Alright, Queen City (and beyond!), buckle up. We're launching The Adaptive Human Project, a podcast straight outta Cincinnati, where we're diving deep into what it really means to be human – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. And how we get through it all. This ain't your typical self-help fluff; we're keeping it 100% real.
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Announcement
00:14 Meet the Hosts: Jon and David
01:34 The Concept of Adaptability
02:04 Naming the Podcast
02:38 The Importance of Discomfort
04:23 Forming New Habits
09:10 David's Journey and Overcoming Adversity
19:03 The Story of the Buffalo
22:58 Connecting Through Shared Experiences
25:13 Starting a Podcast: Adventures and Challenges
25:50 Preparing for the 300-Mile Bike Ride
26:11 Pushing Limits: The Motivation Behind the Ride
26:52 Building Community and Overcoming Disabilities
28:10 Facing Fears and Embracing Risks
30:59 Personal Stories of Overcoming Challenges
32:04 Mental Health Journey: From Depression to Triumph
36:01 The Role of Meditation and Mindset
47:52 Integrating Buddhism and Christianity
54:12 Conclusion and Future Plans
In this first episode, you'll meet your hosts:
Jon Salisbury: That's me. I'm the CEO of Nexigen, a local tech company. I'm also a serial entrepreneur (PayOptions, and a few others…), a slightly below-average athlete who tries really hard, and, well, let's just say I've had my own battles with the dark side – depression and anxiety that almost took me out. I’ll be sharing my journey and how a mix of Buddhism, Christianity, and plain old stubbornness helped me find my way back.
David Whalen: This dude is a beast. He's a Team USA para-triathlete, an Ironman competitor, and an all-around inspiring human. David lost part of his leg in a workplace accident, but instead of letting that define him, he used it as motivation to push himself further than he ever thought possible. We're talking serious grit and determination.
We met on a bike ride (shoutout to our mutual friend James!), and we instantly connected over our shared love of cycling, pushing limits, and, well, just trying to be decent humans. This podcast is all about exploring the how of adaptability. How do we overcome adversity? How do we grow, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually? And how do we do it in a way that's, you know, good for us and the world around us?
We kicked around some names – The Infinite Human Project, even "Talking Monkeys" (long story…) – but landed on The Adaptive Human Project because that's what it's all about. Adapting. Evolving. Figuring things out as we go.
In this episode, we get into:
Getting Comfortable with Discomfort: It sounds counterintuitive, right? But David and I both believe that pushing yourself outside your comfort zone – whether it's tackling a monster hill on your bike or facing your inner demons – is where the real growth happens.
Breaking Old Patterns (and Building New Ones): We discuss how our habits, both good and bad, shape who we are and how breaking those ingrained patterns, even the seemingly small ones, can be the key to unlocking real change.
David's "Dancing with the Devil": This is where things get really interesting. David shares his unique (and intense) method of using past pain – the memory of his accident and the agonizing recovery – as fuel for his present-day triumphs.
Turning Pain into Power. How David has taken his pain and turned it into his superpower.
The Buffalo vs. The Cow (Thanks, Joe Rogan!): We discuss a powerful analogy about facing adversity head-on instead of running from it.
The Solo Journey (and the Importance of Your Tribe): We talk about how, even though personal growth is ultimately a solo mission, having the right people in your corner makes all the difference.
Our Upcoming Adventure: We're planning a 300+ mile bike ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati on the Ohio to Erie Trail. It's going to be epic (and probably painful!).
This is just the beginning, folks. We're excited to share our stories, learn from each other, and hopefully inspire a few people along the way. So, grab a Hudepohl (or whatever you're drinking), hit that subscribe button, and join us on this journey. Let's get adaptive!
