The FuzzyLove Podcast

Coach Davis has been the head football coach at West Anchorage High School for 13 years with 3 state championships under his belt. We talk a lot about the philosophy of coaching, our own football stories, and even playing around in the snow on a board or skis. Most of all, as you'll find out, it is a WE THING. Enjoy!

I had a long-awaited conversation with Chance Tucker, a former student-athlete from the Mat-Su Valley. We have been in contact for about a year regarding the topics of race and sports as Chance was supposed to be in the original 'From the Snow' video ( https://vimeo.com/489125642 ) discussing his own perspective. Alas, we finally sit down a year later and he tells his stories. 

I had a conversation with Mr. Robert Black, a longtime substitute teacher in the Mat-Su School District. 

I can't explain how much this person means to me... Maybe this pod will. 

A good 'ole fashion conversation with a longtime friend, Noah Krozel. We talked for probably an hour after the podcast and he came over a few weeks later to discuss a lot of the same things about life, future, present, etc.! A damn fine friend.

I had a conversation with an old friend and Chef de Cuisine Trevor Webb about the beauty of food. I first met Trevor at Colorado State when he was pursuing a business degree, he ended up dropping out of school to pursue a culinary career and hasn't looked back. I know in my heart of hearts he'll be successful. We talk about some real stuff about the importance of meals, how Americans vs. Europeans think about food differently, the human relationship with food, and a lot more! 

Going over the NBA trade deadline and our favorite, and least favorite trades

We discuss Dame's MVP bid, Nicholas Claxton and the Nets, our top 10 most fun players to watch, and more!

I had a conversation with David Enden, an old professor from Colorado State that has been incredibly influential in my life. He helped get this podcast rolling, was an amazing lab professor, and, most of all, mentored me as I prepared for major hip surgery as an 18-year-old. He has provided a lot of wisdom over the years and I'm glad we finally had this talk together. Dave also recently completed the 4x4x48 David Goggins challenge.... in large part because he's a psychopath... but part two will consist of a reflection of that challenge! As for part one, we get into the nitty-gritty of mindset with a dysfunctional body, something a lot of people may relate to.

I had a conversation with an old friend from Lewis and Clark - Eli Harice. We talked about our personal journeys being only children, the fallacies of Lewis and Clark College, LA vs. Alaska, and more!

Woo!

Celtics Panic button, T-Wolves rant, the raging Wizards and more!

I had a conversation with Kati and Ambrose Krouse of Bears Etc. a Wildlife Refuge in Montgomery, Texas. We talked about a ton of different things within our own personal journeys through conservation - but I think the part that will especially stick with me is their efforts to engage with their local community's grocery stores, food banks, schools, and building a self-sufficient vegetable garden on-site, that would then be used to feed the animals! We also discuss the beauty of hunting and how that has affected our relationship with the animal kingdom... Enjoy!

Michael's DuosLebron & Anthony DavisKD & HardenSteph & Draymond Dame & CJKawhi and Paul GeorgeJayson Tatum & Jaylen BrownJokic & MurrayChris Paul & BookerEmbiid & SimmonsGiannis & MiddletonLuka & Kristaps Jimmy & BamConley & Mitchell Sabonis & Brogdon Russ & BealCade's DuosLebron and ADKD and Kyrie (I do not trust Harden in late game scenarios) Dame and CJKawhi and PGJimmy and BamSteph and DraymondJokic and MurrayBrown and TatumCP and Booker Luka…. Large pause…. And Staps Embiid and Simmons Giannis and Jrue (Fuck Khris Middleton) Conley and Mitchell Sabonis and Brogdon Russ and Beal

I had a conversation with Gus Schumacher, a nordic skier for the U.S National Team. When we recorded this pod he was fresh off an 18th place finish at the Tour de Ski, the best ever for an American male. Also... another one of the boys! We talked extensively about the importance of failure among other things about achieving success... Enjoy!

Talking about the lost art of dancing, why impulse is important, and how to navigate phony people! Also... a lot of improv.

