The Heroic Minds Podcast

Michael Landsberg is a Canadian sports journalist and former host of Off the Record on TSN. Today he still works a full time job while spending 2/3 of every day helping people open-up, share, discuss and find courage in their mental health struggles. In this episode we talk as open as possible about mental health but also in general, chirps were thrown and laughs were had throughout the entire episode. Michael shares the details of his continuous journey through life while dealing with depression and anxiety. He talk about how to overcome the ego that stops us from sharing. We discuss how mental health issues are similar to a street fight where you look for any tool you can to help win the fight. We even discuss how to approach the conversation with someone else that may be dealing with depression or anxiety.

Platform to #SickNotWeak (4:00)

Alone in the hotel (6:00)

What is Depression (8:00)

Marks on my arm (18:50)

How #SickNotWeak improves lives (19:30)

We pretend we have it figured out (22:00)

Share with strength - Share with power (27:00)

I didn't create the Bacteria (31:00)

My journey through anxiety (34:00)

Learn to live with me (41:00)

The shower (46:30)

"Change is Hope" (50:00)

Expose yourself (57:40)

Michael Landsberg - Twitter

Sick Not Weak

Send me an email! [email protected]

Nichole is a piano teacher, competitive swimmer, a musician and athlete that has been blind since birth. I prepared for this episode accordingly with questions and ideas that I thought would lead us to discussion of a different approach to life.... that didn't happen... something more incredible did. Nicole explained how she lives alone, she is a university professor and does 99% of everything people with sight do. Nicole and her story is proof that it is not what we see that creates our limitations in life but what we imagine in our minds. There was never a fear in riding a bike, in swimming, in J-walking, in Music, in pushing the envelope of life. She just did it and pushed the envelope while doing so forcing her peers to improve and keep up.

Colours (4:30)

Touch faces? No thanks (5:10)

Squirrels (7:00)

No fear (16:40)

Explore with our hands bodies and ears (17:30)

Swimming, baseball, ball hockey (22:00)

Piano! (27:00)

Condescending people (31:00)

Hearing the vibe (33:58)

Self-Driving Cars (36:00)

Society (38:00)

Typing exams (40:00)

Always Finding Challenge (44:40)

The best teachers are students (54:00)

Reach out to Nichole here:

Phone: 519-570-1173

Email: [email protected]

Or

Reach out to me: [email protected]

truLocal - (Discount Code HEROICMINDS25)

So much of what we think we cannot do is in our head. I heard the other day that our body actually stops us before hand as a safety precaution.

Ryan Martin Bike Across Canada Update (Guest on episode #9)

Donate Here!

Is there a God (26:00)

Mind is the creator mind is the everything (32:00)

Relationship with present moment (37:50)

Rephrase suffering (45:00)

Nothing is permanent (53:00)

Freedom from suffering (55:00)

Nirvana - complete freedom (58:00)

We create out own suffering (1:08:30)

Below the surface (1:20:00)

The power is within us (1:21:00)

Happy death (1:26:00)

CanadaAMindfulnation.ca

Kindfulnation.com

TruLocal.ca

Send me an email! [email protected]

Dr. Collingridge was recruited from Bristol in the U.K. to be the Senior Investigator at Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto. He is also the chair of the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Collingridge studies brain mechanisms that control the strength of brain cell connections, and how this fundamental property (known as synaptic plasticity) affects brain function. The work is critical for understanding the cellular basis of learning and memory. Dr. Collingridge aims to find pharmacogenetic methods (drugs) to restore behavioural and cognitive function and to prevent neurodegenerative processes that afflict people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, and mental illness. From why smells reminds us of our past to research on medication that can reverse the affects of depression to pruning our synapses and the best way to keep our brain young. Enjoy!

