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In celebration of the Summer Olympics, we're reprising some past episodes featuring guests who have been there!  

Sue Humphrey says she was a "not very good" athlete growing up--but she loved sports, and she found her niche early: as a teenager she started helping other athletes.  She excelled at coaching track and field, and worked her way up to college coaching (experiencing the beginning of Title IX), and eventually the international stage--although the field wasn't always welcoming to a young woman.  At the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, Sue was a member of the coaching staff for USA's Track and Field team--and in 2004, she became head coach, dealing with everything from overseeing schedules to taking media calls in the middle of the night asking about athletes' drug tests.  Sue shares what it's like to coach at the Olympics (the glamour of napping under a table on the field, for example), the importance of developing rapport with athletes, and what to do when an athlete is disappointed in a performance.  

In this episode:

• What's required of a Head Coach of an Olympic track and field team (03:00)
• The value of developing rapport with your elite athletes (08:45)
• Coalescing competitors into teammates (12:45)
• Olympic coaches vs. personal coaches (15:52)
• Experiencing the Opening Ceremonies (and what Sue did during Closing Ceremonies)(18:44)
• A typical day at the Olympics for Sue (24:16)
• Sue's complaints with the current NCAA and elite coaching systems (27:15)
• Her thoughts on being an Olympic coach vs. college coach vs. age-group coach (30:52)
• What makes her so successful? Coaching philosophy (31:56)
• How to help athletes who are disappointed with their performances (34:47)
• Sue's path to coaching (37:43)

Want to know more about Sue?

• Connect with her on Instagram: sue.humphrey.32 
• Find her on Facebook: Sue Humphrey
• Tweet at her on Twitter: humphreyhj
• Send her an email :[email protected] or [email protected]

Want to know more about "What It's Like To..."?

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In celebration of the Summer Olympics, we're reprising some past episodes featuring guests who have been there!  

Justin Spring went from tumbling around his neighborhood to later winning NCAA gymnastics titles and eventually earning a place on the 2008 Olympic team.  The road getting there had its share of twists and turns (pun intended), including a slew of injuries leading up to the Olympics.  Justin shares behind-the-scenes stories of his journey, from the lowest moment in his gymnastics career (when he had to army-crawl to his coach's room due to excruciating pain); to the mental techniques he relied on to get his body back into shape; to what life was really like in the Olympic Village.  Justin is now a college gymnastics coach (formerly for the University of Illinois men; now for the University of Alabama women).  We learn about pressure, expectations, why men's gymnastics is losing popularity (and college teams) in the U.S., and why competing for "perfect 10s" makes women's gymnastics much more entertaining. 

In this episode:

• Why gymnastics is such a difficult sport (05:47)
• How gymnastics suited Justin's personality (08:20)
• Thoughts about pursuing the Olympics and gold medals (09:26)
• Justin's many injuries (15:06)
• The importance of mental training in recovery (15:58)
• His journey through injuries to the Olympic Trials (19:30)
• The darkest moment of Justin's career (21:32)
• The underdog story at the 2008 Olympics (25:07)
• What the Olympic experience was like (31:06)
• The state of men’s gymnastics in the US (34:04)
• What's happening in collegiate sports (36:05)
• Thoughts on coaching (41:42)

Want to know more about Justin?

• Follow him on Instagram: springerzz
• Find him on Twitter: @justinspring 

Want to know more about the podcast What It's Like To... ?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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In celebration of the Summer Olympics, we're reprising some past episodes featuring guests who have been there!  

Photographer Jeff Cable has had a front-row seat at the past seven Olympic Games--although his seat is cluttered with cameras, lenses, and laptops.  As the photographer for the United States Olympic Committee, Jeff has an all-access pass to any event he chooses.  In this episode, he shares: 

• how he edits 2600 images down to 10 in a matter of minutes
• how social media has changed the pace of his job
• how he stays focused (literally and figuratively) from 9:00 am to 2:00 am every day for nearly three weeks straight
• what Simone Biles and her teammates were talking about in those minutes before the world knew why she pulled out of the Tokyo 2020 Games
• the best angles to shoot a water polo game
• how photographers deal with bathroom breaks (or the lack thereof) in the middle of certain events
• the importance of mastering the Olympic shuttle bus system
• and much more.

There's a whole lot more to photographing Team USA than just settings and shutter speeds.  It's an exciting, exhausting gig, and Jeff approaches each Olympics like it's his one and only.


Want to know more about Jeff?

• follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeffcablephotography/
• read his blog: https://blog.jeffcable.com/
• check him out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffcablephoto

 
Want to know more about "What It's Like To..."?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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Interest in "tiny living" is getting bigger.  But what is it, really--what are the benefits, and what do you sacrifice by "going small"?  Tiny house enthusiast Laura Lynch shares what inspired her to trade in her 2300-square-foot house for a home about one-fifth that size; the process of downsizing  ("do you own your stuff,  or does your stuff own you?"); and the wonderfully supportive "tiny" community (of people living in not just small homes, but also vans, schoolies, RVs, and more).  Laura also is a financial planner and helps others with the practical matters involved in transitioning their lifestyles.  Going tiny gave Laura the freedom and opportunities to follow her passions--which she never would have had if she'd been locked in to paying off her big house for years and years. Laura is the host of a podcast called "Less House, More Moola."

In this episode:

02:06--What is tiny living?
05:21--The benefits of having less space
07:46--The process of downsizing: why do I get value out of these things?
11:55--Reasons why people "go tiny": finances, sustainability, simplicity, lifestyle, the housing shortage
14:43--Luxury elements included some tiny homes
15:36--Legalization of building tiny homes
18:50--People of all ages are going tiny
21:12--Focus on your values: what is really important to you?
25:03--Traits common to most tiny living enthusiasts
26:41--What Laura misses from her big house; comparing living in her big house to her tiny house

Want to know more about Laura?

• Check out her website: https://www.thetinyhouseadviser.com/
• Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetinyhouseadviser/
• Touch base on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesshousemoremoolapod/
• Link up on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinyhouseadviser/
• Listen to her podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lesshousemoremoolapod

Want to know more about "What It's Like To..."?

• Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube! Go to https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItsLikeToPodcast
• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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We're revisiting a popular episode from our archives this week! 

It's not easy to get to the top of the world.  It takes a lot of training and determination, a willingness to endure pain and suffering--and no small amount of luck.  Even the most prepared climber can confront a deadly avalanche or fatal turn in the weather.

Our guest, Jeff Gottfurcht, was the first person ever to summit the tallest mountain in the world--Mt. Everest--with rheumatoid arthritis.  Hear his incredible tales of ten years of training (including climbing all of the world's biggest mountains); what a climber eats, sleeps, and wears on Everest (you'll never believe Jeff's diet!); what happened on his summit ascent in a -20 degree windstorm; and what it's like to sit at the highest point on earth.

Jeff also shares the lessons that have shaped his life that he learned while he was "dancing with fate" on Mt. Everest.


Want to learn more about Jeff?

• Check out his company's website: cyberdive.co

Want to know more about What It's Like To...?

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Lots of people say they “like to travel”... but most probably can’t claim they're “travel addicts.” Karen Gershowitz has earned that title by visiting more than 95 countries–many of them numerous times!  She’s worked her career around traveling, and is now a travel writer. She has also published two books about her travels. In this episode Karen shares tales from her adventures and gives tips all travelers can use to have authentic experiences--from taking public transportation, to eating at communal tables with locals, to the benefits of "getting lost."

In this episode:

01:50--How and why Karen found a career to support her travel habit

02:48--The genesis and growth of Karen's love of travel

04:47--Tips for finding your way in a new town (take public transportation, sit at communal tables)

08:37--The beauty of allowing yourself to get lost and pivoting when things go "wrong"

12:40--Karen's thoughts on planned itineraries vs. being spur of the moment

15:08--Plan your trip around what you love (food, sports, art, history, etc.)

17:39--Be curious about a place and about people

18:39--Test case: planning a trip for a fictitious traveler

24:39--Tips for traveling in non-English-speaking countries

26:30--Thoughts on traveling solo vs. with friends vs. with groups

27:55--Journaling while traveling

30:30--Places Karen would like to visit, and places she never wants to return 

34:42--Tips for dealing with jet lag

37:20--Becoming a travel writer (books and articles)

Want to know more about Karen?

• Find links to all of her books and articles at her website: https://karengershowitz.com/home/

Want to know more about "What It's Like To..."?

• Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube! Go to https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItsLikeToPodcast
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• Find him at his website: www.ejsnyder.com 
• Follow him on Instagram: @ejsnyder333
• Tweet him on Twitter/X: @ejsnyder333 

• Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube! Go to https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItsLikeTo2023 
• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
• Follow us on social media:
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  • Facebook
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Todd Jones has crashed into walls, been punched in the face, flown through the air,  tumbled down stairs, and fallen off high buildings, numerous times--willingly.  He is a professional stuntman for movies and television shows.  Todd also is a strongman: among other things, he holds a Guinness World Record for "hearting" horseshoes (bending steel with his hands).  Think all of this sounds almost impossible?  Todd says he's not superhuman--he has simply worked hard and not given up: the secret to his success is perseverance. 

