Original Series

Martin Bauman Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Martin peddled 7,000km across Canada in a remarkable 84-day journey spanning from June to August. His expedition became a lesson in humility and the value of community. Amidst stormy weather, a selfless man named Dave emerged as a guiding light. Dave's acts of kindness, serving as what came to be a trip advisor, were instrumental in making Martin's journey possible and profoundly enriching. Reflecting on his experiences, Martin realized the paradox of self-reliance. While aiming to prove his worth through this solitary endeavour, he discovered the importance of interdependence and communal support. Through Dave's generosity, Martin learned that true strength encompasses both independence and the willingness to accept help when needed. His story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of community and compassion in nurturing our best selves. Check out Martin's website and book @ https://martinbauman.com/ | https://www.indiebookstores.ca/book/9781990770470/ ___ Whether you have a story of your own or a story of someone else you would like to share, send me an email @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@heroicminds.live⁠

Merely desiring to accomplish tasks isn't sufficient, especially if greatness is your aim. Discover the flame within you, that burning desire to conquer challenges and achieve mastery and competence. Cultivate a sense of empowerment and competence, igniting a relentless drive to pursue even the seemingly mundane tasks with passion.

Jon Orr Virginia, United States Jon Orr, a sports parent of three shares a powerful reflection for all parents. It is difficult to give up control and allow a child to embrace and purse their sporting career in the way they want to. It is amazing the impact a sense of agency can have on passion, enjoyment and even performance in one's journey. Check out Jon's website and mission @ https://sportsreclamationproject.com/ ___ Whether you have a story of your own or a story of someone else you would like to share, send me an email @ ⁠⁠⁠info@heroicminds.live⁠

The concept of accountability, while often used to motivate, can sometimes evoke feelings of obligation and inferiority. Instead, focusing on being accountable to oneself and the potential for personal growth can be a more powerful motivator.

Ryan Drury Arthur, Ontario, Canada Ryan lost his dad to suicide when he was 19. In this episode, he reflects on what he learned through this journey: the importance of taking a moment to give yourself credit. Now, he's leveraging this concept in his pursuit of NHL broadcasting. ___ Whether you have a story of your own or a story of someone else you would like to share, send me an email @ ⁠info@heroicminds.live

In this video, we delve into the deeper layers of empowerment beyond simple affirmations. When someone is hurting, mere words might not suffice. Discover three transformative phrases that can profoundly motivate and uplift your teammates, friends, or family members. Learn how to go beyond mere affirmations by connecting them to actions and behaviours, and by highlighting correlating character traits. Elevate your ability to inspire and support others with these powerful tools.

So often we let the opportunities of others or opportunities we have received to influence how capable we are. Let go of the resources coming in and focus on the resources going out. The mission to beautify the world and be the best you can be with what you have been given remains the same! It is no different than playing a game of cards. I hope you enjoy! Please leave your comments below!

Marty Hogan Chicago, Illinois A story of perseverance. Marty shares his journey of being diagnosed with cancer while awaiting the arrival of his first child. This story exudes what it means to persevere with purpose and love which allows him to maintain an endless supply of willpower. ___ Whether you have a story of your own or a story of someone else you would like to share, send me an email @ info@heroicminds.live

Leadership goes beyond simply delegating tasks or responding to mistakes/errors. True leadership requires effective communication and the ability to validate individuals. By communicating openly and validating the actions of team members beyond moments of failure or difficulty, leaders foster an environment of trust and understanding. This acknowledgment of both successes and setbacks allows leaders to build genuine relationships with their team, inspiring confidence and loyalty. When leaders prioritize communication and validation, they create a supportive atmosphere where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best efforts toward shared goals.

Mistakes are not roadblocks but rather essential markers on our journey of growth. Embracing them with courage and accountability is key. By confronting our mistakes head-on, we acknowledge their potential as valuable learning experiences. They propel us forward, shaping us into more resilient and adaptable individuals. Taking ownership of our mistakes empowers us to chart our own path towards success, fuelled by humility and continuous improvement.

