A Renick Podcast - Humans with holy-sh*t amazing stories.

Barnes Boffey has many passions, significant among them his love for the work and the vision of the Aloha Foundation. Summer 2016 will be his 24th and final summer as the Director of Camp Lanakila, and his 55th all together. He uses his Middlebury College drama major skills in all facets of his professional life, primarily teacher training, including directing the UVTTP (now UVEI) in its early adolescence and then as Director of Teacher Training at Dartmouth. He has maintained a private counseling practice since 1977, specializing in “Success Counseling.” As a long-term faculty member of the Institute for Reality Therapy, he worked closely with one of his primary mentors, Dr. William Glasser. Barnes credits much of his perspective in helping others to his own struggles with addiction and recovery, and his book Reinventing Yourself shares some of that journey. His true passion is helping people find their best selves and bringing those into being.

Dr. Amanda Kloo.https://www.projectmomentumfitness.org/follow her on twitter @kloo_amandaProject Momentum is a non-profit organization (approved EIN 81-0822720...501(c)(3) incorporation pending)created to provide extraordinary health and fitness support for individuals with exceptional needs. It was founded by Dr. Amanda Kloo of Mooresville, NC. She is a mom, wife, and professor with cerebral palsy whose health, work, and life were transformed by functional fitness training.   To pay these blessings forward, Amanda partnered with multiple gyms in & around Charlotte, NC to establish Project Momentum to help others pursue long-term health regardless of age, circumstance, ability, or disability. Move forward with us!  Whether you are an individual seeking fitness training to meet your unique goals, a gym wanting to work with exceptional clients, or an organization wanting to make health & fitness possible for everyone...contact us today!

This week I had a chance to sit down with Dave M, who is one of the two founders who started the podcast, Dopey: The Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction. David shared his story with me and talks about what it was like to lose his close friend Chris and co-founder of www.dopeynation.com to an overdose. David also talked about the reasons why he and Chris started Dopey and why he forged on with the podcast after losing Chris.  Check out www.dopeypodcast.com & Dopey Podcast on Facebook. You can follow the podcast on twitter @dopeypodcastDopey was recently featured on the very popular podcast called, This American Life and they did a great job breaking down their history over the last 3+ years of producing the podcast. See the link below. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/667/wartime-radio

This week I had a chance to sit down with David Manheim who is one of the two founders of The Dopey Podcast.www.dopeynation.comhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dopey-dark-comedy-drug-addiction-heroin-cocaine-meth/id1077823917?mt=2You can follow David on twitter at @davidmanheim and check out his Facebook page at, Dopey Podcast. https://www.facebook.com/dopeypodcast/While Dave and I connected, I was reminded when "addicts & alcoholics" are under the influence of mind bending and mind smashing drugs & alcohol, it's amazing what some people are willing to do to keep their addictions fueled and alive. Dave has been clean and sober for a considerable amount of time and with his close friend Chris, they set out on a mission to share with the masses the dark comedy of drug addiction. Below is the About Us Page @ Dopeynation.com.------------------------In March of 2011 I entered my 14th treatment center for heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse. A week before “checking in,” my brother and sister had picked me up in Harlem. In a blackout I had boarded a bus from Boston and decided to reinvent my life in New York City. Within days my money had gone into my arm, I was homeless, and trying to sell my last possession: a dead cell phone that I had found on the street. This falls on the mild end of the spectrum of disasters I had been responsible for over the years.At the new rehab, I left my unopened Dollar Store packages of white t-shirts, boxers, and sweatpants on my bed and immediately went outside for a cigarette. The most authentic and genuine expressions of rehab patients can be found in the designated smoking area. Nearly a decade of shuffling around the country at a wide range of treatment centers had taught me this. There is the mother who extravagantly laments losing custody of her child due to drug charges during group, who then asks a client to cheek his or her meds for her that night. Or there is the husband who cherishes the unconditional love of his wife, and then brushes arms and bats eyes with females in between puffs of his cigarette. And then there are those whose behavior is consistent. They seem to do better.I smoked off to the side and silently judged my peers for the roles they were playing, many of which I had engaged in at some point. I spoke when spoken to and never volunteered much. “ What’s the point?” I figured. “ No one will keep in touch, most will relapse, and a few will die.” I wore a smile but behind it was a bitter contempt for the life I had been living, and for the people who reminded me of myself.In steps Dave with his Marlboro Reds, big Jew nose, ear-to-ear smile, and general likability. It was the worst. He puked the details of his life upon me, unaware that I had established myself as the silent observer. Or maybe I was the only one who would listen to him. As he cycled between stories about his shitty job, rehab exploits, and heroin addiction, I started to enjoy our conversations. Dave could look at his life with an ironic sense of humor, smile upon his idiocy, but not lose sight of the gravitas of addiction. I reciprocated with my own stories, and we enjoyed long belly laughs over topics that would repulse the av

