The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast

You might remember Bill Bucklew from our 2018 interview when he walked across the United States for Parkinson's Disease, which Bill has.

In today's interview, we join Bill on his latest journey, something he's calling The Long Walk for Parkinson's: 640 miles, over 17 days, 40 miles per day, from the northern tip of Scotland to London... where he'll then run the London Marathon.

For this journey, Bill is not alone. He's joined by John MacPhee, who also has Parkinson's and has a slate of his own incredible accomplishments, including a previous walk across the U.K.

The two of them are representing the U.S. and the U.K. coming together in a collaboration to help people living with Parkinson's live their best lives.

Appropriately, they're also raising money for Parkinson's organizations in both countries, including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson's U.K. and Cure Parkinson's U.K..

Big thanks to Bill (and John) for continuing to inspire and for sharing part of this journey with us!

#EveryMileMatters!

Chuck Stravin was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in 2015, and has been living with it ever since.

Chuck is a father of 4 girls. Shortly after his diagnosis, he made it a personal goal to see all 4 daughters graduate high school. With that no complete, he's looking ahead to four college graduations (2 down there), followed by four engagements, weddings and grandchildren.

This is one of the most vulnerable and personal interviews that I've done since we started this podcast.

One of the things that has stuck with me since speaking with Chuck is what he's learned about – and what he wants to teach others – about resiliency.

Since his diagnosis, Chuck has become a part of the family at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where he receives his care.

He shares a lot about that too, which makes us especially proud to be partnering with them and the Jimmy Fund.

So if you want to be part of something special, go to JimmyFundWalk.org and sign up for their walk, which will take place on October 3rd, around the globe.

Thanks to the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the opportunity to be a part of their amazing work, and family.

Thanks to Genentech for their support!

Big thanks to Chuck for sharing so much with us.

And of course, big thanks to all of you for joining us.

Every Mile Matters.

Today's interview, the second in our collaboration with the Jimmy Fund Walk and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, is with Chuck Stravin who was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in 2015, and has been living with it ever since.

Chuck is a father of 4 girls.  Shortly after his diagnosis, he made it a personal goal to see all 4 daughters graduate high school.  With that now complete, he’s looking ahead to four college graduations (2 down there), followed by four engagements, weddings and grandchildren.

This is one of the most vulnerable and personal interviews that I’ve done since we started this podcast.  One of the things that has stuck with me since speaking with Chuck is what he’s learned about – and what he wants to teach others – about resiliency. 

If you want to be a part of something special, go to JimmyFundWalk.org and register for the The 2021 BOSTON MARATHON® JIMMY FUND WALK YOUR WAY PRESENTED BY HYUNDAI.   

Thanks to the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the opportunity to be a part of their amazing work, and family.

Thanks to Chuck for sharing so much with us.

And of course, big thanks to all of you for joining us.

#EveryMileMatters!

Sarah Hamilton is a mom.

Her daughter, Caroline, is now in college.

But when Caroline was just 6, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

This set Caroline, Sarah and their family on a lifelong journey with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

In this interview, Sarah shares that journey with us, and also the secret to how she and her team have helped raise over $1 million for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

I'm grateful to Sarah for sharing so much with us, and to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the opportunity to collaborate with them.

On Sunday October 3rd, the 2021 BOSTON MARATHON® JIMMY FUND WALK YOUR WAY PRESENTED BY HYUNDAI will unite people around the globe a they walk in their own communities to raise funds to support all forms of pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute-- the premier cancer center. If you aren't registered yet, visit jimmyfundwalk.org today.

Ben Kenyon is the Head Strength Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, an author, and the founder of the Great Day Squad.

With the Sixers, Ben helps some of the world's best athletes get stronger both physically and mentally.

He has also taken what he's learned from coaching elite athletes, and from his own personal journey, to now help everyday athletes (like me) perform their best - both on the road, and in life.

That's what his Great Day Squad is all about. Which is why I was especially interested in chatting with Ben for this interview.

Big thanks to Ben for sharing so much with us.

And big thanks to our partners at Honey Stinger for introducing me to Ben.

As you've probably seen, we're thrilled to be partnering with Honey Stinger which makes a variety of nutrition and hydration solutions for athletes.

I've long been a fan of their waffles. And now they have a new hydration system that consists of three different mixes to help you Prepare, Perform and Recover.

This has been a huge game-changer for me personally as I'm currently undertaking my most difficult endurance challenge yet. It's called the "Calendar Club" and to put it simply: each day this month, I'll be running the # of miles of days in the month.

So, June 1 = 1 mile... June 2 = 2 miles... June 30th = 30 miles.

That's 465 miles, half of which are after day 21.

Today is June 15, so I did 15 miles. So things are about to get really interesting.

Obviously, hydration is crucial for me in attempting this. And Honey Stinger has been truly helpful.

So, if you'd like to receive a free sample of Honey Stinger, and also enter for a chance to win a Garmin watch, please click here to take our hydration survey.

Thanks again!

-Gene

Mark Allen is a legend.

ESPN named him the Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time.

6X winner of the Ironman World Championships in Kona.

First ever winner of the Triathlon World Championships.

Epic 21-race winning streak, at all distances, the longest in triathlon history

But it wasn't just Mark's victories that made him special.

Mark was and is known for his mental game and spirituality.

Which is something that we dive into during this interview: How to quiet the racing mind.

