DIALOGUES by Mindful Endurance Program

Sustainable Well-Being is a special 5-episode series of Into the Well with host Ryan Willms, in collaboration with Allbirds and their community initiative, Allgood Collective. The episodes cover a variety of topics from regenerative farming and running, to cleaning up the oceans and dream interpretation. We dive in with deep with inspiring individuals that are co-creating a world of connection, growth and sustainable well-being for themselves, their community and for our planet. On this episode Ryan speaks with designer and running coach, Iman Smith. He shares his journey through high school sports, the dream of the Olympics, learning from his coaches and how that lead to joining the US Military, lured in by the promise of their track team. Years later, Iman was brought back to running inspired by an unexpected character, and he shares the lessons of 26.2 miles and the road to accomplishing the feat and the parallels with life. Running with Black Roses lead to coaching and how the lineage of greatness and self-belief can inspire overcoming anything, even a devastating car crash.

Sustainable Well-Being is a special 5-episode series of Into the Well with host Ryan Willms, in collaboration with Allbirds and their community initiative, Allgood Collective. The episodes cover a variety of topics from regenerative farming and running, to cleaning up the oceans and dream interpretation. We dive in with deep with inspiring individuals that are co-creating a world of connection, growth and sustainable well-being for themselves, their community and for our planet. On this episode Ryan speaks with professional surfer and activist Sophie Hellyer, about her early days as a teenage professional surfer from the United Kingdom and navigating the industry as a young women. We get into the power of cold water, a theme that’s become central to her lifestyle and to her community, Rise Fierce, that brings women together to push their boundaries, face their fears and grow as human beings in connection.

Sustainable Well-Being is a special 5-episode series of Into the Well with host Ryan Willms, in collaboration with Allbirds and their community initiative, Allgood Collective. The episodes cover a variety of topics from regenerative farming and running, to cleaning up the oceans and dream interpretation. We dive in with deep with inspiring individuals that are co-creating a world of connection, growth and sustainable well-being for themselves, their community and for our planet. On this episode Ryan speaks with artist Dan Colen, about his journey into the New York art scene, moving to the Hudson valley and starting an regenerative farm with the aim to provide nutritious food to those in need.

On episode 34 I talk with Cordell Jacks who has recently relocated to Vancouver Island and started a new career as a dream coach. He shares his journey from growing up in a small town in Canada, overcoming family adversity to traveling the world with his partner to tackle huge issues of clean water and environmental sustainability. Cordell got into Ultra-running and Ironman before a series of knee surgeries caused a crisis of self, which brought him to plant medicines, dream work and learning to value being content vs happiness.

On episode 33 I speak with David Godshall and Jenny Jones of Terremoto, an innovative landscape architecture design studio based in California with a cult following around the world. While it might seem like a departure from previous interviews, I connected deeply with their work when I discovered them online; at the intersection of creativity, nature and philosophy, Terremoto's work takes a unique approach to the land. David and Jenny share how they listen to the land, incorporate different influences from art and literature, connect their clients with their land in a deeper way and how they've learned about child development through their work with innovative elementary schools. The studio have also started a project called Test Plot, which aims to restore and revitalize local parks in collaboration with volunteers to 'create a rebellious experiment for restorative and feral possibilities.'

On episode 32 I speak with Sarah Blondin, a well-known, magical meditation teacher and writer. We actually knew one another in passing years ago living in Vancouver, and years later we’ve gone down interesting paths and reconnected through her work after finding her meditations on Insight Timer. From a pastor’s daughter to an actress, to moving to the rural countryside and becoming a mother, Sarah shares her journey into solitude and unlocking a voice from deep within. She talks about the lessons of being a mother, connecting to nature and the power that free writing gave her. Creating without attachment can be so challenging, but for Sarah it ended up drawing a whole new career to her, including publishing her book, Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love. Sarah shares how she listens to her body, trusting our hearts and getting out of our own way to be our highest self.

On episode 31 I finally track down Joe Holder aka Ocho System, founder of Exercise Snacks, Systems of Service, Nike Master Trainer, consultant and overall impressive human being. We dive into his recent exploration of 'Intergenerational Health' and how health needs to be incorporated and democratized across all communities through movement, nutrition and education. Joe shares his experience of overcoming injury through mindfulness and with the support of his father. He also shares his commitment to mental health through therapy, which has become more of his focus during Covid, rather than his body, and how that in turn has created a healthier body by tending to the mind. Among other topics, Joe shares some influential books, resources and his overall ethos for living, learning and giving back.

Episode 30 features Devon Brooks, founder of Sphere and Blo Blow Dry Bar, coach and mother of two. Based in Whistler, BC she's created a life of inspiring creativity, connection and well-being. On this episode we speak about growing up with a coach for a mother, overcoming her own traumatic experiences, the journey of parenting and bringing her vision for Sphere to life with the idea of democratizing coaching through the dynamic and engaging platform. She shares some of the tools that have helped her grow from neurofeedback to mountain biking, the impact of being in nature and being present with what is.

On episode 29 I speak with Joe DiStefano, founder of Runga, lifestyle coach, kettlebell expert and host of his own podcast, Stacked. We dive into his childhood, overcoming a serious head trauma through holistic healing, his emotional process and finding the balance between working out and working in. Joe shares his recent experience of becoming a father and his research into vaccines through the process, his love of kettlebells and why everyone should use them. Joe and I connected over our childhood baseball memories at the intersection of sports, relating to our fathers and self-worth.

On my latest solo episode, I share my recent experience of a week-long plant dieta and what it actually is, and what I uncovered in my week of isolation, connecting with plants and myself. The lessons I learned were profound, but have been very challenged since coming back home in almost every way. I dive into my fear of trusting love, trusting myself and how surrendering to these aspects is the real path to healing. Meeting my inner child, Michael, was a very powerful experience and learning more about my own fear, pain and anger through this relationship was awakening, yet deeply hard to grapple with. Moving forward, I feel at the cusp of an ego-death and feel I need to redefine my values and what it is I'm being a warrior for, even while I try to stunt this growth through attachment, food and distraction. As Joseph Campbell says, "the cave which you fear to enter, holds the treasure you seek." I am very much in the cave,  learning to trust each step into the darkness.