Heroicminds

Noah is a behavioural ecologist and published author. He is the founder of The Best Bees Company, a top to bottom bee keeping service. The company also functions as a means to raise funding for scientific research to improve honey bee health. Did you know that investing into the health of honey bees we can enhance our environment, secure sources of food and improve our economy? Before we get to the bees we unpack Noahs empowering journey through life as a young boy that went from insect avoiding to insect studying and the life/business lessons learnt along the way. Bees. We begin with what we can learn from bees when it comes to our own survival both physically and socially. We then move into what bees do for us, why some bees survive better in the city, and last but not least how you can help strengthen the bee population with your own garden or balcony. Did you know that scientists can track exactly where and what plants your honey came from?

During the 2008 recession Kevin found himself 1 million dollars in debt. Not only did he venture through and learn from the recession, he came back stronger and prepared for this 2020 Pandemic. Kevin is an innovative developer. He creates revolutionary, rule-bending buildings that double as social experiments and subsidized housing to help fight the homeless issue. Kevin is the Owner of Guerrilla Development in Portland Oregon. Everyone in Kevins company makes the same amount of money AND earns shares in the company. Kevin completed architecture school at U.C. Berkeley. He was a Loeb Fellow in 2007-2008 at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and spent a 2-year stint building schools and homes for the Peace Corps in Gabon, Africa. In this episode we answer the question, what is enough? We talk about the issue with the ‘American Dream”, how to run a business in a pandemic, how to only have high calibre employees and how to keep them. How to earn respect from the people you do business with and how to make susta

Dada is a yogic monk. He has taught meditation all over the world for 20+ years. He teaches the lifestyle and philosophy of the system of life known as yoga or tantra, the core practice of which is meditation. Dada delivers in such an eloquent way the issues of our world and why they exist. He then explains how we can fix those issues by peeling back the layers that are blurring our intentions. What we are left with is purpose, a sense of hope or as Dada would say the “default” mode of wanting to help others because we know we are all in this together. Meditation is about finding the essence of yourself within yourself and realizing that essence as the inner self of all beings and the entire universe. Dada believes this will lead to the greatest happiness and fulfilment for everyone and the whole society, and that's why his mission is to teach meditation to as many people as possible. https://www.consciousfrontier.org/ Send me an E-Mail  

Alanna holds an MPH in international health from Boston University and brings twenty years of program design, management, and assessment experience spanning the humanitarian relief and development sectors including writing for UN Dispatch and TED as well as providing social media support to NGOs. First Half: We break down the (hopefully temporary) present issue of COVID-19. Second Half: We move into the interconnected global healthcare system and how the answers to fix things are right in front of us. Why weren’t we prepared for COVID-19? How do we prepare for the inevitable return of another Virus? Who can we help to limit the spread of disease? What changes can be made to improve our global health care & What is standing in our way?What is the heroic mindset when dealing with a pandemic? All that and lots more discussed in this episode. Alanna Shaikh TED Talk Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live     Work Cited: https://cm.jefferson.edu/learn/dna-and-rna/

Phil received the highest civilian medal for bravery in Canada. This Niagara Regional Police officer nearly lost his life trying to rescue a woman trapped in a murder-suicide with her son. He entered the house to find a man and his mother doused in gasoline… There was a pivotal point in Phils challenge with PTSD where he felt he was in danger and was looking for his gun for protection… it was very much irrational thinking and this lead him to get the help he needed. Phil shares how he has tapered off so many medications and discovered how medicinal marijuana has made a big difference for him. Needless to say, Phil has ventured through a lot. Today he is still living with, learning about and helping others with PTSD, while working towards a PhD in Psychology. His approach is that he refuses to lose against PTSD. Which is also the name of his organization, Refuse to Lose. Refuse to Lose raises money for first responders to access care needed to treat PTSD. Why? Because right now the cost for the standard care i

Before he jumped, Joshua believed he could never have positive feelings ever again, not mentally or physically. In quoting Josh himself, “The impulse to survive that I had overcome above the bridge now takes control. With broken bones, I begin to swim. At the age of 22, Joshua Beharry attempted suicide. After surviving the nine story drop Josh willingly turned his life around. So much so that he began a website resource for men dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. I will say this again in the episode but this website is outstanding, It is the best resource for this topic that I have ever seen, with online stress tests, help with symptom recognition, a step by step recovery process with recommended resources, a page with real life success stories and even resources for friends and family on how they can support someone in this situation. This episode is an extremely powerful example of the ability the human mind has. The ability to literally give us power we didn’t know we had. This episode is not ju

Kevin Briggs spent 18 years stopping 200+ Golden Gate Bridge suicides. Kevin has story after story, tactic after tactic, lesson after lesson. In this episode we cover A LOT. Kevin shares what he learnt in his years both saving and sometimes losing lives on the bridge. What is the first thing Kevin would say? It is probably not what you expect. What about the things you should avoid saying, well, Kevin has his four comments that he always avoids. Even though Kevin became educated and trained on deescalation it wasn’t those skills that allowed him to help guide over 200 people back onto the safe side of the bridge. It was listening, it was understanding, it was patience and authenticity. It was being honest and true, staying away from cliches and talking human to human allowing the individual to clear the darkest thoughts possible and think with some instance of clarity and rationale. Kevin doesn’t consider himself a hero. I will let you hear his story and decide for yourself. Pivotal Points Guardian of thee G

