The BRINK OF MIDNIGHT PODCAST with John Brenkus

Sarah Reinertsen, Paralympian, ITU Paratriathlon World Champion, Runner, and Ironman triathlon athlete joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus for a milestone 100th episode. Sarah “Iron Sarah” Reinertsen is a true pioneer. Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), she made the bold decision as a seven year old to amputate her leg. She envisioned jumping right in with other kids and leading a fully active life, and that vision drives her today in breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. Sarah's list of “firsts” could fill several lifetimes: setting her first World Record (100m dash) at age 13, first amputee featured on the cover of Runner's World Magazine, first female athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship on a prosthetic (2005), first amputee (male or female) to grace the cover of ESPN Magazine's Body Issue, first amputee (male or female) to participate in CBS's “The Amazing Race”, first amputee (male or female) to complete the World Marathon Challenge (7 half-marathons on 7 continents in 7 days), and first female athlete to run the Great Wall Marathon in China on a prosthesis. Oh yeah, and Sarah's represented Team USA at the Paralympics, is a three-time ITU Paratriathlon World Champion, has won six gold medals, and held five previous world records…all while having a full-time job at Nike. Despite Sarah's extensive accomplishments, she will tell you that she's made of the same stuff inside all of us, and she truly believes that we can all seek and accomplish what we envision. The bolder the better. That's what's bringing her back to the Kona Ironman World Championship on October 13, 2018 on Ironman's 40th anniversary. Get ready for a serious shot of inspiration - Sarah's energy and can-do attitude is contagious! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Nelson Dellis, 4x USA Memory Champion and Alzheimer's activist, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. In this device and app-laden landscape of our day to day lives, when was the last time you aimed to remember a phone number or directions, or do some simple math relying only on your memory? While we are using our brains in new ways, we've also let our memory muscles go, having the ability to record, remind, and navigate through the ease of technology. Nelson Dellis wants to help and believes that developing memory is the ultimate act of being present. Being able to focus, limit distractions, and use the “awesome computer” in our heads not only helps us make more meaningful memories, but multiplies those we make and keeps our brains healthy. Nelson is a sought after author (“Remember It!”) and consultant, appearing on FOX's Superhuman, the TODAY Show, CNN, OWN, NatGeo and many more outlets in addition to working with Fortune 500 companies, schools and universities, and professional athletes. His work is recommended by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Maria Shriver, founder of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement. By the end of this episode, you'll even be able to put into practice his memory tips! Inspired to learn and develop memory strategies after his grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Nelson also combined his passion for mountaineering with raising awareness of and funding for Alzheimer's research through his charity Climb For Memory. His list of ascents is impressive, including Cotopaxi, Denali, Khumbu, Matterhorn, Mt Blanc and near Everest summits. He brings along those looking to make an impact, grow, and literally reach new heights in their lives! Get ready to use your brain in an impactful, practical, and calming way! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_

MLB legend, World Series champion, and venture capitalist, Ryan Howard joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Ryan Howard is one of the best baseball players of the modern era, having played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2004-2016. In baseball, he's pretty much done it all: He hit almost 400 career home runs, had almost 1200 RBIs, and was a three-time All Star, World Series champion (2008), and National League MVP (2006) and Rookie of the Year (2005). He's also led the league in home runs twice and RBIs three times. Needless to say, Ryan is a stud. But, what's even more impressive than his baseball career is who Ryan is as a person and philanthropist. In this conversation, Ryan graciously shares his story of discipline, integrity, and persistence and how those skills are translating into his new pursuits as a venture capitalist. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Merril Hoge, football analyst and former NFL running back, joins The Brink of Midnight with John Brenkus. Football season is now in full swing for both the NCAA and NFL, and Merril Hoge excelled at both levels playing running back for Idaho State University as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears. He's also been a trailblazing analyst for many years. Whether you know Merril from the grid iron or studio, one thing is unmistakeable - Merril Hoge defines tough.  He had to help provide for his family starting at age 12 with the labor intensive job of laying pipe, and it instilled a lifelong work ethic that helped him survive nearly losing his hand, reach his childhood goal of playing in the NFL, beat cancer, and survive major head trauma and open heart surgery.  Merril inspires us all to, no matter what, “find a way” - the motto he's had pinned to his wall since childhood.  For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Scott Flansburg, “The Human Calculator” and multi-award winning Guinness Book of World Records holder, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.  Scott Flansburg has a powerful relationship with and understanding of numbers. He's on a mission to help kids (and grown ups) feel great about math. His most powerful moments of self-discovery occurred in third, fifth, and eighth grades, so he knows a thing or to about guiding kids toward a confident and fun relationship with arithmetic.  He's a New York Times best-selling author, has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Larry King, Tony Robbins, and has appeared on CNN, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and countless other major outlets. My production company also produced Scott's History Channel show, "Human Calculator." Scott travels the world speaking to educators, parents, corporate leaders, and thousands of students each year and has even visited our own kids' school!  Remarkably, Scott didn't graduate high school, got kicked out of the Air Force, was homeless for a period of time, and by chance met comedian Jon Lovitz, who ended up spearheading his career in becoming an “edutainer”.   This conversation will truly spark the pathways in your brain as Scott teaches us some fun number patterns, the origin of Roman numerals and the shape of modern numbers, why we should question our calendar, and how to delight in the math in our everyday surroundings, biology, and economy. He has a contagious energy that makes you want to look for math all around you!  For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

John O'Leary (@JOLearyInspires), best-selling author and inspirational speaker, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast. John O'Leary is a miracle. Set on fire during a childhood accident and suffering burns over the vast majority of his body, he was given a zero percent chance at survival. The ensuing surgeries, amputations, and recovery were fraught with challenge that the majority of us will never know. Living became his purpose. Sharing how to live - his gift. Today, John is a husband, father of four, the best-selling author of “On Fire”, a high-demand speaker, and host of the Live Inspired Podcast. He knows all about pain, but is on a mission to help others see and move beyond it. He wants to make sure we all open our eyes and “wake up” from accidental living. This conversation is all about perspective, hope, love, and potential. In 45 minutes, John O'Leary just might help you see something new on your horizon. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_