I had a conversation with Damen Bell-Holter, an afro indigenous man from Hydaburg Alaska who is most well-known for his basketball history which includes playing for D1 Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma, Pre-season ball for the Celtics, as well as a few professional stints overseas. However, this does not define him as a man. He has made intentional steps to better the lives of his communities through various different means – a renaissance athlete if you will. He created ‘Break the Bicycle' which was a bike packing trip originally from Bellingham to San Diego that was detoured to Albuquerque, New Mexico that was designed to create conversations about afro-indigenous mental health...  He is now working on various nonprofits within the community of Hydaburg to bring more accessibility to cycling for the community. He also started a podcast recently called “Generations of Journeys” which will capture the journeys of black and indigenous artists, athletes, leaders, and community advocates. The list goes on and we talk about most of it in this pod… Go check him out, he is a really inspiring dude and I learned a lot from this conversation and watching him from afar.

A wonderful conversation centered around the essence of love with two long time friends; Dawson Nash and Jarod (Gold Tooth) Ruffing. Here's the transcript of the poem in the beginning:I've spent a lifetime by now finding the essence of love. Does it exist in the wind with a lifelong friend or cuddled up in bed, too cold to work? Does it live in the mountains, beaches, or oceans? Does it exist in a full tank of fuel? What about 40 acres and a mule? Where are you true love? Is it in halls full of mirrors, revealing wounds from angles never seen before? Is it loaded in a 9mm pistol pointed at your brain? Is it in the butt of cigarettes you chain-smoked during finals week?Was I born into it? Does true love flow down through generations of family-like rivers and streams? Are the voices in my head showing me love when they scream?Does it exist on a cross? Does it permeate in Girdwood's moss? What about waves, glaciers, and bears? What about medium-rare steaks with no seasoning?Does love exist even when you're scared?The answer is yes, you just have to say so. For true love begins with what you let in. And it never ends, no matter where you let love out. For love can neither be created nor destroyed, just passed through family and prayers on bended knees. 

Dear Basketball diary,This episode is from Friday, Jan 29, the Utah Jazz are the #1 seed in the West.... there's no way this holds up.Love,Cade

Luke is a nordic skier for both the University of Utah and the U.S National Team... as well as one of the boys. We had a conversation about the importance of sports psychology, how to engage disenfranchised communities with outdoor activities in Alaska - and some of the structural limitations in place, as well as how to have a 21st birthday during the pandemic! Enjoy. 

I had a conversation with Coach Jackson, the defensive coordinator at Lewis and Clark College, and someone I consider family. We caught up, talked about road trips, race issues, different styles of coaching, and the rest of the proverbial kitchen sink! 

I had a conversation with Christine Mulholland - founder and creative director of the nonprofit Generation Awakening (https://www.generationawakening.org) an organization centered around community engagement with environmental issues. She also has goals of starting a vegan fast food restaurant, starting in Los Angeles. We talked about the role of apathy in conservation, the difficulties of starting a business, engaging the next generation, her own stories with international environmental justice, and why she thinks veganism is one of the answers! (I tell her some of my hunting stories as well). It was a compelling conversation and hope you get the same effect. 

I had a conversation with Ryan Roberts about two very large passions of mine... Social Science and Conservation. We talked about how these two seemingly separate disciplines, are actually incredibly similar and that to tackle environmental issues holistically - both social and environmental knowledge of interconnectedness is critical in problem-solving. We also talked a lot about life in general... including Midnight Gospel! I had a lot of fun having this conversation and I hope you have fun engaging your eardrums too. 

Trade Details:Nets receive:James HardenRockets receive:Victor OladipoDante ExumRodions Kurucs4 1st-round picks4 pick swapsPacers receive:Caris LeVertCavaliers receive:Jarrett AllenTaurean Prince

NBA Update from Jan 10. Gunky takes and the whole 9!

Two of my best friends, from the Chicago area, meet for the first time and have a wonderful conversation about music, love, pride, and more. 

I had a conversation with Tim Harrison - a public safety officer who has acted like a renaissance man within big cat safety. He's found himself amidst political lobbying, radio shows, documentaries, nonprofits, martial arts, and even Joe Exotic. We had an awesome conversation about all of these things... and more!

Unedited - first basketball pod. Tons of flaws and an equal amount of fun.

I had a conversation with Emily McCormack, Animal Curator at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We talked about our experiences within the field of conservation, the various difficulties of going on a rescue (other than the obvious... tigers can eat your face off), and more!

For this project, I interviewed various mental health professionals in the state of Alaska that work primarily in rural Alaska Native Villages. I sought out the question, how do mental health providers incorporate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into their work? There has been substantial evidence that connecting to one's culture is extremely valuable for mental health, especially for indigenous peoples. I got my answer, and more.