Anna
As a kid, Danny Mongo always wanted to be a teacher and was thrilled when he got the opportunity to become a kayak instructor at the age of 18, two years after he discovered whitewater. Three decades later, he’s still immersed in the world of paddle, three decades later, he’s still immersed in the world of paddle sports and couldn’t be happier. Although he never made it to a traditional classroom, he’s still living his dream of being an educator as the field marketing and product manager for Northwest River Supply, more commonly known in the paddling world as NRS. He’s been part of the NRS team since 2017. He still gets to paddle a lot and is equally stoked to be in an eddy on the river, gliding across a calm lake, stand up paddleboard racing or surfing, or paddling to catch fish. Danny travels a lot for work and you may find him on your local biking trail, ski hill, surf spot, lake or river or anywhere else that paddlers gather, bar stools not excluded. He lives with his wife, Chelsea, sorry. He lives with his wife, that was weird. He lives with his wife, Celeste and dog Teddy in Lake Placid, New York. Danny, thanks for being here. I’m excited to talk with you.

Danny Mongno
Good morning. Yeah, good morning, Anna. Thanks for having us.

Anna
Yeah, so when I say discomfort zone, what comes to mind to you? What comes to mind for you?

Danny Mongno
well, I guess…

I think it’s a cool premise. It’s awesome that it’s helping people learn through other folks’ challenges and some of the ways that they handle discomfort. So I’m really happy that you’re tackling the topic. I’ve been pretty blessed to have a pretty good life. So I can’t say I’ve dealt with any kind of real major discomfort. So I’m really happy and lucky in that aspect. But living the lifestyle that I’ve chosen, which has really been a part of this paddle sports industry for my entire life, does force me to live a non-traditional lifestyle where I’m not home often. I don’t really work a traditional nine to five. It’s really hard to turn work off on the weekends and in the evenings. So I guess discomfort for me is how do I juggle the only job I really have ever known, and I’m not really sure what I would do if I wasn’t doing this, and still give my wife, who is my best friend and just such a huge partner to me, a fair allotment of my time as well. So I guess that’s where discomfort in this setting would apply to me.

Anna
Yeah, that’s really cool that you brought this topic up because I don’t think I’ve actually spoken about it with anyone on the podcast yet. And it is very real having a remote work and being a leader and manager in your position. And I can relate having my own business. I can relate so much about having a hard time turning work off. So how do you navigate that?

what has worked, what hasn’t worked for you.

Danny Mongno
I guess really as far back as I can remember, the fitness aspect of my life has to come first. for everybody who’s met me, I’m really short and I’ve got a really stocky build. And when I’m not feeling fit and when I’m not getting out and taking care of myself first and foremost,

You know, my self-esteem really goes down and it’s been a challenge my whole life. Just recently I had to have both my hips replaced and it was, you know, almost 12 months prior to surgery. And then the year after rehab, you know, really threw me into a bad place. So I guess to first and foremost address like what makes this weird lifestyle work is, like I wake up in the morning and I’m kind of.

often anxious of, what’s going to be the workout today? Am I going to paddle? Am I going to bike? Am I going to run? Am I going to hike? What am I going to do? then once that falls into place, it, and then things kind of start to sort themselves out and being on the road. That was always the hardest thing, you know, trying to get up in the morning. if I was on the coast, you know, always figuring out is there surf, you know, surf’s got to come first, got to get there before the wind comes up.

You know, and then from there, it’s like, okay, well, what am I doing for work today? And then, you know, what’s the fitness plan? So that really is like the first domino that has to fall on my day for me to feel like, okay, the rest of the day is going to go smoothly. and then really from there, it’s like, you know, literally, you know, you’ve got all these ways of managing your time these days, but sometimes just writing it down on a piece of paper just works best. So it’s like, okay, well, like what’s the less schedule today and where am I gonna intersect with her? And then that really helps. And selfishly, and she’ll probably not listen to this, but if she does, she’ll probably be mad at me. sometimes it’s really easier to be on the road, right? Because like when I’m on the road, which is often in my life, it’s like, okay, well, there’s one less thing that I have to focus on today. And I can be more selfish with my time, which inevitably means more selfish towards the work aspect.

Anna
So you might get a keep an eye out for any employees. Hey, man, yeah, I bet they will, actually. I’d be surprised if they haven’t. They got to do some maintenance stuff, like, you know, for the parts. And now they’re paid for it. So you have to support that reach.

