Comeback Stories
Inspirational comeback arcs aren’t reserved for fiction. Darren Waller, tight end for the New York Giants and Donny Starkins, mindfulness teacher, surface real-life tales of resiliency, including vulnerable insights into their ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests who illustrate what “comeback” means to them.
S3 E22 · Thu, December 28, 2023
Owning Your Worth
Darren and Donny explore self-abandonment's impact on our lives and relationships, discussing familiar behaviors like people-pleasing and conflict avoidance. They share personal stories, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our self-worth and taking charge of our lives. Offering practical tips for self-care and breaking free from societal conditioning, the hosts conclude with a powerful reminder: by valuing ourselves, we can authentically pour love into others. Join this empowering conversation to start a journey toward self-love and fulfillment. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E21 · Thu, December 21, 2023
Presence over Presents
In this episode, Darren and Donny spotlight the essence of the holiday season: prioritizing presence over presents. They advocate for cherishing moments with loved ones, emphasizing human connections over material possessions. Encouraging listeners to set boundaries and be fully engaged in relationships, the conversation urges a shift towards meaningful experiences. They delve into self-love, authenticity, and reevaluating life's pursuits, inspiring a reflective and uplifting perspective on the holiday season and beyond. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E20 · Thu, December 14, 2023
Beyond The Snap
Join Darren and Donny as they sit down with Graham Mertz, the University of Florida's quarterback, in an episode filled with inspiration and resilience. Discover Graham's journey from a football-loving youngster to overcoming self-doubt and finding faith. He emphasizes the joy of serving others and the importance of leaving a meaningful legacy. Tune in as Graham shares his wisdom on goal-setting, fulfillment, and how his love for golf aligns with life and football. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E19 · Thu, December 07, 2023
Unlocking Purposeful Living
Join us for a profound exploration of self-discovery and empowerment with BC Serna on the newest episode of Comeback Stories Podcast. Darren and Donny engage in an stirring conversation with BC, uncovering the adversities he faced in his early years, his relentless pursuit of belonging, and the pivotal moments that fueled his unwavering journey towards leadership. BC's introspective journey from a nomadic lifestyle to embracing fatherhood resonates deeply, echoing profound gratitude for the chance to inspire and nurture connections. It serves as a testament to the innate potential within us all to unearth purpose and cultivate impactful relationships. This episode is a catalyst for emotional reflection and resilience, urging you to craft your own triumphant comeback story. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E18 · Thu, November 30, 2023
Empowering Your Recovery Journey
Get ready to embark on an inspiring journey with our special guest, Hilary Phelps, on the Comeback Stories Podcast. Hilary, a respected advocate for addiction recovery, warmly invites us into her world filled with both triumphs and challenges, offering invaluable insights into discovering purpose and embracing genuine authenticity. Hilary's remarkable journey as a distinguished speaker, addiction recovery advocate, writer, and devoted holistic wellness coach empowering women, unfolds across 16 years of unwavering sobriety, marked by the pivotal moment when she bravely broke her silence. This heartfelt conversation serves as a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of addiction, seeking to lead lives fueled by authenticity and passion, or striving to find the strength to rise above harsh criticism and emerge empowered. Join us as Hilary generously shares practical strategies and heartfelt wisdom, delving into the importance of setting boundaries, nurturing one's inner voice, and embracing the transformative power of community support. Don't miss this transformative episode, a source of hope, resilience, and profound wisdom—a perfect addition to uplift your spirits during this holiday season. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E17 · Thu, November 23, 2023
Cultivating Hope Through Gratitude
Join us on the Comeback Stories Podcast for an episode filled with gratitude, self-discovery, and purpose. Darren Waller and Donnie Starkins offer their perspectives on adopting gratitude as a guiding force when confronted with criticism and challenges. Learn how gratitude can redefine any moment and become a constant presence in your daily life. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E16 · Thu, November 16, 2023
Transforming Pain into Purpose
Step into the raw and unfiltered world of William "King" Hollis with hosts Darren Waller and Donnie Starkins. From the depths of despair to the heights of impact, Hollis bares his soul, recounting his journey from the darkest corners of addiction to the pinnacle of motivational speaking. This episode is a powerful reminder that, no matter how dark the past, the human spirit has the capacity to rise above adversity and leave an indelible mark on the world. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E15 · Thu, November 09, 2023
An Unbreakable Mindset
Lolo Jones' unwavering determination and resilience are front and center in this episode. Join co-hosts Darren Waller and Donnie Starkins as they explore Lolo's incredible journey, offering invaluable insights into finding strength in the face of challenges and setbacks. Discover how she overcame adversity and rose to greatness, and let her journey inspire you to tackle life's challenges head-on. Tune in for a dynamic and empowering discussion that promises to ignite your determination and leave you inspired to pursue your own aspirations. This episode of Comeback Stories promises to be a game-changer in your journey to personal growth. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E14 · Thu, November 02, 2023
Balancing Act
Tune in to hear the raw, authentic, and powerful testimony of Sylvester McNutt III, a man who faced adversity head-on and emerged stronger than ever. Hosts Darren Waller and Donnie Starkins delve into insightful dialogue on self-awareness and the art of loving properly. Discover the keys to authentic living as Sylvester shares his career-defining journey, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and navigating life with patience. Learn how Sylvester's experience as a father, author, and public speaker has taught him to lead with love and balance as they discuss how duality has played a crucial role in his personal growth. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E13 · Thu, October 26, 2023
I Want to Live
Embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation as former Major Leaguer turned Mental Health Advocate, Drew Robinson, who makes a triumphant return to the #ComebackStoriesPodcast. In this riveting episode, Drew shares his powerful story of overcoming tragedy and finding hope amidst the darkest moments of his life. Hosts Darren Waller and Donny Starkins lead with heart and purpose, creating a safe space for Drew to unleash a storm of raw emotion and vulnerability. As a seasoned captain in the world of mental health and advocacy, Drew reflects on his career-defining year, from his near-death experience to his inspiring comeback. Through vivid storytelling, he delves deep into the lessons he has learned, the tools and practices that have helped him heal, and the importance of acknowledging mental health struggles without shame or guilt. This captivating conversation is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of connection. Don't miss this episode of #ComebackStoriesPodcast. Subscribe to the Inflection Network YouTube channel, and follow us on iHeart, Instagram, and X for more inspiring content, stories of transformation, and heartfelt conversations. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E12 · Thu, October 19, 2023
Love Unbroken
Darren Waller and Donny Starkins invite you to join them on an incredible journey of love, resilience, and redemption in the upcoming episode, "Love Unbroken." Cybill Fox and Rob Richardson share their deeply personal story of enduring 21 years of incarceration while keeping their love and commitment alive. Beginning as high school sweethearts and enduring a tough separation through incarceration, their account highlights their enduring love and indomitable resilience. Their story embodies hope, illustrating that determination and unity can conquer the most formidable adversities. Prepare to be moved and inspired by their transformative journey as they lead with heart and purpose, defying all odds to emerge stronger together. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E11 · Wed, October 11, 2023
Unconditional Love and Second Chances
Get ready for a captivating exploration of self-discovery and transformation in this episode of Comeback Stories. Join your hosts, Darren Waller and Donny Starkins, along with their special guest, Zach Skow, as they uncover the incredible story of Zach's redemption, a journey profoundly shaped by the life-altering power of rescue dogs. As the co-founder of Marley's Mutts, Zach's personal experience with addiction inspired the creation of a transformative organization connecting dogs and incarcerated individuals. During their discussion, Darren and Zach emphasize the search for purpose in life, spotlighting how Zach's devotion to rescue dogs has grown into his life's core mission. They take a deep dive into the transformative potential of dog rehabilitation and its profoundly positive impact on the dogs and the individuals participating in the program. Take advantage of this inspiring conversation filled with raw emotion and heartfelt moments. Tune in to learn how Zach's story of redemption and the love of rescue dogs have become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDBjbVNQZmg1VFcxbDBLWC1Ia3hwNHktRExGQXxBQ3Jtc0trcHVTUzNGT09zQ0YxQ2lCWVBON3B6NURicUFsQlhPbk5RY3FrQ3ltd0FiX3NUZ0RrVEtBVGJ3NVdadWZsQi1MMWZQWjNsLVM4NlB4UkltZmdXdTVZZkx3MkhWdldpZUwxNFprcXJROU4tSnZvbUVpVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdonny_starkin
S3 E10 · Thu, October 05, 2023
Protecting Your Joy
Step into a world of personal growth and unwavering faith as hosts Darren and Donny welcome Deborah Joy Winans. In this episode, Deborah brings her extraordinary journey to life, imparting the wisdom she gained from turning 40, surmounting life's hurdles, and uncovering the transformative force of self-love. Deborah's remarkable strength shines as she candidly discusses her personal battle to conquer a challenging pregnancy. Join us for an episode of 'Comeback Stories' that promises to enrich your soul and renew your sense of self-love and faith. Deborah Joy Winans' heartfelt words will remind you that, regardless of life's challenges, you are indeed on the right path and cherished unconditionally. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFJHNkc2eC1wMG1fNmZCajl4aXVjbkIxR3JiQXxBQ3Jtc0tsWUJuRFZnWmdNRU53LXA3blJSUnlQcm9PQzQ3dHd6NmoxcmNLcG43MEhtZF93SVNGNzZhdnhUcnZwZkR4ak5oZWFQbGxReHY4bjlNRDQtV1Q4UWFidXpWeUtPTmZqT2tISWpya29VMURHZDZxbVRMWQ&q=https%
S3 E9 · Thu, September 28, 2023
Leading with Purpose
In this thought-provoking episode, we embark on a journey into the heart of leadership. Join Darren and Donny as they share their incredible stories of self-discovery and transformation. Learn how their past mistakes and moments of selfishness have become the very building blocks of their inspiring journeys as purpose-driven leaders. This conversation is a testament to the remarkable transformation that is possible when we lead with heart and purpose. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener for
S3 E8 · Thu, September 21, 2023
Finding Courage
Co-founder of Sacred Sons Aubert Bastiat doesn't hold back when catching up with Darren and Donny. Aubert courageously revisits the night he nearly ended his life but instead started a relationship with God. He also grieves his sister, who died by suicide, and outlines how he transformed his pain into guiding others toward peace. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E7 · Thu, September 14, 2023
Release and Rekindle
In this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren and Donny reunite with Trent Shelton, the former NFL player who reshaped his life as a motivational speaker. Join them as they revisit Trent's upbringing in New Orleans and the transformative moments that defined his journey. Delve into 'the dark work' as Trent and Darren share their personal battles with instant gratification and self-numbing. Trent's poignant reflections on coping with the loss of his mother provide profound insights into the 'art of fulfillment.' Don't miss this empowering episode that encourages you to release your potential and rekindle your passion for life. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E6 · Thu, September 07, 2023
Anchoring the Present
Join Darren and Donny for an insightful discussion on the art of being present. In this episode, they explore the significance of using physical reminders to stay grounded in the moment, including Donny's tattoo and Darren's jersey number change. Listen as they share personal anecdotes, drawing parallels between their experiences and their strategies for managing stress and impulsive behaviors. Gain valuable insights from Darren's perspective as the "new kid" with the New York Giants and Donny's candid journey to overcome mindless eating and endless scrolling. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp?si=60d9e02713f448bb ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E5 · Thu, August 31, 2023
Straight from the Source
ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter calls the show while driving to the airport — a perfect glimpse into a day in the life of America's foremost football news-breaker. He takes Darren and Donny back to the beginning, explaining how he stumbled into his renowned journalism career by accident after a series of rejections. Darren is curious about how Schefter deals with pressure, and Donny gives Adam the space to honor Joe Maio, his wife's former husband who tragically died on 9/11 and is the subject of his The Man I Never Met memoir. Before jetting off (literally), Adam defines what "comeback" means to him. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp?si=60d9e02713f448bb ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E4 · Thu, August 24, 2023
Detaching from the Outcome
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau reunites with Darren after they both left the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason. Foster admits why he hasn't come on the podcast before now and how his perspective has shifted. When Foster began exploring free agency, he was focused on the frustrating tight end market, but that all changed when his visit to the Saints uncovered a rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Foster walks Darren and Donny through every painful and revelatory detail, and Darren recalls the moment Foster told him about his diagnosis. Donny and Foster also give Darren his flowers for being such a steadying presence in their lives. Now in remission, Foster looks ahead and unpacks his complicated emotions around suiting up for his hometown team. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp?si=60d9e02713f448bb ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E3 · Thu, August 17, 2023
Plant or Pivot
Uncover the untold story of rapper Armani White’s journey from West Philly to the center stage as he shatters misconceptions of instant success with his hit “Billie Eilish.” Join hosts Darren and Donny as they delve into Armani's resilience in the face of adversity - overcoming house fires, relentless house fires, relentless gun violence, his father's battle with cancer, and discovering how Armani, through vulnerability, learned to embrace bravery, celebrating small victories while embracing the uncertain future. Discover how music and fitness served as therapeutic outlets for Darren and Armani, and watch as Donny reveals Darren’s rap talents. 0:00 - In West Philadelphia Born and Raised 9:48 - The Seed of Inspiration 24:23 - Planting Your Feet 41:20 - Get Out of Your Own Way ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp?si=60d9e02713f448bb ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en #ComebackStoriesPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E2 · Thu, August 10, 2023
Been Here For Years
Co-Founder of Inflection Point Entertainment and esteemed sports journalist Michael Smith takes Darren and Donny on a deeply personal journey, sharing stories from his days as a church kid in New Orleans to becoming a trailblazing sports host and analyst. Michael reveals how he overcame professional obstacles, navigated change, and ultimately found empowerment in launching a production company and The Inflection Network. Michael’s “comeback” story is one of passion, persistence, and proper perspective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E1 · Thu, August 03, 2023
Back Like We Never Left
Comeback Stories hosted by New York Giants tight end Darren Waller and mental health and mindfulness coach Donny Starkins is back! And we’re proud to announce we’re part of Michael Smith’s Inflection Point Entertainment's new podcast network family! On this episode entitled, “Back Like We Never Left,” Darren and Donny come back together after a summer full of change. After a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Giants, Darren shares how he's adapting to his new surroundings while maintaining his recovery and healthy habits. Donny also gives an update on evolutions in his life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Thu, July 27, 2023
Introducing: Comeback Stories
“Comeback Stories,” hosted by New York Giants tight end Darren Waller and mental health and mindfulness coach Donny Starkins, joins Michael Smith’s Inflection Point Entertainment's new podcast network with the debut of a new third season. The show will continue to spotlight real-life tales of resiliency including insight into the hosts’ ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests whose stories illustrate a broad spectrum of “comeback” stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, April 27, 2023
Steven Pressfield's Comeback Story Part 2
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined virtually by Steven Pressfield, an American author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays, for a part 2! Steven is filled with so much knowledge and continues to share all that he has learned in this journey called life. In this episode Darren, Donny, and Steven talk about how desperation saved them, making the most out of the time you have here on earth, getting uncomfortable, being selfless, and so much more! Follow Steven Here: https://twitter.com/SPressfield Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.t
Thu, April 20, 2023
