Episodes

⚓️ 🌊 What's it like to spend most of your life at sea—far from land, cities, and normal life—for decades at a time? In this episode, veteran mariner Vernon Adkison takes us inside a world most people never experience: the merchant marine. Over a 56-year career, he worked aboard cargo ships crossing global shipping routes, endured violent storms, lived through long stretches of isolation, and learned how massive ships are actually operated day-to-day. We explore the hidden structure of ship lif...

🚀 🪐 Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina joins me for a fascinating conversation on one of the most ambitious frontiers in science: human hibernation. Could humans one day enter suspended animation to survive long-duration space travel? Could hibernation help us reach Mars? And could the same science transform trauma care, organ preservation, and emergency medicine here on Earth? We explore the biology of torpor, hypometabolism, cryogenics, vitrification, adenosine, metabolism regulation, and space medi...

What can dying children teach us about life, death, parenting, and human connection? Dr. Jared Rubenstein is a pediatric palliative care physician, educator, and medical leader who has spent his career helping children and families navigate serious illness, grief, and end-of-life care with compassion and honesty. In this conversation, we explore what pediatric palliative care really is, the biggest misconceptions surrounding hospice and palliative medicine, how children think about death, and ...

🏇 What is horse racing all about? In this in-depth conversation, former professional jockey Frankie Lovato Jr. breaks down the world of horse racing from the inside — from breeding and training elite racehorses to race strategy, jockey life, the Kentucky Derby, and the Breeders’ Cup. Frankie shares stories from his decades in racing, explains how jockeys think during races, what makes great horses special, and why horse racing becomes a lifelong obsession for so many people in the industry. W...

🏇 Go inside the mind of horse racing legend Patrick "P-Val" Valenzuela. Widely considered one of the most naturally gifted jockeys in history, P-Val joins the podcast for an in-depth conversation about his historic career. He shares the incredible stories behind winning the 1989 Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence, riding the iconic Arazi in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and competing at the highest levels of thoroughbred racing for over six decades. Patrick opens up about race strategy, instinc...

🌊 How do you dive the height of the Statue of Liberty on a single breath? World Champion Polish freediver Maria Bobela reveals how she went from failing her first dive to descending 66 meters into the abyss by mastering the art of "letting go." In this episode, Maria shares her journey from a high-pressure graphic design career to becoming one of the top competitive freedivers in the world. We dive deep into the science of the human body underwater, the "Blue Hole" of Dahab, and why relaxation—...

🐫 I sit down with explorer, author, and adventurer Alice Morrison—often called “The Indiana Jones for Girls.” After leaving her career as a CEO and BBC journalist, Alice completely reinvented her life and went on extraordinary expeditions across Africa and the Middle East. She shares what it was like cycling 8,000 miles from Cairo to Cape Town, being charged by a wild elephant, surviving extreme conditions, walking across Saudi Arabia, living in Morocco, learning Arabic, and why she believes th...

What happens when you stop chasing approval—and start redefining who you are? In this episode of Who’s On My Mind, I sit down with Jen Rulon — 15-time Ironman finisher, former marine animal trainer, TEDx speaker, and now a life coach helping women reinvent themselves in midlife. Jen spent years pushing her limits — completing Ironman races, building a career at SeaWorld, and striving for validation. But it wasn’t until she stepped away from it all in her late 40s that she began to truly under...

This is the extraordinary story of Ignacy Chiger, a Holocaust survivor who hid in a complex sewer labyrinth in Lvov for 14 months, with his family, during Nazi occupation. This deeply moving conversation explores resilience, moral courage, and survival strategies in the face of unimaginable evil. Doron Keren, his grandson, highlights his grandfather's story and the heroism of sewer worker Leopold Socha and the human choices that defined life and death during the Holocaust. We also discuss relat...

🏕️ I sit down with Mark Wienert, founder of Life Song Wilderness Adventures, to explore what wilderness survival really teaches us about ego, fear, purpose, and what it means to be human. Mark spent years in the logging industry before walking away from that life in his 40s to dedicate himself to teaching wilderness survival skills, nature awareness, and tracking. But this conversation goes far beyond fire-making and shelters. We dive into how the wilderness strips away illusions, confronts fea...

What does it take to survive four different armies in World War II as a Jewish man in Europe? In this powerful, emotional conversation, Martin Bodek shares the extraordinary true story of his grandfather—documented in his book Zaidy’s War. Born in Romania, drafted into multiple armies, captured, starved, and forced to make impossible choices, his grandfather’s journey spans four armies, three continents, and one relentless will to live. This is not just a World War II story. It’s a story about...

⚓️ 91-year-old Navy veteran, Jim Paulk, compiler of Shaking Up the World, shares powerful Naval Academy memories, Pearl Harbor recollections, and why preserving veterans’ stories matters for future generations. I sat down with Jim Paulk — a storyteller, Navy veteran, and one of the driving forces behind Shaking Up the World: Stories of the Naval Academy Class of 1957 — to talk about collecting the voices of his classmates, the unexpected turns life took after his Naval academy graduation, and t...

