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In an exhilarating episode of Veteran Made, host Carey Kight sits down with Mike Erwin, the founder and executive director of Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB), to discuss the upcoming Old Glory Ultra Relay. This ambitious event, set to take place in May 2025, will see a team of 12 veteran runners attempt to set a world record by relaying an American flag across the country in just 15 days, covering 3,000 miles from San Diego to Washington D.C. The Old Glory Ultra Relay represents a bold evolution of Team RWB's signature event, transforming from a member-based relay into an epic challenge that showcases the strength, determination, and unity of the veteran community. Starting at the USS Midway in San Diego with a flag that has flown over a combat zone, the team will push themselves to cover an astounding 200 miles per day. This grueling journey will test not only their physical limits but also their mental resilience and teamwork as they navigate the challenges of living and recovering together in close quarters for two intense weeks. Listeners will be captivated by the high stakes and numerous obstacles the team must overcome to achieve their monumental goal. From potential injuries and extreme weather conditions to the mental and physical fatigue that sets in during the later stages of the relay, every aspect of this challenge embodies the spirit of perseverance that defines the veteran community. The episode offers a tantalizing preview of the upcoming series, which will follow the runners' preparation and culminate with live updates during the event itself, allowing audiences to experience the excitement and inspiration of this unprecedented feat in real-time. Episode Sponsors: Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9. SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ http://x.com/veteranmade.ck https://www.instagram.com/erwinrwb/ https://www.instagram.com/teamrwb/ https://x.com/ErwinRWB https://x.com/TeamRWB
In this episode, I speak with Mike Erwin, CEO of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). A West Point graduate and veteran, Mike shares insights from his military service, founding Team RWB in 2010 to support veterans through social and physical connections, and the growth of the organization to 214 chapters and 181,000 members. We explore his leadership journey, life on his 42-acre farm, and his training for the JFK 50 Miler, emphasizing the importance of community and servant leadership. We discuss the power of social connection, lessons from West Point, and how Team RWB fosters camaraderie similar to military life. Mike's passion for supporting veterans is clear as he reflects on inspiring stories and the value of physical activity for mental and emotional health. Join us for this conversation highlighting resilience, community, and the pursuit to uplift veteran heroes. Follow Mike Erwin on social media: X: @MikeIrwin Instagram: @IrwinLeadership Team RWB: https://teamrwb.org
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17 Mike Erwin is the Executive Director and Founder of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit who is forging America's leading health and wellness community for veterans. He is also the founder & CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and has worked with companies including Amazon, BD, PWC, and NetApp; Special Forces units; and professional sports teams including the Boston Celtics and the NJ Devils. He is the co-author of LEAD YOURSELF FIRST (2017), which focuses on how solitude strengthens people's character—and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction. He also co-authored LEADERSHIP IS A RELATIONSHIP (2021) which details why leaders who prioritize relationships are more effective. Today we dive into his story and how to lead others, and lead yourself first. Learn more about Mike here: https://www.mikeerwin.net/ -- Men's Leadership Summit: https://www.cairnleadership.com/mens-leadership-summit-rocky-mountains/ Join our new TKM Reflections Group! Subscribe to the Level-Up Video Series Subscribe to our newsletter, The MENifesto here! Join our New Kinetic Man Facebook Group! Check out the Kinetic Men Events on Meetup! Know someone who would make a great guest on our podcast? Let us know! takeaction@thekineticman.com
Ryan Holiday is joined by Lt Colonel Mike Erwin. Together they discuss the central practice of journaling and reflection, how wisdom and discipline is a form of freedom, and although emotions make us human, it is critical for us to control them. They also discuss his two books Lead Yourself: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude and Leadership is a Relationship: How to Put People First in the Digital World.Lt Colonel Mike Erwin is a West Point graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer and served three tours. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan, where he studied positive psychology and leadership.Mike is the founder of a non-profit organization named Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity. He is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the US Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology.Grab a signed copy of Leadership is a Relationship: How to Put People First in the Digital World from The Painted Porch!X and IG: @ErwinRWB✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail
Mike Erwin is a long overdue guest for this podcast, and he brings a wealth of insight that spans everything from his experiences in combat to leading multiple nonprofit organizations to his efforts to reshape education in America. A 2002 graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Mike was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005 that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007 and 2009. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009-2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of positive psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. He went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy from 2011-2014. He continues to serve as an instructor there as a LTC in the Army Reserve. While in graduate school in 2010, Mike founded a non-profit organization named Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) with the mission to to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity and a vision towards forging America's leading health and wellness community for veterans. Today Team RWB has nearly 200k members across over 200 chapters globally. He is also co-founder & CEO of the Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America's youth to build positive relationships. With 542 partner schools, the organization reaches 332,000 children daily. He is the CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and has done leadership development with over 100 major organizations. He also serves as the founding Chairman of the Board for Father Vincent Capodanno High School, outside Fort Bragg, NC. Finally he has authored two books: Lead Yourself First (co-authored with Ray Kethledge) and Leadership is a Relationship (co-authored with Willys Devoll). Mike lives on a 32-acre farm in North Carolina with his wife Genevieve and their four children; Eli, Adelaide, Therese and Matthias. If you want to read the Wall Street Journal article Mike mentions, it is "Socrates Never Wrote a Term Paper" by Jeremy Tate and it discusses how AI (specifically ChatGPT) is impacting education, and suggests that the Socratic method might offer a way forward.
