Underdog: Recent Episodes
Scott Kujak
Underdog stories are legacies that never die. Tune in every Tuesday to discover underdogs who persevered and overcame the adversity they faced. Hear their stories. Be inspired. Find the will to never give up.
Travis Mills served in the Army 82nd Airborne and was sent on three tours to the Middle East. On his third deployment, a bomb exploded near him and he lost all four limbs. Recovery was difficult across multiple facets of his life but he decided to never give up and never quit. Today, he is a businessman, motivational speaker, author and philanthropist. In this episode:
- Trying out college but learning that the military was a better path forward
- Joining the Army 82nd Airborne and going on three deployments
- Marrying his best friend’s sister and how they navigated long distance dating and marriage
- Best advice for young married couples before deployment … don’t call each other everyday! This will prevent mundane repetitiveness and dry conversation.
- Losing all four limbs by a bomb explosion during his third tour in Afghanistan
- Over 400 units of blood given to Travis on the operating table to save his life which is the most blood that has ever been given to someone in Afghanistan
- Overcoming the internal question, “Why didn’t I just die? How is this life better than death?”
- Why his wife decided to stick by his side through thick and thin
- Switching from questions of reasoning of his new reality to a mindset of “In it to Win it” for his wife and daughter
- Depending on nurses and family to help dress him, feed him, and assist him in the bathroom for the first five weeks
- No thoughts of suicide because he knew he could honor his fallen comrades by living his life to the fullest in memory of them
- Building the Travis Mills Foundation which helps injured veterans learn indoors and outdoors adaptive activities in Maine
- Living life with the motto, “Never give up. Never quit.”
- You can’t always control your situation, but you can control your attitude
- Writing the book Tough as They Come
You can learn more at travismills.org or find him on Instagram @ssgtravismills
Tracy Herbert was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at 17 years old and her life dramatically changed forever. She chooses to not let diabetes control her lifestyle and is soaring to new heights within the diabetic community. Her most notorious accomplishment is biking over 3500 miles across the United States. In this episode:
- Diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 17 years old while fighting for her life in the ICU
- The stress and hopelessness that comes with a diabetes management regimen plan including the news that she will never have kids
- Deciding to be better or bitter
- How the flu was a catalyst to set her autoimmune disease into motion which initiated late onset, Type I Diabetes
- Why Type I diabetes patients need insulin shots multiple times a day and cannot live without it
- The partnership between a patient and doctor in improving treatment plans
- Mind. Mouth. Move.
- Becoming a diabetes coach and helping others thrive with this diagnosis
- Find Your Why is important
- Finishing a new “celebration” each decade including biking 3500 miles across the USA
- Hearing inspirational stories throughout the entire journey
- From San Francisco to Brooklyn and finishing on the Dr. Oz show
- Riding with no food and limited water and getting lost on a mountain while trying to maintain her blood sugar levels
- Speaking on stage and her goals for the future
You can find out more information at www.tracyherbert.com and you can email her at tracy@tracyherbert.com. Tune into her podcast, Your Diabetes Breakthrough.
www.scottkujak.com
Jerzy Gregorek is a World Record Weightlifting Champion. He grew up an alcoholic adolescent in communist Poland before weightlifting saved his life. Later, his wife and him fled to the USA and settled in Southern California where he began his personal training career. A few world championship titles later, he wrote "The Happy Body" which inspires millions worldwide on how to live a healthy and fulfilling physical and mental lifestyle. In this episode:
- Learning obedience at an early age in war-torn and communist oppressed 1970s/1980s Poland
- Falling into alcoholism as an adolescent
- Entering the fire department at 19 years old
- How weightlifting saved his life from drinking
- Suffering temporary paralysis from a squatting accident
- Finishing high school at age 24
- Snatching 115kg at 132lbs
- Finding a best friend through strike and then losing him to torture and murder by the government
- “Truth, Love, and Forgiveness”
- Traveling through Europe as a refugee making his way to the US with his wife
- Bringing Olympic Weightlifting to Southern California
- Winning 4 World weightlifting championships
- Why the snatch lift is the purest form of power and his favorite exercise
- Starting the UCLA weightlifting team
- Forming The Happy Body and sharing his methods throughout the world
- “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” Aligning with stoicism – our responsibility to become the best version of ourselves and serve the planet.
You can learn more about Jerzy and The Happy Body: https://thehappybody.com/
Discover more underdogs: https://scottkujak.com
Michael Cleveland was born blind but he knew he was born to be a fiddler at four years old. Described as “untouchable” by Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, Michael was awarded the 2020 GRAMMY for Best Bluegrass Album - Tall Fiddler, and is the IBMA’s most awarded Fiddle Player of the Year with 12 wins, has won Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year 6 times, and fronts their 6-Time Instrumental Group of the Year. In this episode:
- Determined to be a fiddler player after hearing “Orange Blossom Special” on the fiddle at four years old
- Learning to play at the Kentucky School of the Blind
- Finding and refining passion for the fiddle every single day as a child
- “When you go to the school of the blind, you’re nothing special because everyone else is visually impaired, too.”
- The Grand Ole Opry, his favorite spot that he played in as a teenager
- Forming the band, Michael Clevelend and Flamekeeper, with musicians he grew up playing with
- Grammy award, 12 time Fiddle Player of the Year, 6 time Instrumental Group of the Year
- How Michael is trying to transform the stigma of bluegrass music by blending it with other music varieties
You can learn more about Michael & Flamkeeper at flamekeeperband.com as well as MC Flamekeeper on Facebook and Instagram
Karen Darke became paralyzed from the chest down in a climbing accident but became a Silver Medalist and Gold Medalist in the Paralympics representing England. In this episode:
- Growing up with a passion for rock climbing
- What happened during her climbing accident in Scotland?
- Running out of strength under an overhang and falling onto rocks below
- Waking up 3 days later and hearing that she is paralyzed from the chest down
- Her friend’s climbing accident death helped her live life to the fullest after her accident
- Removing herself from the mountains temporarily to heal emotionally
- Cycling through the Himalayan Mountains with friends for six weeks
- Kayaking from Vancouver to Alaska without transporting her wheelchair
- Crossing Greenland on a sit-skit
- Winning the Silver Medal in the 2012 Paralympics in her home country England
- Winning the Gold Medal in the 2016 Paralympics
- Breaking the land speed record at 41.86mph
- The number 79 and the Quest 79 mission – Find Your Inner Gold at the Pole of Possibility
You can learn more about Karen at karendarke.com and on Instagram @handbikedarke
Derek Stone grew up in small town Alabama and pursued a music career just after high school. His up-and-down journey brought him to Nashville where he made the difficult decision to give up music and start a construction business. Years later, he now runs a million dollar company and shares why he decided to forgive those who hurt him the most. In this episode:
- Growing up without his biological father
- Handling abuse from his stepfather as a teenager and blaming his father for the lack of protection
- Growing up in the Deep South learning how to fight, work, and live day-to-day
- Pursuing a music career and moving to Nashville
- Changing life directions and opening a business in construction
- Handling the unknown of his wife’s cancer diagnosis
- How a musician grew a construction business to over $1 million gross revenue per year
- Learning how to forgive his father and reestablish a relationship with him
- Publishing his book, “Why Should I Forgive?”
You can learn more about Derek at derekstone.online
We kickoff Season 3 with Amberley's Snyder return to rodeo after breaking her back and becoming paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident. In this episode:
- Why Amberley fell in love with horses during childhood
- All of the events in rodeo she competed in over the years and the championship belts she won
- How an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down
- Pushing through rehab and leaning on her family support system
- Getting back on the horse and what it was like the first day
- Returning to rodeo and competition
- Handling stardom and inspiring others through her competitive spirit
- Writing a book and helping Netflix produce a movie based on her story
You can learn more about her at amberleysnyder.org and on Instagram @Amberleysnyder
Maggie Seymour is an Intelligence Officer in the Marines. She has a mission to run across all 50 states to raise money for local charities. In this episode:
- Feeling inspired to join the Marines after her cousin lost his life in Iraq
- Her experience in boot camp as one of only a handful of women in her platoon
- Serving as an Intelligence Officer in the Marines for 10 years of active duty before transitioning to the reserves
- Serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait
- Hating the first mile she ever ran to running over 30 miles everyday across the United States
- Running is like a “Fine Scotch, it takes time to acquire the taste.”
- Running across the country and across different states gives her the chance to reconnect with a large chunk of the country that she never knew that she served during her deployments
- Selecting a different local organization to raise money for in each state she runs across
- Running through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in less than three weeks with only one rest day
- Her favorite states and the most difficult states to run across
- The most interesting people she met? Rattlesnake hunters in New Mexico
- “We are our choices.”
You can discover more about Maggie at runfreerun.com and you can follow her on Instagram @runfreerunner
Adriane Fields is a survivor of rape and the founder of Rip the Bandage which helps the homeless, victims of abuse, and others within her community. In this episode:
- Challenged with paranoia after hearing of two rape and murder cases near her apartment complex
- Feeling like she would be the next one to be attacked
- Waking up in the middle of the night due to someone breaking into her apartment
- Surviving rape and escaping death from the man known as the “Bathtub Murderer”
- Losing her mind in the immediate aftermath
- Getting angry at God for a long time after the attack
- Finding healing in the therapeutic relief of sharing her story and talking with others
- Rip the Bandage – A nonprofit focused on helping less fortunate individuals like the homeless and victims of abuse
- The joy she experienced when her perpetrator was found and arrested
- Learning to remove the spirit of fear cast over her life
- The difference between teaching out of fear vs. teaching out of love
- “That was a fearless lion in baby mode. It’s time to roar, let’s go!”
