Episodes
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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.
Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live
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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.
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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.
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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.
Send me an Email: ben@heroicminds.live
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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 debunk myths of Native Americans and have some laughs about an honorary Thompson brother… which is not an easy title to receive.
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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.
Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live
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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.
Send me an email: ben@heroicminds.live
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Jean-Paul ran the Toronto Marathon 6 times in a row. Why you might ask? Because running is his tool for wellness, power and resilience. Jean-Paul was sexually abused at a young age and didn’t tell his family until he had been married 25 years and had a son in his twenties.
Jean-Paul is a remarkable writer and speaker. He wrote a book called, Running Into Yourself - unlock your strength, heal your wounds, and find new life through running.
Jean-Pauls talks about his journey through exposure therapy, his thoughts on the starting line at a race in South Africa and how this trend of wanting a quiet mind may not be the right approach.
Jean- Paul doesn’t run with music. It gets in the way of the dark conversations that he has with himself. The conversations that deal with things he could otherwise avoid. The conversations that cultivate resilience.
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Ricky Manetta is a head co-ordinator working world wide with the UFC the ultimate fighting championship. Ricky is also the Founder and senior instructor of MMA KRAV MAGA. He is 50 years old and had his first taste of martial arts when he was just 9 years old.
Stay tuned for the conclusion when we talk about Ricky and the top MMA competitors today.
Ricky went from the victim of bullying to being the bully and now in the position of teaching people how to have the confidence to stand up to bullies without any physical violence.
Ricky takes us through a number of stories, a cab ride that landed him a job as a DJ, the dad that was afraid to stand up to a bully, why we should give a bully a hug, why we should check our own ego and when to listen to the “do right man.”
Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live
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Drew Butterworth actually started the Original Uber and realized the power of customer experience when bagging groceries as a kid… but before we talk business, we talk real-life, death, masculinity, relationships, and then business.
Drew, entrepreneur and creator of GoodVibesJuice lost his grandmother, father and dog in grade 9 within the span of 3 months.
Drew makes some powerful points in this episode, two of my favourites were the process and reasoning for accepting his step father into the family and how it doesn’t matter what business you run as an entrepreneur as long as the reason for the business feeds your passion.
I even ask Drew the magical question of why, “Cold Pressed Juice vs regular juice”?
He knocks my socks off with his answer. -
Pro Snowboarder to Counsellor.
Ryan was in the middle of what he thought to be a snowboarders dream life; professional athlete, cars, money, sponsorship, parties, travel…
He started to realize he really didn’t have much. Everything he had didn’t make him happy anymore. The lifestyle didn’t make him happy. He was doing things for a lifestyle he thought he should want. He looked in the mirror at 6’4, 170 pounds of an abused and alcoholic body and convinced himself he was fine.
1000 days before recording this episode Ryan got the help he needed. He has been sober ever since. He is now the manager of a bike shop, he’s a mentor to indigenous youth, he counsels people suffering with addictions, living and family problems and is leading a heroic life.
Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live
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Emily is a former inmate at a federal prison. She was dragged into an illegal drug trade.
Before that experience Emily was a very successful marketer downtown Toronto and used drugs recreationally as a form of celebration and to help in being the life of the party… like many people do today.
Drug use became a coping mechanism for a family issue. She was then dragged into a one time, harmless, no chance of being caught smuggling trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. On the way back home while wearing a tailored drug smuggling dress she was caught by security.
It was a downhill spiral after being told she was going to prison. Then one day in the midst of this storm Emily turned her life around.
She read 82 books in prison. She decided to live a sober life. She decided to start a business with an impact beyond just incredible popcorn, Cons and Kernels.
Send me an email! ben@heroicminds.live
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Greg is the President & CEO of Sutton Special Risk insurance company that insures thousands of professional athletes. Beyond that Sutton Risk offers insurance for disability, critical illness, war & terrorism, kidnap, ransom, and professional sports to name a few.
We begin this episode with a powerful conversation about how to build long-term, substantial business relationships that go beyond the product or service.
We talk business, we talk about normalizing risk in life, and we talk about how professional athletes have changed their opinion on risk over the last 10 years.