Allison from Team Red White and Blue (TEAM RWB) stops by to talk about mental and physical fitness. We discuss honoring a legacy. Also! DOUG AND ALLISON SITTING IN A TREE K-I-S-S-I.....you know the song LOL. COME HANG OUT WITH US!Team RWB https://about.teamrwb.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TeamRWB/ AND THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR "NOTHING PACIFIC"! https://rss.com/podcasts/nothingpacific/
Our guest today, Mike Erwin has dedicated his life to serving the nation and empowering people to build positive relationships. A graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group. His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan and while a graduate student, founded Team Red White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit health and wellness community for veterans. Mike led Team RWB until 2013 before stepping back to focus on his role as board chair. In November 2019, he returned to the Executive Director role where he currently leads the organization's 232,000 members. Mike continues to proudly serve the nation as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the Pentagon in support of the Army Chief of Operations' office, led by Lieutenant General Jim Rainey.
Brought to you by Green Mountain Payments - helping local business owners save thousands of dollars by providing complimentary credit card processing equipment and zero cost credit card processing. Visit greenmountainpayments.com or posandzero.com today! Vodka Life Hacks are great - like making your own Vanilla Extract. Here's your life hack starter kit - so grab a smartphone and a social media account and get to it! Get the list at https://www.tastingtable.com/946284/unconventional-uses-for-vodka-other-than-drinking/ Your Whiskey is Stone'd, as Stone Brewing has teamed up with Foundry Distilling to use the grain bill from their Imperial Stout to create Stone Imperial Whiskey Cask Strength. See more at https://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2022/08/stone-adding-imperial-whiskey-cask.html A Big QR Code for Vets - Yuengling has revealed the world's largest QR Code to help Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Click https://www.yuengling.com/more-beer/ to see the full capabilities of the QR Code. The full story on the brewery, the partnership, and the giant QR code - head over to https://www.yuengling.com/news/yuengling-reveals-worlds-largest-qr-code-to-honor-our-nations-heroes/ Remember to like, comment & subscribe. Stay safe, drive sober and support the booze that supports your local community. #lifehacks #starterkit #socialmedia #vodka #hacks #stone #sapporo #stonebrewing #collab #collaboration #teamrwb #yuengling #qrcode #leebrice #morebeer #veterans #supportvets #vet #military Stonebrewing #foundrydistilling #distilling Find me online - social media profiles & links at https://BoozebuddyUpdate.com Learn more about your host and voice over talent The Real Voice - Mel Allen at https://TheRealVoice.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boozebuddy/support
-Mike Erwin is the Executive Director and Founder of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit who is forging America's leading health and wellness community for veterans. He currently leads the organization's 232,000 members.-He is also the founder & CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and has worked with companies including Amazon, BD, PWC, and NetApp; Special Forces units; and professional sports teams including the Boston Celtics and the NJ Devils. He is the co-author of LEAD YOURSELF FIRST (2017), which focuses on how solitude strengthens people's character---and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction. He also co-authored LEADERSHIP IS A RELATIONSHIP (2021) which details why leaders who prioritize relationships are more effective.-A 2002 graduate of West Point, he was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes a deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005---that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. He also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007 and 2009. He earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours.-Following his third deployment, He attended the University of Michigan from 2009-2011, where he earned a Master's degree in positive psychology and leadership. It was here where founded Team RWB.Check out Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB):https://www.teamrwb.org/Mike's books on leadership:Lead Yourself FirstLeadership is a RelationshipFirstNet Built with AT&T:http://www.firstnet.com/healthandwellnessDownload the O2X Tactical Performance App:app.o2x.comLet us know what you think:Website: http://o2x.comIG: https://instagram.com/o2xhumanperformance?igshid=1kicimx55xt4f
Mike Erwin is a man that wears many important hats. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)—a non-profit with a mission to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Team RWB is a growing organization with over 220,000 members. In addition to leading Team RWB, Mike is the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and the Co-Founder & President of The Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America's youth to build positive relationships. With 425 partner schools, the organization reaches 260,000 children daily. He is the also the author of Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership through Solitude and his new book, Leadership is a Relationship: How to Put People First in a Digital World. Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology. He also serves as the founding Chairman of the Board for Father Vincent Capodanno High School, outside Fort Bragg, NC. Mike graduated from West Point in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004–2005 that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006–2007 and 2009. On those tours, he worked with NATO forces, to include serving as a lead intelligence planner for one of the largest NATO-led combat operation in history. Mike earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009–2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of Positive Psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. He went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy from 2011–2014. While assigned to West Point as a Major, Mike served as a lead planner for the Bob McDonald Global Leadership Conference and was the aide-de-camp to the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership, held by Jim Collins and then Tom Tierney. Connect with Mike and follow his awesome work at MikeErwin.net or on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.
In this episode, I have a great conversation with Mike Erwin where we discuss our thoughts and feelings on the current state of affairs in Afghanistan and how to maintain a positive outlook despite the circumstances. Mike shares how he maintains his edge and positive outlook, some of his daily high performance habits. We discuss how Team Red, White, and Blue was founded and the future of the organization and some highlights of his books: “Lead Yourself First” and upcoming book: “Leadership Is A Relationship.” Book's Referenced: “Range” by David Epstein “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho “Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude” by Mike Erwin and Raymond Kethledge “Leadership Is A Relationship” by Mike Erwin and Willys Devoll Organization Referenced: Team RBW: www.teamrwb.org Positivity Project: https://posproject.org MIKE ERWIN was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. He has dedicated his life to serving the nation and empowering people to build positive relationships and become more resilient. Mike lives on a 32 acre Homestead outside Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with his wife Genevieve and their 5 children; Eli, Adelaide, Therese, Matthias and Zelie. Mike is the founder & CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and has worked with companies including Amazon, SAP, and Stryker; Special Forces units; and professional sports teams including the Boston Celtics and the NJ Devils. He is co-author of LEAD YOURSELF FIRST by Bloomsbury Press (2017). The book focuses on how solitude strengthens people's character---and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction. He is working on his next book, LEADERSHIP IS A RELATIONSHIP, that will unpack his graduate school thesis research about the intersection of character strengths and leadership. A 2002 graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Mike was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005---that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007 and 2009. He earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009-2011, where he earned a Master's degree in positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of positive psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. While a graduate student, he founded a non-profit organization named Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), whose mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their communities through p
On this episode of Got Your 6, Tony Nash talks with Mike Erwin, the founder and executive director of https://www.teamrwb.org/ (Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)), a non-profit that connects veterans to the local communities through sports. Mike talks about how he stays fit physically and mentally and shares some actionable advice on how he manages his time, improves himself, and navigates his time and schedule to achieve maximum results. Mental and Physical Fitness Mike's time in the Army continues to impact his life – from as simple as his affinity for the Jacob's ladder (which began during a 2009 Afghanistan deployment) to subscribing to a solid routine and working out in the morning. While he is not as physically active as he was during the Army, he says he's now back at it “with a vengeance.” The two books that have made an impact on his life and that he keeps on re-reading are: 100 Ways to Motive Yourself (2012) by Steve Chandler helps a person create an action plan for living his vision in business and in life. The Alchemist (1993) by Paolo Coelho, a fiction that tells the story of a shepherd boy Santiago, who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. Citing the lessons from The Alchemist, Mike is a big believer that everything happens for a reason and that failures pave the road to success. “It can be dangerous when we tell that to other people: ‘Ah, everything happens for a reason, don't worry about it.' But the reality is, if you take that approach and that view into life, that the setbacks and the adversity and the mistakes that you made – while it feels like in the moment you're like ‘Ugh that was terrible, what a big mistake!' – if you can learn to see that for what it is… A setback is a setup for a comeback.” On Failures as Temporary Setbacks Mike is also the co-founder & president of https://posproject.org/ (The Positivity Project), a non-profit group that aims to empower the youth to build positive relationships. But it took several hiccups along the way before the organization became what it is today. Mike and his partner committed a big mistake when they used philanthropy as the organization's business