The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast

On this episode of The Extra Mile Podcast, I went on a walk with my buddy, Kenneth Chabert, in beautiful and bustling Central Park. Kenneth and I met about 6 years ago and we instantly clicked. So, I was incredibly happy to bump into him recently at a conference and hear about all of the amazing things he's been up to.

Kenneth is the founder and "choice architect" of The Gentlemen's Retreat. The Gentlemen's Retreat takes young men from the inner city and puts them in novel environments and situations while stepping back and allowing them to go through cognitive dissonance, so they can truly figure out what being a "G" means to them. The exposure of being in different spaces, learning how to adapt, how to connect with people from different backgrounds allows them to develop new skill sets and teaches them the art of being a gentleman.

Kenneth's story is powerful. Having grown up in the Bronx, he faced the duality of valuing education and wanting to build a successful life for himself while also navigating maintaining a reputation on the streets. At the time, having respect in the inner city was the most important thing. But a sobering run-in with the law during his senior year of high school kept him focused and Kenneth managed to get a full scholarship to Providence College. The experience of attending a top university in Rhode Island was pivotal for his life.

Kenneth's mission is to give young men from the inner-city powerful first experiences which will help them cultivate their own success, and eventually pay it forward. He is truly changing the world one gentleman at a time.

A big thank you to Kenneth for taking a little time to walk with me and share his amazing story.

Shout to our sponsor SlowMag MG supplements, which I've been taking to replenish electrolytes and help me sleep. Magnesium is important for everyone but especially athletes. Get your SlowMag Mg at slowmag.com.

Be sure to check out Gentlemen's Retreat and support this great organization.

#EveryMileMatter

On this episode of The Extra Mile podcast, I take a walk on a beautiful New York City day with the founder of Project Purple, Dino Verrelli. Founded in honor of his father who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008, Project Purple was created to raise awareness, support patients and families affected by the disease, and fund research efforts to defeat pancreatic cancer.

Through their fitness events, Project Purple has made a massive impact on patients and their families and has funded over $1 million in pancreatic cancer research.

I love how Dino is honest about absolutely hating running at first. But when he got the idea to make Project Purple's first major event series- 13 half marathons in 13 months- he just knew he had to commit to it. Flash forward to his current passion for running (and more importantly running for a cause) and his story is even more inspiring.

It was an honor to walk with Dino and I am thrilled to welcome Project Purple into the Charity Miles family. Thank you for your amazing work!

Learn more about Project Purple:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Podcast

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Today's interview is with a guest I've previously had on the Extra Mile, Julia Vitarello. If you haven't heard that episode, I urge you to. It is one of the most moving episodes I have ever recorded. In that episode, which was around two years ago, Julia told us the story of her daughter Mila, who at age 6 was diagnosed with an extremely rare and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease called Batten Disease.

At the time, Julia was embarking on funding a very expensive clinical trial to try to slow the progression of the disease. Until then, there was little-to-no research or any resources for Batten Disease. And even less about the unique type that Mila has.

Julia went on to start Mila's Miracle Foundation to Stop Batten and set off a series of fast-moving and ground-breaking innovations in research and medicine which have begun to pave a path for treatment for hundreds of similar neurodegenerative diseases.

You won't believe this story. When I first heard it, it hit me very hard. And it has hit me just as hard today. As a parent, I cannot imagine what it would be like to watch any child, much less your own, go through something so devastating. Julia's fight for Mila, and now for millions of other suffering families, is nothing short of heroic.

A huge thank you to Julia for taking the time to walk with me and continue to share Mila's story with us.

Click HERE to help support the fight against Batten Disease.

#EveryMileMatters

Today on the Extra Mile I'm thrilled to share an interview I did with someone who I've admired for a very long time, Founder and CEO of Oiselle, Sally Bergesen.

Oiselle is is a Seattle-based by women, for women athletic apparel company. They have some things for men, too, and I love my Oiselle t-shirt and hat. But more importantly, they are a brand, and Sally is an entrepreneur that I truly look up to.

Oiselle's mission is three-fold: make a great product, improve the sport, and build the sisterhood. I really admire how they have built their community.

I was in beautiful Seattle, WA to visit family and thought I'd reach out to Sally to see if she might go on a run with me and along the way share some of her wisdom with us.

I'm so grateful that she was able and willing to chat with me as well as take us on one of the most spectacular runs I've ever been on, on the shores of Lake Washington. It was absolutely stunning!

#EveryMileMatters #RunLoveWins

Get your Oiselle gear here.

Follow Oiselle's blog here.

Follow Oiselle on Instagram here.

I could not be more excited for today's podcast. It's not an interview, but rather a musical performance by Emelise Munoz, a 13 year-old rockstar!

I first met Emelise last year, when she was just 12, busking at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail Colorado. (You may remember her from the podcast we recorded with Playing For Change last year.) So when our awesome partners TIAA Bank invited me back out this year, I emailed Emelise to see if she'd be performing again.