Doug Gottlieb (@gottiebshow), sports media personality and host of “The Doug Gottlieb Show” on Fox Sports, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.  In the world of sports media and being a personality on radio and TV, it's a challenge to find an authentic voice. A lot of people have a shtick or act they put on that's designed to get people to listen. Doug is unique - his shtick is being himself.  Doug was a great basketball player in the day, but, as you're about to hear, it didn't work out exactly how he thought it would. His rise to the top in sports media, working with ESPN, CBS Sports, and now Fox Sports, has been the result of sticking to his authenticity.  But where did that come from? How did he nurture his voice and stay true in a business when everyone is trying to stand out? Doug graciously goes deep on one of the biggest mistakes he made in college, and how he overcame it to build a life and career he loves. He shares how to think about finding your voice, and how to shift from being results-oriented to process oriented.  Sometimes our most important building blocks in life stem from the moments when we fall down. We are all imperfectly human and meant to grow and learn. Doug helps remind us that life is truly what we make of it!  For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Former Major League Lacrosse player and co-founder of Lacrosse the Nations, Brett Hughes, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Brett is a one-of-a-kind change maker. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he was an All-State high school athlete in both football and lacrosse. He chose to pursue lacrosse at University of Virginia, where he was a three-time All American and captured the National Championship. Brett went on to play professional lacrosse for the MLL (Major League Lacrosse) for the New Jersey Pride, Los Angeles Riptide, and Denver Outlaws and was named both an All Star and MVP. He's really done it all in lacrosse, including co-founding Lacrosse the Nations, an organization helping children in need around the world.  Brett's passion for sport, travel, and serving others is contagious. He's currently doing good from a new home base abroad in Paris with his singer songwriter wife, Kate Voegele, who was also a former podcast guest! Sit back and get ready to learn from this true trailblazer. Brett will inspire you to use your strengths and passions to give back, grow community, and learn about yourself in the process! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight and @johnbrenkus_

Robert Griffin, III (“RG3”), NFL quarterback, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.  RG3 won the Heisman Trophy with Baylor University and stormed onto the NFL scene in 2012 when he was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins. He took the Redskins to the playoffs and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. To say RG3 owned Washington, D.C. is an understatement. But things didn't go quite as planned and he was plagued with injury after injury. He moved on to the Cleveland Browns for a stint in 2016, sat out the 2017 season, and recently signed with the Baltimore Ravens.  In his early years, RG3 experienced incredible success and really being the face of the league to then the unpredictability that follows injury. The setbacks he experienced could have forced anyone off course permanently, yet he's found his way back to the NFL through deep faith, persistence, and perseverance.  In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on how he got through the dark times. He also shares his most powerful childhood lesson that helped shape how he approaches every obstacle! RG3's mindset will remind you that we all have control over how we react to our circumstances and that the good stuff already exists inside of us. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (instagram, Facebook, twitter) and @johnbrenkus_

David Burkus (@davidburkus), thought leader, multi best-selling author, & networking expert joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. David Burkus is on a mission to translate and bring the best, scientifically-based ideas out of the ivory tower and into the offices, coffee shops, and meeting rooms where good work is done. From the theories of how creativity is generated to best practices in leadership and management, and now to redefining what good networking looks like, David is making an impact across all spectrums of work and life. Outside of his best-selling books, you can find his insights in Forbes, Inc., the Ted Talks stage, and many other outlets. He speaks around the world and works with organizations like Google, Fidelity, Microsoft, and many others. In this conversation, we dive into the nitty gritty from his recently published book, “Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Career”. He turns the idea of those awkward “What do you do?” conversations on it's head to help us understand that we don't create a network, we live inside one. David also gives us actionable steps on how to approach networking from the elevator pitch to extended conversations, tells us common pitfalls and what NOT to do, and how to think about the role that social media plays. He then looks through the lens of society at large, describing how networks form and how the danger of defaulting only to what is familiar to us can lead to division of groups. Especially poignant in today's political climate, he illustrates how and why we need to start intentionally creating opportunities to move outside our default network to learn from others and have dialogue with a diverse set of opinions. This conversation is fully of takeaways that you can immediately apply to your work and life, and his ideas will keep you thinking long into the weeks and months ahead! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Daniella Monet (@daniellamonet), actress, Nickelodeon star, and activist, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.  Daniella Monet is a doer, a dreamer, a believer, and has mastered the art of living creatively at the age of 29. She's worked in Hollywood since the age of nine and is most well known for roles on hit TV shows like “Victorious”, “iCarly", "The Bernie Mac Show", "Listen Up!", and most recently "Paradise Run". She's become a significant player in new media with her Facebook Watch show "D Takes Your V Card", which exposes guests to vegan food and shares ideas and resources for an animal product and cruelty-free lifestyle. Daniella works with a fantastic roster of ethical and cruelty-free brands and shares her knowledge and experiences with her massive social media following. But, her goals in life go way beyond acting and her media presence. She's the ultimate entrepreneur and willing to try her hand in anything she's curious about. She owned her first property at 17, became a landlord at 18, has her real estate license, is an angel investor, rides motorcycles, and so much more...she is well aware of her one life and embodies the idea of "carpe diem" every day. Listen and learn from this young, but old soul and you'll be inspired to start trying new things - whether it's a vegan sandwich or something you never thought you'd do! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Jennifer Ferro (@jenniferro), President and General Manager of world renown L.A. public radio station KCRW (@kcrw), joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Founded in 1945, KCRW (College Radio Workshop), was originally created to train WWII veterans in the then new technology of FM broadcasting and ever since has blazed a trail in influencing culture, particularly in music and breaking bands, in a profound way. Jennifer truly embodies what KCRW is all about - building community around shared values while having fun, and all in an effort to make life better. She got her start as an intern and it was the vibe, intelligence, and values of the station that kept her. In a world of paid social media influencers, bloggers, and constant marketing, Jennifer and her team of trusted culture curators offer a refreshing take on what is great from music, to food, to entertainment, to ideas. A mom of two, she has a grounded view on creating equilibrium with family, work, life, and wellness. In this conversation, Jennifer graciously pulls back the curtain on what it takes to make it all work while committing to growth and real, human connection. She also throws in the fun story of how Fitz and the Tantrums blew up from their first appearance on KCRW and a chance listen by Maroon 5's Adam Levine! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Renown musician and freestyle rapper, Kelley James (@kelleyjamesmusic), and special guest, O.A.R. lead singer, Marc Roberge (@marcroberge) join The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Kelley James has carved out a unique niche in the music world. Sought out out for being a high profile event performer and freestyle rapper, he's played over 1000 shows to date and has toured and opened for acts like Kid Rock, Robin Thicke, LMFAO, Goo Goo Dolls, Sara Bareilles, Weezer, and O.A.R., among many others. Even more impressive is the roster of companies where Kelley is often the featured act: Oakley, Red Bull, Vans, Corona, Honda, AT&T, Google, Spin Magazine, Wheels Up, and more. Kelley got his start as a singer songwriter, but soon realized that his strength was harnessing the combination of his own musical ability, what's happening in the moment, news and pop culture, and creating a crazy, unique experience. No two shows are alike and Kelley prides himself on genuinely surrendering to being in the flow, whether that's freestyle rapping, playing guitar, channeling grunge or pop, or mashing it all up. In this conversation, he hones in on what can help us all climb whatever mountain we're on and it comes down to getting really honest with yourself, asking for constructive criticism at every point, and being willing to put yourself out there knowing full well that you will fail, but grow, along the way. This episode gets really special when Kelley invites close friend and O.A.R. lead singer, Marc Roberge, to join the conversation and share how his band got their start. Marc offers up some great gems on what it takes to make it, and then Kelley and Mark treat us with a surprise jam session! Marc hops on the guitar while Kelley freestyle raps on the topic of what else -- life-changing moments!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