Danny Mongno
Yeah, it’s just juggling all of those things and trying to be effective. You mentioned being your own business owner, and it’s one of those things where you can work really hard and be successful like you are, or you can just be like, wow, cool, I’m my own boss. I have no one to report to. And then you’re a failure. And luckily, my bosses at NRS are pretty hands off. if I don’t manage my time properly. It’s pretty easy to get down in a rabbit hole not getting anything done So yeah, it’s it’s like distress of managing I guess all that stuff and then for everybody out there who’s listening who has kids God, man I have so much respect for you because you know, there’s a whole nother element. I just don’t know how you do it It’s just so crazy. So I definitely do not want any sympathy like, know as a non-child bearer, I have it way easier than most, but my job is pretty comprehensive and does take up a lot of time for sure.

Anna
Yeah. Yeah. I agree. We don’t have kids either. And yeah, when I think about that, sometimes I’m just blown away, like so impressed with the parents out there doing their thing in the outdoor industry, and having businesses and jobs and managing, getting out paddling and the fitness stuff that you’re talking about for mental health and wellbeing. So yeah, for sure. And,

Sometimes I think of it of, you know, I am so grateful for the contribution that I can be through my work. And if I had kids, I don’t think I’d be doing the same amount. Well, I know I wouldn’t be. And so, like you said, your work is so comprehensive and you love it. And it’s kind of cool that you can, you know, put that much time and effort and energy into it and love it.

love being on the road, even though it does, that is a challenge in terms of relationship. So yeah, I hear that. And what I heard you say too is, when you talked about writing it down on a piece of paper, I live by my calendar and so having things on my calendar is important. And sometimes, yeah, Andrew and I will schedule things in to able to, because he also works remote and his boss is relatively hands-off as well. So managing that time can be a challenge for sure. So having that written down in the calendar, it’s a good one.

Danny Mongno
Yeah, you got your phone, and I’m a huge proponent of tasks and outlook, and obviously your calendar. So you’ve got all these ways to remind it, but it’s just sometimes nice to just have that piece of paper sitting in front of you, whether it be on the dashboard or it’s just 430 circled. I’ve got to be done with everything today by 430 because that’s the time I have set aside for Celestin. So yeah, somehow it works. We’ve been married now for a seven years, were together 13 and you know, it was crazy. I just assumed I didn’t meet her till I was 38 and I just assumed that I was going to go on being single and I was fine with that. But man, there’s a level of selfishness that, you know, just gets built into your DNA when you’re by yourself all the time and you’ve got 24 hours to do whatever you want. So it has been a adjustment, but it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m happy to make that adjustment, but you know, again, if there was a discomfort thing, it’s just trying to juggle everything together.

Anna
Yeah. And shout out to Celeste also for being supportive of how you work. I feel like that about Andrew too, having really supportive, amazing partner who does understand and who is okay with the travel and the dedication to work within reason, of course, but that is… special. It’s really awesome.

Danny Mongno
Yeah, they say that time apart is good for a relationship too. sometimes, I just got back from a trade show in France, and by day four of being away and the six hour time difference, I questioned that ideology. there is time that I know she needs a break, and it’s good for me to get out. And the great thing about my travel is I’m not traveling on vacation and going and playing golf, know my travel is work related and I’m blessed at my job is Is to get me in the field and be a part of paddling communities around the country So, you know when I am traveling I’m getting to do the stuff that I am that I really truly love to do and you know after you know, 30 some ideas of Self-identifying as a paddler. It’s just so cool to you know Pull the boat off the roof or pull the board off the roof and still be like man. I really still love this. This is

This is what I do and I’m not getting 200 days in on the water like I did when I was younger and I was single, but I still love the stoke of being in a boat or on a board or whatever it may be.

Anna
Yeah, absolutely. What have you learned about yourself from getting on the board, getting on the, in your boat? Like what has you, what have you learned about yourself and what has you keep coming back over and over?

