The Hope Strategy Podcast

John Brenkus shares his journey into Television and talks about Sports Science, Fight Science and his experiences hosting and producing. John talks about his intentional candor with family and friends and how his positive views on faith and hope help him live his best life. Armed with the belief that "You can do anything you can do" John has proven that it is possible to take on a wide variety of projects and be successful in any arena.

Highlighted Quotes

"Humans are Good"

What always has given me hope is I genuinely believe humans are good, I just have seen too much. I've lived in too many places. I've met too many people to think otherwise. Does evil exist? Of course it does. And of course there are bad apples, of course, there's such a small percentage, and that small percentage still have redemption and hope. I don't think that the way positive energy works is the positive just turns negative, I think positive begets positive, and the more positive messages we can put out there, the better. As people sit back and they say, "the world is falling apart and everything is terrible." be careful what you're ingesting and what you're putting into your brain in your body.

"Bigger"

Bigger, stronger, faster does not mean better. You need to be big enough, strong enough fast enough. but as soon as you're in that class of "hey I can compete" then the difference is, do you think calm under pressure, do you freak out, like what happens to you when the lights are on, and you gotta do what you need to do. Do you do your job as Belickic would say.

"The Process"

A lot of people want to do something, and get something in return right away. It seems trite to say, but it's really the process that will guide you.

Resources/Mentions:

TV

• • Science Live
  • XMA
  • Sport Science
  • Fight Science

Product

• Kill Cliff
• Conspiracy Theory

Website

• John Brenkus

Guest Links

• Twitter
• Linkedin

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Jason Earl professor at BYUH and Entrepreneur shares his vision for the future of education along with his thoughts on success and happiness. Jason shares how his upbringing created the desire to do well in school and taught him the value of working hard and smart, the value of opportunities, the lessons learned building a successful business and optimizing your own weaknesses through the right team. This episode is a great look at what it means to be successful, the real value of traditional education and what needs to happen in order to future proof the education process.

Highlighted Quotes

"Bad Zoom Classes"

The shroud is off and people can finally peer into higher education, and for the first time in the world people could see what a bad zoom class looks like… it's not pretty. I think what's really happened is we've jumped into the future about 10 to 15 years. I'm convinced there are some educators out there that can do it, and they can teach it and I think this is a huge opportunity for them because this is a chance for a lot of well meaning people to find a platform and put their own foot back in education and really help.

"Skills"

There's so many skills now that can be gained just with a decent internet connection and with a tablet or a laptop. You can learn skills in project management, and digital marketing or whatever... There's a lot of things that students need besides just passing some class… they need that confidence, they need a network and they need the brand.

"Intangible value"

If you can learn to value the things in life that you can't put a dollar amount on and then devote your life to those things. I think that's where you find your greatest reward and even to this day I look at you know some of my best students and I'm so proud of them. But I also look at my students who are simply, you know back in the Philippines and working with their families and they're running a small business, they're happy. they can provide for their families. They feel like they are part of something bigger than just themselves. And they're creating jobs in their own little way and they're changing the world so I think, I think those are the two examples.

Resources/Mentions:

Education

• Willes Center BYUH

Companies

• Exxon Mobil

• World Minerals

Places

• Walmart Museum

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Jon Mattern shares his experience of the tragic fires in Paradise, CA in 2018. Jon shares the events leading up to the evacuation from Paradise including how his own home was consumed in the raging fires. Jon explains the aftermath of the fire and the significant death toll along with his view of hope and growth even in adverse circumstances. This episode is a great reminder to accept help when needed, follow your heart and show kindness in all circumstances.

Highlighted Quotes

"Help whenever you can"

I think all of us should help whenever we can. There is always something tragic and I think it takes everybody doing a little piece to make this world go round.

"The House is Gone"

Nobody really knew anything. I knew our fence was on fire… so I assumed it was gone, but I didn't know. The fire happened on a Thursday and then on Friday a good buddy who works for the utility company was able to go out because he had to work to do… but he was able to go by our house and he sent me a picture, I think Friday afternoon was when i finally had a picture of our house… it was gone.

"$20,000"

I was surprised at how much money came so quickly. In about a week there was $20,000 ... and you could see who donated it... there were people that we didn't even know from around the world. There was so much generosity. there are many good people out there you know you don't hear that a lot, especially now... so that was really touching.