In life, opportunities often present themselves when we least expect them. However, all too often, our fears can sabotage these chances for growth and success. Whether it's fear of failure, rejection, or the unknown, allowing these fears to dictate our actions can hold us back from reaching our full potential. To overcome this, it's essential to acknowledge our fears, understand their origins, and actively work to confront and overcome them. By embracing discomfort, taking calculated risks, and reframing our mindset, we can break free from the shackles of fear and seize the opportunities that await us. Ultimately, by refusing to let fear dictate our choices, we open ourselves up to a world of endless possibilities and personal growth.

There is a difference between proving to others and ourselves we are good enough and discovering how great we can be. I have shared this with clients and the response has been incredible. The shift in attention from what we have to prove to what is possible creates a fundamental shift in focus, belief and psychological freedom.

How long term goals slow so many people down and how short term goals awaken endless energy and focus. Don't get distracted by long term goals. Short term goals give immediate feedback that unleash your potential.

A client story of finding motivation to keep up with academics while they chase an NCAA scholarship.

My two cents on fostering a healthy space after sport on the drive home! Keep it simple. There is no script. Empower them to discuss, share, process.

A recent success story with a client I have been working with! Challenging a few stereotypes when it comes to mindset in athletics.

A casual discussion with Sport Psychologist Dr. Cassidy Preston. We discuss identity in sport and the challenges of living in reality vs the stories we tell ourselves. Check out Cassidy's new book Mindset First on Amazon. Cassidy's Website

Life is getting faster and faster... but our performance is decreasing... Slowing down is a super power... not only for "wellness" but for performance. We take in more stimuli, work more efficiently AND time appears to go by slower. Listen to find out more! EndNotes: https://nymag.com/speed/2016/12/how-your-brain-controls-the-speed-of-time.html https://nymag.com/speed/2016/12/how-your-brain-controls-the-speed-of-time.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200803140046.htm

Morgan Freeman acting as God in the movie Evan Almighty hits us with some wisdom. I tie this wisdom together with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Flow and Performance in work, sport, and life. "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?" (DBT) "D" in BT being Dialectic which is in simple term between or amongst the opposites, grey between black and white. Mindfulness Distress Tolerance Interpersonal Effectiveness Emotion Regulation FEEDBACK + FUTURE TOPICS + ANECDOTES + STORIES --> info@heroicminds.live EndNotes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7551835/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-does-prayer-meditation-affect-brain-activity_n_1974621 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7766487/ https://dbtselfhelp.com/what-is-dbt/

Are people solving the wrong problems in their life due to ignorance or because the real problems that need attention are too much to handle? Is it that likes, income, affiliation, grandiose behaviour and more, deter us from solving the problem that will give us freedom and an improved state of mind? In this episode we look at the infamous Tony Stark (Iron Man) to see where he would rather save the world than solve his own problems which appears to leave him rich, famous, powerful and also lonely, neurotic, and unhappy. In pairing together this modern day Marvel character with the infamous Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, I hope you enjoy this episode! FEEDBACK + FUTURE TOPICS + ANECDOTES + STORIES --> info@heroicminds.live WORK CITED: https://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html https://psychcentral.com/pro/exhausted-woman/2018/01/the-confusing-narcissistic-cycle-of-abandonment-and-return#:~:text=The%20narcissistic%20abandonment%20cycle%20is,%2C%20unintelligent%2C%20or%20a%20fraud. Psychology of a Hero: TONY STARK & Narcissism

First Episode Back!! SFL = Skills for Life. Every episode will be a 5-10 minute journey through articles, movies, client anecdotes, research & more, summarized with actionable takeaways. I call it, enjoyable, self-administered, psychotherapy. Todays Topics: 1. Empty your backpack. 2. Mental health is not as simple as we make it sound. FEEDBACK + FUTURE TOPICS + ANECDOTES + STORIES --> info@heroicminds.live

Eva Holland is an adventure enthusiast, athlete and freelance writer. She is the author of Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear. Eva spent a large portion of her life living in fear. It was the fear of losing her mother that transcended many parts of her life and created a constricting grip over her ability to experience life fully. One day in her early thirties Eva’s biggest fear came true. In response was an incredible journey that began as hiding inside and ordering in food day after day, then the socially popularized idea of facing your fears head on, and finally, learning about fear, how it works, the purpose it serves and our ability to change it. Eva Holland faced her fears and that did not work so she took a different point of attack and that incredibly authentic, educating and empowering journey is packaged up into her book which we scrape the surface of in this episode. How love is often the cause of fear, sky-diving, exposure therapy, EMDR eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing and its ability to turn down the fear response, a newly studied individual pill that can turn down the fear response. We touch on what life is like for someone without a fear response, and much more. As always when we have an author on the podcast, The link to Eva’s book, Nerve is in the description of this episode. Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live  

