Prophets Walk Among Us: Stories From Our Listeners

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software ends in July 2023. And it's only valid through my link. Go to drimklmnt.com slash rich roll today. Rich is absolute honor and pleasure to be able to leave a message like this from the Bronx, New York. I live in Cody, Wyoming. I'm from Philly, hence the actions. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, Calgary, Alberta. All messages are actually writing on the head no right now. I'm just

going to need to fill it in. It's still on. I'm 34. I live in Madrid, Spain. I'm going away from Australia. I'm calling you from Abu Dhabi as United out of Emirates. Thank you so much for doing this. I'm giving us the listeners the opportunity to share our stories. The podcast has not just kept me company, but it's given me a mint hope and confidence in

the power of shuttle transformation. I've been listening to the podcast and started in this first episode. I've probably just been to over 300 podcasts and it really has changed my life. The biggest gift that your podcast has given me is that I shared it with my daughter Katie. She loves it. She's overcome a lot of challenges in her life and a lot of your guests and

information and folks really help her inspire her to make changes. It's really been a great relationship, built between her and I. We always had a good relationship, but this takes it to another level. Every time I listen, it just makes me want to become a better version of myself. Your podcast has really made me think about what am I doing? Just like one of them once

said to you, what does your podcast do? It made me think about what I'm doing. I know you've been pondering the question, what does your podcast do? And though I may not be able to tell you what your podcast does, I can tell you what your podcast does for me. It provides inspiration, not only through your own story, but the vulnerable way in which you tell

it. What does your podcast do? Such a simple question. It changes lives, it changed mine and implanted values and my things. What does your podcast do? It inspires, feeds desires and sends the flames to our intuitive fires. What does your podcast do? It plants seeds, pulls weeds and does good deeds. What does your podcast do? It shifts perspective, gives directives and casts light toward the dark

and the collective. At the end of last year, we debuted a new format for this show with an episode dedicated to compilations of stories sent in by our listeners. The result was an incredible achievement that showcased the talent, the drive, the perseverance and the inspiration of the amazing humans that comprise the RRP community. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I highly encourage you to

do so. But this year, we decided to do it again. And after putting out a call for more stories and curating the best responses, we're super proud to present to you, profits walk among us, part two. And it's all coming up quick, but first. Okay, as I said in last year's episode, this show is and has always been for and about you, the listener. Without you,

the conversations that make up the bulk of this show just don't move the needle and lives beyond my own. Because the true impact of this platform is inspiring positive change in the lives of people within and beyond our community. In other words, you matter to me. It's why I do what I do. And what follows is your voice. This is your community. These are your stories.

And I can't wait to share them all. Right now. Hello greetings. This is Yami Odette. Hello, Brown from Atlanta, Georgia. I want to say thank you for sharing your truth on the podcast. I am a new listener. And I find your platform authentic and inspiring and enriching your message of self love and nurturing of humanity for the greater good resonate. So deeply and it's beyond refreshing,

you are truly a soul brother, my friend. I find that do we are from different cultures. We speak the same truth. I am Nigerian by birth and started listening to your show recently. And some of the words that you use and the language that you use are so rich and so similar to what I say every day. And so without a doubt, you are elevating the

end of the day. And the people blessing you would find that your first love affair is pursuing itself. It is to paralyze your heart and to child will burden you. I've walked, hiked and ran more than 60,000 kilometers by foot across six continents as well as completed 600 freestyle marathon. Listening to rich and Adam and all your wonderful guests along the way. Your pod really has

kept me company on my tracks as well as inspired me when the going gets tough on hundreds of marathon. And I just want to like you and the listeners know that I'm prove positive that having this positive combos continually piped into your ears. Over years and years can really power some unbelievable outcomes and this really can't be understated. Anyway, I'm about to dedicate all of 2023

to breaking the Guinness World record for most marathon in the year, which is more than 240, which I'm choosing to do solo. This may have no support crew and across 50 to 100 different countries to up the ante and I'll definitely be an Arden listener next year as I really need the wind in myself once again when the going gets tough. Hi, I just listened to

the first installment of listener stories and in true fashion. I'm coming in late, but it doesn't matter because I'm coming in and I'm showing up. That is just one of many lessons I've learned through your podcast. So my story that years ago I moved from Rhode Island to Spain and a big catalyst to that was my mother's drinking single parent only child. My grandma helps as

