Perseverance despite unimaginable loss is something our next guest knows very well. Darnell Hardy is a highly respected fitness coach and the founder of Optimize VO2 (OVOO), a metabolic fitness company dedicated to helping individuals achieve peak performance. With over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, Darnell has worked with a diverse clientele, ranging from everyday individuals seeking to improve their health and fitness to elite athletes competing at the highest levels of CrossFit and Hyrox. Darnell's expertise lies in optimizing metabolic function and aerobic capacity, enabling clients to achieve significant improvements in their pursuits. A sought-after speaker and seminar host, Darnell travels the country sharing his knowledge and insights on metabolic fitness. Darnell is also Aerobic Capacity certified and serves as a subject matter expert at the prestigious Power Monkey Camp, further solidifying their reputation as a leader in the field.

In episode 621 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what it was like for Darnell to grow up in St. Louis, why he had to say no to drugs, violence, and peer pressure, how he was able to process his trauma as he got older, how he ended up at Missouri State, why he chose Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and how the unimaginable loss of his brother, best friend, and grandparents changed how he sees conflict, pain, and perseverance.