The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast

Kyle and Brent Pease aren't just athletes; they're the driving force behind the Kyle Pease Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to creating inclusion for people with disabilities through sports and life experiences.

Kyle, who was born with cerebral palsy, and his brother Brent, have completed countless endurance races, including six Ironman races together. If you just looked at a picture of them in the races, you might think that Brent is doing all the work as he pushes, pulls and carries Kyle. But as we'll hear in this interview, the two really push, pull and carry each other equally.

In this interview, the Pease brothers invite us behind the scenes of their journey—and into the positive mental attitudes that keeps them moving forward.

They talk candidly about:

• The emotional truth of racing as a team

• The distinction between what we choose and what chooses us

• Kyle's lifelong decision to embrace positivity

• How gratitude can transform even the hardest miles

• What it's like to carry each other—physically, mentally, and spiritually

• Why presence, not speed, is the real secret to strength

It's a conversation about endurance, yes, but even more about vulnerability, resilience, gratitude, inclusion, acceptance and love.

🔥 Key Takeaways

• Gratitude is a performance enhancer. Spoken aloud, it becomes a source of fuel.

• You can't choose every challenge—but you can choose your attitude toward them.

• Presence is a superpower. Hard moments feel manageable when you stay in the moment.

• Teamwork means carrying each other in different ways. Sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally.

• Positivity is not automatic. Even for Kyle, it's a daily choice and discipline.

• Endurance isn't just physical. Emotional resilience is built mile by mile.

• Resilience isn't just a personal characteristic. True resilience is a social construct. It comes from our families, friends, communities and the other people we surround ourselves with.

🎉 Thanks to Hyperice!

Huge thanks to Hyperice for sponsoring this episode and supporting the Charity Miles community.

Hyperice is a global leader in movement and recovery technology, trusted by pro athletes, major leagues like the NBA and NFL, and global running communities everywhere. Hyperice is even the official Recovery Technology of IRONMAN, which makes them the perfect partner for this episode.

Whether you need powerful percussion for warm-up, dynamic air compression for recovery, or simple, easy-to-use heat and ice solutions, Hyperice has a tool for every stage of your routine. Their products are portable, powerful, and super intuitive—helping you get back to feeling your best, faster.

I've personally used and love several of their products, including their Hypervolt massagers, Normatec air compression boots, Vyper vibrating roller and more. Which is why I reached out to them to ask them to sponsor us. And which is why I was so thrilled when they said yes.

We're proud to partner with a brand that's so deeply aligned with our mission: helping people move with purpose, feel their best, and go the extra mile.

Also, right now is the best time to level up your routine with some Hyperice of your own because Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are live, with savings up to $250 off their full suite of technology. It's their deepest discount of the year, and prices go up on December 2.

So, click here today elevate your own recovery routine today.

As we come into the home stretch of 2025, I'm thrilled to share today's interview with Asha Curran, CEO and co-founder of GivingTuesday, the global generosity movement now active in 111+ countries.

Asha shares the origin story of GivingTuesday, which began as a three-month experiment inside the 92nd Street Y and has since grown into one of the most significant grassroots social change movements in the world—one built on radical trust, co-ownership, and the belief that every person has something to give.

Together, we explore how generosity strengthens communities, how charities can evolve beyond transactional fundraising, and why participation—not just money—is the true engine of long-term impact. We also discuss the deep civic implications of everyday giving, the rise of collective movements, and how each of us can live more generously—not just on one day a year, but in the way we walk through life.

Whether you work at a nonprofit, care about charities in your community, or simply want inspiration for how you can make a bigger impact, this is a conversation for every changemaker.

🔑 Key Topics & Insights

• The origin of GivingTuesday: how a simple experiment became a global movement.

• Radical co-ownership and how GivingTuesday succeeded by letting people "remix" the idea.

• Why generosity is civic participation—and a predictor of community health.

• The shift from donors → owners and why the language of philanthropy needs to change.

• The rise of collective giving: giving circles, coalition campaigns, and community-led change.

• Why trust is a two-way street for nonprofits and their supporters

• How nonprofits can stop thinking transactionally and start thinking relationally.

• What everyday generosity looks like—and why small acts matter more than ever.

• How generosity is like running: big race vs. everyday training.

• Asha's call to action for GivingTuesday: do something generous… and then turn to the person next to you and do something kind for them, too.

📌 Favorite Moments

• Asha recalling the very first GivingTuesday, when nonprofits spontaneously started changing the logo—and why instead of sending cease-and-desist letters, they embraced the remixing.

• The discussion on "peer-to-peer voice" and why it's just as important as peer-to-peer fundraising.

• How changing a tire illustrates the joy and humanity of helping others.