much as she could, but my mother was just dealing with wretched childhood drama through any creations at the point where I mean, I don't think she's functioning. But heart wrenching and it seems like it's just one emergency after another motor cycle accident, house fire, hospitalization. So I mean, searing anxiety for me. I didn't officially quit college, but I wasn't going for a year. Managed to get

out of all of that and I moved to Spain. I mean, I'm just going to go back to Spain. I need a distance and it's taken even longer to run about emotional distance. And because it's been so normalized, it took until a tenent of my mom's house that she bought to tell me, your mom is unconscious on the stairs and going to the hospital because she's

not going to sleep. And I just, I was shattered. And it took me a long time to separate from all of the, untangled feelings that came with my mother's pain from her past and that her only way of dealing with it was from drinking. But I found this podcast. I had, I'd already started running a few years ago. It's just such a great channel for emotion.

And I've been able to find my identity. And no longer just observed, but rather do through examples and, and thoughtful conversations about resilience. And temperance and faith and trust through your podcast. So thank you. And really I can, I can find my identity apart from my mom's suffering. And I don't drink anymore. Life is good. I feel absolutely with it. And I think what I've learned

through your show. And I just learned this yesterday through your show and through life, of course, through doing me. And one of these hard things is that I'm stronger than pain. I've, uh, been my own pain. I'm stronger than that. And I can always love it. Thank you for what you do a million times over peace plants and all my stay friends. I'm on the roll

on it. So I just wanted to know if you guys had any advice on, on starting over for, for folks who have kind of lost it all. I was overweight. My father had passed away. And I was in a slump. Uh, ended up in a hospital diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A1C of 11.1 and had a bad infection. I remember the advice you guys gave me.

And it really kind of resonated with me when I was kind of in bed and just. I was dealing with the infection and getting ready to make a plan. I remember it said. This enemy that you're facing is comparing yourself to this person that you were seven years ago. Comparison is the thief of joy. So stop comparing yourself to your past self or to other people.

It's not about that. It's not about training where you think you should be. It's about accepting and embracing where you are right now and doing what you are capable of doing. It's the only way that you get anything Donner make any progress. So it started with eating right, getting rid of all the food that got me into this place. And also walking to the mailbox, taking

the dog around the block. And a walk became a dog and a dog became a run. I tapped into the advice you guys gave me. I took it a day at a time, a step at a time. Little decisions, little steps made big, big, big outcomes. And I want to thank you guys so much. I got up two months ago and I got my A1C down

to 5.3. Doing my third half marathon in October. And I want to thank you guys again for not only giving me the tools to do things physically, but emotionally as well and really work on that part of me as well as the other stuff. It truly is true when you say mood follows action. And it is sure to thank you guys for everything you do. I

found your podcast back in 2017 when I was struggling with extreme chronic fatigue. I had been an avid cyclist and was working for an active travel company planning bike tours in Europe when I got sick. Almost overnight, I went from healthy and active to unable to walk upstairs on my own. After months of going to doctors, barely able to function, I was diagnosed with Epstein bar

and chronic fatigue syndrome. I found that my well-meaning doctors had little to offer in terms of treatment or hope of recovery. And I was even recommended. I was also recommended that I accept my new limitations and perhaps get a wheelchair and make life easier. Needless to say, it was extremely frightening and depressing. I decided that I needed to believe in something different that I could recover

and I set out to figure out how. It was in my diet into healing health and nutrition that I found your podcast. Over the last five years, your podcast has influenced my recovery in both practical and emotional ways. You introduced me to plant-based eating, of course, and I changed my diet, finding body aches reduced. You introduced me to Wim Hof and I used to have breathing

practices to help my body heal. I started using acupuncture as a powerful part of my recovery after hearing your conversations with Colin Houdon, as well as Julie's own story of healing a type of goiter on her neck with the use of herbs and Eastern medicine. But it was hearing your own story of recovery rich, as well as the story of so many of your guests all

overcoming adversity that gave me a sense of hope and affirmation. Listening to your podcast helped me see my situation as an opportunity for growth and something I would be grateful for one day. I saw getting through my challenge of my ultra-endurance race. I'm happy to report that five years later, I'm back on the bike. What's more, I quit my job in January of 2020 and enrolled

in a four-year master's program in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. My goal is to help others to heal personal and ascender students' chronic illness. Deciding to make such a pivot at age 41 was daunting, but knowing that you completed your first endurance race at 42, helped me to see that it's never too late to make a big change. Rich, oh man, there are so many ways

in which you've influenced my life. Let me throw a number one on the short list. Mood follows action. Your mantra has helped me see many obstacles sitting between me and the life I've wanted to live over the past few years. In the interest of time, I'll give you one example. Ever since I read the outsiders in seventh grade, mind you, I'm now 51 years old. I