Danny Mongno
You know, it’s just, especially, you know, year after year after year, right. And, you know, the things that I could do when I was younger, you know, aren’t as easy right now. Recovery is certainly a big one. So when you do slip and fall or when you do go for a swim and, or you just have a really long day on the river, you know, where I am, I’m only about an hour and a half to the Hudson, which is just such a beautiful section of water, but it’s 18 miles, man. just, you know, sitting in a boat at 52 years old with two prosthetic hips for four hours, God, you know, it’s brutal. you know, what I’m learning is that I can’t do all the same things that I did. My technique is a whole lot better today than it was 10 years ago. You know, I finally got back into a half-slice boat and I probably did my first stern squirt in 15 years last summer. But I know my shoulders are just a disaster area. just making sure that the technique is good is certainly something that I’m learning. just again, knowing that I’m really enjoying this and how do I stay safe and how do I maintain my fitness level so I can do this till I’m 70 years old. I look at folks, and I know he’s not 70, but I look at Woody Callaway, for example, and that’s a dude who I look up to. Shane Benedict, these are folks that are still world-class paddlers well into later years in life, which is pretty cool. So how do I chase those guys around?

Anna
Yeah, for sure. Andrew’s dad is 76 and he’s still paddling the Gauley, Upper Gauley. He was actually on the first ascent of the Upper Gauley back in 1968, I think. So he’s paddled the Upper Gauley the longest of anyone. And we were talking because I still love to stern squirt and splat and all that. And after four days of paddling the Upper Gauley and doing all the things, it takes me four days to recover now whereas like back in the day I would, you know, do every golly weekend and be fine. And we were talking, he’s like, yeah, I don’t stern squirt anymore. You know, he, takes his creek boat and he has a blast and it’s so cool to paddle with him. And things do change over time. The joy though doesn’t like the joy of being out there is yeah, I agree with you. So cool.

I’m glad you mentioned your hips because I do want to ask you, you’re such an active person. were mentioning that being active is important. how was it? You had to take some time off after surgery and that must have been a pretty big discomfort zone, not only like pain-wise physically, but also mentally having to take a break. So how was that for you?

Danny Mongno
Yeah, you know, I didn’t start snowboarding until I was like 40. So and as soon as I did, man, I just fell in love with it. And, you know, I I’m not the fastest or or really very good for that matter. But, you know, it really gives me a very surfy feel and it’s very soulful approach. And, you know, just being on the mountain every morning just, you know, it’s just great for my my mental health.

So to lose a whole year was tough. Obviously, from a standpoint of getting my job done, it was easier for me to take the surgeries in the winter than it was in the summer. So I did lose a whole snowboard season, which was hard. then, man, just the depression of like, and I give so much credit to folks who are fighting cancer and real true diseases that are just life changing constantly in pain and you’re just constantly, you know, just feeling bad about yourself. And it really affected me for the year leading up to it. I couldn’t load the vehicle with my gear by myself anymore. I couldn’t sit in a kayak anymore. So, but you know, for me, it was self-inflicted. was, was a hundred percent from the amount of running that I had done, especially as a bigger runner. So yeah, you know, once I kind of got through the fact that this had to get done.

Again, know a lot of my life does revolve around work So I I circle can you copia on the calendar and my doctor and I just worked backwards from it so You know, I was 85 % for can you copia which was great and my staff really helped me I couldn’t lift the whole lot and was kind of having a hard time going up and downstairs but Yeah, we got them both done relatively quickly and and now I feel like you know, I’m a hundred percent.

I’m not running anymore. It’s just kind of seems stupid to me. Like I don’t want to have to do this again when I’m, you know, 80, but I’m hiking a bunch and biking and I feel great sitting in a kayak. So it’s good. I’m glad I did it. It sucked that it had to happen. But like I said, there’s a lot worse things out there than having to have a hip replaced.

Anna
Right.

And when you like giving up running was, did you have some like sadness around that? Cause that’s hard. mean, yeah, it, it’s not right when you look at the big picture of like the world right now, maybe like giving up running isn’t such a big deal. and I think it’s, it’s important. I’m a big proponent that we still have to be with our feelings around stuff and work through it because if we don’t, whatever we resist persists. so,

Yeah. Did you have sadness around that or did you just, was it a pretty easy, like, I’m just going to give this up.

Danny Mongno
I feel like I’m a dog that sees a fire truck, know, like, and that’s how I kind of feel like when I see a runner, you know, and it does like give me like a little jolt to my heart, like, cool, they’re running. But no, you I think when I measured my running journal right before I knew I was going to have to hang it up, like I had like 30,000 miles lifetime or something and, you know, a bunch of marathons and a bunch of half marathons and you know, I was pretty fanatical about it. So it was a huge part of my life, but, I just kind of closed that chapter. And now honestly, like walking and hiking is something I never did before. Cause it was just to me, stupid. Like, why do I want to go and go slow when I just went fast for an hour and a half? but you see a lot more stuff, you know, like I notice, houses and, and trees and landscapes. I never noticed because of before I was just going faster and always worried about my footing, especially trail running.

