Exceeding Expectations

In this episode The Sean Swarner comes on and shares some incredible insight and perspective on his life's journey. From defeating 2 rare primary forms of cancer to conquering the toughest terrain on our planet (with one lung), he is a one-of-a-kind human. He dives into how he made it all happen and the mindset that keeps him constantly growing. He emphasizes the importance of appreciating your journey, choosing to be happy, and only comparing you to yourself. I encourage all listeners to watch his documentary “True North” and buy his book “Keep Climbing”. Hearing Sean speak is truly a gift and you will undoubtedly reap value from listening to him. You can learn more about him at “www.seanswarner.com” and also sign up for “The Summit Challenge” or “Big Hill Challenge” where he will lead you on an invaluable journey of personal development guided by your own core values. You can follow him on Facebook at “Sean Swarner” or Instagram @seanswarner. Thank you for tuning in! If you haven't, please rate this podcast on the Apple app!

In this interview with Dr. Josh Funk we discuss several important topics including the importance of personal growth/development, culture, and leadership. This discussion targets several angles/perspectives including that from a business owner and an athlete. This episode is jam packed with valuable information whether you are an athlete, coach, business owner, or medical professional. Follow Josh Funk on Instagram/Twitter “@DrJoshFunk”

“Don’t tell me what you can’t do. Show me what you CAN DO”...... In this episode, I interview TikTok star and man of comedy, Colby Van Vorrhis, also know as the “Armless Freak”. Colby may have been born with a disability, but he absolutely has not ever let that define him. In fact, he doesn’t even think of himself as disabled....maybe just a little different. We have a rich and diverse conversation regarding the importance of learning from failures, having goals, never setting limits, not taking life too serious, having a mindset of gratitude, and so much more! He shares his struggles and victories as someone born with a disability and the mindset/attitude that has kept him growing and constantly moving forward. He also shares his dreams and what is next for him. We touch on the need for more equality for the demographic of people with disabilities and some of the issues he has personally faced from society. On top of all of this, I find out Colby wrestled in high school his senior year.... a truly incredible feat (and coincidence). Yet again, another person who truly embodies what it means to exceed expectations! This episode is truly dynamite and I’m excited to share it with all of you! The following is how to get in touch with Colby: TikTok: @armlessfreak Twitter: @armlessfreak His documentary: https://youtu.be/8GjKAzjPImg My email: michaelgowendpt@gmail.com

In this episode I engage in a rich conversation with aspiring Ironman athlete, Mario Mejia. A little over a year ago Mario found himself in jail, struggling with alcoholism, and with his license suspended. It was at this point, hitting rock bottom, that Mario found himself at a crossroad in his life. Looking at the direction his life was headed, Mario made arguably one of the most important choices in his life. Fulfilling a promise he made to his father, Mario decided to challenge himself with something few people ever consider. He undergoes a brilliant transformation as a person....not just physical, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He is an absolute role model and embodiment of what it means to exceed expectations. This is his story.... Instagram: @rico.chico; Website: www.heartsofempowerment.com/Ironman

In this episode, I start with a breakdown of how my national tournament concluded match by match. I give you a look into all the emotions I experienced along the way and what I learned. The importance of developing a strong locus of control is emphasized and how it improves your perspective and develops a resilient mindset. Lastly, I wrap up some final thoughts and give some of my own advice/insight. During this journey, I frequently told people that I would much rather regret doing it than regret not doing it years down the road. I can confidently say I don’t regret one part of this experience. Hopefully you were able to gain something from listening to these episodes; Inspiration, perspective, mindset drills. My hope is someone comes away inspired to find their purpose and chase their dream no matter the roadblocks or expectations placed upon them. If you found value from this, please feel free to reach out to me and let me know. I’d love to hear about it. Reach out to me at my email: michaelgowendpt@gmail.com or on Instagram: @coachmike_g

This is part-1 of a 2-part episode to finish off the series “Return to the Mat”. In this episode I dive into my “why” even deeper and discuss the many factors that led me to undertake this incredible and unique journey of returning to collegiate wrestling. I open up, expose my vulnerability, and share some special moments I experienced. I then discuss how I found peace in this decision and how others may find peace in their own personal journeys. I wrap it up with a quick summary of how the end of the season went leading up to my national tournament experience.

In this episode I discuss the keys to staying on track when pursuing your dreams and goals. I discuss the importance of developing a routine, accepting failure, and developing a mindset of gratitude. I open up about the doubts and struggles that I endured. I also take some time and give you a more detailed look into my own schedule and journey through the first semester of the wrestling season. Finally, I leave you with one specific exercise to implement into your daily routine that I promise will be invaluable to your own personal growth. Hope you enjoy this episode! As always, feel free to reach out to me at michaelgowendpt@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @coachmikeg

In the first 20 minutes I give an introduction to my recent dream of returning to college wrestling. I become vulnerable, describing my feelings and doubts during the process. During this, I attempt to give a good perspective on what it’s like to pick up an old dream and chase after it even when life seems too busy. Finally, I finish with describing some tips and tricks to help you with your own pursuits. I challenge the listener to self-reflect and make sure they are asking the hard but necessary questions. I encourage you to find your purpose/passion and at the same time, appreciate that this requires some healthy selfishness.