The Doing Scary Things Podcast

This week, we had the honor of interviewing internal medicine physician, Dr. Wenners Ballard III. 

Dr. Ballard tells us all about the 12 years of school and residency it has taken to become a doctor, and the doubt he endured to finish, even though a lot of people on his path gave up. 

He tells us what it was like to pursue a Masters Degree in Cancer while his own dad and grandmother struggled with the disease and why he decided to pursue medicine in the first place.

He explains why the practice of medicine is considered an art and how his creative needs are met both in and out of this field. 

Together, we discuss ideas around balance and doing things for yourself vs for others. He tells us what it's like to work in a field where 40% of your patients die sooner than you expect and what both the hardest and most rewarding parts of his job are.

Dr. Ballard tells us why he thinks being an artist is courageous and what he, deep down, fears the absolute most.

And, shockingly, he tells us about the person who tried to talk him out of pursuing this career path.

"On the other side of your fear, is something beautiful." 

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The story behind the idea and meaning of the Doing Scary Things podcast! We are a weekly podcast with practical encouragement for pursuing the things you're most passionate about. Subscribe now and tell us what you think by leaving a review or emailing us here. We're cheering for you!

Today we have the wonderful pleasure of talking with comedian Haylie Montgomery. A former flight attendant and current dyslexia tutor, Haylie has recently decided to have a go at breaking into the intensely scary world of comedy.

Together, we discuss:

-Being silly and funny vs. being a comic & why she doesn't want to be seen as silly

-Why comedy is tricky and what she wants her jokes to say to the audience

-The process of beginning and what her first experience was like

-Why comedy is an unconventional ministry for her

-How it took booking her first gig to finally write her first bit

-The stress of telling jokes to strangers

-How to deal with haters and to not be discouraged by people who just don't get it (clarifying her audience)

-Why it's harder to tell "clean" jokes

-Believing in yourself when you aren't getting external validation

-Comedic timing explained

-Being a female comic in a "boys club"

-Shout out to Andrew Stanley who helped her get her start

-What it's like to fight for spots 

-Navigating this interesting culture

-The pushback she's received when people aren't used to "bold women" 

-Why she gives herself full permission always.

-Why worrying about others is crippling

-Why you need to know who you are before you do anything scary

-The vulnerability and bravery it takes to tell a joke again, even after it bombs

-Why she strives to talk about women in a way that challenges thinking but doesn't isolate the men or lose an entire group of people

-Why she likes Jim Gaffigan & Angelina Johnson

-Why clean comics have to work harder

-Her personal responsibility to not trigger people and to free people up to walk away lighter

-How she shares freedom with people through comedy and encourages her fellow comics

-How she strives to tell the truth without any fear!

-Determination to keep going and why you should give yourself permission, always

"I have nothing to prove and no one to fear here."

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Connect with Haylie through Email at [email protected] or on Instagram!

Hi friends! Today we check-in to our own messy middle process with an inspiring update (because that's what we do here).

We discuss:

-Social Media does not show EVERYTHING

-You are not alone in doing your scary thing!

-The non-glamorous parts of chasing your dreams

-Why it's not fun to operate out of the "bare minimum" and why learning to rest is a non-negotioable

-Why it's important to keep being consistent, even when you don't feel seen

-Inclusivity and why we're seeking a community, not an audience

-Learn what our worst idea to date has been!

-What almost ALL of our guests have said when we asked them to be on the pod!

-Why death forces us to look at life differently

-How can I do things that will bring me joy and that will allow me to be proud of what I do with my life

-What to do when resistance hits (UGH)

-Why mindset is everything

-Why adjusting your own timeline is okay and sometimes necessary

-Sometimes change and the things outside of your control lead to good things!

-Why deadlines can be helpful

-Leveraging your experience

-Why Life (Like Us) is Dynamic 

"Nobody's getting out of here alive."

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Today we have the absolute pleasure of interviewing Nick Zobrist, who is a TRIPLE THREAT: Singer, Actor, & Dancer and who recently landed his dream job of dancing on a Disney Cruise Ship.

We discuss: 

-How he moved to NYC after years of dreaming about it

-Why he believes in Law of Attraction

-Learning the NYC subway system & other scary things!

-Did he really book his first audition ever?!?

-What the Disney audition was like

-Why he started studying dance in COLLEGE, even though he had to take classes with 6 year olds!

-Why he never thought he fit in as a child and how that got him to where he is now

-Why fear is relevant and what he's scared of currently

-Why he's eternally grateful to Lady Gaga

"Whoever you are is totally okay to be."

This week, we release our 4th single as Jasper and Jade. Hear Daydream Masterpiece here first, as well as the story behind the song.

We discuss:

*Why we chose to release our songs individually.

*The story of the artwork and why it delayed the release of the song.

*The process of writing this song & how it was different from the others.

*Why the song may not be about what you think.

*Why we're not going to tell you the artist that influenced this song the most.

*How we approach splitting up vocals as a duo & why.

 As always, we mention our producer and co-writer of this song, Josiah Prince. We loved recording at The Ranch!

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Stream our music here!

Today we chat with Eric Stoff - a husband, father, and musician who is about to embark on an epic journey - living life full time on the road in an RV with his wife and two young babies. Together we discuss:

-Learning how to rest on purpose

-The process of producing his latest album at home

-Why it's so hard for him to admit he's a musician

-How he's figured out a way to do music even though never saw it as a realistic way to raise a family

-The process of renovating an RV to live in full time with his family

-Why him & his wife decided the road was the best place for them to live

-Does any of this scare him?

-How he has calculated the risks of this endeavor and the safety and health of his family

-How to see past barriers

-His experience with postpartum depression

-The story behind his song "Til Death Do Us Part'

-Why the fear of the unknown is on both sides of the coin!

"We're trying to not plan too much, because we know as soon as we plan, it's going to be thrown out the window."

Connect with Eric online!

Instagram: @ericjstoff

Music Website

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Stream our music here!

Today's episode came from a listener question, "How do you choose a direction or focus when you're torn between multiple things? I love a lot of things and want to know how to do everything?"

First, let us clarify: You can have more than one passion, only one, and your passions can also change - these are all okay and valid!

Today we will define passion, what that word actually means and why it actually has everything to do with your identity.

Have you forgotten or gotten deterred or discouraged from pursuing your passion? 

This episode is for people with too many passions to narrow and/or those who don't feel particularly passionate towards anything!

We discuss:

-Helpful questions to ask yourself as you try to figure it out. 

-How to narrow down and distinguish multiple interests to figure out what you are truly passionate about

-Why someone else cannot tell you what your passion is.

-The unexplainable things vs the reasons

-What all of this has to do with Marie Kondo and The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Remember, you get to choose how to spend your time on this earth! What's going to bring you the most joy?

"If you think of passion as a luxury... it will be. If you think of it as a necessity - that changes everything." 

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Stream our music here!