Steven Pressfield's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Steven Pressfield, an American author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays, including his 1995 novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance , and 2002 non-fiction book, The War of Art . The War of Art has sold over a million copies globally and has been translated into multiple languages. He joins Comeback Stories to share the process of becoming an author and the lessons he's learned along the way. Steven wrote for 27 years before he got his first novel published, he was 55. During those previous years, he worked 21 different jobs in 11 different states. Steven also goes into great depth about how resistance has been his greatest motivation. Today Steven has written over 20 books, some of which are best-sellers, some that have been turned into movies, and many that have changed the lives of those who read them. Follow Steven Here: https://twitter.com/SPressfield Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDBjbVNQZmg1VFcxbDBLWC1Ia3hwNHktRExGQXxBQ3Jtc0trcHVTUzNGT09zQ0YxQ2lCWVBON3B6NURicUFsQlhPbk5RY3FrQ3ltd0FiX3NUZ0RrVEtBVGJ3NVdadWZsQi1MMWZQWjNsLVM4NlB4UkltZmdXdTVZZkx3MkhWdldpZUwxNFprcXJROU4tSnZvbUVpVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdonny_starkins%2F%3Fhl%
Thu, April 13, 2023
Emmanuel Acho's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker turned analyst for Fox Sports 1. Emmanuel shares how his story as a Nigerian-American shaped his childhood and his father's continuous impact as an adult. He then explains how he was able to partner with Oprah on his book, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” as well as work with a mystery caller who pushed him to find his purpose as a communicator and fine-tune his revelations to those who will listen. Follow Emmanuel Here: https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFJHNkc2eC1wMG1fNmZCajl4aXVjbkIxR3JiQXxBQ3Jtc0tsWUJuRFZnWmdNRU53LXA3blJSUnlQcm9PQzQ3dHd6NmoxcmNLcG43MEhtZF93SVNGNzZhdnhUcnZwZkR4ak5oZWFQbGxReHY4bjlNRDQtV1Q4UWFidXpWeUtPTmZqT2tISWpya29VMURHZDZxbVRMWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmobile.twitter.com%2Fdonnystarkins&v=
Thu, April 06, 2023
Austin Ekeler's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined virtually by Austin Ekeler, a top running back in the NFL. In the last two seasons, Austin has led all running backs and wide receivers in touchdowns and has become the most valuable player in the fantasy football community. He joins Comeback Stories to share a little about his childhood and how growing up in his household helped him develop mental toughness at an early age. Austin credits how gaining that mental toughness early on as why he is as successful as he is today. He also walks us through his underdog story and how growing up his size he was constantly overlooked and doubted. Austin has a relentless work ethic in the gym and is passionate about prioritizing his mental health and physical fitness. He shares his take on the importance of working hard and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in order to achieve the goals you set out for yourself. Austin also has a heart for helping others and started the Austin Ekeler Foundation with the mission to help create opportunities for people to fulfill their passions and ultimately their lives. He is now heading into his 7th season in the NFL and is excited to see where he is going to end up next. Whatever locker room gets him is a lucky one! Follow Austin Here: https://twitter.com/AustinEkeler Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Inst
Thu, March 30, 2023
CC Sabathia's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined virtually by CC Sabathia, a former MLB pitcher, six-time All-star, Cy Young Award Winner, and 2009 World Series Champion. CC talks about how his childhood and being so young in such a big game led him to become an alcoholic. CC details his battles with losing his father, depression, alcohol dependency, and lack of identity during what should've been the peak of his career. He then describes what led him to the point where he was fed up and offers his experiences and perspectives for anyone currently trapped in a similar situation. He provides hope that there is another side to this thing! CC has now been sober for seven years and is co-hosting a podcast called “R2C2,” he is passionate about helping inner-city kids through his foundation and works to stop the stigma around mental health and alcohol dependency. Follow CC Here: https://instagram.com/cc_sabathia?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDBjbVNQZmg1VFcxbDBLWC1Ia3hwNHktRExGQXxBQ3Jtc0trcHVTUzNGT09zQ0YxQ2lCWVBON3B6NURicUFsQlhPbk5RY3FrQ3ltd0FiX3NUZ0RrVEtBVGJ3NVdadWZsQi1MMWZQWjNsLVM4NlB4UkltZmdXdTVZZkx3MkhWdldpZUwxNFprcXJROU4tSnZvbUVpVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdonny_starkins%2F%3Fhl%3Den&v=nrKk
Thu, March 23, 2023
David Nurse's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny welcome David Nurse , a 2x best-selling author, and speaker. David is known for his expertise in player development and mental toughness, with his motivational coaching business, he has helped thousands of employees and athletes develop unshakeable mindsets. David breaks down how he bounced back after being cut from his semi-pro team, and the impact his family had on him. He then describes how to leave the fear of other people's opinions off the court Follow David here: https://twitter.com/DavidNurseNBA?s=20 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFJHNkc2eC1wMG1fNmZCajl4aXVjbkIxR3JiQXxBQ3Jtc0tsWUJuRFZnWmdNRU53LXA3blJSUnlQcm9PQzQ3dHd6NmoxcmNLcG43MEhtZF93SVNGNzZhdnhUcnZwZkR4ak5oZWFQbGxReH
Thu, March 16, 2023
Napheesa Collier's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny welcome Napheesa Collier , 2x WNBA All-Star & 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Napheesa talks about the competitive drive instilled in her at a young age, and how her determination took her to UCONN where she sharpened her skills against the best of the best. She details the mindset of being "too black for the white people, and too white for the black people", and how that can lead mixed-race children to become people pleasers. Napheesa explains the challenges female athletes face on the road to motherhood, and how the blessings of a child outweighs any potential negative effects on a career. She then describes how she finds the time to take care of herself mentally, while keeping a tight schedule for her daughter. Follow Napheesa here: https://twitter.com/PHEEsespieces Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 09, 2023
Branden Collinsworth's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny welcome Branden Collinsworth , Nike Master Trainer, yoga instructor, human performance coach & compassionate humanitarian. Branden explains his journey "from the streets to the sky" drawing on life lessons learned while growing up in the projects on the East Side of Las Vegas. Brandon talks about becoming an addict at a young age, dropping out of high school and how immersing himself in literature turned his life around. Branden dives deep into his evolving yoga practice and how you should strive to separate the physical benefits from the mental. He reinforces how yoga can help you find your true self if you show up with intention, compassion and a purpose of inching toward enlightenment. Follow Branden here: https://twitter.com/coachbranden Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 02, 2023
Zac Clark's Comeback Story Pt.2
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny catch up once again with Zac Clark, star of ABC's The Bachelorette & founder of Release Recovery . Zac begins by explaining how a new year can be an opportunity to reset priorities and center yourself around areas of growth. He talks about the full spectrum of relationships, and applying principles of close connections to even people seeking autographs or selfies with him. Zac talks about being real and opening up on The Bachelorette, and how he became well conditioned to break himself down after therapy. He then describes the art of "The Comeback" and how we all make mistakes, but the beauty lies within the opportunities we have to embrace those mistakes and bounce back better. Follow Zac here: https://twitter.com/zacwclark Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 23, 2023
Eben Britton's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Eben Britton, a former NFL offensive lineman, health advocate, cannabis activist & host of The Eben Flow podcast. Eben describes growing up as a child of divorce, and how pressure quickly mounted to be the "alpha" of the household at a young age. Eben explains how he then found an escape in athletics, and believed that "doing battle" usually solved all his problems. Eben talks about having a "thinking disease" being in a family line of alcoholics, and how a transformative treatment helped him gain a real sense of hope. Eben explains how he now values time above all, and how turning to hot yoga & psychedelics enriches his life today. Follow Eben here: https://twitter.com/edsbritton Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 16, 2023
Zion Clark's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Zion Clark, an All-American / world record-holding athlete, actor & musician. Zion talks about being born without legs (caudal regression syndrome), getting bullied and having those experiences drive him to sports & wrestling specifically. Zion says one specific coach and his family embraced his disability and gave him the positive outlook to flip his perceived weakness into a strength. Zion talks about the success of becoming the first in his family to go to college, and the realization that dropping out was his true path to happiness. He ends the conversation by explaining his routine to keep mentally sound amongst all the different roles he's taken on recently. Follow Zion here: https://twitter.com/bigz97 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 09, 2023
Zay Jones' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Zay Jones, a former teammate of Darren's who now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Zay talks about his upbringing in a house with five siblings and how his parents' sacrifices paved the way for his success. He goes on to describe how injuries, unwanted criticism and an arrest in his early NFL years had his career flashing before his eyes. Zay reveals how those hardships turned into his strength and how he uses that energy to serve & support other teammates. Zay talks about the rigors of football and how love & positivity on the field can have a ripple effect on other aspects of life. Follow Zay here: https://twitter.com/zayjones11 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 02, 2023
Michael Vick's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Michael Vick, 4x Pro Bowl Quarterback and the NFL's 2010 Comeback Player of the Year. Michael starts by talking about his childhood and burying the trauma of physical abuse while being raised in a rough neighborhood. He then goes on to recount how football gave him a purpose, and how the community supported his eventual journey through college and into the NFL. Michael talks about how his swelling arrogance as a star player led to eventual imprisonment, where his perspective on family and freedom did a complete 180 degree turn. Michael describes how he's made it a point to change lives through working with charities like the Vick Family Dream Fund and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula . Follow Michael here: https://twitter.com/MichaelVick Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, January 26, 2023
Neal Brennan's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Neal Brennan, a comedian, writer, producer, director & podcaster . Neal talks about his days creating, writing & producing Chappelle's Show, and how his life suddenly changed when the show came to an abrupt halt. Neal talks about achieving goals and the toll that road to success can take on a successful person's mind & body. Neal talks about his podcast, highlighting career and mental health "blocks" for some of the most famous comics, and the concept of how male vulnerability is changing in today's modern society. Neal also talks about going from believing nothing, to almost believing anything when it comes to the world of healing...no matter how embarrassing it may be! Follow Neal here: https://twitter.com/nealbrennan Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, January 19, 2023
Mark Groves' Comeback Story Pt.2
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined once again by Mark Groves, human connection specialist, host of The Mark Groves Podcast & founder of Create the Love. Mark picks up where he left off in talking about becoming best friends with yourself and aligning your choices with your values. Mark talks about relationships, and how men can embrace feedback from their partners in a way that leads to evolution. He talks about being a good friend when someone goes through a bad breakup, and how keeping your distance may foster a quicker/healthier recovery through the grieving process. Follow Mark here: https://www.instagram.com/createthelove/ Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, January 12, 2023
Mark Groves' Comeback Story Pt.1
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Mark Groves, human connection specialist, host of The Mark Groves Podcast & founder of Create the Love. Mark starts by recounting his childhood, and how weight & appearance issues turned him into a people pleaser. Mark says in today's world men aren't supposed to be emotional, but in fact that's exactly what men need to exhibit more consistently. Mark talks about learning through relationships and how every connection needs to be nurtured in a very unique way. He also reveals a "sensitivity superpower" and how it becomes a method of celebrating love. Follow Mark here: https://www.instagram.com/createthelove/ Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, January 05, 2023
Darren & Donny's New Years Transitions
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny reflect on our most impactful guest appearances of 2022, and also turn the page to set some New Years resolutions/transitions for 2023. The guys outline their biggest areas of growth in the past year, detailing their many spiritual, mental and physical advances. Donny talks about his "shift" mindset and teachings, an art of harnessing courage to surrender expectations and willingly lean into the unknown. Darren speaks to seeking new connections that can help him get in the best possible headspace to accomplish his various personal goals for 2023. Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 29, 2022
Tracy Duhs' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Tracy Duhs, aka "The Hydration Queen" , a wellness advocate and scientist specializing in the innovative and intelligent practice of proper hydration. Tracy talks about how her childhood surroundings led her to an unconventional path as a teenager, with the ultimate goal of helping people become healthier & happier. Tracy talks about how she operated with more freedom than most in her formative years, and how that led to a certain pressure to make calculated choices and perform beyond others her age. Tracy then explains the science of restructuring water so we can consume it as nature intended, and the vast benefits proper hydration can have on our lives. Follow Tracy here: https://www.instagram.com/tracyduhs/?hl=en Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 22, 2022
Michael Gervais' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Michael Gervais, renowned performance psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery . Michael talks about becoming a psychologist through trying to "figure himself out", and a prolific career that followed, leading him to eventually work with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Olympic Medalists & various musicians & artists. Michael says there are "no hacks and shortcuts...but there are decisions to make" along our path to personal growth and fulfillment. He offers advice on how to interpret stress and anxiety when we are thrown into certain situations, and how our emotions simply make us unique from others. Follow Michael here: https://www.instagram.com/michaelgervais/?hl=en Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 15, 2022
Susan Borchardt's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Susan Borchardt, former Stanford hooper and founder of The Athlete Blueprint . Susan takes you through the devastating injuries she endured during her playing career, and how those experiences evolved into becoming a sports performance coach for the likes of Sue Bird and Kelsey Plum among others. Susan takes you inside her performance training practice and reveals how the world's top athletes are at their best when focusing on their breath, sleep, yoga & overall mental state. She preaches consistency in practice and says the commitment to the smaller details always adds up to success. Follow Susan here: https://www.instagram.com/the_athleteblueprint/?hl=en Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 08, 2022
Jason Redman's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Jason Redman, decorated retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant and best-selling author of The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader . Jason takes you through his 21 year Navy SEAL career and how an enemy ambush gave him an overcome mindset. Jason speaks to the many obstacles that were placed in his path, and how he used negativity and rejection as vehicles to get to his desired destinations. Jason takes you through a harrowing combat incident that left him in a position to dig out of a deep hole, and how he now uses that battlefield experience to display true leadership today. He talks about being given a choice and how he used that gift to find incredible strength and drive forward. Follow Jason here: https://twitter.com/jasonredmanww Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 01, 2022
Dan Jameson's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Dan Jameson, a close friend of Darren's and Director of Syndicate Sports Performance . Dan recounts his childhood growing up poor in the Bay Area without a father figure. He talks about self-destructive behaviors haunting him even now through adulthood, and how he's learned to become almost too comfortable living in chaos. Dan talks about an extremely rare medical condition that brought an acute sense of awareness at the time, but now serves as a blessing as he moves forward with his unique Comeback Story. He offers some sage advice to people struggling with addiction/depression, and also details practical methods of overcoming various challenges along his incredible journey. Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, November 17, 2022
Don Bergeron's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Don Bergeron, a close friend and teacher of Donny's through his own personal healing process. Don starts by recounting his childhood and overcoming acute hyperactivity issues. He details days in special education with a learning disability, being told he'd never move past a certain point or go to college. Don speaks to various "plant medicines" and how just one hour under their influence can amount to decades of therapy for some. He talks about how his own experiences & extreme transformation under these plant medicines inspired him to help other men facing similar challenges. Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, November 10, 2022
