Bravest Podcast

On the show today we have Dr. Karin Hehenberger. Some of you might know Dr. Hehenberger from her amazing work with her venture LyfeBulb, but for those of you who are not familiar with her, Dr. Hehenberger is a type 1 who is no longer type 1.

Dr. Hehenberger has a list of credentials and professional accomplishments that make her the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She was on the Swedish National Tennis Team, she earned her Medical Doctorate and her PhD in molecular medicine, she was a post-doc fellow at Harvard, a consultant for McKinsey & Company, has worked in big pharma and start-up biotech companies, and the list goes on and on.

What's remarkable about her story is that she navigated all of those challenging environments, and succeeded on a large scale, with type 1 diabetes. But as the years went on, and she experienced a period of significant burnout and poor control of her health, all the complications anyone with diabetes fears, started to set in. Dr. Hehenberger ultimately found herself with significant damage to her vision, and her kidneys were failing. She was on the edge of complete physical breakdown.

Ultimately, it was her father who saved her live with an incredible gift, and then a few months later it was a donor, and a very talented transplant team in Minnesota who would provide Dr. Hehenberger with a chance to experience life without type 1 again.

Dr. Hehenberger is the ultimate patient-entrepreneur and you'll learn through this interview that she is all in when it comes to finding and supporting the next generation of budding patient-entrepreneurs through her venture catalyst LyfeBulb. As I release this episode, Dr. Hehenberger and her team are over in Copenhagen Denmark for this year's LyfeBulb/ Novo Nordisk Innovation Summit where they will be working with some of the best young innovators in the world of diabetes.

There's a lot to this story and our conversation is a deep look into denial, motivation, personal drive, an individual's love of science, and a belief that those impacted by a chronic condition should be at the center of creating ventures that will help minimize the impact of that condition on the world.

The story we're going to uncover today is an emotional one. The cuts are still fairly fresh, and the challenges are very real. If you're a parent of a child with type 1, this will be an important episode for you. Also, if you or someone you know was recently diagnosed, you will certainly gain a lot of perspective from my conversation with Steven and Jenn Kramer.

Steven and Jenn were blindsided by the whirlwind diagnosis their five year old son Hayden was handed earlier this year. In our time together, we discuss the months leading up to Hayden's diagnosis. We talk about the behavioral changes Steven and Jenn noticed, as well as Hayden's non-stop trips to the bathroom and unquenchable thirst. Ultimately, a trip to the doctor confirmed that Hayden had type 1 diabetes, and the Kramer family was propelled into the next chapter of life.

Emotion plays a major role in any life change, and in our interview, Jenn openly shares shares her personal battle with depression following Hayden's diagnosis. We also talk about how Steven played a major role in her finally getting professional help. We discuss the importance of family and community, as well as how critical it is for Steven and Jenn to find the energy and time to take care of themselves.

We wrap up this interview talking about their new venture, Greater Than, which is aimed at raising funds to support diabetes research and also creating awareness that we are all much greater than our challenges.

Let me preface this interview by saying, while I am a big fan of what they're doing and I support them 100%, this is not an advertisement for their company. This conversation was actually prompted by an experience I recently had, which I talk about briefly in the first few minutes. I knew, in basic terms what Steven and Jenn went through with Hayden, and I believe their insights will be of huge value to other parents out there.

This is a conversation about family, about love, and how we can teach our kids to do anything in life they desire, despite any obstacles they might encounter along the way.

Self-defined as 'The only 7-fingered, diabetic speaker, adversity coach, and elite powerlifter you know', Chris Ruden was born with his left arm being shorter than his right and having only two fingers on his left hand. Our conversation takes us through Chris's childhood in Florida, the bullying he encountered, and a defining breakdown to breakthrough moment Chris experienced with his mother.

Chris then takes us through his diagnosis with type 1 diabetes at the age of 19, and how that shifted his mindset even further and led him down a path of bodybuilding and powerlifting.

Our conversation is a journey through disability to a demonstration of ultimate abilities. What we come to understand is that not only is Chris an adaptive athlete who has broken numerous state records for powerlifting competing against 'able-bodied competitors', but he is also passionate about creating a winning mindset, not only for lifting, but also across all spectrums of life.

We talk stoic philosophy, lifting heavy things, donuts, and how advanced prosthetics might soon be entering the picture for Chris.

A while back I was connected to Rob Howe. If you guys don't know who he is, Rob created this pretty amazing podcast called 'Diabetics Doing Things' and that's the show where he interviews remarkable people living with type 1 diabetes, all that in an attempt to spread awareness about type 1. I love to listen to his show, and when we were connected, I knew it would make a ton of sense to collaborate in some way, not only because our missions are so closely related, but I also loved his personal story.

What we decided to do to kick off this collaboration is to literally do a takeover of each other's show. The idea behind all of that was that we spend so much energy sharing the stories of the remarkable people we interview, why not work with each other to really dig into our own respective stories, with a view on revealing some of the most important and foundational elements about our own lives that make us who we are and that also serve as the cornerstones for each of our podcasts.