This week I had the please of speaking with David George. David and I went to the same college together and attended many classes. Although I've known David for a long time we haven't had a chance to really connect and hear more about who he is and what he is trying to do and accomplish. David wrote a book called, Be You, Be Unique and Live. You can purchase his book on amazon or at his website, www.beyouandlive.com. I've included a brief synopsis of David's book below and get to know David as we connect for roughly an hour about who he is, what he's trying to accomplish by helping others and who have struggled with a learning disability. ---------------------------David A. George’s book is a partially autobiographical account of his struggles with a severe learning disability teaching you why it is so imperative to be the best you can be but at the same time be accepted for who and what you are. David discloses explicit, grim details of the nature of his bitter plight and the isolation he endured in his ambience of ignoramuses who represented an oppressive system that emphasized conformity over individuality. However, through the compassion, understanding, empathy, courtesy and respect (cornerstone concepts of his book) while attending Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia just an hour south of Pittsburgh, PA, David became a successful student in college majoring in Communications with an emphasis in the broadcast field and he performed even better in his Graduate School studies pursuing a Masters’ degree in Counseling. "Be Unique Be You and Live" underscores the evils of ignorance, a variety of theories about education and why it is so crucial to treat your fellow beings as unique individuals not robots. Above all, David accentuates the importance of having friends that truly accept, respect and love you for who you are and share your successes with: i.e. his fraternity brothers at Sigma Nu in Bethany, Bethany girls and others that became like brothers and sisters to him. Pinball Wizard Rocks!!!

TIM WALSH, FounderTim is an outdoor educator and recovery coach trainer who specializes in guiding people through the external and internal wilderness. Over the last 25 years, he has founded and lead numerous programs and institutions in the youth development and addictions recovery and prevention fields, as well as offered individualized support for those seeking purpose and spiritual development. Tim has consulted for and developed experiential education, adventure therapy and substance abuse awareness programs for private schools, youth development programs, treatment centers and national conferences. As a pioneer in the field of adventure-based counseling, he was one of the founding members of Mountainside Treatment Center. He served as Founding Director of Adventure Based Counseling at Mountainside and was eventually promoted to Executive Director. Tim served in this capacity for four years and left to start his own consulting business where he has successfully supported multiple programs in developing exceptional adventure curriculums.Tim has earned Instructor Trainer levels of certification in ACA whitewater canoe, pro rescuer first aid & CPR and lifeguarding as well as certifications in advanced whitewater kayak instruction, BCU star 3 sea kayaking, wilderness first responder, recovery coaching and adventure based counseling.Tim has studied various wisdom traditions and received healing rites and practical tools from elders and practitioners from both Western and Eastern disciplines. With a deep reverence and respect for ceremony and ritual, he facilitates a tailored approach to personal transformative process.When not on the river, Tim spends time with his wife and their twins exploring the natural world, paddling the New England rivers, working in the garden, and creating.

