All The Wiser

If you follow the sport of tennis at all, you know the name Mardy Fish. He rose to prominence in the early 2000's and became the #1 American tennis player in the ATP rankings and #7 in the world. What you may not know about Mardy Fish is that during a career defining match at the US Open against Roger Federer, in front of 25,000 people and with millions watching on TV, he walked off the court, withdrew from the match and simply vanished. It wasn't until many months later than Marty courageously revealed that he had suffered from a severe anxiety attack on the court, and was privately struggling to function in his daily life. Without a model to turn to for how to manage as an athlete with an anxiety disorder, he had to become the example he never found, and in doing so has inspired men and women all over the world to live a full and successful life in spite of mental illness. Benefiting the Mardy Fish Children's FoundationAre you following us yet on social? Find us on Instagram and Facebook @allthe

Paula Stone Williams knew from a young age that she was transgender, but as a leader in a conservative evangelical religious community, then Paul, avoided transitioning at all costs. Paul's son, Jonathan, followed in his father's footsteps and began a career in ministry, creating a new church under the same organization. Three months into his new job, Paul sat Jonathan down and told him that he was transitioning to a woman. The community backlash was instant, members exited in mass and funding disappeared. But through the reckoning, they forged a new relationship with their faith, each other, and birthed two inclusive churches publicly and intentionally welcoming the LGBTQIA community.Benefiting Left Hand Church and Forefront Brooklyn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kimi shares some of the most memorable moments from our guests this year, why we decided to take a short break for the month of December and our intentions for the 2019 holiday season. Thank you, dear listeners, for all the incredible feedback you've given us about the show since we launched in April. We wouldn't be here without you and we are grateful for every moment of it! Happy Holidays to you and yours. See you in the new year!Are you following us yet on social? Find us on Instagram and Facebook @allthewiserpodcast. We're also on Twitter at @allthewiserpodYou can also email us at hello@allthewiserpodcast.comWe love hearing from you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tracy Walder left behind a childhood of bullying and headed to USC where she studied history and held leadership positions in her sorority. When a recruiter from the CIA invited her for an interview her junior year, the "up-for-anything" bubbly blond jumped at the opportunity. Little did she know a year later, she would be placed in the counter-terrorism center in the weapons of mass destruction unit and regularly attending meetings with President Bush and the head of the CIA George Tenet. She departed for the middle east and by the age of 25 had already learned how to tail people, interrogate suicide bombers and gather life saving intelligence, all while witnessing death and destruction up close. Her career continued to take her to unexpected places where she was challenged at every level. Her message to girls everywhere: don't try to change who you are to fit what you think the job wants you to be.Episode benefiting Girl Security https://www.girlsecurity.org/Are you following us yet on social? F

Ed Gavigan was walking home one night from the bar where he worked in Manhattan when he was jumped by three kids and stabbed six times in the back, side and neck. Doctors gave him a 2% chance to live. In the hospital he learned that the three kids were gang members looking for someone to kill as part of an initiation for moving up in the gang, and Ed was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But what’s even more remarkable than Ed surviving such a brutal attack is that he forgave his attackers and discovered - against a backdrop of debilitating depression and PTSD - a capacity for empathy he had never known.Episode benefits Legacy of War https://www.legacyofwarfoundation.com/Are you following us yet on social? Find us on Instagram and Facebook @allthewiserpodcast. We're also on Twitter at @allthewiserpodWe love hearing from you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/

In his 20’s Khalil Rafati left his small town with a dream of moving to Los Angeles and becoming famous. But by the time he was 33 he found himself living on LA’s notorious skid row, 109 lbs., homeless, and fueling a daily heroin and cocaine addiction. Today, at 49, Khalil is now a wildly successful entrepreneur and the face of his wellness brand, Sunlife Organics. What is it like to beg for money? Why did he finally get sober after 9 overdoses? The Khalil you will meet today has incredible wisdom and life lessons to share about addiction, the underbelly of recovery, hope and the power of kindness. Benefiting the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Indiahttps://www.tashilhunpo.org/Are you following us yet on social? Find us on Instagram and Facebook @allthewiserpodcast. We're also on Twitter at @allthewiserpodHow are you enjoying the podcast so far? Email us at hello@allthewiserpodcast.com We love hearing from you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.co

