Breaking Ordinary with Andy Petranek

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81: Carolyn Freyer Jones - How To Set and Achieve Goals That Speak to Your Soul Jan 20, 2017

Show notes

Carolyn Freyer Jones is a professional life coach. She has supported hundreds if not thousands of men and women in learning how to use their own life's challenges and obstacles for insight and growth. She has supported them in launching new businesses, strengthening relationships, transforming careers, growing themselves as leaders, and experiencing greater peace and joy. Her clients include corporate executives, business owners, authors, lawyers, television hosts, salespeople, and more.

She is also the principle developer and lead faculty member for the University of Santa Monica's Soul Centered Professional Coaching Program which has graduated hundreds of soul-centered professional life coaches since it's inception (me being one!)

So what does a spiritual life coach like Carolyn have to say about your (and her own) upset about President Trump? That's just one of many other things we talk about like:

What it means to live your life in a spiritual context
The spiritual "tool" of compassionate self-forgiveness
How we're all wired to judge others (and ourselves)
How our worth and value is often tied to what we do in the world rather than who we are
What is really underneath the triggers that upset you (yes, you're projecting)
Being around spiritual teachers and saints
Goals - what works about them and what doesn't?
Process goals vs. results goals and what's underneath?
Importance of asking, "Why?"
How self-judgment keeps you from achieving your goals, regardless of how hard you work at them
Training yourself with loving vs. fear and self-judgment
The importance of community and knowing it's value to you in your life.

I loved this conversation with Carolyn. She is a highly insightful teacher and coach - I know you'll get a lot out of this, as I did!

NOTE: If you only have 5 minutes, jump to 57:15 where Carolyn talks about the current WLC Lifestyle Practice - setting and writing down three goals.

80: Ryan Hurst - Founder of GMB: On Training with Purpose, Fun and Playfulness Jan 13, 2017

Show notes

Ryan Hurst is one of the co-founders (and head coach) of the online fitness program called GMB - Gold Medal Bodies. GMB.io is a physical training system that focuses primarily on teaching people how to know their own body and how to move it well, autonomously (appropriately for age and skill level). I mean really, what else is there? As I've gone through life, I've seen firsthand the challenges people face with their bodies caused by inactivity, lack of use, lack of awareness, and general weakness - so when I first learned about GMB, the philosophic principles upon which it's based, and the fun I had in going through it's basic elements training, I fell in love with it.

Ryan's been developing this program (without really knowing it) for most of his life. As a competitive gymnast until the age of 17, he established a foundation of strength, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination and stamina that most people never know. Then, still a teenager, he found his way to Japan where he went to college and started seriously studying the martial arts. In this practice, yet again, he was developing his capacity know and move his own body.

As he got deeper into martial arts, he found it increasingly difficult to maintain his position in his job due to the long hours and unhealthy lifestyle practices it demanded. He also sustained a shoulder injury. Both things forced him into looking toward fitness as a career.

If you're participating in the January 2017 WLC, you're going to see much more of Ryan - he's going to coach you by video through a series of 8 workouts, one for each week of the Challenge. They are totally optional, but his stuff is filled with new, different, and innovative ways to move your body and to exercise. Guaranteed that no matter what your level, you'll learn something new. I'm super excited to be able to bring him to you!

During the podcast, you'll learn much more about Ryan, his philosophy, personal experience, and why you should be super excited about him being our guest coach during the Whole Life Challenge.

79: Miki Agrawal - On Creativity, Innovation, and Leading from the Front Jan 05, 2017

Show notes

Reminder: I'm starting every podcast episode from now on by addressing one topic or answering one question that you bring to my attention via our new WLC Podcast email address: podcast@wholelifechallenge.com. Send along anything you think would be of value for me to see or read, or any thought or question you'd like me to talk about or answer. While I can't guarantee that your question or topic will get addressed on the podcast, I do promise to read what you send!

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Today's guest is Miki Agrawal is an energetic, passionate bundle of entrepreneurial and creative energy. She was named 2015 Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the World Technology Awards and her Company THINX was named Time Magazine's "25 Best New Inventions of 2015″. Miki was also the recipient of the TriBeCa Film Festival's "Disruptive Innovation Award" and was named one of the "Top 20 Millenials on a Mission" by Forbes Magazine.

