39: Jen Widerstrom – Discovering Strength
Oct 18, 2020
Jen Widerstrom’s resume will tell you that she is a celebrity fitness trainer, Coach on the NBC show The Biggest Loser, former American Gladiator, model, best selling author of the book Diet Right for Your Personality Type, entrepreneur, and Fitness Director for Shape Magazine. But as we know on this show, sometimes: “Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; and everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.”
If there is anything in her bio that stands out and shows her heart, it is that Jen was rated the nations most authentic trainer. To me, she is a girl from Illinois trying to help others to embrace their true selves while pursuing a lifestyle that better suits their wellness goals. In this process she herself is repeatedly growing, learning, and healing. You see folks, we are all humans, going in and out of our own suffering, its just that some of us have learned to use those obstacles as opportunities. The strongest have learned to use compassion to bring others up in the process. What we do with our pain and our love defines our character, and Jen continues to prove she is not only a gladiator, but she is an unconquerable soul.
I hope you enjoy the insight, humanity, and compassion in this episode. It will raise your awareness in the power of service and dedication to helping others become strong, from the inside out.
This is a special episode of The Sisu Way. The format is different because on this episode, I was a guest on Marcus Aurelius Anderson’s podcast, Acta Non Verba. This episode includes many topics I have not yet discussed on The Sisu Way, so we agreed to release it on both platforms. There is something special about having a conversation with someone who can be in the moment without judgement, committed to seeking understanding, and that is something that happened on this episode.
We spoke about how serving as a law enforcement officer has provided an opportunity to learn empathy and to be aware of perceptions of those who need help. We explored how that responsibility impacts the job, as well as the physical, mental, and emotional impact of those who serve. We discuss coping strategies, stigma, and culture that surrounds reaching out for help and the kind of strength it takes to break that silence.
We also spoke about the origins of The Sisu Way, life, philosophy, culture, and more topics I hope you find worthwhile of your time and attention. If you find any of these topics interesting, want to hear more, have questions, or just want to chat, you can always reach me on Instagram: @scottmcgee.
37: Mastering Peace with Eva Charlotte
Mar 09, 2020
This episode is dedicated to mastering peace and learning how to live a happy and fulfilling life. I believe a peaceful life is centered on 3 main themes: mastering your desires, performing your duties, and learning to think clearly about yourself and your relations within the larger community of humanity.
My guest Eva Charlotte helps us remember how to do those things. Eva studied and taught with healers, shamans, and masters from many different traditions. Among these masters was Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements. The Toltec master selected Eva for an individual, intensive training that lasted for nine years, during which she gave talks, taught workshops, and coached individuals alongside don Miguel and his family. But like most of us, our experiences are some of our best teachers. Eva shares extraordinary events that profoundly impacted her perceptions, including near death experiences. Sometimes you need the dark to see the light.
Eva travels the world and shares her life empowering message Rise in Love & Be a Peacemaker, a message of authentic love of self and life, the happiness that comes from stripping away personal stories, beliefs and falsehoods that shield us from our true selves, releasing all need for mental control.
Like strength, to R.I.S.E. in Love is a conscious choice, a deliberate action, a powerful personal statement. Knowing who you are and what you want gives you the foundation to move forward on our path towards peace. It is our hope this episode helps guide you in the direction you may need.
Please support the show by rating and reviewing us on iTunes and visit TheSisuWay.com for meaningful merchandise.
36: The Character Mile – Movement is a Gift
Jan 07, 2020
This episode is about The Character Mile and the reminder that Movement is a Gift, Health is Wealth, the Present is a Present, and that we have the freedom and opportunity to choose not only strength, but gratitude. Our paths are unique, but the courage, resilience, and willpower to overcome is universal. For those that don’t know, The Character Mile was a challenge to complete one mile every day during the month of December. One mile might not not seem like much for some, but that’s not what it was about. It was about character, consistency, commitment, and a celebration. The health we have, the ability to move, our senses, our will to move forward on our path – is all a gift. There are no ordinary moments.
