In this episode, Shona Kerr interviews Brad Snyder, a retired US Navy SEAL, Paralympic gold medalist, and author. Brad shares his journey from a vibrant childhood in Florida to becoming a decorated athlete after a life-altering injury in Afghanistan. He discusses the importance of resilience, the power of a growth mindset, and how he transformed his challenges into opportunities for success. Brad emphasizes the significance of service, both in the military and in life, and how his experiences have shaped his perspective on gratitude and purpose. He also reflects on his transition from swimming to triathlon, highlighting the teamwork involved in adaptive sports and the lessons learned along the way.

Takeaways

"You can either focus on what's missing or be grateful for what you still have."
"Living a life of meaning means committing to other people and being a good person."
"Don't waste your time here; make the most of it."
"I want to inspire others to push their boundaries and not be complacent."
"Every time someone says your name, you keep their memory alive."

Sound Bites

""Let me just take for a moment how be let me be grateful for a moment for all the things I still have.""
""We don't know how much time we have, so make the most of it.""
""I want to be remembered as someone who was always pushing the boundary.""

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Early Life
07:39 Military Career and Team Dynamics
13:28 Juxtaposition of Beauty and Violence
18:41 Navigating Trauma and Identity
24:25 Dating and Relationships
30:05 Faith and Control in Life
36:58 The Meaning of Service
44:29 Moments of Realization and Acceptance
51:51 Overcoming Challenges in Triathlon
01:00:55 Balancing Life and Future Aspirations
01:07:23 Outro.mp3

Takeaways

Having someone believe in you can change your trajectory.
The journey from distress to ease is essential for performance.
Team dynamics are crucial for success in any sport.
Chronic stress is a growing issue among athletes today.
Gratitude can shift energy and improve performance.
Mindfulness practices can help manage internal distress.
Spirituality can enhance performance but is not necessary for success.
Living in flow can be cultivated intentionally.
The importance of connection and support in high-pressure environments.
Personal experiences shape our approach to helping others.

Sound bites

"It's about being connected to the moment."
"You can live in flow."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy Baltzell
02:53 Journey to Wesleyan and Early Sports Career
05:46 Transition to Sports Psychology
08:55 The Impact of the America's Cup
11:39 Team Dynamics and Collaboration
14:48 Current Challenges in Sports Psychology
17:35 Techniques for Managing Internal Distress
20:23 The Role of Gratitude and Connection
23:34 Spirituality and Performance
26:32 The Universal Application of Mindfulness
29:32 Living in Flow and Performance Optimization

Takeaways

• Jeremy lost his sight at 19 due to a rare genetic disorder.
• He transitioned to blind golf with the help of his father as a guide.
• Interdependence is a crucial lesson learned through his journey.
• Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
• Jeremy emphasizes the importance of community and support.
• He has traveled the world competing in blind golf tournaments.
• His experiences have shaped him into a motivational speaker.
• Jeremy aims to inspire others through his story and lessons.
• He plans to write a book on interdependence.
• Family plays a significant role in his life and values.

In this conversation, Sarah Weiss shares her journey as a trans woman, discussing her childhood in Canada, the challenges of understanding her gender identity, and the process of transitioning. She reflects on her experiences in sports, the impact of societal norms, and the importance of community and collaboration. Sarah emphasizes the need for inclusivity in sports and the power of storytelling as a means of healing and empowerment. She also touches on her spiritual beliefs and the role of religion in shaping her perspective. Throughout the conversation, Sarah encourages listeners to live boldly and authentically, embracing their true selves.

Takeaways

Sarah Weiss shares her multifaceted identity as a trans woman, athlete, and author.
Her childhood in Canada was marked by both normalcy and trauma, shaping her perspective.
Understanding her gender identity was a long and complex journey for Sarah.
Transitioning at 26 was a pivotal moment in her life, allowing her to embrace her true self.
Sarah emphasizes the importance of community support during her transition.
She discusses the challenges of navigating relationships as a trans woman.
Sports have played a significant role in her identity and self-acceptance.
Sarah advocates for inclusivity in sports, proposing a 'People vs. People' league.
Her spiritual beliefs center around love and connection, transcending traditional religious views.
Sarah encourages others to live boldly and authentically, despite societal pressures.