- You can follow Adriane at https://ripthebandage.wixsite.com/rip2 or on Facebook @ Rip The Bandage
Tracy Schmitt was born a 4-way amputee. She learned how to become unstoppable at an early age and accomplish goals that most people would never even dare to try. In this episode:
- Over 15 million views for her video, “Nobody Left Behind”
- When you’re told no, respond with “How come?”
- Shoelace Leader
- Learning how to play with the neighbors in their yard
- The benefits of having a “tough love” mom
- Born limbitless
- Pursuing leadership development in developing countries
- Learning how to sail and overcoming multiple challenges
- Pursuing the Canadian Paralympic Sailing Team
- Driving to Miami, washing and waxing boats everyday, and living in her car for 3 months to pursue Magnus Liljedahl, Gold Olympian Sailor, as her coach and mentor
- How Tracy responded after years and years fo effort without selection to the Canadian Paralympic Team
- Becoming the #1 Female Transformational Leader
- No excuses, no limits
You can follow Tracy on Instagram @unstoppabletracy and learn more about her at unstoppabletracy.com
Ryan Harris won Superbowl 50 as a starting offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos. He retired after a long career in the NFL and inspires others throughout the world with his message of "I am, I can, I will." In this episode:
- The lessons in life that football taught Ryan
- “I became a better Muslim at Notre Dame.” Staying true to his faith through college.
- Overcoming three back surgeries during his football career
- The biggest failure during his time in the NFL: getting released in his fifth year because of arrogance
- Unwillingness is a blanket over arrogance
- Trying to win a championship with every fiber of his body and every action of his life
- Utilizing proper breathing techniques
- Winning Superbowl 50 with the Denver Broncos – What he believed became knowledge
- Receiving the Lombardi Trophy for the first time from Peyton Manning
- Transitioning to life as a broadcaster, motivational speaker, and a financial coach
- I am, I can, I will
You can find out more about Ryan at ryanharris68.com and you can follow him on Instagram @ryanharris_68
Mark Pattison played in the NFL for 5 years before he embarked on a journey to become the first NFL veteran to climb the 7 Summits. He completed 6 and has one more to go. In this episode:
- Becoming an All-American at WR and QB in high school, and playing WR at University of Washington
- Transitioning to college ball and playing against NFL talent in the Pac-10
- Getting drafted by the LA Raiders and playing in the NFL for 5 years
- How his career in the NFL translated to mountaineering
- Launching businesses after his career in international trade business
- Going through a messy divorce and deciding to become the first NFL veteran to climb the 7 summits
- Going from “How did I get here?” to “What am I going to do about it?”
- Stories of hardship on the tallest mountains in the world
- Almost getting to the top of Mt. Denali to make a decision for survival and turn around in -80 degree weather
- Preparing physically and mentally to go back to Denali and summit it successfully
- The only remaining mountain on Mark’s 7 Summits List: Mt. Everest
- Mark’s podcast, Finding Your Summit Podcast, which interviews people who have overcome extreme adversity to find the highest level of achievement
- It takes a little more to become a champion
You can follow Mark at markpattisonnfl.com and @markpattisonnfl on IG and Twitter.
Chelesa Fearce grew up homeless in Atlanta throughout high school. Even in the midst of that hardship, she was a dedicated student and graduated as the valedictorian of her class. She is pursuing a dual degree in medicine at Yale University. In this episode:
- Pursuing dual degrees in medical school in research and child psychiatry
- Living in and out of homeless shelters and hotels for eight years as a teenager
- Moving to Mississippi when her mother was diagnosed with cancer
- The worst experience she had from homelessness
- Recognizing her duty as a role model to her younger siblings
- Why Chelesa looks up to her mother
- Receiving a full scholarship to Spelman College
- Why Chelesa chose Yale for medical school among many other elite schools she was accepted to
- Her key to limiting stress while creating an environment of meaningful studying
- Why she wants to become a child psychiatrist: to give a voice to children who can’t speak up for themselves, and to design medical drugs that help kids throughout the world
- Her advice to other homeless people: It is temporary, it is not your identity, and you deserve to be loved
You can follow Chelesa on Instagram and Facebook @chelesafearce
Steph Hammerman was born with Cerebral Palsy. She became the first adaptive trainer athlete sponsored by Nike due to her Crossfit expertise. In this episode:
- Wanting to become a teacher ever since she was a little girl
- Her doctors told her parents that Steph may never be able to read, speak, or write, however she graduated high school and college
- Steph lives a fulfilled life with cerebral palsy. She does not suffer from cerebral palsy
- The most difficult part of having CP – getting out of bed in the morning.
- The best part of having CP – the perspective she has gained on life
- The question her trainer asked her that transformed her life, “What do you want to accomplish?”
- Overcoming bloody, ripped hands and fatigue to finish her first hand cycling marathon
- How the passing of her friend inspired her to carry on his athletic legacy
- The starting pieces of her journey to becoming a CrossFit athlete and certified trainer
- Why Steph has the power to tell someone about something verbally and watch them accomplish their workout even though Steph can’t do the same movement herself
- Battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 3B in 2016
- Becoming the first Nike sponsored adaptive training athlete
- Opening up Hammer Driven Fitness and the challenges that come with running a business
You can follow Steph on Instagram @stephthehammer
Andre Shelby served in the Navy for 18 years. He lost his mobility from the chest down in a motorcycle accident. He picked up archery after he finished recovery and won a Gold Medal in the 2016 Paralympics. In this episode:
- Joining the Navy and becoming a seaman; involved with the deck maintenance of the ship and the cargo
- The most important lesson learned from 18 years in the Navy – how to interact and manage different types of people
- Losing all mobility from the chest down after a motorcycle accident
- How Andre and his family found help through a veteran that served in a different branch of the military
- How Andre went from a man with no experience in archery to a Paralympic Gold Medalist
- How the point system in archery works
- His time at the Olympics and the experience of it all
You can follow Andre on Facebook.
Dr. Richard Shuster is a licensed clinical psychologist, keynote speaker, CEO of MARS Industries, and the host of The Daily Helping with Dr. Richard Shuster: Food for the Brain, Knowledge from the experts, Tools to Win at Life which is regularly downloaded in over 100 countries. On his podcast, Dr. Shuster’s guests educate and inspire listeners through their stories, expertise, and passion for helping make a difference in the lives of others. His mission is to help people become the best versions of themselves and as a result, make the world a better place. A sought after media expert, Dr. Shuster’s clinical expertise and podcast have been featured in such publications as The Huffington Post, NBCNews.com, Glassdoor.com, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and others. In this episode:
- Chasing after materialistic possessions young in life
- Surviving a brutal car accident when he should have died
- Breaking his spine, suffering internal injuries, tearing every ligament and muscle in his neck, and recovering
- Shifting his mindset while recovering
- Going back to school and pursuing his phd in psychology
- Having a son who was born with physical disability but normal cognitive ability
- Creating The Daily Helping Podcast to inspire others to become the best version of themselves
- Every Kid Rocks – a nonprofit designed to give kids time-limited speech, physical, and occupational therapy that just need a boost
- The #mydailyhelping Movement
- www.SeekYourPowers.com – Code "underdog" at checkout, to receive your dream job guide for free, and use the result of the POWERS Assessment to discover the career that may be the best fit for you
You can find out more about Dr. Richard at www.drrichardshuster.com and on Instagram @dailyhelpingpodcast
Chris Norton lost his ability to walk after a brutal football injury. However, that didn't stop him from walking across the stage at his college graduation, or walking down the aisle with his wife after they got married. Today he is an inspirational speaker, an author, and a foster care parent. In this episode:
- Starting in football and embracing the physicality
- How one play gone wrong in college football changed his life forever
- The immediate aftermath of being a teenager and becoming paralyzed from the neck down
- Feeling like a prisoner in his own body
- “You will beat this.” How a physician shifted Chris’ mindset and lifted him up.
- You Will over You Can
- How teammates became brothers and helped Chris through college each day
- The toughest parts of therapy
- Relying on his faith when he could no longer rely on his own abilities
- The Chris Norton Foundation – Helping cover the medial and rehab expenses of others overcoming a traumatic spinal or musculature injury
- Meeting his wife, Emily, and pursuing her with intention from the beginning
- Finding identity in who he is, not the things he does
- How walking across the stage at his college graduation was upended by walking down the aisle with his wife after they said their vows
- The most monumental 7 yards of all time
- Dealing with mental health issues in marriage
- Why Chris and Emily choose to foster care
- Adopting 5 kids
- “I don’t want my physical paralysis to paralyze my mindset”
You can visit www.chrisnorton.org, or follow @chrisanorton16 on Instagram for more information on Chris. You can also listen to the first 2 chapters of his audio book here:
- https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us/the-seven-longest-yards-by-chris-and-emily-norton/s-sd07v
Amanda May was born and raised in Wisconsin. In high school and college, she started to experience pain day-in and day-out that her trainers and doctors could not provide an explanation for. As her swimming performance dropped and her medical appointments increased, she finally was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In this episode:
- The onset of Lupus and the resulting intense pain
- How her college swimming times changed to one of the best on her team to only being able to finish with her 8th grade swim times in competitive swim meets
- Waking up one day and feeling paralyzed
- The 3 different forms of Lupus and the symptoms that they cause
- Why working out harder and working out longer did not work
- Misdiagnosed with leukemia and the emotional toll it took on her and her parents
- Becoming a Wisconsin state weightlifting champion while battling excruciating pain during training
- Best snatch – 180lbs, Best clean and jerk – 220lbs
- What Amanda does to track her training regimen while balancing her medications/therapy
- On purpose with purpose – Aligning action with goals
- Biggest advice on Lupus: Don’t necessarily believe everything you read or are told regarding limitations of the disease. You can define lupus for yourself.
- What sets your soul on fire?