Right after graduating from his musical theatre and performance degree from Sheridan college, David became the only amputee to perform on Broadway. For the screen, David has directed and choreographed several series for CBC as well as projects for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS. David has collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others. Currently, David Connolly, is the Associate Artistic Director at Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s most successful not-for-profit, professional theatre companies. This incredibly exciting and successful career began with the amputation of both of his feet. We will get to that in the episode... David has directed concerts and shows for large organizations across North America such as, The United Nations. What began with Shriner’s hospital turning a broom closet into a nursery because his mom would not take “no” for an answer that they could not care for him, turned into a journey of never taking “no” for an answer. A journey of powerful story telling through the arts that continues to change people’s lives. In this episode we talk about David going to auditions, which he nailed, and never telling anyone about his physical differences. We talk about the power of being present and the simple ‘two step’ approach in how to get there. We talk about how a leader’s job is to limit the fear and discomfort in their group. And of course, lots more in between. https://www.davidwconnolly.com/ Send me an email: info@heroicminds.live

The best approach to behavioural change in the inclusion space is often argued and often political. Having the conversation with Mark is a breath of fresh air. It is a conversation with nothing off the table, constructive, honest and most important, creates relatability. Mark Fraser spent 15 years in pro hockey, 8 of those in the NHL. Those years came with being treated differently for the colour of his skin and his cultural differences. Today, Mark has a lead role in Maple Leaf’s Sports & Entertainment, Equity Diversity & Inclusion team. In this episode we point out why the top down approach doesn’t work and why the bottom up approach does. We talk about the power of the minority and the majority working together toward improvement. We reference stories of significant change being made in the sporting world without any governing direction. We also dive into how people can begin creating this change in their own environments/communities without convoluted direction or regulations. Send me an Email Heroic Minds Apparel

For those that watched Eco-Challenge on Amazon Prime you will definitely be familiar with both Travis and his father Mark, the incredible duo exemplified what we know as the hero’s journey and a thirst for living fully. Travis is a professional athlete completing over 120 ultra endurance events in 17 countries, he is a speaker, author and coach. He is the author of The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion's 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life. He set a record for the 2013 Leadman series epic endurance event consisting of a combination of five trail running and mountain biking events held in Leadville, Colorado over the course of two months each summer, in a combined record time, of 36:20 covering 282.3 miles 10,200 feet up in the Rocky Mountains. I was watching the show, Eco-Challenge and heard the narrator Bear Grillz tell the audience of this Travis Macy guy…. Who decided not to participate with the goal of finishing in a top position, Instead he wanted to do the 500km (or 310 mile, 10 day race of travelling by foot, kayak, horse, swimmimg, mountain climbing and mountain biking with his father Mark a long standing endurance athlete himself who has early onset Alzheimer’s. In this episode we get into the details of maintaining a love for living fully, by doing. By having a respect and appreciation for the journey that is life not by hoping for a submissive world that will cater to our needs. I am going to quote my friend Ian Bigford who has been on the podcast before and will be back on soon, he sent me a quote from an Ancient Indian Parable… which I think aligns with the courage that both Travis and his Father exude in life: A man wants to walk across the land, but the land is covered in thorns. He has two options, one is to pave a road - to tame all of nature into his compliance. The other is to make sandals. In this episode we talk about your relationship with the difficult things in life… developing a love for living, meaning a love for the journey that has both darkness and light, we talk about how you think your way through challenge while your body is so depleted you cannot even feed yourself. Of course, we conclude with a discussion about Mark Macy, Travis’s dad, who again if you need a hit of inspiration to keep going, check out the eco-challenge on Amazon Prime and see the heroism that we discuss in this episode. The Travis Macy Show Podcast The Ultra Mindset Book http://www.travismacy.com/ Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live