Sound bites

"I want to bring Marvel to sports."
"I love people and their stories."
"Live boldly. Life is for the bold."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sarah Weiss
03:57 Childhood and Early Experiences
06:55 Understanding Gender Identity
09:39 The Journey to Transition
12:18 Navigating Relationships and Self-Discovery
15:19 Experiences in the Workplace
18:23 Life After Transition
21:08 Advice on Gender Dynamics and Collaboration
30:05 Navigating Workplace Dynamics as a Woman
31:27 The Freedom of Authenticity
35:02 The Therapeutic Journey of Writing
37:51 Empowerment Through Authentic Living
41:29 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change
42:23 The Role of Parenting in Acceptance
46:32 The Journey into Pickleball and Self-Discovery
52:16 Facing Challenges in Sports as a Trans Woman
57:36 Empowerment Through Authenticity
59:28 Navigating Controversy in Sports
01:05:44 Reimagining Sports for Inclusivity
01:16:26 Spirituality and Personal Beliefs
01:23:43 Goals and Aspirations for the Future
01:28:53 Outro.mp3

Her last position was working as a news anchor for BBC world where she retired to focus on slavery repatriations in the Caribbean, notably Granada, where she discovered family ties to being slave owners. Rather than bury this fact, she has boldly put it out in the open to acknowledge the atrocities of the time, her family’s part and is addressing what reparations should look like. Through advocacy she has sparked conversations government wide.

Laura was recently given the honor of being named Chancellor of Cardiff University in Wales and we are honored that she is talking with us today.

The Safety Team is an organization that teaches a proven form of self-defence to all kinds of groups and individuals.

They talk about how the Safety Team came about as well as their own personal journeys toward that. They give some wonderfully helpful information on what their sessions cover and how they actually have fun. They're working to empower, and therapeutically empower, individuals for their own safety, in some cases to heal from trauma as well as building self-confidence in all areas of life.

They are both black belts in Kempo Jujitsu, have fascinating lives outside of the safety team, and most recently, Dr. Blasio was named USA Today's Vermont Women of the Year. Please enjoy listening to these amazing ladies.

To Learn more about the Safety Team's please visit www.thesafetyteam.org. There are special events in April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM).

film for decades. His credits include series for the broadcast networks, cable outlets,

and streaming services. He has created shows, run shows, and directed pilots. He’s

been a member of the Writers Guild of America since 1985 and a member of the

Directors Guild of America since 1990.

He has produced and written for iconic situation comedies like ABC’s Growing Pains

and Boy Meets World and has directed classic kids’ programs like Nickelodeon’s

iCarly and Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. For five years, he Executive Produced

a series he co-created for ABC Family/Freeform entitled Melissa & Joey, a romantic

comedy which concluded its run in 2015 after 104 episodes. He wrote and directed

episodes of the series as well.

In 2020 he Executive Produced The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, a half hour

coming-of-age comedy for Netflix, directing their memorable musical Christmas

episode. More recent directing credits include Erin & Aaron for Nickelodeon, Sydney

to the Max for the Disney Channel, and Katharine McPhee’s Netflix series Country

Comfort.

On the feature side, David directed Steppin’ Into the Holiday, a musical Christmas

movie starring Mario Lopez, which premiered in November of 2022 on the Lifetime

Network. Previously, he directed the teen comedy Dirty Deeds, starring Milo

Ventimiglia, Zoë Saldana, and Charles Durning. In that same genre, David wrote The

New Guy, a Sony Pictures release which opened in 2600 theaters. He has co-written

and/or produced several movies for television, including The Growing Pains Reunion

Movie - a reunion for David as well, since that show was his very first television

credit.

In terms of actors, David has worked with Oscar Winners, Emmy Winners, Tony

Winners, Grammy Winners, Professional Wrestlers, Adult Film Actors, Olympic Gold

Medalists, and NFL Hall of Famers. With many family shows to his credit, he’s

directed scores of talented young actors, from A (Ariana Grande) to Z (Zendaya). He

has credits on over 40 different series. All told, that’s over 600 episodes of television

- 200 plus of them as director.

He has been a guest speaker for classes and workshops at USC and the American

Film Institute. Since 2023, David has been a Visiting Instructor at Wesleyan

University (his alma mater) where he teaches a directing workshop. He continues

his freelance directing career while also developing scripts for television and film. A

Philadelphia native, David resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their three

children.