World renown cardiac surgeon, host of "The Dr. Oz Show", and health and wellness expert, Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz), joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. As one of the most well-recognized names and faces in modern medicine, the impact Dr. Oz is making on the world extends far beyond his operating room. From his original appearances on The Oprah Show to his books, TV show, and teaching at Columbia University, Dr. Oz has introduced us to dramatic and simple ways to live our best lives. His matter-of-fact approach combined with empathy, tough love, and education compels us all to get in the driver's seat when it comes to health, wellness, and happiness.  In this conversation, we talk a lot about change. How to consider change, what triggers change, when to make important life decisions, and even the relationship between biology and change. It's a fascinating take that will make you look at the milestones in your own life - and those to come - with fresh eyes and ideas. And, of course, Dr. Oz shares the powerful childhood moment involving Fluffernutter sandwiches that got him thinking about change and wellness to begin with. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Sports analyst, Sirius/XM Radio Host, and master storyteller, Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Ric Bucher is one of the most well-known and respected sports journalists, analysts, and hosts of today's sports world. His deep insights and coverage have connected us to powerful sports stories and the best of humanity. He hosts shows for MadDog Sports and the NBA on Sirius/XM, is the Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, and co-hosts the "BJ x Bucher Podcast" with NBA star BJ Armstrong.  Ric's resume includes work at top media outlets like ESPN, ESPN the Magazine, Comcast, and The Washington Post, but his start in journalism will surprise you. He shares how being turned down for big jobs out of college and taking a low-paying job covering high school sports in San Diego was his turning point as a storyteller. He was forced to discover his process for finding captivating stories, and to this day, he does it all himself because of his pure love of the craft. This conversation is especially powerful in terms of highlighting how a perceived failure can create the foundation for finding our calling. Ric teaches us how to find and chase our passions and how ask the right questions to put us on our unique paths. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Professional lacrosse player, entrepreneur, and storyteller, Paul Rabil (@paulrabil), joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.  He's been called "the most tech-savvie athlete of 2017", the "Lebron James of Lacrosse" by the New York Times, and was named a "Top 40 Most entrepreneurial athlete" by Entrepreneur Magazine. He's appeared on or authored pieces in just about every media outlet, has his own well-known "Suiting Up with Paul Rabil" Podcast, and it was when Paul came into the ESPN Sport Science lab that he and I met. Paul is best known for being the current face of lacrosse. He played for Johns Hopkins University, went #1 overall in the 2008 MLL draft, is a two-time MLL Champion, and whopping 10-time All Star. His accomplishments on the lacrosse field are undeniable and he's on a mission to help share and improve the game, but also to use sport and his platform to change lives for the better in any way he can. Paul, in a word, is fascinating. He operates at a high level with everything that he does. Most impressively, he applies that ethic every day in how he can improve not only on the lacrosse field and in his businesses, but as a person and in his relationships. In this conversation, Paul shares never-before-told stories, breaks down how he approaches practice, the ethos of his company, and how to handle criticism.  For full show notes, visit www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Music veteran, Hip Hop Professional creator, and founder of the "Silence the Shame" movement, Shanti Das, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Shanti Das is a name popular with some of the most successful urban artists including Outkast, Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Jermaine Dupri, Prince, and L.A. Reid, among many others. She climbed her way to the top of music marketing working at La Face Records, Capitol Records, Arista, Columbia, and finally at Universal as their Executive Vice President of Marketing. She had it all going on, beloved by countless artists and music professionals, but no one really knew of the periods of darkness and depression Shanti would experience with her unprocessed feelings from her father's suicide. One particular dark moment, after contemplating ending her life, she reached out for help and began the process of true healing and now she's made it her mission to help others battling the same darkness.    Out of her most difficult time, the seed was planted for what would become her "Silence the Shame" movement for mental wellness and advocacy. She is peeling back the layers of shame and stigma surrounding mental health issues, touring the country, helping students, collaborating on research with Emory University, and sparking dialogue with the help of friends from the music industry including: Nick Cannon, Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD), Estelle, Andra Day, Will Packer, Stephanie Mills, Takeo Spikes, Chloe X Halle, Shanice, Flex Alexander, Terri J Vaughn, Nicci Gilbert Daniels and Ed Lover. Shanti, like the meaning of her name, is bringing peace to the masses and helping save lives. In this poignant conversation, Shanti bravely tells her story, educates, and provides tools for anyone in need. She believes "peace is the new success" and that when we can all help each other out, we all win!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Celebrity trainer and host of Discovery Channel's "Celebrity Sweat", "Eric the Trainer" joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Take one look at Eric the Trainer (Eric Fleishman) and a ripped comic book character origin story comes to mind. For the last 27 years, he's worked with UFC fighters, police officers, special forces, and celebrities and artists across the spectrum of entertainment and music. He is especially well-known for his methods of total transformation and his roster, among countless clients, includes: Nickelback, Def Leppard, Fallout Boy, The Strokes, the casts of "House of Cards", "Game of Thrones", "Walking Dead", "Mindhunter", "Seal Time", countless movie starts, and many on-air personalities. A glance at the extensive roster of "Celebrity Sweat" guests will show you Eric really knows what he's talking about. He's also the Fitness Director for the American Culinary Federation (ACF), helping the best chefs do what they do best through health and wellness.   But it's not just about physical transformation...from rural Maine farm boy (with the nickname "Squeaky"), Eric transformed his life from the inside out and apprenticed under the great fitness and health pioneer, Jack Lalane. As in his own daily life, he helps people through a holistic approach, including East/West lenses, and working backward from intention to make new habit-forming change.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com |Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Phil Collen, lead guitarist and songwriter for legendary rock band, Def Leppard, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Def Leppard is one of only a few bands to receive two Diamond records (over 10 million copies sold for each; for “Hysteria” and “Pyromania”) and have been together for over 36 years. In this special episode, we turn back the clock with Phil Collen as he takes us through his musical journey and the evolution of Def Leppard. At the beginning of our conversation, he graciously sits down with his guitar and breaks down the creation of hits like “Hysteria”, “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Armageddon It”, “Love Bites”, “Rock It”, among others, sharing behind-the-scenes stories that will make 80s and rock fans feel like they're playing and singing right in the studio with Phil.   Raised in London by parents who survived WWWII, he learned at a young age an incredible work ethic and not to take anything for granted. Those values are the foundation of Phil's every day, whether that's writing and recording songs, performing in arenas across the globe, being a dad, practicing martial arts, or raising awareness for causes he supports (PETA and Omaze).   Brush off your air guitar skills and get ready to rock with a VIP seat to music history courtesy of Phil Collen!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   In today's short episode, John is joined by special (and former) podcast guest, Rob Vaka, pro athlete mentor and philanthropy pioneer. John and Rob are coming at you from a charity golf event in Alabama and riff on a variety of topics from mental health awareness month to reflecting back and looking forward.   