Three generations of the Israel family, Carl, Jamie and Brett decided to convert their long standing family farm to Organic, but it came at a high cost. After converting to Organic and taking on millions in debt, the market they were promised, vanished. The family didn’t put blame on anyone else. They dug their feet in. They decided to reinvent themselves. They changed the story of what they create and why they create it. They changed the story they were telling both internally and externally. This is a story of family, trust and willpower. 3Gen Organics In this episode: We run through the family story How the 3rd generation decided to leave the traditional education system to spearhead the family business How getting off the farm is not really a priority How they philosophically changed who their customer is How they identity as Food Producers, not Farmers. The way they approach the physically demanding aspects of their job Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live  

Dr. Galati is a traumatic brain injury survivor, and medical doctor. He has the goal of making aerobic training a part of brain injury recovery protocol. He is doing this through the Brain Changes Initiative. In this episode we discuss taking control & ownership over the brain injury recovery process with the 5-Pillars of a brain healthy lifestyle. A vital part of this conversation is envisioning the benefits of your interventions. Instead of using rationalized motivation to complete recovery objectives, picture the benefits as you plan & complete your recovery processes. Send me an e-mail: ben@heroicminds.live

Ben Switzer is a disruption architect, community accelerator, and technological storyteller. He is an entrepreneur in the health technology and virtual reality space with his present companies EXAR Studios & True Focus. The connection between imagination and behaviour. The cognitive process of reflecting on behaviour and how this can lead to catalytic change in your life. Determining what is driving the negative behaviours in your life. The process of tying the difficult tasks to the greater future vision of your life, of who you want to be and embodying it in immediate action.

Lauren Johnson is a Mental Conditioning Coach for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. Her goal is to improve the resilience, performance and mental strength of all the athletes in the NY Yankees System.  Lauren does not believe there is a set of tools for in sport and out of sport. You are the same human whether you are at home, on the street, on the mound or on the ice. This episode functions as a guide and self-reflection that asks: Who do you want to be? AND Do your present habits and patterns align with who you want to be? Lauren on Twitter Heroic Apparel Send me an Email: ben@heroicminds.live

Vincent Aiello spent nearly a quarter of a century as a US Navy fighter pilot. He deployed overseas on aircraft carriers numerous times and was selected to attend and instruct at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN. Retired from the US Navy in 2017, Vincent is now the host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast. In this episode we cover a lot of ground, from landing on an aircraft carrier at night, experiencing 9 G’s on your body, leadership in the Navy, heroism, the growth mindset of debriefing, maintaining focus while alone in the cockpit and A LOT more. We conclude with a story of being fired at unexpectedly over Iraq and the most memorable flight of his career, ‘a hero coming home’ is what I would call it. Fighter Pilot Podcast Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live

Victoria Arlen’s life drastically changed in 2006 at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. She slipped into a vegetative state in which doctors had written her off as a lost cause. Victoria spent nearly four years “locked” inside her own body completely aware of what was going on just unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope. She could hear doctors say to her family, it may be better off to give up. Nor she or her family gave in. In 2010 after almost four years she began the nearly impossible fight back to life. Learning how to speak, eat and move all over again. Victoria went on to exceedingly defy the odds and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished Motivational Speaker, Television Host and Swimmer. Her swimming resume includes three Silvers and a Gold medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as multiple World, American and Pan American Records.  In April 2015, Victoria made the transition from professional athlete to sportscaster and joined ESPN. In the Spring of 2016 Victoria defied yet another odd and after spending nearly a decade in a wheelchair paralyzed from the waist down was able to learn how take one step after another and eventually not only did she learn how to walk but within a year and a half in the Fall of 2017 she learned to dance as a contestant on Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. Victoria's Book - Locked In Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live  

John Boockvar is the Vice Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. Dr. Boockvar is well known from the incredible Netflix Documentary, Lennox Hill, Where the viewer gets to dive into the lives of four doctors as they navigate the highs and lows of working at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. I encourage you to watch the show because Dr. Boockvar and everyone else in the show, (doctors, nurses, patients and patients families) are everything we talk about in this podcast rolling out in front of your eyes. Without the science, without the complexity, just raw humanity in its most courageous and resilient form. From Michael Jordan to Tom Petty, why you should "never let the holes in the Swiss Cheese align", why performance begins with a mindful minute, and why throwing tennis balls randomly at your kids to catch is an innovative life lesson, hear about all this and much more in this incredible episode. Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live