Michael Aidala's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Michael Aidala, a leading performance coach . Michael talks about how he thrived at sports as a child and felt immense pressure to meet his father's expectations. He talks about then breaking free from those expectations and utilizing unconventional tools to find his own path. Michael describes when he decided a change was necessary, and the steps he followed to change his mindset. He speaks about how small actions add up to larger decision-making habits, and how he helps men to focus on introspective practices to feel more connected to others and the world around them, Follow Michael here: https://www.instagram.com/mike.aidala/ Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, November 04, 2022
Davidji's Comeback Story Pt.2
On this episode of Comeback Stories, we bring your part two of Darren & Donny's wide-ranging conversation with Davidji, Author & Master of Meditation. The planet's most prolific creator of guided mediations , Davidji details a time-tested approach for staying in the present by becoming truly "still" before action. Davidji speaks about obsessing over desires, and how those thoughts get in the way of us staying present/vulnerable to ensure we get there. He also talks about perceived failure and how we all are making tiny "course corrections" in life, which add up over time to help guide us to our rightful destination. Follow Davidji here: https://twitter.com/davidji_com Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 27, 2022
Davidji's Comeback Story Pt.1
On this episode of Comeback Stories, we bring your part one of Darren & Donny's wide-ranging conversation with Davidji, Author & Master of Meditation. The planet's most prolific creator of guided mediations , Davidji starts by revealing how his love of music served as the foundational building blocks for his spiritual growth. Davidji talks about how the hustle & bustle of growing up in New York City led him to a life of stillness and appreciating the present moment. He explains how a simple focus on breathing can bring you to a "present moment practice", allowing you to temporarily calm your mind and become more efficient in your everyday routines. Follow Davidji here: https://twitter.com/davidji_com Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 20, 2022
Zac Clark's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny head to New York City, where they are joined on stage by Zac Clark, star of ABC's The Bachelorette & founder of Release Recovery . Zac talks about growing up in a seemingly ideal household, and how his addiction patterns started forming during his time as a high school & college athlete. Zac details how his dishonesty to loved ones and doctors led to serious/irreversible consequences...and eventually rehab. He also brings perspective to his road to fame and details the motivation behind starting Release Recovery, a safe & supportive program focused on helping people reclaim their lives from addiction. Follow Zac here: https://twitter.com/zacwclark Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 13, 2022
Tommy Rosen's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Tommy Rosen, a world-renowned yoga instructor, addiction recovery expert, author & founder/host of Recovery Addiction 2.0 . Tommy takes you through the psychological & physical dynamics of a complicated childhood, and how his swelling anxiety led to crippling patterns of addiction. Tommy talks about finding his sacred moment where he came clean to himself and knew it was time for a change. Reflecting on his journey, he recounts how yoga played a remarkable role in his incredible recovery. Follow Tommy here: https://twitter.com/tommyrosen Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 06, 2022
Jewel's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Jewel, a singer-songwriter, actress & author who has received 4x Grammy Award nominations and sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Jewel talks about growing up in the wilderness in Alaska and how nature taught her how to cope with growing depression & isolation. Her family dynamic set the tone for her career as a singer, and she talks about how abuse finally led her into therapy. Jewel also details some difficult decisions she had to make along her road to success, to maintain her vision and grow a career on her own terms. Her concept of being patient, investing & nurturing an "honest art" eventually proved to be a more fulfilling path on her road to happiness. Follow Jewel here: https://twitter.com/jeweljk Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 29, 2022
Brandon Marshall's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Brandon Marshall, fmr All-Pro NFL wide receiver and founder of Project 375 . Brandon begins by telling you about his childhood, and how abandonment issues led to larger challenges in early adulthood. He also talks about the moment where he knew his purpose was bridging the gap to bring awareness to mental health issues in America. Brandon describes the unique perspective of being one of the first public figures to use his platform to talk openly about mental health issues, and how his daily sacrifice is making a difference...one person at a time. Follow Brandon Here: https://twitter.com/BMarshall Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 22, 2022
Ricky Williams' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Ricky Williams, 1998 Heisman Trophy winner and fmr NFL All-Pro running back. Ricky talks about the road to achieving his childhood dream of playing professional football, and how when he reached the NFL...he was immediately searching for another dream to achieve. Ricky talks about feeling a lack of purpose in being defined as only a "football player," and how his unpopular decisions around exiting the NFL brought him to true happiness. He dives deep into that pivotal moment where his life as a football player ended, a moment that freed him to pursue & accomplish goals that were unique to him. Follow Ricky Here: https://twitter.com/rickthelaureate Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 15, 2022
Kelsey Plum's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined in studio by Kelsey Plum, All-Star PG for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces & 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist. Kelsey talks about how an ultra-competitive childhood atmosphere led her to take a path less traveled, and how that paved the road to success when transitioning into adulthood. Kelsey details her battles with depression due to fan expectations, and the lack of identity she had during what should've been the peak of her career. She then describes what led to her change in mindset, and offers her incredible perspective & advice to anyone currently trapped in a victim's mindset. Follow Kelsey Here: https://twitter.com/kelseyplum10 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 25, 2022
Steve Smith Sr.'s Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Steve Smith Sr., 3x All-Pro & 5x Pro Bowl NFL Wide Receiver. Steve talks about growing up in Los Angeles during turbulent times, and how that shaped his personality both on and off the field. He talks about one traumatic childhood experience in particular that led to years of anxiety and self-doubt. Steve details how comfortable he is today in his own skin, knowing the roads he went down as a man. He talks about how marriage and a feeling of needing others leads to fulfillment, but also provides the love we need to overcome adversity. Follow Steve Here: https://twitter.com/CutToIt Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 18, 2022
Rich Paul's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Rich Paul, Founder & CEO of Klutch Sports Group & Head of UTA Sports . Rich talks at length about growing up in an impoverished East Cleveland neighborhood and witnessing horrible tragedies as a child. He explains how these experiences brought a certain balance to life and provided him with the proper perspective to measure success. Rich also discusses the impact of losing his father as a young man, how he's working to empower diverse young entrepreneurs, and his blueprint for building trust with likeminded clients over the decades. Follow Rich Here: https://twitter.com/richpaul4 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 11, 2022
Brad Lea's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined in studio by Brad Lea, Chairman & CEO of LightSpeed VT and host of The Dropping Bombs Podcast . Brad describes how certain early life situations offered him a perspective to mentor and help others do good. He preaches content, repitition, practice & accountability in his daily work at LightSpeed, and tells you how all four attributes can create power. Brad continues to explain how his life lessons led to writing his latest book The Hard Way , a book loaded with teachable moments from his past so others don't make the same missteps. He says we all have "choicemakers" within us, and making the choice to take full advantage of every precious "Million Dollar Morning" is paramount to a fulfulling life. Follow Brad Here: https://twitter.com/TheRealBradLea Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 04, 2022
Erik Harris' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Erik Harris, Free Safety for the Atlanta Falcons. Erik describes growing up poor in a turbulent household with 5 siblings, and how his mother's leap of faith changed everything for him. He details how the lack of a father figure led him to sports, which instilled discipline and taught him how to overcome adversity. Erik tells you how he was able to train for CFL tryouts while working overnights at UPS...and how his determination & resiliency turned into an life-changing professional football contract. He also talks about how faith (and gospel signing) saved him from his own ego and how reflection has led him to becoming a truly grateful servant. Follow Erik Here: https://twitter.com/e_harris_31 Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 28, 2022
David Meltzer's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by David Meltzer, 3x International Best-Selling Author and Host of The Playbook Podcast . David's mission in life is to empower over 1 billion people to be happy, and he details how he overcame his own share of pain & setbacks on his road to happiness. David explains how his faith and consistent nature has allowed him to maintain a "profitable, purposeful & passionate" life. He also describes how therapy is absolutely essential for everyone, teaching us how to both heal and learn about ourselves simultaneously. Follow David Here: https://twitter.com/davidmeltzer Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 21, 2022
Maxx Crosby's Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Raiders Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby. Maxx starts by describing how he grew up extremely insecure as a child and had a singular focus in chasing his dream of being an NFL star. He then talks about how alcoholism overpowered that strong will and almost took everything away at the height of his early NFL career. Maxx speaks about the support he's received to stay the course and how those loved ones have inspired him to stay sober for over two years now. He also describes to how a day-to-day approach in getting sober gave him both the structure & perspective to amplify his leadership on the field. Follow Maxx Here: https://twitter.com/CrosbyMaxx Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, July 11, 2022
Michael Phelps' Comeback Story
On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Michael Phelps. Michael shares his story of battling depression on his way to winning 28 medals, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all-time. Michael talks about consciously deciding to leave himself vulnerable, the process of dealing with deep rooted family issues & his subsequent therapy and recovery. Michael tells you how small changes made a huge difference in his mental health awareness, how quarantining during the pandemic helped to separate his personal & professional lives, and why becoming a mental health advocate has opened his eyes to a greater sense of self. Support & Follow Michael Here: https://michaelphelpsfoundation.org/ https://twitter.com/michaelphelps?lang=en Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844 💻 https://www.comebackstories.com/ ► YouTube! 💻 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lqMKbuqPjUseWHt755AFQ/featured ► iTunes 🔊 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 ► Spotify 🔊 https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 🚀 DARREN WALLER 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en 🚀 DONNY STARKINS 🚀 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_starkins/?hl=en ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins #ComebackStoriesPodcast #BlueWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 07, 2021
Tony Hoffman’s Comeback Story - One Choice That Can Change Everything
After overcoming drug addiction that led to homelessness and prison, Tony Hoffman went on to acquire many great accolades. His goal is to motivate his audience through the methods he personally used to overcome his struggles into the one choice that can change the rest of their life for the better. Learn about the quote that Tony discovered in prison that unlocked the mental shackles he had placed on himself, and about Tony’s journey out of addiction and despair into a life of service and gratitude. Tony grew up in a typical middle class family where his parents worked all the time. His parents' absence very often meant that Tony had to figure things out on his own. He was naturally gifted at sports and fell in love with basketball despite being short. The biggest challenge as an athlete for Tony was that he didn’t have the life skills necessary to be coachable while growing up. Tony struggled with mental health issues because of the hole in his life where he needed his parents to be. Tony talks a lot about being 12 years old, which was the time in his life when he started to form his perspective on the world. His social anxiety led to self-loathing. He confessed his thoughts to his mother, but her inability to handle the situation only made things worse. Tony didn’t want to be treated like he was better than other people. He had to hire a sports psychologist to help him accept that he was gifted, and beating someone in sports doesn’t mean you are better than them. He ignored many teachers who tried to teach him about life when he was younger because he wasn’t ready to learn at that time. Tony’s first basketball coach was one of them. Tony quit racing at 18 to take a computer networking job in San Francisco. It was at that time he started experimenting with marijuana. This process of experimentation led to an oxycontin addiction which eventually resulted in Tony being a part of an armed house invasion of his best friend’s house to steal pills. Tony likens an opioid withdrawal to suffering from a flu that’s 100 times worse than usual, and you can get rid of the symptoms with a single pill. Tony’s rock bottom occurred a few years later where he was strung out on heroin and meth, and his brokenness made him lose all concern for himself. The drugs that he thought were fixing his pain were killing him, and he knew that and didn’t care. Tony had a spiritual experience on Jan 21, 2007 after being sentenced to prison. Tony tells people that he had been in a mental prison for 23 years, one that he created himself. Most people have created a mental prison for themselves without realizing it. While he was in jail, Tony saw a quote on the ceiling of his cell that changed his life. Tony realized that his gift was given to him for a reason and he became committed to getting out of prison and making the most of it. He decided that he would commit to doing the little
Fri, October 01, 2021
Impact of the Lone Wolf
Carl Nassib joins us to do his first interview since coming out publicly in the NFL. His story is a testament for everyone to look deeper and realize that we all share similarities in this life of truth, discovery and triumph. In hopes to inspire the youth and bring further awareness about the LGBTQ community. Being the first does not mean having to stand alone. Carl felt he had a huge obligation to the LGBTQ community to come out publicly and tell his story. He did not come out publicly to break barriers. It wasn’t until 4 years ago when he actually realized he was Gay. He struggled with the idea that he needed to be someone else’s priority. He came from an Athletic family of 4 kids, his Mother, father and siblings were also in sports. Carl never lacked in Confidence, due to his mother who alway’s pushed him to be his best, keep a high standards. He never puts too much stock in things or people that put him down in life, only focuses on the things that brings him happiness. While in College at Penn State was the nation leader in sacks. Before becoming a Raider, he played for the Browns but was later cut from the team. This fueled his fire to play better and be the best. He learned early on to not focus on being like others but to be himself. Carl is the first active NFL player to come out publicly as gay, which coming out to his family was already stressful, however with the support of family and friends, this eased his decision to go public. He feels that if he can just help a few kids who are also finding themselves in a similar situation than it would allow him to sleep better at night. Teammates Darren Waller, Maxx Crosby have played a pivotal role inspiring Carl by telling their individual life stories in a team meeting. Choosing to come out publicly in the NFL has proven to be even more stressful, most would believe it to be the opposite. Your confidence shouldn’t be based on what other people say if you think you’re amazing because of what other people say, you don’t have confidence. Be confident seven days a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 30, 2021
Oliver Davis’ Comeback Story - The Daily Discipline Philosophy
Oliver Davis shares the story of how his love for football and the willingness to put in the work every single day eventually became the basis for his successful private coaching practice, and how setbacks can be blessings in disguise on your journey to doing what you love. Learn about Oliver’s 4D philosophy and why something as small as a 1% improvement each day can change your life completely. Growing up was competitive for Oliver, especially being the youngest kid in a large family. It was a challenge moving to Georgia after living for years in Texas, but overall it was fun. At the time, moving from a small town to another state was a big change and very disruptive to Oliver’s life and expectations, but looking back, it was the best move his family could have made at the time. In many ways it was good for Oliver. He went from being a big fish in a small pond on the football field, to playing with guys that were bigger than he was, so he had to learn how to adapt. He remembers being frustrated with having to sit on the bench a good portion of the time, but Oliver always believed that if he put in the work he would get his shot. At the end of Oliver’s sophomore season, everything changed. His new coach came in and changed everybody’s mindset around grades and what it means to succeed in life beyond just excelling on the field. Oliver never made it to the NFL, but he knew that chances were slim being 5’8” tall and was more than happy being able to give it everything he had when he was on the field. Now he carries that same mindset into the world of business. The first real message that stuck with him came from his coach during his sophomore year who put grades first. He taught Oliver that he could be the next guy to come through and make a difference. It’s easy to think that some people are meant to be certain things, but some people work their way to being the best, and why can’t that be you? Oliver’s lowest point was in being barred from playing football during his senior year. He remembers going to a number of different camps and working with a number of different teams just to keep football in his life. He leaned on his discipline and took a major chance that eventually resulted in landing a position in the AFL. Oliver’s father was always a positive example of hard work and consistent effort in his life, and he demonstrated the pattern that Oliver could emulate and bring to the field. Once Oliver’s family was on the way, he knew he needed to start thinking about making money outside of what he was earning in the AFL. He got a job merchandising for Coca-Cola and quickly figured out a system that grew his route rapidly, born out of his mindset and discipline. Oliver started running into a ceiling on what he could earn and achieve at that job, so he pivoted into brokering and logistics. He didn’t know what he was doing, but he had