What you'll hear this week is my interview where we flip the host mic around and I let Rob take over the show to ask me pretty much anything. This was a crazy experience for me because I'm so used to being the one to ask the questions and guide us all down a path of exploration. But instead, this time I'm the one being asked the questions.

I loved talking wth Rob and it definitely gets deep at times. In our conversation we get into my childhood, we talk about the details of the intense month leading up to my diagnosis with type 1, and we get into overcoming challenges and the support system that I have in place to help me get over difficult times. We talk about my history with skate and music culture, and the concept of starting a movement, and we then come full circle to how that part of my childhood relates deeply to the podcast. That was something that Rob actually uncovered for me personally during the course of our interview.

Rob also gets me to open up about being a dad, developing my mindset, the concept of legacy, and ultimately setting an example for those around us through our actions.

This is a cool conversation and I'm grateful to Rob for taking the time to ask some difficult, yet super meaningful, questions that really made me dig deep into different parts of my mind. I think he does a great job of illustrating how my experiences in life have shaped and created the point at which I stand today. This conversation could not come at a better time, specifically as I'm now looking deeper into clarifying the bigger picture and how this venture will enable me to fulfill some highly personal dreams and goals.

My guest on today's show is Peter Hagen. Peter's history with diabetes is very similar to mine, in the fact that he was diagnosed with type 1 as an adult. In this conversation, he takes us through his chance diagnosis following a routine health insurance exam, which ultimately revealed an HbA1c of close to 13%. While it was a shock to Peter, he recalls being misdiagnosed with a list of illnesses and also experiencing some classic symptoms that he pushed aside leading up to that diagnosis.

In our conversation, Peter is also vocal when it comes to the landscape of health insurance, coverage for basic required supplies, and how pre-existing conditions come into play when it comes to the insurance world. We also discuss the challenges he has faced when it comes to getting diabetes testing supplies and insulin, as well as the super creative ways in which he was able to get what he needed to stay healthy.

We then transition to Peter's experiences volunteering at a camp for kids living with diabetes, what the kids at camp have taught him about diabetes and life, and how that flipped a switch for him to start competing in triathlons. We discuss mindset as well as motivating factors when we hit a wall and we try to convince ourselves that we're done.

Peter also describes meeting pro snowboarder Sean Busby, the founder of Riding On Insulin, and how that prompted him to start volunteering his time to help kids gain confidence through snowboarding and skiing. Peter shares his amazing experiences on the mountain as well as lessons learned that can help us all succeed in everyday life.

This is a conversation of giving back and contributing to the world, and how we can find life's lessons in the most unusual of places.

This episode is a powerful one on so many different levels. The podcast was launched with a mission to help all of us live the healthiest version of ourselves possible despite the obstacles that may be associated with diabetes. While hearing inspirational stories and learning from those within the diabetes community is priceless, it's important to not isolate or ignore the tremendous value that those on the periphery of the diabetes world can offer.

This is our first conversation with someone who, while she may not be directly touched by diabetes, she has an amazing story that will make you think, and help us all look at our own personal challenges and lives more closely.

Growing up in a town just north of NYC, Ann Marie Saccurato was raised in a violent environment. Her father was a part of organized crime and ultimately he abandoned Ann Marie, her brother, and their mom. Although life was tough, a mindset of self-motivation and inner drive guided Ann Marie to focus her energy and compete in basketball, softball and volleyball all the way through high school.

Life is filled with defining moments. And in this case, it was a car accident after a state volleyball championship that left Ann Marie at the doorstep of death. Despite massive physical trauma, she recounts that the accident not only served to strengthen her, but it really solidified her resolve to come back stronger.

Her physicians told her that she would never walk normally again, and definitely not play sports again, but she knew they were wrong. Just few short months later, after tireless dedication to physical therapy, Ann Marie was a dual sport athlete playing volleyball and basketball at a Division 1 university.

Ann Marie then took her natural spirit as a fighter into the boxing ring. And within two weeks of starting her formal training, she was toe to toe with the national champion in her weight class. That particular fight led to an invitation (the next day) for Ann Marie to be a member of the USA Boxing Team in the US Nationals. That chance invitation lead her down a path to fight in larger venues, and eventually to become a 3x WBC Lightweight World Champion. And, get this, just last year, Ann Marie was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.

This is a conversation of being humble, inner strength, perseverance, and grassroots effort to help others identify and head down their own path to overcoming challenges.

