Podcasts about mcelveen

We have been blessed to meet many people that love and enjoy the very things that we do here at Trilogy Outdoors. This week our guest is one of those very people and a friend of ours who has played a very important role here in South Carolina for 12 years as the Senator of District 35. Sen. Thomas McElveen will not be seeking re-election this year and will get to spend more time with his family and enjoying the outdoors. We are very thankful that he took the time to sit with us and talk about how life looks movimng forward as he puts the senate in his rearview mirror and focuses on the many things in front of him. As he transitions out of his senate duties, there is no doubt that we will have him on in the future to discuss some fins, fur, and feathers and hear about his adventures in the outdoors with his beautiful children. Serving your cosntituents and particularly the very area that you grew up, is never easy. It was a position that we think he excelled in and we know that Columbia will miss Senator McElveen. We hope you enjoy this episode and wish him the best in his future endeavours. Life's Better Outdoors!!!!!!!! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/trilogy-outdoors--5441492/support.

If you think you know all there is to know about being hospitable listen to our guest, Quentin McElveen and then decide. Quentin grew up in South Carolina and has studied the idea of Southern Hospitality for most of his life. He was serious enough about it that he went to college to study and earn a degree in Hospitality Management. Quentin then worked in the hotel industry securing a variety of jobs in both the front of the house where he interacted with the public and the back of the house where he spent more time dealing with staff, processes and working with the behind-the-scenes system. He feels his time in the hotel and hospitality industry has made him a better person and a much better leader. He discuss with me at length various issues and concepts of what it means to be a leader. I am sure some of you will value much what Quentin has to say on this score. During Covid Quentin transitioned out of the hotel industry and now works in the healthcare field as a “customer experience manager”. His ultimate goal is to get back into the hotel world and eventually own and operate his own hotel. About the Guest: Quentin, a native of South Carolina, has been immersed in the values of southern hospitality since childhood. This philosophy has been reflected in his personal and professional life, driving his interests as a business professional and shaping his character. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of South Carolina, where he chartered the National Society of Minorities in Society USC chapter and held leadership roles in other organizations. With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Quentin has served in different capacities, including Assistant General Manager, Director of Operations, and Front Office Manager for diverse hotel brands. He has a proven track record of improving guest satisfaction scores, turning around underperforming hotel operations, and exceeding quality and performance management objectives. As he advances in his career, Quentin is passionate about professional development, coaching others, and leading successful teams. He is committed to leveraging his leadership and training skills to make a significant impact in the hospitality industry. Through his diverse professional background, he has gained valuable insights and knowledge from various industries, which he has effectively utilized to strengthen and improve his leadership abilities. This multifaceted approach has allowed him to develop a unique perspective and skillset, ultimately making him a more well-rounded and effective leader. Despite the challenges that come with pursuing dreams, Quentin always encourages others to think big and embrace their aspirations. His ultimate goal is to become an owner of hotels, a dream that motivates him to learn more about hotel operations continually. If you would like to connect with Quentin, he would be delighted to receive an invitation on LinkedIn. Ways to connect with Quintin: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentinmcelveen/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Hi, there I am your host, Mike Hingson. Or Michael Hingson, if you prefer and I'd like to welcome you to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. And I bet our guest today Quenton McElveen can talk all about the unexpected. He talks a lot about hospitality, southern hospitality. And of course, the South is supposed to be known for southern hospitality. So we want to get into that, needless to say and learn about it. But that will come as we go forward. But for now, Quentin, I'd like to thank you for being here. And welcome to unstoppable mindset was   Quenton McElveen ** 01:56 a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me. I really appreciate this opportunity. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:00 this will be fun. I'm looking forward to it. Tell me a little bit about kind of the younger Quentin growing up and what what life was like as a kid and all that sort of stuff. It's always great to start at the beginning.   Quenton McElveen ** 02:14 So I grew up in South Carolina in a two parent household. I was at a strong Christian background. I was one of the kids that couldn't listen to anything but but gospel music I got in trouble if I tried to listen to something else. I grew up around a lot of a lot of family oriented activities and outings and a lot of my childhood we did a lot of traveling. So I believe that's why I became so interested in hotels. We stayed at hotels, I live on the east coast. I spent a lot of time with Florida. The beaches of South Carolina like Myrtle Beach, had a good childhood, very good childhood.   Michael Hingson ** 02:57 So you went to school in high school and so on. Did you go on to college?   Quenton McElveen ** 03:01 Yes. I went to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and had a wonderful college tenure while I was there at a very good time. They're majoring in Hospitality Management course. I'm telling you, man,   Michael Hingson ** 03:21 of course. So with all the traveling that you've done, what's your favorite hotel?   Quenton McElveen ** 03:28 When I was younger? My favorite hotel was Embassy Suites. I love to go there. Yeah, I love there. How large the rooms were being looted kid. I like to jump across the bed from one to the other. And the breakfast buffet. I always loved that like the um, so as an adult, I like the Hilton brand building brand hotels. Yeah. I have a credit card.   Michael Hingson ** 03:59 I don't have a Hilton credit card. But I love when I can to stay at Hilton Hotels. And I still love Embassy Suites. I've always been welcomed pretty well there. And it's good to still follow the Hilton. Yeah. Well, it's all part of Hilton. And but so I enjoyed it and I still enjoy the breakfast. They they do a good job with that. And I've even I've even spent time at the manager's reception not being a big drinker. But the snacks are good and occasionally but a drink but I love just the hospitality Embassy Suites. I agree with you. It's it's a great hotel and a great brand. Alright. So you worked at the well at the university and you you charted an organization there, didn't you if I recall? Yeah,   Quenton McElveen ** 04:52 the organization that I reached out there is called the National Society of Minorities. in hospitality. And so that organization was something that we really needed on campus at the time. And it it started a lot of engagement with different students on campus. And it allowed us to travel to Atlanta, to the National Conference twice. While I was there, we traveled to Indianapolis to a national conference got us a lot of exposure with different professionals and students across the parts of the US that had the same issues we had. Well, and I went on further than it. I'm sorry, go ahead. I went on further than that, and joined the National Board of the entire organization. So I went from chapter president to the national program. So right there there. I have got a lot of exposure, do a lot of networking, with industry professionals.   Michael Hingson ** 05:54 So are you still in the hospitality industry today?   Quenton McElveen ** 05:58 Well, I'm not not officially in the hotel industry. But right now, I am a guest services Coach and Trainer, which sounds like hospitality. But it truly is hospitality. But it's not an end to hotel. Industry. Is it your own company? Is not my own company. I work for healthcare company. Okay.   Michael Hingson ** 06:19 Well, we will, we will get to that. Yeah, I know that. That's a little bit of a switch, though, although you can certainly justify it under hospitality, I suppose. And that brings up the question, what is hospitality? Hospitality   Quenton McElveen ** 06:33 is really a feeling that you give to someone else is really a feeling that someone's feels warm and comfortable. And they feel welcomed. Hospitality is a feeling so I'm satisfied. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 06:50 Well, if you don't have it, you, you should I think it's a fair thing to say being hospitable and, and making people feel welcome is something that I, I enjoy. And I've had the opportunity to do it for lots of podcast episodes now. But I've always enjoyed it. And it's, it seems to me that, collectively in this country, we're losing some of the art of hospitality because we can't talk to people. We can't have discussions. We're so fractured. Do you? Do you find that to be the case?   Quenton McElveen ** 07:26 Yeah, I agree. As great as social media and technology we have today is it really it took away the personal interaction that we have we once had before, the advancement that we have with cell phones and the internet. Because we don't have to talk to one another in person anymore. We can do it on the screen.   Michael Hingson ** 07:48 I have heard people say many times that they've been on trips with their kids and their kids are in the back of the car. And they're texting back and forth. And I've never understood why. And I asked somebody once, and they said, because they want to talk about things that they don't want their parents to know. And I'm sitting there going, that is so scary. You know,   Quenton McElveen ** 08:10 it seems like it shouldn't be the other way around. It seemed like texting would have came first. And then eventually when it came out later, oh, you can actually talk to someone now. But it was backwards. Yeah. Wow. Okay.   Michael Hingson ** 08:22 Yeah. And, but and you lose some of the art and some of the nuances of personal context that it would be really important, it seems to me to have That's right. So how, in your way, you went to college, you got a degree? Did you get a bachelor's? Did you go on and get a masters or just a bachelor's?   Quenton McElveen ** 08:45 I got a bachelor's degree, and okay, great to work after that   Michael Hingson ** 08:48 trying to work? How do you teach people hospitality? I'm assuming that when you hire people in a hotel environment, you want to try to get people who are going to be able to be welcoming and so on. But at the same time, isn't it something that sometimes you have to teach the art or help people improve in their hospitality efforts?   Quenton McElveen ** 09:10 When any hiring role that I've had as a full time manager in whatever capacity I was in at the time, I hired for personality, so they had to be already hospitable and coachable in the interview, and what what they were taught was the skills to complete the job, because you can have you can teach someone skill, but it's very difficult to teach hospitality. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 09:37 It is a it's a real challenge to do that. Because as you said, it's a feeling. It's an attitude. It's a mindset, and it's something that people have to develop. I love going to airports. Speaking of hospitality, and whenever I get to a TSA agent, you know when we get to the kiosk or to the counter or not well, though The desk and all that. The first thing they say is, can I have your boarding pass and your ID and I give them my boarding pass? And well, can I have your ID? And of course, what I say is, what's wrong? Did you lose yours? And they mostly do laugh. Or I say, Why do you need my ID? Don't I look like me? You know, I just, it is it is a thankless job. And even at hotels and so on, I love to try to get people to laugh. I think it's one of the things that I've learned to do over the years from probably doing radio, in college and other things. But I think it's so important that we try to make people feel at ease. And of course, there are a lot of people who are uncomfortable around a blind person. And there are people who are uncomfortable about people of other races. And so anything we can do to deal with, that is always worth doing, it seems to me,   Quenton McElveen ** 10:54 that's good to hear how you, you find a way to connect with someone by using humor. I do that quite often, almost every day on the job. And with strangers that I meet. I think there's humor and everything. And it bridges the gap between, like you said different different races. And it's an easy way for me to input hospitality, but humor by using humor, because oftentimes we go to businesses and restaurants, retail stores are just places where you feel like a transaction, like you walk in, they just want to give you what you want and get you out of there. You don't feel like they really care. You know, that number was like a robotic transaction. And I don't like that. So anytime I interact with someone or my current job or anywhere, I want to make sure they feel valued. How do you do   Michael Hingson ** 11:48 that? Can you tell me a story of where you had to do that once or where you decided to do it once?   Quenton McElveen ** 11:55 Sure, I do it quite easily. The easy target for me being in the south is football. I live in. I live in South Carolina. So the two top teams of discussion are University of South Carolina and Clemson. So usually when you talk to someone, you ask them, okay, Which team do you like? And if it's the Carolina person, I just sparked up friendship. If it's a Clemson person, it's a friendly rivalry that we can joke with back and forth. Yes, that's what I do very often. And being here to south. Well, yeah, go ahead. If they're not a college fan, we can quickly move to the NFL, you know, a sports fan. like to talk about their, you know, what they have on or their name. I find different clever ways to, to interact with people.   Michael Hingson ** 12:43 Let's get real serious here, though. So that works great for South Carolina. But what do you do when you get somebody from UNC North Carolina State or Duke? Who comes to visit?   Quenton McElveen ** 12:55 Just checking. We just, we just shift the basketball? Yeah, that's something I've done. Yeah, if you shoot the basketball, and if you're a UNC fan, and you may be casual, you don't really know what's going on. We could talk about the older the older days with Michael Jordan, or move forward. Vince Carter, and we can talk about those days. So   Michael Hingson ** 13:15 yeah, no, I understand. I remember going to a speaking event.   Quenton McElveen ** 13:22 At Oh, well,   Michael Hingson ** 13:25 I, it was somewhere right around Raleigh Durham. And I landed, got to the hotel, and I was gonna just order room service and eat in my room and watch a little bit of TV, which seems innocent enough. It was March, which gives you a clue. I hadn't even thought about it. And I was going to actually watch a TV show that used to be on CBS called without a trace. And I turned the TV on was his getting ready to order. And suddenly the announcer comes out and says the television shows normally broadcast at this time without a trace and whatever, are not going to be shown today because we're going to bring you the UNC North Carolina State basketball game that decides who goes to the championship. And you can watch without a trace at 1:02pm on Sunday morning. Yeah, who's gonna be up there watching that? But, you know, they, they really did take it seriously. It was it was fun. And so I I've watched enough to learn to get into the discussions, but I've been in several situations where sports is ruled what you do. I've had a couple of speaking engagements where I was told you have to end by a certain time so that we can end this event by a certain time, like once in Kentucky, because it was the final two for March Madness and the Wildcats were one of the two teams and they said this all ends at 630 Because by 630 One, this gym, it was in a gymnasium totally full, this gym will be totally empty by 631. And you know what it was? It was I'd never seen people get out so fast. Wow. But you know what? We know what their priority. That's right. We know what their priorities are. It was kind of fun. But I agree, I think humor is, is is an important thing. And it doesn't need to be humor that puts anyone down or anything, right? There's so many ways to make people feel more welcome. And I wish we could really all learn more of that. And even with serious discussions, like nowadays, you can't really talk to anybody about politics. And you can't because everyone takes it so seriously, we become so fractured, you know. But as I put, as I love to tell people, we don't do that on top of mindset, we don't talk about politics. But if we were to I would point out that I'm an equal opportunity abuser. So it doesn't really matter. It doesn't matter. I'm an equal opportunity abuser. I'm with Mark Twain Congress was that Grandal benevolent asylum for the helpless?   Quenton McElveen ** 16:13 So okay.   Michael Hingson ** 16:17 So everybody fits in the same mold. What do you want, but you know, politics is, it's just something that is, is so serious, and we're so steeped in some of that stuff today that we just can't converse about it. And we talk about humor, but the whole art of conversation. And so I'm sure that you were to spend a lot of time just having conversations with people, which helps make them feel more welcome.   Quenton McElveen ** 16:44 Right, and I was trying to meet people where they are, you can kind of have a dessert for people, I fill them out. So you know what they're comfortable with talking about. And that's just it. So I have different conversations with different people depending on the when you're going through at a time when they're already talking about. And so it's never a disrespectful conversation and never insulting. It's always uplifting. And something that builds you up. Have you ever had a   Michael Hingson ** 17:15 situation that where you just could not break through and talk to someone or they were just really obnoxious?   Quenton McElveen ** 17:20 Yeah, I've had quite a few of those. That's what I know just to if they wanted to be transactional. Okay, I'll do that for you. I'm not going to ask you how your day was or anything like that. I'm just going to complete this transaction. I'm going to provide the service that you want me to provide. And I got to be out your way. I'm not going to hold you up at all. Yeah, few and far between. But they happen though. Yeah, that's   Michael Hingson ** 17:48 unfortunate. And you know, you don't know what caused them to be that way. And maybe they're not always that way. But whatever. There's nothing that you can really do about that other than your best guess   Quenton McElveen ** 17:59 right? There. In the hotel industry, there's a difference between hotel leisure and hotel business. So these guests come in with two different needs. against us, they're on vacation, or they're there, they have all the time in the world to spend. So they're going to ask you a lot of questions like what's the best place to eat? And what should I visit while I'm here, they're gonna ask you engage in questions. But the business guests their their own business, they just want to run with a nice, big enough outlet to plug in their laptop and their cell phone and tablet. They don't need to know what a pool is. So why am I spending my time telling them about a pool? They don't need that. They don't want to know, the newest exciting thing in town. They're not here for that. So you got to know what's compensation the half? Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 18:52 I must admit that even if I'm somewhere for leisure, I do want to know where those outlets are. Yeah. To be able to plug things in and especially where the USB ports are these days, which is, which is getting to be more and more important, and probably rightly so.   Quenton McElveen ** 19:12 Yeah, and I believe hotel so far, some of them have done a great job of adapting to the, the new that new target market, because 20 years ago, we didn't need extra outlets, and of course, but now it's almost mandatory. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 19:29 And you got to have enough outlets to make it worthwhile this because people are bringing things that require them and they want them and it's all about convenience. That's right.   Quenton McElveen ** 19:41 Every note is that um, um, we talked about cell phones earlier. Now there are there are apps that you can connect with the desk before you even arrive. There are right before you had to pick up the phone or call now. They don't want you to call it as much now because sometimes you have to talk to a call center versus talking to the front desk. Yeah, well, that wasn't as big as it is now. So things are changing. And there   Michael Hingson ** 20:12 is a huge difference between talking to someone in a call center and talking to someone at the front desk. And I still prefer to call personally and speak to someone. And usually, I can figure out how to get around calling the call center, like if they want if you want to talk about reservations, and they can say, if you want to speak to somebody about reservations, push one, I pretty much am certain that's gonna go to a call center. And not interested in that. So secret, everybody, I just dial zero and go from there. But mostly, I have my act together before I go and have enough information is sent to me via email, or I can look at like the Hilton honors app, and get a lot of information right off the bat. So I get a lot of the data that I need, which is which is important.   Quenton McElveen ** 21:09 I want to I want to answer that. I'm glad you mentioned about that out. I think it's important for those who don't travel often or you're really not that into travel, you may or may not have out it whether you go to Hilton Marriott high Wyndham doesn't matter which brand you go to, I highly encourage you to download the app and do check in on the app, I would not wait to check in when you get there. But download the app and you can use it as a room key in some hotels, you don't have to have physical key. And if you check in on the hell, you don't have to stop by the front desk, unless you absolutely just want to, you can walk right past the front desk, you don't have to check in there and go straight to your room. That's so convenient. And there are times when hotels sell out. If you check it out, you put in much I guarantee your room, no matter what time you arrive, whether you get that midnight or after, if you've already checked in, they're not going to remove you from that room, right?   Michael Hingson ** 22:14 My challenge with some of that though, is in checking in and picking a room. Especially if there are different styles rooms that all fall into the category that I can choose. Not being able to see them and and then giving you the information through pictures. That's a problem for me. Okay, so I have a challenge with that. But I don't mind checking in, but I also still go to the front desk. And the reason I do is it being different enough. very frankly, I want people to know who I am. So they're they'll understand later if I ask questions or call and have a question or just come down or or whatever. So I don't mind speaking to the desk, but that's a personal thing. And it doesn't matter to me if it's business or personal or pleasure. It is still to me. Probably extremely helpful to speak to somebody at the desk.   Quenton McElveen ** 23:14 Right? I agree. It was good to get that personal interaction as well. Just connected with people. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 23:22 Where I see challenges for me a lot is going to a hotel. And they have a lot of hotels have these breakfasts in the morning, the free breakfast or whatever, and you go into this room and they can you can make a waffle or they've got pre made omelets and all that stuff. Sometimes they're not necessarily very good, but they're there. The problem is getting help to find out what's where and actually getting assistance to get things because, you know, unless I just go around with a fork and taste everything in each each container, you know, that's not gonna work very well.   Quenton McElveen ** 24:05 Well, normally, there are representatives that   Michael Hingson ** 24:08 well, there are tenants, but sometimes they're in the kitchen in the back washing dishes or whatever, or they step away. So it's just, they're not always there. And more often than not, it takes a while. But the other problem is, here's what usually happens when I find a breakfast attendant. i I'll go in and I'll stand for a second and usually I can find an attendant fairly quickly. So most of the time, they don't wander off, but then they say, Well, what do you want for breakfast? I don't know. I just got here. What do you have? You know, they always want to know and a lot of times that's why I hate it when people want to read me menus in restaurants and so on. If I go in and they don't have a Braille menu. I say to them, you know, I'd like to know what's on the menu. And then the question is what do you want? Well, you know, the the temptation, when that happens is to say something like, I want to roast duck dinner with stuffing, and other things like that, that I'm sure they're not going to have. Why are you asking me what I want? When I want to know, first of all, what's on the menu? How am I going to figure that out? It's kind of an interesting world we live in.   Quenton McElveen ** 25:22 Yeah. And that's a common question that I get to when I go to restaurants that I have not been to before. Let me see the menu first. And I'll be able to answer that question. Right. But I'll tell you what your hell first, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 25:33 yeah, because seeing the menu doesn't do good for me. Right. And it is a challenge to get people to recognize, well, I got to know what there is. First. There are some interesting apps, and they don't do as much as I would like. But there's a an app, for example, called menus for all. And it has some almost 800,000 different restaurant menus. And what you can do is you can just activate it when you're where you want to be. And it will tell you, starting from the closest going out what the menus are that they have. Unfortunately, I've been doing really well lately in the menus that I've wanted, or for the restaurants that I'm I know I'm at, they don't have. And so I still only get them the menu. There are other ways to get it. And there are a number of ways there's a program called Blind square that I can access. And when I do that,   Quenton McElveen ** 26:29 then   Michael Hingson ** 26:32 it'll see where I am. And blind square also is great at pulling up local menus, it actually goes into the website on its own, and finds it and discovers the menu and then it can read it out loud or whatever. But yeah, menus can be a challenge and restaurants. On the other hand, go to Embassy Suites, the chicken case, ideas are always good. Yes, so I can I can be in a rut pretty easily. In case the Diaz,   Quenton McElveen ** 27:05 if all else fails, go to Embassy Suites. That's a good place to eat.   Michael Hingson ** 27:10 And stay Yeah, it is. pricey. But but you know, there are there are always challenges. And mostly, I do find that people want to do the right thing. But of course, they want to do the right thing a lot more, when you make it joyful for them to want to do the right thing. So I think that's really important to address to   Quenton McElveen ** 27:34 you talking about just employees in general. I'm talking   Michael Hingson ** 27:37 about employees in general, and interacting with with the public employees are going to be more prone to interact with me, if I make it pretty clear that I value them and want to talk with them. And you know that we can have a good conversation as opposed to just being a jerk. That's right. That's right. I agree. So what do you love about the hospitality industry since you were in it for such a long time, and you're still sort of in it, if you will,   Quenton McElveen ** 28:09 it's come natural, to me, is something I've been doing my entire life. And just just being a part of having a job where you hospitality is something that you have to do. It's not hard at all, it comes natural. Even if I wasn't working, I will be doing something with hospitality. Even when I'm not working right now. Like if I go to a mall or something, something as simple as holding the door for the next person. Or something as simple down south, we say Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. I know that's not accepted everywhere. But it shows respect. Just making sure if if there was an accident that happened with someone, someone slips and falls, making sure they Okay, versus pulling your phone out for YouTube and Facebook, you know, just the old school stuff that it's not as valued as much today. So working in the hospitality, industry or working in hospitality, it gives you the opportunity to do that, to get paid for doing something that you love doing.   Michael Hingson ** 29:17 And that's really the issue, isn't it? It's all about making it a fun job and paying for what you love doing and getting paid for what you love doing.   Quenton McElveen ** 29:25 If there's my personality, we have a front of the house, or there is in front of the house and the back of the house for a reason. Not everyone wants to be up front talking to guests, and that's fine. This was the back of the house for and so and then in front of the house person, they don't necessarily want to be in the back. So it's a room for you. You don't have to be customer or guest facing to be in the hospitality industry. But   Michael Hingson ** 29:52 even so, there are going to be times when people in the back of the house are going to have to interact with customers and so they should I understand enough the value of doing it even though it may not be what they do regularly.   Quenton McElveen ** 30:03 That's true.   Michael Hingson ** 30:07 That's right. So it's kind of important. What's your most memorable moment? What's the thing that stands out to you the most about being in the hospitality industry or that happened to you?   Quenton McElveen ** 30:18 When I graduated in 2011, and I love this question. I moved to New Orleans never been there before. Don't have any family there. I moved there, because I have a great opportunity. And it's a culture shock. Coming from South Carolina to New Orleans, they don't even speak the same type of English. So I had to learn English again. When I first touched down in the in the airport, the lady said, she asked me how I was doing but she said, how you doing baby? And I thought she liked me something because she called me baby. But no, that's and then as I continue to go along, that's just how they greet one another there by saying, baby. That's it. Oh, okay. So it's a whole lot different. So my most memorable moment in the hotel industry was opening or reopening the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Hotel was destroyed by a bit of real bad by Hurricane Katrina. Katrina, right. And I was part of that team that reopened it. So I when it comes to mattresses and pillows, sofas, I was part of that team just restocking the rooms, getting them prepared, ready to open. I even had a hand and the 10 replacement in the bathrooms. So that was a big part of my idea. If you're still like that today, how wasn't that when I was there? Notice something I could have credit for. Many years later,   Michael Hingson ** 32:04 I stayed at that hotel. I remember it. It's been a while, but I've been there. And we're attended a couple of conventions in New Orleans as well.   