Some people enjoy obstacle course racing.  Others can get obsessed with long-distance ultra-running.  But it takes a special kinda crazy to step up to the challenge of combining the two.  And that’s what Rachel Watters and a few select others did completing in the world’s toughest mudder.  The course consists of a 5-mile loop with over 20 of some of the most challenging obstacles imaginable.  But what makes this race so different is that it is an endurance event.  This race is 24 hours, as many laps as you can complete.  And this is where Rachel thrives.  Believe it or not, this is her happy place.  Completing 14 laps covering over 70 miles and more than 350 obstacles, Rachel demonstrates the ability to endure and overcome any challenge whether it’s on the course or in everyday lives.  This Spartan warrior possesses a sign of inner courage, a belief that makes her stand out.  Join me in finding out what fuels her fire, and what ultimately sustains her drive in my recent conversation with Rachel Watters. 

Cutting his teeth in reality TV, Brandon Andersen discovered a passion for sharing people's stories.  But this videographer is creating stories with more than just words, Brandon tells a story with every frame.  Every shot conveys a message.  A tone, A vibe.  From telling the stories for alt-rock bands like Princess or the Jays through music videos to telling the personal journeys of extreme athletes like Jon Fromm, Brandon is making his mark with cutting edge media content.  Using the latest gear and technology, his young company Hit String media is pumping out videos at a frantic pace.  But, That’s what happens when you are in constant demand.  Being pulled in multiple directions has given Hit String Media both the financial success of sustained growth and the artistic freedom to create one of a kind concepts.  All in all, the string of hits they have produced have propelled this media production house into unchartered waters.  Staking a position as an industry-standard while still learning and growing along the way, Brandon and hit string media have even bigger projects in store next year.  Learn how this company went from bail bonds, to board rooms to now bonafide breakout success, in my most recent conversation with Brandon Andersen.    

To be a triathlete you have to be willing to work hard, put in your time, and get used to being uncomfortable, To be an off-road triathlete you have to be willing to face some obstacles along the way.  But to be a Professional Xterra triathlete you have to have something special, something extra.  And for Deanna McCurdy, having a child with a rare genetic disorder is that something.  Although she was always blessed with the ability to run, This opportunity has given her an inner strength, an ace up her sleeve that has propelled her to the top of the sport.  This multiple time pan am champion has decided to attack this disease the same way she attacks the racecourse.  And she wouldn’t have it any other way.  Deanna has united with Miles for Smiles to not just solicit support but is actually looking to implement a cure for Angelman Syndrome.  Determined to Eliminate this disease.  And see how she uses this as inspiration on the racecourse.  So lace up your trail shoes or grab your mountain bike and good luck keeping up with Deanna McCurdy.

How much time have actually spent in the last week thinking about what you want?  Specifically, 10 years from now, if you could have anything you wanted, what would it be?  Take a piece of paper or page in your journal and write out your top 50 things if you won the lottery tomorrow.  If money was no object what would you buy?  And be specific.  Where do you want to go?  What do you want to do?  Where would you live?  What’s inside your perfect house?  What kind of car?  What make, model, color?  Write them down.  Each and every one.   Take your time.  Don’t move on to the next step until you have at least 50.  You can have more, but not less.  List them individually on a single line.  What many of you may come to realize is that you don’t have 50.  This was as easy as you thought it would be.  Good.  That means you are not a completely self-absorbed materialistic narcissist.   

Now, go deeper. Think about what moves you?  What inspires you?  What do you want to be involved in? What kind of work do you find meaningful and rewarding?  What level of authority and responsibility do you want to command?  What standard of living?  What kind of friends do you want to have? What kind of life do you want to have?  What will you do when your children are grown and gone?  What does an ideal everyday look like 10 years from now?  What would you do if you didn’t have to do anything?   

So that is the first exercise, every night when you are struggling for sleep or wake up and can’t go back to sleep.  Think about all the things you would like to have.  You are perfectly welcome to change and add to the list. This exercise will allow you brain activity but useful, purposeful activity.  Instead of just a disorganized bunch of random thoughts.

Next, once you have your 50 things.  Take a look at the list and reflect.  Think about each item.  Will they all take 10 years to get?  Sure maybe the beach house in the Caribbean is 10 years out, but what’s on that list could you get next year.  If you started planning and saving now, what items could you get in 3 or 5 years?  Write down a 1, 3, 5, or 10 by each item on the list and tally them up. 

