Casually Qualified

• Listen in as we chat with the one and only Mike Justa.
  • Mike is a certified bad ass (listen for proof), a naturalist, mariner, educator and an aspiring marine biologist. 
• In this episode Mike shares how his love of the natural world, and water has shaped his life. 
• We were so humbled to learn from and talk to Mike. We're looking forward to his hopeful research of the Dall's Porpoise. Don't know what that is? Listen and find out!
• You can find Mike on IG @EXPLORATREE

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Jon –  @Sokogram

Steve – @CaptureCoolness

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• Join us as we talk with Ross Lilley, the executive director of AccesSportAmerica.
• AccesSportAmerica promotes higher function and fitness for people living with challenges and disabilities through high-challenge sports and training.
• Visit GoAccess.org to learn more about AccesSportAmerica

DESCRIPTION

In today’s episode we sat down with the one and only Charles Biset. Charles is a trained aerospace engineer who decided to re-engineer his career and life path to better suit his lifestyle. Charles stepped back from the organized grind of corporate engineering, and now chooses to employ his knowledge and passion for engineering through educating kids in the San Diego area at iFly where he teaches STEM classes. When he’s not jumping from planes, Charles can be found riding waves all over the world, or designing and creating with his 3D printer. You can find more info about Charles on Instagram and his Etsy Shop @GnarChar.

WHO IS CHARLES BISET??? (Time: 3:40)

• From a young age, Charles has always explored and created adventures 
• Super multifaceted and always up for a good time
• Lives by the work hard play hard mentality

WHERE THE ENGINEERING ALL BEGAN : (Time: 11:50)

• Lockheed Martin Internship
• How Charles wound up in San Diego
  • A road trip of a lifetime in his friend’s mom’s minivan
• Everything happens as it should (Time: 20:00)
  • Charles explains how he took active steps to to start the life he wanted in San Diego

THEN THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE (Time: 36:45)

• Managing the struggles of corporate engineering
• Balancing life with work and a masters program
• Requesting a long term vacation from work, the ultimate turning point
  • Tips and advice for trying to get extended time off - with a few twists and turns

DON’T WAIT - GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT!  (Time: 45:45)

• Stop kicking the can down the road, find a reason to do the things you want
• “Shit, how did I live my life” - Don’t allow yourself to regret your past
• As yourself, “Did I live?”

RETURNING TO THE SKY (Time: 50:08)

• How Charles started skydiving
• Nearly 600 solo jumps
• Working at iFLY, combining his background in engineering and his love for the sky through STEM education

3D PRINTING AND FUTURE PROJECTS (Time: 1:03)

• Where Charles was first exposed to 3D printing
• How does 3D printing work
• What kind of stuff is Charles 3D printing
  • Making and donating masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic

DESCRIPTION

Please enjoy the first EVER Casually Qualified GUEST INTERVIEW!!! We are so excited to introduce Veronica Carlson to our listeners! Veronica is a World Class Athlete and current Chair of the USA Wrestling Athlete Advocacy Committee. She’s no stranger to the podium as a former decorated Team USA Wrestler, two time Olympic trial competitor, Junior World Silver Medalist, Senior World competitor, US Open Champion, World Cup Silver Medalist, Dave Schultz Memorial Invitational Silver Medalist, and just way too much more to name! Check out some of her stats here. On top of being a fierce competitor, Veronica is an all around great person who created an extraordinary life that she desired! Please enjoy our conversation with Veronica!

INTRODUCTIONS

• Where it all began for Veronica 3:27
• The courage to try something new 8:25

WAY MORE THAN CASUALLY QUALIFIED

• When she knew she was MORE than CASUALLY QUALIFIED to be an extraordinary athlete. Her answer will surprise you! 14:47
• Words from a wise man, if I do say so myself -Jon 17:55

TIME FOR SOME HUMBLE BRAGGING

• Veronica’s accomplishments in her words 20:35
• What kind of wrestler and person is Veronica Carlson? 21:50

GIVING BACK

• Giving back to the sport 32:55
• Chair of USA Wrestling Athlete Advisory Committee 

LOOKING BACK

• What are you most proud of 42:55

LOOKING FORWARD

• What’s next for Veronica 48:45

In a constant journey to improve himself, and build stronger relationships, Jon stumbled upon a survey geared towards creating love between two people. We decided to turn the survey on it’s head and record our answers to the questions with each other, unrehearsed and unscripted. The result was a lot of fun and gives a deeper glimpse into our lives and minds. Listen for more. Enjoy!

THE BASICS

• This 1997 Study by Psychologist Arthur Aron studied how the 36 questions could boost intimacy between subjects.
• Deviating from our typical topics, we decided to go through these survey questions with each other to get to know each other and give our listeners a closer glimpse into our lives and minds. 
• Questions are broken into 3 sets, with each set getting more and more intimate. A timer should be set for 15 minutes for each set.

SET ONE: (Time: 4:19) 

• Steve starts the clock and we let the love survey begin!