This episode is dedicated to the community of people across more than 14 countries that not only participated in it The Character Mile, but found connections, awakenings, and appreciation for what they GET TO do. In the episode I read some of the comments and emails I have received as well as play some of the audio messages from our own character community that participated in this challenge. You see, it was never just about the running, the time, or how you completed it, it was an expression of character and gratitude. Gratitude isn’t just the best attitude, its a super power… greater than any negative.
Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths. -Epictetus
Thank you for listening, participating, and revealing your character!
Humbly, Scott McGee
P.S. I hope you don’t forget to celebrate and get yourself and a loved one the MOVEMENT IS A GIFTshirt. It is under the store tab on TheSisuWay.com
35: Dr. Nicholas Romanov – The Man Behind the Pose Method
Oct 11, 2019
Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. – Francis Bacon
Dr. Nicholas Romanov’s mission is to advance the science of human movement and make it useful to people. He is committed to empowering people to take greater control of their well being. Dr. Romanov is a 2-time Olympic Coach, developer of the Pose Method of running, author, coach/athlete and world-renowned sports scientist. His career has spanned over forty years in numerous countries all over the world, all which started with very humble beginnings in Russia.
This is not just about the Pose Method, this is about the man behind it. Dr. R left his country after his poor childhood in Siberia’s wilderness. He struggled as a teenager and had numerous brushes with death. Through it all he has maintained a strong dedication to his family, and to discovering the truth. He has faced extreme circumstances most of us can not fathom, but only he has turned those moments into becoming the greatest mind in running.
It is my extreme honor to be able to not only have him on my podcast, but in the studio in person. He is one of the smartest guys I’ve met, but it’s his character that leads the way.
34: Adversity is a Gift with Marcus Aurelius Anderson
Jun 02, 2019
We are only as strong as the adversity we overcome. If that is the case, then Marcus Aurelius Anderson is a StrongMan of character. But facing adversity isn’t the only prerequisite for developing grit, you have to choose to use it as an opportunity for growth so you can adapt. It is not freedom from adversity, but it is the freedom, the power, the choice to take a stand and lean into your adversity. Our stories are unique, but the struggle is universal. To the strong, Adversity is a Gift.
My guest is Marcus Aurelius Anderson. Marcus is an author, TedX Speaker, and Mindset Coach who, while preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army, suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His life was turned upside down, and after dying twice on the operating table, he was told he would never be able to walk or use his hands again. He discovered he was left with two choices, he could either be a victim, or change his mindset and become a Victor. Having no other option, he began looking for any lessons to be learned from his injury, and soon discovered that his set back was a gift. After being paralyzed and coming back from death, Marcus is here to help guide us not only out of adversity, but into it.
SHOW NOTES:
Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
3:10 Who was Marcus prior to joining military at 38? Marcus the Younger
9:00 What he learned from his great uncle. The power of intention and purpose.
18:40 Joining the military at 38.
23:40 The concept of Arete and Ikigai
35:00 Knowing yourself – Temet Nosce
38:15 Grit – Dying and Paralysis – Movement is a Gift – the healing power of Gratitude
Genuine gratitude is not a buzzword, it is acting in a grateful manner.
57:34 You should be seeking out adversity, one in way shape or form. If you can have adversity as your compass, it will always direct you in the right direction, and for most people that are going through hardship, the answer they are looking for so desperately is found within the adversity that they are not facing.
58:30 Resiliency training – cold exposure – micro adversity
1:05:50 Adversity Scale
1:16:50 If you want to go beyond mediocrity, then you have to demand more from yourself. If you don’t demand something from you, life will start demanding things from you that you don’t want.
Misery loves company but not as much as mediocrity.
33: Perseverance & Gratitude with NFL Athlete Erik Swoope
Apr 10, 2019
Train Keeps Moving: No matter what happens in your life the train keeps moving and it doesn’t stop for anyone.
Erik Swoope is an NFL Tight End with a humble spirit who was with the Indianapolis Colts the past 5 seasons. He is 6’5”, 250 lbs, athletic, fast, and moves with the mass of a truck and coordination of a gymnast. The impressive part is this: He’s never played football before playing in the NFL. The more impressive part is that for as big and strong as Erik is, his character is more powerful. If perseverance, depth, gratitude, humility, and grit were measurable statistical categories, Erik would not only be an All-Pro amongst the NFL, he would be in the Pro Bowl of humans.