Happy Friday change makers!   For full show notes and more episodes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Former NFL kicker and two-time Super Bowl champion, Matt Stover, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.    A professional football kicker in the NFL for an amazing 19 years, Matt played for the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Indianapolis Colts. One of his Super Bowl victories also happened to be on the same Raves team as former podcast guests Ray Lewis and Trent Dilfer! Matt's remarkable career garnered him some amazing stats — he's a two-time All Pro player, he scored the sixth most points in NFL history, and he is the third most accurate kicker in the history of the league.    As a kicker, Matt is no stranger to handling big moments under intense pressure and scrutiny. In this conversation, we go deep on failure and how to handle when things don't go your way. We also talk about finding bigger purpose in being a teammate and serving others. We can all learn from Matt's playbook on and off the field!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   In today's short episode, John and Lizzie break down how all the little, daily choices in life really do add up, especially as we get older. Make it all count!   For full show notes and other episodes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Gary Brackett, Super Bowl-winning NFL linebacker, founder, and entrepreneur joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Most people know Gary Brackett as being an absolute force on the football field. As one of the smaller, lighter linebackers in NFL history, Gary's game was different. He rose to every occasion by being elusive, forcing mistakes, getting to the football...and it helped him become second in the ACC in tackles as well as help the Indianapolis Colts win a Super Bowl.    There is much of Gary's story and the challenges he faced, however, that people don't know, and that is where we really dive in during this conversation. Gary walked on to the Rutgers University football team, and only after not being able to afford tuition anymore did they offer him a scholarship. Never to take an opportunity for granted, he rose to become captain and MVP of the defensive team. The next hurdle came when he went un-drafted. The Colts eventually gave him shot. The next series of crushing news came in the span of 18 months when he lost his father, mother, and brother. Circumstances that could have destroyed anyone helped Gary turn extreme loss at the young age of 23 into the foundation of his strength and resilience. He developed the idea that "how you honor the dead is how you live your life." Football became his sanctuary. Playing the game helped him express how he intended to live and honor his family.    Gary asks us all to consider what bargain we want to make with life and powerfully suggests we all write our obituaries so we are in touch with the legacy we want to leave behind. Everything Gary does is about legacy, from football to how he currently gives back to his community through mentoring, jobs, and professional development.  Get ready to think big and learn from the living legend that is Gary Brackett!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community. This week John announces his new property with Trent Dilfer - "Soul and Science", where they explore the intangible (soul) and tangible (science) aspects of elite human performance and beyond! The premiere of "Soul and Science" is on the NFL Network with the NFL Draft and all the top quarterback pics! Ford has come on as the title sponsor and you can watch episodes at: on NFL Network! Happy Friday, change makers! For full snow notes and more episodes, visit: Contact: Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning NFL running back, CJ Anderson, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.   From being named to a Pro Bowl team to winning a Super Bowl, CJ Anderson has had so much success as a professional football player in the NFL, but he's never had it easy and went un-drafted before being signed to the Denver Broncos. CJ grew up in a tough part of Northern California where he witnessed first-hand how drugs and violence could tear apart families, and where the life expectancy of his peers was less than 30 years old. Football was his outlet, but despite having a phenomenal high school career, he had to go to Junior College before transferring to University of California Berkeley on a football scholarship. It was at this turning point, and with some help from his high school coach, when CJ formed the mindset he uses today and when he decided to live a clean and sober life.   In this conversation, CJ graciously shares how he chose a clean path, despite growing up around drugs, alcohol, and violence. He shares how he developed his mindset and the most important questions to ask yourself when you need perspective. CJ also pulls back the curtain on his darkest lows and highest highs, illustrating how we ALL have greatness and potential in us no matter what we've been through.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Jay Chandrasekhar, comedian, actor, and director ("Super Troopers 1 & 2") joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   There isn't much in Hollywood that Jay Chandrasekhar hasn't done. Director. Actor. Writer. Touring stand up comedian. He's also broken barriers as one of the first Indians in comedy. From his early days forming the comedy group "Broken Lizard" at Colgate University in the 90s to creating comedy film hits and cult classics like "Super Troopers", "Beerfest", "Club Dread" among many others, he's played as many hats as possible. It all comes full circle with this week's "Super Troopers 2" premiere, whose prequel originally sold at Sundance Film Festival in 2001, and returns to over 2000 movie theaters after a massive $4.4 million crowd-funding campaign.   In this conversation, Jay gets "dead honest" with the peaks and valleys of his life and career in entertainment. He shares his struggles with alcohol and drugs at a young age, how his sister's suggestion to try theater changed his life, and, rejected from all the top film schools, how he literally paved his own road in show business, or what he calls the "no" business.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster, Kevin Heffernan, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Kevin is part of the comedy group Broken Lizard, which has put out highly successful comedy films like "Super Troopers", "Beerfest", "Club Dread", and "The Slammin' Salmon", and originally formed at Colgate University over 25 years ago. You may also know Kevin from hit TV shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" "How I Met Your Mother" "Veep", and "Arrested Development".   In this conversation, we pull back the curtain in Hollywood and Kevin shares the highs, lows, pitfalls, and roller coaster ride of what it means to "make it". Kevin's story is one of perseverance, resilience, and always being ready to seize the day even if that means figuring it out along the way.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   Coming to you from Boston and three days before Lizzie runs the Boston Marathon!   In this episode, John and Lizzie explore the power of trying something new and how it can create incredible shift in your life and your community. Whether big or small, trying something new is usually a stepping stone to profound self-discovery. We share tips to just start, how to tap into passion, and stories of transformation…and geek out a little on running.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Record Paralympic medalist, multi-world record holder, Nike athlete, and Team USA wheelchair racer, Tatyana "The Beast" McFadden, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. Born in Russia with a hole in her spine caused by spina bifida, Tatyana spent the first six years of her life in an orphanage. Six years without going to school, never using a wheelchair, and walking on her hands until Deborah McFadden, then Commissioner of Disabilities for the United States Department of Health, adopted her. Tatyana got her first wheelchair, and with her remarkable drive and determination, the rest is literally history. She made her first Paralympic Games in 2004 at the age of 15 and, in 2013, went on to become the first human being to win the grand slam of marathons - Chicago, London, Boson, and New York City. Tatyana repeated that same grand slam victory tour in 2014, 2015, and 2016! In 2016, she broke the world records in 100, 400, 800, 1500, and 500 meters. The very next year in 2017, Tatyana survived a series of dangerous blood clots that nearly killed her and she believes that marathoning saved her life. At the root of Tatyana's fierce competitive nature is her desire to live big, push limits, and grow. We all can learn a lot from Tatyana! For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnigt.com | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook) and @johnbrenkus_ (twitter)