SET TWO: (Time:21:00)

• Second round gets a little more complex, and we went a few minutes past the 15 minute mark.
• Correction: Jon was way off when he said 300-400 billion to 1. The actual is 400 TRILLION to 1. Take it from Gary Vaynerchuk: It’s impossible to be a human being. You Already Won.   
• Steve’s most treasured memory- His wedding at Crystal Mountain
• Jon’s most treasured memory- His first long trip with his fiance to Tulum.

SET THREE (38:00):

• Things are getting deep and a little cheesy sharing what we like and respect about each other. (43:50)
• Apparently we both hate the way we sound on this podcast, but we do it anyway. Sticking with past themes: If you want to do something, JUST GO FOR IT! (53:00)
• Went a little long again, thanks for sticking with us!

WILL IT WORK!? (59:00):

We think the questions can definitely help accelerate closeness or intimacy, but the jury is still out on whether or not they’d specifically lead to love. Email us at [email protected] and tell us what you think!

DESCRIPTION

Having control of your finances has never been more important. In episode 6, we take a closer look at how each of us budget our money. We are creating a positive space to talk and learn about money.

WHO ARE YOU TO TALK ABOUT MY MONEY?

• We understand money can be a sensitive topic.
• Surround yourself with people who want to see you do better.
• "For Christmas two years ago, Jon and Rose gave Maggie and I a book called 'The Total Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsey." 

JON'S BUDGET: (Time: 8:40)

• TWO KEY POINTS
  • Spend less than you earn 
  • Automate savings
• BUILD YOUR BUDGET
  • Track all fixed costs (mortgage/rent, car payment, insurance, utilities, other recurring essentials) using pen/paper or app like Mint.
  • Find your total monthly fixed costs, and divide by your number of paychecks each month.
  • If you are in debt, or trying to save money, eliminate all NON-ESSENTIAL items from your budget at this point.
  • Create two checking accounts (with automated direct deposits from every paycheck).
    • Bill account - Automatically deposit the amount from above from your paycheck into this account to cover your fix costs
    • “Allowance” account - This account is yours to spend on fun and non-recurring costs like groceries, gas, etc.
    • If you’re married, create a third checking account which is a joint checking account to cover joint fun and non-recurring costs.
  • Create Multiple savings accounts
    • Long Term Savings account (with spouse) for big ticket items (wedding, new car, new house, etc)
    • Short Term Savings account (without spouse) This money comes from “allowance money” but is set aside for vacations/adventures, or larger “toys” that I couldn’t buy after only one paycheck.
  • Save toward 3-6 month Emergency Savings to cover you in event of job loss, major injury, etc. 
    • This amount can be based on your current living expenses. 
    • OR you can base this off a leaner living style by cutting out non-essential items.
• MORE ON INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN FUTURE EPISODES

STEVE'S BUDGET: (Time:15:05)

• SPREADSHEET - My wife and I combine finances and put everything on an excel spreadsheet. At the beginning of every month, update the spreadsheet and track progress. (Visual Learners)
  • Fixed costs
  • Categories we regularly spend money on
  • List amounts in every account for net worth
  • Checking, 401k, HSA, Roth IRA
• EMERGENCY FUND
  • Work towards a 6 month cushion and beyond
• SAVINGS GOAL
  • 12-36 month chart
  • Calculate how much needs to be saved per month in order to reach goal
  • Write down what your bank account should look like every quarter based on that goal. (Visual Learners)

KEY POINTS:

• EMERGENCY FUND  (Time: 16:30)
  • Start small and gradually build up cushion
  • Save a $1000 Emergency Fund before establishing your budget or paying down debt
  • Once Debt is paid off and/or budget is established, increase 'Emergency Fund' to 3-6 months of expenses so that you are prepared in emergency situations like job loss or injury
  • "Expect the best. Be prepared for the worst."

HOW DO WE GET STARTED (Time 20:00)

• Ask yourself really good questions and then plan accordingly.
  • What is my current situation?
  • What are my bills?
  • How much debt do I have?
  • What do I want to accomplish?

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAVE MORE:

• Pick up more hours at work or a second or third job to increase earning potential
  • Jon likes to work

DESCRIPTION

If you haven’t realized by episode 5, or if this is your first time listening, we LOVE the outdoors. One of our favorite things to do outside is hike, camp, and backpack. There is nothing like being outdoors, exposed to the elements, and unplugging from a busy life. Neither of us grew up camping or backpacking, but we took a leap and discovered a new hobby as adults and you can too! Hopefully this episode will help give you the confidence to get outside and start camping or backpacking. Here is a little advice to help get you started:

WHAT DO WE LIKE ABOUT BACKPACKING?

STEVEN:

• It’s a  way to get away.
• Best backpacking trip - Big Heart Lake in Washington State. 8.5 mile hike out and back.  We had beautiful views and a great group of people.

JON:

• A chance to really really unplug. Did I say REALLY?
• Opportunity to see parts of the world that most people will never see.
• Best backpacking trip- Inyos Mountains approximately 30 mile loop along the Old Miner’s Trail. Trudged through everything from desert heat, to a few inches of snow within a matter of days.

