Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 108
Date: February 20, 2024

Participants: Elise Seifert, Sheila Webster, John Webster, Cameron Earnshaw and Julie Wilson
Guest: Ben Flanagan

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:16] What’s On Your Mind: We enjoy reading. We chat about how reading helps social and intellectual wellness.

[0:08:23] Expanding Minds Interview: [Balance over time] We interview long distance runner Ben Flanagan about balance. He’s been pursuing an Olympic dream for years. Balance looks different to each of us. We ask about balance over the course of a time. It’s worth focusing on some areas now, the brining in other areas later. After winning NCAA’s, Ben thought, “Hey, I might have a shot at this and I want to go all in.” He experienced all the setbacks, including major injuries and times where he didn’t see improvement. He got past the setbacks using time, patience and, most importantly, learning from them.  As he got older, he saw the off ramps from his running dream more clearly. He chose to stay on the path. There are people in my life who support him unconditionally. He wants to perform well to express gratitude, but there’s also recognition that a lot of this is to fulfil his own dream. It’s something he’s come to terms with better recently.

[0:33:26] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron contributed to the theme song for a Rick and Morty show. The song is about to hit distribution and be available on lots of media platforms. It’s a win for Cameronl

[0:36:58] Move That Body: 5 Tips to help you stay motivated to exercise – find ways to fit exercise into your day; do activities you enjoy; make it social; if there’s a break in your routine get back on track; and keep track of your progress.

[0:41:44] Running Popup: John connected with a line from ML Steadman’s book The Light Between Oceans. He smiled thinking about how Sheila tends to tap him off balance unexpectedly, and how she’s good-heartedly mischievous.

[0:43:22] Flipside of the Coin: While out for a walk, we saw a server running out to ask a customer to pay his bill. It was a cold winter day and she didn’t have a coat. He brushed her off, walking away without paying. It was hard to watch. We felt for the server and felt helpless. We both experienced walkouts in our server/bartending days.

Guest Information: Ben Flanagan is one of Canada's best road running athletes. He’s currently the Canadian record holder in the 5 km and 10 km road races. He also is a 3-time winner of the Falmouth Road Race, having won the race in 2018, 2021, and 2022. Only taking the lead when he knows he's going to win, he fell in love with running in high school, discovering a community that welcomed him. Unafraid of improvement, Ben constantly pushes to better himself. Ben is married to Hannah and they love spending time with their dogs, Norm and Paris.

ON Running page: Ben Flanagan

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura and Julie