The High Performance Zone

Jeff Blumenfeld is a writer, journalist, and PR professional who specializes in travel and adventure marketing. Jeff is a Fellow of The Explorers Club, the recipient of the Leif Erikson Exploration History Award, and the author of Get Sponsored: A Funding Guide for Explorers and Travel With Purpose: A Field Guide to Voluntourism.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Jeff Blumenfeld on;

• (00:07:54) Polar expeditions. Jeff speaks about his involvement with the explorer Will Steger, who led the first confirmed dog sled expedition to the North Pole. He explains the significance of the expedition and recalls his experience of watching the Northern Lights at Steger’s training base at Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories.

• (00:17:35) Pirate ships. We discuss underwater explorer Barry Clifford's confirmed discovery of the Whydah, the first authenticated pirate ship found in North America, and his later possible discovery of Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, off the coast of Haiti. 

• (00:29:09) Bread, salt, and vodka. Jeff shares his story of accompanying Paul Schurke on part of his historic Soviet-American expedition from Siberia to Alaska and describes what it was like to be on the receiving end of some traditional Russian hospitality.

• (00:37:07) Voluntourism: As someone who likes to make a difference when he’s traveling, Jeff recommends the Scandinavian practice of ‘plogging’ (picking up trash while enjoying the great outdoors). He also suggests helping out at the local Humane Society or participating in the Pack for a Purpose program. 

• (00:54:38) Volunteering in the US. Jeff reminds listeners that they don’t need a passport to volunteer, and he shares details of several organizations in America that are in urgent need of volunteers.

Mindy Scheier is a fashion designer and a pioneer of the adaptive fashion movement. As the founder of the Runway of Dreams and GAMUT Management, she campaigns to break down stereotypes and make the fashion industry more inclusive. Ever since she designed her first piece of adaptive clothing in 2013, Mindy has been on a mission to highlight the need for mainstream adaptive clothing for people with disabilities. In 2016, Runway of Dreams partnered with Tommy Hilfinger to create Tommy Adaptives, and they have recently announced an exciting new collaboration with Victoria’s Secret.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Mindy Scheier on: 

• (00:04:10) Her aha moment. Mindy recalls the moment when her son Oliver (who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy) told her he wanted to wear jeans rather than sweatpants to school. She describes how his simple request made her realize how important clothing was to his sense of identity and inspired her to address the clothing challenges faced by people with disabilities.

• (00:45:00) The impact of inclusivity. We talk about the real difference that Runway of Dreams is making in the lives of people with disabilities, and Mindy shares the story of a young model with a prosthetic arm who gained the confidence to wear short-sleeved shirts after taking part in one of its fashion shows. 

• (00:49:26) The adaptive fashion revolution. Mindy praises Victoria’s Secret for shifting its focus away from the conventional perception of the ‘perfect’ female body and making an effort to serve women with disabilities. As a campaigner, Mindy believes that Runway of Dreams’ partnership with Victoria's Secret will be trail-blazing and will help to change the way the world thinks about people with disabilities. 

• (00:51:30) Her commitment to equality in the workplace. Mindy reveals that 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed. So, as the CEO of GAMUT Management, she outlines the measures she takes to make her workplace inclusive and give people with disabilities a voice, a job, and a feeling of being valued.

• (00:54:24) The importance of dignity and choice. We discuss the role that adaptive clothing can play in restoring dignity to people who have experienced life-changing physical injuries but don’t want to change the way they dress.

Dr. Mikki McComb is a marine scientist, shark researcher, and executive director of the Ocean First Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote ocean conservation through research and education. Mikki loves to share her enthusiasm for marine science and conservation with others, and through Ocean First’s exciting and educational outreach programs and expeditions, she helps youngsters connect to nature and learn more about the ocean and the incredible animals that live in it. 

In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Mikki McComb on:

• (00:02:24) Conquering her fear. Mikki recalls the profound impression that the movie Jaws made on her as a young girl and describes how her initial terror turned into curiosity and led to her subsequent fascination with sharks.

• (00:15:46) The story of the shark. She reveals that sharks have been around for a long time and have survived five mass extinction events. Mikki also points out that sharks come in many different sizes, from the smallest ones that can fit into the palm of a human hand to the whale shark, which can exceed 50ft in length.

