Two Wheels Many Blessings

A Father's Day with Mark Sweeney

This episode offers a special departure from the regular format. In a delayed Father's Day celebration, Mark Sweeney steps into the hot seat for an emotional and revealing interview—not with a co-host, but with his wife Bobbie and his children and grand daughter Kylee (remote), Keegan, Garrett and AJ.

This episode is a deeply personal look into the life, philosophy, and passions of the man behind the podcast. Listeners will get an intimate perspective on Mark as both an accomplished racer and a dedicated father, touching on topics like:

• The Blueprint for Motivation: How racing forged a lifelong desire to keep learning and achieving.
• A Father’s Perspective: Looking back, what’s the one thing Mark would have done differently before having kids, and what lessons from his own unique, self-reliant upbringing shaped his parenting?
• The Highs and Lows of Faith: An honest conversation about a lifelong journey of faith, and how it has navigated times of profound coldness and rock-bottom moments.
• Navigating Loss and Grief: Mark shares an inspirational, firsthand account of holding it together in the group, while also providing a touching insight into the private grief that can bring you to your knees. He also imparts wisdom for his sons on how to best prepare for a life after he’s gone.
• Mentorship, Friendship, and the TMT Family: Who are the people—from lifelong mentors to the newer connections within the Thailand Motor Tours family—who have had the biggest influence on Mark’s life in recent years?
• Racing, Fear, and Human Achievement: What was the scariest moment of Mark's life—both on the track and in the gravel driveway—and how do those moments of split-second fear resolve into something else entirely?
• Top Motorcycle Memories and the Bike of all Bikes: Mark ranks his all-time favorite bike (the TZ250) and race tracks, and recounts the legend of a famous "battle of the grass track" that still gets the family talking.
• Looking Forward: What has Mark most excited for the next season of his life—and the lives of his children?

This episode isn't just about motorcycles—it's about the road you travel with the people you love. Join the Sweeney family for this special, often humorous, and truly heartfelt tribute.

Joel Donald (JD) Hammock is an accomplished motorcycle racer and business owner from Oklahoma whose life centers on endurance off-roading. He built a professional career through Brown Machinery Co. Inc., a masonry supply firm he operated for decades before its acquisition by GMS Inc. in late 2025. Beyond his commercial success, Hammock is a decorated athlete who competed in the International Six Days Enduro, earning multiple medals and even constructing a private training course known as Hammockland. His passion for riding recently culminated in a massive five-year global odyssey, during which he navigated over 100,000 miles across more than 70 countries. These documents collectively detail his professional transitions, his deep-rooted ties to the Oklahoma racing community, and his remarkable transition from local competitor to international adventurer.

Strap in and rev it up, gearheads! In this episode, we sit down with the ultimate 2-wheel maniac and free spirit, Michael “Hey-Now” Henao. From tearing through the clouds to win the 2013 Pikes Peak Superbike 750 class to tackling the legendary high banks of the Daytona 200 on a Ducati 848EVO, Michael knows what it means to live life at the absolute limit.

But Michael isn't just about chasing his own adrenaline. As a gritty privateer who runs his own MotoAmerica Twins and racing efforts, he knows the hustle of trackside More importantly, he has turned his pure passion into a mission to build smarter, safer riders as a coach for the Yamaha Champions Riding School and his own ChampMini programs.

We also dive deep into his adventures across the globe. Michael shares what it’s like leading epic motorcycle tours through the stunning coastal roads of Thailand. We take a fascinating detour into how the Buddhist culture of mindfulness applies directly to riding motorcycles. As you'll hear in this episode, hitting the perfect line and dragging a knee isn't just about speed; the motorcycle is actually a vehicle that forces you completely into the present moment.

Follow Michael "Hey-Now" Henao:

• YouTube: Check out his global tours and wild riding clips at @HeyNowMoto.
• Ride with Him: Book private training at heynowmoto.com
• Experience “HEY NOW”: on a journey with Thailand Moto Tours at ThailandMotoTours.com
• Learn from “HEY NOW”: book training with Yamaha Champions Riding School at ridelikeachampion.com
• Ride SUPERMOTO, MINIMOTO, MOTO 3: at one of the 6 HEY-NOW MOTO events
  • May 3 – Grand Junction
  • June 14 – IMI
  • July 19 – IMI
  • August 23 – SBR
  • September 20 – Centennial
  • October 4 – Grand Junction

Hit play to hear the ultimate free spirit share his journey.