This episode is dedicated to understanding where Erik’s grit and gratitude come from, his upbringing, and the importance and meaning of family. We look at his accomplishments in the classroom, community, and on the court/field. We learn what it’s like to go from playing ACC basketball at the University of Miami to playing football for the first time (ever) in the NFL.
Want to know what it feels like to score a touchdown in the NFL? This episode is for you. Want to know how to overcome setbacks with a growth mindset and perseverance? This episode is for you. How you handle yourself when everything is great is one thing, but the best of us excel in the face of adversity. That struggle is where true strength is forged.
SHOW NOTES:
Into: Keep Your Dream
Don’t let your own will be the reason you fail. Keep that will strong and unconquerable. There are too many dreams buried in the cemetery of collapsed wills. Not yours. Be unconquerable. -Scott McGee
8:30 Where does Erik’s grit come from? What does it mean to be a Swoope man?
18:30 Family and upbringing. “If you start something you have to finish it.”
25:50 Athletic background as a kid. First dunk at 12 years old.
Lake Elsinore to Harvard Westalke (Los Angeles)
36:20 What are some of highlights from high school? “My struggle.”
One of my fondest memories. I found out how to do something the right way. I knew how to put in the effort, but are you doing it in a way that benefits you.
39:30 More proud of academics or sports?
The school work was where I had to prove to myself that I’m willing to go through something with no one else’s help. I had to find a way.
41:05 When did Erik figure out he was really good at sports?
48:00 How went from high school in SoCal to Miami to play basketball. What was it like leaving family?
56:22 Train Keeps Moving: No matter what happens in your life the train keeps moving and it doesn’t stop for anyone. If you think that life is going to hold up because you hit something… that train is going to keep moving.
59:00 Post college – The interest from the NFL Scouts. They want to see if Erik had “football traits.”
Learning football and drills. Try outs. 4.57 40 on first try.
1:01:40 Jimmy Graham – Mentor – First advice from former basketball player turned football player. “Football is not fun”. Ha.
1:10:40 Workout with NFL scout to the Indianapolis Colts
1:17:45 Learning the basics of football.
1:24:34 First time getting hit really hard in practice and a game. First Catch.
1:30:30 What it was like playing with Andrew Luck.
1:34:40 What it feels like to score a touchdown in the NFL.
1:39:40 The hardest part of playing football in the NFL… Handling stress
1:41:11 Where does Erik find the fun?
1:49:00 Purchases with NFL money.
1:51:50 NFL journey through being undrafted, injuries, practice squad, active roster.
In game experiences…
Responding from injuries, surgery, and learning to recover stronger than before.
2:07:18 Where does he go from here? Restricted Free Agent
2:09:16 What do you do with your doubts? I try and take that energy and put it into my training. My journey is not like anyone else’s.
32: Finding Strength in Struggle – A Warrior’s Perspective with Dr. Theresa Larson
Feb 15, 2019
Beautiful things don’t come without some suffering. -Dalai Lama
What happens after an injury, loss, or major change? How do you adapt to this new normal state? How do you find strength in the face of adversity? How do you accept this new change without always wishing to be like before? My guest, Dr. Theresa Larson, helps me answer these questions. She says our minds are a war zone and adaptation will occur no matter what, but there is a choice to to optimally adapt or maladapt.
Dr. Larson (DPT) is a mom, wife, sister, friend, and TEDx Speaker who happens to be a former Marine Corps Engineer Officer, combat veteran, and professional softball player. While that sounds like a resume of a strong person, it was the other moments where she developed her strength. Dr. T made it through the death of her mother at the age of 10, the loss of her father, and learned to suffer skillfully while battling an internal war with bulimia in the middle of an actual war. It’s here she learned strength, positive adaption, and her call to help others.
You see, her greatest strength isn’t in which she has done. Her greatest strength was in asking for help. Our stories are unique, but the struggle is universal. The mission of this episode is to deliver info to people who need it. To those who have gone through loss, trauma, or a major change in their life and needs to find their new normal again, this episode is dedicated to you.
Can you measure strength? Cellular level and the mind.