• (00:30:19) Oxygen and the ocean. Mikki explains that the ocean acts as the lungs of our planet and points out that three out of every five breaths we take come from the oxygen produced by tiny plankton plants in the sea.

• (00:50:07) Protecting the marine environment. We talk about conservation, and Mikki urges listeners to make sustainable food choices that do not cause damage to the environment or harm vulnerable species. She also recommends using a guppy laundry bag to prevent the microfibres in our clothes from ending up in the oceans.

• (00:53:18) Following your passion. Mikki remembers a .transformative moment in her life, and advises listeners to have the courage to be their authentic selves, find their purpose, and pursue whatever brings them joy and happiness.

Erik Weihenmayer is an adventurer and an accomplished climber, speaker, and author. In 2001, he became the first blind person to reach the summit of Everest, and since then, he’s climbed the highest peak in every continent, kayaked through the Grand Canyon, written several best-selling books, and co-founded the No Barriers nonprofit. For over 25 years, Eric’s guide on his climbing expeditions has been the mountaineer Jeff Evans, and, during the course of their many adventures, the pair have forged an unshakable bond. Together, Erik and Jeff continue to pursue a No Barriers lifestyle and promote the values of resilience, optimism, and perseverance.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Erik Weihenmayer and Jeff Evans on:

• (00:09:07) Trust, teamwork, and communication. Jeff talks about the deep level of trust and understanding that underpins his relationship with Erik. He also reminds listeners that trust is a two-way street and gives examples of occasions when he’s had to rely on Erik to help him navigate a difficult climb.

• (00:41.49) Alchemy. Erik reveals how he learned to turn adversity into opportunity through the example of his hero, Terry Fox, who ran thousands of miles across Canada after losing a leg to cancer. He explains how Terry’s counterintuitive response to his illness inspired him to stay positive and set him on the path to pursuing his seemingly impossible dreams.

• (00:45:37) The No Barriers nonprofit. Erik describes how the No Barriers organization encourages people facing physical and emotional challenges to participate in group expeditions and use the great outdoors as a beautiful, natural laboratory to discover their true potential and reclaim their lives.

• (00:54:32) The Warriors program. As the founder of the Warriors branch of the No Barriers organization, Jeff recounts his experiences of leading mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and explains how his adventure-based trips and programs help injured veterans regain a sense of purpose, confidence, and community.

• (01:08:55) The importance of inner strength. Erik urges everyone to find the strength and courage they need to confront whatever challenges they face, and he repeats the powerful No Barriers motto of ‘what’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.’

Catherine Hernandez-Blades is an award-winning CMO and PR News Hall of Famer who is currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at SAIC. With over 25 years of experience in senior marketing and communication roles at Fortune 500 companies, Catherine likes to position herself at the nexus of purpose and profit, and she’s passionate about the social impact that corporations can make in the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Catherine on:

• (00:02:52) Her early ambitions. Catherine talks about her childhood dream of becoming a reporter and recalls how, as a young girl growing up in Louisiana, she would wear a little fedora hat with PRESS written on it and ‘interview’ people in her neighborhood with a fake microphone.

• (00:06:44) The secret to her success. For Catherine, success comes down to caring about your people and giving them the tools they need to thrive. She credits Jon Jones, her former boss at Raytheon, with helping her become a better leader by showing her how to build connections and create a sense of inclusivity and belonging at work.

• (00:18:20) Social impact. We discuss the role that Catherine played in the creation of My Special Aflac Duck, a social robot designed to facilitate communication and provide comfort to children undergoing cancer treatment. As Aflac’s former Chief ESG and Communications Officer, Catherine explains that consumers always reward companies for doing the right thing, and she adds that, as a result of the program, 15% of Americans were more likely to buy an Aflac policy.

• (00:42:42) Accountability. We talk about the similarities between the Blue Angel Debrief and the way that Catherine prefers to provide feedback to her team. Above all, she reminds managers and leaders to be kind, and she encourages employees to embrace the empowering effect of holding themselves accountable. 