Thanks for listening to Two Wheels Many Blessings - Keep the rubber side down, stay adventurous, and get out there and ride!

Mark and his best friend of over 4 decades, Mike "Moto Mic" Brown, share a lifetime of heartfelt memories and wild cross-country adventures. From their humble beginnings hauling early minibikes in family station wagons on a shoestring budget to surviving a 103-degree Loretta Lynn's qualifier and then going to Loretta Lynn's the day after Mike's wedding, the duo recounts their enduring brotherhood and deep love for motocross and motorcycles. The conversation covers their legendary Southern road trips, highlighting a moment of profound life advice during a difficult divorce, freezing golf games in Atlanta, hotel room pranks, and sharing drinks with racing legend Scott Russell. Finally, they reflect on their boldest escapades, including sneaking into the hot pits at the 2010 Daytona 200, cramming six friends into a van to catch a NASCAR race in Rockingham, and celebrating 36 years of unforgettable brotherhood on and off the track

Retired Army First Sergeant Brett Robinson shares his journey from leading paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division to building innovative paths for veteran reintegration. After decades in combat zones and private contracting, Brett found purpose through adrenaline-driven outlets like motorsports—and now through blacksmithing.

What You’ll Hear

• Brett’s 20+ year military career and post-service contracting in Afghanistan
• The challenge of transitioning from combat to civilian life
• “Adrenaline-Based Reintegration” and why high-intensity activities help veterans heal
• The origin of Race for the Wounded and competing in events like the Baja 1000
• Inside the Texas Tornado Boot Camp with elite motorcycle and tactical training
• How Forging Resilience uses blacksmithing retreats to help veterans rebuild purpose and connection

Key Takeaway Healing doesn’t always happen in a clinic—sometimes it’s found in motion, adrenaline, and creating something with your hands.

Links & Resources

• Race for the Wounded
• Texas Tornado Boot Camp
• Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Chapter 598

Listen now to hear Brett’s story of grit, transition, and resilience.

The Resilience of the Ride: Lucy Blondel’s Journey

"I can do all things through Christ." These words from Philippians 4:13 serve as the profound heartbeat behind the story we’ve explored today—the journey of Lucy Blondel.

The 85th anniversary of Daytona Bike Week 2026

From the high-stakes world of international road racing to a personal battle against an opioid dependency, the career of Canadian racer Dan Kruger serves as a profound case study in human resilience and medical transformation. Despite a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis at age 20 and a professional tenure marred by over 30 broken bones and a near-fatal head injury, Kruger transitioned from a life of chronic dependency to becoming a multi-time Road Racing National Champion and a global "Hope Ambassador." This briefing examines his journey from surviving the "world's most dangerous race" at Macau to his mindfulness-based recovery via the MORE. Program—a narrative of personal reinvention now spotlighted by CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the documentary It Doesn’t Have to Hurt.

Retired Master Sergeant Min Ji Han is a Seoul-born, first-generation American who dedicated 21.5 years to the U.S. Army, serving three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. A highly decorated leader, her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, eight Army Commendation Medals, and ten Army Achievement Medals. Beyond the battlefield, she earned a degree in Homeland Security and was featured in NYU’s 2024 Portraits of Service. Since retiring in 2023, Han has transitioned from "Soldier to Scholar-Citizen," traveling the globe to ride elite MotoGP circuits like Mugello and Phillip Island. Her journey, often documented alongside fellow veterans like Brian D’Apice and influencers like Annie Prisana, reflects a profound commitment to community, technical mastery, and the pursuit of a lifelong "bucket list".

The Journey Begins

I started Two Wheels, Many Blessings because motorcycles have given me far more than we could ever imagined—they’ve introduced my wife Bobbie and me to people who shaped our lives through friendship, grit, loyalty, and shared experiences. I wanted a way to tell those stories, highlight the riders who sharpen us, and capture the gratitude that comes from realizing the best part of the journey was never the destination—it was the people God placed along the road.