So now, I really just look at it as a chapter that closed and now I’m just doing other stuff and I don’t really miss it too much for sure.

Anna
Yeah, that listening to you talk about that, it’s like, yeah, it’s kind of like the back to the, you know, stern squirting and splatting and playing all the things like on the golly. When that’s your focus, you have, you know, one kind of context for it. And then when you stop, choose to stop doing that, I’m sure there’ll be a whole other context for it, you know, and I love that you, yeah, I love that you brought up that you can just that there’s benefits to slowing down too, which is kind of huge, right? Especially for A type personalities.

Danny Mongno
Yeah.

No, it’s been good for me. Celeste wasn’t much of a runner. She gets her fitness in other ways. So now when we do walk together, it’s more social and we enjoy that time together. it’s the hand that I was dealt and I played it. And I’m not really too upset about it. I’m glad that I’m just healthy and can get along. it was really funny. The first time I kayaked after the hips,

We just had an epic crew and I’d never been on the, the White Salmon in Washington. just did the, the class three, four section and my buddy was going to run Hussum Falls. And so he’s above the drop, scouting it with Tyler. And I just grabbed my throw bag out of my boat instinctively and like ran down the trail and across the bridge to get to where I could set safety. And like, while I’m running, I’m like, my God, like, like they work.

So it was pretty cool to like, you know, just be able to be a competent part of a group again, because for so long, like, you know, I would basically get to the put in and be like, Hey guys, I’m just letting you know that like, I’ll take care of myself, but I really can’t help because of the situation. And, you know, my friends were super supportive of it. So I appreciate that, but I’m glad, I’m glad to be able to do stuff again for sure.

Anna
That’s awesome.

Anna
Yeah, yeah, that’s great. It’s good. I had a question in my head. Give me a second, because it just went out of my mind.

Was it? yeah. So you’ve been working in the paddle sports industry for like 30 years. And what’s been, can you talk about maybe what that’s like? And there are comfort zones and discomfort zones, I think, in working within the industry. I don’t know, I just wanna, I guess I don’t really have a specific question but I’d love for you to chat about what it’s like to work in the paddle sports industry for that long.

Danny Mongno
Well, the changes that you go through are immense. And I guess if there’s something that is a pain point for me, if it’s discomfort, it’s watching the not just paddle sports, but the outdoor industry really morph and see the struggles of specialty retailers. It’s really sad. And I don’t want to make this a whole big work conversation, but you did ask Anna, so I’m going to give you the quick answer. know, Amazon is just really destroying specialty retail. And I know that’s nothing that people don’t realize, but, you know, I think of the Northeast where I live and a territory that is so important to me just because I spent so much time here. You know, there’s just so few specialty retailers left on the paddle sport side and even the smaller mom and pop backpacking running stores bait and tackle shops. They’re really struggling because it’s just so easy to just push buy now on your phone. When I go in and do clinics now, we’re talking about that customer experience and making sure the customer is super excited and they’re interacting with the product and they’re interacting with you and giving them that experience because if you’re not, it’s just again so easy to just say, I’m just going to buy it on my phone. I have no personal connection with anybody anymore. What does it matter if I’m supporting that shop or that person? So I think that’s really the biggest pain point that I am experiencing. And it’s just harder and harder because a lot of these retailers are aging out. They’ve had this incredible career, and they’ve built this legacy.

You know with the cost of of everything going up. They’re now sitting on a building that’s worth five million dollars and and that’s Was going to be their retirement plan, but what young person can come in and not only by the business? Which has immense value, but then by the the property so we’re just seeing less and less young people getting into the business and and it’s hard and what happens there is as there are less specialty opportunities, it just fuels that fire of, I’m not going to make that, you you would generally drive across town or maybe even an hour or two hours to go and get something when you knew it was going to be a very special experience. But now that those are fewer and further between, it’s just, you know, kind of ingrained in people’s brains that, I’m just going to pick up the phone and, and buy something, you know, that, you know, through e-comm and it’s just really, really hard.