On this episode we have Erik Douds. Erik is a fascinating guy who has a degree in environmental studies and sustainability, and he's even worked as a research assistant for NASA. His passion for the environment has fueled a number of adventures around the world in search of ways to make in impact. Erik has been involved in oceanography work and has even helped design a national park in Ethiopia. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, Erik was raised in the suburbs of NYC. He recalls the many positive influences of big city life and what he describes as growing up with all the 'hope and possibilities that allows people to work towards all their dreams'. As we get into the conversation, Erik also shares his grandfather's lifelong experiences with type 1. Amazingly, his grandfather was diagnosed in 1940, and he ultimately lived to the age of 83 years old. It was clear through our talk that his grandfather was a significant influence in Erik's survivor and adventurer mindset. Erik then describes his own diagnosis as his calling card to take on challenges in life. In addition to venturing out on world travel adventures and marathons, Erik recently set out on a 4500 mile cross country bike trip on the Trans America Trail, he hiked the North Coast Trail with a team of type 1s, and is prepping to now bike down the west coast of the US, and then head back home to the east coast. If you put that all together, that's biking the entire perimeter of the United States, all while documenting his journey and seeing how he can make an impact along the way. This is a really interesting conversation of travel, adventure, environmentalism, and making a positive impact on self as well as the world.

On this episode, we talk with Australian marathon runner and plant-based nutrition coach, Amy McKinnon. Amy grew up in Sydney Australia and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age. What's interesting about Amy's story, is that her parents didn't try to slow her down in any way after her diagnosis.

What they focused on was how to empower Amy and give her massive support as she took on the ultimate responsibility for managing her diabetes as a child. What you'll learn from this conversation, is that those experiences early in life seemed to serve as Amy's guideposts as she started to take on larger challenges including running and solo travel adventures.

During this conversation, Amy guides us through her experiences living with diabetes in Australia, as well as a rebellious stage that negatively impacted her diabetes control. Ultimately, a move half way around the world to New York City served as an escape as well as a rebirth of sorts when she decided to craft a new life for herself that included healthier habits, a lifestyle of wellbeing, and a new-found passion for running. Amy's move to New York City also solidified her commitment to a plant-based diet.

Amy describes how she launched her running career, and what kept her motivated to run longer distances and races over time. She also shares how she was able to successfully test her blood sugars while keeping her running pace during the New York Marathon, as well as other lessons learned while training and running races.

We finish up by covering a very interesting project where Amy ran 40 half marathon distance runs in a year's time, most of those runs were completed while backpacking for six months through Central and South America. Amy then shares the lessons she learned along the way and the challenges of managing type 1 diabetes while on the road.

This is a conversation of independence, inner strength, mindset and living life to the fullest.

This episode features former pro bodybuilder Phil Graham. What you'll see through our conversation is that Phil is probably one of the most dialed in fitness professionals you'll ever learn from. In this episode, Phil take us on a trip through his early years growing up in Northern Ireland where he led the life of an overweight teenager until he started to experience some of the tell-tale signs of diabetes, including significant visual disturbances.

He describes an appointment with his doctor where he was exposed to information that set him full of fear. Phil describes the conversations and visuals, like the belief that all people with diabetes will lose their eyesight or have amputations. That fear served as a motivator and a catalyst to take him from teenage video gamer to a newly diagnosed type 1 who devoured health and nutrition information to help him learn more about his condition and carve his physique in the gym.

One the years, Phil has filled his arsenal with various academic credentials including as a degree in nutrition from Queen's University Belfast, a post grad diploma in public health promotion, and becoming a Certified Sports Nutritionist with the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Phil also competed in Junior Mr. Northern Ireland, Mr. Universe, and Mr Britain.

Since his competing days, Phil has focused his sights on coaching, training and counseling countless fitness professionals and competitors around the globe. All of these experiences and work culminated in the release of Phil's book 'The Diabetic Muscle and Fitness Guide'.

This conversation is deep in science and nutrition at times, but that is what is so amazing about Phil. While there are tons of wellness professionals out there trying to sell us on the 'latest and greatest products', Phil is only selling knowledge. Knowledge that he has gained from his many hours researching and studying peer reviewed papers, as well as his significant dedication to studying his own body through training for some of the most competitive bodybuilding events on the planet.

This episode features Southern California punk rocker, Poli van Dam. Poli is one-half of the founding duo of The Bombpops.

Poli grew up just north of San Diego and led the life of a typical SoCal beach kid. During this interview, she takes us on a journey through the early years where she learned to play piano and quickly started to develop her taste for playing punk rock. Poli also shares the fact that not only does her father manage type 1 diabetes, but her younger brother was also diagnosed at the age of four. Poli recalls taking care of her brother when they were younger and even giving him his insulin injections. So when she was diagnosed as a teenager, Poli already had a solid feel for what diabetes was and how she needed to care for herself.

Our conversation moves into topics like music influences, superpowers and how her bandmates help Poli keep her health in check when they're out on tour. This is a super interesting conversation about life and music, as well as what it takes for a touring musician to stay healthy with all the rigors of travel and performing. Poli is now recognizing her ability to use her platform of being a musician to educate the world that nothing, including diabetes, should hold you back, ever.