12:30 Knowing yourself as a person vs athlete
13:50 Early lessons in strength. A lesson from mom when she knew she was not going to go on:
Life is unfair Theresa, and life has to go on. I’m going to die, but your life has to go on and blossom.
27:20 Is strength teachable?
29:30 Battling an internal battle (bulimia) in the middle of an actual war.
Forgiveness doesn’t change your past, but it opens up your future.
On the convoy, when am I going to next throw up.
46:54 No one is going to hold your hand. Life goes on. I need to make those choices and stick up for myself, against myself. My mind is a war zone.
47:20 TED Talk: What is a Warrior? What made me a warrior was not that fact that I was at war, or a professional athlete. It was the fact that I asked for help.
55:36 Ownership and healing yourself
59:40 What is your why? Physics of the why.
1:06:13 Your first step in regulating your emotions is stabilizing your attention. You can stabilize your attention by bringing it right into your breath and stilling your mind. -SM
1:15:30 The Mind Trigger
1:17:30 Adaptive Athletes – Fitness, Breath work, Community – Ways to recover your strength
1:18:50 LOVE Principles: Lead yourself first, Oxygen (breathe), Vulnerability, Elasticity (you can change)
What are you doing for the world? A practice in gratitude through service reflection.
31: Dr. Jen Esquer – It Starts Within – Building Strength through Infidelity
Feb 02, 2019
Pain x Resistance = Suffering
In life, things happen around us, and things happen to us. The only thing that truly matters is your choice of how you respond to it. You can learn, adapt, and choose to make the best of each experience. Pain is inevitable and inescapable, but suffering is optional.
Emotional progress is made through confronting grief, pain, and calamity. Instead of avoiding the painful events of life, face them squarely and lean into them. By facing the realities of death, loss, and disappointment, you free yourself of illusions and false hopes and learn your truth.
Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our inner strength. An opportunity to practice your growth. Like core stability, it starts from within. Regardless of our trials, we all possess incredible strength. We have strength we don’t even realize we have. Its not other people that heal us…its you. Happiness does not depend on external sources. You are your own souls doctor. This episode will help guide you.
My special guest is Dr. Jen Esquer. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, creator of The Mobility Method and The Optimal Body. Recently, Jen announced via her Instagram that she walked away from manipulation, infidelity, and an unfaithful relationship. This emotional violation prompted her to have the courage to share her truth. To be a voice in this space for others who feel like they don’t have one. To fight/heal for herself and others. To recognize that Vulnerability is Strength.
This episode is not about what happened to her. It’s about her inner strength and decision to inspire in the face of emotional adversity.
4:45 Jen’s Mission: To HEAL the world the best way she can, and that is through empowering you to learn how to heal yourself!
9:20 Core Stability – The first step towards regulating your emotions is stabilizing your emotions.
11:08 Awareness of the body helps detect where you have been neglecting.
12:45 You cannot change the past, but by choosing to forgive you open up your possibilities for the future. -SM
14:30 What you resists, persists. Pain x Resistance = Suffering
18:00 The only cure for grief is grieving.
20:00 Revisiting infidelity – Owning the high road
30:41 I am just choosing to align myself with the values and the morals that I appreciate and I admire and the people that are going to uphold those same kind of values.
31:00 The Instagram announcement
31:24-32:03* I am so determined to be a voice in this space for people who don’t feel they have a voice and that is my want, my drive, my power behind this is truly coming from this place of wanting to help… and rise as one.
37:17 The hindsight of the relationship – Clues and Signs
49:00 The 7 wonders of the world – Gratitude
53:30 What is it about you that you are not listening to. Ownership.
30: See Love with Ruben Rojas, Artist & Co-Founder of Beautify Earth
Jan 20, 2019
Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. – Camille Pissarro, painter
Ruben Rojas, knows what it means to take beautiful intention and turn it into soul moving action. To choose love over fear. He is the co-founder of Beautify Earth, a social impact entrepreneur, and world-class artist that uses the urban landscape as his canvas to inspire others through his murals. To view the world through the lens of love. That line right there: To view the world through the lens of love, to SEE with gratitude and LOVE… is one of the main reasons I wanted to do this episode with Ruben. My intention was to make this episode a piece of art that will help open some eyes and and hearts. To free ourselves from the self imposed addiction to suffering. To SEE beautiful things in humble places. Sometimes, you just have to look up at a wall.