Anna
Yeah. Yeah, I hear you. Yeah, it’s interesting because folks who’ve been in the outdoor industry and paddle sports and same thing with outfitters too, they bought the land so long ago or the buildings when they were, you know, they weren’t that expensive and some of them were in like more remote areas or rural areas that are now really popular destinations. And so it is tough, I feel for them.

Yeah, I’ve seen rafting companies trying to sell in different areas and it’s tough and it is tough because there are young people who would want to do it. But if you’re a raft guide and you’re thinking, where am going to come up with a few million dollars? It’s a challenge. So yeah, I don’t know what the answer is though.

Danny Mongno
We’re seeing some bright points across the country. We’re excited to see some younger people who are finding ways to do it. I think what we’re going to see is more non-traditional businesses where, unfortunately, that legacy shop in that incredible location may end up just closing down and those people retire. And then although that business will not necessarily be bought or reoccupied, something in that town will pop up, but on a more small scale. We’re seeing shops that are being run out of people’s homes or out of a storage unit where it’s a single man operation. I think the most famous in our industry is Stark Moon in Maryland. And Brad has just done an incredible job of giving people an amazing experience for decades. I think that type of business model is going to be what we’re going to see more and more of.

Anna
Yeah. And that personal connection still does matter. It does. It can make a difference for folks. going back to you love being an educator, and I think that’s part of it too. The educator pieces and just like teaching kayaking or paddle sports, it’s educating folks about the gear and having good gear and high quality gear and gear that works and giving them tips and maybe having small events even, you know, there’s, and it can be really fun because community people are, they want community, right? That’s the thing with the working remotely and the digital space, which is so awesome because we can make our own schedules. And at the same time, folks do still appreciate that in-person community connecting with someone. So.

I mean, think that’s why you see events when events happen, like whether it’s Women’s Paddle Fest or the Green River Takeover or whatever event, it’s, know, 100 plus women show up because it, you know, they love it and it’s, they want to be together or diversify Whitewater or, know, whatever different organizations are organizing really cool, fun events for folks. So.

Danny Mongno
Yeah, well, I know it’s near and dear to your heart. I that’s how you and I met. if there is a positive side of it, I agree with what you’re saying. The whitewater community now is as strong as I’ve seen it since the great generation of that 1995 to 2005, I think, is the glory years of paddling, right? Where the most boats are being sold, most people were getting on the water, the boats had changed enough that anybody could really try the sport. were more shops. American Whitewater did an incredible job with getting more availability of releases. But not since that time have I seen the energy that I’m seeing now. And you’re right, these events are just incredible. think what John and Chell have done at the Green Race, that was really just a bunch of dirt bags. And we really never had a place to go party. We’d be hanging out in somebody’s backyard. that we’re incredible festival. Gaulyy Fest was bigger than it’s ever been. NRS works with the woman Ann Gillard in Massachusetts and she did Pride on the river this June and I was happy to be an ally of that event and there were over hundred people of that community there and it’s so hard to get a hundred people to come out for anything. So Whitewater is in a great spot right now and I know you know I’m really proud to be a part of that community and I know NRS is as well. we’ll take the wins where we can get them because you have to, right? Like if you always look at the fact that it’s so damn expensive for a retailer to get a kayak shipped to their store and their margin is being eroded and cost of doing business goes up and staffing is almost impossible. mean, God, you could just mire yourself into this state of depression. So I do look at things like participation.

Anna
Right.

Danny Mongno
There’s so many young people, you know, going back to that idea of, you know, if 95 to 2005 was the great boom of whitewater, the people who are in their twenties now are in their fifties now and they’re, they’re having kids and, and we’re seeing a resurgence. Two things happen. Either those kids now have gone off and they’re on their own and mom and dad have the ability to, to find themselves personally again. So they’re kayaking again, or It’s a family that paddles together. I look at the Halikis, I look at the Hargroves, and these are people who are of that generation and now their kids are out there. So it’s a great time to be a whitewater paddler and I’m really, like I said, couldn’t be more excited. I’m heading back out this weekend. It’s I think my fifth trip down to the Deerfield River in Massachusetts and it’s just a beautiful community, great river. you would just think after…

God knows how many miles I put on the van this year, but like I’m just stoked to load up the dog and head back out for another weekend.