Rich is a Grammy Award winning producer and writer and close person friend of mine. Rich takes the leap and jumps in the cockpit with me for an epic 60 minute conversation about how he manages his creative process and how that creative process can also be leverage in your everyday life. Rich has recently launched a new album called, JACQ and he was kind enough to share with me one of his epic songs, titled, Where is home. I think it's a perfect conclusion based on our conversation and I'm a fan. I'm confident you will be a fan also. Stay tuned to Rich's Facebook page for more releases and sit back and enjoy my outstanding conversation with him. 

Your host, Renick Morris share's his story with you. My mother joins me for this episode. 

Taken From www.willdayart.comABSTRACTION  is not usually the means by which artists tell a story, but Will Day approaches his canvases and wood panels as an opportunity to bring forth a story in the moment and not as a sequence of events.  Many of his paintings have been commissioned, and for each he tries to connect to and relay the inner narrative of his patron. This has generated a body of work characterized by individual instances rather than series work with permutations of one concept or theme. Yet there is continuity to be found in his process of building a painting and experimenting with tools and techniques of applying his oils and acrylics.After the trauma of 9/11 in which his wife survived the collapse of the World Trade Towers, he left a career in finance and studied architecture, which turned out to be a way station to his turn to painting. His architectural impulse carried over in the expressive actions of manipulating his implements, often those associated with construction — the cheaper the tools the better. With various surfaces serving as a field of operations, Day creates textures, layers, and effects layers, discovering relationships and using resulting edges to create structure. Working on multiple paintings at the same time in his Boulder, Colorado studio, he reaches for an emotional power based in grand design that yet defies limits, which he believes he attains through grace.A reader of Joseph Campbell, he, in essence, enters each work as a path through the unknown to a self-overcoming experience.  Considering himself a doer, it is the act of painting that drives each painting to where it wants to be. Day starts with a lone mark. Then he struggles with and relents to the viscous material accepting and resisting, using color as some sort of otherworldly force that aligns with or bursts out of the emerging configuration. As a youth, he was a spirited athlete and player of many sports, and so his natural inclination is expression through physicality, but now it is the means by which he seeks a higher power to tell a soul’s tale.

Music has always been a passion of mine. For a long time I played the guitar and listened to as much music I could to sharpen my chops. At a young age, my step-father Stephen would play The Beatles in the car when we would go visit my cousins in NY or when he took me to one of my tutoring sessions to learn how to read better. Stephen introduced me to Billy Joel and he also introduced me to The Beatles and at a young age, I fell in love with this song, Within You Without You and I can't tell you why. But recently it jumped out at me while I was trolling through YouTube and I was hooked again and then I heard Jimmy Herring's version and I just fell in love with the song and started listening to it every morning before I started my day. It was refreshing, calming and inspiring all wrapped up in one.In this Bonus Feature, I don't go into a lot of detail why I love this song because I think it speaks for itself. If you can listen to the words and identify with them like I did, then I think the song says it all. I love both versions, but have been drawn to Jimmy's because I'm able to watch him play it and I love great guitarist and I think Jimmy is one if the greatest.. I've included the link below. https://youtu.be/sWoMj0e5xLkand I've also included The Beatles version also, https://youtu.be/bc9kzMKA5QEI wanted to share this level of insight because there is meaning behind this song and there is meaning behind what I'm trying to accomplish with The Invisible Thread. Hopefully in future episodes you can reflect on how these songs have impacted you and be inspired to smash the day in half! Renick