wanted to write a novel. I've had flashes of inspiration and ideas for plots and characters over the years, but always told myself, once I get through AX, accomplished Y, or had Zey in the bank, I'll pursue my dream. Well, a number of factors converged two years ago that led me to leave my career and finance. As I did the responsible thing, I began networking from a

next job that a little boy in me kept raising my dream. I started talking back, then ultimately shouted, stop waiting around to feel ready to write that book. Just start writing so we can all feel better. So I started, then COVID hit. By then, the action of getting started had triggered such an avalanche, a positive vibe that a day hasn't passed since. When I haven't worked

on my book about growing up, making mistakes, tragedy, running, and recovery. As I leave you this message, I'm giving the manuscript for Beyond Spirit Hell, a final read through. Thank you and stay tuned. The University has discussions on philosophy and is the biggest catalyst for change in our lives, way possibly. On November 4th of 2021, my four-year-old son was diagnosed with heart failure. And admitted to

the hospital where he waited for transplant. And while we were waiting, his heart was so bad that he had to be hooked up to a machine to help his heart. I went, when was he ever known or when he graduated this year? I lent you the deputy job, he identities. We were in the back door. Basically, because of a price we kept after he was planning

for a set split, but when I had gone to one of the work groups, I was running a hundred percent. Experience. When you're waiting for a heart, you don't have any ideas. You're going to be there for six weeks or 18 months and having a three-year-old at home and my four-year-old in the hospital. It was really trying between going back and forth and our family being

separated. And I was shocked at how many of the lessons that I took from endurance training and running seemed to translate on the long night when we didn't know what was on the other side of the coin while we were waiting. And really, I just wanted to say thank you so much to this podcast for giving me the mental testness and strength and lessons that I

needed to get through that time. Jake is now five years old, almost six actually on December 20th and doing great. And we are enjoying all the pre-Christmas activities and having a great time. And we're so grateful to the children's hospital here that brought us through. I'm very grateful to this podcast, which was really the thing that got me through. Thank you so much. I discovered your

podcast about nine years ago. I needed something to listen to while training for an ultra. And you're so keen on and I downloaded an episode not knowing the impact it would have. At first, I listened almost out of kind of a muse and some curiosity because, I was very mageeding a typical Western diet at that time, maybe even more so in terms of animal products as

I was doing the whole key to the thing. But after almost two years of listening to your show, I had suffered an injury to my leg and I underwent surgery. My leg was wrapped in a calf when I was bedridden for two months. I wanted to reduce the swelling. And I remembered that you and your guests talking about how I'm playing bass, tie it, reduce the

inflammation. So I switched to it. I was just starting to fallow and drinking fruits, smoothies and most amazing thing happened. Despite being unable to move for two months, I somehow lost weight. And when the cats came off, the doctors were shocked at how much the swelling had gone down. And that was the proof that I needed to make the change. Since then, I'm in braced, plant-based

diet. Not only for myself, but I've seen it help others as well. People like my teenage son who was struggling with acne. Friends with high blood pressure. My dad who had a high PFA and possible prostate cancer. Plant-based diet and a huge help to them all. And I owe that to you in this show. And not only is the show helped heal my body, providing me

with tools I need mentally as well. Because as a result of that injury, I was unable to run again. And I went from crossing a finish line of an ultra to six months later, being a fair pium, learning how to walk again. And that was very hard. It was hard for me. It's a loss of something that I love doing. And more than that, it's in

the loss of part of my identity. And I still struggle with it to this day. But it just so happens that right before my injury, you get on the show, a guest named Ryan Holiday, who is talking about his book, The Opsicle, Is The Way. But you introduced me to this philosophy of stoicism and the principles of acceptance. And to only worry about things that you

can control. And more fatty blows your feet. And I've embraced that as well. And without it, I honestly don't know how I would have coped in the years since that injury. But it's given me a better framework for life. I've been late mid 50s. I'm 55. I grew up in New York City. And in the 70s and 80s. And was a great place to go. A

runner from the title was eight on growing up. And then my adult life had experienced a lot of trauma in my life. Which then led. I was very busy raising children and being a single mom to two boys now, men. And so I was focusing on that. And I actually ran three marathon. So in my 30s to Vermont City Marathon, New York City Marathon. And then