Resources/Mentions:

Website

• Gofundme Page Showing the $20,000 in donations.

Documentary

• Fire in Paradise
• Rebuilding Paradise

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

In a break from our usual format, co-host Corey Blake takes his position as guest and shares some of his insights on Hope and how to "get in over your head". Corey shares some of the key experiences that shaped his world view and helped create his love of opportunity and abundance thinking. Corey also explains how "positive thinking" and "understanding the worst case scenario" are not contradictory ideas. This episode is well worth a listen.

Highlighted Quotes

"Get In Over Your Head"

I've said on this podcast a few times this idea I've had of "just getting in over your head"... Jumping in and seeing what happens... If there's opportunity, take advantage of it. The pattern I have seen is those opportunities build on each other, and they and they begin to compound and eventually good things continue to happen.

"Worst Case Scenario"

I also look at the worst case scenario a lot which sounds maybe pessimistic, but a lot of times I'll look at a situation that my previous self (the first 20 years of my life) would have said, "Here's all the negatives and that's why we're in trouble" or "that's why this isn't gonna work out." But now I say, let me just jump straight to the worst possible thing that could happen, and then let me be okay with that… Looking at it from that perspective but doing it through a lens of hope and saying, "well, let's let's put our best foot forward and give it an honest effort so that that doesn't happen" but I know what it would look like if it did, and that's okay... that gives you a level of confidence moving forward.

"Hope IS a strategy"

You can't sit around or rest on your laurels and hope one day you are successful, or hope you are a good dad and wait for that hope to amount to something, Hope by itself is not a strategy… If you start any strategy with hope in mind and with optimism and ambition...then good things will happen.

Resources/Mentions:

• MWI
• Full Occupancy

Guest Links:

• Instagram
• Linkedin
• Twitter

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Daniel Robinson was featured on The Berrics as a inspiring prison reform story and a man who loves to skate. Daniel shares the story of his incarceration as a teenager and the events leading up to it. He talks about what kept him hopeful during a 14 year prison sentence and the mindset and approach he has taken to rebuild a meaningful life for himself, including a dog rehabilitation business and documenting his return to skating on YouTube. This episode is a slight departure from our normal fare but holds some amazing pearls of wisdom and moments of magnetizing candor that is bound to leave you hopeful and ready to face the day.

Highlighted Quotes

"A Blank Slate"

Now that I have a clear head and a blank slate that I can write whatever I want on... I can fill my mind with whatever information I want to fill it with and I decided I don't want that to be prison war stories or reminiscing about using drugs and partying. I want it to be all of the things that I'm interested in...things that are practical, things that are educational, things that are uplifting...whatever is right... Now I get to decide what I put in my brain.

"The Past"

I can't help but think about the ways that my life should have been could have been better when I was younger, but it's irrelevant at this point. Am I gonna let that dominate my thought process now? or am I just going to do what I need to do to take care of myself and my loved ones? Because dwelling on how things could have been is just living in the past.

"Prison"

It was almost unfathomable for me to think that I could be doing life in prison for something I did when I was a kid. I spent a good set of almost two years fighting my case, that's two years of not knowing whether or not I was going to do life in prison... it's the hardest pill you're gonna ever have to swallow.

Resources/Mentions:

• The Berrics
• Pawsitive Change Program
• Doggy Jitsu
• Sk8 Breed

Guest Links:

• Daniel Robinson Instagram
• Youtube

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Emma Jade shares her journey from college graduation and making the most of grueling internships to becoming a news correspondent, writer and producer and pursuing life as a news anchor. After years of successful broadcast television Emma decided to chase another life: one of a mother. Emma's passion for news and motherhood ultimately led her to create MOMCAST, an internet news show focused on simplifying the news experience for busy moms. This episode is a case study in dedication, hard work and making the most of every opportunity.

Highlighted Quotes

"The Internship"

I smiled my way through that internship every single day, while other interns didn't take it as seriously I just knew that this is the job I have to do. So I did for two and a half weeks, and that attitude that I had smiling and showing up and being on time and even though I wasn't stoked on the job I was doing I was still there, that internship turned into a job with NBC Sports where later I got to go to four Olympic games with them, and I won two national sports Emmys with them… just having a good attitude led to something that that moment I never thought possible.