Anna
Nice. Yeah, so, you know, speaking of changes too, so in the boom of like, like 95 to 2005, that’s when like there was the sponsorship and even later years too, but sponsorship was based on, you know, the performance of the

Athletes and or ambassador and or it was more focused on that. I’ve always been like a bit different I feel like I’m in that realm in terms of my ambassadorship And NRS made a decision, you know in the last few years to remember which year exactly but to really focus on what y’all call your lead athletes of really focusing on

you know, athletes who are making a difference, who are obviously high level paddlers. And so it’s not, it wasn’t just about like, yeah, the cool video that someone puts out or their competition results. How was that changed for y’all? Was there any, I’ve never asked you this, but was there ever any like pushback or was that hard for people since this podcast is called the discomfort zone? Like I like to ask, you know, what was that like, or was it really well received.

Danny Mongno
Well, just to give some background on why we made that change, it gets to a point where I think people are so just overwhelmed with social media these days that it’s pretty easy to figure out what’s a sponsored post and what’s being pushed down our throat. And I think when you see somebody with that Monster Energy helmet on, they’re getting paid to wear that thing, right? So we were just like, man, is influencer marketing really the best way to go. So we presented this idea to all of the athletes and said, we’d love for you to find a way that you can give back to your community and be a part of something bigger than just the amount of vertical feet you lose every year or how big your loop is or what you scored at the freestyle event. And honestly, I don’t think we really lost anybody. I’m going to say we have a pretty tiered program.

If you don’t mind the shout out, would be at the top of that tier with the amount of amazing work you’re doing. And then others, know, their parents and they’re doing their best, but they’re still doing river cleanups. They’re volunteering at the local race. They’re helping kids get on the water. So everybody’s pitching in some way or another. You know, I, I always call out Galen Volkenhausen. You know, this is a guy who is

at the very, very top end of our sport, running some of the hardest stuff in the world. And man, he just embraced this so hard. And his White Salmon Boat Library, where anybody who is unable to afford the high cost of getting into paddle sports, or maybe they’re traveling to the White Salmon area, you can literally go into this library and like you would a book, you sign out a boat, a paddle, a PFD, a helmet.

And this was really his own idea. Now he got some great help from people in the community and people have donated the land that the library sits on. But he is definitely somebody that I always point the finger at. Like here’s your dirtbag kayaker, if you will, right? mean, the same year he opened the library, he ran 200 foot waterfalls back to back on the same river.

You know, he was definitely pushing the limits but you know opened up his heart and said this is what’s important to me and and I can go on and on I know we have an hour but there’s like so many success stories including you like this where people are just you know doing amazing things and you know bringing up and again You know, I’ve grown up pretty sheltered especially living in Lake Placid. It’s a really small town. We’re only 3,500 people. you know, I’m not up to date on the legislation and just the horrible laws that are being passed against the gay community. know, Ann’s really helped me a lot. And, you know, to get these folks to come together and show that, you know, we are strong as a community and we will be strong as a group and we are not here to be forgotten is…really impressive so it’s super cool to get to know folks like that and be a part of it.

Anna
Yeah, yeah, that’s awesome. Thanks for highlighting those folks. Amazing work. you know, I want to shout out NRS because it just goes to show that when a company actually, you know, lights a fire or, you know, gives opportunity and actually requests that of their athletes and then provides support for those projects, like great things can come of it.

Right. I think that’s really, really great and awesome. Cause it’s, it’s then it’s a collaboration rather than just being like, okay, you need to go do something and then come back to us, you know, let us know about it. But you, you know, come up with ideas and you know, we can help support it. You know, if it works, if you know, we’re, and we’re collaborating that that makes a huge difference.

Danny Mongno
Yeah, you know.

Yeah, I mean, starting in 2003 for about 12 years, Downwind Sports in Marquette, ran the Ladies at a Lake Sea Kayak Symposium. And as I was with Werner at the time, I was one of the few men that were allowed to be a part of it as I was loaning out paddles, teaching about paddles, yada yada. And I saw a connection that as a man, I couldn’t necessarily put my finger on, but I could say with 100 % certainty that when

We put a group of women together, empowered the whole group in a way that I’d never seen before, not in a multigender event. supporting your events, either the Green River Takeover or Women’s Paddle Fest, I know the amazing work that’s coming out of it. So it really goes back to our founder, Bill Parks, and his ideologies. And we just kind of…take a little bit of what Bill was trying to do and expand on it. And it’s something I’m super proud of. I was with Werner for 13 years and it’ll always have a really special place in my heart. And we did good things there, but we were a smaller company and we had to stay within our means. being with NRS, people may look at us as the big guy on the block, but I think we play well with everybody and we do use that additional money that we’re getting and really giving a lot of it back. So I’m pretty honored about that.