model. They later realized it was not feasible for their business, which focuses on character education because schools already have a budget for that. So they tweaked their model – from seeking grants to building a business that would make schools want to pay them for training, curriculum, and resources, among others. That huge mistake proved to be their key to success to have a sustainable business. Urgent vs Important and the Importance of Tracking Time In 2014, Mike learned to view things using the Eisenhower Box, which helps a person decide on and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. It helps users sort out less urgent and important tasks which could be either delegated or ignored. Another thing that has transformed his life is tracking his time. He tracks if he has spent too long on emails, if he has not exercised much in a week, or has done things for leisure, such as golf. Mike said this becomes very important in making sure you have as much time as possible to spend on important but not urgent things, such as relationships planning, eating, health, and exercising. These activities are usually those that get ignored easily. He says he applies this in menial tasks such as getting rid of cables in the house and deleting useless apps from his phone – things that take his time mindlessly. A 32-hectare farm owner, Mike says he makes most of his business decisions while working on the property. On Constant Improvement and His Personal Relationship with Technology Mike likens constant self-improvement to tango – 2 steps forward, one step back – as growth is not linear. He also believes growth comes at a gradual pace. As he counts time, Mike says he has improved his relationship with technology and the digital world,...
On this episode of Got Your 6, Tony Nash talks with Mike Erwin, the founder and executive director of https://www.teamrwb.org/ (Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)), a non-profit that connects veterans to the local communities through sports. Mike talks about how he stays fit physically and mentally and shares some actionable advice on how he manages his time, improves himself, and navigates his time and schedule to achieve maximum results. Mental and Physical Fitness Mike's time in the Army continues to impact his life – from as simple as his affinity for the Jacob's ladder (which began during a 2009 Afghanistan deployment) to subscribing to a solid routine and working out in the morning. While he is not as physically active as he was during the Army, he says he's now back at it “with a vengeance.” The two books that have made an impact on his life and that he keeps on re-reading are: 100 Ways to Motive Yourself (2012) by Steve Chandler helps a person create an action plan for living his vision in business and in life. The Alchemist (1993) by Paolo Coelho, a fiction that tells the story of a shepherd boy Santiago, who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. Citing the lessons from The Alchemist, Mike is a big believer that everything happens for a reason and that failures pave the road to success. “It can be dangerous when we tell that to other people: ‘Ah, everything happens for a reason, don't worry about it.' But the reality is, if you take that approach and that view into life, that the setbacks and the adversity and the mistakes that you made – while it feels like in the moment you're like ‘Ugh that was terrible, what a big mistake!' – if you can learn to see that for what it is… A setback is a setup for a comeback.” On Failures as Temporary Setbacks Mike is also the co-founder & president of https://posproject.org/ (The Positivity Project), a non-profit group that aims to empower the youth to build positive relationships. But it took several hiccups along the way before the organization became what it is today. Mike and his partner committed a big mistake when they used philanthropy as the organization's business model. They later realized it was not feasible for their business, which focuses on character education because schools already have a budget for that. So they tweaked their model – from seeking grants to building a business that would make schools want to pay them for training, curriculum, and resources, among others. That huge mistake proved to be their key to success to have a sustainable business. Urgent vs Important and the Importance of Tracking Time In 2014, Mike learned to view things using the Eisenhower Box, which helps a person decide on and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. It helps users sort out less urgent and important tasks which could be either delegated or ignored. Another thing that has transformed his life is tracking his time. He tracks if he has spent too long on emails, if he has not exercised much in a week, or has done things for leisure, such as golf. Mike said this becomes very important in making sure you have as much time as possible to spend on important but not urgent things, such as relationships planning, eating, health, and exercising. These activities are usually those that get ignored easily. He says he applies this in menial tasks such as getting rid of cables in the house and deleting useless apps from his phone – things that take his time mindlessly. A 32-hectare farm owner, Mike says he makes most of his business decisions while working on the property. On Constant Improvement and His Personal Relationship with Technology Mike likens constant self-improvement to tango – 2 steps forward, one step back – as growth is not linear. He also believes growth comes at a gradual pace. As he counts time, Mike says he has improved his relationship with technology and the digital world,...