• (00:51:39) Paying it forward. Catherine refers to the work she does with college students and explains why it’s important for women who have climbed the corporate ladder to share their knowledge and experience and give others the tools and coaching they need to succeed.

Dr. Gillian Mandich is a happiness researcher, public speaker, and the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research. Gillian believes that happiness is a practice, not a destination, and, through her keynote speeches, workshops, and courses, she helps people become healthier and happier by encouraging them to adopt simple habits and practices that have been scientifically proven to increase happiness and produce a greater sense of fulfillment and well-being.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Gillian Mandich on:

(00:33:33) The meaning of happiness. Gillian defines happiness as the experience of joy, contentment, and positive well-being combined with the sense that your life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile. However, she points out that happiness means different things to different people and stresses the importance of developing an awareness of what makes you happy and making an effort to do more of what you love and less of what you hate.

(00:50:07) Overriding the brain’s natural negativity bias. She explains that practicing gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to train your brain to focus on the positive rather than dwell on the negative. She also suggests keeping a gratitude journal and even a gratitude jar to heighten your appreciation of all the good things in your life.

(01:06:21) Creating small bursts of joy. According to Gillian’s research, the small moments of joy in our daily lives, rather than the big occasions such as birthdays, graduations, and vacations, bring us the most happiness. So, her tip for living a consistently happy life is to create small bursts of joy throughout the day by doing simple things, like calling a friend or going for a walk. 

(01:30:12) Taking control. She talks about the benefits of focusing your attention on the areas of your life over which you have control. Plus, she emphasizes the importance of accepting the fact that bad things happen and understanding that it’s impossible to be happy all the time.  

(01:51:10) Learning to see the world through the lens of awe. Gillian describes a recent experience of awe that made her change the way she saw the world. She suggests seeking solace and inspiration in beauty and nature by taking the time to look up at the stars or gaze at a beautiful sunset. 

Ryan Estis is a prolific keynote speaker who is committed to making a positive impact in the world. As the former Chief Strategy Officer of a Fortune 500 company, Ryan has a solid business background. He’s also adept at maximizing productivity, supporting personal development, and creating an increased sense of alignment and connection within organizations.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Ryan Estis on:

• (00:08:32) Pouring happiness. Ryan tells the story of his life-changing encounter with Lily, an exceptionally friendly and engaging barista at Minneapolis Airport. He also explains how Lily’s assertion that she was ‘not serving coffee but pouring happiness into people’s lives’ made such an impression on him that he resolved to replicate the ‘Lily effect’ in his own interactions with the public.

• (00:14:51) Action and accountability. Ryan believes in taking focused and decisive action, and describes how he asks his audiences to commit to two or three clearly-defined goals, then share their resolutions with the person sitting next to them, and arrange to contact them in 30 days to check on their progress.

• (00:17:24) Delayed gratification. As an entrepreneur who knows the importance of commitment, self-discipline, and sacrifice, Ryan likes to remind others not to forego what’s important to them in the long term for what feels good right now. To make meaningful progress, he recommends identifying your priorities and getting rid of any distractions that stand in the way of your goals.

• (00:19:19) Emotional resilience. We talk about building mental toughness and acquiring the ability to deal with difficult situations. Plus, Ryan describes how he uses breathwork, cold plunges, and cryotherapy to calm his nervous system and help him cope better with adversity. 

• (00:24:18) Constructive criticism. Since Ryan regards feedback as a gift, he emphasizes the importance of an effective two-way workplace communication system that enables both leaders and employees to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, learn from their mistakes, and work together in a mutually supportive environment.

Molly Fletcher is a keynote speaker and former top sports agent who has represented over 300 high-performing athletes, coaches, and broadcasters. She’s also the author of several best-selling books, including The Energy Clock, The Business of Being the Best, and Fearless at Work. Molly’s mission is to lead, inspire, and connect with courage and optimism. She encourages people to find the courage to combat complacency, and through her recently released TED talk, her Game Changers podcast, and her in-person and virtual trainings, she helps others strengthen their resolve, maximize their potential, and develop a winning mindset.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Molly Fletcher on:

• (00:03:05) Navigating change. Molly emphasizes the importance of adapting to change and refers to the example of one of her former clients, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who successfully transitioned from starting pitcher to closer. She praises his ability to see his new role as an opportunity rather than a challenge and encourages everyone to view change as a chance to get curious, explore new possibilities, and fulfill their true potential. 

