The Heroic Minds Podcast

Kirstie Ennis’s was a US Marine Arial Gunner when her helicopter went down in Afghanistan. During her recovery there was a breaking point where she tried to end her life but was saved. Her father said to her “the enemy couldn’t do it so you’re going to do it for them?!” That tough love re-routed her onto an extraordinary journey.

After more than 40 surgeries, speech therapy, reconstructing her jaw, and losing her leg, the former Marine sergeant has earned 3 Degrees and is a PhD candidate, she plans to summit the highest peak in each of the 7 continents (has already summited a couple including Mt Kilimanjaro), she has competed as a Paralympic snowboarder, she opened her first business, the Chapter One Hair and Body Lab in Oceanside, California, she started a clothing line called HeadCase, she has become a stuntwoman in movies including “Patriots Day” starring Mark Wahlberg and she plans to add more to this list which you will hear in the episode.

Kirstie has realized when you are aligned with your purpose, anything is possible.

Kirstie Ennis Foundation

Kirstie Ennis Instagram

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Revolutionizing the global conversation on climate change, Dr. Yimin Wu (PhD in Materials from the University of Oxford) and his team created an artificial leaf that replicates photosynthesizes. Taking in light and CO2 and turning it into fuel/energy.

Just like NASA and TESLA are trying to figure out Dr. Wu’s team has found an answer to the CO2 issue.
He makes it very clear that his work is not just for science and to remain in a lab, it is to be shared with people for inspiration and education to push the needle even further.

In this episode we talk about the philosophy and science behind this engineering break-through.

What makes someone think they can change the world?
What fuels someone for days without sleep to reach a discovery like this?
How does pressure become opportunity?
How is creation like climbing a mountain?

Full Bio & Educational Background Here

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William is a World Record Freediver. William set a historic first on June 1st, 2007 by becoming the first man to dive the 60-meter deep and 30-meter long passageway known as the Arch in the Blue Hole of Dahab, Egypt, without fins and on a single breath of air.

In 2013 William broke the Classic Constant Weight World Record, descending to a record-setting depth of 94 meters.

That same year he challenged himself to even greater depths: During a dive of 3 minutes and 8 seconds a sled pulled him to a depth of 145 meters (476 feet) from which he swam back to the surface on a single breath of air. Thus setting a new world record as well as claiming his 28th national Freediving record.

In this episode William shares funny stories, scary stories and interesting stories to tell us what he has learned from Free Diving, the ocean and the bodily expectations for the sport of Free Diving.

- How William got into Free Diving

- What Free Diving is

- What it takes

- How and why we should improve our breathing

- Coming face to face with a shark

- The hidden secret about sharks

- Mindfulness and how to make proper decisions

- How to stop spacing out

- Using as little energy as possible from Tai Chi

- The Watermen Project and how to help the sharks

http://williamwinram.com/

William on instagram

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Robin is a doctoral candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo. 

He left his job as an Occupational Therapist to make an impact in a different way. Today he is researching the psychological impacts of urban design.

Over the years he has worked to enhance the mental wellness in every community he has been a part of. He has launched many community building initiatives, ranging from pop-up bike lanes in support of cycling infrastructure to bringing light therapy to public libraries. He was also the recipient of a $10,000 award from the Canadian International Development Agency which he used to develop programming for youth with disabilities in Russia. He even helped organize Edmonton’s biggest pop-up snowball fight!

His advocacy and research has been featured across the country.

In this episode we talk about flow state, light therapy, silent retreats, and how we can change our immediate environment to improve our mental wellness.

Robin on Twitter

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Victor Assaf is an Adaptive Crossfit athlete/coach and motivational speaker from Ecuador.

In 2012 he was driving home from a strongman competition and lost control of his motorcycle on a bridge. His body slammed into a light pole. The crash damaged three cervical vertebrae which left him in a coma.

When he awoke after 10 hours of surgery, lucky to be alive, the doctor told him he would never do CrossFit again. He had lost motor function and sensation in his right arm. Ultimately they couldn’t save his arm.