Cassie McKee is Kimi's cousin and one of the people Kimi looks up to most in her life (and not just because Cassie is a world class bedazzler). Cassie has a form of dwarfism called Achondroplasia, which her husband and kids have as well. In this episode, she opens up to Kimi about what it's like living as a family of little people in an average sized world, genetics, parenting, and why she has made it her mission to meet strangers' curiosity about her and her family with open, honest dialogue and a warm, friendly smile.  Are you following us yet on social? Find us on Instagram and Facebook @allthewiserpodcast. We're also on Twitter at @allthewiserpodHave an incredible story that we MUST hear? Email us at hello@allthewiserpodcast.comWe love hearing from you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jake Olson was born with cancer in his left eye and by the age of twelve he was told that his right eye would also need to be removed leaving him completely blind. His last wish of sight was to watch his beloved USC Trojans play football one last time. Few would imagine that years later Jake would become a Division 1 football player himself after being asked to join the Trojans team as a long snapper. Today, he talks about coming of age as a blind boy, how life isn’t fair, that there is always something to be grateful for, and that no matter what you can find a way to do the things you love. Benefiting Out of Sight Faith Foundation See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aaron Stark grew up in a violently abusive and drug fueled home. By the age of 16 he was overweight, depressed, suicidal, and the victim of endless bullying. His plan was to unleash his pain by becoming a mass shooter, killing dozens and then himself. Now a 40-year-old father and husband, he shares the act that saved his life and countless others that day, and why we have to give love to the people we think deserve it the least because they need it the most. Benefiting Samaritan House Denver https://samhousedenver.org/Follow us on social media on Instagram or Facebook @allthewiserpodcast or on Twitter @allthewiserpodHave some feedback or a story you'd like to share? Send us an email at hello@allthewiserpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

25-year-old David Byrd was stand-up paddle boarding with his dad on a family vacation in Hawaii when he was brutally attacked by a 12-foot shark and left an amputee.  He spent months undergoing countless reconstructive surgeries. It's been over a year since the accident and for the first time David is speaking publicly about his memories of the attack, the conversation he had with his dad in the water that day, why he wasn't afraid of dying, and how he considers himself to be incredibly lucky. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

At 31, Nora McInerny was happily married to a man named Aaron, with a toddler named Ralph and a career in advertising. But in 2014, over the span of 6 weeks, she miscarried her second child, lost her father to cancer and then her husband Aaron to a brain tumor. In this episode, Nora shares, with her trademark honesty and humor, how our Western culture has woefully unprepared us to talk about death, and what to do when someone you know is going through something really, really terrible.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sergeant Kevin Briggs is known by many as the “Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge.” An army veteran with no formal suicide prevention training, Kevin Briggs dissuaded more than 200 people from jumping off the bridge over his 23 years with the California Highway Patrol. With a gentle voice and compassionate lens on the world, Kevin shares his experiences working with people who are in tremendous pain and how his innate ability of “listening to understand” has been his greatest tool in encouraging people to come back over the rail onto solid ground. Retired, Briggs is now dedicating his life to promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention across the globe.Benefitting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our very own host, Kimi Culp, is interviewed by her friend and former Good Morning America colleague, Holly Gordon about a secret Kimi has kept for over twenty years: her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In this revealing and highly personal conversation, Kimi describes how she experiences the highs and lows of a manic episode (while balancing a demanding career in journalism!), and why she decided to finally share her secret on All The Wiser. Benefiting Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gerardo Lopez grew up in gang territory in Los Angeles, CA. At 14, he joined MS-13 a notoriously dangerous international gang. It took 13 seconds for him to be jumped in, but another decade before street crime and juvenile detention centers would be a thing of his past. Today, Gerardo “Clever” Lopez is a gang interventionist and executive director of Homies Unidos, a non-profit that helps at-risk youth avoid making the same mistakes by promoting peace and prevention.    In Today’s Episode: Growing up in “the hood” (04:17)  Locked up. Life in Juvenile Hall (18:29)  The moment Gerardo decides to walk away from his gangster life (22:37) An unexpected helping hand and the power of sharing your story in a room full of strangers. (25:21) Facing 48 years in prison and the day his case was dismissed and a prison guard told him “your free to go.” (35:10)   Wise Words:   “So I ended up getting jumped into the gang, [00:17:30] and when I was getting jumped in the number one thing that I was thinking about, I had alre

