The Prothro Family Wines Website says it best: 

"Life is about the experiences you have and the stories you tell... and the wine you drink."

Ronda and Bruce Prothro love wine. They love the work, the science, the chemistry, and the art of creating a classic wine, giving people a full and well-rounded experience with each sip. 

They first started making wine together in their garage back in 1991 in Los Gatos, CA, picking, pressing, mixing, stirring, fermenting, and bottling...they did it all.  It was hard work, indeed, but so very rewarding when they got to tastes the fruits of their labor (literally) and share it with others.

This passion continued until 1998 when their passion for making children took over! As they write on their website, "With two small kids and demanding careers, they diverted their time and attention to life without winemaking. With friends and families, they drank the last of their vintages, gave their equipment to another home winemaker, and put their dreams on hold."

And now, almost 20 years later, Bruce and Ronda have recently resurrected their dream and embarked on a journey to find a facility where they could make wine, not as home winemakers but, this time, as a new business venture. Sourcing from the best vineyards in Napa Valley and with the guidance of a consulting winemaker, they expanded their heritage as home winemakers into Prothro Family Wines; a brand focused on small lot production from carefully selected vineyards."  

If you love wine (and who doesn't), you'll love listening to their stories and descriptions of what a great bottle of wine means to them. You'll learn about the wine industry and the blending process. Most importantly, you'll learn that, behind Prothro Family Wines, is a wonderful couple that is just as passionate about winemaking as they were as young newlyweds. Each bottle of Prothro Family Wines tells a story. It is my hope that you will order a bottle (or case) of Prothro Family Wines and create your own memories and stories to share for years to come.  

Prothro Family Wines is joining many businesses from across the nation who are providing funds to help with the recovery efforts and rebuilding lives. We will donate 5 percent on all new orders from the sale of our newly released red wines from now until October 31st. This 5 percent discount is on top of the discount you receive for being a Wine Club member or for multi-bottle purchases. However, you can elect to donate your Wine Club discount or multi-bottle discount to the Hurricane Harvey relief fund.

Social Media Links:

Website: Prothro Family Wines

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week’s interview subject is just as endearing, whimsical and unique as the adventure she’s on.

Most of us have heard of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” or “Where in the world is Matt Lauer,” right? A lot of us are also familiar with the Flat Stanley cartoon that elementary aged kids send around the world to learn about travel and geography.

Well, my friend Kusko has taken these two concepts of travel and discovery to the next level...for charity...with her Happy Tiger Tales Adventure!

I first started seeing these crazy social media pics about a year ago. Here was my adult friend dressed in a furry tiger costume in front of the Eiffel Tower, on a real African safari, in Barcelona, and so many other places.   Getting these often humorous and playful shots is Kusko’s way of, as she says, “Connecting humanity through happiness.” People laugh, they hug the tiger, they take photos with the tiger and they take photos of the tiger. Bottom line - it connects people and it brings defenses down. She calls these shots, “a tiger nab,” because so much of what happens surrounding these hilarious photosis often so organic and spontaneous.

During her travels last year, she dreamed up a way of giving back-  an "around the world" adventure race for the entire month of September. Thanks to Kusko and the generosity of many, over 150 kids at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas are also following along with Kusko and "Tig the Tiger" with their fully donated Lil' Explorer kits that include virtual reality glasses, a t-shirt, travel journal, bracelet and more. Not only do they get to participate in the Happy Tiger Tales adventure race, but they also get to learn about each destination and make requests of Tig the Tiger along the way. 

Want to follow along and see what crazy shenanigans Tig is up to? Dare to venture a guess where she's headed next? These photos are guaranteed to enlighten, inspire and make you smile.

Facebook: Happy Tiger Tales

Instagram:  @HappyTigerTales

GoFundMe: To donate to the Lil' Explorer Kits 

Let the adventure begin with Just Kusko - aka - Tig the Tiger

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 This week, it's my long-awaited conversation with Austin's Cycling Golden Girls, Carolyn Defoore and Christie Tracy. They both represented in a big way at this year's USA Cycling Masters National Championships, bringing home a slew of medals including:

Christie Tracy (ATC Racing): Gold in the Time Trial Race, Silver in Road Race

Carolyn Defoore (Athlete Architecture): Gold in Road Race, Silver in Crit Race

In the conversation, which is an article in the September issue of Austin Fit Magazine, we talk about the differences between the different cycling disciplines, what it takes to be good at any or all of these specialties, the arduous physical and mental preparation, what it means to be a mentor for up-an-comers, and, most importantly, how to get over fears of failure and crashing. 

