Bravest Podcast

On this episode of the podcast I share my recent conversation with Lance Allred. For those of you who are not familiar with Lance's story he is an accomplished author and speaker, and he also happens to be the first deaf player in the history of the National Basketball Association. Leading up to the NBA, Lance played for many pro teams around the globe, and then he earned a spot playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside of LeBron James. While all of that is remarkable, it's his inner work leading up to his NBA experience, as well as his metamorphosis and contributions since leaving the sport that are truly impactful. This is an amazing conversation about perseverance, leadership, empathy, and gratitude. Ultimately, Lance shows us that becoming what he calls 'the new alpha' is critical to success in our rapidly evolving world. www.thebravestlife.com/049 www.lanceallred41.com    

There's been a lot of craziness in our world as of late and most of us are going through some real pain. Some of us have experienced sickness, some of us have lost someone close, and some of us have felt the negative impacts of COVID-19 on our business or income. Ultimately, it all amounts to us feeling like we have zero control over our lives at this point in time. One concept that keeps circling in my head is the importance of controlling what can be controlled. It's that concept that plays heavily in this conversation with Nick Heath. It's not likely that the information we cover in this episode is going to cure our collective issues as a global society. But the concepts Nick shares represent a critical method to regain some control over our physiological and psychological state. At a minimum, this will serve as a launching point to a better world considering the weight of stress we are all currently under. In this conversation, Nick and I discuss his early life with type 1 diabetes, his passion for the art and science of breathing, as well as his recent 100-mile ruck in support of the non-profit Health and Human Performance Foundation. LINKS Bravest Website – www.thebravestlife.com Craig On Instagram - www.instagram.com/craigkasper Nick's Website – www.thebreathingdiabetic.com Nick's Instagram - @thebreathingdiabetic Health & Human Performance Foundation – www.HHP-Foundation.org Music credit - Friday, The Passion HiFi

Lauren Bongiorno joins me today for this special bonus episode to help us all kick start a new year of health, wellness and creating a mindset that will help us all consistently get after what we desire in life. Lauren was on episode 007 of the podcast where we went deep into her story. But as a quick overview, Lauren is a health coach and a yogi who has thrived with type 1 diabetes since childhood. On today's show, Lauren shares her top 5 keys to unlock the best version of ourselves in 2018, and we also talk about her upcoming book "The Diabetic Health Journal'. www.thebravestlife.com/027

On this episode we have Erik Douds. Erik is a fascinating guy who has a degree in environmental studies and sustainability, and he's even worked as a research assistant for NASA. His passion for the environment has fueled a number of adventures around the world in search of ways to make in impact. Erik has been involved in oceanography work and has even helped design a national park in Ethiopia.   Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, Erik was raised in the suburbs of NYC. He recalls the many positive influences of big city life and what he describes as growing up with all the 'hope and possibilities that allows people to work towards all their dreams'.    As we get into the conversation, Erik also shares his grandfather's lifelong experiences with type 1. Amazingly, his grandfather was diagnosed in 1940, and he ultimately lived to the age of 83 years old. It was clear through our talk that his grandfather was a significant influence in Erik's survivor and adventurer mindset.   Erik then describes his own diagnosis as his calling card to take on challenges in life. In addition to venturing out on world travel adventures and marathons, Erik recently set out on a 4500 mile cross country bike trip on the Trans America Trail, he hiked the North Coast Trail with a team of type 1s, and is prepping to now bike down the west coast of the US, and then head back home to the east coast. If you put that all together, that's biking the entire perimeter of the United States, all while documenting his journey and seeing how he can make an impact along the way.   This is a really interesting conversation of travel, adventure, environmentalism, and making a positive impact on self as well as the world.

This episode is a little different than the typical health and wellness conversations we've had so far on the show. That said, there are significant ties to our health, living well, and ultimately making a significant positive impact on the world.  Our guest for today, Laura Pavlakovich, is a creative at heart, but her true path was not presented to her until she, as she describes it, "escaped the bubble" of life in a comfortable Southern California town. And while Laura was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around the age of 4, for many years she worked very hard to not allow it to define her. I think that most of us would agree that we should not be fully defined by something such as an autoimmune disease, but it's interesting how the very thing she turned away from, would ultimately be her calling card that would allow her to empower others to share their own voices of strength, hope and inspiration. The path to the non-profit organization she founded, started during a year-long educational trip that took her around the world to witness how children lived in areas like Africa and Southeast Asia. And what Laura experienced on that trip altered her mindset permanently and served as the foundation for her non-profit called "You're Just My Type". Laura and I dive a little into the time after her diagnosis and the incredible support she had from family as well as the lasting relationships she developed in diabetes camp. Laura then take us on a journey of how photography entered her life and how she used it to travel to some of the most interesting places on the planet. She also talks about how those experiences completely shaped her mindset. We then zero in on how art can be used to create a healthier life through storytelling, connecting others from around the world with similar conditions, and helping to educate and motivate the world to make change for the better. This is a super interesting conversation about the arts, about being human, and about being part of something greater than ourselves.

