Mike Murphy is a pretty normal guy. He hails from Texas, enjoys cycling, and appreciates a good Western movie. Early on in his life though, he discovered that he had a particular knack for music. And far from limiting his pursuit of music to the professional sphere, he's used his gifts to join the fight against a particularly insidious disease--Multiple Sclerosis. He's an average guy with an above-average cause. 

Find out how you can help find a cure for MS by visiting https://www.nationalmssociety.org/

Welcome to the sweetest episode yet! Honey is a beloved and mysterious substance--crystalline and gooey, it's been enjoyed by humans and animals alike for thousands of years. Join Rob for a tour of local beekeeper Ken Tschannen's farm, where we'll learn more about the amazing honeybee, and just how much we all depend on its efforts. 

Join the effort to save the bees:

https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/

Learn more about keeping your own bees:

http://www.abfnet.org/

Some decisions can take a long time to make. Whether to marry someone. Which car to buy. Where to go on vacation. But in some cases, we make decisions incredibly--even frighteningly--quickly. This can be especially problematic when we're talking about choices that impact other people. The truth is that we may not be as rational (or fair) as we think we are. But today's guest, Howard Ross, has dedicated his life and career to helping individuals and organizations take an honest look at the unconscious biases that shape the decisions they make. So come with an open mind--this is something we can all work to improve. 

Learn more about Howard's work by visiting http://cookross.com/

Melissa Dohme was a normal teenager--active, popular, and in a relationship with a nice guy. But then, the nice guy turned not-so-nice. In fact, he turned abusive, and even homicidal. Suddenly, Melissa found herself fighting for her life. But out of the horror of that experience, Melissa has deliberately chosen hope and abundance, when it would have been so easy to surrender to the darkness. And now, she's helping other victims to do the same.   

You can find more information about Melissa's work at handsacrossthebay.org.

Additional domestic/dating violence resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233

Melissa Dohme was a normal teenager--active, popular, and in a relationship with a nice guy. But then, the nice guy turned not-so-nice. In fact, he turned abusive, and even homicidal. Suddenly, Melissa found herself fighting for her life. But out of the horror of that experience, Melissa has deliberately chosen hope and abundance, when it would have been so easy to surrender to the darkness. And now, she's helping other victims to do the same.   

You can find more information about Melissa's work at handsacrossthebay.org.

Additional domestic/dating violence resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233
National Dating Abuse Helpline - 1-866-331-9474, or text loveis to the number 22522

Every once in a while, you come across people who are so infectiously passionate at what they do that you can't help but root for them. Joe Buono and Tristan Clarke are classically-trained musicians using an unlikely (even silly?) instrument to break down the barriers around classical music. Learn how these super-talented guys are using the humble melodica to share their love of great music, and joy, with a whole new generation of listeners and learners. Whether it's Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, or Stevie Wonder, it'll sound great.

Learn more about the Melodica Men at 

https://www.melodicamen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Melodicamen/

The struggle to find harmony between professional and personal demands is real. In a story full of magic and genuine awe, guest Margie Duffy describes a cycling journey (literal and figurative) she takes in Ireland after a tough career setback. What she learns about work-life balance--and herself--changes everything. It's Ireland by Bike, on this episode of GoodRally.

Be prepared to meet an incredible couple on this one! Larry and Vicki Davis have spent over 20 years together as husband and wife, serving and healing the people around them. And if you didn't know any better, you'd think that they've always been as united as they are now. But not so--they've come a long way, and their love story is all about doing the right thing, even when it seems impossible.

Sometimes it's hard to be positive--especially when you feel like you're the only person in the room who sees the glass half-full. That's why it's exciting when you learn that there are actually a lot more hopeful people around than you first realized!

In this episode Rob discovers that there's a hundred-year-old service organization called Optimist International, staffed by thousands of volunteers who believe in bringing out the best in their youth, their communities, and themselves. So take courage--you're no longer the only optimist in the room!

Learn more about Optimist International by visiting www.optimist.org.

Personal and professional success can be something of a black box. In this episode, Rob talks to author Jeff Haden, whose new book The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win offers actionable advice for accomplishing big things, again and again.

Get your copy of Jeff's new book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Motivation-Myth-Achievers-Really-Themselves/dp/0399563768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514845837&sr=8-1&keywords=the+motivation+myth+jeff+haden

Support for GoodRally this week comes from pajanket.com.