The BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST with John Brenkus

Jordan Rapp, ITU World Champion and Champion Ironman Triathlete joins THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST. A natural athlete, Jordan's diverse athletic journey started as an All-American High School lacrosse goalie, proceeded to rowing for Princeton, and, on hiatus from rowing, finally led to triathlon, where he has been a pro for the last 11 years. Winning several Ironman triathlons and winning the ITU World Championship are some of Jordan's professional highlights, but what's even more incredible is that most of these wins came after an incredible comeback story. On a long training ride, Jordan collided with a car in a hit and run accident, suffered serious injuries, and was left for dead bleeding out in the middle of the road. With the clock ticking and minutes to live, Chief Petty Officer Thomas Sanchez happened to be driving by, stopped and reached inside Jordan's neck to save his life. Jordan's comeback and willingness to work as hard as possible remind us of the best of the human spirit and how amazing things can happen when we look for ways to help each other out. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Mark Dacascos, champion martial artist, actor, Iron Chef Chairman, and food entrepreneur, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast. To say Mark Dacascos is a Renaissance Man is an understatement. You may know him from his commanding presence as The Chairman on Food Network's "Iron Chef America", or perhaps from fighting Jet Li in "Cradle to the Grave", or perhaps as the tough Wo Fat on "Hawaii Five-O"…but did you know he had no intention of being in entertainment? Growing up in Germany, the son of two Kung Fu instructors, Mark cut his teeth on his first stage in Kung Fu competition and as a young man moved to Taiwan to become a monk. He has taken chances ever since and his ride in this lifetime is rich with diverse experience. Just like the fluidity that is characteristic of great martial artists, Mark has traveled through his remarkable life seizing opportunities to strike, learn, and honorably give his best. This episode will inspire you to live with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and faith. Allez Cuisine! For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Thomas Dimitroff, General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons, joins The BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST and shares his life-changing moments, outlook, and unique take on teamwork. Football is in Thomas Dimitroff's blood. The son of a football coach and scout, Thomas played the game growing up and into college, grew through the ranks as an executive with the New England Patriots, and now manages the Atlanta Falcons. Football is the canvas where Thomas learns, grows, and leads. His outlook on life, despite ups and downs, and how we articulate purpose while listening to instinct will captivate you. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Powerful thought leader, Trevor Moawad, joins THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST and shares his life-changing moments and hard-earned insight. Trevor hails from the worlds of sport, mental conditioning, and peak performance. Trevor, himself, was a two sport athlete at Occidental College, was inducted into the athletic hall of fame at Charles Wright Academy, and is the son of late performance educator, Bob Moawad, who was one of the original contributors for "Chicken Soup for the Soul". For the last 15 years, he's been part of the leadership and mental conditioning teams for the IMG Performance Institute, EXOS, NCAA teams, NFL teams, US Soccer, and now his own Moawad Consulting Group…not to mention working with elite individual athletes across the nation like Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, who considers Trevor Moawad to be a difference maker in his career. Trevor appears regularly on ESPN, SI, Fox Sports, NPR, USA Today. Get your notepad ready - this episode is full of tips and inspiration to live your fullest and most authentic life! For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Shannon Farar-Griefer joins THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST and shares her life-changing moments in motherhood, ultra-running, and fighting MS. Shannon is a true force. She's an incredible mom to three boys and accomplished ultra-marathoner, including seven finishes of the Badwater 135 Ultra Marathon and being the first female double-Badwater finisher, running 270 miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, summiting, and running back through Death Valley. Shannon was a late bloomer in long distance running and started when she made the life-changing decision to go for a run at 35 years old after watching the LA Marathon on TV with her two youngest boys. Any one of her major ultra marathon, "hundo" (100 mile race), or Badwater finishes could be a "brink of midnight" moment, but her world truly changed when she was diagnosed with MS. Despite daily injections, IV treatment, and the total disruption and toll this disease has taken on her life, she has not given up running. She considers putting one foot in front of the other her life force and what makes her strong enough to go to battle against MS. She heroically fights every day and shows us all that the human spirit and faith can reign in the toughest of circumstances. Shannon also challenges us to abandon the idea that we somehow aren't enough to chase our dreams, and that no excuse should stop us from seizing every day in pursuit of those dreams. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Michael Vick shares his rise, fall, and resurrection on THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST. Drafted #1 in the 2001 NFL draft, Michael Vick was a force of nature and a natural leader. His rise carried with it an unmistakeable momentum and he became the face of the NFL. Yet, deep inside he was becoming a person he didn't know and of whom he wasn't proud. The incredible high came to a crashing low when Mike was arrested for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring and sent to prison for 18 months. That time he now considers a blessing and, with the deck stacked against him to never reform or succeed again, he managed to evolve, grow, and redeem himself. He came back to the NFL until recently announcing his retirement, and now uses his platform on and off the field to educate and work with kids, trying to make a major impact in areas of conduct and accountability. This episode will challenge your idea of what it means to grow and evolve, to reform and forgive, and ultimately what the arc of a life can be. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Team USA Paralympic Track and Field athlete, Scout Bassett, shares her truly remarkable journey on THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST. No one has a story like Scout. Burned in a fire as a baby, she lost her right leg and was abandoned on the street in Nanjing, China. Transferred to a government orphanage, she endured years of emotional hardship, never seeing the light of day, and never knowing there was a world outside those orphanage walls. She had never even looked in a mirror or seen a photo of herself. When she was eight, a loving couple adopted Scout and brought her to Michigan to have a better life. Imagine seeing everything in the world - nature, cars, the sky, people, running water, a family…literally everything - for the first time at eight years old. Scout struggled to grow and learn about herself and the world and eventually found solace in sport. It allowed her to learn the strength, endurance, and grace within her and was her outlet to express so many emotions many of us will never know. In less than two decades of knowing the outside world, Scout earned a full ride scholarship to UCLA, found her running legs with the help of Challenged Athletes Foundation, broke both American (100m, 200m) and World (400 meter) track and field records, competed for Team USA Track & Field in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, and became a sponsored Nike athlete. Listen and be mesmerized by Scout's life-changing moments and her other-worldly wisdom. Your perspective will be challenged and your definition of words like "inspiration", "grit", "determination", and "endurance" just might get an update. You'll also be challenged to answer Scout's bold question: "What are you willing to give and give up for your dream?" For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facaebook)

The versatile, talented, and ultra-creative Joey McIntyre joins THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST to share some of his most life-changing moments. From performing a duet with his sister at the young age of six, Joey McIntyre found comfort and joy on stage and, from that day, he hasn't stopped performing and growing as an artist. The youngest of nine kids, Joe cut his teeth singing and traveling with Neighborhood Children's Theater of Boston and a few years later would get a phone call from Maurice Starr to become the final member of New Kids on the Block. The rise of NKOTB nearly didn't happen without the sequence of some very key moments, from a standing ovation at the famed Apollo Theater, a Tampa Bay radio station deciding to spin the New Kids record, and so many more. Joe shares his unique insight during the beginning, rise, and initial band break-up during the context of grunge and early 90s. He has since gone on to star on Broadway ("Wicked"), release solo albums, write and perform in a one-man show, and play roles in TV series and in major films. He's taken up marathon running, as well, and his chilling account of the Boston Marathon bombing will move you. Joe is a fantastic example of creating a life based on passion and he's still doing what he loves today. NKOTB is on tour, has now been back together longer than they initially were, and Joe recently wrapped his TV comedy series "The Return of the Mac". Joe's insatiable hunger to create and grow is contagious and you just may find your inner artist wanting to emerge or re-emerge. As Joe states so eloquently, "nothing is random" and "experience is everything." For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Ryan Leaf, former NFL quarterback and addiction recovery addict joins THE BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST. Ryan is a modern American hero. Picked #2 in the NFL draft after Peyton Manning, he had a world of potential ahead of him. Not long into his career, he fell into a world of addiction that ended up landing him in prison. His comeback is one to marvel at and Ryan now leads a life devoted to serving and helping others who are struggling. His turn-around and rise is a story that benefits all with whom he comes into contact. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Former Pro Bowl Quarterback and Super Bowl XXXV Champion, Trent Dilfer, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast and shares his journey from his youth, to college, to the NFL, and beyond. Trent has had what he calls "mountain top" moments that are the stuff of dreams and vision realized and extreme challenges that tested him in every way. We are are fortunate that he's willing to open up about winning, losing, and everything in between. We explore handling devastation, finding oneself, the value of being a teammate, and ultimately, transcendence. This episode will crack open your heart and lift your spirit to new heights. For full show notes, visit:  | Contact:  | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Faacebook)