This interview is especially fitting because May is Mental Health Month.

We also just announced our newest member of the Charity Miles family, Active Minds.

Active Minds is one of the premier mental health charities in the world. It was started by Alison Malmon, 18 years ago, when she lost her brother, Brian to suicide.

Alison recognized that Brian's story is the story of thousands of people who suffer in silence; who, despite their large numbers, think they are totally alone.

Wanting to combat the stigma around mental illness, Alison started a student group at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a student.

Active Minds has since grown to more than 800 college campuses, directly reaching close to 600,000 students each year through campus awareness campaigns, events, advocacy, outreach and more.

Active Minds has also grown outside of the college campus with its newly launched, Active Minds @Work program to help companies create a healthy mental health culture in the workplace.

As I've written and spoken about before, I have personally struggled with anxiety and depression-- and in many ways, still do.

I've also heard from many in our community on this topic. So I know this is something many of you care deeply about too.

So please help me welcome Active Minds to the Charity Miles family by doing some Charity Miles for them today.

Also, one more quick note—this interview is sponsored by our great partners at Hope Foods. As you all likely know by now, Hope Foods makes a variety of delicious Cashew & Almond Dips, Hummus, and Guacamole that feature fresh ingredients and bold flavors to elevate the wholesomeness of your favorite dishes and snacks.

Like us, Hope is also deeply committed to mental health. They aspire to manifest hope by providing food and tools that support your physical and mental well-being, and even have an entire section of their website dedicated to mental health resources. If you'd like to check that out, please visit hopefoods.com/havehope.

So big thanks to Hope Foods. And a big welcome to Active Minds. Now without any further ado, turn up your volume and turn on your charity miles and come along for the walk or run with me and Mark Allen, the greatest endurance athlete of all time.

>> If you'd like to learn more about Mark, visit his site here.

If you're looking to develop a healthier relationship with your technology, this interview is for you.

Max Stossel is an award-winning poet, filmmaker and the Head of Education & Content for the Center for Humane Technology, an organization of former tech insiders and CEOs dedicated to realigning technology with humanity's best interests.

(He's also a longtime friend.)

When I first met Max, nearly 9 years ago, he worked for a startup that could have been a precursor to Tik Tok.

There, he experienced first-hand the "Social Dilemma" that comes with trying to make a habit-forming app, with the emerging consequence of hooking people to their screens.

Around the same time, Max heard a poet that inspired him to begin writing and performing poetry himself, also turning his poems into short films.

His third poem, Subway Love went viral. As did his next poem, The Panda is Dancing. They've been seen over 15 million times.

Max's poetry often explores our relationships with technology, presence and the importance of prioritizing the relationships that matter to us most.

With the Center for Humane Technology, he helps teach people to more consciously design our relationships with technology.

However, after re-listening to our discussion, I think his key lessons are about consciously designing our relationships with each other.

Big thanks to Max for sharing so much with us!

#EveryMileMatters!

Mollie McGlocklin is a sleep expert and founder of Sleep Is A Skill.

Having struggled with chronic sleep deprivation in her own life, Mollie decided to solve her own problem by diving deep into the ways we can master our circadian rhythms.

She became fascinated with chronobiology, and by extension, its practical applications to restore a state of homeostasis not only to her sleep but also to her life as a whole.

Knowing the difference between a life with sleep and without, she's now dedicated her life to sharing the forgotten skill set of sleep.

Her company, Sleep Is A Skill, helps people optimize their sleep through a unique blend of technology, accountability, and behavioral change.

If you're looking to get more and better sleep, this interview is for you!

Big thanks to Mollie for joining us.

#EveryMileMatters!

Tammy Tibbetts is Co-Founder & CEO of She's the First, a global nonprofit that teams up with local organizations to make sure girls are educated, respected, and heard. Today, She's the First supports more than 9,500 girls in 11 countries and 200+ student advocacy chapters.

Last month, Tammy and STF co-founder Christen Brandt, published published theri first book, Impact: A Step-by-Step Plan to Create the World You Want to Live In.

The book shares stories and interactive activities to help you find your focus, identify partners, and plug into movements for long-term, systemic change.

Tammy has been recognized for her leadership and global impact by Forbes 30 Under 30, Time 30 Under 30 World Changers, and Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. She received a 2013 DVF Award from Diane von Furstenberg.

On a personal note, I've long admired Tammy. She radiates energy and compassion that never fails to light a fire under me.

>> Click here to learn more about She's The First.

>> Click here to learn more about She's The First's Front Row.

>> Click here to check out the Impact book.

If you're looking to create new (and healthy) habits, BJ Fogg is the guy you want to speak with.

BJ is a behavior scientist that leads the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University.

His students have gone on to become some of the top innovators and venture capitalists in the world. For example, they invent things that rhyme with "Shminstagram".

In 2002, he published a book, Persuasive Technology, that is the cornerstone primer for anyone creating a product to influence behavior.

In 2007, he developed the "Fogg Behavior Model" which is the deceptively simple framework for analyzing and designing behavior.

He has coached over 40,000 people on behavior and habit formation.

His latest book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, is a New York Times Bestseller.

On a personal note, BJ has been a huge influence on me, both with respect to how I think about Charity Miles, and in my own life.

With everyone thinking about their New Year's Resolutions, I could not think of a better guest to have on the podcast.

I am so honored that he took the time to share just a bit of his wisdom with us.