KEY POINTS:

1. iT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO GET STARTED  (Time: 09:45)
   1. Start with day hikes. Find nearby trails and just go for walks. 
   2. “Level  up” when you are comfortable and maybe do multi day hikes but return to a hotel, or motel for the night.
   3. Eventually move on to car camping where you set up camp near your car and return back to your campsite each day.
   4. Finally start backpacking trips where you hike and camp in a new spot each day or every few days. 
2. HOW DO I FIND A PLACE TO HIKE? (Time: 17:50)
   1. Utilize websites like Alltrails.com, backpacker.com, hikingproject.com for info and reviews on trails.
   2. Know and understand what permits are required and what other rules the area requires that you follow. 
   3. Utilize social media and community groups to find info.
3. YOU DON’T NEED THE MOST HIGH END GEAR TO HAVE FUN.  BUT HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT MAY HELP YOU (Time: 24:30)
   1. Good footwear is a must! Gym shoes will work for day hikes, but ankle support provided by boots is needed for trips with a heavy pack.
   2. Moisture wicking materials and layers will keep you feeling fresh! Oh and we love convertible pants! 
   3. Make sure you’re pack size meets the needs of your trip. Anything from no pack to a 65+ liter pack may be appropriate depending on the length of your trip.
   4. Water, water, water. Always plan your trip around water. Whether you're packing it in, or planning to make stops to find water.
4. NOW JUST GET STARTED!

Description:  Work/Life balance is very important to us and something that we think we have done a pretty good job at managing for ourselves. We believe a lot of our listeners may have some struggles or be looking for ways to improve their work/life balance.  So, we came up with 4 main ideas that works for us.

What does Work/Life balance mean to you?

Steven:

•  I immediately think of what I am doing outside of work.  Recreation & leisure.
• The goal is to work & have fun.
• “25 of life is finding yourself and 75% of life is creating yourself” - Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss

Jon:

• Finding that ‘sweet spot’ between work and life.  
• Create a life where certain areas don’t need to suffer in order to make other areas succeed.
• Work to live vs. live to work.  

Key Points:

1. Find a job that fits your lifestyle of needs. (Time: 06:25)
   1. Steve is a full time Flight Attendant.  His goal is travel and adventure.  He highly values flexibility in his schedule so that he can make time for friends and family.
   2. Jon is a Police Officer and he gained a lot of personal satisfaction from that position.  He has grown to evaluate his time away from work a lot more.  The goal is to create more flexibility at work so he can make time for his personal hobbies and interests.
2. Find a job that allows you to make a schedule that incorporates your work life but more importantly gives you the opportunity to schedule your personal life in a way that works for you. (Time: 10:00)
   1. Give yourself permission to fit in time to relax or fit in a hobby of choice.
   2. Don’t put too much on your plate. Find a way to set boundaries at work and at home.
3. Unplug and set boundaries. (Time: 16:40)
   1. Limit Technology - set boundaries on your phone and on social media. 
   2. Leave work at work - Ex. A friend of Jon has created a standard for himself.  He does not answer emails outside of work.  His coworkers know that he will not respond outside of work and they have learned to respect that.  
4. Exercise and Health (Time: 21:35)
   1. Make time to take care of yourself.
   2. Create good exercise, sleeping, and eating habits.
   3. Meditation

We talk about what interests us about adventure and how it relates to the way we approach life. The goal is to encourage others to go do the things that they enjoy. Sometimes you just have to get started.

WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?

• Adventure can mean something different for everyone.
• Make time for yourself and have fun

WHY DO YOU THINK A WHOLE SUMMER GOES BY AND YOU DIDN’T DO ANY OF THE THINGS YOU SET OUT TO DO?

• It's very important to be INTENTIONAL about the things you want to do.
• Make a conscious decision to just GET STARTED and try something new.

WHAT INFLUENCED YOU TO GO ON ADVENTURES?

IS ADVENTURE INFLUENCED BY MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY?  IS IT GENERATIONAL?  WHAT DID ADVENTURE LOOK LIKE TO OUR PARENTS? GRANDPARENTS?

HOW DO YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE AROUND ADVENTURE?

• Pursuing careers that give us flexibility to do more of the stuff we enjoy outside of work
• The value of work/life balance
• Extremely grateful for our ability to do what we want to do and pursue the things we enjoy

LEARN ABOUT SOME OF OUR MOST MEMORABLE ADVENTURES

• Steve runs the 2015 Honolulu Marathon and then goes right to the island of Kauai and hikes 26 miles on the Napali Coast with a complete stranger who he is still friends with today.
• Jon ran the Tough Mudder in Rockford, IL and then hopped in the car with his friends and road tripped to Moab, UT for an unforgettable canoe trip.

BIGGEST RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Find the people who want to do what you want to do. 
• Join community groups (i.e. Running Club). 
• Use Facebook or Meetup.com to find great groups in your area.
• Traveling is so much more affordable with proper planning and budgeting.

 Episode pre-recorded on April 26, 2020.