The Heroic Minds Podcast

The audio from the first ever Heroic Minds Live Event held at the University of Waterloo on March 20th 2019.

6 guests and myself had an interactive conversation with the audience.

Guests:

#2 - Nik Knezic | Stay Weird And Live In The Moment #4 - Amber Shewfelt | Accept What You Can't Control #9 - Ryan Martin | Acceptance Breeds Resilience #29 - Nichole Robertson | We Create Limitation #34 - Chris Miranda | Greater Purpose #46 - Matthew McCoy | The Addicts Attic

Wow, what an incredible evening, enjoy!

Send me an email! - [email protected]

 

On July 17, 1989 Angie was sitting in a police interrogation room, her world crashed down as she listened to two detectives tell her that her husband had coordinated and carried out the murder of his father.

Angie has lived out the heroes journey through and through. She has totally figured out how to stop living life in defence mode, how to totally rationalize mistakes to the point that they are simply mistakes and who cares, she has accepted her past with no need at all to change it, she has raised 3 children and has been re-married now for 25 years!

Oh ya she also went back to school and graduated the same day as one of her daughters.

Angie has decided to happen to life, instead of letting life happen to her.

Angie on Instagram

My email: [email protected]

**Remember to tag me in a heroic story so I can share on my social media! @Ben_Fanelli_  &  #HeroicMinds

We run away. Mike runs toward.

Internationally acclaimed Filmmaker and photographer. Storm chaser. Emmy winner. Published author. Husband and father of three.

For Mike, a passion turned into a life-changing career with Mother Nature. We talk storms, we talk philosophy, we talk life and more. From what mother nature has taught Mike about life, to how it can change people, to the beauty of difference in every single storm he chases.

Aligning with the philosophy of the heroes journey is a quote from Vincent van Gogh, “There is peace even in the storm...”

Mikes Instagram 

Mikes YouTube

Two bioethicists.

Maria is an independent consultant in privacy & health law. Melissa is a neuroscientist. A career of high level decision making under pressure. Taking into account and prioritizing a collection of philosophical, social, legal and ethical concerns with the goal of maximum benefit to patient and caregiver. A very heroic duty.

This episode has two parts:

In part one we talk about making the tough decisions, keeping out bias, prioritization of values, living with the decision, the issue with policies, and more.

In part two we apply this information to hot topics in the media today, assisted dying, artificial intelligence, and gene editing.

Haley is a South Florida native who was diagnosed with autism at age three. Upon receiving her autism diagnosis, her family was told that she would be fortunate to make a friend, graduate high school, or obtain her driver’s license.

Haley has defied the expectations set forth within her initial diagnosis.

Haley attended the University of Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Law as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2015. She completed both degrees in an impressive three years. Haley then graduated from the University of Miami School of Law.

Today, she is an attorney, author, artist, and autism advocate who writes and speaks publicly about her journey and gives hope for other autistic people and their families and friends.

Haley Moss Instagram 

Haley Moss Twitter

Haley Moss Website

Send me an email [email protected]

 

Through podcast guests I’ve started to develop this idea of being shock-proof; composure amidst challenge. This doesn’t come from a set of skills but rather how we decide to live our lives.

My best friend once told me we all have a pot representing what we can handle. And if we don’t deal with things that need attention, our pot can boil over… limiting what we can handle, limiting our composure in the face of challenge.

We don’t have to be alone with our thoughts, we don’t have to have tough conversations, we don’t have to create things on our own anymore. It is so interesting that technology has given us so many great things but also so many crutches and distractions.

We need to empty our pot. We need to do the difficult things, the new things, the exciting things.

So when that road you are on takes a turn or you see a bump coming… 

Your pot has room for challenge. You are in tune with yourself. You are shockproof.

Send me and email: [email protected]

 

Victor Oreskovich found himself in the Semi-Finals of the Stanley Cup Play-Offs. 6 months prior he wasn’t even thinking about hockey and had been “retired” for two years. He went from the NCAA to the Ontario Hockey League to retirement, back to school, then back to hockey. 5 games out of retirement he finally arrived in the NHL.

Here’s the kicker… Vic lost the love for the game when he was 12 years old.

We start with what it takes to make it to the NHL and then circle back to narrow down what mindset gave Vic the ability to play in the National Hockey League. What changed? What temporary fix gave him the ability to play in the best hockey league in the world?

Stories, regrets, and lessons learned through one divergent yet incredible hockey career.

Victor Oreskovich on Instagram

Send me an Email! [email protected]

 

Chief Happiness Officer and Co-Founder of Plasticity Labs, Jim Moss, was a Hall of Fame, gold medal-winning, pro athlete. But, in the weeks leading up to the 2009 season, he was suddenly rendered acutely paralyzed from a rare autoimmune disease.

As an athlete of this caliber, he knew what it would take to fight his way back. Regardless, the doctors weren’t sure how long it would take to walk again.

Ignoring the naysayers, Jim hacked his own healing, focused on being grateful and learning the science of mood and performance. He walked out of the hospital six weeks later.

The moral of the story? Mood drives performance.

When you have a transformational experience like this, you are compelled to share it with the world.

Jim Moss Twitter

Plasticity Labs

Send me an email @ [email protected]

 

Laura and Jacob were in a car accident that changed life for both of them.

Laura is now a C6 Quadriplegic.

Laura has taken on immense challenges including yoga which we talk about. Jacob has taken on a supporting role and together they are living a life that they didn’t chose but have come to accept.

Laura talks about continuing to push the envelope. Jacob discusses learning through trial and fire how to best support Laura.

They both share their new approach to spirituality or religion (whatever you’d like to call it). They both talk about how their relationship has changed and also grown stronger.

The couple went on spontaneous road trips and adventures before the accident and that hasn’t changed today. They go on even more adventures today than they used to.

Laura has this incredible aura of optimism and bravery that people need to hear.

Laura on Instagram

Send me an email: [email protected]

 

Dr. Daniel Grossman is an Emergency Medicine Physician without the use of his legs. A mountain biking accident brought a new normal into his life.

In a mere 5 months Dr. Grossman went from being transported in a helicopter from the accident to learning how to drive without his feet to treating patients from a wheel chair.

Getting ready in the morning takes Dr. Grossman 3 hours, and he doesn’t complain about it. He views and compartmentalizes the situation as his new normal that is now part of the path to his goals. His goals are to make a difference and innovate in the medical community on an individual level as well as across the world on a macro level.

His goals in life have not changed. The only thing that has changed is how he will reach those goals.

Dr. Grossman Twitter

Dr. Grossman Instagram

Dr. Grossman Website

Send me an email [email protected]