I hit my 40s. And everything fell apart. The trauma that I had experienced hit me hard. And I pretty much lost decade in my life. I gained a lot of weight. I became dependent on alcohol. And diagnosed with PTSD and in a hospital. And I was very busy. That was about four years ago. And I changed my lifestyle altogether. I became vegan. And I got back

right into exercising again. I'm a runner and a swimmer and a biker. And your podcast inspires me so much. To continue following my dreams and following my athletic endeavors. Which provide me with relief from depression. And anxiety. And also offer me just an amazing way of experiencing this world. Rich, it is so good to call into your podcast. I'm an army officer calling from the Fort

Bragg area. And although I've been an endurance athlete since high school in college. And I've been plant based for two years. My journey of transformation. To not truly begin until just over a year ago. When my mom killed herself on July 12, 2021. Leaving me heartbroken. Without parents or an immediate family. Brief was hard for me. Especially as I was juggling in it. While doing an

overseas move. And starting a new job path. However, I truly believe the universe. I'm the first to help us. If we let it. Because this past December. I began to crawl out from underneath the tragedy. When I told some friends that I would train for a trough on the spring. And days later. While on and date with the woman who's now my fiance. I was introduced

to your podcast. And it has been a constant companion in guide. From Lisa Miller. I learned a lean into the opportunity that grief provides. To deepen one spirituality. And let's see. Papis. I found solace in her story of an almost identical trauma. And she gave me insight into trauma being an injury to the brain. She inspired me to put actions first and the thoughts will follow.

She voiced many of the thoughts, questions and concerns. That I had about my mom. While she talks about hers. Lastly, Susan came. Off her encouragement for me to continue. Turning my pain into something beautiful. Which is why me to continue to work on a poetry book. Rich and all of your conversations. You're reminding me of the power of human agency and the power of belief. Every

day. I choose to be grateful. Every day I choose hope. I choose life. Because all that I exist. And to full pain and heartbreak and suffering. We cannot throw up our hands and to come to nihilism. We must believe in ourselves. We must choose hope for our futures. We must choose the vulnerability of loving another. Despite the fact that we can lose them. And we must

choose life. Thoughts follow actions. And the best training bike is the one in the corner collecting dust. Now I have completed three triathlons. One being a half iron man. I bought a house. And I'm engaged. The universe inspired. And I got this. Thank you, Rich, for all that you do. For all that you provide to us through your podcast. Bye for now. Hello to everyone at

the Rich Whale Podcast. I'm Sierra Winters. I'm 23 years old, originally from North Carolina. And I've been listening to the podcast for a little over five years. And it was one of the influences that helped me go vegan at 18. The voices of rich and as guests have been with me over countless training runs. And indoor rides. Inspiring me to keep taking that next step. Listening

to guests think about the inner spiritual power of sport and diet as opposed to the typical weight loss narrative has helped me overcome my own troubles with my body as a young woman. It is also helped me remember that I'll try athletes can be a step of sport is a means to self improvement of the inner personality. And that my identity is not the athlete. Hearing

from people who have traveled the world and dissolved their identities as they learn more about the greater meaning from life has also helped me as I lived in India. I live there now with my husband. And the cultural shocks seem to be never ending. But now I see them as opportunities for growth. I see them as stepping stones to becoming my strongest self. Someone who can

selflessly support others about all the comforts of a Western lifestyle. And this podcast has definitely played a significant role in developing that kind of outlook. My story is I used to be a mess before I hadn't paid my taxes from like 2008 to 2019. I was doing bunch of drugs. I was starting to do too much cocaine. You know, drinking all of that. All about habits.

And I really needed to turn my life around. So what I did in 2019 early 2019 is I went to a Vipassana retreat and this transformed my life. And as I came out of the Vipassana retreat somehow this role came along. I was in my life and carried me through the last three or four years since which has been the best years of my life. Like

I said, I was a mess before and now I went in 2019. I decided to start running when I came out of the Vipassana. Because I couldn't afford to pay a gym membership. So I said, fuck it, you know, I'll just run. So I didn't know what to expect. But I ended up really enjoying running. I still run today. So I went from like not running

being a calspitato to running the New York City marathon in 2019. I had to raise like $5,000 in the world to run the marathon, which was an amazing experience. And then I ended up doing a triathlon. I did a Iron Man. I did a backyard race. So I did this year, which I did 114 kilometers and 17 hours. And I'm currently training for another marathon. So

it's been a blessing. And I could go on and on. But yeah, the podcast has really inspired me. And in the end, what I take away from it is that mood really does follow action. Thank you, control. Okay. Back to the show. My story of personal transformation, perhaps actually begins with the sound of my voice right now. It is scratchy because I'm a public high school

English teacher. And I've been really leading of my men with my 10th graders and lost my voice. I'm also a plant-based runner of ultra-s and mother and a survivor of trauma, which you've presented in your most recent two podcasts that I've listened to. But a wide array of your podcasts have changed my life and transformed me. But when I was 15, I walked over from school

with a friend and we were approached out of nowhere by a complete stranger with a gun. We threatened our lives, abducted us, and actually assaulted me. And that trauma, well, the changes did not happen overnight. They took decades. But that trauma changed me for better and worse. Or maybe I should say for worse and then for better. And your podcast has been a part of that.