"Momcast"

People are dying to not have opinions, but just the basic facts of what's happening… because all the extra noise is maddening and it's not helping anyone. It's literally why I created Momcast, because I just kept talking to moms like me, who didn't have time to sit down and watch the entire newscast because half of it was either someone's opinion or stuff that they weren't interested in. And so I thought "how can I make this better for people?" because moms especially right now need to know what's going on, and they need to know what's important and they need to be able to make decisions for their kids and for their families. And there just wasn't a safe place for them to go.

"Sources"

The best advice that I can offer is... know your source. Right now, sources are the most important thing when it comes to news and who you're going to trust, because if you know the source of the information, and where it's truly coming from, and the reason behind it, then it's easier to trust, and it makes more sense for you to invest your own thoughts your own ideas into whatever the point of that story is... but if you're investing in just people that you like on Instagram or people that you hear on social media then I think you run into a little bit more trouble and a little bit more confusion.

Resources/Mentions:

Moments

• Blake Shelton Interview

Podcast

• MOMCAST

Show

• Today Show

Guest Links:

• Instagram

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Elvin J. Austria Laceda - Growing Opportunities

Elvin Laceda shares his inspiring story of Hope, Innovation and Love - arriving from the Philippines with only $1.60 in his pocket and taxes to pay Elvin decided to use his struggle as inspiration. During his time at BYU-Hawaii he built a network of farm schools that have helped thousands of farmers more than triple their income and improve quality of life. Elvin has made it his mission to create and take every opportunity to improve the lives of those in need. This episode is an amazing look into the work done by Elvin and RiceUp to change the face of farming and bring thousands of people out of poverty and on their way to self sufficiency.

Highlighted Quotes

"Opportunities"

I know I have some regrets of missed opportunities, but I am really grateful that when the opportunity came I grabbed it. I always believe that great opportunity only comes, maybe not twice but only once, that's why I always do my best to grab them whenever they are offered.

"Agri-preneurship"

The farm school serves as an educational area. We created our own curriculum. It's called "Agri-preneurship". We help farmers understand business concepts and how to become successful "Agri-preneurs". In the curriculum they learn how to become a good financial manager. They set S.M.A.R.T goals. They know how to use financial statements, they create good habits that change their lifestyle, habits that generate money and save money.

"In Memory of My Grandfather"

In the Philippines around 34% of agricultural workers are in extreme poverty. So I told myself, 'I have to do something here in the memory of my grandfather.' We started the nitty gritty work of working with these farmers in one village and then after that we worked in another village, from 17 farmers we now have 400 farmers in Pampanga, we replicated this in several other provinces.

Resources/Mentions:

Organisations

RiceUp

• RiceUpFarmers.Com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Youtube

Enactus

• Project Stories

Guest Links

• Elvin Facebook
• Elvin Linkedin
• Elvin Instagram

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shares his experiences growing up in Southern Utah - from his love of sports to his passion for education and learning instilled in him by his parents. Elder Holland describes Hope, shares how it differs from its counterpart faith, details his journey through education at Yale University, and shares how his true hope in life comes through Christ. This episode is a unique look into the idea of Hope in its religious context and also offers insight into the life of a person whose mission it is to spread Hope world over.

Highlighted Quotes

"Follow Your Heart"

I just believe in what your heart tells you... People in your audience who aren't particularly religious would have the feeling that "This is what I ought to do."... so follow your heart guys, trust your feelings.

"The Shared Experience of Love"

James Thurber gave the best definition of love that I've ever heard - he said "love is what you go through together." So, don't wait until you're out of school and got a car and got a job and got a condominium… part of my love for Pat has been that she's gone through all of this with me with we've done all that together. That's how we got married, we didn't have any money then... I mean if you thought it through rationally… if it was about money we'd still never be married 58 years later.

"Faith and Hope"

But for you and for me and our families and our friends, Hope and Faith blend together and Both of them are elements that keep us going. They keep us getting up in the morning, they keep us with a smile on our face and seeing the brightness of the future... we are then not overcome by circumstances; we don't get overly worried about a COVID crisis... we ARE attentive and we're mindful of the trouble and the challenge but we don't see it as the end of the world and we don't see it as something that's going to mar life forever.