My connection to her came from the a simple advertisement in my Facebook feed for a product called Tushy (www.tushy.me). It's a simple and inexpensive add-on bidet for your toilet. I had absolutely no idea when I got it how it would change my post pooping life - as I talk about in the podcast - it's like my sphincter can rest and recover from 50 years of post-pooping but wiping. I did the math - I've wiped over 125,000 times since birth… no wonder it can use some recovery.

By the way, we talk very openly and candidly during the podcast about topics that most people keep private. If this makes you uncomfortable, I recommend you put your discomfort aside and listen anyway.

Back to the Tushy… I was so stoked about mine, that I almost immediately ordered a second one… and I contacted their customer service, and asked to get introduced to their founder to have her on as a guest on the podcast!

During the podcast, Miki talks about how she got where she is today… and what keeps her on track on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. She shares her favorite meditation technique and app, what she's learned from years of working with a Life Coach, and how she keeps her creative juices flowing (she doesn't have a shortage of ideas… ever). I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

78: Jay Jacobs - Secret Lessons for the New Year from A Biggest Loser Finalist Dec 28, 2016

Show notes

You may not recognize Jay Jacobs from his name, but many of you would recognize his face, body, and story. Jay and his daughter, Jennifer, contestants on season eleven of the NBC hit weight-loss reality show, The Biggest Loser.

Jay and his daughter were the Green Team and lost a combined total of 295 pounds on the show! As he found out in his pre-contestant medical screening, Jay barely made it onto the show after being diagnosed with near fatal heart arrhythmia due to a severe case of sleep apnea. Over the course of the show, he became one of America's favorite contestants. In fact, against all odds and competing against an Olympic Gold Medalist, Jay made it to the coveted Final Four as the only man left standing and after losing an amazing 181 pounds in just eight months. He's a testament to the phrase "where there is a will, there's a way."

Unlike many of the other contestants, Jay has maintained his weight loss since the end of the show through a combination of commitment, consistent exercise, entering athletic events like the Spartan Race and the NYC Marathon, and by keeping no secrets - putting his life in the light so that he's got nothing to hide.

Some of the things we covered in this episode include:

Behind the scenes of The Biggest Loser
Applying for and getting chosen for the show (15 of about 200,000 applicants get selected)
The importance of your "why?"
Secret eating
Training with Jilian Michels on the show
The moment he realized that he was at cause for his entire family's weight problem
The difference between Biggest Loser training and training in real life
His strategies for keeping the weight off
The strategy he used to continue losing weight even after he was voted off the show.
How he's learned to virtually eliminate the negative effects of shame and guilt by being absolutely transparent.

This episode is full of inspiring New Year's nuggets. Enjoy!

77: Nick Green, co-founder of Thrive Market - An American Success Story Dec 15, 2016

Show notes

You may have heard of Thrive Market (think Whole Foods meets Costco), but you may not have heard of it's co-founder and co-CEO, Nick Green. Nick started Thrive as a wholesale buying club with a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for every American family. It was a risky venture, since nothing like it had ever before been attempted.

Using some unique and innovative strategies that we talk about during the podcast, it has completely revolutionized the non GMO and organic food landscape as it currently offers the 4,000 most popular natural and organic products in the world at 25-50% off retail, shipped anywhere in the U.S. for free. For every paid member on the site, the company also sponsors a free membership for a low-income family. Prior to co-founding Thrive, Nick was the founder and CEO of Ivy Insiders, an education company that made college test prep more affordable and helped over 20,000 students get into better colleges before being acquired by Revolution Prep in 2010. The story of the original intent, initial growth, build-up, and current leadership model and structure at Thrive is both compelling and inspiring, especially when told right from the mouth of it's founder. In our hour together, Nick was as transparent as he was generous, holding nothing back, willing to share all of the "secrets" of his success. There is a lot in this podcast… from the beginnings when he was packing and shipping things from his own garage… to today with hundreds of employees and massive warehouse space. Nick's is a story of inspiration, turning dreams into reality, believing in yourself in spite of what others say or think, of hard work and perspiration, transparency, integrity, family, and fun. It's a genuine success story that has already had an incredibly profound impact on the availability of healthy food options in this country. I know you'll love this episode. Enjoy!