Kathryn Bouskill is a social scientist at the RAND Corporation and associate director of the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security. She is also professor of core coursework at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She has a Ph.D. in anthropology and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from Emory University.  An anthropologist by training, Bouskill draws on qualitative and quantitative methods to study a range of sociocultural- and health-related issues. Her topical areas of focus include: the role of emerging technologies in health and wellbeing, issues in cancer prevention and survivorship, military mental health, social cohesion in a globalizing world, and global health. In this episode we talk about the unforeseen consequences of a fast paced world. We talk about the effects of a fast paced world on groups in society and on us as individuals. We point out the differences in countries that are deciding to push the pace and those that aren’t. This is a powerful conversation that is and will continue to affect everyone i

Dr. David Williams; ER doctor, astronaut, aquanaut, hospital CEO and author dreamt of going to space as a young boy. He fulfilled this dream twice, both times along not only a bumpy flight but a bumpy road   From failing his first attempt at Med school and finding himself on the side of the road hitch-hiking to beating cancer, Dr. Williams overcame a lot to be the space dreaming, retired astronaut that he is today.   We touch on the science behind space travel, defining your success, maintaining peak performance, thoughts that come to mind when looking down at the earth, the Canadian record he has for the longest space walk at 17 hours and 47 minutes… oh ya and we laugh about personal hygiene in space.   Dr. Williams dreams about floating freely in space, tethered to the International Space Station, moving 25 times the speed of sound, looking down at the earth in amazement.   First Trip to Space In April 1998 Dave Williams participated in STS-90 as Mission Specialist 3 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. During t

Dr. Judith Andersen is a health psychologist at the University of Toronto whose research focuses on the biopsychosocial mechanisms by which stress impacts health and occupational performance. Dr. Andersen has conducted field research on the psychophysiological responses in people who experience trauma and severe stress. Through her findings Dr. Andersen has been able to conduct/test resilience training and the outcome of psychophysiological stress intervention (techniques for civilians, police and military personnel to increase high stress resilience/performance.) In this episode we discuss: - The most ideal psychophysiological way of being - It is NOT “mental health” it is “Human Performance” - How to work within “Fight or Flight” - How to redirect your thought - How to restore your reserves - Discipline vs Punishment - How to tailor your message to make change Resources Paced Breathing Practice App and Heart Monitor Bio Training The Hart Lab The Unease Modulation Model (Incredible Read) Send me an email:

Kirstie Ennis’s was a US Marine Arial Gunner when her helicopter went down in Afghanistan. During her recovery there was a breaking point where she tried to end her life but was saved. Her father said to her “the enemy couldn’t do it so you’re going to do it for them?!” That tough love re-routed her onto an extraordinary journey. After more than 40 surgeries, speech therapy, reconstructing her jaw, and losing her leg, the former Marine sergeant has earned 3 Degrees and is a PhD candidate, she plans to summit the highest peak in each of the 7 continents (has already summited a couple including Mt Kilimanjaro), she has competed as a Paralympic snowboarder, she opened her first business, the Chapter One Hair and Body Lab in Oceanside, California, she started a clothing line called HeadCase, she has become a stuntwoman in movies including “Patriots Day” starring Mark Wahlberg and she plans to add more to this list which you will hear in the episode. Kirstie has realized when you are aligned with your purpose, an

Revolutionizing the global conversation on climate change, Dr. Yimin Wu (PhD in Materials from the University of Oxford) and his team created an artificial leaf that replicates photosynthesizes. Taking in light and CO2 and turning it into fuel/energy. Just like NASA and TESLA are trying to figure out Dr. Wu’s team has found an answer to the CO2 issue. He makes it very clear that his work is not just for science and to remain in a lab, it is to be shared with people for inspiration and education to push the needle even further. In this episode we talk about the philosophy and science behind this engineering break-through. What makes someone think they can change the world? What fuels someone for days without sleep to reach a discovery like this? How does pressure become opportunity? How is creation like climbing a mountain? Full Bio & Educational Background Here Chef on Call 15%-Off Discount Code: HEROICMINDS TruLocal 25%-Off Discount Code: HEROICMINDS25 Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live  

William is a World Record Freediver. William set a historic first on June 1st, 2007 by becoming the first man to dive the 60-meter deep and 30-meter long passageway known as the Arch in the Blue Hole of Dahab, Egypt, without fins and on a single breath of air. In 2013 William broke the Classic Constant Weight World Record, descending to a record-setting depth of 94 meters. That same year he challenged himself to even greater depths: During a dive of 3 minutes and 8 seconds a sled pulled him to a depth of 145 meters (476 feet) from which he swam back to the surface on a single breath of air. Thus setting a new world record as well as claiming his 28th national Freediving record. In this episode William shares funny stories, scary stories and interesting stories to tell us what he has learned from Free Diving, the ocean and the bodily expectations for the sport of Free Diving. - How William got into Free Diving - What Free Diving is - What it takes - How and why we should improve our breathing - Coming face to

