On today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Mike Rucker about his book, The Fun Habit - How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.

The Fun Habit is a science-backed, actionable case for the importance of seeking fun, rather than happiness, in our daily lives. 

Mike argues that fun is a resource available to anyone, at almost anytime, yet most people are not having enough of it. His insightful new book reveals how intentionally increasing your joyful moments can improve your health, relationships, and productivity.

During our conversation we’ll unpack the 4 quadrants of the P.L.A.Y model and how it can help you assess your daily activities so you can incorporate for fun into your life.

On todays episode I have the pleasure of speaking with professor of sociology at Middlebury College and author Jamie McCallum.

Jamie’s latest work titled, Essential: How the Pandemic Transformed the Long Fight for Worker Justice, digs deep into the of today’s working class rage and uncovers the unravelling of the nation’s social safety net and regulatory standards.

Essential is an in-depth look into how the Covid -19 pandemic changed the American labor movement and how an unprecedented recognition of a largely invisible and undervalued workforce took place.

Essential, posits that the pandemic revealed the urgent need to improve conditions for American workers, and makes the argument that the lousy jobs held by so many in our country are a liability for everyone.

The Show Notes

Jamie McCallum
https://www.jamiekmccallum.com

Welcome to Grit Nation. 

On this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Dan Kerrigan the author of Functional Firefighter Fitness.

Though written for firefighters this book is packed full of solid advice to help you maximize your output on the job no matter what your trade is.

We’ll open our conversation by discussing what it means to be “fit for duty” as we investigate the similarities construction industry professionals share with other craft that rely not only on their cognitive abilities to get the job done but their physicality too.

Next Dan will explain how Physical Fitness, Rest and Recovery, Hydration and Nutrition make up the Four Pillars of his program, and why it is so important to master each one to achieve optimal health and peak performance.

Later we unpack the BIG 8 and understand why spending hours in the gym isn’t necessary to achieve the muscular endurance, cardio conditioning and flexibility that keep your body healthy and strong.

And we’ll end our conversation by giving you the resources needed to make proper lifestyle decisions now that will allow you to maximize output, minimize injuries, and set you up for success into your later years.

The Show Notes

Firefighter Functional Fitness
https://www2.firefighterfunctionalfitness.com/

Welcome to Grit Nation.

I'm Joe Cadwell, the host of the show, and on today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the co-writer of a newly released book titled Dead in the Water, a true story of hijacking murderer and a global maritime conspiracy. His name is Matthew Campbell, and he's an award winning reporter and editor for Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine.

Together he and his co author Kitt Chellel, have put together a page turner of a book and a real triumph of investigative journalism.

We'll open our conversation as Matthew gives us an overview of the role international shipping plays in global economics, and how modern day pirates differ from the romantic Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean archetype.

Next we'll uncover the insurance scam surrounding the suppose it pirating and actual scuttling of the ship brilliant virtuoso, an oil laden super tanker with an estimated worth of $170 million off the coast of Yemen, Africa will then introduce a host of characters that add color to the pages of Matthew's book, including pirates, salvors private investigators, and a sports car racing Greek shipping magnate known as supermario.

And we'll wrap up our conversation by discussing the life and suspicious death of David Mockett, the Lloyd's of London ship surveyor who died in a car bomb assassination shortly after visiting the ill fated ship.

The Show Notes

Matthew Campbell
https://www.matthew-campbell.com/

Welcome to Grit Nation. 

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with journalist, professor of sociology and author Eyal Press.

Eyal’s latest book titled Dirty Work – Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America, addresses the morally troubling work that society silently condones and the hidden class of workers who do it. 

 Eyal and I begin our conversation by discussing the origins of the term Dirty Work and how the unconscious mandate it reveals is as prevalent today in contemporary American life as it was in Nazi occupied World War 2 Germany. 

 Eyal will then explain the physical and mental toll dirty work jobs take on the people who perform them as he shares the many personal stories he encountered while doing research for his book. 

From mental health care professionals working in state and federal penal systems, to aerial drone pilots conducting remote air strikes and workers on the kill floors of industrial slaughterhouses, Eyal unfolds a tale that is simultaneously gut-wrenching, powerful, and provocative. 

Later we’ll discuss the roll organized labor unions can play in de-stigmatizing dirty work, by challenging the systemic socio-economic and moral inequality structure that so strongly divides our nation. 

And we’ll end our conversation by exploring the nature of the implicit social contract around dirty work; so we can better understand who does the work, why it is done how we can re-shape the story it tells about us as a society.

The Show Notes

Eyal Press
https://www.eyalpress.com/

Welcome to Grit Nation,

I’m Joe Cadwell the host of the show and on today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Waldo Waldman, a former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, who is now a highly sought after motivational speaker and executive coach. He is also the author of The New York Times best seeking book, Never Fly Solo.

Known to the tens of thousands of people who have attended his leadership seminars as the Wingman, Waldo’s unique and powerful presentation style was honed razor sharp during his time as an F-16 fighter pilot.

We’ll open today’s conversation by learning the dynamics of teamwork, and why it is so important to have people that you can count on 

to help get through the tough jobs, whether that’s flying fighter jets in combat, closing big business deals or racing to complete a construction project on time. 

Next we’ll hear how a close call while scuba diving nearly ended Waldo’s career after triggering a phobia of confined spaces that he didn’t even know he had. 

We’ll then learn what steps he took to master his fear so he could continue to follow his passion for flying jets.