76: Scott McGee - On Grit, Resilience, and Having an Unconquerable Soul Dec 09, 2016

Show notes

Scott McGee is a dedicated father and husband, professional good guy/guardian, loyal friend, CrossFitter, and eternal optimist with an open mind and an unconquerable soul - that's directly from his website. He's a police officer, serving Santa Monica, CA as a detective, beat officer and a member of the SWAT team. He's one of the three hosts of the popular CrossFit podcast - the WODCast Podcast. He's also recently created a blog called The Sisu Way where he writes regularly. And he's husband plus a father of two awesome boys.

Scott's physical presence is awesome. He's imposing… driving a black SUV with tinted windows, wearing all black clothes, black sunglasses, bald… and at 6'4" and muscular, you're immediately confronted by his presence. If you look no further, you might think you're in for trouble just seeing him pull up. He's definitely one person that you want on your team! But if you take the time to get to know more about this man's man, you quickly see that his heart, spirit and commitment to serving others, are as large and imposing as his body. He's a big, committed softy - that will go above and beyond, do whatever it takes, go to the ends of the earth and back, to do something to support someone else or to ease someone way. This comes through for him both as a police officer, where he is called upon to help others, regardless of their opinion of him, and also as a father, where he was challenged with a yet-to-be born son who had to fight every step of the way just to be born. Scott doesn't know the word quit or surrender. He's a survivor, a leader, someone who pulls you up just by his presence in your life. He's got a lot to give to the world, and a lot of stories to tell during this podcast that will touch, move and inspire you to never give up. Such an honor to have him on the show and to call him a friend. Welcome… Scott McGee. Enjoy!

75: Dr. Andrew Hill - The Surprising Things a Brain Scan (and My Mother) Revealed Dec 01, 2016

Show notes

Dr. Andrew Hill is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA's department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognitive performance. Dr. Hill is the founder of Peak Brain Institute, host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain, and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology.

I went in to the Peak Brain Institute of Los Angeles to meet with Dr. Andrew Hill having literally no idea what I was getting myself into. I had agreed, in advance, to get what they call a Quantitative EEG "brain mapping" assessment, and then have Dr. Hill go over the results with me live on the podcast. Easy… and fun. I was about to learn about how awesome my brain function was… or so I thought.

For the test, they put a web of electrodes over my skull and watched my brain waves for about 20 minutes, after which they made me go through a nauseatingly boring number sequencing test. The only hard part of either was keeping myself from drifting off to sleep.

Simple, right? Super fun. Piece of cake. Until hearing the results - live on the podcast. Turns out, I've got some brain issues. See that picture below? The one where the map of my brain looks bright red? Those are my Theta waves… and the bright red color indicates I'm 3 or more standard deviations away from normal (which is a lot in statistical talk). YIKES! For the full rundown of what this all means you'll have to listen in on the podcast.

But don't fear, it's not all bad. The point of the testing is not just to find out what's wrong, but to actually do something about it. Dr. Hill said that with regular training, conditions like mine that can affect my sleep, attention span and ability to focus are fully correctable. I'll be doing at least a month's worth of brain training to find out just how much of a difference it makes - so look for the follow-up episode!

Enjoy!

74: Dr. Kirk Parsley - Get Sleep! Advice from a Navy SEAL Nov 18, 2016

Show notes

When is the last time you heard someone talking about getting in shape and losing weight where in the next sentence they said they were going to start by addressing sleep? I'm in the health and fitness business… and I can tell you that I've NEVER heard someone say that.

Why not? I can tell you… easy… It's not sexy. It means less time to do other things. And in the type A, results oriented, success driven world we live in, many people look at sleep as a waste of time - something that is optional, even a sign of weakness. But that's not what Dr. Kirk Parsley would say. Dr. Parsley is first and foremost a doctor. He's been practicing medicine for over 12 years. Doc was also a U.S. Navy SEAL - and since earning his medical degree, has spent much of his time serving as the Undersea Medical Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group One. It's safe to say given his credentials that Kirk knows what it takes to be fit, tough and to get the job done. But he is also a sleep expert. He's been a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine since 2006 and has served as Naval Special Warfare's expert on Sleep Medicine. Most of what he does today is work with people to help them achieve optimal health… and much of that work is centered around sleep and recovery. Doc is full of stories, analogies, and anecdotes that make his message simple and clear. We are sleep deprived and to address it we have to be willing to swim upstream, against the flow of societal norms. Our conversation is long but well worth the time you spend… you may even get excited about getting a pair of blue-blocking sunglasses after it's all said and done!