Quenton McElveen ** 32:12 Around what year? It   Michael Hingson ** 32:15 was, it was pre Katrina. Okay. I'm trying to think if I'd been if I've been there since I may have been there once since. But I know I did pre Katrina, and I think I was in New Orleans once and did stay there. And it was after Katrina, but it was several years after I Katrina hit. And then I was also Hurricane Rita, in Texas. And I was in Texas, when all of that happened. And so I got to see a lot of what was going on like in Beaumont, Texas, and around and around there and how people were having to deal with it. It was definitely a sad situation. Yeah. And people were homeless because of what happened. And sometimes I remember it was very difficult to break through to people and get people to smile. And, and I worked at it pretty hard. Course, in one sense, it's easier for me having a guide dog because most everyone loves to pet a Labrador golden retriever. And right, especially when the dog comes up and pushes his or her nose right under your hand and says I'm here. Time to talk to me. And people love that. Yeah.   Quenton McElveen ** 33:34 Now I'm actually working at a property of my   Michael Hingson ** 33:37 current dog would say let me jump in your lap. But that's another story. You're gonna say.   Quenton McElveen ** 33:43 I once worked at a property where we had a adopted dog program. Uh huh. So there was a dog in the hotel lobby by the front desk 24/7 until someone came to adopt that pet and then when that pet got adopted, they brought a new dog in and that was that was interesting and people love to come in and like you said pet pet the dog that we had in at the time.   Michael Hingson ** 34:12 Yeah. Quite she had to have a dog that would tolerate being loved by lots of people but that's fine. Yes.   Quenton McElveen ** 34:20 The only we have many problems so one dog that we had to we had to send back because didn't like the pit   Michael Hingson ** 34:32 only dogs oh no cats, huh? No kiss. Yeah, there's there are differences there and cats would be a different situation all the way around anyway. But still, that's neat that they did that. Where was that? What was what hotel was that? Where was that?   Quenton McElveen ** 34:50 This is actually in Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina.   Michael Hingson ** 34:56 Do they still have that program? Do you think   Quenton McElveen ** 34:59 I'm gonna Sure, I would imagine that they do. But I'm not 100% Sure. That's cool. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 35:07 Now I have been to the Peabody Hotel in Tennessee, where, you know, they have the ducks that go over the bridge every day. And we watched the ducks and my dog was very interested in those ducks. The thing is with with her, she liked ducks. We actually had ducks. That came up on our patio, in Northern California, in Novato, California, we were lived on a lagoon and the ducks would come up because we fed them bread. And if my dog just laid down, they would surround her need to quack at her and so on. And as long as she didn't make any sudden moves, they were they were fine course what she loved to do was suckered them all to getting close by and then she would jump up, and they would all fly away. She loved to watch them. flyweight did not do. But but she she was absolutely very, very sociable and loved them. That was her visit version of hospitality, right? Because she really did she loved the ducks. And, and, and actually, they all got along really well. So it was kind of cool. Nice. Nice. Yeah, it is.   Quenton McElveen ** 36:25 Well, so   Michael Hingson ** 36:29 what? So what is the the hospitality industry taught you what have you learned from being in it for such a long time.   Quenton McElveen ** 36:37 So working in the industry, you meet people from all walks of life, it teaches you diversity. So coming from a small city in South Carolina, where you run the same atmosphere all the time, and that's all you see, once you move out, like for example, when I moved to New Orleans, or, or moved back to South Carolina, and worked in a few different cities in South Carolina, you meet people that fly in from all over the world, really. So it expands a broaden your horizons, you get to interact with a lot of different ethnicities. So it definitely teaches you diversity, teaches you patience, because not everyone has an enjoy, they have time. Let me say it another way. Some people run into some issues, like maybe some accident happened at room was a cleaner web, whatever the case, was it tissue patients because you want to sit down and listen to them completely, and then solve their problem, you don't want to just cut them off. And then to solve the problem, you want to listen to them first. Because that's one way that they're going to feel value. They think that it matter if you listen to them first. So it teaches you that patience, and it teaches you really be a better person. It really does. So because if you didn't have the opportunity to know that, just because you think something is a good idea your co worker is from another country or from another city, another background, they have a completely different idea. And there isn't wrong, yours isn't wrong either. Is is different, you got to figure out a way to come together for the greater good of the assignment that you're on or the greater good of the property and work it out. And it's good to see some from another lens. You've only you only can speak on your life experiences. If you've never experienced something different How can you give a valid input on your coworker has and vice versa. And so that's another way of just broadening horizons. And having a problem solving skills is transferable to any industry that you transfer to your personal life, being able to problem solve, because it's not gonna be perfect every day. There's no two days of like something something's always going to need attention done to it. And if you've done so many times, just being just being a human being, you're gonna have to put those things into practice at some point outside of your job. Yeah. And one thing that I'm not sure if people know it or not, but I won't point they didn't work in in the hotel industry has a lot of transferable skills. Like as we stated before, I currently work in the healthcare industry, but a lot of stuff that I use, I learned from working in hotel talking to a guest with a patient but I call them guests that maybe were frustrated with them. Well, let me tell you the story. Listen, this happened last week. Last week, I got a call that we had a guest that was actually blind guests. And he struggled with getting around in our facility, he, he was able to get dropped off there by the transportation company. And he was able to get picked up. But why he was there. He didn't. He didn't receive the help that he needed. So he told, he told him, the person, his caregiver. And he told me because I worked with guests, the guests experience department. And we met at work. So the next time you come, give us a call, we ensure that you get around to your destination while you're in the building. And when you leave, make sure you get back to the front door. And I got a I got feedback on this week that he saw the difference that he really enjoyed us taking the time to make sure that he was taking care of it. So that looked that's come from the hotel industry. And that was something I love to do. I love to take care of someone.   Michael Hingson ** 41:02 So you think you probably wouldn't have necessarily learned that if it hadn't been for being in the hotel and hospitality industry for so long.   Quenton McElveen ** 41:09 I wouldn't have been exposed to it the way that I have been so would have reacted, maybe not the same. But just my upbringing, I'd love to help people in a way, but going about it in such a way to get it done as quick as seamless as possible. The hotel industry has taught me how to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 41:29 How would you describe your leadership style? Because clearly, you've progressed in the hospitality industry, and you must have been in managerial and leadership positions. And obviously, in college, you did some things that that would mark you as a leader. So what's your style?   Quenton McElveen ** 41:47 Yeah, so yes, I have had some, several manager positions in front of the house, and back of the house with rooms and food and beverage, and my leadership style is charismatic. And hands on down in the trenches with them. We're going to get our work done, but we want to have fun doing it as well. If you're going to laugh joke, you're going to go to see some humor, I want you to feel comfortable, I want you to feel like you matter. It's not a dictatorship, it's not a strong on ruler, ship. Your opinion is needed and is necessary. And as leader, I'm going to frontline not going to ask you to do something that I would not do. So charismatic would be the answer to that.   Michael Hingson ** 42:35 Have you had Oh, go ahead.   Quenton McElveen ** 42:38 Let me give you a housekeeping story. Many times in a hotel industry you have to you're gonna have to pitch in and help housekeeping which is understood, very common. So it doesn't matter that you got a brand new suit on that you bought rolled sleeves up and get in there, make them beds and help clean, that's what managers do. You don't just tell somebody else to do it. And so there have been times where I'm helping house he was in a room to know when to quit, we got it, you go back up to the front, we'll take care of it for you. So that respect level they have they know that I'm willing to help. But in that particular case, they wanted me to they didn't want me to do it that they want me to help it in other ways.   Michael Hingson ** 43:27 But you said a message by what you did that you're willing to help and assist them. Because they they also have a lot they're dealing with so you kind of have their back.   Quenton McElveen ** 43:39 Right? At a town of a family this is is actually international housekeeping. We I'm not in the industry anymore. But this week is special. It's a it's a time where you use your resources and use the time to celebrate housekeepers. And I absolutely love this week. And just scrolling through my feed. There's a lot of different things that are being done this week. There's one hotel, they're getting all the housekeepers a pedicure, but a spa day a lot of celebrations, a lot of food, a lot of acknowledgments. And just think of the hotel industry without housekeeping. You know, hotel would last because they are the heart of the hotel. You   Michael Hingson ** 44:33 in dealing with a lot of different people and all that. Have you had any employee situations that you've inherited, for example, where, again, somebody just didn't respond and you had to take some action because they were not being hospitable?   Quenton McElveen ** 44:52 Yes, yes. There's two I can think of right now. One case it was Is that like, you come in, and you're working, you're working with the public. Like I say, you want to be hospitable, if you just want to come in and just be transactional. I don't want to tell about the exact the exact things that happened. But if you just slipped, somehow slipped through the cracks through the interview, like you played the safe in the interview, and you act it well, but you get the job, and you're totally different person. That's not going to last, well, this isn't going to last long, I should say. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 45:32 And cuz you can't hide it forever. Right? After   Quenton McElveen ** 45:37 about three months is usually a time. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 45:44 It is something that people are going to pick up on. Again, it's so much easier to have fun and enjoy life and encourage others to do the same thing anyway.   Quenton McElveen ** 45:57 Well, one thing that I really enjoy about another thing about working in hotel industry, as I got older,   Quenton McElveen ** 46:05 my focus really wasn't so much. Me, of course, I know I'm going to do a good job. But I want to see how can I develop a team, I kind of lead others to be successful, I kind of build up others to match their dreams and goals, because not everyone wants to be a manager and hold change. Not everyone wants your job. Some people are they're working through school, some people have a spouse that's working, and they just want a second job. Find out what motivates everyone. And that'll help you be a better manager to them. And if you align with your people's needs, they're definitely going to align with yours as well. And, for example, let's say you have your short staffed one day, if you're not a good manager, if you don't treat your team with respect, you can make the phone calls or call people in your phone, you might not get the answer. But then they see, okay, this manager respects me. Let me answer the phones, if they want it, yeah, come in, even even to come in. That makes a big difference in how you treat people. And being a leader, not just a manager, a boss, you get a chance to really change people's lives for the better. And that brings more joy than just by anything. Because I always treat my employees as they were just about treatment, I guess, then I don't, there's no doubt in my mind, they're going to treat the guests. Well, because they see that manager do.   Michael Hingson ** 47:33 You just said something really interesting, you talked about a leader or a manager, or just the boss, what's the difference between a boss and say, a manager or a leader?   Quenton McElveen ** 47:45 Well put boss, a manager in the same category. So a manager, they have a certain task and incomplete goal that they need to reach, they're gonna just reach that goal, and they're going to tell you to go do it. They're part of that airplane is delegation. That's the main part of what they do. Leader, yes, they're gonna delegate as well. But they're going to do it with you, they're going to make sure that you have all the tools that you need to complete the task, the delegation, they're gonna do some of that some of them with you on the front lines. So they while they're on the front lines, now we get to know each other, we've moved on from small talk. Now, I might know something about your family. Now I know about your interest was your favorite ice cream. So when your birthday your birthday gets here, I can give you that? A manager, they don't really care about all those details that much. Just come in, do your job, and and keep it moving. So there's a there's a big difference between a manager and a leader. And I always want to be the leader that I want my layout that I want to have. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 49:03 I think it's important to be a leader in the really good managers learn to assess who has what leadership qualities and know when to give up leadership to somebody else on the team to deal with something that they need to deal with.   Quenton McElveen ** 49:20 Yes, I 100% agree with that. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 49:24 we experienced a lot of that in the World Trade Center, going down in escaping on September 11. There were different people that had different skills that that worked at different times. And and even working with my guide dog, there were times that the dog was able to guide because we could walk side by side and there were times that the dog couldn't be next to me and had to walk behind me just at heel on leash. But, you know, the bottom line is that for the team of me and a guide dog, we both respected each other and I think that's The biggest issue with teams and team building overall, is to develop a true respect among all the team members and that the leader of the team knows, and learns to understand the qualities and abilities of everybody on the team to know exactly that when to allow someone else to take the lead to accomplish something.   Quenton McElveen ** 50:23 Yes, there are several times in department meetings, that was something that we had to accomplish or go over. There are times I would open up the floor until tell the team okay, this is what we need to accomplish. Does anybody have any ideas, I mean, it might be an acid that I have. But reverence is given all the answers, empower somebody else to join in, and give them a chance to lead. And you start to see what you have a lot of stress on your team, if you just allow them to contribute, that have made them that have made them better employees and make them better leaders. I've seen where I've seen housekeepers turn into housekeeping managers. I've had a Front Desk Agent turn into a general manager made throughout progression of the Maya leadership. Yeah. So empowering employee empowerment shoes, for me is a big part of my own. What I do as a leader,   Michael Hingson ** 51:26 well, and as you, let's go back to your discussion, you're having a discussion with people and you say, what, what are your ideas, please contribute? And somebody said something, and you assess, and then maybe make the decision to say, Okay, would you be willing to coordinate starting and working this project, which is, of course, part of what you're saying, it's very important to be able to do that. And I think that that's extremely important. And it shows that people value the people that they work with. And I also believe that good leaders are also servants and Rita understand that, Oh,   Quenton McElveen ** 52:08 yeah. That that goes into employee engagement as well. Once you get your employee engaged, then you don't necessarily have to worry as much about what they're doing whenever you're not around. Because they have an assignment, like you just mentioned, and the deadline, they're going to be working on getting that assignment done. And if somebody is engaged, they're more likely to stay because you want to be somewhere where you feel like you have some type of value. I'm thinking everyone just wants to come in to a place where they know no one wants him to be there. So that employee engagement is another thing as well, that's a big part of my leadership style.   Michael Hingson ** 52:50 I work when I'm dealing with my teams, whenever it is, to get people to understand that I don't want you to just feel that this is a job, I want you to have fun, I want you to come because you want to. And I think that I have to have fun, and I have to set that example. But I want people not to think that a job is just a job, but it is what we're doing. And we're working together. And we're making a difference. And part of my job is to show people when they make a difference and how they make a difference and why that's so important.   Quenton McElveen ** 53:29 In today's world, you know the the generations change from Baby Boomers to Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z, the 10 years of the length of time someone stays at a company, it changes. You used to see those that stay at a job for 20 plus years. You don't see that as often now, usually the generation now or Millennials or generation after us because I'm a millennial, my standard job for three years or so? No, maybe less than that. Maybe more now, but I would say three years is probably a good average. And the some of the reasons why they would take a position at another job because they don't feel as value. Another job might offer them something that they can't get at their current position. That's one of the reasons. And as I think that we need to kind of as, as leaders of businesses and companies just kind of evaluate how can we get our employees to stay longer? What can we do? Will it help our bottom line and we figure out a way to keep the longer or I think that's a discussion that needs to be had.   Michael Hingson ** 54:52 You think companies are doing that at all and are catching on to the fact that that probably is a sensible thing or do you think that People just still are viewing workers as commodities without really looking at the person. Because my impression is that there's a lot of that that goes on today,   Quenton McElveen ** 55:12 I think is a topic of discussion. Um, I honestly don't know, what's, what's being done. The the gig economy has played a big part in that. Because so the generation now they can just go quit. And okay, I'll drive Uber for a few months until I can find something else, or am I stupid, permanently, that this was not an option 2030 years ago, that you couldn't take a job like that. Or somebody might say, I'm going to be a content creator. So I'm gonna make my money online. So there are more options now than ever before. And because of those options, it should be some action taken within corporate America. Something that we got to learn?   Michael Hingson ** 56:08 Well, you talked about the lessons that you learn in the hospitality industry that you take to life. How about the other way? What have you learned outside of the hospitality industry that you brought into your work in the hotel industry,   Quenton McElveen ** 56:20 there's something that feels right now it's called Emotional Intelligence. I've never heard of that before. Maybe I'm late to the late to it. Or maybe I think I'm just rattling time. But I've never heard of emotional intelligence before. And the industry that I'm in now, as you teach it as a coach, is understanding how your emotions affects others around you, and how it affects your actions as well. And the fact I've been studying this and teaching it to others, like I've improved my performance as far as having conversations with others, because I understand now, how my actions, even though I might not be trying to do something negative, or I might not be trying to act a certain way, it might come off as a certain way. Emotional Intelligence has taught me that. So that's something I've implemented. And I'm going to use this forever. So pretty cool. So   Michael Hingson ** 57:24 in the world, you we all tend to be inspired by people who's the person who's most inspired you.   Quenton McElveen ** 57:31 Person that as far as me right now is my wife. But she's she's given gives me the motivation that I need to go to go in and move our family forward every day. So my wife is my biggest motivation right now.   Michael Hingson ** 57:51 I had a conversation actually with someone earlier today, and we were talking about that very thing. And he asked who inspired me and I mentioned, my geometry teacher from high school did herbal Shimer, but certainly another person and the person who, if I also were to really talk about inspiration would be my wife, Karen, who was married to me for 40 years until she passed, but 40 years, a lot of memories. But in so many ways, and I even in the book I wrote about the World Trade Center in my life, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man has guide dog on the triumph of trust, to talk about that, and talk about some of the things that she did that. I think only she would think of that I certainly didn't, until she brought it up. It just really helped me make some very wise choices. I always thought she was brighter than I anyway. So you switch from directly being in the hospitality industry, the health care industry? What what caused that? And what do you do now? I think you've told us some of that, but that's a pretty big change going from one to the other in a sense that would seem   Quenton McElveen ** 59:05 Yeah. Really well cause is it 2020 During the the height of the pandemic, the situation that I was in in the hotel at the time, it became a hazardous situation because the room rates went down, a lot of the staffing went down. And the environment wasn't a good environment at time. So just so I can be safer and be closer to my family. I accepted a position outside of the hotel industry, hard decision to make because it's an issue that I love that I'm passionate about. But then I found something called a guest experience coach. So wait a minute, is this a hotel job or something? What's the guest experience coaches doing in healthcare? A job so I looked it up. And it was really, if teaching people and instilling in them what I've learned so many years as a manager in the hotel industry, but teaching it to healthcare workers. And so as a guest experience Coach, what I do is I travel around different campuses of my of my company that train on different subjects like the emotional intelligence, training on telephone etiquette, and how to handle difficult guests, and many other topics as well. So that's what I do now, very similar to what I've done in the past. Do   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:39 you think that you would go back into the hotel industry directly in the future? Are you really happy where you are now?   Quenton McElveen ** 1:00:47 Yeah, so I'd love the opportunity to re enter in a role similar to what I'm doing now where you can use your experience and coaching build others up, like a learning and development manager, or even in a role supporting operations. Like, like, I told you, my biggest, my biggest memory or not remember, you asked him what was my biggest something? I did? And I told you that was New Orleans. My most memorable, memorable moment. Yeah, yes. Opening up a property? I absolutely. That was a great experience. There are there are positions that are that you do just that you go around and you open property. So I would love to re enter the industry will give you an opportunity. Well, hopefully that will happen. Yeah, I believe it will. Well, I   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:45 want to thank you for being with us. We've had a lot of fun over this last hour. And I think you've said a lot of very interesting and important things that we can all take to heart I love your view of leadership and, and a lot of the things that you've said, and I've spent enough time around the hospitality industry, I think to understand it, like I said, I I enjoy dealing with people to and helping to have people feel welcome. And and I know that for me being different because of being blind. It's very helpful to do that. So I I love getting the validation of your philosophy and I appreciate that.   Quenton McElveen ** 1:02:25 Listen Michael, Michael, thank you again, it's a great opportunity to be here with you. And I'm honored that you will allow me to be on your platform. So I appreciate what you do here. And I thank you.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:35 Do you do any coaching privately? Or do you just do it for the healthcare industry? You don't have your own sort of side hustle business?   Quenton McElveen ** 1:02:42 I currently I don't have that, but that's something I've been looking into thinking about.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:47 Well, yeah, if you do, let us know, because we'll let people know. But if people want to reach out to you, is there a way they can do that? Or do you have any contact information that you want to tell people?   Quenton McElveen ** 1:02:58 Sure. You can find me on LinkedIn, you can just type in Quentin McElveen. Can you spell the active on there? Sure. Q u e n t i n says Quentin and McElveen is M c E l v as a Victor e e n. So Quentin McElveen. easiest to find on there and I'm on there pretty often. So that's that's the best place to end to interact with me. That's how we found you. Yes, that's right.   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:35 I'm very glad that we did. Well. Thanks for being here. Thanks for listening. We really appreciate it. I hope that you enjoyed what Quentin had to say today and that some of it resonates. Reach out to Quentin, establish a connection and make a new friend all the way around. For my part, I'd love to hear from you hear what you think about today. Give us up an email at Michaelhi at accessibe.com That's m i c h a e l h i at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or visit our podcast page WW dot Michael Hingson H i n g s o n.com/podcast. And wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We really value those ratings and would very much appreciate you saying that you liked us. And if you've had some things that you want to say about it, let us know. Email me I would love to hear from you. Get your thoughts again. It's Michaelhi at accessibe.com. I know Quentin would like to hear from you as well. And when we all get the chance maybe we'll have to do this again, Quentin, when you go back into the hotel industry, we'll have to just hear what new adventures come up. But I want to one more time. Tell you thank you very much for being here and giving us the opportunity to chat with you.   Quenton McElveen ** 1:04:53 Well, I'm looking forward to that I want that to happen as well. I look forward to   **Michael Hingson ** 1:05:03 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Lawyer Jim Griffin stated, "We feel vindicated on the facts." He added, "There's an innocent man here who was wrongly convicted."    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Lawyer Jim Griffin stated, "We feel vindicated on the facts." He added, "There's an innocent man here who was wrongly convicted."    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a daylong evidentiary hearing, Judge Jean Toal has denied convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial. The hearing centered on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had tampered with the jury and tainted the verdict.    Following extensive testimony from all 12 jurors who served in Murdaugh's trial and Rebecca Hill, Judge Toal made her ruling. Toal noted that while Hill's credibility as a witness was questionable, her actions did not ultimately influence the jury's decision.    "I simply do not believe that our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court," Judge Toal stated.    During her testimony, Hill vehemently denied tampering with the jury for financial gain or any other reason. She stated, "I did not have a conversation with any juror about any topic related to this case." When questioned about her book about the trial, Hill emphasized that the verdict's outcome did not matter to her, whether it was guilty, not guilty, or a mistrial.    Hill revealed that she had earned approximately $100,000 from the sales of her self-published book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which she co-authored. However, the book was withdrawn from sale last month after it was discovered that Hill had plagiarized a passage from a BBC News article.    Following Hill's testimony, Rhonda McElveen, the court clerk of Barnwell County who had assisted Hill during Murdaugh's trial, provided conflicting testimony. McElveen stated that Hill had made comments suggesting that a guilty verdict would be more advantageous for book sales.    Alex Murdaugh, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and accompanied by his legal team, was present in the packed courtroom during the hearing. After Judge Toal's ruling, Murdaugh's lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision.    Lawyer Jim Griffin stated, "We feel vindicated on the facts." He added, "There's an innocent man here who was wrongly convicted."    Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent personal injury lawyer, had been found guilty in the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The evidentiary hearing aimed to determine whether Murdaugh's appeal for a new trial should be granted based on allegations of jury tampering raised by his defense.    Throughout the hearing, Judge Toal focused on Hill's testimony and the statements of former jurors to assess the validity of the tampering allegations. While most jurors denied that Hill's communications had influenced their guilty verdict, one juror, referred to as Juror Z, initially claimed that Hill had instructed the jury not to be fooled by Murdaugh and to watch him closely.    However, Juror Z's testimony during the hearing contradicted her earlier affidavit, leading to further questioning by Judge Toal. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had accessed Juror Z's testimony on their cellphones during a break, violating Toal's instructions.    Despite the outcome of the murder appeal, Alex Murdaugh will remain in prison. In November, he received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes against his clients, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence for similar financial crimes pleaded guilty to in September. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Leonard McElveen has over 40 years of leadership experience, mostly focused in leading homeless missions in Michigan and Colorado. Listen in and hear about his incredible conversion as a drug dealer to a faithful follower of Christ. Leonards offers a ton of excellent leaders advice along with much biblical wisdom for all Believers. Support the showBe sure to rate and follow our podcast!