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Ex-Marine and police officer Brian Murphy was supposed to have the day off on August 5th, 2012. Instead he found himself in the middle of a gun fight at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
In a total of a minute and fifteen seconds he was shot 15 times.
He was then dragged into a police car by his partner, vest cut off with a knife and loaded into an ambulance. The first bullet that hit him in the face is still in his body today.
Brian explains how he stayed calm amidst the gun fire, how he kept fighting even after he was shot in the face, the negative power that pity can play in ones life, how to act as a leader and a whole lot more.
This entire episode is a collection of stories from that day, all with different lessons. Brian concludes with a story to share what a hero is.
Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live
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Shawn Matthias played 10 incredible years in the NHL. But what happens when you move on from playing? When you have to redefine yourself and find out who you really are?
An enlightening conversation I never thought I would have with a 10 year NHL vet, one year out of playing. We touched on a couple things to say the least...
- 10 years in the NHL
- How the ego is the enemy
- Wake-up calls from a visit to Africa
- Spirituality
- Negative lifestyle habits due to assumptions
- Finding out who you really are
- Not playing hockey doesn't mean retirement
Shawn on InstagramSend me an email! ben@heroicminds.live
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On December 14, 2012, Scarlett Lewis experienced something that no parent should ever have to endure: she lost her son Jesse in an act of unimaginable violence after a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School. This conversation is about how to face the impossible, how to find courage when you think you have none, and how to choose love instead of anger, fear, or hatred.
We can live in anger and resentment, or we can choose love and forgiveness.
With her decision made, Scarlett found some peace and began to believe that choosing love was the key to creating a healthy, safe, and happy world.She began the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation. the foundation develops programs that teach children about the power each of us have to change our thoughts and choose a life without fear and hate.
Nurturing Healing Love is Scarlett's story of how choosing love is changing her life--and how it could change our world. To learn more about the foundation or to make a donation, go to www.jesselewischooselove.orgSend me an email: Ben@heroicminds.live
- Craig Towler is a bilateral amputee. On July 4th, 2016 he was struck by an impaired driver which resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.
He leads a life knowing nothing can take away his happiness and will to succeed.
In this episode we talk about dealing with the anger, the value of reflecting on the past to assist us in the future but not dwelling too long in the past that it takes away from our ability to live now.
The popular saying “It is not about what happens, it is how you react to it” … in Craigs opinion it is how you “interpret” what happens and leverage that for the future.
Craigs Website | Craigs Instagram
Send me an email! Ben@heroicminds.live
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The audio from the first ever Heroic Minds Live Event held at the University of Waterloo on March 20th 2019.
6 guests and myself had an interactive conversation with the audience.
Guests:
#2 - Nik Knezic | Stay Weird And Live In The Moment #4 - Amber Shewfelt | Accept What You Can't Control #9 - Ryan Martin | Acceptance Breeds Resilience #29 - Nichole Robertson | We Create Limitation #34 - Chris Miranda | Greater Purpose #46 - Matthew McCoy | The Addicts AtticWow, what an incredible evening, enjoy!
Send me an email! - ben@heroicminds.live
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On July 17, 1989 Angie was sitting in a police interrogation room, her world crashed down as she listened to two detectives tell her that her husband had coordinated and carried out the murder of his father.
Angie has lived out the heroes journey through and through. She has totally figured out how to stop living life in defence mode, how to totally rationalize mistakes to the point that they are simply mistakes and who cares, she has accepted her past with no need at all to change it, she has raised 3 children and has been re-married now for 25 years!
Oh ya she also went back to school and graduated the same day as one of her daughters.
Angie has decided to happen to life, instead of letting life happen to her.
My email: Ben@heroicminds.live
**Remember to tag me in a heroic story so I can share on my social media! @Ben_Fanelli_ & #HeroicMinds
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We run away. Mike runs toward.
Internationally acclaimed Filmmaker and photographer. Storm chaser. Emmy winner. Published author. Husband and father of three.
For Mike, a passion turned into a life-changing career with Mother Nature. We talk storms, we talk philosophy, we talk life and more. From what mother nature has taught Mike about life, to how it can change people, to the beauty of difference in every single storm he chases.
Aligning with the philosophy of the heroes journey is a quote from Vincent van Gogh, “There is peace even in the storm...”
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