Thu, September 23, 2021
Laura McKowen’s Comeback Story - Being One of the Luckiest
Laura McKowen shares her story of discovery and pain in struggling with an alcohol addiction, and how nearly losing her daughter brought her back from the brink. Find out how Laura learned the way to find purpose in the everyday little things that make up life, why gratitude outweighs pain, and why the struggle with addiction is the common peril that connects everybody. Laura grew up in a suburban town in Colorado. Her parents were divorced and she spent a lot of time around people who drank. As a consequence of her parents separating, she became hyper-attuned to everyone else’s emotions. The demands of the external world eventually became too stressful to handle and they manifested internally. Her earliest memories of struggle were of contorting herself around her father’s tendency toward anger. She experienced that as low self-esteem and being whoever the other person needed her to be at the time. If you don’t have a sense of identity for yourself and your sensation of being okay is determined by the outside world, you’re not going to feel okay. Laura was told by authority figures in her life that she was tough and resilient because she didn’t project her pain on the surface. She tried to live up to that perception, which only drove the pain deeper. We develop false selves when our needs are not getting met. We need these false selves on the surface to interface with the world, but if you don’t have a stable core underneath, you are always performing which leads to addiction because the pain can be too great. We often build our entire lives around this performance. To denounce it is to blow up your life, so we avoid doing that. Laura’s grandmother comes to mind as one of her earliest teachers, but she found many of her teachers in books. She had always been attracted to Buddhism and has been drawn back to Pema Chödrön many times over the years. Her greatest moment of adversity was hitting the wall with her drinking. After waking up next to a stranger instead of taking care of her four year old daughter, she knew she had a major problem. Despite her outward appearance of success, Laura put in jeopardy the most important person in her life and she couldn’t reconcile those two things. Extracting herself from the emotional, physical, and psychological addiction was the hardest thing she had ever done. It was the dark night of the soul that lasted a year and a half. In that time of purgatory, Laura got a taste of sobriety. Just getting through a day without drinking was the challenge she had to overcome and it took a few months of effort before she had a tough day that didn’t require a drink to get through. Being an author, podcast, and CEO are all parts of the expression of Laura’s potential, as much as the little things. Your purpose doesn’t have to be as big as your destiny. It can be the moment to moment events of each day and how y
Mon, September 20, 2021
The Four C’s of Mental Toughness
On this episode of “Monday Motivation Raw,” Donny talks about the “Four C’s of Mental Toughness,” and how these four practices/qualities can make your mind strong, and your life beautiful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 16, 2021
Kelsey Chittick’s Comeback Story - Our Greatest Obstacles Turn Out To Be Our Greatest Gifts
Kelsey Chittick talks about the emotions and pain of losing a partner, and how the process of grieving and allowing herself the space to feel and release her emotions showed her that healing is possible. She learned that when you share your pain with the people that support you, it gets better. Kelsey says she grew up living a charmed life. She spent her childhood in a small town in Florida with a close-knit family. Kelsey focused on sports as she got older and eventually met her future husband in college. This gave her a strong foundation for the rest of her life. Her grandfather was very spiritual and her mother and father allowed Kelsey to choose her own spirituality, as long as it ended in love. Her mom was way ahead of the game, diving deep into self-improvement and meditation well before it was cool. She didn’t struggle as a child in the same way that some others have. Kelsey’s brother dealt with addiction to drugs and alcohol, but Kelsey’s first real experiences of pain didn’t happen until she was in her 30’s, after she had kids and when her husband passed away. Her first real teacher was her grandfather. He taught Kelsey that she had everything she needed inside of her to heal and be who she wanted. Kelsey says she married her husband because he was so similar to her grandfather. We are given a vehicle and must decide how to drive it. Kelsey’s husband Nate used his football career to get people to pay attention, and then used it to have real conversations with them. Two years before Nate died, Kelsey started to feel that something was off. She could tell that he wasn’t the same and something was wrong. Kelsey later went on a spiritual retreat to Jamaica and on the last day she got the call that brought her to her knees. On the flight home, Kelsey made the decision to be there for her kids and do what she needed to do to be present. Now meditation is the most important part of her routine. She still gets anxious and fearful, but she fights to be alright everyday. You have to do it until it stops feeling weird. Yoga and meditation can be challenging when you begin but if you keep at it, eventually it becomes easier. Kelsey’s lowest point happened around a year after her husband died. After all the logistics were finalized, there was just the hole that was left. The nights with the kids were the worst. She was not prepared for their pain and it took two years for Kelsey to figure out how to support them, which for them was sitting next to them without saying a word. At the beginning of Kelsey and Nate’s relationship, his brother was 13 years sober, and they committed to sitting with the awful. After Nate died, this became about embracing the grief and feeling the emotions until they passed. Kelsey allowed herself to feel the tsunamis of grief as they came so she could move on. Kelsey has always loved to write and be on stage. The experie
Mon, September 13, 2021
The Beginner's Mind and a 29th Birthday
Today is Darren's 29th birthday and the start of the season - yet a great day to have that beginner's mind... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 09, 2021
David Meltzer’s Comeback Story - Blending Faith and Money
David Meltzer shares some of the most powerful lessons he’s learned in the process of losing over $100 million dollars and nearly losing his life and family, and then rebuilding his life from scratch. Learn about David’s philosophy on faith and money, and why gratitude and humility are the keys to accelerating the process of creating wealth and happiness in your life. David grew up in the world of “not enough”. He had no shortage of love and happiness, but his family certainly struggled with money. This shaped him as he got older because, in his mind, the only missing piece to his life was money. That gave him a drive to achieve everything he could, but it also gave him a major chip on his shoulder. The story of not having enough had positives and negatives. In a healthy way, it taught David to keep his options open and be creative when figuring out how to solve problems in his life. During the pandemic, the ability to see opportunities where other people can’t has been a superpower. The problem with growing up with not enough is that you are always asking for crumbs, because you don’t know any better. The size of the world you live in is so small when you’re poor, and you focus on what you don’t have rather than realizing how limitless life really is. Many people that achieve big results in their life still feel unhappy because they are constantly chasing the things they don’t have. You need to find a way to be enough for yourself. When David lost everything, he was almost relieved. He had this extraordinary gift to sell but he never really felt like he earned it. He bought things he didn’t need to impress people he didn’t like. Losing everything allowed David to reassess his approach and appreciate what he has. When you appreciate what you have, you add value to it and expand it. When you give it away, you now have a bigger space to receive even more. Appreciating what you have must be part of the process. Receiving starts with our belief system. The moment that David shifted his paradigm and realized that he was already happy and healthy, he just needed to identify how he was getting his own way. Where are you putting all your energy? Put your emotion and energy into the relationships that are feeding you instead of the people bleeding you. David was abused as a nine year old. Pain and trauma are going to happen to everyone, it’s part of living, but it’s what we do with the pain that’s important. Pain was trained into David to be a propeller. Faith was David’s ultimate GPS because he had faith that anything that happened in his life was an opportunity to grow, learn, and accelerate instead of a punishment. Everyone has a different definition of meaning and happiness that’s unique to them. The way that you reconcile that with your successes will determine how much you can give and how great an impact you can have. David’s mom and t
Mon, September 06, 2021
Be Impeccable With Your Word
On this week's episode of "Monday Motivation Raw," Donny taps into the 1st Agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz's "The Four Agreements.” He shares some powerful lessons and insights on why it's so important to be impeccable with your word, and how this one agreement will totally transform your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 02, 2021
Ryan Clark’s Comeback Story - Your Comeback Story Is Still Being Written
Ryan Clark shares the lessons he learned from his near death experience and how facing death allowed him to realize how precious life really is. Ryan also tells the story of losing one of his oldest friends to suicide in college, and how that changed his perspective on life and why you shouldn’t wait to be a better friend and person to those people in your life, because they aren’t always going to be there. Ryan didn’t grow up rich but he doesn’t have a story of childhood adversity that many people do. Even at an extremely young age Ryan wanted to play football, to the point of preferring to watch a game in 8th grade instead of kissing his then girlfriend. Ryan’s earliest memory of pain involved one of his oldest childhood friends. His friend took his own life and it was Ryan’s first time dealing with the death of someone close to him. Up until that point, Ryan considered himself tough. At his friend’s funeral, he recalls how angry his sister was and how confused he felt. It was his first true memory of pain. Up until that point, you think you have an infinite amount of time with the people that are close to you. Thinking back now, Ryan wonders if the questions his friend was asking him were actually an attempt to get Ryan to ask him the same questions. To start a conversation that could help. The emotion he dealt with most was regret and being upset at himself. It was the first time Ryan started to ask what kind of friend he is. This experience of pain allowed Ryan the introspection so he didn’t have to relive the same relationship with his son. The person who mentored Ryan the most was his oldest first cousin, Gary Lewis. He would talk to him constantly about life and showed him that football is not just about the glamorous lifestyle, it’s about the discipline and focus you need to get the things you want from life. He taught Ryan that even his time is valuable. Gary was the first man other than his father that had a huge impact on who he became. The adversities that Ryan has dealt with ended up being the greatest thing for him. He recalls a day where he felt like he was dying. After losing 20 lbs over a couple of weeks Ryan began shaking uncontrollably and truly believed he was going to die. He began praying for his wife and his family, and upon accepting his fate his shaking stopped. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him for weeks until he called a doctor in Pittsburg who ran a test. Two hours later Ryan was in the hospital and went through five procedures over the course of the weekend. Ryan had a Sickle Cell Crisis and by the time he got to the hospital, his spleen was four times larger than normal. One of the key lessons Ryan learned from his experience is that not everyone is built the same. The truth about concussions in the NFL was coming out around this time and it gave Ryan the perspective to understand the anxie
Mon, August 30, 2021
Acknowledge Yourself
For this week's Monday Motivation, Darren reflects on the power of self-acknowledgment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 26, 2021
Baron Baptiste’s Comeback Story - Meditation, Yoga, and How To Stay Out Of Your Head
Baron Baptiste, the founder of Baptiste Power Yoga, talks about some of the major realizations and key lessons he’s learned in his life and why the hardships we encounter are things that allow us to choose how they shape and define us. Learn how Baron let go of his anger and resentment and how that became one of his life’s most impactful turning points. Baron describes his childhood with two words: freedom and painful. His parents were dedicated to natural ways of living and eating, with his father being an herbalist and running a yoga center. With the freedom, he didn’t have the same bonds as other families, which resulted in a deep sense of loneliness. He recalls being the kid that everyone picked on and because of the shame and embarrassment. He never told anyone what was happening. In the long run, the pain of being alone developed into resilience later on in life. Baron’s father was his first real teacher. He had a natural way of serving people and being around that bled into Baron’s perspective as he was growing up. Another big influence was a visiting yoga teacher from India who exposed Baron to athletically physical yoga for the first time. As he continued to study with him, he showed Baron the power of a mind/body practice. Baron’s childhood was stacked with a lot of trials and tribulations. Since he didn’t fit into the mainstream very well, he fell into a peer group that didn’t have the greatest habits. In his teenage years, Baron was failing school rapidly and getting into drug use. Baron continued on this path, got married and had three kids, but eventually he and his wife decided to separate, and that experience brought back the same sense of deep loneliness. Baron saw two options. He could put his suffering and pain on others or he could take responsibility for his life and who he wanted to be. Before his divorce, Baron was taught a different way of meditation that focused on observation of his thoughts. It was at that time with that focus, that Baron realized how much resentment and anger he had inside him, brewing just below the surface. Prior to hitting bottom, he didn’t see himself as an angry person at all. He realized that he had a lot of anger towards his father for not being present in his life when Baron was growing up. It was forgiving his father that lifted a sense of heaviness off his shoulders, and that moment of forgiveness became a major pivot point in his life. You can feel justified in your anger and resentment, but at some point you need to let go of the things that no longer serve you. Yoga was always a part of Baron’s life but it never directly impacted his experience of living. It was more of an intellectual pursuit until he learned to embody his experience with meditation. He began exploring other kinds of teachings like Christian and Judaic mysticism and Zen Buddhism. You can access the power of meditation
Thu, August 19, 2021
Sylvester McNutt’s Comeback Story - Telling The Full Story
Sylvester McNutt III brings some hardwon and deep wisdom to the podcast. From a childhood where he faced death down the barrel of a gun held by the hands of his father, to nearly being expelled in high school and turning his behavior around and becoming a model student, to the simple yet powerful lesson he learned about love in a brief conversation with an elderly lady on the streets of LA. Sylvester describes his childhood with one simple word: colorful. His father was in the military and his family moved around quite a bit. As he got older, Sylvester was able to appreciate the duality of his early life where his father was a great leader but a poor teacher, and his mother was an excellent teacher but not the most loving mother. Around the time his brother and sister were born, the entire family dynamic changed from healthy and happy to violent and unhealthy. He sensed the changes but didn’t really have the language to describe so he got into sports to cope. Sylvester actually stole his first journal from a 7/11. As difficult as his childhood became, it launched his deepest curiosity. One of his earliest memories of pain was when he faced death directly because of his father. That’s when he developed a deep mistrust of his parents. The consequences of the constant disruption and mistrust were anger issues. This led to Sylvester getting into a number of fights in school until a teacher directed that anger towards sports. Another important teacher in Sylvester’s life was his Assistant Principal in high school. Sylvester was always a difficult student and after being suspended for 42 days he essentially had to beg to stay in school. His Assistant Principal was willing to show him the motherly love Sylvester needed to turn things around and gave him a deal that allowed him to stay in school. In his final high school years, Sylvester had perfect attendance and straight A’s because he had something bigger than his trauma, which was his team. Slyvester’s coach required him to take up track in preparation of excelling at an even higher level, and despite hating running, that experience became the path that led Sylvester to yoga. In so many ways, sports saved him. Sylvester’s father passed away in 2014 which gave him an acute sense of his own mortality. He was in a position where he didn’t have the money to fly back for the funeral and was forced to ask for help, which was one of the greatest things that happened to him. Speaking at his father’s funeral and helping people grieve their loss was when he realized his destiny and decided to pursue speaking. His journey to becoming the speaker he is today has helped him heal all the trauma of his childhood. He no longer has hate in his heart and feels blessed to be able to heal other people with his words. Being present enough to ask why he drank alcohol was enough for him to want to be sober. S