Transformative journey. I now do a run to support the students that I teach every year at Louisiana County High School. Most recently in the spring of 2022, I ran from my high school to Washington, DC. Without stopping 105 miles. I was on the today show. It got quite a bit of press. But I've actually done runs like that for the last seven years. To raise money

for students who have overcome. And I've been able to do a lot of physicals in their lives. And that all goes towards scholarship funds for those students. Again, your podcast has been transformational. It supported me in my plant based lifestyle. You've helped me in all kinds of ways with my running. I wasn't even a runner until I was 35. Your most recent podcast have been very,

very valuable to me. As I continue to explore my experiences growing up. And therapy is a great thing. But also on my own in many ways. And I just want to thank you so much. Hey, Rich. Deep Rock. No. In Hawaii. The podcast in your book. Learning to go to my first teacher training, which was in Hawaii. And from that point on, I became a yoga

teacher and have taught hundreds of thousands of people in the Buffalo area. Because of that first training, which I just credit. Coming back here. That was my authentic experience. And and thank you community library for it. You're doing that. Also joining me during the flight following the program genuinely went a gran, really's really opened and you're doing somethinganyplace and I still think I'm sort of very

nice. It's so well. I know I've come across my cancer treatments and having your eclectic people on the podcast has given me that ability to have something in my life that is consistent. I look forward to it every Monday and when I received something from your podcast it helped me get about to my family into the world. And so I know it's on silly but the

podcast has had a huge impact on me from yourself rich of being such an incredible person and then all of your genuine guests have just helped me continue to be a student of life which allowed me to share that into the world and make a direct impact on your podcast. That made a huge difference in my life which has impacted so many others. Back in 2017

my husband and I were taking a road trip and we were listening to a recent episode of your first interview with Bruce Friedrich the executive director of the Good Food Institute. And at the time I had recently left a third of my career career in pharmaceutical sales and I was looking to find work that was more meaningful and aligned with my values and something I could

do that would make a positive impact on the world. And when I heard about GFI and its theory of change working to make alternative proteins more accessible, more affordable and more delicious, I was sold. I was just convinced I was like this is what I want to be doing. I love the theory of change as this order. This is the first time I've ever had a

good time and I want to be a student of the good food organization and I want to be a student of the good food organization. And so as a result of hearing groups interviewed on your podcast I applied to the Good Food Institute and it took me a couple of times because the job openings didn't exactly align with my skillset right away but in July of

2018. I was hired by the organization and since then I've been working with brilliant kind, compassionate people to improve the future of food. I patients have been kulling below my teaching Writing platforms to improve my health and my deaf children. So my only major aspect of all that was I was a job coach I was once JACK would have learned about GFI or at least not

as early as I did without hearing Bruce interviewed on your show. So thank you so much for opening my eyes to the fact that this organization exists and I'm thrilled to be doing meaningful work that aligns with my values and I just want to express my very deep gratitude for helping me find this work and for all you do keep up the amazing work you are

a gift to this world. What does your podcast do? It harnesses pain, releases shame and readjust our lens to a new frame. What does your podcast do? It reads books, loves the cook and has a knack for knowing where to look. What does your podcast do? It takes inventory redefines glory and unpacks the every person's story. I've always loved running ever since I was young even

in elementary school. It was my passion. It was where I solved problems where I cope with stress. It really allowed me to stay in super physical condition. It was just what I love and what I really enjoyed and it got me to help you foods in the diet. In fact on one run in Fort Murray, Alberta, I was faced to face with a large black bear

on the run. Bikle went away. Well in 2017 I was diagnosed with a weird disease called Parkinson's disease. I was 60 years old and noticed I was starting to get tremor and rigidity on my right side. I was worried but I still was running even though it was a weird gate. Well as the years went by I struggled more and more to run. Up to that

point I'd run over 45 marathons and ultra marathons. And just new running was what mattered most. Well eventually in 2020 I realized I can't run anymore. What can I do? But I realized as you always said rich, mood, false actions, I had to adapt, I had to change, I had to transform myself. And I think your podcast over the years really inspired me to do that

and make a difference. I decided you know what? You can ride your bike, your road bike or your mountain bike. You can go hiking, you can go to the gym, you can work out and look weight. First other stuff you can do to make a difference. Still feel strong and healthy. And your podcast have always inspired me to continue to do that. To try different things.

