a few moments worth sharing.
So grab your fanciest hat (or your Uber Eats app), and let’s get into it.
1️⃣ [Culture] – Countdown to the Kentucky Derby 🏇🌹
The 151st Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 3rd at 7:02 PM ET at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY (airing on NBC and streaming via Peacock). It’s the crown jewel of American horse racing and the longest-running sporting event in the U.S.—first held in 1875.
Quick Derby Facts:
Known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”
The winner is draped in a garland of 554 red roses—hence the nickname “Run for the Roses.”
The race features 20 of the top three-year-old thoroughbreds.
This year brings a sentimental favorite: Render Judgement, owned by the late country legend Toby Keith through his Oklahoma based—Dream Walkin’ Farms. Toby passed just over a year ago after a courageous battle with cancer, and running a horse in the Derby was one of his lifelong dreams. His family says this moment fulfills that dream. Trained by last year’s Derby-winning trainer, Kenny McPeek, this horse is easy to root for.
Other top contenders include:
Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the Florida Derby by 13.5 lengths.
Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes.
Fun Stat: Post position #17 has never produced a Derby winner. Zero-for-44. Maybe this is the year.
Want to sound like a pro? Try an Exacta Box bet. You pick two horses, and win if they finish first and second in any order. It costs a little more, but doubles your chances.
"Success in horse racing is 80% horse, 10% jockey, 10% weather, and 100% luck." – Probably someone at Churchill Downs
Learn more about some of the Derby ponies HERE
2️⃣ [Travel] – Iowa: Ice Cream Capital of the World? 🍨
This week took me to Des Moines, and over dinner, a coworker shared a road trip story that dropped this scoop: Iowa is home to the largest ice cream factory in the world.
Naturally, I had to look into it.
Blue Bunny Ice Cream (and Halo Top), headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, has helped crown the town the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”
Wells Enterprises, founded in 1913, is the parent company of Blue Bunny and the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the U.S.
Their Le Mars facility produces over 150 million gallons of ice cream annually.
The Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor offers massive sundaes, retro decor, and even ice cream flights.
Each summer, Le Mars hosts an Ice Cream Days Festival with parades, tastings, and family events.
“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” – Ernestine Ulmer
So next time someone knocks Iowa, tell them it’s the dessert capital—and to bring a spoon. (Also: they have more pigs than people.)
What is your favorite flavor of Ice Cream?
3️⃣ [Tech] – Uber Eats Group Ordering: Game. Changed. 📲
We’ve all been there—trying to order for a group, passing phones around, or texting chaotic half-orders.
Enter: Uber Eats Group Ordering.
Create a shared order in the app.
Send a link so everyone can add their own meal.
Orders are individually labeled.
Option to split the payment however you want.
I was introduced to it during a team lunch this week and… wow. Everyone got what they wanted, no confusion, no drama, no passing the phone around or juggling Venmo at the end.
Bonus: Turns out DoorDash, Grubhub, and others have similar group features—I just never noticed. I wasn’t just hangry… I was behind the times.
Did you know about this?
Got a life hack or tech tip I should try? Send it my way—Let’s Level Up.
4️⃣ [Health] – What I’m Listening To: Dr. Rhonda Patrick x Andy Galpin 🎧
If you’re into energy, longevity, or performance—this conversation between Dr. Rhonda Patrick and Dr. Andy Galpin is worth your time:
🎙️ FoundMyFitness – Watch Here
Cliff Notes & Takeaways:
Train all three energy systems. Mix it up—explosive (phosphagen), mid-duration (glycolytic), and steady-state (oxidative) work.
Micronutrients matter. Vitamin D, magnesium, DHA—all crucial for energy, cognition, and recovery.
Zone 2 cardio (at ~60–70% max HR) boosts insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial health.
Creatine isn’t just for lifters. It benefits brain health, energy, and aging.
Sleep is your force multiplier—impacting hormones, cognition, and recovery.
Actionable Upgrades:
Add 1–2 Zone 2 sessions per week.
Supplement magnesium (glycinate or threonate are best).
Add daily creatine (5g) for performance and brain support.
Lock in a sleep routine—cool, dark room, no screens late.
“You don’t get healthy by fixing illness. You get healthy by building health.” – Andy Galpin
5️⃣ [Beverage of the Week] – Mint Julep 🥃🌿
In honor of Derby season, let’s go classic: the Mint Julep—a Southern staple dating back to the 18th century.
Originally a medicinal tonic, the julep evolved into a symbol of Southern hospitality. Its name comes from the Persian word gulab, meaning rosewater. Over time, it made its way to America—and into bourbon country.
Kentucky Senator Henry Clay helped popularize the bourbon-based julep in Washington, D.C., in the 1850s.
It became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938, and now nearly 120,000 mint juleps are served at Churchill Downs every Derby weekend.
Recipe:
Fresh mint leaves
2 oz Bourbon
½ oz simple syrup
Crushed ice
Muddle mint in a julep cup, add syrup and bourbon, fill with crushed ice, stir until the cup frosts, and garnish with mint.
🌍 Final Thoughts
This week wasn’t profound, but it was full—of travel, trivia, and tiny upgrades.
Not every week needs a perfect arc. Sometimes, a hallway chat or a better way to order lunch is the win.
Here’s to those wins. To trivia and traditions. To health and horses.
And to Toby’s dream, crossing the finish line.
Cheers,
– Chance
Man, I really enjoyed this one. The section about Toby Keith and Render Judgement gave me chills. Toby’s always been one of my favorites and Dream Walkin’ is still on regular rotation for me. Feels fitting that he’s got a horse running under that name. I know who I'll be betting on.
Also, I have to push back on the ice cream claim (respectfully, of course), because nobody beats Braum’s. Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate? Can’t beat it. Their chocolate almond milkshakes and Black Forest Sundaes are what dreams are made of; and don’t get me started on their burgers "A third of a pound is bigger than a quarter of a pound", after all.
Appreciated the Uber Eats Group Ordering tip too. We use it all the time at the office. Beats the heck out of the cold Jason’s Deli sandwiches that show up at most lunch meetings. I like being able to pick something healthy especially with all the Zone 2 cardio I’ve been doing. I keep it slow most days, but that steady grind paid off last weekend when I snagged a new PR at the OKC Marathon. Crazy thing is, I hardly ever train at that pace. The body’s got a funny way of showing up when it counts.