Kristen Gray left her job to be a stay at home mom with her two young girls. In 2015, Charlotte (4) and Gwenyth (2) were diagnosed with Batten disease: a fatal disorder that would leave them blind and unable to walk, play or speak. Kristen and her husband were unwilling to accept this fate. With a breathtaking swell of love and support, they raised millions of dollars to fund the first clinical trial and real hope for a cure. Her story is a testament to the power of love (and not taking no for an answer.)   In Today’s Episode: A mother’s intuition and stopping at nothing for answers (3:37) The day her 4 year old daughter, Gwenyth, receives the fatal diagnosis (12:23) The call that her youngest daughter, Charlotte, shares the same diagnosis (15:26) A family In search of life saving treatments and hope (31:03) Charlotte and Gwen’s results after the first ever clinical trial (32:17) A mom on a mission builds a school for her daughter and other families as they search  for some sense of normalcy and moments of j

After decades of preparation, Bob Woodruff was offered his dream job: the anchor chair at ABC World News Tonight. But less than two months later he was hit by a bomb in Iraq, incurred massive head trauma, and spent 36 days in a coma fighting for his life. When he finally woke up, the famous journalist with a photographic memory could no longer remember the names of his four young children. While Bob eventually regained many of his physical and cognitive abilities, his life and career were forever changed. In this candid and life-affirming conversation, Bob shares his perspective on invisible wounds, unexpected gifts and the joy of rediscovered purpose.    In Today’s Episode:   Bob starts his dream job: co anchoring World News Tonight and leaves to report on the war in Iraq (7:40) The moment he was hit by a roadside bomb (12:40) Unaware if he is alive or dead  (13:00) What physically happens to your body and head when you are blasted by a bomb (21:40) Are there any stories worth dying for?  (39:10)  

Part 2 of 2. Mom, wife and artist Michel Varisco, walks us through the day of her husband Steve Gleason's terminal diagnosis, finding out she was pregnant a month later and what it was like to watch a documentary about her life in a packed theater at Sundance Film Festival. She opens up about the pressure of living up to false expectations, the realities of life as a full time caretaker, their decision to have a second child and how her darkest days inspired her work as an artist. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/all-the-wiser/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Former NFL football player Steve Gleason founded a charity, Team Gleason, helped create the largest ALS research project in history, has a congressional medal of honor, a law passed in his name and is the star of a Super Bowl commercial and film about his life. Most importantly, he is a proud father of two kids -- Rivers and Gray. Steve accomplished all of the above and more while unable to walk, talk, eat or breath on his own. Steve shared his story with ALL THE WISER while typing with his eyes. He recorded and banked his vocabulary to preserve his authentic voice which you will hear in his candid interview on finding his purpose, the pitfalls of being called a hero, his insecurities, hope for his children and the things he misses most about his life before ALS.   In Today’s Episode: Being told he will be dead in 2-3 years (3:58) Losing his ability to walk and talk  (5:54) A day in his life 8 years after being told he would not live (10:02) How to live a meaningful life with ALS (13:52) How ALS affects fami

Beloved television producer, Monica Escobedo, survived the unthinkable. For the first time, she shares the details of the day she lost her brother, mother and father in a murder-suicide. Monica courageously shares her story of loss, love, intuition and why she chooses to honor her mentally ill brother in spite of his final act. Her strength, honesty and life perspective will leave you astounded and inspired. In Monica's honor, we are donating $2000 to Give An Hour.   In Today’s Episode: Monica’s premonition and trying to find her mom and dad (5:50) Monica learns that her mother has died (6:35) She is told she has lost her father and brother as well (12:05) Learning her brother had been going to target practice (15:37) Forgiving her brother and his final act (19:18) Wise Words: “If I could advise anyone, trying to counsel a friend going through something. It's say something, even though you don't know what to say, say, “Hey, I'm here for you.” (21:15) “Your life can change in an instant. It

Matt is the co-founder and CEO of Omaze. His company has raised over 130 million dollars for charities by auctioning off once in a lifetime experiences — think a walk-on role in Star Wars or being George Clooney’s date on the Red Carpet! He opens up about what changed everything for him: a near death experience that left him flatlining and in a coma. Matt shares how his mom saved his life, his experience on “the other side” and how he views his relationships and company in an entirely new light. In honor of Matt's story we are donating $2000 to Folds of Honor. IN TODAY’S EPISODE Signs that something was wrong (6:50) Flatlining for 5 minutes and his experience on “the other side” (11:33) The machine and doctors that saved his life (21:43) How his mom’s presence and strength as witnessed her son flatline (27:33) Matt finally has a 2nd date with his now girlfriend in his hospital room (33:09) WISE WORDS They didn't know her son. It was this very spiritual experience for her. She said it was like ...