- Find your freedom
You can follow Amanda on Instagram @Mayday1320 or reach out to her through email: ammay1320@gmail.com
Tim Rhode retired at the age of 40. He is the founder of the 1Life Fully Lived Conference and the Dare2Dream program. In this episode:
- Envisioning and writing down goals
- Struggling as a grocery clerk at 25 years old with 2 kids and transitioning to real estate
- The art of sunshine service
- What is in the 1Life Fully Lived Journal?
- The intersection of passion, talents, and opportunities
- Where do you come alive?
- Learning financial management without a mentor
- What happens at the 1Life Fully Lived Conference?
- Dare2Dream – visiting high schools for free to empower the students to learn about themselves through vision planning, finances, and wellness
- Going from victim to victor
You can learn more about Tim and his organization by emailing him at tim@timrhode.com or visiting www.1lifefullylived.org.
The 1LifeFullyLived Conference is October 12 and 13 in Long Beach, CA. Find details and apply online.
Daniel Griggs was not heavily recruited as a football player coming out of high school, but when there is a will there is a way. Daniel played for a Division III program and contact NFL programs religiously after graduation. He earned an opportunity to workout for two NFL teams before he launched his web development business. In this episode:
- Growing up in small town America and shining as an athlete
- Never receiving an offer to play football college, so he made his own highlight video and reached out to colleges himself
- How embarrassment on the field fueled his motivation to get stronger in the weight room
- How following up and relentlessness paved the way for him to receive an opportunity to workout for NFL teams
- Blowing the biggest opportunity of his life by changing his workout routine
- Transitioning to boxing
- Starting a web design business without having any IT experience
- Creative solution solving – his greatest asset as an athlete and as an entrepreneur
- Going from the Quarterback to the Coach of his business
- Balancing the responsibilities that come with a large family and a full time entrepreneur
- Your family is never an inconvenience to your business
You can follow Daniel on Instagram @danielogriggs and can learn more about his business at www.atxwebdesigns.com
Jim Munroe is a magician that travels all over the United States, but his show is one unlike anything you may expect. Jim incorporates his story of faith into his performance by sharing his story of beating cancer with his audience. His show leaves the audience with dropped jaws, and this interview will be sure to do the same for you. In this episode:
- Pursuing baseball in college and pursuing magic as a career
- Falling in love with magic at an early age
- Losing his co-performer, roommate, and best friend as a young adult
- Using the art of magic to start a much deeper discussion on faith
- Getting diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia
- “The worst sunburn on the inside of my body all of the time” – the toll that one’s body takes fighting cancer
- The staggering probability of finding a match in the National Bone Marrow Registry: 1 in 7,000,000
- Being born again on the 3rd day with new life-saving blood
- Beating cancer and creating a new magic show centered around his fight with cancer
- Meeting his marrow donor and challenged with her agnosticism
You can learn more about Jim at whatisthemaze.com, and you can follow him on social media @jimmunroe
Lisa Leann Dalton spent her entire career dancing in NYC before she transitioned to the world of rodeo in her early forties. After winning some rodeos in Texas, she was bucked off a horse during an event, and broke her neck. She was paralyzed for a couple of months and slowly regained some motor function. She is not the same person today with the same capabilities physically, but she has matured emotionally through it all. In this episode:
- Beginning ballet/dance at 17 years old and earning a scholarship for it
- Finding a dance career in NYC
- The emotional rollercoaster of auditions within the dance world
- Handling and processing rejection
- Dance is delicate, rodeo is rough, but both are difficult
- Competing in bareback bronco rodeo
- The similarities between dancing and rodeo
- Winning the biggest rodeo of the year in her first year as a rodeo star
- Breaking her neck in rodeo and becoming paralyzed
- Regaining motion bit by bit, moment by moment
- Getting back in the saddle again
- The good – How the injury led to a kinder and gentler version of herself
You can contact Lisa directly at @lisaleanne6914 on Instagram or lisaleann13@yahoo.com
Corrie LoGuidice overcame endured the grief of miscarriage, divorce, and the loss of a loved one to suicide in the span of 4 years. Today, she runs a coaching practice that teaches other survivors of adversity to find emotionally fulfilling lives and manage value driven businesses. In this episode:
- Becoming SVP of the family business, but doing so by earning the position
- How to earn respect from non-relative coworkers who use to know Corrie as a child
- Miscarriage, abuse within a relationship, divorce, and loss of a loved one from suicide within 4 years
- Learning how to process and accept grief while remaining open with other coworkers
- How the birth of her son opened her eyes to the abusive relationship she was living in
- Overcoming miscarriage by talking about it openly with others
- Blindsided by the shock of suicide by her boyfriend
- Why suicide cannot be compared to any other type of grief
- Finding help in a suicide loss survivor group
- Jumping into the coaching world of entrepreneur – coaching survivors of adversity create value driven businesses
- How helping someone on social media defeat suicidal thoughts turned into one of her best employees
- “Be unapologetically myself”
You can learn more about Corrie at www.corrielo.com and on social media @iamcorrielo
Diego Corzo is a "dreamer", an undocumented immigrant that came to the United States as a young child and calls the USA home. He was not able to get a job or a drivers license as a young adult because of his illegal alien status. However, his grit could not be defeated. He formed a business, invested in real estate, and became financially free at 27 years old.
- Growing up in Peru and coming to the United States as a “dreamer”
- What he could and could not do growing up as an undocumented immigrant
- What is DACA? What is a dreamer?
- Non-eligibility for work and scholarships led to a LLC and an IT business
- Grabbing the opportunity to speak up and share his voice on a national platform after DACA was canceled by the government
- Jumping into real estate through house hacking
- Financially free at 27 years old
- Supporting himself through college and paying the price of admission at the same time
- Working through a speech impediment to become confident in public speaking
- Giving a TED talk in his old college town – Tallahassee, Florida
- Helping other undocumented immigrants find affordable housing
- Build a bigger life, not a bigger lifestyle
You can follow Diego on Instagram @corzo.diego and you can learn more about him at www.househackingclub.com
Diego's TED talk can be listened to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfgUfgCZZ_I
Baxter Humby has lived his entire life without his right arm, but it hasn't stopped him from becoming a world champion kickboxer. In this episode:
- Losing his aright arm after entanglement with the umbilical cord at birth
- Standing up to bullies by fighting back
- How a seemingly weakness became a great strength
- The difference between tae kwon do vs. kickboxing vs. muay thai
- How did he get the nickname, “One Armed Bandit”?
- Making the Canadian Paralympic team as a long distance runner
- How he proved the doubters wrong and won a Kickboxing World Championship
- The only man in history to win world titles with one arm
- The only limits you have, are the ones you put on yourself
- Acting as a stunt double for major Hollywood productions
You can follow Baxter's Facebook fan page at https://www.facebook.com/BaxterOneArmBanditHumby/
Ebo Elder is a retired professional boxer who reached a ranking as high as the #5 lightweight boxer in the world. However, his battles continued outside of the ring. Ebo turned to drug and alcohol abuse after a painful divorce, but turned his life around when he found the Lord. He returned to boxing and fought the #4 fighter in the world in the biggest fight of his life inside the ring. However, the most triumphant moment of his life was pursuing his wife after divorce and remarrying her in a way that no one could have predicted. In this episode:
- Growing up to become a professional boxer since childhood
- Boxing grown men as an amateur teenage boxer
- Boxing the #1 ranked amateur fighter 7 times and losing 7 times
- Surviving a horrific motorcycle accident
- Knocking out his opponent in the 1st round of his first professional boxing fight
- The Greatback – coming back from divorce, depression, drug abuse, and defeat to find a fulfilling purpose in Jesus
- Experiencing marriage, divorce, and remarriage with his wife
- Why it is a bad idea to believe that marriage will solve preexisting relationship problems
- Finding out his wife filed for divorce the night of his US National Championship fight
- Contemplating suicide and almost going through with it, but turning to God at the last moment
- Fighting to get his wife back, and fighting in the ring
- Reentering boxing after a long break to take on the #4 boxer in the world
- Entering the 12th round of the toughest fight of his career
- Praying with his opponent in the ring after he knocked him out in the 12th
- Remarrying his wife in the most unforeseen way possible
- His daughter was a “rescue mission” to bring him and his wife back together
- Working through the pain of the past with his wife after their remarriage
Ebo Elder is the author of The Great Comeback: Coming Back from Abuse, Depression, Divorce and Defeat to Find Victory, Freedom and an Amazing Life. You can follow him on Instagram @eboelder and you can find out more about him at www.eboelder.com
Anthony Aguiniga is a Green Beret and the founder of a shoe company, Woobies. Anthony has a big plan to become the dominant shoe company in the industry. He shares how he overcame alcoholism and a lack of a fulfilled purpose in his career after the military to form the shoe company that he is so passionate about today. In this episode:
- Deciding to join the Army
- Starting his military career with no desire for infantry to only change his mind a few weeks in
- The path to become a Green Beret
- Swallowing his pride by leaving an intense career as a Green Beret to attend the fire academy in Dallas
- Struggling with alcoholism after the military
- Losing a mother to drugs and a father to alcoholism
- The creation and motive behind his shoe company, Woobies
- Why the name Woobies?
- Customer, Customer, Customer – What separates Woobies from the rest of the shoe industry
- Anthony’s unlikely admission process to Southern Methodist University MBA program … one of the best business schools in the country
- Finding his confidence in an academic setting through his entrepreneur experience
- Biggest challenge – sustaining his lean business model while gaining market share
You can follow Anthony on Instagram at @anthony_aginuiga and @woobiesshoes.