Dr. Gale Gazelle is a medical doctor, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, physician coach, mindfulness teacher and author of, Everyday Resilience, released this past august 2020. Growing up, Dr. Gazelle was abused by her father. That is where the episode begins. In this episode we talk trauma, how it hides in our subconscious, how it surfaces and how it can be dealt with. Then we move into a long list of tools and techniques anyone can implement into their life today to increase their ability to sustain the stressors of life.  "Far from being a passive endurance of life’s tribulations, resilience is an active process with which you can choose to engage." I love doctors Dr. Gazelle's approach to awakening resilience because it is simple and easy to implement right away. It is realistic, primitive and not a "life hack" Dr. Gazelle gives story after story explaining how slight adjustment of everyday habits can change your ability to handle stress. This is an episode where you can instantly test out the ideas in your life, like the idea of micro-connections, the first and second arrows of pain, what to do next time you are picking up garbage, and what your life purpose statement is. Yes, get ready! Everyday Resilience Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live

Jesse Thistle is Métis-Cree, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He is an Assistant Professor in Métis Studies at York University in Toronto. Honestly, I wanted to name this episode, the toughest man you never met, because when you see this intelligent, well spoken, empathetic, caring, loving person today, it is difficult to image the past he had. Before Jesse landed at York University and became one of Canadas most decorated phD students, he was dealing with mental illness, homelessness, addicted to crack cocaine, paid regular visits to correctional facilities across Ontario, couldn’t read or write, and couldn’t walk because of a staph infection. He says he was the limping homeless person on the side of the road begging for change. Jesses story and his incredible work makes the passed on, intergenerational trauma from generation to generation so tangible and digestible. In hearing his story you begin to understand the pain, the sadness and the emptiness that dominated his nurturing. It was little experiences of love through his youth into adolescence that kept a tiny spark inside him alive. After an unsuccessful robbery in 2006 or what a judge claimed was the worst criminal he’d ever seen, Thistle turned himself in to police and entered a drug rehabilitation program. In 2012 he entered the undergraduate history program at York University. So yes, lots of questions, lots to unpack, and that is what we will cover in this episode. Jesse’s book, from the Ashes, is as much educational, as it is empowering. This is the first book that has made me stop reading in awe of what I just read. It is so difficult to fathom where he is today. It truly is a life changing book and may change your life differently than it would your neighbours Book - From The Ashes Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live

Ryan Straschnitzki was a couple days from his 19th birthday playing for the Humbolt Broncos Hockey Club in 2018 when the bus crashed where 16 people died and left 13 injured. Ryan left him paralyzed from the chest down. In only three months he was getting back onto the ice as a sledge hockey player. His goal is now to represent Canada at the Olympics. This is one of those episodes, similar to many in the past where it is not complex psychological or philosophical ideas but rather a call to action, a positive meditation if you will, on living a resilient and courageous life, no matter what. Send me an email: Ben@HeroicMinds.Live  

Ben Flanagan is an NCAA Champion from the University of Michigan. Ben went into that same race seeded as the 23rd fastest runner out of the 24 who qualified. Ben became the 2018 men’s outdoor 10,000m NCAA Champion with a time of 28:34. Today Ben is a professional Reebok sponsored runner and Olympic hopeful. In this episode we dive into the mind of a long-distance runner and how it all relates to life. How does one go into something THEY know will be uncomfortable and avoid getting caught up in their own head? How do you create a sustainable plan for improvement where your input may not be 100% everyday but your output is? How do you deal with uncertainty? Especially in a sport that is so numbers driven? What doesn’t work from the common narratives around motivation How did Bens parents change the script on how they motivated their son How did his coaches feedback on the night before that big race, give him everything he needed to succeed? One of my favourite topics discussed, I have heard this many times on many podcasts about how to get into a dark place or survive in that quote un quote “dark place” to be successful? Last but not least, Why trying to “will” yourself through things… even long distance running, won’t work. Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live  

Sam Chase delivers programs in mindfulness, yoga and resilience for organizations and high performers, nationwide. Sam teaches the science of the human mind and the tools that help people lead flourishing lives. Sam is certified to teach by the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the largest yoga center in the nation, he received his Master's Degree at Harvard University's A.R.T. Institute, he has his own private practice in New York City and is the author of the incredible book, Yoga and the Pursuit of Happiness. Heroic Apparel #PayAHeroForward Send me an email: Ben@heroicminds.live