Just seven months later, he returned to Crossfit. Infact he just competed at Wodapalooza and placed 6th in the RX Men Adaptive Standing division.

Victor’s journey took him from egocentric to altruistic, from not having a voice to being heard around the world.

Victor Promo Video 

Victor Assaf Instagram

Zach Wigal is the creator of Gamers Outreach, a company that motivates, supports and entertains those in hospital fighting for their lives. How? by bringing video games to hospital rooms in over 200 hospitals in the US and parts of Canada.

This entrepreneurial journey is fuelled by passion. What started as a video game tournament has evolved into a company helping thousands of sick or injured youth every week.

Zach has even been mentioned in Forbes Under 30 for his incredible work in the video game and non-profit world.

I was always told they are just bad. They teach violence… Zach makes you realize that isn’t really the case. Zach opens the sheltered mind and changes the socially created issues that come with video games.

Zach explains the the community, the inclusion, the life lessons and more that come with video games that you may not realize until you hear these real life examples.

Zach Wigal Twitter Gamers Outreach Twitter

Mike Farwell lost two sisters to Cystic Fibrosis.

In 5 years he raised half a million dollars with his bare hands.

No business plan, no waivers, no incorporation, to charitable status… just pure passion and the will to fight a disease.

During his time away from Radio (his full-time job and expertise) Mike started a hobby/project doing chores for people in return for donations to Cystic Fibrosis Research. This BLEW UP into a wildly successful campaign called “Farewell-4-Hire.”

From lawn work, to sticking his hands in places you wouldn’t want to, Mike has become a handy man with a huge purpose.

Mike has seen his hard earned proceeds push the needle of Cystic Fibrosis care, treatment and the lifespan of those living with CF.

Farwell Twitter

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Lyle Thompson is arguably the best lacrosse player in the world.

He plays for the Georgia Swarm in the National Lacrosse League along with his three brothers, Jeremy, Haina and Miles. Lyle is growing the game of lacrosse through his heritage and beliefs as a Native American. He has and continues to make such a big impact in and out of lacrosse that he became a Nike sponsored athlete in 2015.

The other thing you may notice about Lyle is the pony tail that hangs down his back as he plays, which represents his Native Heritage. There was an incident in January this year during a game where an announcer made a remark about cutting his pony tail or “scalping” him. With an outpouring of support from fans and players around the league, this was something Lyle turned into an opportunity to educate.

In September of this year Lyle will represent the Iroquois Nationals at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

In this episode we cover the origin of lacrosse, how it is a game of medicine, how the stick was created, we debunk myths of Native Americans and have some laughs about an honorary Thompson brother… which is not an easy title to receive.

Thompson brothers lacrosse

Lyle on Instagram

Corey is a comedian and author from Georgia touring around the United states. Whether on stage by himself or with his “wellRED” tour group Drew and Ryan, he is always mixing comedy with social and political issues.

Corey doesn’t reinforce prejudices in his work but rather challenges and normalizes difference.

I came across Corey in a Huffington Post Article about a guy that opened up his home/yard and ordaining services to same sex couples that weren’t allowed to get married at other venues. Corey is that guy.

Corey tells some powerful stories about his great friends, one who happens to be gay and has certain places he feels he cannot go as well as an African American friend who was robbed and shot but never told the cops out of fear that he would end up in jail.

It is not Corey’s mission to make change or virtue signal. His mission is to make people laugh and earn an income. The messages he brings to comedy on stage are what he truly believes. His work is just him being himself.

www.coreyforrester.com

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Dr. Norman Farb studies neuroscience of human identity and emotion at the University of Toronto. His focus is on how cognitive biases shape emotional reactions that determine well-being. For example, some people seem to shrug off stressful encounters, whereas others cannot let them go.

In this episode we talk about the narrative thought and the experiential thought in our mind. We even talk about how emotion sits right in the middle of these two forms of thought and how we can practice controlling our emotions.

Dr. Farb gives numerous eye opening examples of just how mindfulness can help everyone reach their full potential.

Dr. Farb Webpage

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