Even though I can't run anymore, I can still do these other things. And it really has transformed my life. Greetings from the suburbs of Yellowstone Park. I first came across you rich when I did a Google search for authors who had written their story. I devoured finding ultra and started listening to the podcast. And I'm happy to say that I to visit the rooms and sit

at the table and tell my story of recovery. It's been a long 30 years here. I've been in a journey in and out and right now I am all in. I intend to stay this way one day at a time. Thank God. My ministry and mission in life revolves around the Desmond Tutu quote. We shouldn't just be pulling people out of the river. We should be

going upstream to find out what's pushing them in. I've created a life for myself doing what I love for a living. Which enables me to be standing at the place where our fellows may be thinking of jumping in the river. I teach yoga to all ages at a little studio. I teach art classes to kids because the local school district just cut the elementary art program

last year. I feel for me anyway that yoga and my own creativity have saved my life time and time again. A theme that has woven in and out of your podcast throughout the years. I want to share this with as many people young and old and in between. So as to help people learn to cherish their minds, their bodies and their spirits, as well as cherishing

others. And I know from you rich with consistency and showing up in 10 years from now I will have made a difference and people will stop them in the river and people will stop drowning. I consider you my great teacher and guide, Retro. We are kindred and spirit and I can't even find the language appropriate to express my deepest appreciation for what you do. How you

live and the work you do. Being able to. I want to see your lighthouse, your podcast, your truth, your transparency, your vulnerability has helped me become who I am considering that it took about 50 years to discover who I am and I'm currently 53 years old. It's one of those things that you can never ever imagine that somebody that you've never met or know from afar

could have such a lasting impact the way you have on me. Because for most of my life, I just flew by to see my pants. Yes, there were times where I had to put the pedal to the metal. Yes, there were times that I avoided a lot of different behaviors, patterns and habits that were crippling me as a human being. The people that I heard along

the way. The first marriage that failed in part because of the way I behaved and the way I didn't take control of myself, of my situations at that time. And to think between 45 and 50 was such a rough stretch internally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually that I had to be able to put all my cards on the table. I had to be able to push whatever it

was, not necessarily aside because I didn't want to avoid it. But to push all of the doubt that I had, all of the inferiority that I had about myself and all the issues that I had. That had been accumulating over the years from being a child to teenager, young adults to adults. And to my own self discovery and obviously through the podcast and all the wonderful

guests that you've had, I've been able to break out through the other side. But as we all know, and like you say best, there is no finish line. I must continue to persevere because I want to continue this journey to be on the right path to success. More so for me internally than it is externally. And I just want to thank you for all that you

do, for all that you've done for me. And I'm sure thousands and thousands of many other people out there just like me. Around the time your podcast started, I found myself diagnosed with an autoimmune that had no cure and no treatment. And I had been vegan a year and a half worked out six days a week. Just incredibly healthy, turned 40. And I ended up in

a wheelchair. And I was in that wheelchair for five years. Went through a spin cell clinical trial and got better. And all of this has been since 2012. So the stories, the conversations, it's all just been a guidepost for me to listen to and be encouraged. As I taught myself to walk again, use my hands and get out of the chair and, you know, regain life.

So to speak and the lessons that I've learned and being present and getting through the difficulties and being told know by world renowned hospitals that I'd never get better. And there wasn't any hope. It's just been really encouraging to hear the stories. Even though I'm not an athlete, some of these athletes that have, you know, really been told know as well. So I thank you for

putting all the goodness out in the world. And hopefully my little story will help you keep going because it does matter. My name is Dan and I'm a 62 year old pediatrician. I'm from Virginia. 11 years ago, I had a life altering accident that rebooted who I am. While body surfing in North Carolina, I suffered a cervical spinal cord injury that left me to length from

the neck down. The universe must have been watching because strangers saw me and dragged me out of the water. Things happened quickly. A helicopter ride to the closest trauma center, multiple tests, neck duse and surgery. And then, I was parked in the ICU paralyzed. Life contains in a second. And that hit me with a walloping impact that day. But I turned out to be one of