Dr. Cowan is a Board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and leading authority/practitioner of high performance medicine who is most recognized for his work with professional athletes. Dr. Callum clearly explains how food can be something that holds you back or powers you to enhance how you feel, work and recover. We can be performing well below our maximum and not even know it purely due to what we are eating and how we are eating. Get your notebook out… but seriously… From coffee to inflammation, vitamin-D, sleep habits, gut-health, detoxing, hormones, sleep-wake cycle, and more, we cover a lot of ground! Everyday Hero Cap Send me an Email: ben@heroicminds.live    

Matt Nichol received his Bachelor of Education degree (Kinesiology/History) from McGill University and his Masters of Kinesiology & Masters in Coaching Theory from York University. He is the Creator of Biosteel Sports Drink and is a strength coach for some of the best athletes in the world. In this episode Matt defines strength, he debunks myths about what is strong and what is not. In a social media, research driven world, Matt provides insight into how we should approach “exercise” and how we should execute it. We then dive into some specifics, What is the relationship between strength and mobility? What is a strong core? Is HIIT Training as good as “they” say? Should we always train to failure? and MUCH more. Send me an email Ben@heroicminds.live  

This episode has two outstanding guests. Dr. Kim Dawson, professor of sport & exercise psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University and the infamous Joey Hishon past Ontario Hockey League All-Star, and NHL All-Star hopeful until injury pivoted his career path in a new and exciting direction.   Kim’s extensive education and research in psychomotor behaviour and exercise science gives her a deep understanding of the issues that affect performance. Kim also continues to do extensive work on career transition and identity. Working with elite athletes, Olympians and professional sport organizations for over 10 years, Kim developed the principles of Mind2Achieve to support people in their quest for personal success.   Joey is presently the Assistant coach and Assistant GM of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League while also working with top NHL players and elite NHL prospects through on-ice still development.   In this episode I wanted to facilitate a discussion between the science and the lived experience of career change. The issues intertwined when the change is forced or chosen, how to approach the situation, how to leverage it and how to improve through it.   We start with where the issues begin and move through the process to overcoming the issues that may have been present for an entire career.   Last but not least Joey shares some updates on his newest client of his on-ice skills business. Every Canadian knows this individual but I don’t think you would predict his attempt at the NHL.   Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live Follow Along @HeroicMinds_  

Noah is a behavioural ecologist and published author. He is the founder of The Best Bees Company, a top to bottom bee keeping service. The company also functions as a means to raise funding for scientific research to improve honey bee health. Did you know that investing into the health of honey bees we can enhance our environment, secure sources of food and improve our economy? Before we get to the bees we unpack Noahs empowering journey through life as a young boy that went from insect avoiding to insect studying and the life/business lessons learnt along the way. Bees. We begin with what we can learn from bees when it comes to our own survival both physically and socially. We then move into what bees do for us, why some bees survive better in the city, and last but not least how you can help strengthen the bee population with your own garden or balcony. Did you know that scientists can track exactly where and what plants your honey came from?

During the 2008 recession Kevin found himself 1 million dollars in debt. Not only did he venture through and learn from the recession, he came back stronger and prepared for this 2020 Pandemic. Kevin is an innovative developer. He creates revolutionary, rule-bending buildings that double as social experiments and subsidized housing to help fight the homeless issue. Kevin is the Owner of Guerrilla Development in Portland Oregon. Everyone in Kevins company makes the same amount of money AND earns shares in the company. Kevin completed architecture school at U.C. Berkeley. He was a Loeb Fellow in 2007-2008 at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and spent a 2-year stint building schools and homes for the Peace Corps in Gabon, Africa. In this episode we answer the question, what is enough? We talk about the issue with the ‘American Dream”, how to run a business in a pandemic, how to only have high calibre employees and how to keep them. How to earn respect from the people you do business with and how to make sustainable income while making a massive impact on society. Guerrilla Development Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live      