• The analogy between training for a race and building a culture of generosity.

💡 Asha's Call to Action for GivingTuesday

1. Give to a cause you care about.

2. Share why it matters to you.

3. Turn to the person next to you and do something kind.

Generosity is not just financial. It's connection, care, belonging, and showing up.

👤 About Asha Curran

Asha Curran is the CEO of GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement active in over 111 countries. Named one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People in Philanthropy. Asha is a leading voice on civic participation, community-led change, and the future of generosity.

Today, I'm honored to share a conversation with Sharon Eubank, the Global Humanitarian Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and now, the author of a beautiful new book called Doing Small Things with Great Love: How Everyday Humanitarians Are Changing the World.

For nearly three decades, Sharon has led humanitarian efforts in more than 190 countries, helping millions through projects that span from emergency relief to long-term community development. In her new book, she distills what she's learned into 12 guiding principles — lessons that remind us that each of us is most powerful where we live, that real help is always an exchange, and that service can be one of the most joyful things we do.

We spoke about what it means to serve with dignity, how small acts can ripple across the world, and how faith and compassion can unite us even in divided times.

Her message is one that I know will resonate with everyone in our community. Big thanks to Sharon for sharing so much with us!

Michelle Boggs is the Executive Nonprofit Industry Advisor at GoFundMe, where she works closely with nonprofits of all sizes and has a unique perspective on the trends shaping the future of fundraising and philanthropy.

In our interview, Michelle shares the latest trends she's seeing in the nonprofit space, the current challenges that charities are facing, and how they can better engage their supporters to build trust and community.

Her insight is helpful both to our listeners who work at charities and for all of our members who are always looking for ways to go the extra mile for the charities that we care about.

Big thanks to Michelle for sharing so much with us.

In this episode, we catch up with Wes Adams—positive psychology researcher, author, and founder of SV Consulting Group—during a walk through his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, for a powerful conversation about what makes work meaningful.

Wes shares insights from years of research into why some workplaces thrive while others burn out, and how great leaders create meaning—not just through mission statements, but through everyday moments of community, contribution, and challenge. From casual team check-ins to stretch assignments, Wes explains how small, consistent actions can build cultures where people actually want to show up.

We explore what it really means to lead with purpose, how to support others without micromanaging, and why meaning—not perks—is the key to retention, engagement, and performance.

Huge thanks to Wes Adams for sharing his perspective—and for helping reshape how we think about leadership and the future of work.

Connect with Wes Adams

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesadams1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesadams1/

In this episode, we sit down with Manoj Kumar, a tech leader at Harman and passionate cyclist, to hear the incredible story of his 6,000km solo ride across India. Manoj opens up about what inspired him to take this journey—navigating traffic, burnout, and the desire to break out of the ordinary—and how cycling became both a physical and spiritual path. From flat tires to moments of doubt, from conversations with strangers to meditative stillness on the road, Manoj's story is one of resilience, clarity, and quiet courage. We explore the diversity of India's landscapes and cultures, the role of family and inner conviction, and how a simple commute became the foundation for a life-changing experience. A huge thank-you to Manoj Kumar for sharing his journey—and to Harman for supporting personal transformation inside and outside of work.

In this episode of The Extra Mile Podcast, we're joined by Pat Morrissey and Brendan Cusick of Human Powered Potential—a four-person team that rowed across the Pacific Ocean to raise over $43 million for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Pat, who lives with early onset Parkinson's, shares his powerful journey from diagnosis to joining this life-changing mission. Brendan, the team's skipper, walks us through the inspiration behind the row, the mental and physical preparation, and what it was like to face 30-foot waves and total isolation in the middle of the ocean.

Together, they talk about the strength of community, the power of purpose, and how the support they received from thousands kept them moving through even the hardest days. This is a story of resilience, teamwork, and pushing beyond limits for something bigger than yourself. Don't miss this incredible conversation.

Every mile matters.

We're thrilled to share this interview with Kiera Smalls, the Executive Director of the Running Industry Coalition.

The RIDC is an educational nonprofit with a mission to unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

This is a conversation about how running can be a tool for connection, empowerment, and change, but also how the running community, and how we think about diversity in the running community, is a microcosm for so much more. In a time where we seem to see a movement in opposition to diversity, equity, inclusion, we are doing our best to double down on these values. At Charity Miles, we believe in inclusivity, and that our diversity is what makes us resilient. It also makes our life experiences so much more rich and enjoyable. But most of all, because it's the right thing to do. So we're going to try to do our part, in this podcast at the very least, to bring you more voices like Kiera's.

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This podcast is sponsored by our partners at UCan, a brand that I have personally relied on for years to fuel my performance, both in big events and every day.

