Ridge Deakman’s life changed in an instant.

On this episode of the Fit For Radio podcast, Ridge shares the story of a devastating motorcycle crash with a produce truck that left him alone on a highway bridge, bleeding out and fighting to stay alive. That moment would cost him his leg—but it was only the beginning of a long, grueling road back. Through surgeries, setbacks, and the mental battle that comes with losing a part of yourself, Ridge refused to quit.

Just as he began to rebuild, a second accident threatened to take the only leg he had left. Once again, he was forced to confront everything—pain, fear, and the question of how much more a person can endure.

In this episode, Ridge opens up about what it took to fight back, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. From rock bottom to rebuilding his life, he shares how he found purpose, embraced sobriety, and became the man his family could depend on.

Today, Ridge is a husband, a father, and a man who has found peace after chaos. His story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward—and sometimes, the hardest roads lead to the strongest versions of ourselves.

Felipe Nystrom’s story isn’t about cycling—it’s about survival, and what comes after.

Raised in an environment marked by both physical and sexual abuse, Felipe carried trauma that most people never see, let alone understand. For years, he coped the only way he knew how—through drugs and alcohol—numbing pain that refused to stay buried. What followed were a series of near-death experiences that forced a reckoning: continue down a path that was slowly taking everything, or fight for something different.

He chose to fight.

In this episode, Felipe shares how he began the long, brutal process of rebuilding his life—trading addiction for discipline, and chaos for purpose. What started as a personal escape through cycling became something much bigger, eventually pushing him to compete at a world-class level. But the real transformation didn’t happen on the bike—it happened within.

Today, Felipe is a father, an advocate, and a man determined to break the cycle that once defined his life. His story is a raw, honest look at trauma, addiction, and the power of choosing a different ending.

This isn’t just a comeback story. It’s proof that even the deepest wounds don’t have to dictate the rest of your life.

Nikole Vaughn was forced to grow up fast. As a child, she stepped into responsibility early while navigating the chaos of her mother’s grand mal seizures—moments that were as unpredictable as they were life-altering, including a terrifying incident behind the wheel. That early exposure to adversity shaped a mindset built on resilience, responsibility, and drive.

She carried that same determination into adulthood, climbing the ranks of corporate America while building a family and supporting her husband’s demanding military career—and his pursuit of making the Olympic track and field team. On paper, it was a life of ambition and upward momentum.

Then everything changed.

When her children were born, Nikole was faced with a reality few can truly comprehend. Both gifted and facing serious challenges, her kids required a level of care that would completely redefine her life. Her son alone would endure more than 30 surgeries and over 1,800 hospital and doctor visits.

In a moment that would alter her path forever, Nikole made the difficult decision to step away from her career to become a full-time caregiver—trading boardrooms for hospital rooms, and ambition for advocacy.

But what makes her story remarkable isn’t just the sacrifice—it’s what she built from it.

Refusing to stand still, Nikole channeled her strength into launching her own business, stepping into the role of CEO while continuing to fight tirelessly for her family’s health, stability, and future.

This is a story about resilience at its highest level. About redefining success. And about what it truly means to show up—every single day—when everything is on the line.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Dave Dahl, the founder of Dave’s Killer Bread, whose life story is as wild as it is inspiring.

Dave grew up in a strict Seventh-day Adventist Church household, where structure and religion shaped much of his early life. But as he got older, he pushed back hard against that environment, eventually falling into a cycle of drugs, crime, and bad decisions that led to him becoming a four-time felon.

The stories about Dave almost feel larger than life—like something out of a Paul Bunyan tale—where fact and legend blur together. But behind the chaos is a real journey of struggle, consequence, and ultimately, redemption.

Dave refused to let his past define him. After years of setbacks, he helped build one of the most recognizable and successful bread brands in the country, turning a second chance into a massive success story.

Today, Dave has found sobriety and a new perspective. He’s slowed things down, focusing less on the grind and more on enjoying life, reflecting on where he’s been, and what really matters.

This is a conversation about second chances, rewriting your story, and proving that no matter how far off track you go, it’s never too late to build something great.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Rob Crow, an endurance athlete, criminal defense attorney, and devoted husband and father whose story goes far beyond the finish line.

Rob has pushed himself through some of the toughest races in the world, competing in multiple Ironmans and triathlons, each one filled with its own set of challenges, setbacks, and unforgettable moments. From brutal conditions to near breaking points, he shares what it really takes—mentally and physically—to keep going when everything in you wants to stop.

But the most powerful part of Rob’s story happens off the course.

After losing two close friends and his father to cancer in a short period of time, Rob was faced with a level of adversity that reshaped his perspective on life. Instead of stepping away, he leaned in—channeling his passion for endurance sports into something bigger than himself.

Now, Rob is racing with purpose, raising money and awareness for Haymakers for Hope, using every mile as a way to honor those he’s lost and to fight for others still in the battle.