Mon, August 16, 2021
Sharpening Your Saw
On this week's episode of “Monday Motivation Raw,” Donny shares the importance of “Sharpening Your Saw” and how this is a daily practice that keeps your body healthy and strong, your mind alert and calm, and your spirit connected and inspired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 12, 2021
Aubrey Marcus’ Comeback Story - The Alchemy of Gratitude
Aubrey Marcus, the Founder of Onnit, talks about how some of the lowest points in his life and relationships revealed what he was struggling with internally and what he needed to let go to move forward. Aubrey shares some incredible wisdom and discusses why gratitude is the ultimate choice, why truth comes as a whisper and how you can calm your mind so you can hear it, and why fear is the cage we all construct for ourselves. One of the things that stands out to Aubrey about how he grew up was that his parents split up early on and he quickly had two step-parents as well. Every single one of his parents was exceptional at what they did in the world and this gave him a unique, well-rounded environment and a lot of pressure to perform. His earliest memories of pain involved his father and certain moments of intense rage. These experiences shaped how Aubrey communicates and the language he uses to be effective. Another challenge was the level of expectation that Aubrey had for himself growing up. He still struggles with his internal judge and tries to make it more of a coach instead of a critic. The internal judge is often a driver for high performance, but there’s a good chance that high performers would still achieve at that level without it. What could you have accomplished with a more positive mindset? Aubrey’s first real spiritual mentors outside of his parents include Don Howard, Ted Decker, Joe Rogan, and Bodie Miller. Aubrey also looks to some of the great mentors of the past to learn from as well. Adversity was more of a compounding series of events for Aubrey going into 2018. He had challenges in his relationship, health, business, as well as issues with his friends and it all culminated with a car accident. That six-month stretch of his life was the most challenging he’s ever experienced. In the depth of his struggle, Aubrey turned to prayer and letting go of his attachment to his business’s success and accepting the possibility of failure. All the issues in his life became pearls of insight that he could share with others, and the act of sharing was one of the things that helped the most. Aubrey’s podcast was initially inspired by being one of the early guests on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Aubrey’s clothes business developed out of what they were doing with Onnit, but the nature of a cut and sew business is very challenging. One lesson he learned along the way was that if you want to be successful, you have to back it with a lot of chips and really go all in. Every time that Aubrey has shared something vulnerable, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. As bad as the car accident was for Aubrey, it was the turning point for a lot of the issues that he was experiencing. His greatest challenge was in his polyamorous relationship where he felt overwhelmed by the pain of knowing his partner was a guy that he couldn’t deal with. There wa
Mon, August 09, 2021
Self-Worth Comes From Within
For this Monday Motivation, Darren speaks on the inner nature of self-worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 05, 2021
Ryan Leier's Comeback Story - A Modern Day Yogi With the Heart of a Lion
Ryan Leier joins the podcast this week to talk about his struggle with depression after experiencing one of the greatest losses a parent can go through, and how yoga gave him the tools and the foundation for him to take life one step at a time. Find out how a yoga and meditation practice can help you create the space in your life to allow you to respond instead of simply reacting. Ryan grew up in a typical middle class family. One of his earliest memories of pain was around relationship troubles and breakups. These challenges led to anxiety and depression, and in his early 20’s, Ryan started to feel pain from simply being alive. Ryan’s first teachers were his father and mother. His dad was not just a father, but also his coach and mentor. His mother was his earliest guide on how to live right and treat other people well. Sports and athletics had been a part of Ryan’s life until the age of 27. Being a father while living in Iceland was a big struggle for Ryan, and he’s thankful in some ways that he injured his shoulder playing basketball because that put him on the path to yoga. Ryan’s selfishness got in the way of being a dad for the first couple of years of his daughter’s life, which is something that he does regret. When he decided to give up basketball to be a present father, that’s when the depression really set in because so much of his identity was tied into his sport. The greatest point of adversity in Ryan’s life was in losing his daughter five minutes after being born. He held everything together for the following 7 months until he, essentially, had a mental breakdown. It was a tough struggle to escape the depths of that depression and, in some ways, it still is. For months afterward Ryan didn’t want to be alive, and he may not have made it through without the support of his friends and family. Ryan studied the philosophy of yoga in high school and he often practiced meditation during that time, but it wasn’t until his shoulder injury and using yoga to rehab did Ryan get hooked on the practice. Yoga is a way to freedom. It has the tools to get the best out of yourself, no matter what your goals are. There’s some medicine in it for everyone. Yoga and the movement is the opportunity to get out of your own way. The emotion that kept coming up for Ryan was the feeling that he was never good enough. Without his meditation practice, he sometimes finds that voice creeping back into his life. For Ryan, his meditation practice gives him the space to choose his response instead of simply reacting. Meditation gives you the space for grace to come in. Ultimately, meditation is the practice of awareness, which is the basis for the ability to choose. Avoid riding the uncontrollable rollercoaster of praise and dislike from other people. Ryan is most grateful for the love and companionship of his friends and family. In his
Mon, August 02, 2021
The Power of Positivity
On this episode, Donny talks about the power of positive thinking, and the 7 tips to bring more positivity into your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 29, 2021
Carson Daly’s Comeback Story - Bringing Mental Health Out Of The Shadows
Carson Daly, known for his charisma and energy on stage and on the mic, shares how he struggled with anxiety and panic attacks, and how he almost ended up hiding away from the world completely. Find out why Carson is so passionate about bringing mental health into the national conversation, why it’s so important to find someone you trust to talk to if you suffer from depression and anxiety, and how gratitude and meditation allow you to take life one day at a time. Carson grew up with fond memories in Southern California. He lost his father when he was young but his mother remarried and he became part of another family. Carson’s parents are a big part of how he thinks and feels like he does now. When his father died, Carson wasn’t old enough to really recognize it as pain at the time. The pain was dispersed later in his life. Carson’s earliest real teacher was his fifth grade teacher, Mr. Simons. He was the first non-parent person to make a real impact in his life and was always looking for deeper, teachable moments. Carson’s mom was also a big source of life lessons for Carson growing up. He got a balance of confidence from his mother and practicality from his stepfather. Carson wanted to be a professional golfer when he was younger. He was actually good friends with Tiger Woods in high school. He tried to go pro but it didn’t pan out for him. Carson got connected with radio in his early 20’s and, being dedicated, he rose the ranks very quickly. Only in the last few years did Carson realize that he struggled for decades with depression and anxiety. There were multiple times where he would have panic attacks and think he was going to die without understanding what the real problem was. For Carson, anxiety was not a clinical term growing up. He believed that for a long time until he was educated enough to know how wrong that was. The best day for a lot of people with mental health scenarios is the day they get diagnosed. When Carson was finally diagnosed with panic disorder, it was a major turning point in his life and a great awakening. Society has a perception of people on television and in sports. Carson is working towards making it more acceptable to talk about your struggles. Carson chose cognitive therapy as his treatment instead of opting for a pharmaceutical solution. One of the first things his therapist wanted him to do was hyperventilate and trigger a panic attack to help him understand the threat that his body was perceiving. At Carson’s lowest point, he was on the verge of agoraphobia. The danger of panic attacks is that you may begin to avoid situations that could initiate those attacks, which gradually compresses your world until you're stuck in bed and hiding away from everything. Carson put in a lot of work in therapy to push through that fear around triggering panic attacks. The only way to get through them was to go
Mon, July 26, 2021
Your Anointing Is In Your Authenticity
Your Anointing Is In Your Authenticity - words from Darren Waller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 22, 2021
Drew Robinson’s Comeback Story - Surviving Suicide and Finding Life on the Other Side
Drew Robinson shares his incredible story of struggling with depression and surviving a suicide attempt, and how the experience of living through it opened his eyes to how much he would have missed out on and what life really has to offer. Learn why Drew’s focus on perfection created a vicious negative feedback loop in his life and how he’s learned to let go of his ego and live life one day at a time. Growing up for Drew was fast paced. He was constantly outside and constantly getting into trouble, with baseball being a major focus throughout his life. Drew was the kind of kid who wore his heart on his sleeve all the time. He was emotional about setbacks and always tried to follow in his brother’s footsteps but felt like he always fell short. We all have an image of perfection in our minds when we’re growing up, and chasing the illusion of perfection leads to the constant sense of being less than you could be. For Drew, this felt like every mistake he made meant he was a bad person and failing at life. Living a life like that can be extremely painful. Drew sought distractions to make himself feel better, at least temporarily, but they didn't do anything to really improve the situation. There is so much room for comparison in life and professional sports. Drew felt like a lesser player when he compared himself to other baseball players and this led to feeling like a lesser person. It’s a recipe for a negative emotional balance. Drew is grateful to have survived his suicide attempt and come out of it with a different mindset. The moment he woke up, he started asking how he could use his experience in a positive way. Drew’s first real teacher was his high school baseball coach. He still speaks to him on a regular basis because it’s not common to find a person that cares about you as a person first, and what you do second. Leading up to Drew’s suicide attempt, he called off his wedding and questioned every decision he was making. He was worried about being done with baseball after being an athlete for his entire life and he started questioning whether life was worth the effort. He started planning out his suicide very methodically, even writing out the things he wanted to say in his suicide note. He had a number of opportunities to reach out to people that cared about him but unfortunately, he didn’t risk that kind of connection. On April 16, Drew shot himself in the head and survived. Over the next 20 hours, he realized that he wanted to live and regards that moment as a beautiful experience within terrible circumstances. When Drew shot himself, he killed his ego. Having a near death experience revealed how important the little things in life are. It made Drew realize that there was so much more to life than baseball. His relationship with baseball has completely changed. He’s still trying to improve his skill set but he’s trying to f
Mon, July 19, 2021
Know Your Values
Donny talks about the importance of knowing your core values, and how they will influence every decision in your life, including your career, relationships, goals, and your life’s purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 15, 2021
Richard Maraj’s Comeback Story - Finding Gratitude and Love After a Life-Changing Car Accident
Richard Maraj shares his story of how he escaped a downward slide into depression after suffering a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed and unable to walk again, and how he discovered his passion for spreading a message of spirituality, gratefulness, love, and joy. Growing up for Richard was fabulous. As one of the youngest of 10 siblings, he always had someone to play with and he excelled in sports at school. It wasn’t until the day after he graduated from high school did things change where he was paralyzed in a car accident. The accident seemed to end everything in Richard’s life and he was devastated, leading to further depression. When he went to University to learn kinesiology he felt even more isolated and he began using marijuana and alcohol to numb the pain. It was at university where Richard saw another injured person using crutches instead of a wheelchair. He began using crutches himself but it was an arduous experience and involved a lot of pain and difficulty, but learning how to use crutches and being able to move without a wheelchair forced Richard to push through and gave him the drive and belief that he could do anything. Sometimes people come into your life and they can be the uniting force and catalyst that allows you to believe in yourself. Richard’s mom was his first real teacher. She gave him the support that allowed him to figure out the crutches and always guided him towards taking the time to do things well. Find what ignites your passion. Your talents and abilities are not always attached to your job, but you should find the gift you have that you were meant to share. Live the slash. You can be more than just your profession. Richard was encouraged by his brother to join Toastmasters, and before he knew it Richard was competing in the World Championship of public speaking. This opened him up to speaking gigs and helped spread a message of motivation, which eventually evolved into a ministry of spirituality, forgiveness, and wellbeing. When Richard stopped believing that his life was hopeless, it opened up his life and what was possible for him. Our own self-worth is the most influential aspect of how much love and joy we receive. Almost everybody has a belief around what they are capable of. We need to be more flexible and willing to see what’s possible. Gratitude is the foundation for Richard’s life. You have to be grateful for what you have today because if you can’t, you will never be able to be grateful for the things you have when you make it. An attitude of gratitude opens yourself to solutions and joy. Forgiveness is the other pillar of Richard’s life. Forgiveness and letting go is one of the hardest things that humans can do. When you hold bitter resentment and hatred in your heart, there is no room for love or joy. Forgiveness frees you from the past and lets you move beyond the pain. <
Mon, July 12, 2021
Expectations
Sure, we want things to go a certain way ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 08, 2021
Nick Santonastasso’s Comeback Story - The Unshakeable Mindset
Nick Santonastasso delivers some inspiring wisdom learned from 25 years of adversity. Being born with no legs and one arm gave Nick a choice in life. He could resent the hand that he was dealt, or he could choose to live life to its fullest and turn that obstacle into a launchpad for success, growth, and learning. Nick shares the mindset and beliefs that allow him to crush it every single day and how your story of adversity is the foundation for your success if you choose it to be. Growing up was incredibly challenging for Nick. One of the biggest advantages he received early on was his parents focusing on the 30% chance of him surviving and not the 70% chance of him dying. What you focus on you get more of, and Nick pulled through to continue to take on the obstacles in front of him. Nick’s parents gave him as many opportunities to figure things out for himself as much as possible. Early on, Nick developed an empowering relationship with failure and rejection, and became solution-oriented above all. Focus 10% of your energy on the problem, analyze it, feel it, and then commit the rest of your energy to the solution because what you focus on you get more of. You need to realize that who you are is built over time and you need to put in the work every day. Focus = Emotion = Action = Results. What is wrong in your life will always be there to focus on, but on the flip side what is right is always there too and you get to choose. In middle and high school, Nick was looking for the secret sauce which was confidence. Confidence is a skill that you hone and practice, and is following through on your promises. How many times have you made a promise to yourself that you broke? Every time you do that you diminish your self integrity and your word and your relationship with yourself. One broken promise can lead to a downward spiral. Confidence and self-worth is the foundation to your success, because you will never make more than you think you are worth, in all areas of your life. When something negative happens to us, we have the choice of stacking thoughts either negatively or positively. For Nick, an early experience of pain from bullying led to him choosing to break through the pain and choosing the positive path. Your brain is a problem solving machine and if you ask it a question it’s going to give you an answer. Negative, disempowering questions like “why me?” will give you disempowering answers. Great leaders don’t give you answers, they lead you to the right answers by asking the right questions. What are you willing to sacrifice for your dream? What are the limiting beliefs that you need to cut out that are not serving you? Who are the people in your life that you need to cut out that are no longer serving you? Love your family and friends, but choose your peer group. If you spend time with people with low standards, it’s only a ma
Mon, July 05, 2021
How Free Do You Want To Be?
