Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 839 is my conversation with Kevin Cullum, known online as the push-up guy. Kevin is on a mission to complete one million push-ups, documenting the whole journey on his Instagram, @one_million_push_ups. He started in 2015 and was already past 800,000 reps when we talked, averaging roughly 100,000 push-ups a year. We get into the systems that keep him consistent, why the hardest part is mental rather than physical, and how a goal this big reshapes the way you show up every day.
Listen now: press play in the player above to watch the full conversation, or stream Episode 839 on your favorite podcast app.
Kevin Cullum is a fitness content creator known as the push-up guy, on a mission to complete one million push-ups. He documents his journey on Instagram at @one_million_push_ups, where he has built a community around consistency and discipline. Born outside Chicago, he started the challenge in 2015 and uses the daily practice to inspire others to take on their own big goals and stay accountable.
It is a long-term commitment in which Kevin aims to complete one million push-ups, documenting his progress publicly on Instagram. He started in 2015 and was past 800,000 reps when this episode was recorded, averaging roughly 100,000 push-ups a year. The challenge is less about a single physical feat than about proving the power of showing up every day and maintaining discipline over years.
At the time of this conversation, Kevin was at about 806,000 push-ups and did not have a fixed end date. Based on his pace since 2015, he was averaging roughly 100,000 a year, and he said that if he kept that pace and got close, he would want to finish before 2025.
Kevin does not rely on motivation. He has built systems and triggers that make hitting his daily push-ups automatic, even on chaotic or exhausting days, and he leans on public documentation for accountability. He breaks the massive number into daily manageable targets and focuses on the process rather than the outcome, an approach he says transfers far beyond fitness.
Kevin explains that the push-ups themselves are not the hardest part. The real battle is mental, the moments when the number still left feels crushing. He has learned to reframe those thoughts, break the goal into small daily pieces, and focus on showing up rather than the finish line, and that discipline has carried over into other areas of his life.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 839 with Kevin Cullum is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeartRadio. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
We run a 10,000 push-up challenge every February, and most people find out fast that 10,000 is nowhere near a million. Kevin is doing the actual million, and he was already past 800,000 when we talked. I wanted to know what makes this guy tick and why he keeps showing up day after day.
Press play in the player above to hear the whole conversation.
The math is staggering. Kevin started in 2015 and was at roughly 806,000 reps, averaging about 100,000 a year, with no hard end date. He talks about how the averages actually come together over years and how he thinks about the finish line. Worth hearing in his own words.
Kevin does not wait to feel motivated. He has built triggers and routines that make the daily work happen no matter what, and he uses public documentation as a second layer of accountability. He breaks down exactly how he never misses a day, and it is a blueprint that applies far beyond push-ups. Listen to that section of the episode.
The surprise of this conversation is that the physical toll is not the real challenge. Kevin describes the mental moments when the remaining number feels impossible and how he reframes them by focusing on the process. It is the part of the talk I keep coming back to. Press play in the player above.
Kevin did not expect what going public would create. Sharing every stage on Instagram built a community of people starting their own challenges and holding themselves to a higher standard, and messages from strangers have carried him through his hardest days. Scroll up and watch the player above.
Listen to the full conversation: press play in the YouTube player at the top of this page.
What sticks with me about Kevin is that this goes way beyond fitness. The million push-ups are really a masterclass in commitment and the mental toughness it takes to show up every single day.
If you have ever struggled to stay consistent or wondered what it takes to commit to something massive, this is the one. The discipline he is building transfers to everything.
Press play in the player above to hear how it all fits together.
Kevin Cullum (@one_million_push_ups) · Tom Rowland Podcast 10,000 Push-Up Challenge · Chicago · Instagram
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Kevin Cullum is a fitness content creator known as the push-up guy, documenting his mission to complete one million push-ups on Instagram at @one_million_push_ups. Born outside Chicago, he began the challenge in 2015 and has built a community around consistency, discipline, and the power of showing up every day, using public accountability to inspire others to take on their own massive goals.
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