Haven is a 16 year old swimmer who hopes to earn her spot on the United States Paralympic team for the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. She lost her legs when she was an infant because of a failed suicide bomb attempt by her birth parents. She views her life with no legs as a blessing and embraces the potential opportunity to represent the United States as an elite athlete. In this episode:
- Surviving a family suicide attempt as an infant, but losing both legs below the knees
- Going to Dancing with the Stars at age 11
- Viewing her life without legs as a blessing
- Finding security in her identity which is far above swimmer, amputee, or athlete
- Gratefulness for adoption and her adoptive parents
- Feeling freedom while swimming
- 6-8 swimming practices/week, 3 crossfit workouts/week, swim 6,000 yards/day
- Implementing crossfit workouts into her training schedule
- Finding confidence in her family when she is in doubt
- Time experienced vs. time wasted
- Circumstances don’t determine one’s future
You can follow Haven and her journey on Instagram @havenfaithshepherd
Richard Miles was walking home one day when his life changed forever unexpectedly. He was arrested for murder and found guilty shortly after. He spent 15 years in prison before he was found innocent and exonerated. Once he was given his freedom, he decided to help others in Dallas adjust to their newfound freedom as well through Miles of Freedom. His organization provides resources and referrals to former inmates as they assimilate back into society. In this episode:
- Growing up in Oak Cliff, Dallas
- A normal walk home turns into suspect #1 arrest
- Arrested due to racial prejudice
- Finding a peace in being innocent
- Learn the system, and adjust to the order of the system
- The most brutal part of prison – the inability to choose
- Losing hope year 11 into prison
- I am in despair, I am a commodity, I must be useless
- Wrestling with God over injustice and his race
- Having faith before prison but working his faith for the first time in prison
- Words from my cell – A Bible Study in prison, regaining hope
- The shortest case Centurion has ever done – 15 month TAT
- Centurion vs. Innocence Project. Centurion – Specializing in non-DNA cases. Innocence Project – Specalizing in DNA-evidence based cases.
- Release in exoneration, Freedom in Innocence
- Miles of Freedom – His non-profit that helps anyone who was incarcerated, guilty or innocent, transition back into society with rehabilitation programs, education opportunities, and career resources/connections.
-
1 needed change in reform of the prison system – providing a quality of life for inmates once they are released from prison so they don’t return to life behind bars
- Success in life is determined by potential, not position
You can find out more information about Richard and Miles of Freedom on Facebook @MilesofFreedom and www.milesoffreedom.org
Todd Orr was born and raised in Montana, and is a modern-day mountain man. However, no amount of time spent in the wilderness can prepare a person for a grizzly bear attack, let alone 2 grizzly bear attacks in the same day. Todd survived both horrific attacks and shares why his love for nature will not fade. In this episode:
- Growing up in Montana and working outside every single day.
- A normal hike one day turns into a fight for survival with a grizzly bear
- Bit 5-6 times in the right arm and shoulder
- How to properly avoid an encounter with a bear, or protect yourself if it attacks
- Playing dead while feeling the breath of a grizzly bear on his neck
- Walking down the trail to safety and getting attacked by the bear for a 2nd time
- Suffering a broken left forearm from the bite of a grizzly
- A foot away from her face and staring into the eyes of a grizzly
- Surviving 2 bear attacks and hiking 3 miles back down a trail to his car
- Recovering after multiple surgeries and stitches
- Returning to the woods and conquering fear
You can follow Todd on Instagram @todd_orr. You can also checkout his custom knives collection that are available for purchase at www.skybladeknives.com
Trip Hawkins built Electronic Arts and created the most widespread and popular sports video game of all time, Madden. He pioneered the video game industry and is one of the most well known video game creators in the industry. Trip went on to start many more companies with various levels of success. He is a professor at UC-Santa Barbara now. In this episode:
- Getting hooked on the idea of video games at an early age
- Creating his own major at Harvard – Strategy and Applied Game Theory, and becoming a pioneer
- Finding a mentor in Tom Schelling, Noble Prize Winner, at Harvard
- Trailblazing his own path to learn more about computers and video games
- Joining Steve Jobs’ team and working for Apple
- Leaving Apple and launching Electronic Arts
- The birth of EA Sports - Having the first ever celebrity, Dr.J, involved with making a video game; Dr. J and Larry Bird go 1-on-1
- Creating the most interactive sports game of all time – Madden football
- How the biggest strength can become a blind spot and become the biggest weakness
- Ego – the most potent part of the subconscious
- Leaving EA, his first baby, behind and forming 3DO
- Overcoming bankruptcy and the dissolve of 3DO
- Finding gratitude in anything
- Not tying yourself to an outcome or desire
- Helping other technology startup entrepreneurs with his consulting practice
- Why Tetrus and Fortnite have Trip’s utmost respect
You can find more information on Trip at https://tmp.ucsb.edu/about/people/trip-hawkins
Haley Moss is the first openly autistic person to pass the Florida BAR exam and become an attorney. She is now practicing healthcare law in Miami. In this episode:
- What is autism?
- Her symptoms and signs at an early age
- Struggling to make friends and overcoming sensory overload
- Overcoming indirect bullying due to a lack of awareness
- Advocacy – not doing politics; being able to make a decision for herself
- Deciding to pursue law for the first time while she was an undergrad
- The spoon theory, a way of looking at energy allocation throughout the day
- Writing 2 books to help others with autism navigate through middle school and college
- Adjusting to her new career
- Haley’s suggestions on how to treat a person with autism
- Different can be extraordinary
You can follow Haley on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @haleymossart, or you can check her website out www.haleymoss.net
Brad Smeele was a professional wakeboarder at the top of the sport performing tricks that no one else could do. However, during one attempt at a trick, Brad crashed into a ramp and broke his neck. He instantly lost the ability to move his arms and legs. He learned to live life without the physical talent he once had, and instead embraces the deeper perspective he has gained. In this episode:
- Falling in love with wakeboarding
- Becoming a professional athlete and training year round
- The first ever to land a specific trick and winning Trick of the Year
- How another attempt at the trick led to permanent injury
- Learning how to live life as a quadriplegic
- Losing his identity in his physical talent and abilities, and gaining a greater perspective
- The Movement Collaborative – Trying to speed up the research process by collaborating with other spinal injury organizations to find a cure
- The Keep or Cut Challenge – Taking the challenge involves taking the risk of allowing your friends, family and followers to vote on whether you keep or cut your hair in order to raise money for spinal injury research.
- "I wish everyone could learn what I’ve learned in my journey without having to go through what I’ve had to go through."
- Breakdowns lead to breakthroughs
Brad is the founder of The Movement Collaborative. You can find out more information about the organization here, http://themovementcollaborative.com/. And you can follow Brad on Instagram @bradsmeele
Mark Grant grew up with parents who were addicted to alcohol. He eventually lost both of his parents to alcohol related deaths. However, Mark decided to never drink alcohol throughout his life and became a successful sports journalism major at LSU. Early in his career he became a director for ESPN, and he is 1 of 10 directors for CBS Sports now. In this episode:
- Growing up with an alcoholic father
- Becoming the man of the house after his dad left when Mark was 16 years old
- Watching his mother turn into an alcoholic herself after his father left
- Grieving two parents that passed away due to alcoholism
- Learning to be like the good in his dad
- Never seeing his father again after he abandoned Mark’s family
- Changing majors from pre-med to broadcast journalism
- Pursuing ESPN wholeheartedly
- “Sometimes the opportunity hits you on the side of the head”
- TV Director – Conducting the TV team orchestra
- Overcoming racial prejudice in the industry
- Holding 1 of only 10 Director spots for CBS Sports
You can follow Mark on Twitter @megcbstv.
Stephen Wampler is the first man with cerebral palsy to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He created a stretcher and pulley apparatus that allowed him to pull himself up 2-6 inches at a time which equaled over 20,000 pull-ups over the course of his 6 day ascent. Stephen is also the founder of Camp Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs, or Camp Wamp for short. This organization sponsors children with disabilities to experience all of the fun activities of the great outdoors in Lake Tahoe, California. He empowers them to live beyond their disability. In this episode:
- Growing up with Cerebral Palsy
- Viewing disability with humor rather than shame
- Outdoors is a challenging classroom to learn how to overcome the obstacles of life
- Pushing through the fear of rejection and finding a wife and raising children
- Camp WAMP – providing the ultimate outdoor experience for children with disabilities; helping the kids achieve more than they ever thought possible
- The first person with Cerebral Palsy to climb El Capitan
- Gym time = 6 days a week, 5 hours a day, 3,000 pullups at twice his body weight, everyday
- Climbing 2000ft of El Capitan, 6 days to complete, 20,000 pullups, 2-6 inches per pullup
- Getting back down the mountain with the help of Marines
- Inspiring others with his climb and using it to grow his foundation
You can find out more information about Stephen and Camp WAMP at www.wamplerfoundation.org. Please contribute to this worthy cause or ask your employer to become a part of Project 120 at https://www.wamplerfoundation.org/donate.html. You can follow Stephen on Twitter and Instagram @stephenjwampler
Mackenson Bonnell was born in Haiti and lost his parents as a teenager. He became the caretaker of his younger siblings, and eventually developed Type I Diabetes when he was living at an orphanage. He was adopted by US parents and together they formed Kay Mackenson which is a clinic in Haiti that provides treatment and education to Haitians regarding diabetes. Mackenson just finished his collegiate career in soccer and is hoping to attend physical therapy school in the near future. In this episode:
- Growing up in Haiti
- Losing his parents at a young age and becoming the caretaker of his siblings at 13 years old
- Having faith and trusting God throughout his loss
- Learning English at the orphanage
- Waiting 3 years to get adopted and live in the United States
- Diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at 17
- Forming the Kay Mackenson Clinic – Providing healthcare and diabetes education to Haitians
- Overcoming the culture shock of transitioning to small town Texas
- Earning a position on a collegiate soccer team without playing high school soccer
You can find out more information about Mackenson's clinic at https://www.kaymackenson.org/ and you can follow him on Instagram @mpbonnell
You can grab a copy of my book, Underdog - True Stories of Overcoming Adversity, which features 10 stories from the first 40 episodes of the podcast at www.underdogpc.com/book, or on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Brett Bramble has been affected by the harmful side effects of drug abuse both directly and indirectly. He was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug possession, and lost his sister, Brittany, to a drug overdose shortly after he was freed from prison. He decided to take action against drug addiction and walked across America twice to raise awareness of the harmful side effects of drug abuse. He is now planning to open Freedom to Grow which will be a drug rehabilitation center in Georgia. In this episode:
- Violating probation and being sentenced to prison for 18 months
- Breaking addiction through counseling
- Losing his sister to drug overdose
- Taking action by raising awareness against the harmful effects of drug use by walking across America to find relief from pain
- The strong support community he met along his walk
- Meeting a woman in Kansas City who also lost her sister, Brittany, to drug overdose
- Raising money for his own non-profit Freedom to Grow
- Walking across America a second time and becoming the first person to finish the East Coast Greenway
- Having a stranger join the walk for 300 miles and 3 weeks so that she could save her own life from addiction
- Having his dog accompany him for most of the 1st walk and all of the 2nd walk
You can find out more information on Brett at www.brettbramblewalks.com as well as on Facebook @brettbramblewalks.