This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and what it looks like to turn pain into purpose.

Please donate here- https://haymakersforhope.org/events/running/2026-london-marathon/runners/Robert-Crow-LDN26

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Steve Paranto, one of the true pioneers of pickleball and a name that is impossible to separate from the history of the sport.

Steve has been competing in tournaments since 1974, making him the longest active competitive player in the game. But his impact goes far beyond what he’s done on the court. Alongside his father, Steve played a key role in developing the modern pickleball paddle—using composite materials sourced from Boeing to create a honeycomb core design that would ultimately change the sport forever.

That innovation helped shape the way pickleball is played today and cemented the Paranto family’s legacy. His father was inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2017, with Steve following in 2019, recognizing decades of influence on the growth and evolution of the game.

Today, Steve continues to push the sport forward. He runs the Paranto Playhouse, a double indoor court at his home, where he trains, competes, and introduces players of all ages and skill levels to the game he’s helped build from the ground up.

This is a conversation about innovation, longevity, and the kind of passion that helps turn a backyard sport into a global movement.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Brent Lowrey, a comedian whose path to the stage started with being the funny kid growing up in San Diego and turned into a relentless pursuit of something bigger.

Brent shares what it was like grinding through open mics and small gigs, learning the craft the hard way before making the move to Portland, Oregon. It was there, through the uncertainty of the COVID era and a competitive comedy scene, that he began to find his voice and build real momentum in the Pacific Northwest.

That momentum led to a breakthrough moment in 2023 when Brent won the Seattle International Comedy Competition, launching him into his first opportunities as a headliner and validating years of work behind the scenes.

But Brent didn’t stop there.

In one of the most unique twists you’ll hear, he took part in a comic swap—trading lives with a comedian in Philadelphia. They exchanged homes, cars, cities, and even comedy gigs, stepping fully into each other’s worlds. The experience changed everything.

Brent talks about why that leap pushed him to go all in, pack up his life, and drive across the country to Philadelphia to chase his dream at the next level.

This is a conversation about betting on yourself, embracing uncertainty, and doing whatever it takes to turn a passion into a career.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Brad Bahns, a retired math teacher who never saw it coming.

By all accounts, Brad was healthy and living a normal life—until one day in his garage, everything changed. What started as an ordinary moment quickly turned into a life-or-death situation as Brad suffered a heart attack and collapsed in his driveway, fighting for his life.

What happened next is nothing short of remarkable.

His wife, Stacy, became the first responder in the most critical moment, stepping in with courage and urgency to keep him alive until emergency services arrived. Alongside the medical professionals who took over, her actions helped save Brad’s life.

But this story doesn’t end in the driveway.

It’s about what comes after—when you’ve been as close to the edge as you can get. Brad shares what it’s like to come back from that moment, to rebuild physically and mentally, and to find your way back into everyday life after facing death head-on.

This is a story about resilience, about the people who show up when it matters most, and about what it takes to fight your way back when you’ve already had one foot in the grave.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, Drew sits down with Alex Molden to talk about a journey that started with constant change and led all the way to the biggest stage in football.

Growing up, Alex moved around frequently as a kid, adapting to new places and new environments while developing a love for the game. That path eventually led him to the University of Oregon, where he became an All-American and one of the top defensive backs in the country before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

His professional career came with its share of injuries and adversity, but Alex persevered and played eight seasons in the NFL — a milestone reached by only about three percent of players.

In this conversation, Alex shares the mindset that helped him push through setbacks and the challenge many athletes face when the game ends: redefining who you are. After football, he reinvented himself as a high-level trainer, motivational speaker, and author who now inspires others to pursue their best selves.

He also talks about the role that matters most to him today — being a husband and father to eight incredible kids.

This is a story about perseverance, reinvention, and finding purpose beyond the game.

This episode of Fit For Radio tells the unbelievable true story of Michael Hessemer — a night that began like any other and ended in tragedy.

What started as friends joking and wrestling in a hot tub took a devastating turn when one of the men drowned. In the aftermath, Michael found himself at the center of a criminal case, arrested and charged with murder. Suddenly, a young man with his whole life in front of him was fighting for his freedom against a system determined to hold someone responsible.

Michael shares what it was like to face trial, the weight of being accused of something he never intended, and the life-altering moment when he was ultimately sent to prison on a lesser charge. For someone who had never imagined stepping inside a prison, entering the harsh and often dangerous world behind bars forced him to adapt quickly just to survive.

But this story isn’t only about the tragedy or the time behind bars.

It’s about resilience. It’s about confronting your darkest chapter and choosing who you will become on the other side of it.

Michael opens up about the lessons he learned, the people he encountered inside the prison system, and how he rebuilt his life after walking out. It’s a powerful conversation about accountability, perspective, and the strength it takes to come out of adversity determined to be a better man.

A gripping story of survival, growth, and redemption you won’t forget.