Now,  How could you go about getting these?  Allow your mind to explore the possibility of having these things.  Again guiding your thoughts.  What are some unconventional ways you could get things you want?  Once you have the vision of what you want your subconscious will begin to take over and find answers to these questions.   For the next 30 days, each night begin by requesting answers to these types of questions.  Write them down each night before you go to bed.  Keep your journal or paper close to your bed so as additional thoughts occur you can write them down.  Then as you lie down to sleep allow your mind to drift.  Imagine how you will have these things.  Think about who you know that can help you get what you desire?  Who is doing what you want to do?  Who is living a life similar to the one you’ve envisioned.  How can you make that your reality?  As you fade into sleep your Subconscious will create the scenarios necessary to realize these dreams.  Your deeper self, that involuntary part of your mind, will begin to work it out.  If you make this a common practice, you will quickly be amazed at the revelations you will receive.  The impossible will become possible.  The impregnable will begin to crack and crumble.  The unlikely will soon become inevitable.  These wishes and dreams will begin to manifest themselves unto you.  There’s an old expression that says a man can move mountains and it's based on one of my favorite scripture verses.  “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23.  

Believe it or not, you too can move mountains.   By following this process you will crystalize your vision of the future and what it holds for you.  And in the process of realizing your dream, you will inspire many along the way.  How will you be known?  How you will be remembered?  This is the first Key to a new, more fulfilling, and compelling life. This is the beginning.  Give it a try.  The next key is creating your blueprint. how to layout specific goals so you can actually do the work necessary to get there.  Stay tuned, Thanks for listening, talk to you soon.

While I believe we are all given individual talents and skills, and I believe we have a duty to use those talents and skills to the best of our ability, very few of us are blessed with a calling.  It is so rare that we are hit over the head with a pre-chosen destiny, that we have no choice but to follow that path all the way through.  Some authors, songwriters, and artists experience this.  Where they feel as though they are simply a conduit for their medium.  It’s exactly why I am doing this podcast.  And it is this calling that emerged within one of the founders of conscious hip hop, Speech Thomas. 

Creating Arrested Development in the early ’90s, Speech saw fame, fortune, and success at a very young age.  But that didn’t mean it came overnight.  Speech started out like most rappers, speaking about all the typical things.  But once he came to Atlanta and found another like-minded voice in the hip hop community, all that changed.  Thanks to the influence of groups like public enemy and BDP, the conscious rap genre emerged.  And thanks to groups like arrested development, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and many others, a new stream of thought found its place in the hip hop world.  This voice was different, this message stood for something and as soon as it was recognized for what it was and the impact it was making, it was promptly shut down.  Back to the same stereotypically images the entertainment industry wants you to see, especially that of black life and culture. 

But Speech never let this slow him down.  Despite struggles within the band and a solo career that never materialized stateside, Speech kept with music and the mission.  Most recently taking a big leap into the field of Documentaries, Speech has chronicled the systematic exploitation of the black image in a 3 part docu-series out now. And coming out this week is his groundbreaking new documentary “16 Bars”.  This full-length feature film takes you inside County jail, spending time with inmates, and producing an album that gives a voice to those who don’t have one.  And what a voice!   

His compassion for his fellow man has given Speech his calling, and that calling keeps him constantly moving, growing, and speaking. Check out my recent conversation with Arrested Development frontman, 2-time Grammy winner,  and one of the most conscious humans you will ever meet, my man, Speech…. 

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women who accept the challenge to compete in the octagon or boxing arena.  The level of dedication and training for both the body and mind in these sports is second to none.  And it better be, because these men and women are literally putting their life on the line every time they step into the cage or ring.  And the man that makes it possible for them to do that in the state of Georgia is David Oblas.  THE fight promoter in this state, David Oblas cut his teeth in the early days driving across Georgia, going from fight to fight, paying his way, doing anything he could to be involved in the sport.  From wrapping fists to Inspecting gloves, David did whatever it took to get to know the fighters, build relationships, and ultimately create a fight promotions Empire that dominates the southeast.    

His passion for the sport started early thanks to his dad, Big O, who took David to his first fights and instill a love for combat sports that only grew over time.  From there David started throwing fight parties and organizing pay per view events at his frat house.  Ultimately,  David took his skills and talents for organizing these parties to the next level.  Learning from others, and a Lot from the school of hard knocks, this Auburn grad has established the National Fight Championship. The ultimate proving grounds for any fighter who hopes to take that next step into the big leagues of UFC. 

A champion himself, David has also inspired these chiseled combatants by running his first marathon.  Showing Them what is possible and challenging the toughest athletes alive to test their boundaries and get outside their comfort zones.  What David may lack in stature, he more than makes up for in leadership, mentoring, and sheer determination.  So get ready to get motivated by the man who inspires some of the badest fighters around, David Oblas. 

Are you spinning through life day after day week after week? Or are you actively designing your dream life?  If so, what does that look like? Have you ever thought about what it takes to achieve that dream?  What are the habits you need to create to make that dream life possible?  