In this episode:

01:56--How and why Todd transitioned from acting to stunt work
02:39--What he learned at "stunt school"--including getting set on fire
04:35--How to land correctly from a fall
06:28--Todd's first stunt gig
08:10--His role on "The Newsroom" that kick-started his career
10:53--A typical day on set
12:30--The two biggest stunts Todd has ever done on screen
17:29--The qualities needed to be a stunt person
21:08--What his family thinks watching him on screen
22:26--How Todd got started bending steel
25:29--The process of setting a Guinness World Record for "hearting" horseshoes
27:33--The power of perseverance: how and why Todd came to believe this so deeply
32:46--As you reach your goals, keep setting the bar higher: what else can I do?
33:24--How Todd stays in shape
34:38--The work schedule of a professional stunt person: "consistently inconsistent"

As promised in the episode, here is a link to the episode of "The Newsroom" in which Todd appeared with Jeff Daniels: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2052565/?ref_=nm_rvi_nm_i_1

Want to know more about Todd?

• Find him on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toddryanjones
• Watch him on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ToddRJones
• Follow him in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddryanjones/

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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Jenell Jones has everything she owns with her at all times, and can travel wherever she chooses (as long as the destination is on this continent!). Jenell is a full-time RV (recreational vehicle) traveler.   She spends her life on the road, but Jenell isn't lonely: she runs an RV club for other solo travelers, so they travel "alone, together."  In this episode Jenell recounts her transition to the RV life (she didn't even know how to drive an RV when she decided to buy one!), paring down her "stuff" to what she actually needs (one swimsuit and a few highball glasses made the cut), and talks about how she now spends her days: hiking in Alaska, biking in the Grand Canyon, and eating fresh $10 lobster in Maine.  "I love this lifestyle," says Jenell. "I feel sorry for my old self"--the person who worked a "regular" job and packed in as much as possible during her all-too-short vacations. Now her work, her life, and travel are all packed into one--one very long vehicle. 

Jenell is offering a $10 discount to "What It's Like To..." listeners who join the Wandering Individuals Network RV Club.  Go to winsrvclub.com, and use this code: WHATITSLIKETO.

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In this episode:

01:33--How and why Jenell got started RV'ing
03:47--A day in the life of Jenell in her RV
07:13--Exploring: biking, hiking, visiting museums with other solo travelers
09:24--Paring down her belongings to fit in an RV
13:37--Key items to live the RV lifestyle
16:03--Jenell's thoughts on the idea of "home"
18:18--Safety while RV'ing
18:54--Personal and logistical challenges she has encountered along the way
24:42--Some of Jenell's favorite destinations
31:58--The Wandering Individuals Network: what it is, how it works
36:36--What Jenell has learned about the US after traveling around it so much


Want to know more about Jenell and the Wandering Individuals Network RV Club?

Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/winrvsingles
Connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winsrvclub/
Check out her website: www.winsrvclub.com


Want to know more about "What It's Like To..."?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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Silja Paulus spent a year pounding weights in the gym, tailoring what she ate (and often massively restricting calories), and sculpting her body--all for a few short minutes posing in a bikini and high heels in front of a panel of judges.  This is the life of a bikini fitness athlete, a form of bodybuilding that requires a particular form of dedication.  Silja had to train her body in a variety of ways--from lifting weights and learning to walk "naturally" in 3-4 inch heels, to dealing with "brain fog," a result of extreme calorie restriction.  Silja shares humorous behind-the-scenes stories too: getting spray tanned with other muscular (sometimes unclothed) bodies; 4:00am makeup calls; and why her best friend needed to shave her back. Silja also opens up about the dark side of this endeavor--women often temporarily lose their menstrual periods, and bodies can rebound and put on excess weight in the aftermath of a competition. Silja is now a health coach, and strives to compete in bikini fitness in a "healthier, more positive" way in the future.

In this episode:

01:50--Describing what "bikini fitness" is and how it fits into the bodybuilding world
04:10--The importance of knowing how to pose correctly and walk in high heels
06:55--What it's like backstage at a competition
08:46--Why athletes scrub with dishwasher soap and shave everywhere before competitions
10:32--The layers and layers of spray tans (and occasional naked bodies)
13:22--What Silja would do after a competition
14:32--Why Silja switched from marathon running to bikini fitness competitions
17:40--How her training changed
18:39--How her diet changed
22:06--"Brain fog"--what it is and why it happens
24:34--Silja's sudden, unexpected weight gain after her last competition
26:00--Her new approach: listening to her body, treating it well
28:43--Biggest misconception about bikini fitness athletes


Want to know more about Silja?

• Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleticmindcoach/
• Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silja.paulus/
• Link up with her on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silja-paulus/

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to whatitsliketo.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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