Scent Music and Memory (6:00)

10% of our Brain (8:30)

Cant Remember Everything (9:00)

Plasticity (11:20)

Metaplasticity (13:10)

Improving memory (14:30)

Weaken fear response (17:40)

Immune System & Nervous System (26:30)

Nervous system variability (27:00)

Stress on the brain (33:40)

Medication for Alzheimer’s (36:00)

Ketamine and depression (37:30)

Peak plasticity in life (43:20)

Raise pain threshold (44:30)

Inflammation and memory (50:00)

Marijuana vs. Alcohol (56:20)

Keeping your brain young (1:01:20)

Send me an Email! [email protected]

Work Cited:

Park, Pojeong, et al. "NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation comprises a family of temporally overlapping forms of synaptic plasticity that are induced by different patterns of stimulation." Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 369.1633 (2014): 20130131.

Nisticò, Robert, et al. "Synaptoimmunology-roles in health and disease." Molecular brain 10.1 (2017): 26.

Bliss, T. V. P., G. L. Collingridge, and R. G. M. Morris. "Synaptic plasticity in health and disease: introduction and overview." (2014): 20130129.

Bortolotto, Zuner A., et al. "An analysis of the stimulus requirements for setting the molecular switch reveals a lower threshold for metaplasticity than synaptic plasticity." Neuropharmacology 55.4 (2008): 454-458.

Canadian Forces Sargent Major Michael Cotts enlisted at the age of 17. He served overseas six times, in Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan as a master warrant officer and combat engineer. Michael received a medical discharge in 2012 for post-traumatic stress disorder. After returning home Michael has ventured through some dark times to find healthy habits, overcome immense adversity and live triumphantly with PTSD. He has joined numerous groups that encourage active lifestyle and competition within a wide variety of activities such as snowshoeing, cycling, fishing, scuba-diving and Cross-fit. He has biked 800 miles from Ottawa to Washington over several weeks. Michael even runs workout classes for fellow veterans and first responders with operational stress injuries in New Brunswick. 

Journey to the military (6:00)

Weaning people out (8:30)

Role of the Combat Engineer (12:30)

Objective based (15:00)

Importance of rehearsals (16:30)

Fear from PTSD (19:40)

Growth in the Military (21:30)

Real or fake (25:00)

Mission before man (28:20)

Preparation (30:00)

Human side (35:00)

PTSD like a concussion (37:00)

Bosnia mine clearing (41:40)

Stranded & Laser's (45:40)

Figuring out PTSD (48:00)

Giddy Up! (54:00)

Fitness Challenge (1:1:01)

Adversity is relative (1:02:50

Make stuff last longer (1:04:20)

My brain blows me away (1:10:30)

Its not the F****** Crackers (1:13:10)

Send Michael an e-mail! [email protected]

Solider-On

TruLocal.ca

Send me an e-mail! [email protected]

Camil Dumont is the CEO of Inner City Farms. A company that grows vegetables in the city of Vancouver... yes literally in the city, on the front and back yard of peoples homes. He does this to bring people together and to educate. Camil has accepted the pay cut, the risk and the challenges that come with the business all to make our relationship to food a little healthier. A very heroic journey.  

Background (3:18)

Beginning of Inner City Farms (5:06)

Relationship to food (7:00)

Health eating is more than food (8:20)

Issues and food (9:40)

Food has changed (12:45)

Us and the cycle (15:50)

Food and Community (18:00)

Vehicle for positivity (23:00)

Beginning, Middle and End (28:40)

Limitation & Risk (31:00)

Hero (32:30)

How to garden in a city (38:30)

All parks to farms...lol (43:00)

Your yard (45:00)

Instagram @InnerCityFarms

InnerCityFarms.com

TruLocal.ca

My email: [email protected]

Garret Rank is a full time NHL referee and pro golfer that recently competed in the US Open. He is also a cancer survivor with an incredibly resilient mindset.

Rank has his eyes set on reffing the Stanley Cup Finals and competing in the Masters.

We talk about how NHL players will actually help him after making a bad call, arguments on the ice with past guests (Scheifele, Landeskog), we walk through how to decelerate a yelling match with a pissed off NHL player, bouncing back from a bad call or bad golf shot, and finish with some funny stories from the US Open fans and hecklers!