John Peck served as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his second deployment, an IED detonated after he stepped on it, and he lost all four of his limbs. After a long road to recovery, he received a double arm transplant and became the second veteran ever to receive this life-changing surgery. He has regained motor function in his arms and he can accomplish numerous tasks that most never thought he would be able to again. In this episode:
- Being broke down and built back up during Hell Week in the Marines
- The brotherhood mindset in the military
- Excitement to deploy
- No regrets in serving as a Marine and sustaining injuries
- 1st tour of duty to Iraq: enduring a frontal tear in his brain lobe that led to a 21 year loss of memory
- 2nd tour of duty to Afghanistan: stepping on an IED and losing all 4 limbs
- The pain of divorce after losing his limbs
- Overcoming suicidal thoughts by learning that he can find love as an amputee
- Becoming the second veteran ever to receive a double arm transplant
- Relearning how to wiggle his fingers
- Throwing out the first pitch with new arms at a baseball game
You can follow John at "John Peck's Journey" on Facebook. He has a new book coming out on May 7th called Rebuilding Sergeant Peck that you will be able to find in any bookstore.
Travis Mewhirter picked up sand volleyball for the first time at 24 years old and found a way to become a professional athlete in this sport. Life on the beach as a sand volleyball player may seem glamorous, but there are often extensive hardships outside of the court that all sand volleyball professional players deal with day-in and day-out. Travis shares how he turned pro, the sacrifices he has had to make, and why he loves this sport above all others. In this episode:
- How a bartender initiated his interest in volleyball
- Sacrificing brand name credibility in his career with the Washington Post to pursue a better lifestyle
- The training, practice, and regimen that a 24 year old with no volleyball experience did to become a pro
- Newfound motivation after getting embarrassed in his first professional competition
- Pursuing greatness in a sport that doesn't offer much financial compensation, even if you are one of the best in the world
- Using a passion to create a platform and find a career in writing about volleyball
- The man in the arena
- The most exhausting sand volleyball day ever
- How his best friend retired from volleyball for 2 years due to an autoimmune disease and returned to compete at an elite level
Travis Mewhirter is the co-host of the Sandcast Beach Volleyball Podcast and the author of We Were Kings: A Deep Dive Inside the Lives of Professional Beach Volleyball Players. You can buy his book on Amazon or online at Barnes and Noble. You can follow Travis on Instagram @trammew and on Twitter @tram_mew.
Yonas Hagos was born in Africa and grew up in a Sudanese refugee camp before he came to America as a young boy. He enlisted in the Army after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and was hit by an RPG in Iraq during his tour of duty. He survived and went on to become a successful serial entrepreneur in Illinois. In this episode:
- Growing up in a Sudanese refugee camp
- Muslim vs. Christian persecution
- Family is important and family must stick together
- Coming to the United States and living in the projects but feeling like a king
- Learning English, preserving Ethiopian culture, and avoiding the hood life by listening to his parents
- Serving in Iraq and getting hit with an RPG
- Overcoming PTSD and how he views it now
- Transitioning to an entrepreneur: 16 Dunkin Donuts, 2 Pet Supplies Plus, and a gun manufacturing company
- Persistence beats resistance
You can find out more information about Yonas at www.yonashagos.com or on his public Facebook profile https://www.facebook.com/yonashagospage/
Dr. Edna Ma is an anesthesiologist that used her medical knowledge to create a product called BareEase. She wanted to raise money for her business by pitching her product on Shark Tank, but before she was given the chance to do so, she had to prove her worthiness on another reality TV show, Survivor. In this episode:
- Learning from Chinese immigrant parents
- Choosing the field of anesthesiology
- Using her physician experience to create an everyday anesthetic consumer product
- Creative finance approach to fundraising: becoming a contestant on Survivor
- The most difficult part of being a contestant on Survivor
- Getting onto Shark Tank and not getting a deal but gaining publicity
- Becoming a children's author
- Handling a hectic workload
- Wake up living the dream
You can learn more about Dr. Ma at her web site www.ednama.com and you can follow her on Instagram @dr.ednama
David Osborn is a serial entrepreneur, a real estate mogul, and the best selling author of Wealth Can't Wait. He built the 4th largest real estate business in the USA among many other successful businesses. But he found himself dead broke and unemployed at 26 before he embarked on his journey to create a life of his design. In this episode:
- Learning that it doesn't take money to have a fulfilling life
- The pros and cons of capitalism in a worldview
- Learning real estate from Gary Keller and building an empire
- Success is not about the destination, it's about the journey
- Making an effort to be successful with his family
- Wealth Can't Wait - What wealth is and what wealth is not
You can find out more about David at www.davidosborn.com and you can visit www.thegoaltemplate.com to get a free copy of the template that he uses to set goals. In addition, you can buy a copy of his book, Wealth Can't Wait, at any book retailer near you.
Kacey McCallister lost both of his legs at the age of six in a terrible accident. He never made an excuse for himself and went on to succeed in all areas of life. He won championships in wrestling and cross country in high school. Now, he competes in Spartan Races across the country on his hands. In this episode:
- Losing his legs at six years old
- Learning how to complete chores and other daily tasks without making excuses
- Gaining confidence through wrestling
- How a coach taught him the meaning of grit
- Winning the district meet in cross country, and placing 2nd in the state in wrestling
- Finding his spouse and raising five kids
- The most difficult obstacle of every Spartan Race
- All alone at the Seattle Beast, but finding a way to finish
- Deciding at the beginning of each race that he won't quit
- "That looks impossible. Let's go do that!"
You can find out more information about Kacey at http://www.riseupwithkacey.com/. You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram @riseupwithkacey
The old saying "Don't reinvent the wheel" doesn't apply to these two entrepreneurs. David Patrick and Zack Fleishman are the creators and founders of Shark Wheel which is a revolutionary wheel design and product. The circle wheel had not been redesigned for thousands and thousands of years until their unique product came along. Their product has generated an incredible amount of interest and their popularity helped them land a spot on TV's hit show, Shark Tank. In this episode:
- Dedicating an entire childhood to one sport
- Sustaining a devastating injury at the height of one's athletic career
- Going from the mortgage banking software industry to reinventing the wheel
- How overburdened stress caused a health scare
- The intersection between a sphere and a cube
- How the passion for science formed a new business partnership
- Making 800% of their Kickstarter funding goal in the first 30 days
- Agreeing to a deal with 3 of the Sharks on Shark Tank
- Finding a new product market after the episode aired
You can find out more information about David and Zack at https://sharkwheel.com/about-us/
Mark Crandall is a licensed counselor, a mindset coach, an author, and a motivational speaker. He grew up in the foster care system which resulted in many emotional issues as a teenager and adult. He eventually turned to drugs which landed him in prison for seven years. But while he was in prison he made a decision to change his life around. In this episode:
- Growing up in foster care
- "Some day you're going to soar with the eagles"
- Learning how to connect with other human beings
- Balancing the troubles that plagued his biological parents
- Viewing counseling as a child vs. as an adult
- Overcoming the addiction to heroin
- Spending seven years in prison
- The moment when he asked himself, "What am I doing?"
- Finding his spiritual strength in prison
- Everything in my past happened for me, not to me
- Breaking free from the victim mentality
- The best advice for foster kids
- I am unstoppable
You can find out more information about Mark at www.markcrandall.net. He is the host of the Purpose Chasers Podcast, and he is the author of Eulogy of Childhood Memories.
Shelly Ehler is the creator and founder of ShowNo Towel which is a towel that is worn like a poncho and has multiple functions. Shelly was asked by the producers of the hit TV show, Shark Tank, to pitch her product on the show. Shelly is the only entrepreneur to leave with a signed check in hand after her pitch. However, many unforeseen circumstances happened after the camera stopped recording. In this episode:
- Creating a product/business idea overnight
- How Shark Tank found her even though she didn't have an interest in an audition at first
- How positive peer pressure from a close friend can change the course of a business
- The difference between confidence vs. cockiness
- Thinking quickly on her feet: How she won the sharks over after initial push back to have 3 of the shark investors competing for her partnership
- The truth about how Shark Tank deals are finalized behind the scenes that is not shared on television
- How to navigate the frustration of a bait-and-switch tactic in a business deal
- Gaining a broader perspective when things don't go a certain way
- Closing a business and reopening it with a newfound passion and meaning
- Finding new ways for a product to benefit a certain market
You can find out more information about Shelly at http://shellyjehler.com/
Stephen Neal won a national championship in wrestling in college before he walked-onto the New England Patriots as an offensive lineman. He is one of a few players ever to play in the NFL without playing college football. He was a member of the Patriots teams that won Super Bowls 36, 38, and 39. In this episode:
- Being challenged to wrestle as a football player in high school
- Becoming a 4-time All-American, and a 4-time Academic All-American in college
- Facing former UFC Heavyweight Champion of the World in the national championship for wrestling and winning
- How wrestling prepared him for the NFL
- Walking onto the New England Patriots without playing college football
- Overcoming repetitive shoulder injuries throughout his career
- Winning the 1999 World Championship in Wrestling
- Best memory from the NFL and his favorite players
- What does he cherish most: World Champion or Superbowl Champion?