What does it truly take to stare a challenge in the face and push on no matter how deep you have to dig? According to today's guest, it's not only about physical strength, although he is arguably one of the strongest guys out there. It's really about purpose, and it's about mindset.  My guest for today's show is powerlifter and strongman, Rodney Miller. Rodney was born to a cattle rancher family in southern Oklahoma. Not to long into his life's journey, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and spent over two weeks in a coma as a result of dangerously high blood glucose levels and DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis. Although Rodney was only 4 years old at the time, he believes his inherent stubbornness was the key factor that kept him alive.  A self-described "runt" standing 4 feet 9 inches tall, and weighing in at 90 pounds, Rodney was the smallest person in his class all through school. It was only after multiple hospitalizations as a young adult that Rodney started to gain significant weight. But that was only because he burned out and stopped taking care of himself. During that time Rodney was less than consistent taking his required insulin, and his diet was massively out of control. He was on a dangerous roller coaster ride and it wasn't until his wife shared the fact that she was pregnant that a switch flipped in Rodney's head. It took the realization that he was soon to be responsible for another life to push him on a course to health and wellness. Rodney's story is one of inner strength, perseverance, and purpose. What you'll learn in this conversation is that he has an unusual ability to push himself through pain and discomfort, which stemmed from a single discussion with his father when Rodney was a young boy. What he has turned himself into physically as a competitor, being someone who lifts truck axels, pulls fire engines and lifts cars, is nothing short of amazing.  We can all learn a lot from this interview and maybe even start to consider our own strengths, and how to overcome any real or perceived barriers life might present to us. So, from self-described "runt" to inspirational strong man, this is my conversation with Rodney Miller.

As I started to develop the foundation for the podcast, I wanted to make sure I was not just about talking about change and overcoming obstacles in our lives. While conversations can be inspiring, I wanted this to also be about giving you real world opportunities to challenge yourself, and to be uncomfortable. I've found that it's only in those moments of challenge that we have a fighting chance to make positive changes to our mindset, our physiology, our health and wellbeing. That all rolls into our ability to make a dent in the world. So, this week we're going to experiment by launching the first episode of segments we'll call 'Your Bravest Life' which are dedicated to helping you take your game to the next level. This one will require that you find a quiet space, so if you listen to the podcast during your commute or during a run or workout, press pause and come back to this when you're not required to be active in your world. We had such an amazing response to last week's podcast featuring Lauren Bongiorno. I hope you caught that interview, but if you haven't listened to that episode yet, do yourself a huge favor and check it out. Lauren was such a dynamic guest and we got pretty deep on topics including nutrition, exercise, yoga and the focus for today's podcast, which is meditation. I've spoken previously about my history with meditation and mindfulness. If you're interested, check out the interview I did with Cyrus Khambatta on the Mastering Diabetes YouTube page. But, the reality is that meditation and mindfulness holds tremendous benefits for all of us. There's a growing body of scientific literature exploring the brain and how it actually has the ability to change for the better through the practice of meditation. And not only does the brain change, but a consistent meditation practice will also positively impact your blood pressure, your heart rate, and even lead to changes that will positively impact your blood glucose levels. In this episode, and first installment of 'Your Bravest Life', Lauren Bongiorno leads us all on a guided meditation that will undoubtedly help you connect with yourself on a much deeper level. 