the lucky ones. I was an avid cyclist. And I think my level of fitness helped me out. After four months in the hospital, doing intensive rehab and regain the ability to feed myself, take care of my own bowel and bladder issues. And I gradually clawed my way back to being able to walk. I'll be up with crutches or a cane. I made it my mission to

scratch back as much as I could. I was able to return to work and return to cycling by way of a recumbent trite. Last year, I rode 3500 miles in my trite. Always looking for inspiration. I read Finding Ultra and I loved your book. The book and podcast have catalyzed many changes for me. It's included a vegan diet, meditation, and a new dedication to exercise and

focus on sleep. Perhaps the biggest change is a refugusing of my values. I have a much stronger scent. Just how amazing it is to have this moment of beauty we call a life on this blue dot floating in the immense universe. What a miracle. Your podcast helps me truly realize what's important. Possibility opened this curiosity, listening, loving, and the attitude. These values are undergirding my efforts.

It's made me a better person, a better father and husband, and a better doctor. I see these driving in the bright eyes of my patients. From the first miles of a two-month-old to a giggling five-year-old, to a struggling team who finally makes a breakthrough. And I see these values in the loving eyes of their parents. Thank you, Rich. So I first came across the podcast through

Finding Ultra in 2015. My story's a little crazy. I'm 51 and when I was 26, like Tommy Rives, I got laid up in a coma. Mine was a different illness. A rare autoimmune illness called Basti Lidus that attacked my brain. I was in the hospital over two months. My heart stopped a few times. It's probably a good thing. I don't remember much of it. I had

to relearn out a walk, talk, read, write, and name it. Long story short, thank God I got better, but I had a lot of anger, shame, and denial. Very pretty deep. I dealt with it the way I knew best, throwing myself into training, fitness competitions, running, making sure I was so physically exhausted and have time to deal with what was going on in my head. I'm

not proud of this one of the choices I made during that time, but I think about Gabor Matte saying trauma is something at least your brain different than it was before, and it helps me understand and have some peace. Nobody talks about mental recovery after extreme illness, only the physical, 25 years ago, they didn't anyways. In 2015, I finally decided that faced my illness. I went

across finding ultra and your podcast. I connected with your journey. I'll be at different. You grew yourself into ultra, I went vegan and recreated your life. I went vegan 100% cold turkey that same month. So here's a funny thing that happened. Prior to going vegan, I had Basti Lidus flares, crazy headaches, memory and speech issues. Once I went vegan, no flares, zero. I can't tell you

how life's changing. That's fun. And it's not just a plant-based lifestyle that's helped me on my wellness journey. It's Gabor Matte. I have a trauma, Dr. Matthew Walker, I'm sleep, Dr. BN got health. And Julie, I'm spirituality and so many more. Through the podcast, I learned there are so many elements of wellness. Thanks so much. A few years ago, I was working kind of at an

agency, sort of living what I thought was my dream life as a writer, a lot of parking, a lot of not healthy habits. And I was always listening to your show, but nothing had really stuck it. And about two years ago, I got really sick and run into the hospital and almost died. Kind of a freak. And when I left the hospital, I kind of felt

like, you know, everything I'd been doing up to that point was wrong. And I wasn't living the way I wanted to live. So through listening to your show on a continual basis, I actually picked up Autobiography of a Yogi, which was a book that Adam Klumik recommended as one of his favorite reads. And I wrote that in the summer and ended up signing up for the

Self-Realization Fellowship. So now I'm in a really deep meditation protocol that I do everyday. I quit drinking two months ago, which has been like just amazing in so many ways. And I actually signed up for a marathon in six months from now. So, you know, two years ago, at this point in time, I was literally, you know, on my desk bed. And I left the hospital.

I had to really, I had to walk again. And, you know, my life has just changed in all these, like, really in same ways. And I have to attribute a lot of it to the podcast. And I mean, I could talk at length about the different ways that your show has been. And I'm just influenced me in these really powerful ways. But I would say the

takeaway at this point is, my life was totally different. I'm meditating. I'm mostly plant based. I don't drink. And I'm running all the time. So just trying to become you apparently. Thanks so much. Bye. I've always loved the quote. It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. She do Christiana Merti. I remind myself daily that if I am guided

by my own internal compass, I'm universal and I really conspired to provide. My personal growth has been scary, painful, uncomfortable, and the most precious and valuable asset I have. I've had to diligently unlearn a way of life that did not serve me. And I won't go back. Thanks, Rich, for being there on long walks before I broke my knee. And being there to keep the light