In this week's episode - #90! - we talk to gravel and mountain biker - and The Adventure Stache podcast host - Payson McElveen aboutMaking FKT attemptsHow he got into mountain biking & gravel ridingHow he fuels for training, racing and in the off-seasonBorn and raised outside Austin, Tex., Payson McElveen relocated to Durango, CO in 2012 to pursue Exercise Science at collegiate cycling powerhouse Fort Lewis College as well as his dream of becoming a professional mountain biker. Following graduation in 2016, his career began to take off, but not necessarily in the manner he'd expected. Rather than pursue the traditional route of XC that involves World Cup racing and Olympic aspirations, he gravitated towards longer events after a career-altering experience at the 6-day Mongolia Bike Challenge. A year later, he won his first professional national title at the 2017 Marathon Mountain Bike Championships, and a second title in 2018, successes that helped land dream sponsor Red Bull. This further spurred a commitment to longer events which were exploding in popularity at the time. Now splitting his time between off-road endurance disciplines and a focus on the Lifetime Grand Prix, Payson has continued to enjoy success at the biggest gravel events in the world, including three wins at The Mid-South, and podium finishes at the Leadville 100, Unbound 200, SBT GRVL and more. While his athletic achievements are notable, Payson strives to have a multi-faceted impact on the sport. Through his popular “The Adventure Stache” podcast, films, and innovative physical challenges such as FKTs and a first single push crossing of Iceland, he hopes to inspire riders to think about the sport in new ways. While racing remains his first and greatest love on the bike, he hopes to have an impact that extends far beyond the finish line.Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis and treatment.***Mentioned:Supplements that Improve Performance CourseStay connected with Payson:PaysonMcElveen.comInstagram: @paysonmcelveen / @theadventurestacheYouTubeProductsGU RoctaneScience in SportMaurten BarsMORE NR New customers save 10% off all products on our website with the code NEWPOD10 If you would like to work with our practitioners, click here: https://nutritional-revolution.com/work-with-us/ Save 20% on all supplements at our trusted online source: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/kchannell Join Nutritional Revolution's The Feed Club to get $20 off right away with an additional $20 Feed credit drop every 90 days.: https://thefeed.com/teams/nutritional-revolution Interested in blood testing? Use code NUTRITIONALREVOLUTION at InsideTracker for 20% off any test: store.insidetracker.com/nutritionalrevolution If you're interested in sponsoring Nutritional Revolution Podcast, shoot us an email at nutritionalrev@gmail.com.