This is our final episode in a week-long series highlighting some incredible athletes with type 1 diabetes. Today, I'm excited to share my conversation with Casey Boren. Casey is one of the co-founders of the Diabetes Sports Project, he has run with a team of type 1s across the United States, and he has competed in countless Ironman races including the world championships in Hawaii. Through this episode Casey guides us all to take our lives from the couch to competitor. So sit back, grab a notepad, and let's tap into the deep knowledge of Casey Boren. www.thebravestlife.com/060

So next up in our mini-season highlighting some incredible T1D athletes is Brandon Denson. Brandon is a super active figure in the diabetes world through his creative work and new non-profit called Bolus Maximus. But before he was the roller blading community builder he is today, Brandon was a kid from Michigan with big dreams of playing pro football. Supported by the massive love and confidence from his mother, Brandon carved his path from a high school diagnosis, through division one college ball, straight into the pros. But it's his work shining a spotlight on inequalities in healthcare that makes Brandon a true force to be reckoned with. www.thebravestlife.com/059

This is a special episode. If you've been watching the CBS reality show 'Tough As Nails' you are going to be very familiar with my guest on today's show. Sarah Burkett is a former college track star, police officer, trainer, now pipe welder, who persevered to become one of the final three contestants on this season of the show. She also happens to be type 1. Sarah is a true force of nature and an inspiration to all of us to rise up despite what the world throws at us. www.thebravestlife.com/058  

On this episode, I sit down with mud runner, soon-to-be Ironman competitor, and Chief Operating Officer of the Diabetes Sports Project, Eric Dutcher. In this conversation we dive deep into Eric's story, and he shares some critical concepts and stories that will help anyone out there, at any level, develop an unstoppable mindset. Eric Dutcher Instagram - www.instagram.com/chronicsuperhuman DSP - www.diabetessportsproject.com Rebellion With Cause Gotham Ride 2021 for DSP - www.gf.me/u/zgzxij Music credit - Random Thoughts by Audiobinger

On this season 3 finale of the podcast, I sit down with Evan Soroka. Simply put, Evan is a bright soul in the darkness that we are all experiencing right now. In this conversation, Evan shares details of her early childhood in NYC and how her family moved to Colorado so her dad can follow a passion for a creative life. She talks about the beginnings of her life with type 1 diabetes during a 24 hour wilderness survival experience, and how yoga ultimately entered the picture and changed her life. Evan is fascinated with exploration, internal and external, and we go deep in this conversation. We discuss the intricacies and interconnectedness of yoga therapy, the breath, and the mind. We talk about Evan's definition of the meaning of life and the importance of not wasting our one beautiful opportunity to make the most of our time on this planet. www.thebravestlife.com/056 www.evansoroka.com  

On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with NFL fullback and Super Bowl Champion Derrick Coleman, Jr. If you're not familiar with Derrick, he is the first deaf offensive player in the history of the National Football League. This conversation explores Derrick's life growing up with significant hearing loss and the challenges he faced as a result. But one of the most impressive aspects of his story, is the fact that he never used those challenges as excuses. Derrick went on to play football at UCLA and then fought his way into the NFL, ultimately playing for Coach Pete Carroll and alongside Russell Wilson to bring the Super Bowl Championship to the Seattle Seahawks. Derrick and I talk about mindset, perseverance and the work he continues to do to encourage young people with hearing loss to reach for their goals despite what some might view as a disability. www.thebravestlife.com/055

On this episode, I pick up my conversation with David Bidler. With the ongoing reality of COVID19 as well as everything that has happened in response to the murder of George Floyd, David believes we are at a powerful time in our existence. He sees this as an opportunity to ask better questions about what we want the future to look like, and an opportunity to make change a reality. As critical as the conversation is about race, and human rights, and social activism, this episode with David is not directly about that. While, as we learn, David does have a significant history working in the civil rights activism trenches, I am admittedly not an expert. Because of that, I will take every opportunity presented to learn from people like David. That said, this conversation is undoubtedly related on an important level. This episode is a chance for David and I to continue to dive into his work with our youth, helping them develop the skills to become mindful leaders of tomorrow. It is David's belief, and I wholeheartedly agree, that if we invest in our kids now, they will have a better chance of making positive global change for all of us in the future. www.thebravestlife.com/054 https://physiologyfirst.org/

On this episode, I sit down with ultra-runner, coach, educator & author David Bidler. Among the many projects David is involved in, his recent work is focused on helping our youth develop tools to prepare them to become our leaders of tomorrow. Central to this mission is helping educate kids to utilize the breath as a tool to address mental health issues. In this discussion we go broad and deep, covering issues such as David's untraditional path, what ultra-running is and is not, what we as parents can do to help our kids through this COVID19 situation, and some interesting neuroscience experiments exploring the breath and brain plasticity. www.thebravestlife.com/053 https://physiologyfirst.org/ https://distanceathletics.com/ BRAVEST tshirts and hoodies - https://teespring.com/stores/bravest-store