Anna
All right, then we’re going to go to rapid fire. Are you ready?

Danny Mongno
I am ready.

Anna
Okay. What’s a morning ritual that sets you up for success?

Danny Mongno
Making the bed. I read a book by a former military leader and he said, you know, it’s a stupid ritual of the military to make sure that the bed is made in a perfect way. But if that’s the first thing that you do, you check something off your list, you did something that had attention to detail and it’s something that you take pride in. So making the bed is…

is something that’s important to me. Celeste is not a huge proponent of making the bed and I give her a really hard time when I found it unmade.

Anna
Okay, got it. What’s a non-negotiable self-care practice?

Danny Mongno
man, I wish I could say stretching. I know how much better my body feels when I do, but it’s not the case. I guess the one thing that I’ve learned since I stopped running was that anything is better than nothing. And I know I stress out so hard when I miss a day of physical fitness. So now, even if I just go to the gym and walk on the treadmill for a half an hour or bundle up and walk around the block. Literally something is better than nothing. And what I’m learning is it’s not so much that I burn calories or build muscle mass, except I shut my brain off for that half hour or 20 minutes. So one of the things I work with with our sales reps is they just get so tied into a routine and they want to see every shop and they want to answer every email.

And if you don’t take some time for yourself during the day, you’re just going to end up just a ball of stress and probably out of shape. yeah, just trying to find something to do every day really makes me healthier and happier.

Anna
Yeah. What’s your favorite motivational book or talk?

Danny Mongno
Man, you know, I don’t spend enough time Reading I really really should you know one book that really affected me is Steinbeck as an author and both tortilla flat and cannery row and you know their stories of friendship and Relationship and and these guys they had you know, no money and and how they shared with each other

I recently had a situation where I had a falling out with a friend and I really let it fester. And then that book just kind of popped into my head and I’m like, man, you I could put all this other stuff aside, but what I really need to do is get back to figuring out like, you know, why am I not getting along with my friend? And so I think those two books and Steinbeck himself really you know, have helped me to realize that, you know, at end of the day, friendship and family is just so incredibly important.

Anna
Yeah, yeah, awesome. What do people get wrong about you?

Danny Mongno
You know, I think, you know, I use the term Napoleon complex a lot. And I know a lot of little people who are just like super aggro, right? And, you know, I don’t know, man. I never really worried about it. It’s actually really funny. And I’m thinking of it like so clear in my head. There was a picture of me, you, and Jimmy Blakeney, from Canoecopia one year, right? And that’s the only time I ever really think of myself as little as when I see myself in a picture. So I don’t know, I just don’t want people to ever get the idea that my Long Island accent is abrasive and aggravating and I can’t help it. It was way better when I lived in North Carolina. I just don’t want people to think that I’m just that little, you know you know, little Napoleon complex prick, you know, I, I feel like I’m a pretty genuine, honest, caring person. and, and that’s all I really want in life. You know, I just want people to be like, yeah, you know, he’s, he’s a good person is, is all I could ever really hope for.

Anna
Right. It’s making me laugh because when I was up on the Ottawa and Steven Wright was teaching Keeners and I was teaching my Playboating Week and we would laugh. Like I just love having lunch and they were talking. He was telling me that there’s an old timey insult called, if you’re called a go by the ground, like, he’s such a go by the ground meaning like short, like that was a big insult. So now it’s kind of like an inside joke. So now you can talk to Stephen about being a go by the ground. It’s so random, but it’s so funny.

Danny Mongno
Talk about old school. How cool was it that Stephen took his passion for paddling and went back to making carbon boats? There’s just so few people out there really working with their hands and doing that. And I’m glad that it’s successful for him. And from what I understand, the boats are absolutely incredible.

Anna
Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay, throughout the course of your life, have you felt like the underdog or the favored to win?

Danny Mongno
You know, I’m not a, I guess I would look at myself as the underdog, you know, and I think it’s a good position to be in. Like, I still get so anxious and nervous before every event, before every seminar I teach, before every presentation I do. And people are like, I don’t understand, what are you so nervous for? Like, you’ve done this so many times. And I’m like, you know, the day that you’re not nervous, is the day you gotta hang it up, man. Like you just don’t care anymore. So yeah, I kinda like that underdog approach. I’m not somebody who’s got incredible degrees and I don’t have a lot of training for this. And I’m lucky to have two really good mentors and I got work ethic from my parents. so yeah, I’m definitely the guy who works and doesn’t have the God gifted talent, that’s for sure.

