Kevin Polky - The Journey

Are you a Bears fan or Packers fan? So many times, we get caught in a perspective of my team vs. their team, right or wrong, black or white. It is developmental critical to start with this perspective but if we get stuck here we will not be able to grow. We will not be able to see grey. We really are not a football fan. Just a fan of a team (well as long as they win).

Xavier Returns to Share Her Story after her Son’s Death Xavier returns to The Journey to share her story about the trauma of finding her son on the day he died form suicide. Xavier had numerous losses in her life but this was different. A parent living through the loss of their child is beyond words. The fact she was the one who found him amplified the problem. She discovered she had PTSD. After seeking treatment, she was physically more normal, but her journey for finding purpose to this awful pain had just began. Great conversation with this speaker, advocate and now author.

“Why do I do what I don’t want to do, and don’t do what I want to do?” Kevin shares in this brief teaching piece about the “blueprint” that drives our perceptions and decisions we make later in life. He introduces the concept of the wound and the false self that we create to protect ourselves. But most importantly men and women, he invites us to do the work on ourselves to break “the spell”.

Great conversation with John Penney as he shared about his story growing up with not enough money to play organized sports. He had a numerous of mentors who assisted in his growth as he walked through doors in his career in the trades. Later, he took his love for basketball and desire to help his daughter and started an organization to give girls opportunities he never had growing up. John’s organization, Rockford Heat, has helped numerous young female athletes get scholarship money to play basketball at the Division I and II level.

Athlete to Business Leader to Community Activist Rob joins me on The Journey and shares his story from being a top performing tennis player who turns professional. He then graduates from college and returns to his father’s company which in few short years he becomes president. After successfully bringing a cultural change to the company, he desires to bring the same opportunity for cultural change to local politics. Definitely check out this episode it is packed with many different tips for success.

Part 2 A Lady’s Journey with Depression and her Desire to Give Hope Lynn returns to The Journey and goes into more detail regarding her experience with depression. Lynn shares about the importance of not giving hope and knowing you are not alone. Awareness, education and pursuit for help. Medical assistance, counseling and healthy lifestyle are the key message she wants to share with others. Enjoy this conversation.

From Competitor to Coach to Creating Space for Greatness Lori started gymnastics when she was very young. She remembers her first setback as being a turning point as she faced her fears and overcame it. She realized avoiding something she was scared of was not a solution. She uses that motto as she coaches national and international athletes. She and her husband have created a world renown gymnastic academy. Listen to this wonderful conversation about her journey from competitor to coach to business owner.

Paying Forward What He was Given in the Darkness Brian grew up in a small Wisconsin town. He admits he was loved by his mom but felt there was always something missing. He was constantly feeling not good enough. He discovered alcohol early in life and that became a problem. Drugs were added into the mix and things got worse. But, the core issue was a lack of relationship with himself and others. Brian shares about his recovery journey with alcohol and drugs but even more importantly with codependency.

A Storyteller Through Film Corbyn became intrigued with filmmaking when he was young. He has made a career out of expressing himself through this form of art. He thought a few years ago, he had reached the pinnacle of his career with The Fatherhood Project and being on the Today Show. But, that was just one part of the story. He has committed his life to being the best husband and father that he can be. And, now he working full time during the day but creating his own content at night. Another, exciting part of this storyteller’s journey.

He was Born Blind but He Can See This is an amazing conversation! Lenox was born very poor in Jamaica. And, he was born blind. He saw for the first time when he was 8 years old. He was sent to an orphanage after his mom died. He was brought to the US in his teen years where he was eventually adopted. Lennox shares what his life was like being blind to the transition of having sight. He talks about transforming from worship leader to leading a mission of hope to orphanages around the world. Please take a listen to this conversation of transformation.

Through her Losses she has been a Voice for Others Tonya was the oldest of three children. She remembers always wanting to be around her dad. She was a “tom-boy” who was bullied by friends and extended family. And then the losses began. Her father died from a tragic car accident. It changed everything for her: dad, mentor, boss and inspiration, all gone in one moment. Years later, her brother died from suicide. He was her closest friend, inspiration and trainer. Since that time, she has renewed strength, to show perseverance through exercise, lifestyle and sharing with others the story of hope.

He lost Half of Himself and Now He is Able to Give Back Ethan gave himself a wonderful gift on his 21st birthday, he lost over half his bodyweight through changing his eating and exercising. He had always been big for his age. He silently endured the ridicule and not knowing where he fit in with his peers. The deadly combination of depression and unhealthy lifestyle lead to making some huge changes not only for himself but for the ones he coaches and inspires. Thank you, Ethan, for being so open and transparent about your journey.

Returning to the podcast is Kylie Lewis and Dalton Bullard. Kylie was one of the panelists for our most recent event, Artists & Athletes Out of the Ashes, and Dalton is a former Division 1 athlete. In this episode we discuss the topic of using the arts and athletics as a vehicle for transformation and developing resiliency.

A Music Lover who wants to Change the Industry Ryan was a shy, introverted self-proclaimed “nerd” growing up. He discovered the punk music scene and it changed everything. He felt like he fit in and could relate to the sound and the message. Today, he believes deeply in the power of music and the artists who create and perform it. He wants to provide solutions to a broken industry as speaker, manager and producer. Take a listen to this interesting conversation.

Scott grew up playing sports like most young people but his love for football and wrestling were not enough to quiet the thoughts in his mind. Alcohol was one of the only things that would make him forget. But, the problems that were caused when he was under the influence of alcohol kept the cycle of avoidance and alcohol, repeating. Twenty months ago, Scott started his journey of sobriety. Six months ago, Scott started living a life of being clean and sober. And, now he wants to give back so others don’t have to make the same mistakes he has. Join us for this raw conversation about Scott’s journey.

Out of the Darkness into the Light through Art and giving Back Erica grew up in an extremely conservative home impacted by a legalistic religion, divorce and mental illness. As an adult, the world was much bigger than she had previously ever known. Alcohol became part of it and then became a problem. A secret with no limits. Many unsuccessful attempts of stopping until she hit her bottom. There she made some decisions and life has not been the same. She now uses her passion for art to give her purpose and means to give back. Listen to this wonderful conversation.

Seeing the Opportunities even in the Darkness Growing up for Gregg there was numerous setbacks. During high school, his mom was diagnosed and died from cancer, his dad in his grief died from suicide, brother and best friend died from suicide. In the midst of that darkness, there was Light. Significant individuals and opportunities came into his life. Listen to this powerful conversation of how Gregg coped and lived through these setbacks and others and what he learned from them.

How recovery has allowed him to give back Mike grew up the only child of two loving, conservative parents. But, sensed there was more outside the walls of his house. He discovered music and became entranced but alcohol, drugs and the desire to be liked distracted him and took over. Through recovery, Mike has the opportunity to share his story and words of wisdom to others through conversation and his music.

Part 2: Simply Us and a Bus Aaron returns to the studio days before he and has family leave Rockford to live on the road in their 225 square foot bus. Aaron shares about the lessons he learned from the first year. “Be open to what God has right in front of you.” And shared about what he is going to bring on the road for this part of the journey.

She’s a Survivor Andrea grew up with parents who cared for her but emotionally compartmentalized feelings. She was in an emotional and verbally abusive marriage that turned physically violent and then she was liberated. And, she has been cancer free for the past year. She now uses art, yoga and what she learned through these experiences for her students. Listen to this conversation of an amazing woman who is a survivor.