On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Chris Clark. If you don't know his story, Chris is a two-time Ultraman competitor and advocate for those living with diabetes. As someone who was diagnosed with type 1 as a young adult, Chris faced a number of years literally teetering on the edge of life and death. He tells the story of how he was forced to ration his insulin simply because of changes in his work and financial situation. It was through a kind gesture of a neighbor that ultimately saved his life. Fast forward in the story, and Chris went from unable to get out of bed, to competing in not one, but two Ultraman events. Keep in mind, Ultraman is a 321.6 mile event over three days, including a 6.2 mile open water swim, a 263 mile bike ride, and a 52.4 mile run. Also, keep in mind, Chris was the first person with type 1 who competed in the event ever. Chris shares some very deep parts of his life and how he has used those experiences as fuel to advocate for all people living with diabetes. This includes his efforts to help our policymakers in Washington understand just how the exponential increase in the cost of insulin has been forcing those with diabetes to make life or death choices every day based solely on financial barriers. This is a conversation of rising from the ashes and making a commitment to carry a burden to help millions of others along the way. www.thebravestlife.com/052 www.chrisclarkathletics.com www.t1international.org Music credit - Random Thoughts by Audiobinger    

On this episode of the podcast I sit down with Lance Radford. Lance serves in Air Force Special Operations and has participated in missions around the globe alongside Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, and other Special Ops service members. He also has a significant amount of time under his belt as an antiterrorism officer. In this conversation, we cover his thoughts on the current COVID-19 situation, and we go deep on the topic of fear. Through Lance's lens, we find that we ultimately have the ability to work with our fear and even use it as a tool for transformation. www.thebravestlife.com/051 https://www.instagram.com/thewarriormonkpodcast/  

On this episode of the podcast I sit down with Emily Hightower. Emily is an incredible human who has taken a traumatic childhood and somehow figured out how to turn that trauma into pure light. We talk about her evolution through years of difficult inner alchemy, and how it all set the stage for her work with people who have experienced their own trauma, including wounded veterans around the world. I wanted to speak with Emily during this time because of what we are all experiencing, collectively. With the significant uncertainty that is our current world, comes the resulting emotional and physiological response. Emily is expert in the stress response and recently released her educational course through Power Speed Endurance called the Skill of Stress. What we learn from this conversation with Emily, is that looking outside of ourselves for the answers, is not the answer. Instead, she teaches us to dive into our animal nature and tap into those basic raw elements to address what ails us. The answers are already inside all of us. It starts with building awareness and it starts with the breath.  www.thebravestlife.com/050 www.intrinsicway.com https://powerspeedendurance.com/skill-of-stress-online-course/  

On today's show, we have Dr. Heather Lampert. Heather is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and she holds the William Randolph Hearst Fellowship in Clinical and Translational Research. She is not only super smart and insightful, she also happens to be someone living with type 1 diabetes.    In this episode, we go deep into Heather's background, and we talk about three key areas that are of critical importance to anyone living with type 1 diabetes. We talk about exciting research in the area of diagnosis and the gut microbiome as it relates to type 1, Heather then zeros in on new technologies in the world of treatment and management, and we wrap up with a conversation about the potential for a cure for type 1.   This is a unique opportunity to dive into the clinical and research science as it relates to type 1 diabetes, and learn from someone who is not only directly impacted by type 1, but also someone who is embedded in cutting edge of science.    www.thebravestlife.com/047 www.imgreaterthan.com www.doctordiabeatit.com  

On today's show we have my conversation with Annalisa van den Bergh. Annalisa was introduced to me through my good buddy Erik Douds who was featured on Episode 14 of the podcast. Annalisa was raised in NYC and had a very interesting upbringing as a city kid. Her mom and dad were creatives, and she spent her childhood embedded in that creative world as well as a significant amount of time traveling. It wasn't until her mom passed away that a switch was flipped in her mind and she made a conscious effort to pursue a very specific path in life. In Annalisa's words, 'trauma made her rethink everything' and she set out on an adventure to combine creativity, storytelling and long-distance bike travel.   In our conversation we talk about her mindset, her travels, her diagnosis with type 1 diabetes, and her upcoming project called 'Miles of Portraits' where she will be setting off with Erik on a long-distance bike journey through Alaska, and capturing that trip in a documentary as well as a magazine.    This is a touching conversation with a message for all of us. Through her story, Annalisa encourages all of us to consider taking the path less traveled, simply because, while life can be beautiful, it can also be short.    www.thebravestlife.com/046 www.imgreaterthan.com www.workfrombike.com