It is my hope, that we tug some heart strings and help people begin with gratitude so they can choose to be postive, kind, and thoughtful. Love is the way.
How? Take a moment. Go to your breath. Be mindful. Your self-awareness leads to self-regulation.
39:30 What does love and gratitude look like across the world? Traveling
“People that have nothing and they will give you everything.”
48:00 The street art that reaches souls.
What does the art do for you? “We are all mirrors to each other.”
54:00 See Love
55:00* “There is so much beauty out there. I hope people understand that they can see that stuff, and see it in the most humble places. Once you have that vision you become super powerful and thats where gratitude grows.” -SM
56:00 Feb. 13th DiscoverLa.com – Ruben’s art exhibit – No Ordinary Love
57:00 How to deal with negative perceptions and staying positive
58:40 Painting with elephants for the LA Zoo.
1:01:25 The Prison Project – ForGive : Forgiven
If you lack the power of forgiveness, you lack the power of love.
1:10:50 Your why is what you apply force from. It is your ground.
What is your why? Beautify Earth is on a world peace mission.
1:16:00 End ugly wall syndrome – A goal of Beautify Earth
29: The Four Agreements – A Guide to Personal Freedom, Happiness, and Love
Jan 07, 2019
Your mind is your best weapon. The mind is a battlefield, and we are all warriors. We are in a war for independence, for the right to use our own mind and break free. We are strong enough to break free from our own mental cage, like a rope tied to an elephant’s leg. The journey starts with … Continue reading 29: The Four Agreements – A Guide to Personal Freedom, Happiness, and Love
28: The Way to Breathe – The Oxygen Advantage with Patrick McKeown
Dec 19, 2018
The breath is the bridge between the mind and the body. This episode with international best-selling author of The Oxygen Advantage® and master breath instructor, Patrick McKeown, will change the way you think about breathing. How do you increase health, performance, resilience, mindfulness, fitness, and train the brain to be focused while lowering stress? You … Continue reading 28: The Way to Breathe – The Oxygen Advantage with Patrick McKeown
27: Julien Pineau – Discovering StrongFit
Dec 06, 2018
Burn the questions, burn your doubts, burn who you were, burn everything. See if you can make your soul bleed. Julien Pineau is a Humanist, Movement Specialist, and Founder of StrongFit, an intellectual and physical gym that has transcended the actual workout into an education. It’s a culture and a tribe of people who seek … Continue reading 27: Julien Pineau – Discovering StrongFit
26: Mary Beth LaRue – Creating Room for Embracing Vulnerability & Love
Nov 17, 2018
We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all … Continue reading 26: Mary Beth LaRue – Creating Room for Embracing Vulnerability & Love
25: Lindsey K. Mathews – A Peaceful Warrior Empowering Women through Love
Oct 27, 2018
Dr. Lindsey K. Mathews bio says she is a doctor of chiropractic, birth doula, NLP practitioner, strength and conditioning coach, and creator of the rockstar movement, BIRTHFIT! Beyond her extraordinary titles, Lindsey views every obstacle as an opportunity. She is a resilient woman in pursuit of truth, reflection, growth, and connection. Simply put, Lindsey is … Continue reading 25: Lindsey K. Mathews – A Peaceful Warrior Empowering Women through Love
24: Ryan Fischer – Strength, Work Ethic, & Reflection
Oct 15, 2018
Ryan Fischer has off the charts fitness, numerous feats of physical strength, and experience in helicopter flying, Olympic skeleton, BMX racing, competitive CrossFitting, and hiking all over the world. His life is a set of circumstances that have developed him into a fulfilled gym owner. But his biggest strength is his drive and his work … Continue reading 24: Ryan Fischer – Strength, Work Ethic, & Reflection
How do you create an unbeatable mind that provides the fortitude, grit, sisu, invictus, and mental toughness to overcome adversity? How do you positively alter your mental state? This is the episode that answers those questions. The goal of this episode is to bring awareness on how we make decisions and how we take action … Continue reading 23: Author Ryan Munsey – Awareness Creates Choice
22: Kenny Kane – A Path of Joy, Suffering, & Effort.