Television Series Credits (Partial List):

Growing Pains - 1985-1991- writer, producer

Just the Ten of Us - 1988-1990 - writer, director

Boy Meets World - 1994-1999 - writer, producer, director

Clueless - 1999 - director

Even Stevens - 2003 - director

That’s So Raven - 2003 - director

Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide - 2004-2007 - director

Hannah Montana - 2006 - director

iCarly - 2007-2012 - director

Zoey 101 - 2007-2008 - director

Melissa & Joey - 2009-2015 - co-creator, writer, producer, director

Victorious - 2010-2013 - director

Big Time Rush - 2010-2012 - director

The Thundermans - 2013-2015 - director

Kirby Buckets - 2014-2016 - director

Bizaardvark - 2016-2019 - director

Henry Danger - 2016-2019- director

K.C. Undercover - 2016 - director

Stuck in the Middle - 2016-2018 - director

Andi Mack - 2018 - director

Coop and Cami Ask the World - 2018-2019 - pilot director plus episodes

Sydney to the Max - 2019-2021 - pilot director plus episodes

The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia - 2020- writer, producer, director

Side Hustle - 2021-2022 - director

Erin & Aaron - 2023 - director

Film Credits (Partial List):

Steppin’ Into the Holiday (Lifetime Television) 2022 - director

Teen Spirit (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2011- co-writer/producer

Revenge of the Bridesmaids (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2010 - co-writer/producer

Nature of the Beast (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2007- co-writer/producer

Dirty Deeds (Green Diamond Productions) 2005 - director

The New Guy (Sony Pictures) 2002 - writer

The Growing Pains Reunion Movie (ABC Television) 2000 - co-writer/producer


Actors Worked With (Partial List):

Austin Butler

Kirk Cameron

Mario Cantone

Gary Cole

Tim Conway

Tim Curry

Miley Cyrus

William Daniels

Phyllis Diller

Charles Durning

Robert Goulet

Ariana Grande

Valerie Harper

Melissa Joan Hart

Robert Hays

James Hong

The Jonas Brothers

Victoria Justice

Joanna Kerns

Shia LaBeouf

Joey Lawrence

Shelley Long

Mario Lopez

Katharine McPhee

Kel Mitchell

Jenna Ortega

Cheri Oteri

Matthew Perry

Brad Pitt

Jane Powell

Faith Prince

Doris Roberts

Olivia Rodrigo

Sherri Shepherd

Alan Thicke

Milo Ventimiglia

Maitland Ward

Tom Wilson

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Zendaya

Education:

Wesleyan University, BA, graduated Cum Laude, double major: Film (High Honors)

and Government, 1979

Techniques for the Director - Jack Garfein, Jack Garfein Studio, New York City, 1983

Dr Matthew Castanho talks about how to optimize your living through food, diet and exercise for our best health and perfomrance. He discusses the place of naturopathic medicine in healthcare and what this approach can treat that conventional medicine may miss. He talks about the essentials that the body needs, and why for processes such as hormaone production, mental calrity or sleep. Great sleep is a foundation to health and Dr Castanho gives us the best strategies to get restoritive sleep and explains why it is so important and so much more. 

As promised in the podcast: 

NutreMeals - People who signup with the link and type in the code: WHOLESOME will get 50% off their first order.

Joe Rogan Podcast: Joe Rogan Experience - Matthew Walker

Dr Castanho is always taking on new patients with the goal to have everyone reach optimal health in the absence of medications. Please reach out to Dr Castanho at the following email:  www.drcastanho.com.

Dr Castanho is also in the process of expanding the practice and taking on like-minded practitioners who will collaborate together. His anticipates this will be the healthcare model of the future; a “wholesome place” where patients receive coordinated care from functional and holistic multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners - a caring team who lives and breathes what they preach.  

www.wholesomeplace.org  These are the supplements Dr Castano has helped formulate, curate, and recommend to patients.  They are all professional grade, third party tested for purity, and have potencies greater than the ineffective ones found over-the-counter at most grocery and convenience stores.  He takes them himself and have seen the greatest changes in patients when they’re consistent with them.  The most popular bundle - the one mentioned in the podcast - is the New England Essentials