Dada is a yogic monk. He has taught meditation all over the world for 20+ years. He teaches the lifestyle and philosophy of the system of life known as yoga or tantra, the core practice of which is meditation. Dada delivers in such an eloquent way the issues of our world and why they exist. He then explains how we can fix those issues by peeling back the layers that are blurring our intentions. What we are left with is purpose, a sense of hope or as Dada would say the “default” mode of wanting to help others because we know we are all in this together. Meditation is about finding the essence of yourself within yourself and realizing that essence as the inner self of all beings and the entire universe. Dada believes this will lead to the greatest happiness and fulfilment for everyone and the whole society, and that's why his mission is to teach meditation to as many people as possible. https://www.consciousfrontier.org/ Send me an E-Mail  

Alanna holds an MPH in international health from Boston University and brings twenty years of program design, management, and assessment experience spanning the humanitarian relief and development sectors including writing for UN Dispatch and TED as well as providing social media support to NGOs. First Half: We break down the (hopefully temporary) present issue of COVID-19. Second Half: We move into the interconnected global healthcare system and how the answers to fix things are right in front of us. Why weren’t we prepared for COVID-19? How do we prepare for the inevitable return of another Virus? Who can we help to limit the spread of disease? What changes can be made to improve our global health care & What is standing in our way?What is the heroic mindset when dealing with a pandemic? All that and lots more discussed in this episode. Alanna Shaikh TED Talk Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live     Work Cited: https://cm.jefferson.edu/learn/dna-and-rna/

Phil received the highest civilian medal for bravery in Canada. This Niagara Regional Police officer nearly lost his life trying to rescue a woman trapped in a murder-suicide with her son. He entered the house to find a man and his mother doused in gasoline… There was a pivotal point in Phils challenge with PTSD where he felt he was in danger and was looking for his gun for protection… it was very much irrational thinking and this lead him to get the help he needed. Phil shares how he has tapered off so many medications and discovered how medicinal marijuana has made a big difference for him. Needless to say, Phil has ventured through a lot. Today he is still living with, learning about and helping others with PTSD, while working towards a PhD in Psychology. His approach is that he refuses to lose against PTSD. Which is also the name of his organization, Refuse to Lose. Refuse to Lose raises money for first responders to access care needed to treat PTSD. Why? Because right now the cost for the standard care is too expensive for most people Especially when it is not covered by insurance. Today Phil is helping others refuse to lose against PTSD. Refuse To Lose Send me an E-mail: ben@heroicminds.live

Before he jumped, Joshua believed he could never have positive feelings ever again, not mentally or physically. In quoting Josh himself, “The impulse to survive that I had overcome above the bridge now takes control. With broken bones, I begin to swim. At the age of 22, Joshua Beharry attempted suicide. After surviving the nine story drop Josh willingly turned his life around. So much so that he began a website resource for men dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. I will say this again in the episode but this website is outstanding, It is the best resource for this topic that I have ever seen, with online stress tests, help with symptom recognition, a step by step recovery process with recommended resources, a page with real life success stories and even resources for friends and family on how they can support someone in this situation. This episode is an extremely powerful example of the ability the human mind has. The ability to literally give us power we didn’t know we had. This episode is not just about suicide but about how understanding, maintaining and improving our mental well-being can change our lives drastically in the most incredible of ways. HeadsUpGuys Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live  

Kevin Briggs spent 18 years stopping 200+ Golden Gate Bridge suicides. Kevin has story after story, tactic after tactic, lesson after lesson. In this episode we cover A LOT. Kevin shares what he learnt in his years both saving and sometimes losing lives on the bridge. What is the first thing Kevin would say? It is probably not what you expect. What about the things you should avoid saying, well, Kevin has his four comments that he always avoids. Even though Kevin became educated and trained on deescalation it wasn’t those skills that allowed him to help guide over 200 people back onto the safe side of the bridge. It was listening, it was understanding, it was patience and authenticity. It was being honest and true, staying away from cliches and talking human to human allowing the individual to clear the darkest thoughts possible and think with some instance of clarity and rationale. Kevin doesn’t consider himself a hero. I will let you hear his story and decide for yourself. Pivotal Points Guardian of thee Golden Gate - Book Kevin Briggs TedTalk Heroic Clothing Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live  