“The questions we ask drive the caliber of the conversations we have.” – Mike ErwinDive in as Mike and Steve share a powerful dialogue on the power of leaning in as leaders to improve upon our strengths, empowering teams with enthusiasm and optimism. Mike Erwin is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of The Positivity Project. A 2002 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served in the Army on Active Duty for 13 years, including three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. In 2010, Mike founded Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit organization that enriches veterans' lives by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. He serves on the Board for the organization, now 198 chapters and 114,000 members strong. Mike earned his master's degree in positive psychology and leadership, under the tutelage of Chris Peterson, from the University of Michigan — and taught leadership at West Point. He is the co-author of Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. Mike and his wife, Genevieve, live in the Village of Pinehurst, NC, with their five children.Be sure to share with a friend and subscribe to stay up to date on our weekly interviews. If you're interested in learning more about Game On's programming, please visit wwww.gameonnation.com!
Joe Quinn is the Executive Director of the Headstrong Project. Previously, he was the Director of Leadership Development for Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Before Team RWB, he was an Instructor in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point and an Associate at the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC). Joe also worked in Afghanistan as a Counterinsurgency Advisor for General David Petraeus’ Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT). He spent six years in the United States Army, where he served two deployments to Iraq. Joe received a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Joe graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2002, where he played on the basketball team. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, although he currently lives in Manhattan with his wife Melanie and one year-old daughter Beckett with a baby boy on the way. He’s also an amateur writer and a professional Mets fan.DonateDave SwansonWebsiteBook Goat Wrestling Perseverance Clothes Free Chapter of my Bestselling Book? Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/GWPPodcast)
Coming off three big endurance sport conferences, including the 2019 Running USA Industry Conference held Feb. 10-12 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Eva Solomon catches up with Heather and brings listeners up to speed on some of the latest happenings in the world of running and triathlon. Eva, who is co-founder and owner of Epic Races, a race management company in southeast Michigan, also talks about the upcoming Ann Arbor Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. And, all new this year, a 19-mile training run (a perfect long run for those in the final weeks of training for this year's Boston Marathon, Eva says.) Eva shares what runners can expect at this year's Ann Arbor Marathon, which is set for Sunday, March 24. Midway through the show, Eva and Heather are joined by two runners and veterans who are part of Team Red White and Blue (Team RWB), an organization that Epic Races partners with for many of their racing events. Ryan Taylor, a U.S. Marine Corp veteran, is a cyclist and marathoner. Thomas Sumner, a U.S. Army veteran who has been involved with Team RWB for a few years, shares how he went from being "a couch potato" to walking many miles while carrying a heavy backpack. Ann Arbor Marathon details: All events start and finish in view of one of Ann Arbor’s most memorable landmarks, The University of Michigan Stadium. Participants run through downtown Ann Arbor, then wind their way through the city’s streets and parks as well as the University of Michigan campus. The marathon and half marathon courses also encompass stretches along the Huron River and Gallup Park and through Nichols Arboretum before returning to campus and downtown. The full marathon is two loops. The 10K is a true trail running going through Nichols Arboretum including the infamous “Arb Hill”! The 5K is a beautiful run through The University of Michigan’s campus and the surrounding area with a fun finish line party with all four races hosted by 26.2 Brew (Eva gives us the low-down on this new Samuel Adams beer.)