Happy Fourth of July! In this episode, Donny talks about the power of “Freedom” and the tips and practices to find more freedom in your mind and in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 01, 2021
Anahata Ananda’s Comeback Story - Shamangelic Healing
Anahata Ananda shares her story of pain, discovery, and transformation. Learn how Anahata found Shamanic healing as a path towards recovery from a childhood poisoned by her hate of her father, and how shadow work and addressing that pain unlocked her ability to forgive, love, and reach her true potential, and help other people do the same thing. Anahata Ananda is the founder of Sedona’s Shamangelic Healing, she blends the compassion and tenderness of an Angel and the wisdom and strength of a Shaman to guide profound journeys of core healing and spiritual awakening. As a Certified High-Performance Coach, Shamanic Healer, and Soul Guide, Anahata has guided thousands of individuals through core life shifts, helping them to turn their life around and create the life of their dreams. Anahata masterfully creates a safe and loving space for inward transformational journeys that empower individuals to release their fears, open their hearts and reclaim their power. Growing up, Anahata's childhood was bittersweet. She spent a lot of time outdoors exploring but at home it was scary. She lived in fear of her father and his volatile anger, and no one in the family really acknowledged it. One of her earliest memories of pain was when her father spanked her when she was really young for doing something she didn’t realize was an issue. This experience planted a seed of hate for her father which made the rest of her childhood challenging. That hate closed a part of her heart. Anytime you feel a wound of any kind where someone hurts us, a part of us shuts down and our inner child begins to withdraw, which is what happened to Anahata. This kind of experience creates a lot of confusion around relationships in life. Anahata started drinking and smoking at a young age because that’s what she saw adults in her life doing. Most of us with any kind of wounds are overcompensating because we usually don’t have the tools to deal with the pain. We are taught to ignore and sedate things, and anything you stuff down is going to have unintended consequences. When one piece of your life doesn’t feel right and hasn’t healed, it’s going to attract situations where it can be resolved. Sometimes the inner healing work can take decades. Our biggest wounds and insecurities will become our greatest superpowers later on. It’s easy to love the people that love us back, but it’s the people that have harmed us the most is where the test of real love is going to happen. For Anahata, her father was her greatest teacher because if it wasn’t for her relationship with him she never would know or understand what forgiveness is. The cost of not wanting to forgive led to a lot of addiction, denial, and chaos in her life. It wasn’t until Anahata started exploring Shamanic work and examining her shadow did she let out her feelings of sadness and rage. Darren and Donny recently did som
Mon, June 28, 2021
Recognize The Impermanence
Darren Waller talks this week about living life with a greater sense of urgency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 24, 2021
Sarah Blondin’s Comeback Story - Rediscover Your Heart
Sarah Blondin shares some incredible heart-centered wisdom and what she learned during the lowest period of her life. Listen to a deep discussion on the tragedy and pain inherent to life, as well as the love and joy, and why everyone is in the process of rediscovering their heart. Sarah grew up exposed to the struggle of addiction early on. She had supportive parents and a good household, but growing up next to a recovery center and seeing human pain on a constant basis led to her internalizing the pain. We are born as children seeing a sea of pain without the ability to articulate or deal with it, and that’s part of the reason that we are seeing so much disconnect and fading out today. Sarah recognized that people don’t want you to see their pain. As a society, we ignore and suppress pain and avoid shining a spotlight on it. She recalls a time in Vancouver where she encountered a man on the street that became aggressive and threatening, and how all the people around her turned away and ignored what was happening. Covid has exposed a lot of the unresolved pain and trauma in society because we don’t have any idea how to process it. Sarah had an English teacher who helped her see the magic of writing stories to take people out of their experiences. Sarah has had three major low points in her life, and she noticed that each one came with the birth of a more expanded version of herself. The first was when she was working in Vancouver, and even with her early success, she felt painfully out of integrity with herself. Her second happened after moving to the country where she had a near-psychotic break with reality and her third was an extremely dark period in her life. Since she has been through the depression, the reality shake-up, and the anxiety Sarah feels like she’s been rattled as deep as she can go but now she’s able to stand stronger because of it. Transformation is extremely painful. We have to shed the layers of who we are to become who we can be. It’s about surrendering and re-finding your ground and going back to your life the best you can. You need a ritual or process to open a deeper relationship with yourself, without that you risk a neurosis that you might not escape from. Sarah had always been a writer because that was how she processed the world. Whatever you do quietly on your own time is probably the thing that has the gold dust that is going to help the world. Sarah started her work and put it out into the world in order to help herself, but other people connected with what she was doing organically. None of our problems are unique. We all struggle with the same problems. Sarah doesn’t ask what other people need to hear, she asks what she needs to hear. We are all working to excavate some sort of gift within us that we can offer back to the world. When you go through the Twelve Steps, it gives you
Mon, June 21, 2021
Why We Need Mindfulness
Donny is back this week with Monday Motivation Raw. In this hot take, he shares his keys to recovery, no matter what you might be recovering from. He covers topics such as: honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, gratitude, and the importance of staying in the middle of the herd. Donny & Darren created these short, but powerful Monday episodes to help you start the week with the right mindset and perspective. We hope you enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 17, 2021
Lisa Bilyeu’s Comeback Story - The #1 Mindset Shift That Made Quest Nutrition Possible
Lisa Bilyeu shares the wisdom she has learned in her journey from stay-at-home housewife to millionaire business co-founder alongside her husband, Tom Bilyeu. Learn how Lisa took a chronic and debilitating health issue and turned it into the foundation for extreme ownership in her life, and why she believes the mindset she discovered at her lowest point was the key to her success. Lisa was brought up in the metropolis of London but has Greek roots and would always go back to the village where she grew up each summer. It was from Lisa’s father that she learned the foundational lesson of working hard and putting in the effort is how you achieve something. Coming from nothing doesn’t define who you can be, it just means that you have to believe in yourself and put in the work. Many of us grow up with the belief system of what our parents pass on to us, which is pretty much what happened to Lisa. Even with her big dreams of making movies in America, she found herself falling into the lifestyle of the stay-at-home wife before starting Quest Nutrition. Lisa was bullied as a young girl and struggled with a painful internal belief that she wasn’t good enough and all the insecurities that come with that. Lisa’s mother was her first real teacher. She chose to stand on her own after divorcing Lisa’s father, and seeing her be empowered while raising Lisa and her siblings showed her what was possible with hard work. Looking back at her mother’s story, Lisa realized that she had body image issues and lost her way later on. In the early days of starting the business with her husband, Lisa quickly learned that picking herself back up was her superpower and she built the confidence that if she didn’t know something she could learn it. Lisa’s experience with helping her mother get healthy again is the origin story of the content that they would begin to create and where Impact Theory was born. If you don’t believe something is possible, you might as well give up now. If you do believe it’s possible, you are going to overcome the obstacles that get in your way and stop making excuses. Mindset is the key to the comeback story. The most difficult point in Lisa’s life occurred during the early days of Quest Nutrition when the work involved 24 hour days and plenty of hardship and success. Right at the moment where things started to take off, Lisa couldn’t eat much of anything without feeling completely awful. With more money than she ever dreamed, Lisa was more miserable than ever. She realized that the fact she was sick was her fault and she needed to accept responsibility for the situation and take control of her own health. She started tracking everything about what she ate instead of taking a pill to solve her problems. This expanded out into the rest of her life and is how Lisa lives now: complete ownership. For Lisa, there was no rock bottom. It wa
Thu, June 10, 2021
Paul Vautrinot’s Comeback Story - Escaping Life In The Tunnels of Las Vegas
Paul Vautrinot tells his incredible story of living as a drug addict in the flood tunnels below Las Vegas and how a “conversation with a cricket” became the turning point in his life. Learn about how Paul now helps other addicts escape and get their lives on the path to recovery like he did. Paul’s childhood was volatile to say the least. His mother was a prostitute who was addicted to both crack cocaine and alcohol. He moved a lot until he was 8 years old when his grandparents put him with a different family. Despite those hardships, Paul believes that he was generally a happy kid. One of the defining moments in Paul’s life was, after a rollercoaster period of his mother getting sober and relapsing repeatedly, he realized that he didn’t have to pour his emotion into things he couldn’t control. He came to the understanding that nothing would affect him for the rest of his life. As bad as those emotional highs and lows were, Paul knew that he could just ride out the wave. The downside to that is that he has trouble connecting with people. The trauma he experienced as a child put him perpetually on guard, to the point where he has difficulty creating relationships. Early on, Paul spent a year with a foster family that showed him what life could look like. This gave him a whole picture perspective and not just his side of the story. Every bottom is a trapdoor. Paul’s bottom happened at the age of 24 when he found himself homeless on the streets after everyone in his life refused to take him in. He literally had nowhere to go, but that was just the beginning. Eventually, Paul made his way to the flood channels of Las Vegas where he lived for two years and bought into the lifestyle of a committed drug addict. The whole time he had the thought at the back of his head that he was not meant for that kind of life. One day, he heard a voice that said that Paul was going to die with a needle in his arm if he continued with this lifestyle. He retells the story of how he was going to escape that starts with his girlfriend swinging a piece of wood at his head and having a conversation with a black cricket and ends with him being arrested by the police. Part of what was holding him back was a fear that he wouldn’t be able to live a normal life. Despite how hard his life was, it was easier to keep doing what he knew. Paul’s recovery started with Alcoholics Anonymous, where he sat listening to other people describe their stories, and he realized that he had no evidence that AA was not going to help, and plenty of evidence that it worked for other people. Freedom House came into Paul’s life during his recovery and he decided to invest himself and do his best. He started off at the lowest level and within two and a half years, he was promoted all the way to Program Director of the organization. It was at that time that the founder of Freedom House told Paul ab
Mon, June 07, 2021
Consistency: Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
Darren Waller shares a few thoughts on consistency - even when the feelings aren't there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 03, 2021
Matthew Berry’s Comeback Story - From Miserable Hollywood Screenwriter to Fantasy Sports Expert
Matthew Berry explores his journey from being a writer for television and film in Hollywood to the Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst for ESPN and all the lessons he learned along the way. Learn why Matthew believes that problems don’t discriminate, and why pursuing external things to make you happy only leads to misery and depression in the long run and what you should do instead. Matthew grew up in a very middle-class family where he and his family moved around a lot. Matthew was always the new kid in class, which was challenging for someone who was socially awkward. It wasn’t until high school did Matthew meet a core group of friends that are still in his life. Because he was alone a lot, Matthew became an avid reader and a big fan of sports, which became the platform for his later career. One of Matthew’s biggest fears is having things taken away from him. This may be due to the constant movement he experienced during his childhood where whenever he became friends with someone it was eventually taken away from him when he moved. One of his earliest memories of pain was being bullied in high school. He recalls a time in high school where his Tennis team played a trick on him and abandoned him at a 7/11, forcing Matthew to walk the two miles back to the school. Not counting his parents, one of the first real teachers to see something in Matthew was his tennis coach. Problems don’t discriminate. Even with people that seem to have everything in life, we all have moments of gripping doubt and ego and sadness. Matthew’s lowest point in life happened after he moved out to Hollywood with the goal of writing for show business. On paper, it looked like he had a great life but he found himself extremely depressed. During therapy, Matthew discovered that, while he enjoyed telling people he was a writer, he didn’t actually like the process of his work and being in Hollywood. In order to save his life and get it back on track, Matthew realized that he had to get out of his marriage and quit show business, both of which comprised the whole of his identity at that point. At the age of 35, Matthew found himself divorced and alone in an empty house, trying to make a living running a fantasy football website. Matthew was living his life for everyone else, and the trouble with that is that the minute the external thing is over you have to find the next thing to be happy. When Matthew decided to leave Hollywood, he decided to chase happiness instead of chasing the trappings of happiness. Committing to fantasy football is what allowed Matthew to find all kinds of opportunities and relationships. Once he decided to focus on happiness, the rest fell into place. Matthew is the most grateful for his kids, his wife, and his health. He knows that he has a lot to be thankful for and he doesn’t take it for granted. Everyone has their own things that they are deali
Thu, May 27, 2021
Anna David’s Comeback Story - From Cocaine Addict to 6-Figure Entrepreneur
Anna David, best-selling author and entrepreneur, shares her story of addiction and depression, and how one word became the turning point for her that allowed her to become sober and build a new life. Hear Anna’s story of recovery and some of the more common misconceptions around addiction, and how she now helps other entrepreneurs tell their own stories of recovery with her publishing company. Anna David grew up in a very money-motivated and education-focused family. Because the external view of her family was wealthy and upper-class, she didn’t realize that there was anything wrong or understand the trauma until she was in college. Anna’s parents first went into marriage counseling when she was 5 and she remembers being in the waiting room thinking that it would be better if they just got divorced. Even then, Anna felt like hers was an unhappy family and that they would all be better off if they were separated. Anna’s addiction was a major challenge for her where she felt trapped between two worlds. She knew that cocaine was killing her by making her depressed, but she couldn’t conceive of a world where she would be capable of giving it up. A lack of courage and faith was the main thing holding Anna back from turning things around. Part of her rock bottom was getting tattoos that she didn’t think through or really care about, but when she got the word courage tattooed it became surprisingly meaningful to her. It wasn’t until she found the courage to change did anything improve in her life. A tattoo can become a form of visualization and manifestation. One of the biggest initial victories for Anna was when she made up her mind to change and not wavering in her conviction over the course of the next week before she joined a rehab program. Anna had been so isolated in her addiction that she loved rehab and being around people and the process of sobriety forced her to relearn almost everything. Building relationships and friendships while in rehab were incredibly valuable for Anna and became the foundation for her sober life. Writing was always something that Anna wanted to do. She majored in Creative Writing and worked for a huge number of publications. While she was writing books, she went through the maze of traditional publishing and while it was a dream come true it was also a brutal business. This experience with the struggle of traditional publishing is what led Anna to start her own publishing business where she helps entrepreneurs publish their own books. All entrepreneurs need a book. Everybody has a book in them, but not everybody should be writing that book. In some ways, it’s harder for people who are addicted but never hit a true rock bottom, because it’s not a quick road or immediately obvious that the addiction is destroying your life. For Anna, community and connection are the cornerstones of sober life. We are all seeking community, no
Mon, May 24, 2021
Keys To Recovery
Donny Starkins shares his keys to recovery, no matter what you might be recovering from. He covers topics such as: honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, gratitude, and the importance of staying in the middle of the herd. Donny & Darren created these short, but powerful Monday episodes to help you start the week with the right mindset and perspective. We hope you enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 20, 2021
Tom Bilyeu’s Comeback Story - The Only Belief That Matters
Tom Bilyeu, founder of Quest Nutrition and Impact Theory, delivers an incredible message of transformation and power. Hear Tom’s story of how his dream of becoming a filmmaker fell apart and how he lost his ambition to achieve in life until he had a life changing realization, and discovered his step-by-step formula for fulfillment and success in life. Tom Bilyeu’s life growing up was right in between blue collar and white collar life. He didn’t grow up poor, but did learn the frustration of having to earn the money to buy the things he wanted when he was young. He was diagnosed with ADHD but his mother refused to medicate him for it, which is something Tom is very grateful for. His childhood shaped his work ethic and cultivated who he is today. Tom made himself two promises as a child. One he hasn’t managed to keep and one he’s kept very closely. The first was never doing anything that made him nervous, the second was not letting other people tell him what to do, and as an entrepreneur he’s done well with that one. Tom has recently started examining just why he is so driven in life. His father had a deep love for cars when Tom was growing up, but Tom always hated the hobby. This led him to wonder if his father could love him if he hated his father’s greatest passion. This anxiety may have led to Tom being so driven to achieve. As he grew into his adult life, Tom began experiencing a recurring nightmare of being trapped in a loveless marriage. This was probably due to subconsciously picking up the distance between his parents when he was younger. Tom attributes Stephen King as being his first real teacher because King’s books taught him to read. Reading has been the foundation for Tom’s success. His father gave Tom a copy of The Gunslinger when he was young and twenty years later, it still resonates. Tom now spends an average of 2.5 hours every day learning or reading, and believes that is what makes the difference. Tom’s early 20s were difficult. Tom went to film school before YouTube and smartphones were prevalent, and that’s when he realized that he didn’t have talent as a filmmaker. Despite his high ambitions, Tom felt like he was at a dead end and found himself selling video games with no real opportunities worth pursuing. A major turning point was when Tom asked his girlfriend's father for her hand in marriage and he said no. The reason he didn’t want Tom to marry his daughter is that he accurately identified that he didn’t have the drive to see his ambitions through. Tom was lost, scared, frustrated, and hopeless with no idea what to do. That shame got Tom moving, which is when he became somewhat controversial. Shame can be a powerful motivator if you don’t let it break you. He started making changes to his life, one small step at a time. As a kid, Tom was excited for the future and all the possibilities before him. As a young adult, the reality
Mon, May 17, 2021
Accept and Advance
There’s is no comeback without awareness. We must accept who we are, where we are, and what we’ve done without being paralyzed by the weight of the truth. Honesty is uncomfortable in the beginning, but freedom is impossible without it. Don’t lose hope! You will be better for going straight through the pain rather than finding a way to avoid it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 13, 2021