In this inspiring interview, Ken Kunken shares his powerful journey from a life-changing spinal cord injury to becoming a respected attorney, advocate, and devoted family man. At just 20 years old, Ken faced paralysis after a football tackle — but he refused to let it define him. Ken opens up about: Facing the reality of spinal cord injury and overcoming adversity Finding strength through resilience, faith, and family supportHis relentless pursuit of education and a law career Breaking barri...

18 World Records: The Toughest Man You’ve Never Heard Of | Erden Eruc Interview What drives someone to row across oceans, bike across continents, and circle the entire globe by human power? For Erden Eruc, tragedy became the turning point that led to a life of purpose, resilience, and record-breaking adventure. In this powerful conversation, Erden shares how the loss of a climbing partner sparked his pursuit of 18 Guinness World Records, including the first human-powered circumnavigation of th...

From watching a breaching shark as a child to becoming a global voice for ocean conservation, Melissa Cristina Márquez has lived a life shaped by curiosity, courage, and resilience. In this conversation, Melissa shares her journey as a marine biologist: from moving across continents to pursue her dream, to founding The Fins United Initiative, to writing books that inspire the next generation of ocean explorers. She opens up about representation in science, surviving a crocodile bite, and why sh...

✞ What inspires a man to leave a successful corporate career to become a priest? In this inspiring conversation, Father Pat shares his unexpected journey from a corporate career to the priesthood. He reflects on his family background, early influences that shaped his faith, and the calling that led him to leave the corporate world behind. We discuss the daily life of a priest, his responsibilities, challenges, and the deep joys he finds in serving his parish community. Father Pat also addresses...

🚴 Who was The Black Cyclone? The Story of Major Taylor | Interview with Author & Olympian John Howard In this powerful episode of Who’s On My Mind, we explore the extraordinary life of Major Taylor — the first African American world champion cyclist — with John Howard, an accomplished Olympian, coach, and author dedicated to preserving Taylor’s legacy. Major Taylor shattered records and racial barriers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, yet his story remains largely forgotten. John Howa...

🇨🇦💪 From Trauma to Triumph: The Inspiring Story of John Brink In this powerful interview, John Brink shares how he transformed a childhood shaped by war in Holland into a life of success, resilience, and purpose in Canada. From arriving with just $25.47 to becoming a renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the oldest competitive bodybuilder in North America, John's journey is a testament to the human spirit. He opens up about living through WWII, overcoming PTSD and ADHD, building a busines...

David Roskelley | 1st American to Climb the Volcanic 7 Summits In this inspiring conversation, mountaineer David Roskelley, the first American to climb the Volcanic 7 Summits, takes us deep into the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey of mountain climbing. From his first encounters with the mountains to summiting the Volcanic 7 Summits, Dave reflects on how nature, family, and faith have shaped his identity and resilience. Whether you’re an adventurer, seeker of purpose, or someone navi...

How Caroline Fernandez Went from Parenting Blogger to Award-Winning Children’s Author In this conversation, award-winning children’s book author Caroline Fernandez shares her inspiring journey from parenting blogger to publishing over 17 books. She reveals her creative writing process, how she incorporates real women in STEM into her stories, and why she’s passionate about historical fiction for kids. Caroline opens up about her book Plague Thieves, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how s...

What drives a man to sail around the world alone—using only the stars and a sextant? In this soul-stirring conversation, Bert terHart shares the extraordinary story of his solo sailing circumnavigation of the globe and then his solo canoe journey across Canada. But this isn’t just about adventure—it’s about motivation, planning, overcoming fear, and discovering what truly matters. Bert reflects on the lessons of solitude, the importance of having a strong “why,” and how his father’s adventurou...

Laura M. Clark | First Woman to Solo Climb All Colorado 14ers & Top 100 Peaks Meet Laura Clark, a record-breaking solo mountaineer and the first woman to solo climb all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers—and the state’s 100 tallest peaks. In this episode, we explore her incredible journey of resilience, adventure, and personal transformation through the wilderness. From her early days in Girl Scouts to becoming a pioneering woman in mountaineering, Laura shares how the mountains became her sanctuary, her ...

Award-winning sci-fi author Steve Bellinger shares his incredible journey from a curious Chicago kid to publishing his first book at 65. He explores the power of storytelling, thoughts on time travel, and how science fiction shapes our world. Bellinger also reflects on his work in radio drama, the evolution of technology, and the role of creativity. Join us for a fascinating conversation about storytelling, innovation, and the power of imagination. Steve's website: https://stevebellinger.com/ ...

I sit down with my mom, Elva Farias, to capture some of her memories, insights, and stories. We discuss her childhood, her years as a teacher, life experiences, and her enduring love for my dad. She shares the lessons she’s learned, the values she holds dear, and advice she hopes to pass down to her grandchildren.