• (00:06:53) Creating a Smile File. Molly recalls making a highlights reel for one of her athletes and using it to help him recover his form. She describes how she continues to apply this technique in non-sporting contexts and suggests compiling a ‘Smile File’ of appreciative emails, inspirational quotes, and words of wisdom to provide comfort and motivation when things get tough.

• (00:17:39) Conducting an energy audit. She explains how to live a more energized life by scheduling time on your calendar for the activities that light you up while making a conscious effort to minimize, delegate, or remove the tasks that leave you feeling exhausted and drained. 

• (00:41:50) Molly’s morning workout. She talks us through her morning routine,  which consists of hot yoga, cardio training, and strength conditioning, and she extols the benefits of walking, eating cleanly, and taking regular cold showers and plunges.

• (00:43:55) Cultivating a champion mindset. We discuss Molly’s recent TED talk, and she reveals how her time as a sports coach taught her that the most successful athletes concentrate on upping their own game rather than focusing on what their competitors are doing. She also recommends chasing constant improvement and fulfillment rather than recognition and achievement.

Michael Dash is an entrepreneur, business coach, and best-selling author whose book, Chasing the High: An Entrepreneur’s Mindset Through Addiction, Lawsuits, and His Journey to the Edge, recounts his personal experience of overcoming addiction and finding more focus, fulfillment, and stability in his life. Today, Michael runs a non-profit dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing, and he helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses by improving consistency, communication, and connection. 

In this episode, you’ll hear from Michael Dash on:

• (00:14:24) Living in flow. Michael recalls his visit to the retreat in Bali, where he first heard about flow consciousness, manifestation, and synchronicity. Plus, he describes how these practices changed his mindset and inspired him to start living a more aligned and intentional life.

• (00:17.36) Controlling your emotions. He cautions against making emotional decisions at work and in relationships and recommends resetting your nervous system through breathwork to make it easier to deal with pressure and stressful situations.

• (00:24:35) The power of vulnerability. As someone who is open about his experience of addiction, Michael explains how being vulnerable and honest about the things you struggle with makes it easier for people to relate to you and allows you to communicate more effectively and authentically with others.

• (00:39:11) Avoiding chaos. We discuss the importance of organization and scheduling, and Michael talks about the technique of time blocking, which involves setting aside a dedicated amount of time to perform a specific task.

• (00:45:15) Ecstatic breathing. Michael describes a breathwork exercise he performed on a recent Joe Dispenza retreat which activated his pineal gland and caused powerful vibrations throughout his entire body. 

Michelle ‘Mace’ Curran is a former fighter pilot and one of only a handful of women who have flown with the Thunderbirds demonstration team. Michelle was the lead solo pilot of the Thunderbirds from 2020 to 2021, and during the darkest days of the pandemic, her flying skills served to entertain the public and inspire the next generation of female aviators.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Michelle Curran on:

• (00:03:04) The Super Bowl flyover. Michelle recalls her first nerve-wracking public flight with The Thunderbirds and reveals the final adjustments she needed to make to synchronize her flight with the singer’s rendition of the National Anthem.

• (00:19:23) Pulling 9 Gs in an F-16. She describes what it’s like to pull 8-9 Gs at 100 feet above the ground and talks about the left-wing solo pilot’s signature manoeuver, a 360-degree right turn performed in full afterburner.

• (00:35:35) The America Strong flyovers. We talk about the collaboration between the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels on their joint flyovers to support healthcare workers during the Covid crisis, and Michelle expresses her gratitude for the rare opportunity to fly at 500 feet over the Manhattan skyline. 

• (00:56:16) The impact of an all-woman crew. As a proud member of the all-female Thunderbird # 5 crew, Michelle points to the diverse opportunities for women in the Air Force and hopes that her example will inspire others. 

• (01:19:05) What flying with the Thunderbirds taught her. After a stellar career in the Air Force, Michelle confesses she will miss the camaraderie of her exceptional colleagues as well as the opportunities for continuous improvement offered by the service’s debrief culture.