I'm so psyched that she said yes, and was gracious to allow me to record it for the podcast.

At just 13, Emelise rocks everything from Johnny Cash to Adele. She also writes her own songs, some of which you'll hear in the podcast. But she's not just a composer, she also has composure. You'll hear her break a string on her guitar while performing Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay". But she rolls right through it like a true professional. I have no doubt that Emelise is going to be a huge star someday. And I feel so lucky to have this private sneak-peak recording to share with all of you. Please come along for the walk or run with us this weekend. And please share it with someone special.

I am so excited to share today's interview with Lacey Henderson. At 9 years old Lacey had to have her leg amputated above the knee due to a rare soft-tissue tumor in her knee.

It did not stop her.

She continued to play soccer as a child, was a cheerleader in college, and eventually went on to compete in track and field, specifically the pole vault and long jump. She now competes for the US Paralympics team in the long jump.

Her incredible strength, both physical and mental, is evident, as is her refreshing sense of humor.

Contrary to what she thinks, her story is a huge inspiration. I am so grateful she was able to take some time to walk with me around her training track on a grey day in Austin, Texas. Thank you, Lacey!

Once again I am so grateful to Aftershokz who introduced us. For more information on Aftershokz please visit charitymiles.org/aftershokz.

Lacey's Website

Lacey Instagram

Athletes for Hope

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On today's episode, I'm so excited to share my interview with my good friend Barefoot Jake Brown. Yes, he's gotten that name because he does not wear shoes.

He's done some truly unbelievable things. He was the first person to run across the United States, he ran from Mexico to Canada, and he has completed 200-mile races- ALL barefoot. He's also one of the first 100 members of Charity Miles.

We conducted our interview on a walk through beautiful Central Park in New York City where you can almost hear the sunshine. (You can certainly hear the birds chirping!)

He's got great stories and has learned so much through his journey, so a big thank you to Barefoot Jake for sharing some of his time with us.

And, as always, we're sending some love to Aftershokz for their support. For more information on these amazing earphones visit charitymiles.org/aftershokz.

The Bare Sole Project

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Today on the Extra Mile podcast I bring you the final interview in our three-part Boston series. Today I join the acclaimed Dr. Jordan Metzl on a run by the Charles River.

Funny enough, Jordan lives in New York but it took us both going to Boston to finally get the interview that I've been wanting for a long time.

Jordan is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician, best selling author, and fitness instructor who practices at one of the top hospitals in the country, Hospital for Special Surgery.

He is the founder of the Iron Strength Workout Series which teaches how to develop your strength in all areas and why that is important for athletes of every kind, and all people, really.

This is also the first time I talk about poop with a guest on the show! You definitely don't want to miss why it comes up and why it is so important to all of us!

As always, a big shoutout to AfterShokz who make this podcast, and everything we do at Charity Miles possible. (And help me immensely in New York so that I can dodge bikers whizzing by!)

If you're listening to this podcast while walking or running, I hope you're wearing their open-ear bone conduction headphones.

Not only do they enable you to listen to your podcasts and music safely, but since they don't go in your ear, they are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned– and they never fall out! To learn more, check them out at charitymiles.org/aftershokz

#EveryMileMatters

Guest Contact:

Jordan's Website

Iron Strength Workout Series

Today we have the second of three podcasts that I recorded when I was up in Boston last week for the Boston Marathon. In this episode, I walk with Tina Muir, a "former" elite runner who has one of the most popular running podcasts called Running for Real.

Tina had taken some time off from running to start a family and the Boston Marathon was her first marathon back. And, get this, she still ran under 3!

Tina's honesty in this episode is really special, so a big thank you to her for taking some time to chat with us, share her story, and give some great tips for staying motivated during a run.

And, as always, a big shoutout to Aftershokz who introduced us! Check out charitymiles.org/aftershokz for information on these awesome headphones. #EveryMileMatters

tinamuir.com

charitymiles.org

Today's episode takes place in Boston, just three days before the Boston Marathon, with a LEGEND, Kathrine Switzer who, in 1967, became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an official registered participant.

Many of us know the iconic photo of the moment where the race director Jock Semple saw Kathrine running and tried to knock her off the course and steal her number. It is a picture that not only broke barriers but changed women's history, sport's history, and, frankly, the world.

Kathrine has since run numerous marathons, was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, is a speaker, author, television personality, and so much more. Her charity, 261 Fearless (261 being the number she wore in that 1967 race), is a movement that is helping to empower women all over the world through running.

You won't want to miss her amazing story.

Thank you, Kathrine, for spending some time with us!

And a very grateful thank you to our sponsor Aftershokz for inviting me up to share this day with them. Please check them out at charitymiles.org/aftershokz for more information.

261fearless.org

charitymiles.org

#EveryMileMatters