Taken from her website not-your-average-mom.comI am a mother, stepmother, wife, blogger, swim coach, inspirational/motivational speaker, and Positive Discipline parent educator.I live in Connecticut with my husband and our big a$$ family.My name is Susie, and I’m 47 years old.I am a mother, stepmother, wife, blogger, swim coach, inspirational/motivational speaker, and Positive Discipline parent educator.I live in Connecticut with my husband and our big a$$ family.Our life is not usually as pretty as this picture.Almost never, really.And that’s why I started this blog in 2012.Because being a mom can be really fucking hard, and because there aren’t a whole lot of people out there being honest and realistic about what motherhood is like.So when our youngest was about fifteen months old and I was in the thick of it, I resolved to create a place where moms (and dads) could come when they were feeling alone or overwhelmed or like they were failing or when they just need a break.And I decided to write about the stuff that most people don’t want to talk about. The stuff that most people don’t want to admit. The stuff that people are thinking but are too afraid to say out loud.You know, the stuff most people wouldn’t dare post on Instagram or Facebook.When I first started writing, five of my kids were under seven years old and I pretty much just told stories.As you can imagine, I wrote about a lot of disasters.

Miguel Paludo (born July 26, 1983 in Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) is a Brazilian professional racing driver. A Five-time champion in Porsche GT3 Cup Brasil competition, he formerly competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.Paludo began racing go karts at the age of 14, and in 2004, moved up to touring car racing in a regional Brazilian series, competing for his family-owned team with his brother Daniel.[1] He competed for several years in regional and national series in Brazil, most successfully in the Porsche GT3 Cup Brasil, where he won back-to-back series championships in 2008 and 2009.[1][2]

Just a little bonus feature of the day to day madness that happens at my house and having fun with my podcast microphones. 

Author, coach, fan of soccer, saltwater and caving to impulse. Daddy to a beautiful daughter. Allergic to cold weather. Coaching college soccer since 1991. My personal interests? Writing, coaching soccer, fishing, surfing, sunshine, and relaxing on my favorite island.To learn more about Dan Blank, please consider downloading this episode of A Renick Podcast - The Invisible Thread. 

David Kiley, aka DK, began his love affair with basketball straight out of the womb. Raised in Costa Mesa in SoCal, DK played the sport from morning to evening on the hoop his dad hung from the garage roof or on any outdoor court that he could walk or ride his bike to. Playing and practicing solo and alone was a habit he enjoyed and while dreaming of the time he'd possibly be playing at UCLA or being a pro with the Lakers. ​Injury and a 'near disability' came early in Dave Kiley's life. Hit by a pickup truck riding his bike to school in the 4th grade, his little spirit was shattered along with the bones in his knees. One surgery and comeback after another with one goal in mind….TO PLAY. Through arthritis and pain, Kiley started at point guard at the power house Orange County high school, Mater Dei. His game was strong and built around making teammates better, being "the floor general" at the point. Some colleges took notice of his game in the 70’s, one of them being Gonzaga.To learn more about DK, please consider listening or downloading this podcast. 

Meet Vicky Cook- (This was taken from www.vickycook.com)For me, it has always been about seeking the truth of my life. I realized that in order to be able to see into my heart, I had to be able to accept every single morsel of my life.My work has derived from an accumulation of intense experiences that have led me to discover wondrous things about myself, stuff that I may have never thought possible.The search and discovery of my own soul’s path taught me the most enduring self-sustaining qualities; such as acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, self-respect, creativity, leadership and service. It is from this place where I have learned to sit strongly in my own authority and take ownership for my entire life. Having been in prison literally and figuratively, I have learned the true alignment of what it takes to turn tragedy into triumph. It is the daily process of living in the “what is” that allows us to recover our truth and find love. Self-love is the way to connect to all that you are; the dark dirty secrets, the shame, the natural talents, the joy—all that is the real core of YOU.The “BIG” you. It IS going to be Ok, but you have to be willing to get down and dirty if you want to be free from the bondage of self-doubt, self-deprecation, self-loathing. My greatest wish for those I work with is that they experience and believe in love’s redemptive, unconditional nature. That success depends upon our courage to surrender and to empower ourselves to know that no matter what we are facing or what we have been faced with, our inner peace is never out of our reach. It’s time to relinquish the fight, to break down the defenses and see that our willingness to surrender will be the greatest freedom we could ever know.