We continue our special "Masters Week" at The Brink of Midnight Podcast with PGA Tour legend, Fred Funk. With eight wins on the PGA Tour and nine wins on the PGA Champions Tour, he's one of the greatest golfers of all time. Fred and I caught up while both playing in the 10th Ave North Classic Golf Tournament. He was kind enough to share his one-of-a-kind golf journey and some never shared publicly stories from the tour. He got his start as a Division 1 golf coach at his alma mater, the University of Maryland, and at the time was the youngest NCAA D1 golf coach ever. With some rough years of ups and downs while playing, and finding it hard to make a living as a golfer, he found himself at a crossroads with three choices: quite the PGA Tour, enter law enforcement school to become a police officer, or give it one more go at a single tournament. He got his first win, and the rest is history. It's always been about the work for Fred and he's a self-proclaimed "blue collar golfer" because he out-worked everyone around him. He's one of the shorter players on the tour and he started out not hitting the ball as far as his peers. He had to create his own style and ability to compete out of necessity if he was going to make it. To this day, Fred's main ingredients for success and fulfillment are: Passion, Mindset, and Work Ethic. Listening to Fred both shoot the breeze and get philosophical makes it immediately clear why he's one of the most well-liked golfers around…and you won't believe the story of how he played a role in shaping the course of sports history! For full show notes, visit: | Contact: | Connect on Socials: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Acclaimed PGA Golf Coach, Sean Foley, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   Sean Foley is one of the most impactful PGA golf coaches of all time. He's coached some of the world's best from Steven Ames, to Sean O'Hair, Lee Westwood, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Si Woo Kim, and Danny Willett, in addition to coaching the Canadian Junior Golf Association.   Sean's style isn't like any coach you've had. He combines his impeccable understanding of physics and biomechanics with philosophy, and he has a refreshing take on how thoughts and curiosity impact our daily life. He introduces the idea of having an immune system that deals with thought viruses just like our immune system deals with biological viruses. Sean also puts the power to revoke our estimation of a situation and our consequent suffering into our hands.   A former freestyle rapper, he's a devoted East Coast hip hop fan, and listeners get a taste of that when John puts Sean on the spot to freestyle later in the conversation!   Sit back, grab your notepad, and get ready to step into Coach Sean's flow…his outlook is contagious!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect on Social Media: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   In this episode, John and Lizzie consider what sparks a positive obsession, how that can lead to habit, and how it can positively influence how we think about living our best days.   For all episode show notes, visit: Contact: Connect on Socials: , , 

Multi-platinum singer songwriter, John Ondrasik, of Five for Fighting joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus. [Be sure to check out our bonus video content on The Brink of Midnight !]   The child of an astro-physicist father and musician mother, John Ondrasik is the consummate artist and performer. He also happens to love his native Los Angeles Kings and the band name "Five for Fighting" is a reference to a major penalty in hockey. He got his start in music nearly cracking the hair metal scene with a little help from some of the guys in Whitesnake, but like all musical acts of the time, the rise of Nirvana put the kibosh on that trajectory. He stayed true to his roots and musical style, ultimately creating the musical backdrop of one of our most profound moments of modern day - 9/11.   In this conversation, John graciously shares his creative and entrepreneurial journey, the highs and lows, and many behind the scenes stories from the music industry that he's never talked about publicly. You'll learn the story behind and depth of meaning in songs like "Superman (It Ain't Easy)" and "100 Years" and John does a rare musical and lyrical breakdown of the song that changed everything for him. You'll learn how to get the bad stuff out so the good ideas can come. You might just be moved to tears with how John has used his music to impact lives with active military and veterans, those suffering from ALS, and families challenged by autism. You'll also hear how to get past the quitting point and remain persistent.   For full show notes + information, visit | Contact: | Connect on Socials: , ,

Welcome to Friday Findings on The Brink of Midnight Podcast - our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community. In this episode, John and Lizzie consider what it takes to set up your day to win it, how to get back to center when you get derailed, and which reflective questions to ask as the day closes. A little serious, a lot lighthearted, a little yin, a lot of yang...and some laughs along the way. What are you finding that works? Have a great idea you'd like to share? Email us at . Or, let us know on   or

Aubrey Marcus (), Founder/CEO of ONNIT and host of the popular Aubrey Marcus Podcast joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   If you take a first glance at Austin, Texas native, Aubrey Marcus, and what he's been able to create with his company, podcast, new clothing brand, and forthcoming book, you immediately pick up on his mission of human optimization and vibe of living big every day. But that's only the half of it. As any top performer in sport, business, and life will attest, the mental and spiritual game is the foundation from which everything flows. Aubrey is no different and in this unique conversation, he graciously gets very vulnerable as we go on a journey inward through the darkness, struggle, transformation, and rise that he's experienced through intense self-study and helping others discover and optimize their unique gifts.   A gifted athlete and thinker with influences from family in the fields of business, homeopathy, and athletics, one might assume that Aubrey succeeded out of the gate. However, through a combination of circumstances, he found himself lost and spinning into the darkness of heavy partying and complacency. A key friendship with Olympic skier, Bode Miller, and the desire to turn his life around laid the foundation for his process-oriented "warrior ethos". ONNIT was born out of Aubrey's redefining the foundation of his life - one rooted in self-discovery, transformation, growth, optimization, and choosing to be one's best.   We explore Aubrey's orientation to the world, the universe, God, and transcendence. He also shares his powerful suggestions on how to shift perspective subtly so we can analyze our choices, thought patterns, and tap into what parts of us carry our highest wisdom. Get ready for this spiritual and tactical download of ideas to, as Aubrey puts it: own your day and own your life!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight across socials

Sebastian Abbot (), author, former AP Bureau Chief, and foreign correspondent joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.   Not many people can own the unique combination of life plot points that Sebastian has experienced. He grew up in a military family, played soccer at Princeton, and received his Masters of Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy school.   He began his journalism career as a foreign correspondent after the urge of wanderlust led him to quit investment banking and start writing while traveling the world on a shoestring and with a backpack. Starting at the bottom rung, he climbed the ladder of the Associated Press, worked in the Cairo office and became Bureau Chief in Pakistan. He's embedded with rebel fighters in Libya and spent several embedded missions with US troops in the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. Seb's stories truly leave you on the tip of your seat! He also just published an already-acclaimed book called THE AWAY GAME, which details the world's largest sport talent search for soccer. The book is four years in the making and is a riveting look behind the curtain of both the passion and big business of soccer.   In this conversation, we get into some of Seb's crazy stories, but what this episode really highlights is how vast and rich a life can be if you're willing to say yes to the unknown, new adventure, and listen to your gut.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact:   Follow Brink of Midnight at @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)   Follow John Brenkus at @johnbrenkus_ on twitter

High performance psychologist and thought leader, Dr. Michael Gervais, joins The BRINK OF MIDNIGHT Podcast with John Brenkus.   What is greatness? What is mastery? Today's guest, Mike Gervais, has spent a career helping people, especially elite athletes, coaches, business leaders, and organizations achieve their absolute best. He's worked with the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Felix Baumgartner, Luke Aikins, among many others. His fascination with what he calls the "razor's edge" is contagious and he reminds us how essential it is to find what that means for us in terms of developing our unique minds, ability to focus, and approach to organizing our days.   Mike helps us dismantle the idea of simply "doing more" as a measure of success and breaks down what it means to cultivate happiness and meaning in every moment. He believes there is equal power in every moment and that we can either pay attention to the "noise" of life around us or develop an orientation to our unique "signal".   We peel back the layers and psychology of social media in terms of it's dangers and our unpreparedness as a society when it comes to the temporary pleasures and darkness that can come from how we engage with it.   We talk about thoughts, their weight, origin, and impact, and how our thoughts can help shape our collective human experience. We dive into the details and impact of brain waves, creativity, letting go, and re-centering.   Both being family men, we also tap into the struggle of creating equilibrium as a parent, professional, and game changer and playing all roles equally or in the most impactful and fulfilling way.   This episode is so chalk full of wisdom and insight that you can implement into your life today…right now. Grab your journal or note-taking app and get ready for a master class courtesy of Dr. Mike!   For full show notes and more episodes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight across socials

Welcome to Friday Findings on The Brink of Midnight Podcast. This is our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   Today, John and Lizzie break down the art of the pitch. Pitching yourself, your idea, your product, your services…these are all part of today's world and there are elements of a successful pitch that stand the test of time and relevance across circumstances.   John has been in the business of pitching and being pitched for 26 years across film, TV, music, and advertising and Lizzie brings to the conversation her perspective from the book publishing world.   Lizzie turns the table on John and asks about pitfalls, most common mistakes, and how he approaches a pitch of any kind. Listen for John's 5-step process for crafting a pitch, how to avoid common missteps, and how to know when you're ready.   Show notes for all episodes: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight across socials

Professional wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Fame inductee, Diamond Dallas Page, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.    Professional wrestling has crazy athletic moves, awesome story lines, and most of all, larger than life characters. Without a doubt, one of the biggest personalities to ever emerge from the wrestling scene is today's guest Diamond Dallas Page, or DDP for short.    Professional wrestling is the greatest physical theater there is. You can't fake a giant man throwing another giant man out of a ring. Gravity and pain exist. It's simply part of the job. Imagine the dedication it takes to become the Heavyweight Champion in professional wrestling. DDP started as a wrestling manager like Captain Lou Albano, and, in a long and impressive wrestling career, was a 3-time WCW Heavyweight World Champion, 4-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, WCW Triple Crown Champion, and the list goes on and on.    In today's conversation, Diamond Dallas Page takes us on his journey to becoming a champion, not only in wrestling, but in life. Since his wrestling days, he's gone on to create DDPYoga and is focused on empowering everyone that crosses his path. DDP Yoga has been featured on the Today Show, Shark Tank, and Good Morning America, and has a simple message: Own Your Life. Never underestimate the power of believing in YOU.    I feel so honored that DDP spent so much time with me for this podcast and that he opened himself up, scars and all, so that we can learn what kind of commitment, vision, and discipline it takes to make it.    For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight on socials