I believe God has a purpose for my life but how do I know what it is? When life doesn't make sense, is God really there and in control? If you've ever asked questions like these, this episode is for you! Today, we have a truly extraordinary guest with us, someone whose journey through life is a testament to the relentless pursuit of the Lord in all situations and His trustworthiness with our stories.  Audrey McElveen's story is one of beauty emerging from hardship that will definitely touch your heart. Audrey's story is a beautiful, yet challenging one. It is a tale of how the Lord pursued her in her time of need. But this story is more than just a narrative; it's a testament to the divine orchestration of our lives for God's good purposes. Her passion for basketball became a conduit for God's grace, birthing a ministry and leading her towards a future she could have never imagined.  Her story is full of joy, authenticity, and inspiration. She and her husband, Micah, are the founders of Vapor Ministries. Today, Vapor Ministries operates multiple ministry centers in multiple countries, serving hundreds of thousands on a weekly basis and employing hundreds of indigenous people. Each year, Vapor Ministries is serving tens of millions of cups of clean water and hundreds of thousands of meals through centers and providing health services to people in desperate need. As you hear Audrey's story today, I pray it is a powerful reminder that even in our most desperate moments there is a loving Father who does not withhold His good gifts from His children and is writing a beautiful story in the process. So, I challenge you to lean in and immerse yourselves in this inspiring story of trust, love, and the incredible journey of a soul pursued by the Lord for His glory and purpose. To find out more about Vapor Ministries, visit https://www.vaporministries.org

On this episode of the podcast, Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gabriella Ortiz interview the returning Joy McElveen about her experiences during the holiday season. Joy shares her story of finding joy and positivity at Burning Man, despite the unexpected rainstorms. She encourages listeners to face their fears and take time to appreciate the small wins, reach out to those they care about, listen to classic holiday music, and the importance of quality time and experiences over material gifts. "After We Wrap" is a podcast hosted by actresses Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gabriella Ortiz. They have candid conversations about life, love, the entertainment industry, occasionally inviting special guests to join in on the conversation. It's the end of the day, let your hair down, drink some wine, and join Jaina and Gabriella for an authentic and engaging look into their lives and the world around them. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow Joy McElveen: https://www.instagram.com/joy.mcelveen/ Join our "After Party": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.patreon.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the show's socials: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/@afterwewrapshow⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.tiktok.com/@afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.facebook.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.twitter.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jaina Lee Ortiz: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://ww.instagram.com/jainaleeortiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Gaby Ortiz: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/gabygabs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Shane Hartline ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/shane_hartline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kylehelf/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sound Mixer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.jakelloydbacon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For business inquiries contact: afterwewrapshow@gmail.com

In Paul Murdaugh's Friend William McElveen, we review the testimony of a young man who spent many hours with the Murdaugh family through his friendship with the defendant's murdered son.Crime Story Media has begun to migrate content from the CrimeStory.com website to our Patreon. For more of Crime Story and Jury Duty — including ad-free episodes of the upcoming season; Kary Antholis's Storyteller Interviews with ground-breaking, award-winning storytellers like David Simon and George Pelecanos; and all of our Amanda Knox Project opinion pieces and interviews— subscribe on Patreon for just $5 per month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel's guest is Jason McElveen, President of KYX Sneakers. KYX Sneakers is an innovative online shopping site for premium used sneakers. McElveen and the KYX Sneakers team are redefining the sneaker market with a revolutionary Sneaker Rating System, professional cleaning, and authentication. McElveen is an experienced filmmaker and actor with a demonstrated history of working in the motion pictures and film industry. He's skilled in retail, sales, improvisation, and film. He has strong media and communication skills and a graduate of Wofford College.