Today's episode features Mike Erwin - West Point Leadership Instructor, author of Lead Yourself First, and founder of The Positivity Project (a non-profit organization that brings character education to America's youth). In this wide-ranging conversation, Mike and I explored topics like: -Handling pressure -Emotional mastery in the heat of the moment -Solitude and how spending time reflecting and turning inward can promote effective leadership, positive relationships, moral courage, meaning and fulfillment (all of which are themes in Mike's book Lead Yourself First). -Mike's experiences in the military as an intelligence officer -Promoting character education in schools through Mike's non-profit, the Positivity Project. For show notes, links to more about Mike and his work, and more, visit www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcast Mike Erwin's background: Mike Erwin is the CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and co-founder & president of the Positivity Project - a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America's youth to build stronger relationships. He is the co-author of Lead Yourself First by Bloomsbury Press (2017). The book focuses on how solitude strengthens people's character---and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction. Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology. Mike graduated from West Point in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Mike earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours. Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009- 2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co- founder of positive psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. While in graduate school in 2010, Mike founded a non-profit organization named Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity. He volunteered as the Executive Director for 3 years and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. Team RWB has 138,000 members and 212 chapters across the world.Support the show (https://joshuasteinfeldt.com/donate/)
In recent years, several new veterans organizations have popped up to help our men and women in uniform transition from the service to civilian life. Instead of providing a place where veterans can get together to drink, these new organizations are looking to offer vets a sense of meaning and mission that they often lose after they hang up their uniform. My guest today is head of one of these new organizations. His name is J.J. Pinter and he’s the Deputy Director of Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB for short) — a veterans organization with the goal of getting vets and civilians together to work out. Today on the show, J.J. and I discuss the issues facing vets that Team RWB is trying resolve, such as getting them reintegrated back into their community and staving off feelings of depression. We then discuss why Team RWB decided to make fitness their primary focus and why exercising with other people is one of the best remedies for melancholy and malaise. Finally, J.J. and I talk about why it’s so important for civilians to interact and connect with our vets and how they can do so through Team RWB.
Bill Rausch is the Executive Director at Got Your 6. He is a former Army Major with over ten years of service including 17 months in Iraq serving under Generals Casey and Petraeus while assigned to the Information Operations Task Force. Prior to joining GY6, Bill was Political Director at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America where he oversaw policy and advocacy campaigns. Prior to his veteran advocacy work, he was a Senior Consultant providing products and services to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense while assigned to the Pentagon. Bill regularly testifies in front of Congress and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal and MSNBC’s coverage of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Bill is also an active community leader and volunteer serving as Chapter Captain for Team Red White and Blue (Team RWB) in his local community in Alexandria, VA. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Volunteer Alexandria, an organization promoting volunteerism across all charity sectors. Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Science from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and son. Got Your 6 is a nonprofit that believes veterans are leaders, team builders, and problem solvers, who have the unique potential to lead a resurgence of community across the nation.
Jill Shanteau, LCSW & Jessica Culp, LPC. Trauma Therapy in The Time of COVID This one has been a long time coming. Today I’m honored to be joined by two long-time Trauma Therapist | 2.0 members, Jill Shanteau and Jessica Culp. Jill and Jessica met through the membership a few years ago and have continued to remain in contact. Today they share their experiences of what it’s been like to deliver therapy within the context of COVID while still attempting to stay healthy and sane! Jill Shanteau, LCSW Jill is employed as a therapist at the Harry S Truman VA in Columbia, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Life Science from Kansas State University and a Master's Degree in Social Work from Washburn University. While Jill always endeavored to be a therapist, it wasn't until 2014, after facing some personal and family challenges, that she relocated from Virginia to Missouri and began taking the steps to eventually earn full clinical licensure in 2017. As a former Department of the Army civilian employee at The Pentagon, Jill became intimately familiar with the struggles that service members face as they return from deployment or make the challenging transition from the military into the civilian community. Now with five years of experience at Veterans Affairs, Jill has spent a majority of her social work career serving service members, veterans, and their families. Jill is married and enjoys spending time with her husband and son. She is an avid Brene Brown fan, having relished the opportunity to once shake the author's hand. Jill is a former Eagle Leader Fellow and Chapter Captain and a current volunteer for Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB), an organization that seeks to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. She loves to learn and can often be found reading several books at the same time or listening to various trauma-related podcasts. She has been a member of the Trauma Therapist 2.0 since November 2016. Jessica Culp, LPC Jessica, MA, LPC, is a licensed trauma counselor at Steadfast Center LLC in Champaign, Illinois and a 2018 masters of counseling graduate from Lincoln Christian University. Steadfast Center LLC specializes in helping individuals heal from relational and complex trauma. This is Jessica’s second career, after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2003 and working in the marketing and resource development field for three local nonprofit organizations that included a food bank, a children’s home, and a crisis nursery. Jessica has been listening to the Trauma Therapist Podcast since she began her studies in counseling in September of 2015, and joined Trauma Therapist 2.0 ( https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/community/trauma2/ ) in December 2016. In This Episode * Onsite ( https://www.onsiteworkshops.com/ ) * Trauma Therapist | 2.0 ( https://the-trauma-therapist-project.teachable.com/p/trauma-therapist-2-0-1 ) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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