David Greathouse, the multi-talented film producer, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast with John Brenkus.   It's Oscars week! The pinnacle of the year in film. We are so excited to bring you today's guest, the multi-talented film producer, David Greathouse. Dave and his wife also happen to be some of our closest friends. We've shared lots in the world of entertainment and endured agonizing training together for endurance events.   The timing of this conversation is special because Dave was the executive producer for multi-Oscar award-winning film, “Hacksaw Ridge”, which was directed by Mel Gibson. In the world of entertainment, there are a lot of folks known for their larger than life presence and Dave possesses a unique mix of humility, wisdom, and insight while having a larger than life imagination. He's worked with some of the very best in Hollywood. He got his start at Disney and then learned under the mentorship of Scott Rudin. He's worked with legend Robert Benton and special effects innovator Sam Winston. He's most recently worked with Kevin Smith and Mel Gibson. His upcoming film “Icebox”, a powerful and moving movie centered on the topic of immigration should be on your radar.   Dave is like a Swiss Army knife meets savvy finance executive meets strong and accomplished endurance athlete. He's completed three full Ironman triathlons, multiple Tahoe Death Rides, and does things like ride his bike from San Francisco to Santa Barbara for the heck of it. He favors the journey and process over the destination in all that he does.   Sit back and enjoy these stories, simple joys, and adventures with Dave…and how it all began with Star Wars in a small town in Texas.   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight on socials

Legendary 2-time All Pro NFL linebacker, Takeo Spikes, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.   Known to teammates as "TKO", "Bam Bam", and for the size of his neck (21 inches), Takeo Spikes has left a legacy both on and off the football field. He was team captain of 13 out of 15 of his NFL seasons and had a rare 219 starts in his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers.     Takeo is known for his incredible discipline, sense of creativity, and belief in teamwork, and he credits growing up in a small town in Georgia with building that foundation. Despite having a mother who was an educator, Takeo struggled in school and had difficulty with test-taking. He had to sacrifice at an early age to make sure he did whatever it took to take advantage of opportunity when it came. His life-changing moment came at 15 years old when his father gave him the VHS tape “How to Be a Champion” by Lou Holtz. He learned about putting priorities in order to set up a blueprint for success in life and it's this same blueprint that he reviews ever year. Takeo honed in on the word "ethos" and it led to becoming All State in high school, being called "Mr. Football" in Georgia, and to making a lasting mark at Auburn University, where he developed his sense of discipline, mindset and consistency.   In this conversation, we go deep on Takeo's life-changing moments and how he developed his character and consistency despite never making a playoff game in his 15 year career. He shares how he continues to develop his mindset, express his creativity, and commit to lifelong learning. That same struggling student became the kind of guy who went back to finish his bachelor's, get his masters, take executive classes at Stanford University, find a love for photography, and write a book!     For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Apolo Ohno, record 8x Winter Olympic Medalist joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast. This episode originally appeared last season as #11. In honor of the Winter Olympics, and Apolo's timeless wisdom, we knew we had to bring back this special conversation! Apolo Ohno, retired short track speed skater, has won a record eight Winter Olympics medals for the USA. He started breaking records at age 14, when he became the youngest US National Champion and the winning streak continued, but not without a devastating bump in the road and a rude awakening that nearly derailed him. You won't believe the one distinctive and pivotal moment that shaped the rest of his life. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact:  | Connect on socials: @brinkofmidnight 

Erik Schlopy, 3x Olympic Skier and former World Cup ski racer joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.    Erik Schlopy is a walking miracle and may even be part super hero. "Schlopes" is a three-time Olympic alpine skier for Team USA, World Champion, 7-time National Champion, and last year, was inducted into the USA Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Considered an innovator for Team USA skiing, he helped establish Team USA's European training base in Austria with teammate Bode Miller and has been credited for advancing the "double stack" structure for ski bindings that allows ski racers to travel at greater speeds. He's also married to one of our previous podcast guests, Olympic swimmer, Summer Sanders.    Erik is indestructible. He has not one, but several remarkable comeback stories. He made his second Olympic team cobbling together race wins and points after being ranked dead last in the world. He's experienced crashes that will send chills down your spine, and has come back strong from an unthinkable list of injuries. He's even survived a deadly avalanche in the famed Alaskan Chugach mountains...and that's only a few stories among many.   Erik's collection of accomplishments and comebacks will blow you away, but what is perhaps most striking are his abilities to never give up and to let instinct take over when it's needed most.  In this conversation, we go on an unreal adventure exploring Erik's journey and hone in on what it takes to both survive and perform when the deck is stacked against you.  Sit back, listen, and enjoy the wild ride of Erik's life and hard-earned lessons. You just might leave this conversation feeling a little more like a super hero!   For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Business titan and media icon, Barry Baker, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.   Barry Baker has played an instrumental part in pioneering nearly every facet of media and entertainment, and has collaborated with the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Bob Eiger, Barry Diller, and more. This episode is like having a front row seat in a master class for entrepreneurship and we chronicle Barry's rise from radio to TV, to cable networks and the rise of HBO, to dot.coms and new media models. You may know Barry best from running Sinclair Broadcasting Group (193 TV stations, 612 channels, 89 US markets) or USA Interactive (at the time: USA Network, Sci Fi Channel, HSN, Ticketmaster, USA Studios, Dick Wolf Productions - Law & Order, The Jerry Springer Show, The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, The Maury Povich Show, Citysearch, Hotels.com, Match.com). Becoming a force in media wasn't easy or without risk and Barry shares his most pivotal moments, all which depended on living outside his comfort zone.   Barry is a fighter and winner in every aspect of his life. He knows a thing or two about rises and falls, dramatic turns, and most of all comebacks - he's had over a whopping 700 procedures on his throat and vocal chords after surviving throat cancer.    His collaborators and circle of friends includes some of the most powerful people in politics, business, sports, and entertainment and he is a true believer that rising tides raise all ships. That approach to life is evident in how Barry interacts with absolutely everyone he meets and how he continues to be fascinated by learning about new markets, research, and breakthroughs across entertainment, technology, medicine, and health care.   What's so striking about Barry, is that despite all that he's achieved, he's still that same hungry kid who was hustling and building businesses at the age of 14. He hit the ground running - literally - for the subway in his tough Bronx childhood neighborhood and he hasn't stopped yet.   For full show notes, visit: | Contact: | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