Stephen Neal currently resides in San Diego, California with his wife and kids.
Rey Ybarra is the author of "Conversations with Shark Tank Winners" and has interviewed many of the most successful entrepreneurs from the hit TV show Sharktank. Many of the stories that he has captured include stories of overcoming adversity and Rey's story includes that as well. Rey was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a number of years ago and suffers from severe chronic pain on most days. However, that pain did not stop him from pursuing his goal to write this book. In this episode:
- The importance of storytelling
- Beginning an idea with the back of a business card
- Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- Rey's favorite sharktank stories
- Working out, lobster rolls, and sub-zero ice cream
- Helping veterans through Sharks & Stripes
You can follow Rey on Instagram @ry_media and email him at info@sharktankeffect.com
You can sign up for Rey's free success strategy video series here: https://mediapreneurmadness.lpages.co/free-success-strategies-video-series/
Tommy Green is the lead singer of the band Sleeping Giant. He is a rock star who pours his heart into his music. A lot of that passion comes from the pain he experienced growing up. Tommy had to overcome an abusive father which led to many mistakes and immoral decisions as a teenager and young adult. However, Tommy was freed from all of that once he experienced grace. In this episode:
- Growing up in a household with divorce parents
- Feeling like a burden to his father and being viewed as an extra child support payment
- How his father's neglect shaped his decision making in high school and after graduation
- Overcoming the guilt of contributing to infidelity
- Forming the band Sleeping Giant and taking on a new platform
- Finding God throughout seasons of life and abandoning a sinful life
- How hardcore rock music helped Tommy become the person he is today
You can learn more about Tommy and his non-profit organization "I Run Against Traffic" at www.irunagainsttraffic.com and can find his music on any streaming platform that you use.
Dr. Geoff Tabin is a professor at Stanford University and is on a mission to eradicate unnecessary blindness from all corners of the globe. This Doctor of Ophthalmology co-founded the Cure Blindness Project which began in the Himalayan region and has restored vision to over 625,000 people worldwide. Dr. Tabin is also the fourth person in the world to summit the tallest peak on all seven continents. In this episode:
- Getting through Yale (undergrad), Oxford (master's), and Harvard (doctorate) all in one piece
- Using grant money as a graduate student to climb the most difficult side of Mount Everest
- The journey to climb the tallest peak on all seven continents
- How a passion for climbing fueled a newfound passion for medicine and healthcare in third world countries
- Partnering with Dr. Sanduk Ruit in 1995 with one mission - eliminate all blindness in the Himalayan Region
- How blindness decreases life expectancy by 33%
- What is a cataract?
- Reverse engineering a process to create biomedical sustainability with limited resources
- Dropping the price of a cataract surgery from $200 to $25
- Juggling many responsibilities by handling them one step at a time
- Creating local economic models for all members of the socioeconomic classes
- Curing the world from blindness
You can find more information on Dr. Tabin and Dr. Ruit at www.cureblindness.org. You can purchase Dr. Tabin's book "Blind Corners" on Amazon and you can read about this project in "Second Suns" by David Oliver Relin.
Kyle Oxford experienced the pain of divorce especially after he tried multiple times to keep it together. The pain of infidelity can be unbearable. Kyle turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain in self-destructive behavior. However, through the help of a buddy and a new female companion, he put those activities behind and regained self-confidence in himself and love once more. In this episode:
- Dreams for marriage
- Discovering a spouse's infidelity: How do you respond?
- Fighting for love when it seems pointless
- Coping mechanisms of heartbreak - the good and the bad
- Overcoming drugs and alcohol
- The power of brotherhood
- Relearning how to love again and trust another woman
- Remarried and living life to the fullest with a family
Kyle can be reached at kyleLoxford@gmail.com
It was love at first lift for Stephen Moore after he finished his first workout in the weight room. He fell in love with powerlifting and dreamed that he would compete in the strongman competitions one day. However, one day he was hit by another vehicle while on his motorcycle and lost his leg below the knee in surgery. A lost leg did not stop Stephen and he went on to not only compete in the strongman competition, but win a few of them, too. In this episode:
- The passion for fitness and strength building
- Getting hit while riding a motorcycle
- The depression that came after losing his leg
- Relearning how to lift with proper form with a prosthetic
- Placing 1st out of 17 competitors in the strongman competition with a prosthetic leg
- Squat 465lbs, Deadlift 500lbs
- 35 reps on the Car Deadlift
- Relating to clients who have never lifted before
Stephen is a personal trainer in Austin, Texas. You can follow him on Instagram @cybernetic_powerlifter
Shay Eskew is ranked in the top 1% of the world in the Ironman endurance race. He was burned on 35% of his body at 8 years old. He endured over 35 surgeries throughout his lifetime to become the athlete and motivational speaker that he is today. In this episode:
- 35% of burns on body turns to 65% with no insurance
- Ear amputation with no pain medicine and relearning how to lift his arm over his head after three years of rehab
- The drive to become an athlete so that people discover your story
- Overcoming childhood bullying
- Preparing for surgery with jumping jacks, push ups, and sit ups
- Winning championships in wrestling and boxing
- Becoming and ironman and being ranked top 1% worldwide
- Knowing each race that you will suffer and welcoming it
- Embrace the Suck
- Applying his athletic mindset to the corporate world
- Finishing 62/62 races
Shay Eskew is the author of "What the Fire Ignited" which will be released in September 2018. You can read more about Shay at www.shayeskew.com
Rob Pope was inspired by the movie Forrest Gump and decided to retrace Forrest's steps. Rob is the only man in history to run across the United States four times. This Englishman ran 422 days and over 15,000 miles to earn his stripes as the real life Forrest Gump. After all, he just felt like runnin! In this episode:
- Intrigued to do what no one has ever done before
- The unwavering support of a girlfriend and the comfort of Jenny
- Each step of the journey across America ... 4 times
- Raising money for the World Wildlife Fund and Peace Direct
- Overcoming financial and physical hardship
- Each new state brings new pain
- Funny stories in different parts of the country
- His favorite parts of the USA
You can learn more about Rob at www.goingthedistancerun.com or on Facebook @RunRoblaRun. Rob would love for you to donate money to the charities that he supports: https://www.worldwildlife.org/ and https://www.peacedirect.org/us/
Toni McKinley is a counselor and a guest speaker, and was a victim of sex trafficking when she was a child. Toni overcame manipulation by men and a lack of trust in anyone to become a pillar of hope in her community. She is a part of many organizations that work to stop trafficking and rehabilitate girls who have been victimized. Her non-profit, Survivor Sisters Leadership Program, is made up of previous victims of this trade that mentor incarcerated girls who are locked up due to crimes they committed under the duress of their pimp. Toni hopes to help as many girls as she can and keep them from returning to the streets. In this episode:
- Getting caught in trafficking ... how does it happen?
- The psychological manipulation behind trafficking
- Why victims are afraid to speak up
- Losing trust and all hope in the good of people
- The profound impact that a teacher can make
- Getting her college degree after cheating her way through high school
- How your own child can turn your life around forever
- Finding faith in God in the most bizarre way
- Starting an organization that helps these victims break the chains of abuse
- What can we do in the local community to stop trafficking?
You can find out more about Toni at www.tonimckinley.com and you can purchase her book "What Happened to Me?! Healing for Sex Trafficking Survivors" on that web site.
Kacey Gorringe was addicted to drugs throughout most of his life and could not break the habit until he was arrested for drug possession. During his short stay in jail he finally decided to come clean and leave a life full of heroin and cocaine behind. He received the blessing of a lifetime to return to college, earn his degree, and found a great job right out of school. However, he felt a deeper calling for his life and left his six-figure job behind to pursue his own business. He packed up his belongings from Utah and moved to Texas to begin a business in real estate. He now runs a successful operation in Austin and helps homeowners avoid the foreclosure process; one that he experienced during his drug abuse days. In this episode:
- The power of addiction
- How drugs destroys the body, mind, and relationships
- Trying to quit but returning to the same old habit
- The eye opener - getting arrested and going to jail
- Getting foreclosed on and losing your most valued asset
- Changing directions in life and aspiring to do something more with your gifts and talents
- Leaving job security behind to pursue an entrepreneurial passion
- Why it is so important to discover your own "why"
- Giving back to the community - why should you?
You can reach out to Kacey on Facebook at Kacey Gorringe. He would love to help you with any addiction struggles that you are going through!
Drew Manning is the founder of Fit2Fat2Fit and has influenced millions around the world as a personal trainer. Drew had a radical idea to give up his fitness lifestyle and become obese on purpose within 6 months to better empathize with his clients struggles in losing weight. He returned to his natural weight and lifestyle with a better perspective within a matter of months of returning to a steady diet and hitting the gym. Drew not only shares what he learned about fitness, but what he learned about his self-image during the process. In this episode:
- The passion of fitness
- How did he view his clients as a personal trainer before he became fat?
- The birth of the idea of Fit2Fat2Fit and how Drew remained accountable
- The hardships of gaining weight, what was the most difficult?