Sep 21, 2018
The Sisu Way is defined as strength and determination in the face of adversity. Persistence. Hope. GRIT. An unbeatable mindset full of courage, tenacity, resilience, willpower, triumph, and an unconquerable soul. They say the finest souls are those who gulped pain and avoided making others taste it. Well ladies and gentlemen, that is my … Continue reading 22: Kenny Kane – A Path of Joy, Suffering, & Effort.
21: Andy Petranek – Stepping Up through a Beginner’s Mind
Sep 09, 2018
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” — Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki Andy Petranek couples curiosity and enthusiasm and applies it to learn new perspectives for a better way. He is an early adopter, coach, athlete, entrepreneur, family man, and a life-explorer who travels with a sense of humor. … Continue reading 21: Andy Petranek – Stepping Up through a Beginner’s Mind
20: Logan Gelbrich – Awareness & Vulnerability on a path to Hold the Standard
Aug 31, 2018
Before recording this episode with world-class human Logan Gelbrich, Dr. Cara Miller had some advice for me. She said, “Hold him steady with love – Push him deep with humility – and be willing to go there with him courageously.” This episode is a journey into the man, not just the entrepreneur/coach. We learn how … Continue reading 20: Logan Gelbrich – Awareness & Vulnerability on a path to Hold the Standard
19: Adaptive Athlete Lil Misty Diaz – Spina Beautiful
Aug 05, 2018
Lil Misty Diaz is a force of light that has grown out of darkness. This darkness began with being born with Spina Bifida (birth defect affecting the spinal cord). Followed by 28 operations by middle school (not including exploratory surgeries) and compounded by medications, isolation, depression, loneliness, and 3 suicide attempts. But like a lotus flower, she … Continue reading 19: Adaptive Athlete Lil Misty Diaz – Spina Beautiful
18: Wim Hof Method: Breathing, Cold Exposure, & Mindset with Retired Peace Officer Erik Milosevic
Jul 30, 2018
One of the best and simplest pieces of advice anyone could give to benefit energy, freedom, and health is: Remember to breathe and relax. We are constantly faced with acute and chronic stress, which causes soul cavities. Stress causes inflammation, which may contribute to many serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, heart … Continue reading 18: Wim Hof Method: Breathing, Cold Exposure, & Mindset with Retired Peace Officer Erik Milosevic
17: Dan “Nitro” Clark – Death Lessons
Jun 25, 2018
Dan “Nitro” Clark is a American Gladiator, TEDx Speaker, Writer, Happiness Seeker, & Gratitude Practicer, who is committed to serving others. Dan’s path was one of suffering and trauma, but he grew into someone who set out to burn bright, or die trying. In this episode we learn about his past struggles, how culture taught … Continue reading 17: Dan “Nitro” Clark – Death Lessons
16: Greg Amundson – Warrior Monk
Jun 09, 2018
How do we master ourselves to be of greater service? My guest, Greg Amundson, is an operational and spiritual swiss army knife of a human being. He is the original CrossFit Firebreather, affiliate owner, a law enforcement officer, swat operator, DEA agent, Army Officer, martial artist, yogi, speaker, and author of the new book, The … Continue reading 16: Greg Amundson – Warrior Monk
15: Caroline Burckle – Strength in Vulnerability
May 18, 2018
Caroline Burckle is an Olympic Bronze Medalist Swimmer performing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 4 x 200m relay. She took gold in the 2007 Pan Am Games in the 800m freestyle, was the 2x NCAA champ, and was named the 2008 NCAA Swimmer of the Year. But this is not a story of … Continue reading 15: Caroline Burckle – Strength in Vulnerability
14: Marcus Kowal – Life is a Moment
May 10, 2018
The Sisu Way: Strength and Determination in the face of adversity. Persistence. Hope. Grit. A unbeatable mindset full of courage, tenacity, resilience, willpower and triumph. An unconquerable soul…. This description, this definition, describes my guest Marcus Kowal. Marcus is a martial arts coach, gym owner and professional fighter that specializes in kickboxing, boxing, BJJ, and … Continue reading 14: Marcus Kowal – Life is a Moment
13: Keep Swimming – An Episode on Grief
Apr 20, 2018
The most beautiful people are those that have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have still found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. … Continue reading 13: Keep Swimming – An Episode on Grief
12: Olympian Lauren Gibbs – Happiness is a Choice
Mar 26, 2018
Lauren Gibbs is an American bobsledder who won a silver medal at the 2018 Olympic Games. While that is a statement of fact, it does not define Lauren’s character. She is equal parts power, intelligence, intuition, respect, and drive. This makes her a champion of a human being. Our conversation is meant to show people … Continue reading 12: Olympian Lauren Gibbs – Happiness is a Choice
11: Christmas Abbot – Pressure is a Privilege
Feb 26, 2018
Christmas Abbott joins The Sisu Way to talk about resilience, the collateral beauty of tragedy, vulnerability, and her pregnancy.