What is up party people. First off I want to give a special shout to all the Bonk Bros fans out there who came up to us at the races this past weekend to let us know how much y'all enjoy the show. After all, if it we're for all of y'all we wouldn't keep recording these things. Alright we've got another banger episode for y'all this week as we brought Payson McElveen (@paysonmcelveen) on the show this week to talk all things Life Time Grand Prix, Chequamegon, crazy international adventures, loads of hot takes, and of course we rant on Sepp Kuss taking the W at the Vuelta last week. So kick back and enjoy the back and forth banter between fellow podcast Jedis for the better part of the next hour.    If you have any questions or feedback for the show drop us a note at bonkbrospodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on the Bonk Bros Instagram page (@bonkbros @dylanjawnson @adamsaban6 @tylerclouti @raddaddizzle @scottmcgilljr).   Big shout to our Patreon supporters helping us keep things running. If you too want to support the Bonk Bros hit up that Patreon link in the show notes (http://patreon.com/patreon_bonkbros). And if you want a sick Bonk Bros dad hat, hit up the link in the show notes (https://my-store-e1e3c4.creator-spring.com/listing/hat-7287 | https://my-store-e1e3c4.creator-spring.com/listing/sticker-3974). Alright let's get this party started.    Patreon: http://patreon.com/patreon_bonkbros   For more Dylan Johnson content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIf1xvRN8pzyd_VfLgj_dow Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl on Pixabay.com: https://pixabay.com/music/id-111445/ 

Out of Bounds – E270 – Payson McElveen Rumpl –  Code: OUTOFBOUNDS – Weatherproof all-season blankets, made from recyclable materials and super packable. Ideal for camping, picnics, beach days and just being damn f'ing cozy. Follow the Out Of Collective Network: MERCH – getthecollective.com Instagram @outofcollective Twitter @outofpodcast Tiktok @outofpodcast [...] The post Out of Bounds – E270 – Payson McElveen appeared first on Out Of Collective.

Payson McElveen probably needs no introduction. Among many of his achievements he is a Red Bull Athlete, 2x Marathon National Champion, 2x MidSouth Campion, and he is the host of the popular Adventure Stache Podcast. He's also a wizard at production and social media which has added to his visibility. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup, show links, and photo galley from todays episode! EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz ~ Get $20 off any pair of Ombraz, just use code “bikesordeath20” at checkout. As a bonus, Ombraz will send $20 to BoD as a thank you

Could archery become a dying sport? If the Biden administration (and some Republicans) get their way, the answer will be Yes! Then, Karoline welcomes Josh McElveen, the former political director at WMUR, to the show to discuss the stark difference between local and legacy media. He shares one story guaranteed to galvanize your fight against the mainstream narrative.

In Episode 9, hosts Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gaby Ortiz engage in a powerful conversation with the multi-talented Joy McElveen. Joy, an artist, actress, and creator of Joy Everywhere Inc, shares her unique insights as a children's guru. Tune in to hear about the profound needs of kids today, the phenomenon of 'iPad babies', the impact of generational trauma, and much more. This episode is a compelling exploration of childhood dynamics in our modern world. "After We Wrap" is a podcast hosted by actresses Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gabriella Ortiz. They have candid conversations about life, love, the entertainment industry, occasionally inviting special guests to join in on the conversation. It's the end of the day, let your hair down, drink some wine, and join Jaina and Gabriella for an authentic and engaging look into their lives and the world around them. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ If you're struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click ⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/afterwewrap⁠⁠ for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs. Join our "After Party": ⁠⁠http://www.patreon.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the show's socials: YouTube: ⁠⁠YouTube.com/@afterwewrapshow⁠ ⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.tiktok.com/@afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.facebook.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.twitter.com/afterwewrapshow⁠⁠⁠ Follow Joy McElveen: https://www.instagram.com/joy.mcelveen/ Follow Jaina Lee Ortiz: ⁠⁠⁠http://ww.instagram.com/jainaleeortiz⁠⁠⁠ Follow Gaby Ortiz: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/gabygabs⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Shane Hartline ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/shane_hartline⁠⁠ DP: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kylehelf/⁠⁠ Sound Mixer: ⁠⁠http://www.jakelloydbacon.com⁠⁠ For business inquiries contact: afterwewrapshow@gmail.com

Leonard McElveen visits C3 for the first time as Guest Teacher to focus on The Power of Decisions.

“It's a slippery slope, you will get addicted.” Rob and Eliot's tour guide is Red Bull athlete, Payson McElveen; professional mountain biker and serial champion. He talks about his love of endurance riding, the freedom that comes with gravel riding and what it is about the community that has got everyone wanting to find out more. They compare gravel with the early days of mountain biking and ask the questions we all want to know; how much of the course is gravel? Where did it come from? And, most importantly, what is the spirit of gravel? Check out Payson's podcast, The Adventure Stache New episodes are released every other Tuesday. You can listen on redbull.com or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch these episodes on Red Bull TV. Get in touch with us @robwarner970 & @eliotjackson or email us at podcast@redbull.com

When Payson McElveen rode across Iceland in a single pull a few years ago, he found something in that effort that's not present in his racing career and immediately knew he wanted to follow it up with something in the same vein. So he dusted off his globe, and after an immense amount of planning, he put together a monster route across Tasmania, spanning 360 miles and nearly 35,000 feet of climbing — most of it on dirt — and set out to ride the whole thing straight through. And while the physical effort to do so was immense, Payson does an incredible job of telling the story through the lens of self-discovery and finding something different in this form of cycling than what he gets out of racing.TOPICS & TIMES:Recent race results & changing approaches (3:51)“Crossing Iceland” & The follow-up, “Crossing Tasmania” (6:37)Emma Flukes & local knowledge (11:44)Planning the route (18:03)Scouting and pre-riding (29:23)The ride (32:10)Racing mentality & switching that off (36:33)Payson's takeaways from the ride (45:50)RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+Become a Blister MemberBlister LabsThis Week's Gear GiveawayBlister Mountain Bike Buyer's GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Payson McElveen is a professional off-road endurance cyclist based in Durango, Colorado. Among his many accomplishments, Payson is a 2x XC Marathon National Champion and 5x Collegiate National Champion. Instagram @paysonmcelveen Payson's Pod: The Adventure Stache Nick's Vancast is hosted by Nick Sherrell © 2023 Nick Sherrell

Payson McElveen is a professional off-road endurance cyclist based in Durango, Colorado. Among his many accomplishments, Payson is a 2x XC Marathon National Champion and 5x Collegiate National Champion. Instagram @paysonmcelveen Payson's Pod: The Adventure Stache Nick's Vancast is hosted by Nick Sherrell © 2023 Nick Sherrell

Ray sits down with Matthew McElveen, President of GGL, Voyager Lending. Matthew is an SBA credit analyst turned BDO turned head of a division all within the last 6 years. Tune in to hear how this all came together, his plans for the shop, and what his #1 challenge is moving forward. 

Vincent and Joel sit down with Sumter's own Senator J. Thomas McElveen III and discuss S.C.'s crazy death penalty abortion bill, hate crime legislation, the new State budget and how it works, big pay raises coming to state employees, tax relief, the Comptroller General's grievous mistake, Scout Motor's economic development in the midlands, the Upcoming Presidential Election, and so much more!Get your latest Statehouse update and hear firsthand the rationale behind some of the legislature's most controversial bills. Join Senators Sheheen and Lourie in this week's episode where they take a deeper look at upcoming legislation and lawmakers' actions in S.C. Keep up to Date with BITBR: Twitter.com/BITBRpodcastFacebook.com/BITBRpodcasthttps://bourboninthebackroom.buzzsprout.com

For more information on Radiate Church and what God is doing in our community through this ministry, please visit radiatechurch.net

Episode 67 of Club Management has arrived and for this show, we dive deep into the joy of motherhood for part 1 of our mommas in music series.For the first episode, Shannon chats with her mother Sharon about how she helped foster and cultivate all the creative talents she has today. Sharon talks about the challenges she faced throughout motherhood and why autonomy was key in helping Shannon and her siblings to find their passion.Later on the show, Shannon chats with Web 3 aficionado and music consultant Stephanie Guerrero about her work in the growing Web 3 space and how she juggles parenting two young children amid her busy work schedule.Stephanie talks about the challenge of taking care of her kids during the COVID-19 pandemic and the inspiration behind her consulting firm Goat For Mars. She also chats about the importance of using Web 3 to build community in music and shares some ways emerging artists can tap into the industry to grow their brands.Subscribe To Our Patreon For More Content: Patreon.com/ClubManagement1Support the show

M.G. Style is a Birmingham-based style and lifestyle brand. Founder Mary Glenn McElveen is a premier stylist and closet curator, developing over 200 women's closets throughout the Southeast. With her innate taste and professionalism, she has grown M.G. Style's reach and reputation as the go-to source for aspirational styling and looks. M.G. Style partners with clients, brands, and her 34k Instagram followers to curate and elevate the modern woman's wardrobe. Past Partnerships and brands she has worked with: Khaite J Lowery Hunter Bell Mi Golondrina Mignonne Gavigan Banana Republic Express The Outnet Tanya Taylor Blair's Belts Ancora Swimwear M.G. Style Services: Full Closet Edit The Closet Refresh Personal Shopping Event Styling Bridal Styling You can request Mary Glenn's services by clicking here. You can shop her looks + see her daily work on Instagram @m.g._style

Guest speaker Micah McElveen, founder and CEO of Legacy partner Vapor Ministries, speaks at GO Church!

Guest speaker Micah McElveen, founder and CEO of Legacy partner Vapor Ministries, speaks at GO Church!

Guest speaker Micah McElveen, founder and CEO of Legacy partner Vapor Ministries, speaks at GO Church!

Welcome to Episode 2, Pt 1 of OffRoad Inroads presented by Maxxis Factory Racing. In this episode we're diving into the racing at Unbound Gravel, the second instalment of the LTGP and world-famous 200 mile race in Emporia, Kansas. The race lived up to it's name with epic conditions and grueling racing for every athlete out there. Based on the sheer amount of insanity that occurred, we elected to split this episode into two parts to give our interviewees the chance to adequately colour our discussions. Based on a common thread among the feedback from episode 1, Lespy and Haley give you a rundown of their own races out there before diving into conversations with pros Payson McElveen and Alexis Skarda. We talk potatoes, crashes, jabronis, and a few tips on how to join the "No Mechanicals Club". No holds barred, folks. It's a good one!Timestamps:Haley and Lespy : 1:56Payson McElveen : 16:22Alexis Skarda : 58:50

Payson McElveen is not your traditional professional mountain biker. After cycling at Fort Lewis College and becoming a two-time Marathon National Champion, Payson decided to focus more on longer events, instead of the traditional World Cup racing and pursuit of the Olympics. In 2017, he won his first national title at the 2017 Marathon Championships, and then won again in 2018. He continued his success in 2019, taking third place at the US National Cycling Trials, second at the Whiskey Off-Road race in Arizona and first at the Land Run 100 in Oklahoma. He's the son of a mountain bike racer, first started riding a bike at age four and began racing by 14. He's been a member of USA Cycling's National Team since he was 17.  Payson is also known for his podcast “The Adventure Stache”, films, and physical challenges such as FKT's and his “Trail Town” YouTube series.  In this week's episode, Payson and Sonya talk mountain biking, fulfilling potential, patience and perseverance and balance. Key Takeaways How he got started in MTB What it means to fulfill your potential  Why endurance events How to have more patience and perseverance  Getting into gravel How do you choose what sponsors to work with Experience with his podcast How to balance training and commitments

After a near-death experience, how do you return to life? For Micah McElveen, it took almost losing his life to begin to live fully alive. After diving head first into a wave as a teen, Micah found his story taking an unexpected turn due to a near fatal injury. In what can only be explained as a miracle, God gave Micah a second-chance at life and the realization that life was truly a vapor. It was from the difficult journey through the physical, emotional and spiritual pain that God showed Micah the purpose He had for him. Years later, Micah began a world-changing ministry called Vapor that serves the most marginalized and in need people around the globe through clean water, medical care and meeting other physical needs while sharing the gospel. It is through that work and his own story of suffering that Micah has been given a unique perspective on what it means to live fully alive, how to find purpose when life threatens to take it away, and the importance of caring for the least of these in the world. Davey sits down with Micah for an important conversation that will help you look at your own story and know that you are alive to make a difference.   Website: www.micahmcelveen.com ; www.vaporministries.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahmcelveen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicahMcElveen/ ; https://www.facebook.com/VprMinistries Book: Dying for Purpose: Light for the Lost, Directions for the Found