Background (0:00)

Cancer (5:15)

Two people within (10:40)

Message to 16 year old Garret (15:30)

Mental prep (17:00)

Bounce back (20:10)

Help from the players (24:30)

Take control (31:40)

Landeskog & Scheifele - Stories (38:20)

Heckling & Pro's @ US Open (51:30)

Self Reflection (52:50)

TruLocal.ca

Ben Fanelli Twitter

Ben Fanelli Instagram

My email: [email protected]

Brenna Huckaby is up for Best Female Athlete With a Disability at the 2018 ESPY Awards and is the first Paralympian to be featured in the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition.

Brenna was a nationally ranked gymnast when osteosarcoma took her leg and career when she was only 14 years old.

Now she is a two-time Paralympic Gold Medalist from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. One gold in the snowboard-cross and one in the banked slalom.

In this episode we talk about how literally getting off the couch turned her life around and allowed her to push the limits of life regardless of her amputation.

From swimming to water skiing, to olympic gold in snowboarding, to prosthetic malfunction mid-race, to defying her odds of giving birth. We even discuss Brenna's future goals of competing in the summer Olympics and driving a standard vehicle.

Diagnosis (3:00)

Swimming & Waterskiing (8:30)

Control & Healing (11:45)

Forced to Walk (14:20)

Beginning of Snowboarding (19:00)

Okay to Lie to Yourself (21:30)

"Adaptive" (28:00)

"A New Normal" (36:50)

Miracle Daughter (39:20)

Gold Medals (41:00)

"Why Am I Here?" (42:00)

Inherent Stress in Success (50:00)

Building Up Men & Women (54:00)

"Nothing I Cannot Do" (59:00)

VOTE FOR BRENNA HERE

Brenna Huckaby Instagram

Brenna Huckaby Twitter

TruLocal.ca

Ben Fanelli Twitter

Ben Fanelli Instagram

My email: [email protected]

Work Cited:

Huisman, E. R. C. M., et al. "Healing environment: A review of the impact of physical environmental factors on users." Building and environment 58 (2012): 70-80. (Link)

Gabriel Landeskog was one of the youngest captains in NHL history and Rookie of The Year in the NHL in 2011-2012 season.

He moved to Canada from Sweden at 16 years old. He is presently the Captain of the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. He is having a successful career beyond the NHL with multiple medals on the world stage representing team Sweden.

From his bachelor party, to being an NHL captain at 19 years old, to surviving a triathlon, to the scariest moment in his life, to the most embarrassing moment of his life.

In this episode we don't talk much about hockey. We talk about the human side to one of the most stoic, strong and fearless captains in the sporting world today.

Sweden vs. Canada (2:50)

Fire Fighting (6:45)

Bachelor Party (8:45)

Rituals (11:50)

Raise the level of everything (18:40)

Power of vulnerability (24:40)

Dealing with mistakes (34:50)

Not the perfect captain (37:35)

Most scared Gabe has ever been (42:00)

The answers are inside me (44:35)

Surviving a triathlon (48:00)

Message to 16 year old Gabe (54:30)

Most embarrassing moment of his life (58:10)

Twitter @GabeLandeskog92

TruLocal.ca

Ben Fanelli Instagram

Ben Fanelli Twitter

My email: [email protected]

Mike Laughlin looked death in the eyes twice. He is an above knee amputee full time Fire Fighter with endless resilience and tenacity.

We talk about 3 life altering experiences over the course of ten years and how none of them have stopped him from anything in life.

From crawling on his knees with a shattered femur and broken arm in minus 28 degrees celsius to having his leg bones stuck in the ground after a motorcycle accident.

Mike looks and acts just like any other healthy, active young male. The only difference is that every morning when he puts his two shoes on, he also puts his leg on.

This is a story for the books.

Concussion and Mental Health (3:20 - 5:20)

Growing Up (5:20 - 6:50)

Will to win (9:00 - 10:45)

Snowmobile Crash (10:45 - 21:00)

Limping is all in your mind (21:00 - 20:55)

Loss to Depression (24:30 - 30:30)

Motorcycle Crash (31:40 - 49:40)

Transfer to Prosthetic Leg (49:50 - 1:06:15)

A New Normal (1:06:15 - 1:08:20)

Trading Catheter Stories (1:14:40 - 1:18:40)

TruLocal

Ben Fanelli Twitter 

Ben Fanelli Instagram

My email: [email protected]