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Whether you're training for a marathon, heading out for a long ride, or just staying active, UCan helps you feel and perform your best.

And as a special gift to the Charity Miles community, UCAN is offering a free sample pack of four energy gels, plus, you can get 20% off any other UCan products by entering the code "CharityMiles" at checkout.

Click here to learn more.

It's a tremendous honor for me to share my podcast with Olympic legend and humanitarian, Billy Mills.

Billy Mills was born in 1938 and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation.

Billy had a very difficult childhood, losing his mother, sister, and father by the age of 12.

He turned to running as both an escape and a source of discipline.

After his father's passing, Billy attended the Haskell Institute, a U.S. government run boarding school for Native American children.

Schools like Haskell were controversial for their forced assimilation, physical and emotional abuse, and systematically trying to erase their students Indigenous identities.

Billy, though, had a positive experience at Haskell, where he met his coach Tony Coffin, who became somewhat of a father figure to him. Coffin recognized Billy's talent and helped nurture his running abilities, providing him with the foundation that would later lead to his collegiate and Olympic success.

Also, during his time at Haskell, Billy spent one of his summers as a counselor at Camp Greylock in Beckett, Massachusetts, which is the summer camp that I went to many years later and is a very important part of my life. So it's very special for me to share this link with Billy.

At Haskell, Billy won multiple state championships in track and cross country, earning him a scholarship to the University of Kansas, where Billy would be coached by Bill Easton.

Easton was a highly respected track and field coach who led Kansas to multiple NCAA championships, and at Kansas, Billy was one of the best distance runners in the country. He was a three time All American, won multiple Big Eight titles, and was runner up in the 1960 cross country championships.

Through all of this, however, Billy faced numerous challenges, including discrimination at every level, including from Easton, hypoglycemia, and struggles with self doubt.

At times, Billy even contemplated suicide, and in his senior year, he walked off the track and quit the team completely.

Fortunately for Billy, the University of Kansas is also where he met and began dating a young woman named Patricia Pat Collins. Pat played a crucial role in Billy's journey, supporting him through the challenges he faced as an athlete and as a Native American navigating the world of elite sports.

After graduating Kansas, Billy married Pat, joined the U. S. Marine Corps, and resumed training with the goal of not just making the U. S. Olympic team and not just winning a medal, but winning the gold medal in the 10K.

Which he did. In 1964, Billy qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 10, 000 meter race, where he stunned the world with a historic, come from behind victory, becoming the first and still the only American, or even the only person from the Western Hemisphere, to win the gold medal in the event.

He also remains the only Native American, other than Jim Thorpe, to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

His triumph is considered one of the greatest Olympic upsets and victories of all time.

Since Billy's victory in the 1964 Tokyo Games, Billy and Pat have dedicated their lives to giving back, co founding Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that empowers Indigenous communities through health, education, and self sufficiency programs.

Their journey is one of perseverance, cultural pride, and spreading a message of unity through diversity.

All values that are very much at the heart of the Charity Miles community.

Which naturally, is why we want to also thank our partners at Brooks Running who are very much champions for these values as well.

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we're all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, peace of mind after a stressful day, or an Olympic gold medal.

It could be a cure for Parkinson's, a cleaner planet, fair play, or the strength that comes from our diversity.

So… let's run there.

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it's a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Let's run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Historic 1964 Olympic 10K Final

02:14 - Introducing Billy Mills: A Story of Resilience

06:12 - Billy's Early Life on Pine Ridge Reservation

13:06 - The Impact of Haskell Indian School

24:16 - Overcoming Struggles in College and the Marines

32:24 - The Journey to the Tokyo Olympics

35:55 - The Epic 10,000-Meter Race

42:54 - Winning Gold: A Dream Fulfilled

50:26 - Giving Back: Running Strong for American Indian Youth

1:03:01 - The Secret to a 63-Year Marriage

In this episode, we're joined by Brad Pitassi, Chief of the Maricopa Fire Department, who shares his incredible journey from EMT to fire chief.

We discuss wildfire response, community resilience, and the personal sacrifices firefighters make to keep us safe.

Brad's stories are both eye-opening and inspiring, offering practical tips on disaster preparedness and how we can all support our local heroes.

#EveryMileMatters!

Chapters:

0:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction

0:26 – Becoming Fire Chief of Maricopa

1:31 – Inspired to Serve After 9/11

3:23 – Managing Large-Scale Disasters

5:36 – What It's Like Fighting Wildfires

10:00 – How to Fight a Forest Fire

19:57 – Wildfires in Urban Areas

31:52 – Personal Preparedness Tips

43:36 – Cancer Risks for Firefighters

52:45 – Final Thoughts & Thank You