The uber creative and animated media and business mogul, , joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.    4x New York Times Bestselling Author. Wine entrepreneur. YouTube entrepreneur. Media and new media mastermind. Early investor (twitter, Uber, tumblr, Venmo). Publisher. Sports agent. On Forbes' "40 Under 40" List. Part of Apple's first original series "Planet of the Apps" (with Gwyneth Paltrow and Wil.i.am). You name it in business and media -- Gary has done it, and he has a visceral repulsion to complacency.    Reflecting on his early years, he proclaims that "90% of his childhood was business." Gary questioned the meaning of "success" early on. On the one hand, he was a "D" and "F" student, regularly receiving negative reinforcement from teachers and being told he was a loser. Yet, on the other hand, his hustle would earn him hundreds of dollars in various entrepreneurial pursuits. He would always find ways to win.    In this conversation, Gary turns back the clock to share how his winning mentality led to two of his most transformative moments: Overpaying for a baseball card table as a 13 year old and, how looking back on his life on his 30th birthday forced him to call out his own B.S. and make a change. Gary also shares with us something about his process that he's never mentioned publicly!  This conversation is for the hustlers and for those who don't know where or how to start their own hustle. Gary reminds us that we can start at 13, 30, or wherever you are today in your life. If you are willing to get really honest, do the work, learn as much as you can, and trust your gifts, you are ready to get going!   For full show notes, visit: | Contact: | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (, , )   Leave a Review

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community.   What a week in sports with an incredible Super Bowl, the rise of Philadelphia Eagles QB, Nick Foles, and beginning of the Winter Olympics! In this short episode, we talk about how we are all the underdog or "back up" at different points in our lives and what it means to truly be ready for our breakthrough moments when opportunity crosses our paths.   Happy Friday!   For all episode show notes, visit: | Contact: | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (, , )

Comedian, podcaster, and former MMA fighter, Brendan Schaub joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast.   You may know Brendan Schaub from his MMA days fighting heavyweight in the UFC, but you probably know him best from co-hosting the wildly successful "The Fighter and the Kid" podcast with Bryan Callen and from the stand up comedy world. Now, how could heavyweight MMA fighter and comedian possibly be used to describe the same person? In this conversation, we explore how Brendan, a Denver-based All Colorado athlete in football and lacrosse, was able to pursue his childhood dreams of being both a professional athlete and comedian using the dual traits of unwavering self-confidence and open-mindedness.   While Brendan made it to the Buffalo Bills training camp after a stand out football career at University of Colorado (as a walk on), he was forced to change course, and ended up fighting professionally for the UFC. And, while he had no connection to the entertainment world, his podcasting career took a turn into stand-up comedy, where he now regularly headlines places like The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and Hollywood Improv.   Brendan's ability to recognize and seize opportunity combined with the willingness to pivot has allowed him to live a life beyond his dreams. "Self-made", "all in", and "hustle" -- all phrases that capture "Big Brown" Brendan Schaub's mindset toward every endeavor. If you feel like there is no blueprint for what you want to pursue, tap into Brendan's approach to trying new things, walking down unlikely paths, and being flexible in the journey toward your goals. Like Brendan, you just might surprise yourself in the best possible way.   For full show notes, visit: | Contact: | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (, , )

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community. In honor of Super Bowl week, we turn to the sports world and wisdom of Vince Lombardi to reflect on how to seize the day, go for it, and make the most of this life. Have a thought on helping love keep center stage in your mindset and reactions? Let us know in the comments, on socials (, , ) or shoot us an email:   Happy Friday, change makers!

Super Bowl XLIII MVP and former NFL wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast. Best known for his Super Bowl XLIII game winning catch with the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals, arguably one of the most powerful pieces of Super Bowl history, Santonio's story from very modest upbringing to being the ultimate teammate is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from Belle Glade, the third poorest city in Florida, Santonio is a powerful example of what hard work and dedication can become, regardless of background. As a triple letterman in track, football, and basketball, he helped his high school track and football teams win multiple state championships. That streak continued in college football at Ohio State University, where he was part of the 2002 BCS National Championship team. In the NFL, Santonio played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets. Santonio is the first to credit teammates and the importance of teamwork in his success, and he knows more than a thing or two about caring for others. He started raising his three younger siblings, each from different fathers, at the tender age of eight years old. That care extended to his grandmother and to serving others when he chose to follow the path of faith at age 12. His devotion to family, friends, teammates, and strangers is the center of his life and he is deeply passionate about helping those with sickle cell disease, which his son has and the gene for which Santonio carries. He founded the Third and Long Foundation to provide financial support and treatment options for families affected by the disease. This conversation will bring you back to your roots, your center, and what is most important in life.  For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

Welcome to Friday Findings, our short-form episode full of takeaways, tips, and great ideas to help you cultivate positive change in your life and in your community. In this episode, John and Lizzie explore the tall order of loving your enemies and how to find room to choose good, kindness, and honesty when your instinct might be the opposite. Happy Friday, change makers! Show notes for all episodes: www.brink of midnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)

The hilarious and prolific comedian and radio/podcast host, Adam Carolla, joins The Brink of Midnight Podcast. Adam is truly a self-made man in every sense. Straight out of North Hollywood and from a self-proclaimed "intellectual white trash" family, he grew up with no stability of any kind and with a mom on welfare. Role models and mentors were non-existent and Adam went straight from high school graduation to construction sites where he learned the lessons that would take him everywhere in life: the value of hard labor, the ability to put things together, and that he had a great sense of humor. Adam's entry into the world of comedy and show business is one of the most compelling you will ever hear and at it's core are powerful motivators: taking a massive leap of faith, going all-in with no Plan B, and wanting the simple things he never grew up with like a credit card, auto-insurance, and air-conditioning. His story will blow you away and inspire you to take the risks necessary to become your best. Adam shares his three-step method for creating change in your life and how to literally start from scratch. He won't let you off the hook either - make no mistake, he believes everything in life is on you, so you better get to work. For full show notes, visit: www.brinkofmidnight.com | Contact: info@brinkofmidnight.com | Connect: @brinkofmidnight (twitter, instagram, Facebook)