Anna
Okay, got it. Hard moves in easy water or flooding?

Danny Mongno
Well, you got to remember that a lot of my paddling these days is is on white water is on a stand-up board so, you know being able to take a class 2 River for that matter just moving water and You know break it down on a stand-up board, which every single mistake means you’re swimming is what gets me super excited and you know, I was really blessed to get back to the green last year and I took some folks down that that I had never been and it really reduced my anxiety of being back on what for me is a hard river because I knew I needed to be a leader and not just worry about myself and you know I think about it and people like man that’s so hard and I’m like man it’s it’s not that hard for me in my brain because I’ve done it so many times and I’ve had so many good people show me the way down that.

It’s just taking what could be looked at as a really hard river and just breaking it down move by move. And for me, it gets a lot easier that way. So yeah, no, I’m definitely a hard moves in easy whitewater is I think what defines me for sure.

Anna
What’s one word that describes your comfort zone?

Danny Mongno
Pretty big I would say big I have a pretty big comfort zone, you know You know, I don’t it’s kind of a cliche term, but you know people talk about the pain cave and you know being a marathon runner doing distance SUP racing you know, you’re by yourself and you know, even like we just got a brand new rail trail in Lake Placid and it’s so incredible, but

Anna
You only get one word.

Big comfort zone.

Danny Mongno
You’ve got to be able to say, well, I’m going to ride 12 miles in one direction and then turn around and ride 12 miles back in the same direction. And for a lot of people, it’s boring, it’s hard, it doesn’t make sense. And once I set my mind to something, I feel like I could just suffer through it and whatever the goal is at the end, achieve that. yeah, I’d say I have a pretty big comfort zone.

Anna
Nice. Okay, freedom through discipline or I do what I want.

Danny Mongno
Freedom through discipline, for sure, especially as you get older. And for me, older is a lack of, man. It’s hard to maintain the level of work that I feel is what I’m accustomed to at 52 years old. Like I told Celestia, I’m just tired of working. I love my job. I really do.

I’ve never had a white collar job. I’ve never had it easy. It’s always been a grind. And man, without discipline, it makes it really hard to get through the day and accomplish everything that I need to get done. So yeah, I would say discipline for sure.

Anna
Hmm. Discipline. I think you already answered this, but in one word, what do you hope your legacy will be?

Danny Mongno
kindness. think that, you know, I don’t need people coming and giving me a hug. don’t need, know, thank yous. I just, you know, want people, you know, to be able to like, yeah, he was a good person. If I can, you know, leave this world with that, I think that’s a good thing. Because I’ve unfortunately been around folks that are not good people. And it really

It made my life hard in all of those instances. So I just want to try to distance myself from that and try to be as kind as possible.

Anna
Right on. Is there anything else you want to say to listeners, Danny, before we sign off?

Danny Mongno
You know, I’m not sure how interesting this will be for everybody. I just feel like I’m really honored that you asked me to come on. You know, there’s just decades of stories to be told and relationships. I could not be more blessed with this path that paddle sports has taken me on. I owe everything to paddling. It’s so cool.

You know, I remember you and I running shuttle for the Gali one year and you know, it’s really was the foundation of our friendship. Like I knew who you were and I knew all the great things you were doing. And it’s funny because it was beyond the time when you were at the top of your competitive game. And it wasn’t about wanting to work with Ana Levesque the athlete that was wanting to work with Anna Lavesque, was, you know, and maybe this is why I feel like kindness is how I want to be seen. It was you being so kind and giving back to the community as an educator, as a mentor to people. And, you know, there’s just one friendship I have because of this that means so much to me. so it’s cool to be sitting here chatting with you and knowing everything that you and I have been through and all the friends that we share and it’s a pretty blessed life. I’m really lucky.

Anna
Thanks, Danny. I appreciate that. Yeah, thanks for that. I’m grateful for you in my life and appreciate you so much coming on and appreciate your support throughout the years. And yeah, just grateful. So thank you for taking the time to be here and have this conversation.

Danny Mongno
That was fun. Thanks, Ann. I appreciate it.