73: Rafe Furst - on Fine Tuning Your Decision-Making for Optimal Long-Term Results Nov 11, 2016

Show notes

Rafe Furst, graduate from Stanford in computer science, has seen his share of swings in the tech and business world, having been involved with startups since the mid 1990's. He's also an avid poker player, both in private games and public tournaments, once winning a World Series of Poker Championship. He's raised millions for charitable causes over the years and is currently a pioneer in Quantitative Venture Capital, a nascent field based on the convergence of equity crowdfunding, complexity economics and securities law reform.

I asked Rafe to be on the podcast because of an intriguing question he asked me during our first phone conversation. I was telling him about the 7 Habits of the Whole Life Challenge, and he posed a question, "What if there were an 8th Habit that you inadvertently built in without knowing it - the habit of good decision making?" I needed to know more... Inherent to the WLC as well as pretty much anything in your life is the necessity to make decisions. Some are easy, every day, almost automatic - habitual. Others are clear, obvious choices that have far-reaching implications for your life. The place that people get tweaked is when they mix up evaluating the quality of the decision with the outcome or result. Good decisions can lead to undesirable outcomes. An example from poker - you can make every right decision and still lose a hand. You can also make every right decision in a given evening a still lose all your money. It's the trap that a novice player falls into - looking at the result (I lost all my money), and questioning your decisions (I must have made bad ones). Instead, Rafe looks at his success over the long term, knowing that if he continues to make good decisions (regardless of the immediate outcome), he will eventually get the outcome he wants. Do you see the parallel to health and fitness? Wow… it hit me like a brick in the forehead. People start making good decisions each day… and if they don't see the result they expect relatively quickly (losing weight, fitting into clothes, dropping dress sizes, achieving a certain score or time for a workout), they judge their decisions as bad or wrong and quit. Or, they achieve the result they expected and quickly forget that they need to continue to make the good decisions that got them there (the yo-yo diet syndrome).

72: "Tinier" Tim Bauer - On How He Lost 250 lbs and Got His Life Back Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

Imagine you're a motivational speaker for a living (I know… it's a stretch for me too), and you're asked to give a talk to a bunch of college students about unhealthy addictions - one of which is over-eating. Now imagine that you weigh over 450 lbs, have a 58 inch waist and wear size XXXXXL clothing. See the problem?

This was the exact scenario that my guest this week faced… that moment was his rock bottom. It was also the point from which his life really began. Meet "Tinier" Tim Bauer. He is a fraction of the man he used to be, literally, having lost almost 250 lbs since that moment just a few years ago. Tim is on a crusade to change the world. To tell his story, with complete transparency, in an effort to inspire others take charge of their life through action. During the podcast, I asked Tim all sorts of questions, for example, what is it like to sit down in coach on an airplane weighing 450 lbs, knowing exactly what that would mean for others seated around him. Tim is completely honest, sharing both what he showed on the outside during these impressionable moments, to what was really going on on the inside - the hurt, pain, fear and suffering. Tim's transformation, and subsequent willingness to share it with the world is a miracle. His story will affect and inspire you no matter your personal history… because it's the same story for all of us on some level. We all have our issues, some obvious and on the outside, and some invisible to the eyes of others and on the inside. It's human to be afraid, to have been hurt, to be struggling, unsure, to judge, lash out, and get angry; just as it's human to use things that feel good to help us avoid dealing with our issues - alcohol, drugs, food, sugar, shopping, gambling, sex, etc. That's why when one man does it, steps out of the crowd, has the courage to walk in the opposite direction to the extent that Tim Bauer has, it touches us all. This is an incredibly powerful podcast… buckle up, get out a box of tissues… you're not going to want to miss a word.

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