Unique perspectives on living large
Shannon Brady is a professional women's basketball player for Fr. Mathews Cork in the Ireland Super League, following her All-American career at Bowdoin College. Aside from her mad skills on the court, during quarantine she decided to seize the day and build her own personal platform for fitness & wellness. She founded @shaybrayyfit on Instagram, where her motto is "Refuse to Shrink." My dazzling co-host (and Shannon's college coach) Adrienne Shibles joins me for this conversation with Shannon, where we explore her athletic and personal growth journey as she talks in depth about topics like self-acceptance, facing your fears, living authentically, and reaching one's full potential. Shannon has an empowering message for all us in being fully human, growing through discomfort, and always "living your truth!" (Plus, she does a wicked mean Boston accent). Hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did - Shannon is a shining star and we are so grateful for her extending her positive vibes to all of us!
Dasel La is a Tibetan Buddhist nun with deep roots in New England. I first knew her as Lisa Blake, my wife's college basketball teammate from Bates. In her mid 40s, Lisa felt a strong calling to Buddhism and the monastic life (though she's been meditating since she was 10 or 11). She assumed the name Ani La, meaning venerable aunt, or "Auntie" (I love my Aunties!), and found herself on her own personal journey towards enlightenment. Dasel La was ordained several years ago and currently resides in a monastery in the Himalayas. She's got a big vision for creating a Buddhist center in her adopted state of Maine to benefit everyone, which she and I discuss in detail. I found myself in this episode simply sitting and listening to Ani's stream of consciousness, which gave me a great sense of peace. Hope you feel the same! :)
Kraken, Jersey Devils, and Mongolian Death Worms, OH MY! Elizabeth Adams, folklorist at Cal State U, joins the show for a second go-round to chat up a whole mess o’ legendary animals. We run the gamut, from phoenix to dragons to Bigfoot to creepy things your sweet little mind ain’t never even heard of. It may make you think twice before swimming in open water or wandering into the woods. Talk about Creature Feature! Have a blast with this one!
Marty Donovan is a Hollywood screenwriter and one of the most joyful and charismatic sons o' guns you'll ever meet. He's worked on a variety of Netflix and Disney shows over the years, such as Prince of Peoria, Garner's Guide to Pretty Much Everything, Kickin' It, Wizards of Waverly Place, and A.N.T. Farm. I've known Marty since he was a young teenager - I was actually his college counselor!When COVID hit the entertainment industry, Marty and his housemates started recording hilarious homemade renditions of classic movie scenes. Their creations can be found on Instagram @saferathomemovies. You want to follow this, seriously.Marty is a native of Bethel, Maine, population 2,600! In homage, this episode's Creature Feature highlights one of northern New England's most iconic forest dwellers...If you're in need of a smile, a laugh, and some inspiration to follow your dreams, Marty is your guy. Enjoy!
Special Halloween episode! Elizabeth Adams is a folklorist and anthropologist at California State University, Northridge. Join us for a wicked fun chat about the origins of Halloween and the rituals of trick or treating and costuming, as well as the folklore around witches and zombies. It's an enlightening historical lesson on Halloween's themes of power and control in society, and their underlying link to our own personal insecurities. I definitely got the heebie jeebies at some points during our conversation, but don't be scared! Elizabeth will put your mind at ease with her expert perspective.
BONUS episode! Back by popular demand, my co-conspirator Adrienne Shibles and I head “upta camp," where we sit by the fire pit and quiz each other, a la Inside the Actors Studio, on topics like “what’s your greatest fear?” and “what do you dislike most about yourself?” Maybe it gets you thinking about your own answers... And stay tuned at the end for a new Creature Feature segment! The eerie awaits...
Dr. Jeffrey Greeson, AKA "Grees," is a blast from my past...one of my former Swarthmore College basketball teammates, and now he serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rowan University and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at The University of Pennsylvania. He also founded the Mindfulness, Stress, and Health Lab at Rowan, where he's helping others "better understand how we can develop our natural capacity for greater attention, awareness, compassion, and acceptance, and in so doing experience a meaningful benefit in our mental and physical health."Tune in to hear Jeff talk about what it means to "be mindful," how to reclaim your balance in your everyday life, and how I was a "mindless" teammate on the basketball court, haha. :)Oh, also! NEW SEGMENT - Check out my new Creature Feature at the end of the show. I know you're intrigued........
Wei Lin is a startup founder/CEO (ph5.com), marathon runner, endurance athlete, scuba diver, trail runner, rock climber...I could keep going. She's one of only 500 people in all of China who has completed a full Ironman triathlon. If you're looking for inspiration to live life to the fullest, you're gonna love listening to Wei. Wei's inner drive and growth mindset are probably the strongest of anyone I've come across. I am amazed at how much she has accomplished, and at how much she packs into her day, every day, in her endless quest to soak up the most out of life. And she's on a mission to do even more now. Listen in to hear Wei talk about how the coronavirus has impacted her daily life and how she realizes how fortunate she is to be here, now.
Bart Beattie is founder of Sangha Expeditions. A soulful Mainer, Bart is at home in the outdoors. He's a trekker, kayaker and philosopher who "believes in the power of adventure travel in deepening one’s connection to oneself and to the world." Bart recently led a 2-week trek to Everest basecamp, so I had to hear more about it! Bart also gets 'r done in just about any project or venture, so I wanted to tap into his #DoMore mindset, especially in this challenging time battling COVID-19 when all of us, no matter where we are in the world, are forced to slow down, be more present, and find fulfillment. Hope you enjoy it!
Rebecca Schefstrom is a seasoned yogini, meditation guru, and badass entrepreneur who founded the company Urban Balance to bring on-site wellness services like yoga, Pilates, massage, nutrition, and meditation into the workplace.She’s also a wicked chill, enlightened person who will brighten your day as she talks about reclaiming the present moment and giving yourself the compassion you deserve to develop into your true, higher self.
Jan Pierson is a self-proclaimed "bird nerd" (his words, not mine), one of the founders of Field Guides and a veteran of more than 40 years of international birding and guiding. This dude has led birdwatching tours on all seven continents, and he created this gig out of thin air. Yes, I am jealous, and this podcast is me living vicariously through him. It's Jan's world!
It's the new year, 2020, and one of my goals is to "DO MORE," instead of looking at a screen and watching other people DO and live their best lives. That means doing more in my job, more with my family, more with regards to my physical and mental well being, and of course more of this podcast.And speaking of "DOING," my guest this week really exemplifies this. Elio Rubenstein (not his real name haha), aka The Tiger King (you'll find out why if you listen to the show) has walked a super interesting -- if not meandering -- path through life. He's had a myriad of life experiences, everything from being a teenage security guard, to inventing "the world's best" drum tuner and turning it into a business with his old man, to teaching English in China, to now pursuing an advanced degree in machine learning. But equally important, this character is just plain funny. He makes me laugh -- a lot -- and so I wanted to catch up with him and learn more about his adventures through life, which he seems to follow like the path of flowing water. Never stressed or anxious about where it's leading him, he calmly and deliberately rambles on! I hope you are as entertained as much as I am by this guy, and I hope he puts a smile on your face. Here he is, Elio...Elliott...The Tiger King!
Bree Candland is a faculty member at Mt. Ararat High School, an avid concert blogger, and a bucket list crusher who has most definitely found her happy place on this planet.
Ryan Helean is a shaman, artist, and all-around cool cat spreading the love from Brunswick, Maine.
Adrienne Shibles is Head Women's Basketball Coach at Bowdoin College...and also my wife!
Kirk introduces Daulerious, a podcast offering unique perspectives on living large.