For Dante Jackson creating a lifestyle of good habits has already given him just that.  So much so that he spends all his free time sharing these same ideas with others.  Teaching spin classes and coaching gym members, Dante preaches how to not just live a longer life but a more meaningful one.   Although his healthy habits may seem a little extreme to you and me, these habits have created a fulfilling lifestyle and a chiseled physic that clearly reflects his level of discipline. 

Dante will be the first to tell you that abs are made in the kitchen and having a disciplined attitude toward nutrition and exercise will lead to the results so many of us are looking for.  And along the way, this health guru will also teach us about cybersecurity and how to protect yourself from the ever-growing issue of online terrorism and malware.  You won't learn much about his job, and I can’t tell you who he works for, but there’s a reason why he has no social media presence.  My conversation with Dante has made me take a hard look at how I handle my Wi-Fi and internet security. So stay tuned and learn how to eat right, protect your online information, and spin your way to success, all in my most recent conversation with Dante Jackson……

When you ask the average person what their dreams are or what goals they have, the most common answer is to Retire.  Usually around 65.  When you ask that same person why or what they are going to do then, the number one answer is travel.  Travel to places they have never been and experience new cultures and languages.  But there’s only one problem with that answer.  I don’t know anyone who has actually done that.  No one I know has retired and then spent the next 20 or 30 years traveling the world.  Think about that.  Do you? 

Richard Williams learn to travel at a very young age.  Being an Army brat, Richard navigated the ropes of living in new places and meeting new people very early on.  And that is probably why he has been to more places around the globe than most people even consider at the age of retirement.  and Richard is less than half the age of a typical retired person.  Very little of his travel has been for work, but he does work every where he goes.  Richard is the definition of the “new rich.”  He may not have a lot of zeros in his bank account but he has created a lifestyle that certainly feels that way.  A lifestyle of travel and leisure.  A lifestyle he designed to works for him.  A lifestyle that allows him the freedom to experience life, culture and form bonds with people all around the world, all while making a pretty decent living along the way.  Richard demonstrates how with a little forethought, ambition and creativity, you can have these same amazing opportunities that make your wildest dreams possible.

Come join me and find out how you can travel the world, live on a budget and create a lifestyle that rewards you the way rolling around the world has rewarded Richard Williams…..

This episode is dedicated to Josh Wagner who lost his life, doing what he loved.  Long time friend of Richards, Josh was a great kid, amazing skater and I’m  sure he slid the kinked rail on his way up to the pearly gates.  Rest in peace my man…..

Northern Colorado is known for its craft brewing scene.  And Cy Bevenger is known as one of the best brewers in the area, so when Timnath Beerwerks was ready to open, they knew Cy was the man to help raise the bar and the garage door.  Timnath Beerwerks put this small town on the map and Cy Bevenger put this new Taphouse on the map in an area saturated with great beer.  But this master brewer didn’t start out that way.  Designing the microchips most everyone has in their cell phones today, Cy spent the first half of his career as an electrical engineer grinding out long hours, dying a little each day.  But when his boss told him he ought to consider something else, Cy took that advice, turned in his notice, and began a journey to find a new path.  A path to a better way of living.  A path to a better life.  And through patience, practice and a meticulous attention to detail, Cy the brewmaster emerged.  Cutting his teeth in the early days home brewing for parties and events, Cy honed and perfected his craft with the same level of detail he crafted those microchips.  And the results have been nothing short of amazing.  Timnath Beerwerks has burst on the scene and Cy’s great beers are obviously the reason why.  So much so that they will be well represented in the Great American Beer Festival this weekend in Denver, CO.  Covering 4 categories and with big expectations, it’s easy to see why Cy’s new path is not only the right one for him but one that all beer drinkers get to enjoy as a result.  So sit back, pour your self a tasty beverage, and enjoy my recent conversation with Cy Bevenger.

Valerie and Craig Miller have carved out a unique niche in a booming craft beer market and have quickly become one of the best-kept secrets in the state of Colorado.  Just outside of Ft. Collins, even a lot of natives still don’t know about this hidden gem.  Timnath, CO is far from the glamour and glory of the majestic mountains.  This once rural grain town has now grown into the picture of suburbia.  And nestled right in the middle of this one-horse town sits one of the best watering holes you will find, especially if you love good beer.  And apparently people come from around the country to this state for just that.  Great Beer. 

Having grown up with me in the south, Val and Craig found a new home in northern Colorado many years ago but felt it was missing something.  Something they were destined to deliver.  So with the help of some great friends, mentors, and the support of their local community, Timnath Beerwerks was born.  Housed in what else, but the town grain and feed store, Craig and Valerie’s dream of a local tap house was quickly adopted by the community and the other craft brewers alike.  And the result is not just great beer but a great gathering place.  In the heart of downtown, this place oozes history, and the western artwork and live music make it a place many locals call home.  And with a staff like family, it's easy to see why.  So come join me at northern Colorado’s community gathering place, Timnath Beerwerks.