10: Traver Boehm – Strength Reborn
Feb 15, 2018
Traver Boehm is a man of the heart. He is a primal man, a sensitive man, and a Man Uncivilized. Traver is a man that was completely broken by life, and decided to skillfully use the pain as rocket fuel for growth. It is that pain that rebuilt a life dedicated to service. That service … Continue reading 10: Traver Boehm – Strength Reborn
9: Lindsey Valenzuela – Strength to Give
Feb 12, 2018
Lindsey Valenzuela is someone you may identify as a CrossFit Games Athlete, but Lindsey is more than that. She is a powerhouse of emotion, passion, strength, and love that has had a renewed sense of purpose since the birth of her son.
8: Tait Fletcher – Humility is Growth
Feb 03, 2018
A conversation with Tait Fletcher about appreciation, gratitude, humility, service, and growth.
7: Matt Aporta – Fostering Love: A Story of a Family
Jan 28, 2018
Episode 7: Fostering Love with Matt Aporta is more than a story of what its like to foster-to-adopt a child. It is a lesson and reminder that everyday is a gift and nothing is more powerful than love. Relationships can come and go in an instant. Nothing in life guaranteed. Love with a sense of urgency and live on purpose.
6: The Art of Living – Epictetus, Stoicism, & Serenity
Jan 22, 2018
The Art of Living, the classical manual of Epictetus on how to live a good & moral life is presented in honor of one of the most virtuous people I know.
5: Val Voboril – Strength is a Choice
Jan 15, 2018
Val Voboril is the everyday woman with super-powered fitness. She is a mother, 4th Grade teacher, and a 6-time CrossFit Games Athlete. But these titles do not define her. The quality of her character is shown through her resilient spirit, her unconquerable soul, and her commitment to teaching kids that they have the power … Continue reading 5: Val Voboril – Strength is a Choice
4: Health is Wealth – Memento Mori – Movement is a Gift
Jan 08, 2018
Health is Wealth is a tagline of The Sisu Way. This episode is about appreciating that Health is Wealth, Movement is a Gift, & Your Will is Within Your Power.
3: Strength to Love – MLK “Loving Your Enemies”
Dec 19, 2017
Episode 3: Strength to Love is about perspective. This episode stands to provide a different light on the finger pointing mentality we sometimes show, and instead, turn the light back on ourselves. We have the ability to chose strength, love, and forgiveness. This leads to growth, not pain. We are the master of our fate. … Continue reading 3: Strength to Love – MLK “Loving Your Enemies”
2: Strong Willed – A Parents Story about Strength, Willpower, & Resilience
Dec 09, 2017
Episode 2: Strong Willed, is a story of strength, fortitude, and a celebration of resilience told through letters that were written to my sons from several months in 2015. In Episode 1: For Dad I looked back to the generation before me. In this episode, I take a look at the generation after me by … Continue reading 2: Strong Willed – A Parents Story about Strength, Willpower, & Resilience
1: For Dad – The Why
Dec 02, 2017
Welcome to the first episode of The Sisu Way Podcast. There are many reasons for this passion project, and I’d like to start the show with my ‘why’. One of the major themes is the awareness, appreciation, connection and gratitude for life and the opportunity to leave lessons for the next generation. In this episode … Continue reading 1: For Dad – The Why
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