Kathryn Bouskill is a social scientist at the RAND Corporation and associate director of the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security. She is also professor of core coursework at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She has a Ph.D. in anthropology and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from Emory University.  An anthropologist by training, Bouskill draws on qualitative and quantitative methods to study a range of sociocultural- and health-related issues. Her topical areas of focus include: the role of emerging technologies in health and wellbeing, issues in cancer prevention and survivorship, military mental health, social cohesion in a globalizing world, and global health. In this episode we talk about the unforeseen consequences of a fast paced world. We talk about the effects of a fast paced world on groups in society and on us as individuals. We point out the differences in countries that are deciding to push the pace and those that aren’t. This is a powerful conversation that is and will continue to affect everyone in society today. Research Discussed Bio Kathryn on Twitter My Email: ben@heroicminds.live

Dr. David Williams; ER doctor, astronaut, aquanaut, hospital CEO and author dreamt of going to space as a young boy. He fulfilled this dream twice, both times along not only a bumpy flight but a bumpy road   From failing his first attempt at Med school and finding himself on the side of the road hitch-hiking to beating cancer, Dr. Williams overcame a lot to be the space dreaming, retired astronaut that he is today.   We touch on the science behind space travel, defining your success, maintaining peak performance, thoughts that come to mind when looking down at the earth, the Canadian record he has for the longest space walk at 17 hours and 47 minutes… oh ya and we laugh about personal hygiene in space.   Dr. Williams dreams about floating freely in space, tethered to the International Space Station, moving 25 times the speed of sound, looking down at the earth in amazement.   First Trip to Space In April 1998 Dave Williams participated in STS-90 as Mission Specialist 3 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. During the 16-day flight, called Neurolab, the seven-person crew served as both experiment subjects and operators for 26 individual life science experiments. Columbia orbited the Earth 256 times, covered over 10 million kilometres and spent over 381 hours in space.   Second Trip to Space Williams was a mission specialist on STS-118 (August 8 to 21, 2007), the 119th Space Shuttle flight, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station, and the 20th flight for Endeavour. During the mission, the crew successfully added a truss segment, a new gyroscope and an external stowage platform to the Station. The mission successfully activated a new system that enables docked Shuttles to draw electrical power from the Station to extend visits to the outpost. Williams took part in three of the four spacewalks, the highest number of spacewalks performed in a single mission. He spent 17 hours and 47 minutes outside, a Canadian record. Endeavour carried 2,280 kilograms of equipment and supplies to the station and returned to Earth with 1,800 kilograms of hardware and used equipment. Travelling 8.5 million kilometres in space, the STS-118 mission was completed in 12 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes, and 34 seconds. Dr. Dave Williams Bio Book: Defying Limits - Lessons from The Edge of the Universe Send me an email! Ben@Heroicminds.live

Dr. Judith Andersen is a health psychologist at the University of Toronto whose research focuses on the biopsychosocial mechanisms by which stress impacts health and occupational performance. Dr. Andersen has conducted field research on the psychophysiological responses in people who experience trauma and severe stress. Through her findings Dr. Andersen has been able to conduct/test resilience training and the outcome of psychophysiological stress intervention (techniques for civilians, police and military personnel to increase high stress resilience/performance.) In this episode we discuss: - The most ideal psychophysiological way of being - It is NOT “mental health” it is “Human Performance” - How to work within “Fight or Flight” - How to redirect your thought - How to restore your reserves - Discipline vs Punishment - How to tailor your message to make change Resources Paced Breathing Practice App and Heart Monitor Bio Training The Hart Lab The Unease Modulation Model (Incredible Read) Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live

Kirstie Ennis’s was a US Marine Arial Gunner when her helicopter went down in Afghanistan. During her recovery there was a breaking point where she tried to end her life but was saved. Her father said to her “the enemy couldn’t do it so you’re going to do it for them?!” That tough love re-routed her onto an extraordinary journey. After more than 40 surgeries, speech therapy, reconstructing her jaw, and losing her leg, the former Marine sergeant has earned 3 Degrees and is a PhD candidate, she plans to summit the highest peak in each of the 7 continents (has already summited a couple including Mt Kilimanjaro), she has competed as a Paralympic snowboarder, she opened her first business, the Chapter One Hair and Body Lab in Oceanside, California, she started a clothing line called HeadCase, she has become a stuntwoman in movies including “Patriots Day” starring Mark Wahlberg and she plans to add more to this list which you will hear in the episode. Kirstie has realized when you are aligned with your purpose, anything is possible. Kirstie Ennis Foundation Kirstie Ennis Instagram Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live