- The statistics: 193lbs to 269lbs; 8.5% body fat to 32% body fat, 34in waist to 47.5in waist and much more
- The hardships of losing weight and returning to a healthy diet
- Wrestling with self-image and physical appearance
- How this radical idea changed his perspective on fitness forever
Drew is the best-selling author of "Fit2Fat2Fit". You can pick up a copy of his book on Amazon or at a book store near you. For more information on Drew and his journey please visit www.fit2fat2fit.com
Carolyn Bostrack is a single mother of three wonderful children, a phd, an author, a keynote speaker, and an advocate for many different organizations within her community. She was sexually abused and emotionally abused as a child and throughout her teenage years. This horrible dynamic and resulting image of love led her into an abusive and manipulative marriage. After the birth of her daughter she found the courage to leave her ex-husband and begin a new life with a new definition of "unconditional" love. In this episode:
- Growing up in an abusive household with a hoarder
- Growing into womanhood and struggling with the image of who a man should be
- How to muster the courage to leave an abusive ex behind
- How to persevere through homelessness with an infant daughter
- Putting yourself to the test: full-time work, being a student, being a mother, writing a book, and speaking across the nation
- FIERCE - Getting through each day, 5 minutes at a time
- How to overcome the painful memories of the past
- Keep on dreaming
You can discover more of Carolyn's story on her web site: http://carolyncolleen.com/ and you can purchase her book, "FIERCE - Transform Your Life in the Face of Adversity 5 Minutes at a Time" on Amazon.
Kelubia Mabatah was an outstanding tennis player in high school and in college before he went pro. When his career ended he moved to Africa to work for his father's business. One night he was brutally attacked by four armed men who left him to die for reasons that are still unknown. Kel survived through four brain surgeries and had to relearn how to walk and how to talk again. In this episode:
- The sport of tennis and why it is beloved by Kel
- The night of the attack ... what happened?
- Persevering through painful rehab and physical therapy
- The struggles of re-learning how to speak again and the therapy of reading
- How Kel views God and the divine timing of it all
- What did it feel like to play tennis again?
- Being honored by your high school
- Rehab as a full-time job while writing a book
Kelubia can be followed on Instagram @kmabatah
Jon Vroman inspires others to Live Life In The Front Row™ by teaching the art of moment making. He is an award-winning speaker, #1 bestselling author of The Front Row Factor, podcast host and founder of Front Row Foundation, a charity creating front row experiences for individuals who brave life-threatening illnesses. In this episode:
- How to learn the art of being interested and interesting
- Why Rudy is the best inspirational movie ever
- A soul check: How do I give back and contribute to society?
- Front Row Foundation - Creating epic life experiences for those who need it the most
- Why it is important to be in the front row of someone else's life stage
- Kickstart fundraising for a charity with a double marathon
- Adventure is not convenient & how a changed mindset can change results
- Hope for the future and celebrating the past gives us power in the present
Jon is the author of "The Front Row Factor" and travels the country inspiring others to consciously create experiences and celebrate the meaningful moments of life. You can find out more about him at www.frontrowfactor.com
Harry Patten is the foremost buyer and seller of rural and recreational land in the United States and is the owner of National Land Partners LLC. He started his journey as a child in Vermont traveling with his dad who was a suit salesman. He learned the art of selling from his father and became fascinated with real estate. His net worth is in the billions and he is a dedicated philanthropist. In this episode:
- Rags to riches, how he got from pennies and nickels to over a billion dollars in net worth
- The top performing stock on NYSE in 1986
- Giving back to Massachusetts General Hospital and Horatio-Alger Scholarship Program and why it is important to him
- Creating a business that generates over $200 million in revenue every year
- The #1 piece of advice for young entrepreneurs
You can find out more about Harry on his web site: http://www.pattenfamilycompanies.com/t-harry-patten.html
Michael Vaudreuil lost everything in the 2008 recession and took the best opportunity in front of him at the time which was a custodian position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He took classes by day and cleaned floors by night over 8 years to earn his degree in mechanical engineering. His story went viral and he was immediately hired by a huge aerospace engineering company right after college. In this episode:
- The effects of the 2008 financial crisis
- How unconditional support in a marriage can transform someone's life
- Taking classes and taking a custodian job at 46 years old
- The fuel that kept him pursuing his degree
- What it feels like to walk across the graduation stage after 8 years of academic work
- Walking through the cancer diagnosis of a spouse
- Why choosing the best opportunity in front of you tends to be the correct way to go
You can reach out to Michael on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/michael.vaudreuil.3
Jimmy Sides was serving the United States in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded and left him without his right arm and without vision in his left eye. This led him to find a new way to serve his country and he eventually became a Paralympic Snowboarder for the United States in South Korea in 2018. In this episode:
- What is it like to be an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician?
- The bomb exploded - now what?
- Deciding to amputate another part of your arm
- Picking up everything you own, moving to another state, and chasing your dream
- Making the Olympic team and what that challenge is like
You can follow Jimmy on Instagram @jimmstagram66
Dr. Cooper coined the term "aerobics" and began the fitness and exercise revolution. But, when he first started he was ridiculed by the medical community, and was told that he was going to harm people and not help people. Well, Dr. Cooper proved them wrong, has traveled all over the world, wrote numerous best selling books, and has led countless people to a healthy life. In this episode:
- How he proved aerobic exercise equals longevity
- Trailblazing the medical field
- Overcoming critical experts from the medical community
- The 8 steps to get Cooperized and live a healthy life
- Overcoming a facility fire and financial debt to pursue a passion
- The 4 keys to Dr. Cooper's success
- Speaking in front of 223,000 people in Rio de Janeiro with Billy Graham
- What it means to pass your business onto your child
You can find out more info about Dr. Cooper at www.cooperaerobics.com
Christy is one of six Air Force pilots to return to the sky after an amputation and is the first female of the group. She lost her leg in a boating accident and discusses her amazing comeback story. She is also the founder of One Leg Up On Life Foundation which provides prosthetics to the poor in Haiti. In this episode:
- Reacting and surviving after a tragic event
- Why she never doubted that she would return to the skies
- Fighting through rehab and adjusting to life with a prostethic leg
- The importance of sibling relationships
- Why Christy decided to form her non-profit organization and the coolest moment from her time in Haiti
Christy is preparing to embark overseas on her first tour of duty. You can find out more about her and her organization at www.oneleguponlife.org
Matt Pearce is a police officer for the city of Fort Worth, Texas. He was shot 5 times by a wanted criminal in a heated pursuit. He should have died as many major organs were hit, yet he survived and returned to the police force after 20 months of recovery. In this episode:
- Chasing down the suspect
- How to survive with split-second decision making skills
- Fighting through recovery with goals in mind
- Why reaching out to others who have gone through similar circumstances is so beneficial
- Life as a police officer - how is life different than the normal citizen's?
- Respect - why it is important in and out of the streets
- The best things about being a cop and the city of Fort Worth
Matt can be reached through the Fort Worth Police Department Facebook page. Watch the video footage of his pursuit of the criminal.
Cancer is devastating at any age but especially for someone at 16 years old. Beating that cancer over a couple of years to only have it relapse back into your life is even more devastating. But what if the brutality of the cancer drugs that were concocted to save your life also led to the poisoning of your heart? Shae Brown beat cancer twice and then she was told that she needed a heart transplant. She survived all three and crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon side-by-side with her donor's father. In this episode:
- Fighting cancer as a teenager
- Miraculous healings
- Doubting God and trusting God
- Relapsing back into cancer and having to fight it for a longer duration
- The "Red Devil" is attacking your heart
- The physical and emotional roller coaster of life
- Receiving a heart transplant and running a marathon with your donor's father
- How to stay positive and encouraged throughout a life spent in the hospital
You can reach out to Shae through email brownshae670@gmail.com
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Sophia Danenberg is the first black woman and the first African American woman to summit Mount Everest successfully. She is a Harvard graduate, an avid climber, and has a successful career with Boeing. She shares her story on Everest and what it was like to find success on the tallest mountain in the world. In this episode:
- How do you prepare your body for 29,000 feet above sea level
- The difference between pushing yourself and making wise decisions
- How to plan ahead and execute flawlessly when plans change
- Overcoming a storm, bronchitis, and a clogged oxygen mask on top of the mountain
- Coming back down the mountain - the other half of the battle
- Climbing a mountain vs. climbing the corporate ladder - are there any similarities?
You can find more information on Sophia on her web site www.danenberg.org and you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Orville Rogers started to run at the age of 50 and shattered 15 world records in between the ages of 90 and 100. He is the fastest 100 year old to ever live. He was recently featured on SportsCenter and continues to defy father time with an exceptional active lifestyle. In this episode:
- Serving in WWII and training WWII pilots
- Orville's best flight stories and missions
- Beginning his running career at the age of 50
- Shattering 15 racing World Records
- The Rivalry - racing against Dixon Hemphill
- The secret to a long and successful marriage
Orville is the author of "The Running Man" and you can find out more information about him at orvillerogers.com
Here is a link to his feature on SportsCenter on ESPN
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On June 10, 2008, Carol Decker was like any other expectant mother: full of anticipation and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her second child. But in a matter of hours, a massive infection had her fighting for her life. The infection resulted in the amputation of three limbs and blindness.Carol has battled intense pain, despair and frustration - but now she is embarking upon a new career as a motivational speaker helping others deal with similar challenges. In this episode:
- What is sepsis?
- Overcoming the physical and psychological affects of losing three limbs and eyesight in a moment without warning
- Setting goals that are unique and specific for your passions
- How to deal and combat depression
- Relearning how to live a new life with new challenges
- The unbreakable bond between a mother and her children
- Let go, embrace the moment, and have fun
You can find out more about Carol and her story at caroljdecker.com Her book "Unshattered: Overcoming Tragedy and Choosing a Beautiful Life" will become available in June 2018.