Our Golden Girls spill it all and we celebrate their victories!

 Photo credit: Jamie Tracy

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We've got a party, a celebration, in this episode of "I Could Never Do That," which I'm affectionately changing to "I Could Never Do That (Yet!)" for this show.

Two-and-a-half years ago, a freak fall rendered Laurie Allen, a nine-time Ironman, a quadriplegic.  The accident may have broken her neck, but it didn't break her spirit or will to return to the sport she loves.

On August 6th, 2017, Laurie did return to triathlon at Jack's Generic Tri in Austin with the help of her tribe, "Team Yet!" In this show, we talk to members of her team and how this journey has transformed their lives. Of course, we also dive deep with Laurie and talk about some of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the last two years. 

We don't mince words or emotions.  You'll laugh, cry, and come to know this woman who is made of grit, heart, and, of course, Iron.

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Adam Sud has certainly lived a lifetime in his 32 short years. This podcast is called "I Could Never Do That" and it's appropriate to get to know Adam because:

1) I'm not sure how many of us could comeback from the depths of despair in which he found himself as a clinically depressed, morbidly obese, young adult addicted to fast food and pills.

2) How many of us could then build the new life that he has built in the last five years; a life that is full of inspiration, conviction, and purpose?  

Ironically, it took a life-threatening overdose to save him.

His journey to recovery led to a 37-Day stint in rehab where, to his surprise, he was also told that he had heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes. Determined not to medicate himself for the rest of his life, Adam made his recovery an inside job by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. The results were rapid and astounding. In 10 months, he lost 100 pounds and was able to toss every one of his meds. 

Now, in 2017, Adam is a featured world-wide speaker, reliving his painful story that is now so full of light and hope.

If you struggle with any disease, addiction, or illness, you are not alone and all hope is not lost.

Take refuge in Adam's journey from pills to plants. 

Tags and References: 

Article I recently wrote about Adam in Austin Fit Magazine 

Adam's Plant-Based Addict Facebook Page

Adam's Plant-Based Addict Instagram Page

HealthFest

Engine 2 Diet

Rip Esselstyn

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, MD

John Mackey

Whole Foods Market

Dr. Michael Klaper, MD

Beardsley

Doug Lisle - The Pleasure Trap

Simon Sinek

Plant Stock

Forks Over Knives

T. Colin Campbell

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

My guest this week is Chuy Amaya from Austin, Texas. By all standards, Chuy is a normal guy. He's 32-years-old, works a full-time job, has his Masters Degree, etc. 

What sets him apart? It isn't just the fact that Chuy is an ultra-endurance fanatic. His favorite event? Well, he's currently training for the Deca Ironman in Mexico taking place this October. 

Yep. That's right. A full Iron-distance race (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) for 10 days in a row. 

What possesses someone to do this? How does he train? What advice does he share for others who want to dip their toe in the Ultra Distance world? 

All this and more on this episode of the "I Could Never Do That" podcast.

Deca Ultra Tri

USA Ultra Series

International Ultra Triathlon Association

Wayne Kurtz

Ultraman Live

Ironman

Running on the Sun

Barkley Marathons

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

My guest today is Katy Dooley Baxter, one of only a small handful of people in the world to have completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

This includes swimming the 21-Mile Catalina Channel, the 20.2 Mile English Channel and the 28.5 Mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim.  

Anyone who knows Katy can attest that she's actually quite the dichotomy of human beings. She's one of those rare combinations of being both tough and stubborn on one end of the spectrum and then completely tender and compassionate on the other end of the scale. Put it this way, her two favorite things in life (besides her new husband) are dropping the F-Bomb and Hello Kitty of all things! 

She loves to tell the story of how she hitchhiked to her very first swim practice...at age 5! Things happen on her timeline when she's darn good and ready. Thankfully for us and thankfully for Katy, she did love swimming and that swimming career lasted throughout her childhood into college at the University of Texas. 

It wasn't until well into her adulthood that she decided to get back into swimming in a big way. She had been doing some Ironmans, marathons and other endurance sports when she decided she wanted to swim The English Channel. Did see sharks? How did she prepare for cold water swims with no wetsuit? What were her biggest fears? How did she overcome obstacles?

What personality traits does she possess to make her a great candidate for these swims? Most importantly, how has this accomplishment helped her in "real life."

She's normal, but extraordinary. Ladies and gentleman, my friend...Katy Dooley Baxter. 

Link to: article I wrote about Katy in Austin Fit Magazine

Link to: article on Austin360.com

Theme Music: ”Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/