Danica Patrick’s Comeback Story - The Importance of Mindset, Goals, and Self-Love
Danica Patrick, one of the most successful and recognized female racers in the world, shares her story of what she learned during her career, on and off the track. Learn about why a growth mindset was key to Danica’s success growing up as a racer, the vital importance of setting lofty goals, and why self-love is the best foundation for real relationships in life. Danica is one of the most successful and recognized female racers, having been the first female to lead the Indy 500, the first female to win the Poll position in the Daytona 500, and won the Indy Japan. No other female has come close to what Danica has achieved in her racing career. Danica grew up in Illinois and life was very normal, but she admits that she hasn’t experienced anything else so most people will think their childhood is pretty “normal”. She began racing at the age of 10 so being competitive was a source of struggle and conflict with her father, but Danica doesn’t have many specific memories from her childhood. Danica’s first real teacher was her father. She doesn’t recall having any role models in particular. One of the first lessons she learned from her father was that wherever your eyes are, that’s the direction you will go. This has become a metaphor that Danica has taken to heart. Danica is a future thinker and gets very attached to outcomes. This makes her willing to work through the pain when she sets a goal so that she can achieve it. Professionally, one of Danica’s lowest points was when her sponsor left in 2017. She had to face the possibility of being done racing and how that was going to change her life. Personally, she’s dealt with a lot more sadness in grief in her relationships. Danica realized that the times where she happiest were when she was performing her best, and that when she was happier she also performed better. Recognizing the dynamic of her own joy and how her well-being affected her performance was a big realization. If people grow up in a household that only rewards success they tend to refrain from taking on new challenges because of their fear of failure. A growth mindset is critical for every aspect of life. Home is a state of being. It’s inside you and you carry it with you. As a culture, once we wrap our head around how powerful the mind is there will be some drastic shifts in the world. So much of who we are is hidden in the subconscious mind. Once you recognize that everything in your reality is there to show you who you are, it becomes informational. We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are. The body follows the mind. When it comes to football or racing, success is 90% mental and 10% physical. The fear of failure is more impactful than the physical skills of the body. Belief in yourself carries an immense amount of weight of the end result. If you set your goal to be ambitious and lofty, the halfway point
Thu, May 06, 2021
Mike Bayer’s Comeback Story - Relentless Honesty, Awareness, and Asking For The Right Kind of Help
Mike Bayer shares his story of growing up and struggling with his sexuality, and tells how that pain led to a meth addiction that almost destroyed his life. Learn how Mike realized the source of his pain and how he turned his story into a platform for helping thousands of people overcome their addictions and live more fulfilling lives. The theme of any great change is relentless honesty. Everyone has a different upbringing and we all have a different relationship with our upbringing. Mike grew up playing basketball and from the outside it looked like everything was going well but he never felt okay with his life. He started doing drugs at a young age largely due in part to being gay but being unable to admit it. Shame is a cloak of toxicity that eventually seeps into all areas of your life. Growing up was only okay when Mike was stoned, and doing drugs became a slippery slope into misery and addiction. For athletes, teachers are usually coaches. Mike didn’t have any great mentors when it came to athletics. It wasn’t until Mike’s parents sent him to therapy when he was younger where he felt comfortable enough to admit to someone that he was gay. The issue wasn’t so much that Mike was gay and accepting that, it was an issue of not feeling good enough to be accepted by his peers. Therapy is what allowed him to connect the dots and identify where the pain was coming from. Therapy is like physical exercise. When you want to get deeper into why you feel a particular way, therapy is a way to put in the work. Mike’s low point was simple. After suffering for months from a brutal meth addiction, he looked in the mirror and realized that he was sick and tired of being a loser. He had no purpose and was on a downward trajectory that wasn’t going to change unless he changed it. Mike shares the story of his sugar momma and the crazy experiences he had when he was under the influence. Awareness is the key to change. When it comes to hitting bottom, you can always go a little deeper. Mike found himself going back to drugs the day after he would throw them away in the effort to quit. Mike’s awareness and realization was that he was not the man he was supposed to be. We have to own our lives and take ownership for where we are right now and the actions we took to get us here. Mike got sober at 22 and he never thought he would be a person who could help other people to do the same thing. After being six months sober, Mike started working in treatment while also working other side jobs and did whatever he could to get into the field of counseling. He went from being a counselor to doing interventions and the work continued to evolve. According to Mike, an attitude of gratitude keeps away the bad attitude. Mike is incredibly grateful for the life that he has today because he never thought that his life would be the way it is now. If Mike could s
Mon, May 03, 2021
Reflecting On Eight Years Of Sobriety
A quick check-in with Donny. A few words of inspiration and why sobriety is the best thing that ever happened to him. Continuing to show up. Freedom from myself. 8 years sober this Wednesday. #dothework Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, April 29, 2021
Holly Whitaker's Comeback Story - Learning to Love Yourself
Holly Whitaker shares her struggle with substance abuse and addiction, and how her experience led her to creating the digital recovery program Tempest. Holly is on a mission to change the conversation about alcohol in society after realizing that her seemingly successful life was just a show, and that there is a different path to recovery available to everyone. Growing up, Holly’s life was fairly idyllic. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom and her father ran his own business. They lived a nice middle-class life but Holly has memories that something that wasn’t right. A big part of Holly’s recovery was identifying the incidents that put her on the path to struggling with substances. The biggest impact on Holly’s life happened when her parents got divorced after her father came out of the closet. This forced Holly to confront her own sexuality at a very young age and resulted in her and her mother struggling financially. Up to that point, Holly had always been industrious but that all changed after the divorce. It often doesn’t matter what your childhood was like. We can all end up in the same place. Holly’s first memory of pain was her early story of feeling like the “other” in her family. At a very young age, Holly experienced a significant feeling of not belonging anywhere. Holly’s experience with teachers was frustrating. As a high-energy child, Holly didn’t have a teacher who was invested in her development until high school. Her first teacher put Holly onto a trajectory of being disliked for many years. When we get close to the bottom, we can either stop and tell ourselves the truth of what’s happening or we can claw ourselves out and keep it going. Holly had many moments of being near rock bottom where she knew that she needed help to escape, but it took six months after her worst moment before she finally got sober. Trying to live up to the image of who she was told to be held Holly back from accepting that she wasn’t happy. It wasn’t until she realized that she had a choice. She could either keep the toxic relationships in her life and die, or sever those relationships that weren’t serving her. You don’t have to live up to other people’s standards. Be okay with being a mess. You have to work every single day on your own life, you will improve and you will encounter the same sorts of problems each day, just in a different form. Our values are the bedrock of who we are, and if we make decisions that are not in alignment with our core values, things get messy. If you know what you are and what you stand for, the criticism you receive won’t cut as deep. Knowing who you are creates a solid ground for you to stand on. Holly didn’t go to Alcoholics Anonymous until she was already six months sober. She started her recovery by researching alcohol and addiction and those books led her to other sources. Eventually she realized that there was something wron
Thu, April 22, 2021
Inky Johnson's Comeback Story - The Beauty of Adversity and Finding Your Purpose
Learn about how Inky Johnson turned a career ending injury into a story of inspiration and personal growth. Inky shares his experience in dealing with an injury that completely changed his life and how he went from struggling to understand it to using it as a platform for spiritual growth and service to other people. Inky Johnson grew up in a city outside of Atlanta, born to a young mother of just 16 years of age. His early years were hard but they were some of the best years of his life. Growing up that way shaped and molded him, and gave him the motivation to improve his family’s life. Inky loved football growing up but he also played basketball, baseball, and competed in track and field sports. An influential coach helped him make the decision to pursue football seriously. The one thing we all have in common is that we will face opposition and adversity. One of Inky’s earliest memories of pain was experiencing a police raid when he was a child. He will never forget how that experience and ones like it shaped his decision making and choices as a young man. Inky’s first real teacher was his eighth grade teacher and basketball coach. He recalls a moment where his teacher told him that he was better than the environment he was growing up in. The teacher took Inky under his wing and began picking him up each day before school, teaching him proverbs, and encouraging Inky to write about his dreams, goals, and aspirations. He continued to do that throughout high school and it completely changed his life. Inky’s greatest moment of adversity happened when it looked like he was set to achieve everything that he wanted. During a simple practice, Inky suffered a life threatening injury and woke up in the emergency room, being told that his football career was over. The greatest challenge was in trying to understand. When a person goes through something that they don’t understand and is painful, it can prevent them from moving into their purpose. The opposition can be so heavy and strong that it makes seeing why and what you should do very difficult. Inky turned and faced his situation and instead of trying to understand it, he focused on just surviving it. Once he attained a certain level of peace around his new situation, he was able to accept it and see where it fit into his purpose. We all get to a point in the journey where we yield to our circumstances. Whenever you are going through something and trying to change your life, it’s a “you issue.” Don’t blame other people or circumstances, getting back into balance is down to you. Inky had to yield first to get to a place of understanding. Inky has been speaking for the past 14 years and the husband and father in him wouldn’t change what happened to him. He noticed that what happened to him started to affect other people and impacted their lives in positive ways. By serving a greater purpose than just himself, Inky ha
Thu, April 15, 2021
Trent Shelton’s Comeback Story - The Power of Rehab Time
Internationally successful motivational speaker Trent Shelton talks about his story and struggle with fear and depression, and how his life changed completely once he accepted the power of his voice. Learn about the challenges Trent encountered during his professional football career and how those struggles became his message that he now shares with over 12 million followers every day. Trent grew up in the New Orleans area with his two older brothers and family. Sports were a major component of Trent’s life and his parents were always supportive of him and the things he pursued. One of Trent’s earliest memories of pain was because he was asthmatic and had a lot of difficulty breathing when he was younger. It was so bad that during one coughing episode Trent burst the blood vessels in his eyes. His mother drove him to the hospital where Trent stopped breathing and blacked out. He spent a week in the hospital and it was then that he realized how fragile life could be. Trent learned to never take life for granted and realized that God has a plan for his life. The pain was not there to break him, it was there to build him, and it gave Trent a lot of emotional resilience from a young age. Trent’s parents were his earliest teachers. He learned how to have faith and resilience from his mother and he learned how to be a supportive father and husband from his dad. Trent grew up across the street from people that went on to play professional football and that showed him the fruits of hard work. Hard work can make any reality and dream come true. Get around people that make your dreams tangible and make you feel like you can accomplish them. Trent found some success as an athlete when he was in school but during one of his first drafts, he found himself being left behind. Athletes put a tremendous amount of significance on their performance, and it was the first time in his life where Trent really felt like he wasn’t enough. A couple of weeks later, Trent was cut from the team. He went back to his parent’s place and sheltered himself. What you suppress will turn into your depression, that's what happened to Trent. For the following three years he lost himself in the journey to try to make it as a professional football player. Instead of the love of the game, everything was based on the fear of being cut for not living up to what people expected. It’s hard for athletes to look within and accept that they need to heal. The selfish season is about making sure you take the time for you so you can show up in your life in the way that your family or your team needs you to. It’s about doing the dark work, the work nobody sees. That can be reading books, listening to podcasts, taking care of your body, and having the difficult conversations you need to have. Selfish season is about burning whatever necessary bridges you need to burn, the ones that are leading your life
Thu, April 08, 2021
Jon Gordon’s Comeback Story - The Power of Positivity
Jon Gordon, best selling author and motivational speaker, shares his hard-won insights into happiness and fulfillment, and talks about the power of positivity in transforming your life. Learn how Jon escaped a life of misery and depression and turned his life around, by pursuing service instead of his ego and focusing on encouraging and inspiring one person at a time. Jon grew up on Long Island New York in a Jewish-Italian family. It was not a very positive household overall and he often got into fights with other neighborhood kids. It often felt like he was battling for survival. He played lacrosse at Cornell University, where he learned about culture, leadership, and teamwork. He didn’t originally plan on playing lacrosse but an instrumental high school coach convinced him to stick with it and showed him that coaches can change your life forever. Basketball was always Jon’s favorite game, so the transition from lacrosse wasn’t the worst. The real challenge was when Jon’s wife almost left him when he was 31. He had experienced a rollercoaster of bouncing around between law school and a dot-com job and blamed her for the circumstances for his life. It wasn’t until she said she was leaving that he started to question why he was so miserable. He was addicted to trying to prove himself and earning the validity of someone successful. The more he chased that idea, the more miserable he became. Jon started taking walks of gratitude, praying, and meditation, and those things helped him escape the rut he was in. We are all addicted to something, and it’s not always the usual substances. Many people are addicted to their work, or their smartphone, or social media. Your past is a part of who you are and your soul has wounds that define you. For Jon, his biological father leaving was deeply impactful on him and shaped his attitude on life. A major life-changing moment for Jon was forgiving his biological father and letting go of the past. We all have wounds, and we all try to fill those wounds. Your wounds are your constraints and you can either heal them and rise above them or the wound can become infected. We are not strong enough on our own. That’s why every addiction program includes a higher power. The most important first step in Jon’s turn around from misery was in committing to serving others instead of just building up his ego. You become a person of significance when you make others significant. This became the foundation for Jon’s future work writing books, speaking, and sending out his weekly newsletter. Ironically, the greatest self growth strategy of all is to help others grow. When you are focused on yourself, you don’t grow very much but when you become a conduit for others, your growth rises to a whole other level. Jon wasn’t successful right away. His first book was rejected by 30 publishers and not one book store in the US would carr
Thu, April 01, 2021
Tim Storey’s Comeback Story - The Miracle Mentality
Tim Storey, the acclaimed author, speaker, and life coach to world-famous celebrities and athletes, shares his wisdom on the Miracle Mentality that he wants everyone to be able to achieve. Learn how Tim helps his clients create their own comeback story through forgiveness and insight, and how you can use his teachings to better understand yourself and live a more full life. Tim Storey is known as the Comeback Coach and has helped a number of popular celebrities, business people, and athletes. Everyone is on a journey in life and begins with a lot of momentum, but we usually run into obstacles that we need to overcome, and it’s those life turning points that Tim helps people with. Structure was missing in Tim’s family because of financial stresses. It wasn’t until Tim was in 4th and 5th grade did his teachers really start to take notice of him and those teachers played a big part of his growth as a person. When you have a set back, you have choices. You can sit in it, you can settle, which is what most people do, you can cement yourself, or you can push through it. When you feel the sting of a set back, God is preparing the comeback. Tim recalls a memory of a race when he was in school where he forfeited his opportunity to win in order to help someone else who was having an asthma attack. That’s when he realized that he’s a humanitarian that will gladly give up his chance to win to help an underdog win. Sometimes you just have to sit with someone when they are in crisis. Tim is always looking for people he can help, regardless of who they are. Tim’s brother died from his addiction and that experience helped him understand that addiction is widespread and plenty of people need help. The average person nurses, curses, and rehearses their problems. To get past that, you have to be awake, take an inventory, and partner with the right people. That’s Tim’s strength. He’s not afraid to ask for help or get therapy if he needs to. He’s smart enough to know that he needs an infusion of strength into him as well. It’s rare that someone will change quickly. A slow transformation is the one that lasts. A lot of celebrities are surrounded by people who want to take advantage of them, so trust is always an issue. They face the same challenges as most people, but they get amplified by their celebrity status. There is a price to do what we do. The deeper Tim goes with someone, the more he needs to know in order to help them. Tim tells the story of a famous football player that believed that his problems were taking over his life, but when he went back to his childhood school, he reconnected with his innocence and put his life into perspective. We talk about triggers in recovery as a negative thing, but there are positive triggers as well. Tim triggers himself every day by reconnecting with the music of his childhood and that helps keep him gr
Thu, March 25, 2021
Alex Smith’s Comeback Story - The Comeback Player of the Year