This week we sit down with professional gravel racer, podcaster and adventurer, Payson McElveen. We learn about his path to the sport, his drive for adventure and his plans for the Life Time Grand Prix and the rest of the races on his calendar. Episode sponsor: Hammerhead Karoo 2 (promo code: THEGRAVELRIDE) Payson McElveen Web / Instagram Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: Payson McElveen [00:00:00] Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the podcast. We welcome pacing. McKelvin pacing. As you may know, is a gravel racer, a mountain bike racer. A podcaster, a red bull athlete. And in all around adventurer. I've wanted to have pacing on the podcast for quite some time. I'm an avid listener of his podcast, but moreover, I'm a fan. And that probably comes through in this episode. I'm a fan of pace. And as he's every bit as approachable in real life, as he comes across in social media, He not only races at the front end of the gravel races on the calendar. But even more importantly, I feel like he's out there in the community and he's always after some great adventures. You can see him crisscrossing the country of Iceland. You can see him setting FK teas. You can see them getting brutalized on the Colorado trail and one of his first bike packing expeditions, he's just a hell of a lot of fun and a hell of a great guy. So I look forward to listening to this episode. Of the gravel ride podcast. Before we jump in, we need to thank this week. Sponsor the hammerhead crew to computer. The hammerhead crew to is actually the computer that pacing uses. So you may hear them talk about it, both on his podcast and in social media. His experiences are quite similar to mine. The Karoo two is a revolutionary GPS device that offers the rider. A whole bunch of customizability that really translates to giving you the information you need. When you need it in the format that you need it. I've mentioned before. A few of the things that I really love about the career too, are one, the climber feature. I've become addicted to the climber feature. It's quite amazing. Every time you approach a climb. The crew too, is going to display in graphical format in color coded format. The gradient. The length to the top and the amount of elevation you need to gain. I find that really useful in terms of pacing and it's fascinating. I've always been fascinated by grade. So seeing that great in front of me on the computer, I've started to really understand where my sweet spot is. I know that I'm quite good in the six to say 12% range, but north of 12%, I start to suffer. So it's quite interesting looking at that. The second thing I wanted to highlight is hammerheads bi-weekly software updates with new feature releases. That are unmatched by the competition. So unlike other head units, your crew to continues to evolve and improve. With each ride being better than the last you can seamlessly import routes from Strava commute and more. Route and reroute and create pin drop rooting on the fly. All available with turn by turn. Directions and upcoming elevation changes. The crew two's touchscreen displays, intuitive, responsive, and in full color. So your navigation experience is more like a smartphone than a GPS. You'll see your data more clearly than ever while also withstanding rugged conditions since it's water and scratch resistant. Tens of thousands of cyclists have chosen the crew to you as their trusted riding companion. Including this week's guest pace and mckelvin and another fan favorite amanda naaman. For a limited time, our listeners can get a free custom color kit and an exclusive premium water bottle with the purchase of a hammerhead crew to. Simply visit hammerhead dot. I owe right now and use the promo code, the gravel ride at checkout to get yours today. This is an exclusive limited time offer only for our podcast listeners. So don't forget that promo code, the gravel ride. After you put a custom color kit and premium water bottle in your cart. The code will be applied Would that business out of the way, let's dive right into my interview with pace and McKellen. Payson. Welcome to the show. [00:04:11] Payson McElveen: Thank you happy to be here. [00:04:13] Craig Dalton: Yeah, it's good to finally get you on. I feel like I've been wanting to get you on since back in 2019 and the mid south gravel race. [00:04:21] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Yeah, that was that wasn't my first foray into gravel, but one of the first [00:04:28] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And I think it was one of those moments that it was, you know, there was very much a different style between you and Pete when racing in those adverse conditions, all the mud and whatnot, and how you [00:04:38] Payson McElveen: Oh, 2020. Yeah. [00:04:40] Craig Dalton: 20, 20. Yeah. So babying the bike and. [00:04:44] Payson McElveen: yeah. [00:04:45] Craig Dalton: being a little bit rougher on the bike and you know, both you guys smashed into pedals and I, it's funny, cause I'd heard you interviewed after the fact about that race and I'll refer to the listener back to some coverage there, but you were being, you were very conscious of what mud could have done to your bike. And that was clear in the way you were taking care of it. And I had that thought while I was watching the coverage, like that's smart, dipping it in the water, clearing it out, just being conscious of what is going to do the driver. [00:05:12] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Yeah, that was a boy. That was, I mean, gravel racing is always a dynamic thing and I feel like to varying degrees, just emission of damage control even on dry days. But Yeah. That was such a dynamic damn. Early on even. I mean, I thought my race was over 20 miles in when literally right as I think it was Pete might have been summer hill, actually Danny Summerhill was just absolutely on a mission early in that race too. But someone putting in a attack around mile 20 kind of first narrow section, and literally at the same moment, I got a big stick jammed in my rear wheel and had to stop. Pull it out. And yeah. because that selection was made and I ended up in like the third or fourth group that wasn't moving as quickly right off the bat. I think I had like a minute and a half deficit to to the lead group of P call and, you know, all the usual suspects. And it was pretty convinced that the day was over at that point. But also over the years, I've learned. Gravel racing or not kind of, regardless of the style bike racing when you don't give up good things tend to happen, no matter how dire it seems. And I was fortunate enough to ride back into the first chase group with my teammate at the time Dennis van Wenden, who spent many years on the world tour with Rabobank and Belkin and Israel startup nation, bunch of good teams. And. During that day, there wasn't a whole lot of drafting that was going on. Cause the surface was so slow and there was so much mud and you were just kind of weaving around picking your line, but it was really pivotal to have him to kind of join forces with him there. Because he really quieted me down mentally and he was like, Hey man, if you want to try to get back into this race, you need to do it gradually. Like don't panic, chase, you know, A minute gap. We could probably bring back and 25, 30 minutes, but if you do it over the course of an hour more you know, you can stay below threshold and that'll really pay dividends late. So long story short, I was really grateful to have his kind of Sage wisdom and sure enough, we got back into the group right before the aid station there at mile 50 ish. And I was surprised we got back. Pete and Collin and everybody else was even more surprised to see us come out of the mud from behind. But yeah, that was a member of that was a memorable day and in a weird way, I think getting having that setback so early on almost kind of calibrated my mind for the survival contest that it was going to be all day so that when the shit really hit the fan there and the last 30 miles, I was kind of already mentally prepared to roll with the punches. [00:07:52] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I think there's some good points there. I'll, you know, it's always interesting to me talking to elite level athletes and, you know, with most of my listeners, presumably being like myself, mid-pack racers, the same rules apply, right. Should always breaks down for everybody. And you can have a really bad moment in one of these long gravel events and come back as long as you do the right things, right. If you're. If you haven't eaten enough, you haven't drinking drank enough. You just got to get back on top of it and the day will come around and more likely than not the field in front of you is going to experience the same problems. Just a generic initially to yourself. [00:08:28] Payson McElveen: For sure. And I know we're going to get into the grand Prix, but I think that's one of the things that makes the grand Prix so fascinating, especially when combined with the pretty unusual point structure, I think it's just going to be so topsy, turvy and tumultuous and. You know, obviously we saw two, two of the favorites, you know, most people's picks for the overall in Keegan and Mo already take the lead. But I would be shocked if they maintain that lead, you know, all the way through the next five rounds, just because of the nature of gravel racing. Weirdly, I think the mountain bike events will be the least least selective in a way. [00:09:06] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be interesting. Well, let's take a step back pace and I know, you know, I feel like I've gotten to know you through the course of your podcast, the adventure stash, but for our listeners, I want to just talk about how you got into the sport of cycling and we'll get to how you arrived at the gravel side of things. [00:09:24] Payson McElveen: Yeah, sounds good. [00:09:26] Craig Dalton: Yeah. So where'd you grow up? Where, when did you start riding? What was the first kind of race experience you had and how did you sort of develop the vision that you could be a professional athlete? [00:09:37] Payson McElveen: Yeah. So I grew up in a very small town, about 20 minutes outside of Austin, Texas. The rural Texas hill country. I'm fortunate enough to grow up on a little I don't know, hippie farm hippie ranch with my parents. You know, we had chickens and dogs and 18 acres couldn't see any houses from our house, which is something I, you know, in hindsight really appreciate pretty cool environment to grow up in. And I played pretty traditional sports growing up basketball ran track and field. Well, that sort of thing. But bike, riding and racing was always a little bit of the back of my mind because my dad did it some off and on while I was growing up. And then also Lance was winning all the tours during that time. And actually live just 15 minutes away from us. So he was a little bit of a hometown hero and all that was always front of mind. Freshman year of high school. I want to say I kind of had this recurring knee injury from playing basketball and that nudged me towards cycling a bit more. And I just started riding more and getting more interested in mountain biking in general. And there was this really cool mountain bike film, one of the early kind of. Shred it mountain bike. Documentary's called Rome that was playing in a bike shop and I just totally was transfixed one day. And that summer just kind of went all in. Building trails on the property and mountain biking and trying to learn more skills. And through a little bit of, a little bit of coaxing from my dad, I decided to, to line up for a mountain bike race, a local Texas mountain bike race when I was 14. And got absolutely. But for whatever reason, just it hooked me and that fall after getting absolutely destroyed by all the local, Texas kiddos. I just really dedicated myself to training and developing skills and came back that following spring as a 15 year old. And I don't think I lost a race in Texas that year and it sort of solidified. This idea of putting work in and getting a significant reward. And I'm not really sure why that never clicked with other sports. I was, you know, I guess had had a little bit of talent for basketball, maybe definitely talent for track And field, but I never dedicated myself to them from a work ethic standpoint, but for whatever reason, I was really motivated to do that for cycling and. Yeah, it just became a fan of the sport student of the sport, followed it like crazy. You got to know the pros, the U S pros and saw the Durango was really kind of the hotbed for domestic mountain bikers. And one thing led to the other. And now here I am still chasing the dream. [00:12:25] Craig Dalton: And did you end up going to college in Durango? Is that what I recall? [00:12:28] Payson McElveen: Huh. Yeah. So went to Fort Lewis college. That was also a big selling point. I ended up going to Europe with the national team as a 17 year old with USA cycling. And the one of the USA cycling coaches there for that trip was Matt Shriver, who happened to be one of the coaches at Fort Lewis college at the time also. And he sort of, you know, did a little bit of recruiting work with those of us there that. camp and a few of us actually ended up going to Fort Lewis, but yeah, boy, Durango's incredible. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to come here and then call it home for [00:13:05] Craig Dalton: Yeah there, the riding and mentorship in that communities. [00:13:10] Payson McElveen: It is. It is it's it's pretty incredible that the town is so small and so. Isolated in the scheme of things like it's pretty hard to get here. It's a long drive from anywhere and it's a kind of pain in the ass flight from everywhere. Also. We found that out on the way home from sea Otter when it took extra, but Yeah. I'm a small town hard to get to. And yet it's just this ridiculous hotbed of talent, you know, talent that's developed here, but then also talent that moves here. And one other thing I really appreciate is it isn't super like pro dominated. Like there's a very healthy grassroots contingent of cyclists here that. Frankly, do not care what's happening in pro bike racing whatsoever. And that's actually quite refreshing. When you spend a lot of your time at big race weekends, and you're getting asked 25 times a day, what tire pressure you're running, it's really nice to come back to Durango and, you know, just go shred some single track with someone that's wearing jorts and grab a beer afterward. [00:14:11] Craig Dalton: I bet. When you graduated from college and decided to go pro, was there a particular style of mountain bike racing that you were, you had in your head? This is what I want to pursue. [00:14:22] Payson McElveen: Man, this is where it gets pretty complicated. This is where it's very hard to make the story short, but I'll be as succinct as I can. So moving to Durango I had my. Sites, very firmly set on world cup XCO and the Olympics. I'd had some successes of junior and making the national team each year and doing some world cups and going to, you know, selection for Pan-Am games and all that sort of thing, podiums at junior nationals, all that sort of thing. But what I wasn't familiar with yet obviously is most. Teenagers or not is the economics of professional cycling, especially on the dirt side, on the roadside, it's pretty pretty cut and dried. There's almost a league obviously, and there's a fairly well-worn pipeline to the highest ranks of the sport. But in mountain biking, there's just really. Isn't that USA cycling tries, but it's there's such a high barrier of entry for a kid that doesn't live in Europe to go over to Europe, learn that style racing in a foreign land. And you know, it's very cost prohibitive. The writing style is completely different. It's not a mainstream sport. So their talent pools inevitably are just so much more vast than ours because of. that there are more kids that are just interested in being high-level cyclists, where most of our, you know, kiddos are interested in being NBA players or NFL players. So it's, I mean, it's a well-known story that it's very hard to break through at that level. And then there's the other component, which I don't think is talked about as much, which is just you start with the handicaps of inexperience. Obviously fitness, if you're a younger writer and then just start position. And I mean, it's, it is. So it's such a wild setup where you have to be so much stronger to break through and start earning results where your start position improves that just everything is stacked against you. So I had a few what I'd call kind of flash in the pan results enough to not give up on it, but not enough to really. Make it feel like it was a foregone conclusion. So I felt very fortunate to be in college and getting exposed to other styles of cycling as collegiate cycling frequently, you know, allows for. But going into senior year, I was kind of looking down the barrel of having to make some tough decisions. Cause I was making. Money racing professionally, but it was like serious poverty line sort of situation. And you know, finishing seventh or eighth at pro XC nets as a 23 year old is cool. But it's not going to give you an illustrious career. And so late late summer, early fall I just started kind of. Looking outside the bounds of this very narrow lane of focus that most folks my age were focused on, which was XCO mountain biking and the Olympics. And the other thing kind of to notice that one thing that strikes me frequently is that in mountain biking there are just fewer jobs of value in a way, if that makes sense, like on the roadside, if your [00:17:40] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:17:42] Payson McElveen: strongest on a world tour, You can still have a very fruitful position that is valued. I mean, if there's 400, some people in the world tour Peloton, I don't know what the number is exactly, but if you're 350 strongest, you're still a very valued member. If you line up at a world cup and there's 200 guys on the start line and you finish even 80th, like what's the value of that? There's [00:18:09] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:18:13] Payson McElveen: You're the backdrop for the folks that are at the top to anyway sort of digressing, but point being, I started looking around the sport and. I'd had some offers and opportunities to try racing on the road, but culturally, it just didn't quite jive for me. And then, you know, I started kind of looking at some of the folks that have, that had created their own paths, folks like Rebecca Rush Lil Wilcox hadn't really rose risen to prominence yet, but those sorts of people and I thought, you know what maybe I'll just go try. Something a little bit more adventure oriented. Just for fun. Like I don't know that I'm going to have the opportunity to dedicate as much time to cycling in the future as I am now. So maybe I'll go on an adventure. And sort of around the same time weirdly, I got a message from this race promoter, Italian guy that was putting on a race in Mongolia called the Mongolia bike challenge. And I still don't exactly know how that came about or why he reached out to me. But sure. You know, I'll come try, erase. And he said if I could get myself over there, he'd cover all of my expenses when I was there. And that said, you know, a flight to Mongolia, I think was like 25, 20 $600, something like that. And I had maybe $3,500 to my name as a senior in college. And I was like, well, you know, I just have this sneaking suspicion that this style of racing might be more my cup of tea. Obviously the Xes. I'm falling out of love with that. So I drained my bank accounts flew over there, had an amazing experience. That's a whole other story. [00:19:50] Craig Dalton: Yeah. It's such an amazing country. I had the good fortune of going there and I had previously raised a couple of the trans racist and trans Rockies up in Canada and had friends who had done the. The ones that were over in Europe. And I caught wind of that Mongolia one after visiting Mongolia on a hiking trip. And I was like, that must have been at epic. [00:20:07] Payson McElveen: It was super epic. And you know, it was, I think it was eight days, seven, eight days, the stages where there's one TT day, that was like an hour and 15, but most of the day. Five to four to five and a half hours. And there was some good races there. You know, Corey Wallace was there. He'd won, I think, Canadian marathon nasty year before. And he'd won the Mongolia bike challenge the year before. There was also this Italian world cup guy there, who I'd never been able to be close to at world cup events. And then all of a sudden found myself going shoulder to shoulder with these guys and just feeling way more capable as an athlete and ended up winning that series outside magazine did a little interview and like photo epic on the wind. And that's I found out later kind of what put me on red bull's radar, but that was the thing that really set the hook for me, where I thought, you know what? This was way more fun. I got to see an amazing part of the world. The media cared way more about. Like way more media interest than I'd ever received. And I was just way better suited to it. I had no experience had barely been doing five-hour training. I'd never done a five hour training ride and yet was able to kind of rise to the occasion and do five-hour race days and back it up day after day. So after that point, I started kind of dedicating a little bit more time to to that style. And then consequently one Pro marathon NATS the following year. And that's, that was those two things were kind of the inflection point, I would say. So around 27. [00:21:34] Craig Dalton: and was that, had you joined the orange seal team? [00:21:38] Payson McElveen: So I had been on the rebranded show air team for anyone that remembers the Scott Tedros show our teams. It was called ride biker that year. And it was sort of like a collection of private tiers. It seems like there are some equivalents these days, like, I think the shoot what's it called? Eastern Overland. I want to say they run something similar to that. And then. As far as I can tell that new jukebox program seems to have a bit of a similar setup. So it was kind of set up that way. So I was able to start to pull together some of my own sponsors. And then once I started to get that media interest, the outside interview was kind of the biggest thing. I was able to parlay that into better support or SEL came on board as one of my bigger sponsors, but I hadn't that the team didn't exist yet. And then when. NATS. That's kind of when orange seal and track are like, Hey, what if we like made a team? Like rather than this being a private tier thing, what if we kind of took some ownership and let you just race? And we set up more of a team. So that's how that worked. [00:22:43] Craig Dalton: And you mentioned getting on red bull's radar. When did you end up becoming a red bull athlete? [00:22:47] Payson McElveen: Let's see, I guess 2018, early 2018. Does that, is that right? 