Next, we’ll discuss the importance of cultivating strong, long lasting relationships built on mutual trust and respect, so that you always have wingmen by your side when life gets turbulent.

 And we’ll wrap up our conversation as we discuss Waldo’s transition from the military to professional coach and speaker and why he is so passionate about helping others reach their fullest potential.

The Show Notes

Waldo Waldman's Website
https://yourwingman.com

Free audio copy of Never Fly Solo
https://ace.yourwingman.com/nfs/

On today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with retired US Navy Commander, and author of the new fictional thriller, Secrets in Depth. 

His name is Joe Dituri and his laid-back persona and colorful and exciting life truly make for an interesting episode. 

We’ll open our conversation by learning about Joe’s journey as an enlisted sailor to being commanding officer in charge of the Navy’s’ deep submergence unit.  

Next, we’ll unpack his transition out of the spec-op community and into the world of hyperbaric medicine.  

We’ll then hear how Joe’s involvement in a rollover car crash contributed to his researching Traumatic Brain Injuries, starting with his own. 

Later, we’ll dive into Joe’s work to help prior military servicemen and women overcome the debilitating effects of explosive concussions and why his unique approach of not just treating the psychological manifestations of the injury, but the actual physical, physiological root causes as well, has proven so effective. 

And we’ll wrap up our conversation by discussing Secrets in Depth, a Jack Reacher-esque style thriller that weave’s many aspects of Joe’s life into the main protagonist character known as “The Dragon Slayer”.

The Show Notes

Joe Dituri
http://drdeepsea.com/

Halloween is a tradition that started around 2000 years ago with the Celtic people who lived in an area that is now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France.

These ancient Celts would hold a yearly festival called a Samhain to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the cold and dark winter months, a time of year they associated with human death. 

During this annual autumn festival, the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes made of animal heads and skins in the hopes of warding off ghosts and spirits, 

which they believed returned to earth to damage their crops, wreak havoc amongst the living and generally be a pain in the rear. 

Sometime around 43 A.D., the ever-expanding Roman Empire had conquered much of this Celtic territory. 

During the 400 years more of less of their rule, a few festivals of Roman origin were eventually combined with the traditional Samhain celebration. 

In 1000 A.D., a Pope declared November 1 the official day to honor the dead. 

All Souls Day as it was known, is now believed to be the churches attempt to replace the Celtic festival with a church-sanctioned holiday.

That said, All Souls’ Day was celebrated pretty much like the ancient holiday was, with big bonfires, parades and folks dressed up in all sorts of costumes like saints, angels and oh yeah devils. 

All Souls Day was also known as All-hallows. The night before, was known as All-Hallows Eve, which as you probably have guessed by now became Halloween.

In the U.S during the late 1800s, there was a move to make Halloween into a holiday that focused more on community and neighborly get-togethers than on ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. 

Parents were encouraged by community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Dang.

Which brings us to now where Halloween is a month-long celebration of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, scream parks, scary movies, costume parties and more all culminating in a night of parentally supervised trick-or-treating.

The Show Notes

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Welcome to Grit Nation, I’m Joe Cadwell the host of the show and on today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with physician, adventurer and author of the newly published book titled, The Unseen Body.

His name is Dr. Jonathan Reisman, and on today’s show Jonathan and I will discuss how his passion for, travel, prehistoric crafts, food, and practicing medicine all coalesced when writing his book.

We’ll open our conversation as Jonathan explains how cutting into a cadaver in medical school, and literally pulling back the curtains shrouding the hidden mysteries of the human body, was so influential to his becoming a doctor.

Next, we discuss human anatomy, starting with the throat, which Jonathan believes is an overly complicated and anatomically flawed design, because of the highly coordinated ballet of nerves and muscles needed to keep us from dying every time we eat or drink.

Later, we’ll unpack many of the bodies organs and tissues including the heart, lungs and fat, and we'll dive into why problems with our bodies plumbing networks can reak havoc on our health and well being. 

We’ll then discuss the importance of sleep for optimum cognitive performance, and why the pineal gland, located deep in our brain is responsible for the production and regulation of melatonin, a hormone necessary for a peaceful night’s slumber.

And we’ll wrap up our conversation by focusing on the kidneys, as Jonathan explains why his favorite bodily fluid, urine, can be so beneficial in diagnosing potential health related issues.

This episode is both fascinating and at times gross, and I hope you enjoy it, or at least learn something about your self that you didn’t know before.

The Show Notes
http://www.jonathanreisman.com/

On today’s episode I have the pleasure of talking with internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author, D.J. Vanas. 

D.J.’s latest work titled, The Warrior Within - Own Your Power to Serve, Fight, Protect and Heal, draws upon Native American philosophy and tradition to reveal insight on how to develop the resilience and toughness needed to face the overwhelming chaos and noise in today’s modern world. 

We’ll start our conversation as D.J. explains what the warrior spirit is, and why it is important for everyone to nurture, especially those who want to lead and serve, with a higher purpose than themselves.  

Next, we’ll understand what it means to go on a vision quest and why it is so important to take time daily to let the “dirt settle in your mud puddle”. 

Later, we’ll unpack the strategy of relentlessly attacking a seemingly impossible challenge and how not to let fear of failure get in your way when doing so.  

And we’ll end our conversation as D.J. explains the significant difference between Native American cultures regard for their elders and our own, and why humor is such an effective weapon when dealing with hardship, adversity, or setbacks.

The Show Notes

D.J. Vanas
https://nativediscovery.com/