Self-made millionaire, bestselling author & world renowned speaker Rock Thomas skyrocketed to success, earning awards, shattering records, and becoming one of the top fifty realtors in the world after starting from humble beginnings as a poor farm boy in Canada. Searching for more meaning in a life filled with achievements, he traveled the world, studying one-on-one with the world’s best teachers, including masterminds of growth like Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, and more. Over the years Rock has touched millions of lives and now, he spends his time helping others achieve whole-life wealth & success through events, programs, books, and coaching. In this episode:
- Discovering and molding a great work ethic at an early age
- Overcoming a broken home with "emotionally absent" parents
- The words that follow "I am" follow you so become your brain's master programmer
- Why it is so important to evaluate the 5 people you spend time with the most
- How to create value first and make money later
- The best story with Tony Robbins
- Learning to love yourself throughout life
Rock Thomas is frequently traveling the world sharing his knowledge and wisdom with others. You can find out more about him on his web site: http://new.rockthomas.com/ and on Facebook and Instagram @rockthomas. You can find his book, "The Power of Your Identity" on Amazon or any book store near you.
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Alex Sheen is the founder of Because I Said I Would which is a charity focused on making, keeping, and fulfilling promises no matter how small or how large the magnitude. Alex was touched by his father's word to always keep his promises so he decided to pass on that legacy by forming a charity that challenges others to do the same. He has received a considerable amount of publicity including a recent sit-down interview with Megyn Kelly on NBC and discusses his journey with Underdog. In this episode:
- Why keeping a promise is so important
- Leaving a stable job to pursue a greater cause
- How to be obsessed with effort over results
- How to be about it and not just talk about it
- Walking across the state of Ohio
- The most impactful promise he has heard from Because I Said I Would
You can find out more about Alex at www.becauseisaidiwould.com and on Instagram and Facebook @BecauseISaidIWould
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Jessica Phillips is the founder of BIG Love Cancer Care which is an organization that assists children cancer patients and their families in their greatest time of need. She created this mission after the loss of her daughter, Brooke, to cancer. Brooke's love lives on and continues to grow as more and more hospitals partner with BIG Love and the work & passion that they provide. In this episode:
- How a parent copes with their child's cancer diagnosis
- How to stay strong in moments when you can barely breathe
- What it looks like to wrestle with God and also how to trust Him
- Losing your child but continuing their legacy to benefit others
- The lessons that we can learn from children
You can discover more about Jessica and Big Love on Instagram and Facebook @BigLoveCancerCare as well as www.biglovecancercare.org
Dre Murray grew up in the hood of Houston and found a skill for stringing words together over big beats. He has attained much success in the rap industry but has done it in a way that allows him to be true and honest with himself. In this episode:
- Overcoming peer pressure from drugs
- The rap scene in Houston
- What it is like to land on top of the iTunes charts
- Rising above what society deems as popular
- Sticking true to what you believe after you receive unexpected success
Dre can be followed on Instagram and Twitter @DreMurray22 and you can find more of his music at www.dremurray.com
www.underdogpc.com
Michael Morton was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for the murder of his wife. He spent nearly 25 years in prison before he was found innocent and exonerated. Michael is now a free man and shares what he learned behind about life behind bars. In this episode:
- Feeling powerless against the power of the State
- Life in prison - how to survive
- How to overcome the lies that people believe about you
- Finding God in prison
- Revenge to forgiveness
- Working with the Innocence Project
- Reconciling with your family members after 25 years
- How to overcome the prison within your own mind
Michael is the author of "Getting Life" which can be found at any book store and at Amazon. He frequently travels around the country sharing his story and you can find out more about him at www.michael-morton.com
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Tori is the first woman to ski across Antarctica and the first to row across the Atlantic Ocean. She faced heavy challenges from Mother Nature but found the will to never give up. She is currently the President at Spalding University in Kentucky and heavily involved in the community in Louisville. In this episode:
- Finding the importance of love and friendship in the middle of the ocean
- Overcoming the hardship of solitude
- Surviving through a hurricane
- The best moment working with Muhammad Ali
- Why education is the best platform for change
Tori is the author of, "A Pearl in the Storm". You can find out more about her at apearlinthestorm.com/
Kim Overton is the founder of SPIbelt which stands for Small Personal Item Belt. This product was developed for runners but has a number of other functionalities as well. Kim takes us through her journey as a small startup company to how she grew and scaled her business internationally. In this episode:
- How to combine passion and vision to form a business
- Finding the entrepreneurial spirit at an early age
- How to rebound from a big financial loss
- How to grow & scale your business after an overnight boom
- Why it is important to know your customer niche
You can discover more on Kim on her blog: http://www.kimjoverton.com/ and her product: https://spibelt.com/
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Richard Overton served in World War II and is 111 years old! He is still living life to the fullest and shows no signs of slowing down. In this episode:
- The secret to life
- Serving in World War II
- Meeting President Obama and more
Richard is currently living at home due to the generosity of others. Please support this American hero and donate to his 24/7 HomeCare expenses through his GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/Help-Richard-Overton and follow his life on Instagram @TheRichardOverton
Elisabeth Chauncey survived a horrible accident and almost lost her foot in the process. She had to overcome third-degree burns and relearn how to walk. Yet, that didn't stop her from completing the World Race and visiting 11 countries in 11 months. She used her scars to minister to others around the world. In this episode:
- How to never lose hope
- Wrestling with identity and what identity really means
- What does beauty look like?
- What a year long mission trip looks like
- Using the insight learned from a pain-filled experience to help others
You can read more about Elisabeth and her travels on her blog: https://elisabethchauncey.theworldrace.org/ and you can follow her on Instagram @elisabethchauncey
Graham McMillan was a perfect match to donate his kidney to Danny Kolzow and he surprised him with the news in a video that went viral on the Internet. Danny speaks in depth about this journey both before and after his kidney transplant and what Graham's willingness to give has meant to him. In this episode:
- What it looks like to wait a long time for a desperate need
- How to trust God for something bigger than yourself
- How to use adversity as the fuel toward a new cause of giving back
- How to use what you receive and bless others
Danny is the founder of the new organization Organ Share. You can reach out to him through Facebook and Instagram @dannykolzow
Watch as Graham surprises Danny with a kidney transplant.
Iram Leon has been battling brain cancer for seven years but it has yet to stop him from becoming an elite marathon runner who often places first or within the top 10 of the races he competes in. In addition, he competed in a lot of these races while pushing his daughter in a stroller! He has drawn international attention in the running community and sat down with Underdog to tell his story. In this episode:
- How he has decided to push back against brain cancer for the past 7 years
- How to beat the odds in a marathon and the marathon of life
- Why running is the best therapy
- How a father and daughter strengthen one another
- Why running connects him to others
You can follow Iram Leon on his Facebook page and reach out to him at his email address president@austinrunners.org
Matt Lindland takes us through his journey of humble beginnings in rural Oregon to becoming the #1 wrestler in the country in college and how that led to his Olympic Silver Medal and his career in the UFC. In the end he discusses how the lessons he learned in overcoming adversity helped him run a political campaign in Oregon and what his current full-time responsibility as a coach means to him now. In this episode:
- Learn how to set higher than normal goals
- Overcoming whatever life throws at you
- The best moment from the Olympics
- Fighting against organizational and political power
You can find out more about Matt at his website www.coachmattlindland.com and you can follow him on Instagram @mlindland
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Mason Wells was in the vicinity of three separate terrorist attacks in three different countries and was directly injured due to one bombing. He speaks about these unfortunate series of events, shares his road to recovery, and reflects upon what he learned from them and what he is doing to combat terrorism now. In this episode:
- We discuss - Why bad things happen to good people and why life seems unjust at times
- How to overcome and heal from devastating injuries
- How to conquer paranoia and the fear of the unknown
- Not living life based on "What if?"
- Not letting our situations define who we are
Mason is the author of his new book called, "Left Standing". You can find it at any major bookstore near you.
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Alexis Teichmiller is a visionary and an entrepreneur. She wrote her first book in high school and launched her first business in college. She takes us through her entrepreneurial journey from the cornfields of Illinois to Nashville, Tennessee and she shares the lessons she learned along the way to never give up on her dreams. In this episode:
- Learn how to overcome the haters
- Pursue your dream at an early age
- How to stand up for yourself in and out of the workplace
- How to build your personal brand
You can follow Alexis on Instagram @alexisteichmiller and you can listen to her more by listening to her podcast, "The Laptop Lifestyle".
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Chris Singleton is a current minor league prospect for the Chicago Cubs, but he is better known for forgiving the man who took his mother's life. In this episode:
- Hear what forgiveness really looks like
- Learn how to turn the other cheek and not reciprocate hate with hate
- Learn how something positive can come out of a national tragedy
- Chris shares the strength it takes to carry on after the loss of a loved one
You can follow Chris on Instagram @csingleton_2 and find out more information about him at thechrissingleton.com
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In this episode: James Anderson tells us what it was like to walk by himself from Mexico to Canada and the interactions with strangers he had along the way. You will hear:
- What it looks like to take a giant leap of faith
- What it is like to walk (many) miles in a homeless person's shoes
- About trusting God for help & provision in times of need
- About the real-life Forrest Gump
- Success is finding your calling and not letting fear stand in the way of it
- Many, many stories!
The person that James speaks of in the show is Rob Pope and his Facebook page is "Run Robla Run"; https://www.facebook.com/pg/runroblarun/about/?ref=page_internal
To hear more of James' stories then please visit his Facebook page "3:16 Coast 2 Coast"; https://www.facebook.com/316Coast2Coast/ and you can reach out to him on instagram @james_heath_anderson
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Our guest, Phil Taylor, explains the highs and lows he has experienced during his current fight with cancer. Hear how his perspective on his situation propels him to flourish in the midst of this strenuous battle. You will hear:
- Of the ability to find optimism in any situation
- The mindset it takes to overcome health-related adversity
- The decision to walk in faith no matter what happens