2018? [00:22:56] Craig Dalton: The [00:22:57] Payson McElveen: I can't remember. I think [00:22:58] Craig Dalton: timeline sounds right. And did it change your perspective of yourself as an athlete, as you got exposed to the red bull family and other red bull athletes? [00:23:09] Payson McElveen: Oh Yeah. Enormously. I mean, it changed everything and it's funny because when I say. Started communicating with them. At first, it was just like this childhood euphoria of, or my God. This is the most sought after prized sponsorship in adventure, sports outdoor sports. Like this is, I can't believe they're interested, but this is incredible. And you start getting so fixated on the potential of it. for anyone that's familiar with their process they'll know that it's not fast. So basically they were doing background on me for a year. And then for two more years, we communicated. Dated almost you could say decided to figure out how much commitment, mutual commitment there wanted to be. Obviously I was very interested in commitment, but, and then came the phase where it looked like it was going to happen. And all of a sudden you start feeling the pressure and you start questioning. Am I worthy? What is this, what does this mean? What's going to be asked of me, how do I need to rise to the occasion? And I'd say even after I signed for a solid year, that was kind of my mindset. Like, oh man, need to not screw this up. I need to prove that I'm worthy. I need to do innovative things. But one thing that's interesting is that they red bull never. Puts any pressure on you and they really drive home the fact that they want to partner with you because of who you already are and who you can become the potential that they think they see. And they really like to bring people on board before they've reached. They're their prime, their best. They want to help you be a part of that growth process. So once I was able to gradually shift my mindset and realize that this was more of an opportunity and less of an obligation, that's where I think mentally and emotionally, I was kinda able to free up free myself up a little bit race with more race with a sense of opportunity and joy. And then also start to kind of tap into. Creative aspect that I've really started to lean into over the last few years that I've come to realize is like very necessary just for my happiness and sense of fulfillment. And I think that's really where there's most significant interest came from. And it was also just great timing. You know, they wanted someone in this endurance, mass participation sort of arena. That's also why they brought a in, around a similar time. And so, yeah, like, like any success timing was a massive part of the opportunity as well. [00:25:56] Craig Dalton: Yeah. I feel like in some way and correct me if I'm wrong, your relationship with red bull for a few years prior to the pandemic left you very well-suited to whether the pandemic and the lack of racing, meaning you had a wider view of yourself as an athlete and the things you could do. [00:26:13] Payson McElveen: Yeah. And you know, I over the years I've questioned kind of this all of these extracurriculars that, that I'm interested in. Whether it be the podcast or some of the films we do, or some of the, you know, crazy routes, I like to try to tackle Question, you know, how much does that detract from more traditional racing cars like riding across Iceland three weeks before the Australis off-road isn't, you know, stellar prep, but But by the same token, you know, I've really tried to zoom out over the last handful of years and think about how will I look back on this time when I'm 45, 50, 55, whatever. And really, it kind of goes back to Mongolia, you know, T deciding to take that red pill rather than blue pill spend most of the money. I had to go on a crazy adventure halfway around the world by myself as a 23 or. With no experience, you know, I'll never forget that experience the people I met over in Mongolia. And ultimately I think going through life experiencing as much as the world, both interpersonally and just travel wise as you can is a good way to do it. And I've had many mentors over the years who have raised at the highest level, kind of. Persistently remind me that the, what they remember or the things between the actual races and to make sure that, you know, if you go to all-star Germany for the world cup, do everything you can to make sure you don't only see the inside of your hotel room and the three kilometer race course. So that's kind of why. More and more ambitiously gravitated towards some of these more adventure oriented things. And ultimately from a professional standpoint, getting back to your point, it really does, you know, the way I look at it as sort of like a diversified portfolio, there are athletes that only hold one kind of stock, you know, maybe your stock is awesome. Maybe you have a bunch of shares of apple, but you know what happens if for whatever reason, apple tanks. Similarly to the stock market. You know, you want to have a diversified portfolio when we're operating in this space that doesn't have a league. It doesn't have a bunch of structure. And there is a lot of room for creativity. So, it's a personal need, but also it's worked out professionally as well. [00:28:28] Craig Dalton: yeah, I think as a fan of the sport, when you're out there doing those adventures, and obviously you do a lot of filming around these adventures. We just feel closer to you as an athlete. So when you line up at some gravel race, like we're rooting for you because we've seen you struggle. Like any one of us might struggle on it. Adventure. [00:28:46] Payson McElveen: Yeah. that's interesting. I mean, that's good to hear. It makes sense, you know, anytime, you know, I think about I'm, I mean, I'm a massive mainstream sports fan, so I'm always comparing. Our little cycling sport to these mainstream sports. And it's interesting to look at something like say basketball versus football, the NFL versus the NBA and in the NFL, there's massive athlete turnover because of injuries. And also everyone's wearing loads of protective equipment, you know, helmets, pads, all that sort of thing. So you very rarely do you actually see the athletes. They're just these incredible people. Rip it around on the field, hitting each other. With basketball, you see all the writers, interesting hairstyles, writers, basketball players, interesting hairstyles, you know, the way they react to like a bad call, the way they're talking to each other on the bench. Usually they're, they feel more comfortable, you know, giving more flamboyant post-game interviews. And so it feels like the. Collectively like the fan base for individual players in the NBA is so much more engaged than in the NFL. Like fans are with the exception of folks like maybe Tom Brady or like people that have been around forever. Folks of the NFL are fans of the game, fans of teams. And on the NBA side of things frequently, they're fans of the individuals because they feel like they know the individuals. And so I think the same can kind of be said for cycling. And interestingly, I think that. This is a whole other conversation, but I think it's one of the reasons we're seeing such amazing professional opportunities for folks outside the world tour. Now, obviously the most money bar, none is still in the world tour, but there's so much less freedom for personal expression for frankly, like having. Personality. I mean, look at guys like Laughlin that are like redefining the sport and all they had to do was get out of the world tour and do what they wanted to do. And I think that's really interesting and I feel fortunate to be in a part of the sport where that's more celebrated for sure. [00:30:48] Craig Dalton: Yeah, absolutely. So chronologically on the journey, we're back at 2018, you've won your second XC marathon title. Had you started to dabble in gravel in 2018. [00:31:04] Payson McElveen: yeah, I think that was 2018. I did Unbound. Yeah, I guess that would have been 2018 and that was a hundred percent due to sponsors requesting it. I was not interested. And I had a whole mess of mechanicals and actually didn't finish. And I think that might be the. That might be the most recent race I haven't finished maybe besides, well, that's not true. Mid south just happened, but yeah, I was, I didn't get it in 2018. I was like, man, this is carnage. People are flatting everywhere. Why are we out here for so long? This is so [00:31:41] Craig Dalton: It does seem like a Rite of passage to get abused by your first unmanned professional experience. [00:31:47] Payson McElveen: Do it for sure. And Amanda Naaman loves to make fun of me about this cause like I really not publicly, but I was fairly outspoken to some people about how I just didn't understand gravel after that experience. And then I ended up going to mid south in 20, 19 two weeks before the white rim, fastest known time. And I was planning to use it as like. Training effort for the white rim fastest load time. And I ended up winning that mid south race. And then I was like, oh, gravel is sweet. Everyone cares so much about this when Getting loads of interviews, like A massive bump in social media followership, like, wait, maybe there is something to the Scrabble. It Amanda's always like, Yeah. The only reason you fell in love with gravel is because you were fortunate enough to win a race early on, which, you know, might be kind of true, but long story short, it was not love at first sight with gravel, but that's obviously since changed. [00:32:40] Craig Dalton: And you were, are you still kind of in the sort of, I guess 20, 20 season where you still doing XC marathon style racing in conjunction with gravel 2020 is probably a bad example because that was the pandemic year. But in the, in that period, were you doing both still. [00:32:56] Payson McElveen: Yup. Yup. Yeah. And you know, the funny thing is I still. see myself primarily as a mountain biker and there are people who, you know, question, you know, how. I define myself as a racer at this point, but I don't even really feel the need to define what Sal racer you are, because I'm just interested in the biggest races in the country. The, and really, you know, at this point, it's kind of becoming the biggest mass participation, non UCI events in the world. And it's I look at it as a spectrum. You know, if you kind of go down the list of. How do you define these races on one end of the spectrum? You've got something like, you know, BWR San Diego, which in my mind is just kind of like a funky sketchy road race. I don't know that you're allowed to call it a gravel race. If everyone is on road bikes with 20 eights and thirties narrower tires, then the people use a rebate. But and then on the other end of the spectrum, you have something like. I don't know, an epic rides event or, you know, even like the Leadville 100 that really blurs the lines like is that you could for sure. Raise the Leadville 100 on a drop bar, gobbled bike, because as Corey Wallace did last year and you've got everything in between. So, you know, you've got grind. Durose where some people are on mountain bikes. Some people are on gravel bikes, you've got the grasshoppers same. So I look at it as much more of a spectrum, and I think we're just in this incredible golden age of. Grassroot grassroots is such a misnomer, but just like mass participation, non spectator, primary races. And I'm just, I'm here for all of it. It's all. [00:34:38] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah, it's super exciting. And I think the event organizers have just a ton of freedom of how they want. Design the race courses. You know, if I think about the difference between the LA GRA Villa event at this past weekend, which was probably 75% single track, it was the, basically the 40 K MTB course, super single track, heavy required, a pretty hefty skillset. I know a lot of quote, unquote gravel riders were scratching their heads. After that one, thinking they were definitely under. And then the other end of the spectrum, you have something like BWR, as you mentioned, or even SBT gravel. It doesn't require a lot of technical skillset to be competitive in those races. So I find it fascinating. And I think that even goes down to where you ride and where you live. Like my gravel here in Marine county as the listener. Well, nose is quite a bit different than Midwest gravel. Not better, not worse, you know, just depends on what's your company. [00:35:36] Payson McElveen: For sure. And I mean, here in Durango, our best road rides our gravel road rides, and we've been riding road bikes on them for ages. When I first moved here, you know, every, so we have a Tuesday night world's group ride, which for what it's worth is still the hardest group I've ever done anywhere in the country by a lot. But Frequently, you know, every third week or so the route that we'll do is majority dirt and everyone's on road bikes. And up until a couple of years ago, everyone was on 26 or 20 eights. And you know, they're fairly smooth gravel roads, but pretty much if you ask anyone locally, our best road rides are half dirt roads. So when this whole gravel movements start. I know I was one of many that was, we were kind of scratching our heads a little bit about, well, isn't this just bike riding, but I understand the industry has needed to kind of define and brand things, but Yeah, it's it's interesting. [00:36:30] Craig Dalton: Yeah, it's interesting as we were talking about your career in this sort of transition, a transition, but just as melding of your love of ECC and this new level of gravel low and behold in 2022 lifetime announces the grand Prix half mountain bike races, half gravel races. How excited were you around that announcement? [00:36:50] Payson McElveen: who very excited. Yeah I'd had some conversations with lifetime in the year or so prior kind of generally talking about structure and what events might make the most sense and all that sort of thing. But It was a little bit ambiguous about whether it was going to happen and to what degree and what it would all look like. So when the announcement? came out I was sort of primed for it, but I was also surprised by quite a few things. And that certainly. You know, increase the excitement too. As I read through the proposed rules and the points structure and the events they decided on and all that sort of thing. But yeah, I mean, it feels just like an enormous opportunity and I think it feels like an enormous opportunity. Personally because of the events, obviously, but I think it's an enormous opportunity for north American cycling as a whole, because there are so many aspects of the series that are completely different than any other series we've seen. I mean, in the United States with the exception of, you know, the heyday of mountain biking in the eighties and nineties, we haven't seen. Cycling massively successful really as a spectator sport or as a televised sport. Because there's always been this goal of making it a spectator sport, but I don't think in the United States, that's really ever going to be a spectator sport. The key in my mind is that it's a participation sport in this country, and that's what these huge grassroots mass participation events have really tapped into. And made them so successful. And so when you combine that with, you know, a year long points, chase, maybe all of a sudden that is the secret sauce for making it more spectator friendly, even if it's more of this kind of modern age of spectating, where it's very, online-based, there's lots of social media coverage. There's, you know, maybe a live stream there's, you know, Really cool. Like drive to survive, TVC series type things coming out of it. I mean that actually drive to survive as a great example. Like look what drive to survive has done for F1 in the United States virtually no one cared about F1 until that series came out. And now, you know, people are talking about peer gasoline and Daniel, Ricardo, like, you know, [00:39:04] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:39:05] Payson McElveen: You know, Kevin Duran or Tom Brady. So, it's a very interesting time and I just feel fortunate to kind of be reaching my peak career years right now as it's happening. [00:39:15] Craig Dalton: Yeah, to your point earlier, I think it just creates this great opportunity for storytelling throughout the season. And this idea of, you know, some courses are gonna be more favorable to mountain bike athletes. Others are going to be more favorable to traditional gravel athletes and just seeing how it all plays out and having the points across the season, as something as a fan that's in the back of your mind. I just think it's going to be a lot of fun and great for this. [00:39:41] Payson McElveen: Yeah. I think so too. I really hope so. And the thing that I really hope, I think what can truly set it apart and almost guarantee its success is if they're able to. Lean into those personal storylines, kind of like we were talking about earlier, the things that I think really makes a fan base fall in love with following a league or a sport, which is the individual stories. You know, like I hope there's all kinds of awesome coverage of Aaron Huck making this return to racing, following pregnancy, or you know, there's so many. Incredible individual storylines that can be told. And I hope that's really seen as an asset and taken advantage of. [00:40:26] Craig Dalton: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I have a. You can look at like Amber and Nevin and her experience, just like sort of getting a little bit crushed, still getting in the points at , but having a really rough day out there, that's the kind of narrative like you're looking for somebody who's coming way outside of their comfort zone to race this entire series. And unsurprisingly like a mountain bike style race was super challenging for. But it's going to be fascinating to see like how she bounces back for Unbound, which is this other radically different experience in my mind at 200 miles. [00:41:00] Payson McElveen: For sure. Yeah. I think we're going to learn a lot over this first year and I hope we get a couple of years at it because I think there will be lots of adjusting along the way. Lots of cool ideas and yeah, I think there's just massive potential and I hope everyone's able to hang in there for a few years to figure out what that potential actually. [00:41:22] Craig Dalton: Agreed. Unfortunately, you have to drop this race due to your injury at mid south, but I'm curious, like, as you looked at the arc and the style of racing that you were going to experience in the grand Prix, does that alter how you're training do you sort of do one thing for Otter? Morph dramatically into something else for a 200 mile Unbound, which is the next race on the calendar for the grand Prix series. [00:41:45] Payson McElveen: Yeah. I mean, training Is definitely different. Just physiologically. I kind of gravitate towards those long slow burn events more easily anyway. So preparing for something like sea Otter, where, you know, the, I mean the average speed, I think Keegan said his average speed was like 17.8 miles an hour. Schwamm against average speed. I did it two years and we averaged over 19 miles an hour, both times. Ironically these mountain bike events and Leadville, you know, despite all of its climbing and high elevation, that average speed is almost 17 miles an hour. So these mountain bike events are very much gravel style, mountain bike events. It would be pretty funny. To see this field, you know, line up for something like the grand junction. Off-road where you're lucky to crack nine and a half mile per hour, average speed. And everyone's running one 20 bikes and two, four tires. But yeah. In terms of training those faster kind of leg speed high-end events are ones that I have to train a little bit. I have to like tune up some speed a little bit more for, so for example, I'll attend the Tuesday night. Group right here in Durango almost every week in the month, leading up to that sort of event I'll get in some good motor pacing sessions still, you know, log some good five-hour rides just because that's what helps me be at my fittest, but not worry about a six and a half, seven hour ride with Unbound. I will notch, you know, some good six plus hour rides. And a lot of it is also just about. Practicing, like practicing your fueling practicing with the equipment you want to use doing some heat acclimation and then just doing massive amounts of sub threshold work. So, you know, I'll do rides, you know, like a six hour ride and do three tempo, three, one hour tempo blocks in there Just like an insane amount of. KJS I'm just trying to get your body used to being efficient really. I mean, that's kind of what it comes down to and being efficient under duress. So being efficient when it's 90 degrees out and your stomach, maybe isn't feeling amazing and you're pinging off rocks and. You know, trying to navigate a big budge. So there are some different things that I do overall training is pretty simple. You know, on the XC world cup, it training gets a lot more complicated, I think. But for these longer distance events training, actually, isn't terribly complicated at all. [00:44:16] Craig Dalton: Is there any one in particular that you're super excited about? [00:44:20] Payson McElveen: In the series [00:44:22] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:44:24] Payson McElveen: probably Leadville. I've been consistently good at Leadville. I've never had a 100% clean run at it. But I've been third twice, fourth last year. That's one that I would love to win before I retire. You know, if there's one race I could pick. Before I get too old to be competitive. I think Leadville is probably it. It's tricky though, because we've got these two guys that are just sensational, you know, generational talents and Keegan and Howard, both of them grew up at very high elevation. They're small guys. And they just go uphill like nobody's business and you know, they're hard to beat. They're definitely hard to be so. Every year, you know, I look towards Leadville. I would love to love for everything to come together for me there. But you know, all of these races are really competitive, but if I had to pick one, that's probably the one I'm most looking forward to. [00:45:19] Craig Dalton: Got it. And is there any room in your calendar for a pace and adventure this year? [00:45:25] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Good question, boy. That's kind of the trade-off of the grand Prix, you know, it's really consuming said, I know that I always perform better off of big training blocks. So I've pulled back on race days pretty significantly. So I have some really big breaks in my schedule. I'm probably going to go do this four day GB Duro style stage race in Iceland. That is the route that We bike tour last year around the west fjords it's 450 mile days. Give her. Which would be a fun adventure. But in terms of like, whoa here's a crazy idea. No, one's done yet type thing. I have a pretty significant list of those. We'll see where they fit in. I'm going to do another trail town for sure. I really enjoyed that project of Ben last year and the storytelling aspect of that and the big gear giveaway we got to do and kind of the. The community that we developed online there that was really successful. So I'll do another one of those. There's also going to be another matchstick productions film coming up, which is really good for the sport. You know, really high profile, high production value, feature, length film that typically, you know, features a lot of backflips in three sixties and in Virgin, Utah, and. endurance riding as much, but they've been really cool about working more of that in, so I'm looking forward to filming for that again this year, their next one. Probably in terms of like a big crossing or, you know, massive MKT of some kind. I have a big scouting mission that I'll be doing in the fall, but it it'll be by far and away. The biggest one I've tried, not in terms of huh. Kind of distance too, but mostly just like it's extremely audacious and not the sort of thing where I can just go in blind. So I'm going to go in and do a lot of scouting for that and probably knock that out. Summer of 23. [00:47:18] Craig Dalton: Well, I mean, for the listener, Payson's always an exciting person to follow and your creativity. It's just fun watching how your mind works and the things you want to tackle. And it's just a lot of fun to watch what you're doing. I know we got to get you out on a training ride, but one final question. I just wanted to talk about your change in sponsorship this year, in terms of the bike you're riding. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? [00:47:39] Payson McElveen: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. There's a lot of drip, a lot of directions we could go there, but that was What are the scarier professional periods I've had thus far? I obviously had to two really great options and went back and forth between the two for months. I was very fortunate to have the support of an agent that I've come to lean on very significantly over the last couple of years, not sure where I'd be without him, but Yeah. I mean, that was a, that was another sort of like red pill, blue pill moment where the logical thing would be to stay with the brand that you've been with for seven years and is the big juggernaut and the proven, you know, you can be a reliable cog in a big machine type sort of situation. But I've always had. Kind of entrepreneurial drive. That's really hard to ignore sometimes. And there was a whole lot of upside with joining allied and they're doing some really industry defining things that other brands don't have, the ability or confidence or ambition to do. You know, they're 100% made in the U S. Component is really incredible. And that affords all sorts of things from a quality standpoint, a product development standpoint, and just social issue, standpoint and environmental aspects standpoint things that? felt very good. Morally in a way. But ultimately I just want it to be on the bikes that I thought I could win on. And Allied's bikes are just unbelievable. I mean, the quality and the care. Their process for product development and their willingness to kind of ignore industry trends in favor of just making the fastest, most badass bike possible was very intriguing and enticing. And I did go back and forth many times for awhile. But once I finally made the decision, I just it felt like a massive relief, a huge amount of excitement. And Yeah. in hindsight, I'd make that decision. 10 out of 10 times again, [00:49:44] Craig Dalton: Right on presumably you've got both an allied echo and an allied. What's the other one with the enable in your quiver, are you using the echo as your road bike or using one of their pure road machines? [00:49:56] Payson McElveen: so we were, we've been waiting on parts for the echo. I've had an echo frame for a good bit. Parts just showed up last week. So I'll be getting that echo built up. Probably over the weekend. I've test written one but I haven't put huge miles on an echo yet. It's a really, I mean, just a classic example of a brilliant idea from the incredible mind that is Sam Pikmin there, their head of product, but I'll definitely be racing the echo at things like Steamboat where, you know, aerodynamics and weight and more of a road style bike really would pay dividends. The ABL is just awesome. I was absolutely mind boggled by how light it was. I mean, it's over a pound lighter than the gravel bike I was raised in the previous year, which frankly I didn't really expect. So that's been great. And then Yeah. I'm also on an alpha, which is. They're road bike, just super Zippy snappy road bike, and has a really cool, almost a little bit old school aesthetic with the level top tube that has this really cool classic look. [00:50:56] Craig Dalton: Yeah, for sure. I'll refer in the show notes. I'm the listener to my interview with Sam and I've had allied on a couple of different times, so great product, super I'm super jazzed when anybody's making anything in the USA. And as you said, it's just fun as an athlete. I'm sure to be able to go to the factory and see the layups and talk to them to the craftsmen that are working on the. [00:51:17] Payson McElveen: Yeah, And just to have a lot of input, you know, just to be able to say, Hey, I'm interested in running my bike this way. Is that possible? And then go to the factory five days later and they've literally like machined the part already and run all the kinematics in the way. Let's pop it in, like what [00:51:35] Craig Dalton: let's do it. [00:51:36] Payson McElveen: that would have taken two years at a big bike brand. That's insane. [00:51:41] Craig Dalton: So true. So true. All right, dude. Well, I'm going to let you go. I appreciate all the time. It's been great to finally get you on the mic and talk about your career. I'm going to be looking forward to your comeback for the, for Unbound and throughout the rest of the series. We'll be rooting for you. [00:51:55] Payson McElveen: awesome. Thanks Greg. It was great to finally get on and chat with you and Yeah, keep up the good work quality podcasts are hard work and few and far between. So, nice job. And yeah, keep up the good work. [00:52:07] Craig Dalton: Thanks. I appreciate that. [00:52:09] Payson McElveen: Cool man. [00:52:10] Craig Dalton: Big, thanks to pay some for joining the podcast this week. I hope you enjoyed the conversation and huge thanks to hammerhead and the crew to computer for sponsoring this week's edition of the gravel ride podcast. Remember head on over to hammerhead.io. Use the promo code, the gravel ride for that free custom color kit. And premium water bottle. If you're looking to provide a little feedback, I encourage you to join the ridership. It's our free global cycling community. Just visit www.theridership.com. You can always find me in that group. And I welcome your episode suggestions. If you're able to financially support the show, please visit www dot. Buy me a coffee.com/the gravel ride. Any contribution to the show is hugely appreciated. Until next time here's to finding some dirt onto your wheels