Robin is a doctoral candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo.  He left his job as an Occupational Therapist to make an impact in a different way. Today he is researching the psychological impacts of urban design. Over the years he has worked to enhance the mental wellness in every community he has been a part of. He has launched many community building initiatives, ranging from pop-up bike lanes in support of cycling infrastructure to bringing light therapy to public libraries. He was also the recipient of a $10,000 award from the Canadian International Development Agency which he used to develop programming for youth with disabilities in Russia. He even helped organize Edmonton’s biggest pop-up snowball fight! His advocacy and research has been featured across the country. In this episode we talk about flow state, light therapy, silent retreats, and how we can change our immediate environment to improve our mental wellness. Robin on Twitter Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live  

Victor Assaf is an Adaptive Crossfit athlete/coach and motivational speaker from Ecuador. In 2012 he was driving home from a strongman competition and lost control of his motorcycle on a bridge. His body slammed into a light pole. The crash damaged three cervical vertebrae which left him in a coma. When he awoke after 10 hours of surgery, lucky to be alive, the doctor told him he would never do CrossFit again. He had lost motor function and sensation in his right arm. Ultimately they couldn’t save his arm. Just seven months later, he returned to Crossfit. Infact he just competed at Wodapalooza and placed 6th in the RX Men Adaptive Standing division. Victor’s journey took him from egocentric to altruistic, from not having a voice to being heard around the world. Victor Promo Video  Victor Assaf Instagram

Zach Wigal is the creator of Gamers Outreach, a company that motivates, supports and entertains those in hospital fighting for their lives. How? by bringing video games to hospital rooms in over 200 hospitals in the US and parts of Canada. This entrepreneurial journey is fuelled by passion. What started as a video game tournament has evolved into a company helping thousands of sick or injured youth every week. Zach has even been mentioned in Forbes Under 30 for his incredible work in the video game and non-profit world. I was always told they are just bad. They teach violence… Zach makes you realize that isn’t really the case. Zach opens the sheltered mind and changes the socially created issues that come with video games. Zach explains the the community, the inclusion, the life lessons and more that come with video games that you may not realize until you hear these real life examples. Zach Wigal Twitter Gamers Outreach Twitter

Mike Farwell lost two sisters to Cystic Fibrosis. In 5 years he raised half a million dollars with his bare hands. No business plan, no waivers, no incorporation, to charitable status… just pure passion and the will to fight a disease. During his time away from Radio (his full-time job and expertise) Mike started a hobby/project doing chores for people in return for donations to Cystic Fibrosis Research. This BLEW UP into a wildly successful campaign called “Farewell-4-Hire.” From lawn work, to sticking his hands in places you wouldn’t want to, Mike has become a handy man with a huge purpose. Mike has seen his hard earned proceeds push the needle of Cystic Fibrosis care, treatment and the lifespan of those living with CF. Farwell Twitter Send me an Email: ben@heroicminds.live  

Lyle Thompson is arguably the best lacrosse player in the world. He plays for the Georgia Swarm in the National Lacrosse League along with his three brothers, Jeremy, Haina and Miles. Lyle is growing the game of lacrosse through his heritage and beliefs as a Native American. He has and continues to make such a big impact in and out of lacrosse that he became a Nike sponsored athlete in 2015. The other thing you may notice about Lyle is the pony tail that hangs down his back as he plays, which represents his Native Heritage. There was an incident in January this year during a game where an announcer made a remark about cutting his pony tail or “scalping” him. With an outpouring of support from fans and players around the league, this was something Lyle turned into an opportunity to educate. In September of this year Lyle will represent the Iroquois Nationals at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. In this episode we cover the origin of lacrosse, how it is a game of medicine, how the stick was created, we d

Corey is a comedian and author from Georgia touring around the United states. Whether on stage by himself or with his “wellRED” tour group Drew and Ryan, he is always mixing comedy with social and political issues. Corey doesn’t reinforce prejudices in his work but rather challenges and normalizes difference. I came across Corey in a Huffington Post Article about a guy that opened up his home/yard and ordaining services to same sex couples that weren’t allowed to get married at other venues. Corey is that guy. Corey tells some powerful stories about his great friends, one who happens to be gay and has certain places he feels he cannot go as well as an African American friend who was robbed and shot but never told the cops out of fear that he would end up in jail. It is not Corey’s mission to make change or virtue signal. His mission is to make people laugh and earn an income. The messages he brings to comedy on stage are what he truly believes. His work is just him being himself. www.coreyforrester.com Send m

Dr. Norman Farb studies neuroscience of human identity and emotion at the University of Toronto. His focus is on how cognitive biases shape emotional reactions that determine well-being. For example, some people seem to shrug off stressful encounters, whereas others cannot let them go. In this episode we talk about the narrative thought and the experiential thought in our mind. We even talk about how emotion sits right in the middle of these two forms of thought and how we can practice controlling our emotions. Dr. Farb gives numerous eye opening examples of just how mindfulness can help everyone reach their full potential. Dr. Farb Webpage Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live