Alex Smith shares the story of how his promising NFL career was derailed by a broken leg which led to an infection which threatened everything. Hear how Alex found a new mindset while in recovery and rehab at the Center for the Intrepid and how he became the Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 after he was told he would probably never play football again. Alex grew up on the mean streets of San Diego as the third child of four. He was fortunate enough to have a supportive family and not really know adversity as a child. He distinctly remembered being frustrated in his youth, and his dad helped him cultivate the mindset of accepting that certain things will happen and how to move on. That helped Alex avoid being distracted from what he was trying to achieve and stay focused. It’s easy for us to have tunnel vision with what’s going on in our own lives. Alex’s parents helped him understand the wider vision which helped him be grateful for what he did have. After Alex left college, his best friend fell into a deep depression and ended up taking his own life. It was during a time where Alex was concerned with what was happening in his own life and he missed his chance to make contact with him. It’s one of the first big challenges in Alex’s life and one of the things he regrets. The more comfortable we can be with death, the more grateful we can be for each day that we are alive. Alex’s adversity begins with when he broke his leg. So much of his identity was wrapped up in being a football player and when infection set in and they had to remove so much of his leg, he wasn’t sure what his life was going to be like. It took months for him to come to terms with it and he had to relive it each morning when he woke up. The mental battle and doubt was the hardest part of Alex’s struggle. Seeing his kids live their lives kept Alex motivated to try to get his life back. The Center for the Intrepid is the center for all limb injuries and they offer treatment to civilians that have injuries that are deemed warlike enough. In return they get to study you so they can continue to improve their treatment and rehab process. It was there that Alex started his rehab and found a new outlook on life. The Center allowed Alex to enjoy the process of recovery and to focus on simply taking one step at a time. Putting all the focus on a single small step made it achievable instead of overwhelming. Alex struggled with the weight of the expectations he felt when he was first drafted and it became a self-perpetuating circle that was unhealthy and unproductive. He went from loving football to feeling like it was a burden. It wasn’t until he flipped his mindset and he realized that he needed to “just live” and enjoy the moment because it wasn’t going to last forever. The times when Alex doubted it was going to work out were just before something good came around the corner.</li
Thu, March 18, 2021
George Mumford’s Comeback Story - Seeking Truth and Wisdom Despite the Pain
George Mumford shares the wisdom he has learned during his life as a coach to some of the highest performing athletes in history, and what he learned from his personal struggle with addiction and pain that nearly cost him everything. Michael Jordan credits George Mumford with the transformation of on-court leadership of the Chicago Bulls that led to 11 NBA National Championships. He has worked with a number of world-class athletes and helped them achieve at some of the highest levels of their sport. His coaching method is focused on the whole being approach and treating athletes as people instead of a performer. Principles are universal and timeless. They allow you to make choices that are aligned with the feedback that you get and let you live in recovery. George was one child of thirteen and remembers the theme of his childhood being “be seen, not heard”. He learned how to cope by living in his own personal world and holding his sensitivity within. He was injury-prone in school while playing sports because of the stress placed on his life. He found himself in a strange place where he had to mature quickly and know a lot about life, but without knowing what to do with them. In college, George realized that he could be more social when he was taking pain medication which led to an addiction to painkillers. That developed into alcoholism and drug abuse until his spiritual rock bottom. He went into a 21-day detox program and realized that the person that comes out of the program has to be different than the person that went in or nothing was going to change. One of George’s memories of pain involves his father humiliating him before his sister’s wedding. This experience made George feel like he couldn’t ever ask for what he needed and led to him becoming self-reliant. Trauma can take many subtle forms and understanding that is the only way to heal. In many ways, George’s father was just acting in the way that he was taught. People are doing the best they can with what they have. Seek to understand rather than be understood, and the best way to help yourself is to help others. George’s first real teacher was his grandmother. She would give him a card on his birthday and call him Master George, rather than simply George. At the time George didn’t understand what she meant she was trying to impart that he was equal to other people and beneath others. He also found a number of mentors growing up in the athletes he knew like Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown. In terms of comeback stories, George admires Frederick Douglas, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Harriet Tubman. We all have a masterpiece. Our job is to break through our shell and share our divinity with the world. The spirit is the life, the mind is the builder, and the physical is the result. George allowed the world to be his teacher because great men are open to new expe
Thu, March 11, 2021
Andre Norman’s Comeback Story - Saving Lives At The Academy of Hope
Listen to the incredible story of Andre Norman, who went from violent prison kingpin to the Ambassador of Hope for thousands of people trapped in the cycle of incarceration. Learn about the key lesson that turned Andre’s life around and helped him escape his past of violence and trauma, and eventually become a Harvard fellow and respected leader who helps people overcome their own addictions and negative behavior. Andre had a rough childhood being raised in a household with violent parents. Early on, at the age of 9, Andre learned three lessons that went on to define his life. He ended up in prison because of those lessons. When you quit on everything positive, all that’s left is negativity, and negativity takes you to one of two places: prison or the graveyard. The lesson Andre learned about quitting is what led him to prison where he met thousands of people, all with essentially the same story as him. Andre became quite a skilled trumpet player in sixth grade, but he was forced to quit playing in order to keep his friends. This was the point where Andre gave up on his dream, and without it, his life took a dark turn. The opposite of addiction is connection. Some games you win by not playing, some of the scenarios we face in life we are choosing to play when we should be walking away from the table. As we grow up we start to make agreements with ourselves that lock us onto a particular path. We have to make space to make choices. Andre’s first really important teacher was his 3rd grade teacher. She taught him how to read and showed him the capacity he had and how to access it. On the negative side, Andre’s cousin taught him how to rob people and sell drugs at a high price. Being taught it’s okay to quit was foundational to the way Andre learned to live his life. We can only do what we see, and when we’re taught that drugs and alcohol are the solutions to our pain, it’s no wonder that’s what people resort to. Andre didn’t become an addict, he became violent as an outlet for the pain and trauma in his life. Addicts convince themselves they are okay and their reality is fine. Addiction is like being the frog in a slowly heating pot of water, eventually the water boils and you die. 80% of the problem is believing the false stories we tell ourselves. It was in prison where Andre started to see the truth of his situation and realized that he was the king of nowhere. The first thing he decided was to establish the goal of going to Harvard to begin the process of change. Andre started listing all the obstacles in his way and began working down the list improving the different problem areas in his life. If you are locked up in a scenario that is unhealthy for you, that is a complete waste of time. Without a purpose, you are wandering through life, but not really living. Andre understood that he needed to change his purpose if he wanted to change his
Thu, March 04, 2021
James May’s Comeback Story - Accepting The Truth and Changing Your Pattern
Listen to James May as he tells the story of his life as a heroin and cocaine addict, and how he went from consistent run-ins with the wrong side of the law and a near-miss with a violent death, to accepting the truth of his situation and starting a treatment program for people in recovery. James is coming up on seven years in recovery from a crippling heroin and cocaine addiction. James grew up in a poor family in a wealthy neighborhood, and that mismatch had a profound impact on his life. His first run-in with the authorities was in 3rd grade after James set some toilet paper on fire in his school’s bathroom. As a child, James tried to find the approval of the wrong crowd and found himself stealing and vandalizing. James’ first memory of pain was from 2nd or 3rd grade, where he was humiliated and traumatized after being rejected from the girl he liked and deceived by who he thought he was a friend. The kids who made fun of James when he was younger became the target of his rage as he grew older, and one of the underlying reasons he began selling drugs was to try to ruin their lives. James’ grandfather was his first real teacher who showed him how to live well. No matter what happened in his life, James’ grandfather still showed up every day of his life. James’ grandparents were as much parents to him as his real mother and father. James started smoking marijuana in 8th grade, and that quickly escalated to oxycontin and other harder drugs in high school. He sold a considerable amount of drugs at that time and eventually went to jail for dealing drugs. James got arrested in 2008 and charged with a violation of the Georgia RICO Act. He was part of an operation that was selling marijuana and Xanax through the mail. After that incident was James’ first attempt to get sober. Unfortunately for him, James burned every bridge in his life and life became very dark. He developed a resentment towards God and ultimately was hoping to die from his drug use. This whole time was a three year period of despair. The biggest thing holding James back was accepting the truth of who he was and what was happening in his life. James believed that it was everyone else’s fault and wanted to prove everybody wrong. He was at odds with the world, and it wasn’t until he came to grips with the fact that he was molested as a child did James start the path to recovery. James’ lowest point was right before he got sober. He remembers a crazy interaction where his drug dealer got into a shootout, and shortly afterward James got pulled over and finally asked for help. After being in jail for two weeks and the withdrawal symptoms passed, James finally felt free. The reality was that James needed to change his pattern. The path of reconstruction and healing his wounds was the only way James could achieve peace in his life. Just stopping the drugs and alcohol wasn’t enough.
Thu, February 25, 2021
Seane Corn’s Comeback Story - Embracing Your Shadow To Find The Light
Seane Corn shares her experiences with childhood trauma and sexual abuse, and how that put her on a path of self-discovery. Listen to Seane’s story of growing up as a hypersensitive child with obsessive-compulsive behaviors that she used to manage her anxiety, pain, and grief, how she learned to process her emotions, and the teachers along the way that showed her how to release her anger and allow Seane to help others do the same. For Seane, growing up was complicated. On some levels, it could be considered the ideal childhood and at others, she felt unsafe, unprotected, and ungrounded. As a young person who was hypersensitive to the world Seane could feel when something was off. Due to the lack of support for her sensitivity and feelings, her natural reaction was to shut down and dissociate and create compulsive behaviors to try and regain control. Seane wouldn’t change her experiences because those complexities were what made her do the work to become who she is now but she would prefer people like her had more mentors to show her the way. Seane’s earliest memory of trauma was a sexual assault at the age of 6. As a result of that, she developed an obsessive-compulsive disorder which only became more exacerbated as she got older. What she wasn’t aware of was those compulsive patterns were a way for her to self-regulate her nervous system. Any time she felt anxiety, the patterns helped her feel calm, and this self-regulating effort developed into drug and alcohol consumption later on in her life. These survival mechanisms were a response to a trauma that wasn’t allowed space to discharge. It was once Seane moved away from home and lost her family support system that her random partying became more intensified. The patterning no longer staved off the anxiety and isolation, and drugs and alcohol became the only way to help her feel comfortable socially. Everyone in Seane’s life has been a significant teacher, including her abuser. The reason that Seane has so much self-awareness at this point in her life is that she went into therapy at the age of 18 and did the work. It wasn’t until she was in therapy that Seane even realized that the trauma of her childhood was the source of her compulsive behaviors. It was then that she understood that she was going to have to stop drinking and using drugs, to commit to sobriety at every level if she was going to heal. Your coping mechanisms work for a while but eventually they turn on you. They became the biggest obstacle from living the life you actually want. For Seane, the anxiety was always living in her body without ever being discharged or processed. This led to her always being triggered and seeking more control, which resulted in a vicious cycle of compulsive behavior. Sobriety is a lifelong journey. Seane’s patterning still comes up, but when it does, she recognizes it as anxiety and a need to breathe through the gr
Thu, February 18, 2021
Tyrann Mathieu’s Comeback Story - Getting Unstuck
Tyrann Mathieu talks about how his childhood without parents shaped his life and how he realized that chasing the love of other people was taking him in the wrong direction. Learn how Tyrann almost lost everything, and how he changed the narrative so that experience would drive him to even greater success. Growing up for Tyrann was a mix of both worlds. His parents weren’t around because his father was in prison for murder and his mother wasn’t responsible enough to raise him on her own. Tyrann was raised mainly by his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Tyrann remembers asking his mother why he didn’t live with her and she couldn’t provide an answer, which has always been a source of pain for him. It was lucky for Tyrann that his grandmother instilled structure in his life because that allowed him to get into sports and stay out of trouble. The pain of his relationship with his mother still comes up, but he reminds himself that he’s not in that situation anymore and it shouldn’t determine his life. An early memory of pain was when Tyrann’s grandmother sent him to live with his uncle. At the time he didn’t realize why she did it, but looking back on it now he can see that it was probably the best thing she could have done for him. If you can shift your perspective you can find meaning in your pain. It’s not the event that happens, it’s the meaning that we attach to it. Tyrann’s high school coach was his first real teacher. He made Tyrann realize that football could take him places if he took it seriously, and could be the foundation for a greater mission. If that particular teacher had not come into Tyrann’s life he would not have chased his dreams the way he did. Tyrann’s fall from grace was in being kicked out of school and not being able to play football. Not having football in his life forced Tyrann to put his trust in himself, and a lot of his success in the NFL he attributes to that early struggle. The lies that Tyrann told himself were the things that held him back. Tyrann wanted people to believe in him and to feel like he was enough for them. We have to go through those low moments to find the real answers in our life. Going to jail for possession of marijuana was where Tyrann realized that everyone was watching him and he let people down. Tyrann had to stop chasing love from the people in his life before he could start telling his comeback story. We all have the story in our heads where we are not enough. Tyrann had to stop believing what other people were telling him and believe in himself. If we don’t address the narrative of not feeling enough you’re going to get stuck and it won’t matter what success you have in your life. If that feeling is hijacking your mind you will never escape the feeling of inadequacy. Much of what we are experiencing in the world right now is a result of unfaced fear and
Thu, February 11, 2021
Donny Starkins’ Comeback Story - His Journey from Addiction to Helping Others Free Themselves from It
Donny Starkins reveals his journey from a star baseball player with the world and success ahead of him to a drug addict that couldn’t escape his pain until he hit rock bottom. Find out how Donny realized he needed help, and how his experience with drug addiction and pain allows him to help other people free themselves from addiction and tell their own comeback story. Donny’s childhood was easy and his parents always tried to make the best of a bad situation. Sports came easily to him and one of his early dreams was to play professional baseball. He ended up playing at Arizona State, the same school as his father, where he suffered multiple injuries to his knee. His fifth surgery was experimental and resulted in unbearable pain, to the point where Donny realized that he would never play baseball again which sent him into a downward spiral of addiction to pain medication. He avoided physically hurting anyone else over the course of his addiction other than himself. Even after overdosing in Mexico and having his brother-in-law pick him up in the middle of the night, Donny still didn’t believe that he had a problem. His family wanted to help so Donny went into Alcoholics Anonymous solely to get his family off his back. It took a lot more pain and worry before Donny finally surrendered and accepted the fact that he had a problem. That was when he started to really hear the message that people were sharing during the meetings. After three and half years sober Donny had a relapse because he stopped doing the work. Another knee injury led to Donny relapsing for 8 months. At the time, Donny felt ashamed for relapsing, but now he looks back on that as a major turning point in his life. An early memory of pain for Donny was waking up from that surgery and losing his purpose. Baseball had been Donny’s life up to that point and he didn’t want to feel the emotional pain of that loss. The void was filled by taking pills. Another painful memory is not being present with his grandfather before he passed away. It wasn’t until after his death was Donny able to make amends. You need to show up for your family and friends, and when you do that it’s like living amends and it releases the shame and guilt of the past. Donny’s first teacher was his father. His father kept Donny humble and showed him the benefits of thinking about the game of baseball differently. He taught him that you never know who’s watching and you always have to give 100%, which ultimately led to Donny landing scholarships. Accepting the change from baseball star to drug addict was extremely difficult and prevented Donny from getting help and getting sober. The feeling of neutrality and indifference to the substance he was addicted to was one of the biggest reliefs and spiritual experiences of his life. It was his unwillingness and ego that were holding him back from experiencing that.
Thu, February 04, 2021
Darren Waller's Comeback Story - Stop Giving Your Power Away to Other People
Darren Waller (Las Vegas Raiders, tight end) delivers an incredible message in the inaugural episode of the Comeback Stories podcast and talks about his struggle with addiction and drugs and how his life story and struggle has transformed into his most powerful asset. Learn how even an accomplished professional football player can struggle with doubt and anxiety, and why the story you tell yourself is the only one that matters. Growing up for Darren was confusing. He was blessed with a good family, a good neighborhood, intelligence, and athleticism, but he was always sensitive to the harsh words of other people. Despite access to a number of resources, Darren found himself going down a dark path. Darren grew up in suburban Atlanta, Georgia playing a number of sports with the friends he grew up with. His earliest memory of pain is being told that he wasn’t black enough by his peers. He adopted that as truth when he was younger and didn’t realize the pain that it would cause him throughout his life. Even now, Darren still struggles with doubt despite being one of the best players in the game. Pain is part of the shared human experience. If you’re alive, you’re going to go through the pain and that is what connects us and is the essence of common humanity. Darren’s first real teacher was his father. He saw the way his dad treated his mom and respected her, and that became the template for how Darren treated women in his own life. In terms of balance, Darren understands that no matter how well things are going, they could get worse, and if things are going badly they will eventually get better. The way that Darren’s father loved him is how Darren thinks about his other relationships and it allows him to live a better life because of it. The feeling of not being good enough led to Darren trying to earn people’s approval by becoming better at football, and it was around that time that he started experimenting with drugs in an effort to escape the anxiety of trying to please people all the time. As his football skills improved, Darren felt worse and worse internally. After becoming a pro athlete, instead of feeling better the anxiety and pain only got worse and his drug use increased exponentially. The status and lifestyle were something he thought he wanted but none of it gave Darren happiness or peace. Darren ended up sabotaging his own success and getting suspended from the team. He had to go through the process of recovery and relearn the value of hard work before getting another chance at football a few years later. The biggest thing holding Darren back was trying to get approval and respect from others before he showed it to himself. Other people’s approval was either making or breaking him and he had to shed that mindset to stop trying to fill the void inside himself with other people’s approval. Darren’s lowest point was fourfold:
Trailer · Tue, January 19, 2021
Comeback Stories Trailer
Here's the first minute of Comeback Stories. Launches 2/4/21. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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