Payson McElveen is a professional gravel and mountain biker from Durango, CO. He's a two-time national champion and cycling adventurer. He's also a content creator, hosting a great podcast called The Adventurestache. Much like myself, Payson is going through a big career evolution at the movement so we talked a lot about that, the state of the cycling industry, the new LifeTime Grand Prix, being a 21st century professional athlete, and a lot more.    Follow Payson on IG   Payson's 250 mile crossing of Iceland   Listen to The Adventurestache   Dylan's appearance on The Adventurestache __________________________   Get a pair of SL:PDX and support Speedland footwear    Use code freetrail15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition products   Take advantage of 20% off InsideTracker performance testing: https://info.insidetracker.com/freetrail   _________________________   Freetrail Links: App Download | Patreon | Instagram | Website | YouTube   Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

In this episode, I interviewed author Pie McElveen, author of "The Transition" in which he discussed the man's perspective regarding divorce. In addition, we had a great chat regarding healing from INVISIBLE WOUNDS. Join us for a special episode of The Q-Chat! Order your Geaux Love Ya'Self! Daily Crown Jewels 7-Day Motivational: https://www.geauxqueen.com/product-page/geaux-love-ya-self-the-daily-crown-jewels-7-day-motivational Download your free 7-Day Motivational Map! https://www.geauxqueen.com/product-page/geaux-love-ya-self-the-daily-crown-jewels-7-day-motivational-map https://www.theqchat.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theqchat_podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/iam_geauxqueen/ This Podcast is Sponsored by Queen's Arrogance LLC (c) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-q-chat/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-q-chat/support