while I listen through hours of daily physical therapy exercises on the living room floor. The wisdom and experience has watered the seeds of my growth and encouraged me when others have doubted. I have gone through the worst experience a parent could. My daughter passed away made 2019 from cancer. She had been in St. Colma and she was 11 when she died. As fully didn't kind of

coming back to life, living it again, not just surviving. Still, still in survival mode, but I think coming out of it. Listen to your podcast. I am not the only one going through something. We all have our stories, some maybe more tragic than others, but everyone's got something. And just hearing their survival and getting through in the stories of all the others and a lot of

the psychology and things like that really just helps me remember that I'm not alone in this. And if other people have gotten through well, still can I? So I just wanted to share that. Thanks. Thanks. I've been a long time listener and I was drawn to you because of my own trauma and tragedy that I was so desperately trying to make sense of. In 2003, our

family was involved in a role over car accident that left my strong athletic husband a C5 quadriplegic. Luckily, my kids who were only five and eight at the time were okay, but our world was turned up by down. We had family and friends walk away and my house suffered with severe medical issues that resulted in three major surgeries. And finally, a diagnosis of good syndrome, a

rare immune deficiency disease. My mom who's been our biggest supporter, got cancer and died very suddenly. And just as I was catching my breath from that, our home burned down in the horrific car fire. Then of course, COVID happened, which was extra difficult being a very immunocompromised person. However, all that has led me on the most important journey. Of healing and of trying to make sense

of my life, trying to make peace and survive while dealing with such tremendous pain and grief. Your podcast has most importantly tried to change the story in my mind that has been replaying. And most recently, Dr. Conti and Dr. Mate have been huge sources of knowledge and inspiration. Your podcast has given the tools to go plant based and explore what it means to me. And Richard,

you shared your story and struggle so openly and with such vulnerability and emotion that I find myself taking something important from each guest that has helped in my life and my road to healing. So as you can see, I've touched my life in so many ways. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to share little of my story and to hear others as well. As your

podcast do, it asks questions, suggests, and inspection cares from other Earths, her inhabitants, and their protection. Once as your podcast do, it examines systems or believe serves the dose of therapeutic relief and finds bitter sweetness and grief. What does your podcast do? If battles resistance goes the distance and is a road map for persistence. It was my most humble gratitude that I thank you for. From

the bottom of my heart for everything in all that you are. Thank you for your consistency, dear one. And please, please keep coming back. It's been an amazing transformation for me. Every episode resonates with me. Love the conversation. Keep up the great work. And I thank you for the way that my life has been transformed as a result. Thank you for the change to express how

much this show has meant to me. So I want to thank you, Rich, Julie, Adam and the whole team for inspiring me to stay curious and believe in the possible stability and recovery of all kinds. I don't think I could have done it without you. Thanks again. Have a good one. I'm a psychotherapist. I'm an addiction specialist at Kaiser Permanent Days, addiction medicine department in Silicon

Mark, California. Your podcast is totally inspired me. And I use you constantly for a resource to give to my people when I do group and when I do individual therapy. And they absolutely love you. You have just created such a beautiful thing for all of this to happen to. If there were a badge for a ritual podcast, superfan, I would proudly display it because I'd love

your show so much and love sharing it with others. Please never stop posting that word because they make my week every week. Bye. This was a labor of love for my team. It was a labor of love for me. And I'd like to end this episode in a few minutes. I'm going to share with you that spirit in the spirit of gratitude by thanking you for

listening and thanking each and every one of our callers who submitted their stories with such vulnerability, with such ability and grace because it's no easy thing to share your struggles with strangers. And I'm just grateful beyond words for your courage and for your generosity. You have truly put wind in my sails going into the new year. And have strengthened my hope in the goodness of humanity

truly. But most of all, I want to thank you for letting me serve because it is in service that I find purpose that I find meaning and a sense of deep satisfaction that positively infuses every aspect of my daily life experience. I simply cannot overstate the extent to which your experiences humble and humble me, hold me accountable for my own actions, inspire me to do and

be better. And a noble me to soldier on in the face of whatever obstacles I may personally face. Finally, I want to be very clear. I in no way want to take credit whatsoever for anybody's journey, any improvements our callers make to their lives are on them entirely. I just love hearing the stories. It helps me feel. It helps me to be more connected to you.

And it helps to drive a cement on this community bond that I'm trying to foster because giving back is what it means to be part of a community. Thank you for listening. Peace. Plants. Namaste. James Bond grain or