Resources/Mentions:

People

• Juanita Brooks
• James Therber Quote

Organizations

• Church of Jesus Christ

Books

• Book of Mormon - Online Copy
• New Testament - Online Copy

Guest Links:

• Elder Holland - Bio Page
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Peter Kozodoy shares insights from his new book "Honest to Greatness" about the transformative value of Honesty. He also shares techniques to help you use honesty to break barriers, motivate and improve performance, and build relationships of trust and respect. This episode is gold! If you enjoy this episode you will love reading Peter's book "Honest to Greatness".

Highlighted Quotes

"Investing"

I have a Warren Buffett approach to investing and I don't just mean financially... I mean, investing in myself as a human. If I can spend a little bit of time and money now to have an asset that will serve me for the rest of my life. I'll take that bet all day long. I'm now never not going to have an MBA from an Ivy League school? I'm now never not going to be an author... is this stuff painful? Yes. Is it expensive? You would not believe how expensive it is but I think of it in terms of the long-term benefit versus the short term cost? And by the way thinking long-term is a big part of how I define honesty in order to achieve outcomes. If you're going to be honest about what it takes you've got to think long-term.

"Honesty is Universal"

If Honesty is the best policy then it must work universally... and guess what, it does. You can use it as a frontline employee, a middle manager, or an 11 year old girl scout. You just have to understand the nuances of how to use it because it's very different in practice if you're the CEO of a big company or a Frontline employee with no formal Authority. It is different if you're at those different places, but it does work. You just have to be Strategic and not just blurt it out... It is strategic honesty.

"Ego"

There are two things that happen with ego. One, the bigger our ego, the bigger our blind spot. This means the bigger the number of things that we don't know or are willing to admit about ourselves... things other people already know... and that can be so dangerous because it erodes trust. The second thing that happens is that you close yourself off to understanding what is true and you incur opportunity costs... because the further we are from the truth the further we are from capitalizing on what the facts can give us. There are two questions that I'm on a mission to have everyone adopt to help repress that ego that reptilian, responsive, emotional brain we have that can be so damaging to ourselves and our relationships and to society. The two questions are these: "Is that true?" and "How do I know?"

Resources/Mentions:

Books

• Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
• So You've Been Publicly Shamed

Videos

• Peter's TEDx Speech

Guest Links:

• Peterkozodoy.com
• Peter Kozodoy Linkedin
• Peter Kozodoy Instagram

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Colby & Kenzie Bauer - Building Together

In this Episode Colby and Kenzie Bauer share their unique story. They talk about their experience founding a business while dating, growing a product line and using customer feedback, keeping a family prioritized when they work full time on their business Thread Wallets. This episode dives into what creates successful relationships, how to pivot on ideas, why bringing value should be your "go-to" and how to keep perspective in challenging situations.

Highlighted Quotes

"Gratitude"

Gratitude is the only way we actually get through. The way I put it is there is more good happening in our lives than bad, especially if you're focusing and feeding the good. If you don't have gratitude then those trials can put you on a whole different path. Whereas, with gratitude, they just propel you or they at least get you to give you the strength to keep moving in the right direction.

"Small Goals"

I Remember going home to our little apartment we would get one or two orders randomly a day from people. And I remember just sitting down and saying "okay we don't really know what we're going to do with our lives, but we got 50 orders at the last farmers market and we're getting one or two orders a day like what if we could just find a way to get 10 orders a day. If we could just sell 10 wallets a day online. That would make us 50-60,000 a year, and that would be enough for us to be okay" … it was just totally validating, to think we could do that, to think we could reach 10 wallets a day.

"Finding Balance"

It can be really easy to just focus on business all the time, which we did early on in our marriage and I don't think our marriage suffered at all but we had to really keep ourselves in check and ask ourselves "are we talking too much business and not enough personal life?", but ultimately I think the balance has come. Finally, we can kind of compartmentalize each aspect of our life from work at an office and not in our home to spending time with family, to going on dates, and then church on weekends. Fortunately we found some balance. It's a tricky one and at times, you have to live with a little bit of imbalance, and it's okay... it's okay to put certain things as a priority or have them weigh more on your life at different times.

Resources/Mentions:

• First Kickstarter

Books

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Companies

• Thread Wallets

• Stance Socks

• Beloved

Guest Links:

• Colby Bauer Instagram
• Kenzie Bauer Instagram
• Thread Wallets Instagram
• Thread Wallets Facebook

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy