Run Your Life Show With Andy Vasily

Today’s conversation is with Daniel Carcillo, two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks, and ten-year veteran of the NHL. Daniel also played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, and one season with the New York Rangers throughout his career. Having had 4 Stanley Cup appearances over the last few years of his professional playing career, Daniel brings so much insight and wisdom into today’s discussion with me.

From the highs of being an athlete at the top of his game to the lows of debilitating injuries that required multiple surgeries that ultimately resulted in a opioid addiction, he has seen and experienced it all and shares many gems of insight in this conversation.

It’s clear that Daniel knows what it takes to be the best he can be when it comes to pursuing true passions in life, both personally and professionally. Despite having an amazing career that spanned ten years and two Stanley Cups over the course of 429 games and 164 fights in the NHL, Daniel is more defined by the human he is.

He has done so much internal work to better understand his past trauma in order to live with much more authenticity, courage, resilience and purpose in his life. As a result, he continues to have such a positive impact on those who are lucky enough to come across his path.

In our conversation today we cover the following themes:

• Early days in Daniel’s life and the strengths he developed that went on to serve him so well as an athlete and entrepreneur
• The power of our internal voice and how to navigate it in ways that helps to bring out our best in life
• The importance of having a mindfulness practice to help combat tough emotions brought on by past trauma
• The power of vulnerability as a tool for being as honest as possible about our experiences, needs, and wants in life
• How to maintain motivation and purpose regardless of our pursuits

After his playing days, Daniel began to suffer from mild-like dementia symptoms brought on by the many concussions he sustained while playing in the NHL. He knows all too well the physical and emotional toll that can accompany these injuries. Since retiring, Daniel has devoted his life to sharing his experiences, insights, and the transformative impact of emerging therapies, as well ancient and natural medicines in regaining brain health and quality of life.

This conversation with Daniel was a special one that I hope you find value in. Please share it with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Hope you enjoy it!!

Connect With Daniel Carcillo
Website
'X' Formerly Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

The podcast you are going to hear today is with Sharon Salzberg. She has been a true pioneer in the realms of meditation and mindfulness for more than four decades now. Sharon's influence has been pivotal in bringing these practices to the forefront of Western consciousness as far back as the early 1970s.

As a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and a New York Times best-selling author, Sharon's wisdom resonates deeply with audiences worldwide because she makes meditation and mindfulness so much easier to understand and apply in people’s lives.

In today’s conversation we unpack the themes of trauma, mindfulness, loving kindness, compassion and the importance of staying aligned to the core values that drive us in life. Although Sharon has written 12 books, it’s 3 of those 12 that we dive into the most in today’s conversation:

• Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience which was a deeply meaningful endeavor putting that book together as it was the first time she shared her true life story and the struggles she had to overcome in her life and how meditation and mindfulness allowed her to do so.
• As well we explore the theme of loving kindness and compassion which she wrote about in her 1995 book Loving Kindness, the Revolutionary Art of Happiness
• We finish off today’s podcast talking about her latest book called Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom which she published a year ago in April 2023 and what it is she hopes audiences world wide will takeaway from reading this book.

It was a genuine honor to have Sharon join me on the podcast. Her gentle, calm, and compassionate demeanor immediately shines through in our conversation, offering profound insights and life lessons drawn from her journey.

As you listen, I hope you'll discover as much value as I did in our discussion. I encourage you to also explore Sharon's books, including her latest release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom.

Connect with Sharon:
Website
Insight Meditation Society
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn

As well, you can find all Sharon's books here

Thanks for sharing my Run Your Life podcast with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening.

Thanks for sharing my Run Your Life podcast with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening.

My conversation today is with Dr. Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). Jim is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards.

He’s also authored several books including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021).

What I appreciate about Jim is the thoughtful way that he shares his learning. He’s been on my podcast several times, and our conversations are not just about me asking questions and him sharing his knowledge. Jim is very authentic and genuine in the way he shares and he doesn’t ever imply that he has the so called ‘right’ answers but rather remains very curious and centered on what might be rather than what is absolute.

In today’s episode we explore themes of:

• Learning to better know self in order to best show up for those who we coach and lead
• We also dive into strategies that help to promote and facilitate peer coaching in organizations
• The impact for culture on coaching conversations
• Knowing the importance of taking a flexible approach when coaching others….

When I reflect on my friendship with Jim and who he really is…. this quote comes to mind:

"A meaningful life is not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It’s about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others."

To me this is who Jim is, so generous with his time and very real. He’s a humble person who always strives to learn and grow and in the process change the lives of so many leaders and educators that are so lucky to work with him.

You can find out where to connect with Jim in the show notes of today’s episode. If you haven’t connected with him, I highly recommend doing so and signing up for any training that you can.

I hope you find value in today’s discussion with Jim Knight Please share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Thank you!

Connect With Jim:
Twitter
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook

Jim's books can be found here.

As I pay all expenses on my own for all costs associated with my Run Your Life Podcast, I would appreciate any support by sharing these episodes with people in your own network and even leaving my podcast a review on ITunes. It would be very much appreciated. Thank to all my listeners over the years for their support with this podcast.

My guest today is the brilliant and inspiring Ila Edgar, a leadership development coach and trust-builder for organizations and businesses. Ila's story is a testament to the resilience we all require when challenged by life’s mental and emotional obstacles. She deeply believes that who we are is how we lead and that being great leaders starts with us. It also requires honesty, looking inside of ourselves and committing to making real changes in our lives.

In our conversation today, we talk about early days in her life, the strengths she developed and the challenges she had to overcome that ultimately led her on to the path of leadership coaching. In addition to this, we also cover the themes of resilience, self-compassion, knowing our own boundaries, and embracing vulnerability as keys to our own growth and learning.

Most importantly, Ila opens up about serious health struggles she is currently going through and not only what this has taught her about herself, but how it has helped to shape her journey as a wife, mother and coach. As you listen to this episode today, you will see that there is no doubt that Ila is meant to do the work she is doing to serve the world.

She is one of a kind and I feel so very fortunate to have had this time with her on the podcast. This was a really touching episode for me. I hope you find the same value in it as I did. Thanks for listening and please connect with Ila and let her know what you learned from our discussion. She would love to hear from you.

Connect With Ila:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Trust on Purpose Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Special Credit to Patrick Watson for his beautiful song To Build a Home
You can purchase Patrick's music here.

As well, Patrick's YouTube channel can be found here

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

Today’s episode was recorded in the studio of American Community School of Amman in Jordan which is located on the boarders of Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Palestine.

A big shoutout and very special thanks to my inspirational friend Mo Hourani and his team at the American Community School of Amman for hosting the Compassion Summit, an event devoted to promoting peace.

What ACS in Jordan believes is that "When there is no compassion there can be no peace, and that when we know compassion, we then might know peace."

I was honored to have been invited to be a keynote speaker alongside 2 inspiringly, compassionate humans doing amazing work to make a difference in the world in their own unique ways, Kathy Kelly and LeeAnne Lavender.

This chat covers a lot of ground, but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring.

Kathy will share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by two students at the school here in Jordan. Special thanks to Dunia and Faye for taking the time to record this song and share it with me. You are brilliant humans and ACSA is lucky to have you both as their students.

Kathy is an international peace activist from the United States. She is an author and one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and is currently a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. As part of peace teamwork in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq twenty-six times, notably remaining in combat zones during the early days of both U.S.-Iraq wars. Her recent travel has focused on Afghanistan and Gaza, along with domestic protests against U.S. drone policy. She has been arrested more than 60 times at home and abroad, and has written of her experiences among targets of U.S. military bombardment and inmates of U.S. prisons.

LeeAnne cares a lot about compassion, storytelling and service. She is a storyteller and poet, as well as a coach and facilitator for international educators; she spends a lot of time exploring the power of stories to connect people in ways that promote peace, empathy and kindness. She’s committed to helping educators and students build changemaker/changeseeker cultures so we can all engage in positive, purposeful action. You can learn more about LeeAnne at https://www.leeannelavender.com/

This conversation covers a lot of ground but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring.

Kathy will also share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by Dunia and Faye who are both students at ACSA. Hope you enjoy this podcast.

Connect With Kathy and LeeAnne

Kathy Kelly
Twiiter
LinkedIn
Website

LeeAnne Lavender
Twitter
LinkedIn

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

In today's episode, I sit down with Jean-Paul Circelli, head football coach at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. This episode is a special one for me as I once played 5 seasons on this football team back in the 1990’s as a quarterback and punter. It was through this experience that I not only developed myself as a student athlete, but was also able to build a supportive network of close friends that stands strongly to this day.

Jean-Paul and his dedicated coaching team have been instrumental in the Lancer football team's resurgence, emphasizing a holistic approach to player development. Beyond wins and losses, they focus on nurturing personal excellence and character growth in their student-athletes help best prepare them for life after football one day.

In a world where young athletes face mounting pressures exacerbated by social media and academic demands, in our conversation, Jean-Paul offers insights into addressing the mental health crisis that is currently plaguing many young athletes. Through fostering vulnerability, learning from failure, and deepening connection, he cultivates a supportive environment where his athletes and fellow coaches can thrive.

We also explore the importance of feedback, highlighting Jean-Paul's approach to constructive criticism and the growth-oriented coaching framework that he and his fellow coaches embrace.

Whether you're a leader in business, a parent, or simply striving for excellence in your pursuits, this episode offers invaluable lessons applicable to any journey of personal growth, development and achievement.

Tune in as we uncover wisdom and learning that transcends the field of play. Please share this episode with anyone you know who may be seeking inspiration and guidance on finding their own path to excellence. Thank you.

Connect with Coach Jean-Paul
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
University of Windsor Football Team Website

References for this episode:
Dr. Martin Seligman: Positive Psychology
Brene Brown
Simon Sinek
Charles Feltman: Thin Book of Trust
15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership Book

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

How many times have you asked yourself, “what’s my purpose”? If you’re like most of us, probably too many times to count. As we get older, the question seems to get a little louder. Today’s guests on the Run Your Life Podcast are just the dynamic duo you need to provide you with proactive, intentional tools to help you along that journey. Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar are both executive and leadership coaches offering a distinctive twist on finding your purpose and creating meaning in your personal and professional life. They achieve this through Charles’ trademarked model described in his book, The Thin Book of Trust and their growing podcast, Trust on Purpose.

In today’s episode, expect to hear many things that are sure to provide you with a fresh perspective that you probably haven’t considered before. This fresh perspective allows you to look at your current situation differently and thus move you in the right direction. Both readily admit they don’t have all the answers and they are by no means perfect. They are human just like the rest of us. What they have is experience, expertise, empathy, and the courage to confront!

Mind shifting truths to listen for in today’s episode:
1. Trust is foundational
When your team or family is built upon trust, you will outperform your wildest dreams and performance objectives.
2. Boundaries and self-expression are okay
Many of us learn from our families of origin to suppress feelings, not express our needs, or not set boundaries. Charles and Ila help us realize that all of this is okay and is vital in establishing trust in our homes and workplaces.
3. Life knocks
When we fail to do what’s mentioned above, it can have damaging repercussions later in life. Learn how to develop resiliency and better manage adversity when it occurs.
4. WAIT
“Why Am I Talking?” We all have heard that the “good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason”. However, using Charles’ WAIT model is the master’s level for listening.
5. You DO have a choice
Oftentimes in life we tell ourselves we don’t have a choice. Charles fundamentally disagrees and believes you can unleash incredible personal power by simply recognizing that you always have a choice.
6. Perception is reality. But is it really?
Ila stresses that we need to withhold our personal judgements when we interact with our world. Or examine why we are judging and how we got there. Many times, it’s not what people are doing to us, it’s simply how they are behaving that is worth exploring more.
7. Who we are is how we lead
Self-awareness and authenticity are keys to great leadership. We as humans, all bring our own unique life experiences to everything we do. Those who excel as leaders recognize this and invest great amounts of time and effort in better understanding that so they can maximize their own effectiveness as well as the effectiveness of those around them.

Find more at LinkedIn:
Charles Feltman
Ida Edgar

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

Today's episode features one of the greatest, most respected, and beloved commentators in Canadian sport broadcast history, Mr. Rod Black. As soon as you hear Rod’s voice, you will know immediately that he was destined for a career in broadcasting.

Sportsnet president Scott Moore met with and told all the on-air talent, “You don’t have to be a jerk to be a star. Just look at Rod Black.”

One of Rod’s favorite quotes is something his father used to tell him often. He would tell Rod, “If you find a job you love, you’ll never work another day in your life”. Rod took that to heart and dropped out of college at the age of 19 to pursue his career in broadcasting and the rest, as they say, is history.

More than 40 years later, Rod has reached the pinnacle of his profession and continues to fearlessly reinvent himself. In this episode, Rod shares pearls of wisdom he
has collected along his journey that have helped him in both his professional and personal life. Rod’s enthusiasm and endless supply of positivity and energy are sure to inspire you to greatness.

Some themes covered in this podcast include:

1. Community: Many people throughout Rod’s personal and professional life provided him with “nudges” to discover and pursue his life’s purpose. He is a firm believer in the need to have the right people around you.
2. Resilience: You need to treat your lowest bottom as a trampoline and let it propel you to get back up and continue to move forward.
3. Inner Voice: Pay attention to it. Whereas many people have a negative inner voice, Rod provides insight on how to foster a positive inner voice. Trust your own script.
4. Acronyms for success: ABC, ICE, WIN, BED: Probably the foundation of Rod’s personal belief system and something he learned very early from a coach. Listen for them in the podcast and write them down and keep them where you can see them every day.
5. Feedback: Be willing to seek and accept criticism and feedback.
6. Patterns: Your life is full of patterns. Invest the time to study, learn, and act based on what you learn from them.
7. Service: Play it forward! Live a life of service to others. You may not have money to donate but there are many ways to invest in the lives of others.

Connect With Rod:
Twitter
Instagram

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

In today’s episode, Andy connects with former professional baseball player and current Toronto Blue Jays’ TV analyst and commentator Joe Siddall.

A quote that comes to mind with this episode is this:

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”

This quote attributed to Michaelangelo in reference to one of his sculptures. However, it also applies to Joe Siddall. He is a walking monument to what it means to have an attitude of gratitude. So much so that his daughter MacKenzie created her own brand to encourage the practice of 'gratitude' in order to help others live up to their potential.

One of the special things that Joe demonstrates for us is that many of his core beliefs and codes of conduct are actually well-established mindfulness and optimal performance concepts that each of us has inside of us. We just need to learn to look for them. And just like Michaelangelo, if we can simply continue to carve until we set our own talents free, we, too, can create a life that is a beautiful work of art.

As you listen to this podcast, see how many of Joe’s “Kevinism’s” come through. These “Kevinism’s” are the inspiration behind many of Joe’s expressed beliefs. You’ll learn why from the interview and will definitely want to hear it from Joe himself.

Some of the concepts and themes Joe has practiced and lived himself are listed below. You are sure to hear others as you listen to this interview with Andy.

1. Live life with an attitude of gratitude
2. Keep moving forward
3. We have to take action to realize the opportunities we are given
4. Be adaptable
5. Be present
6. Competence leads to confidence which leads to performance
7. You can quiet your inner critic
8. Lean on others for support and guidance

Joe has a professional baseball career that spans 13 years playing in the big leagues for three teams; the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins and the Detroit Tigers.

Known as a defensive specialist, his skills were excellent and this is the one of the main reasons why he was able to rise the ranks he did in professional sport. This episode is about so much more than his playing days as a professional athlete, but more so how one lives a life rooted in the things that matter most. Through love, life, death and grief, Joe and his family have learned that gratitude and appreciation are the keys to finding meaning and purpose in this one life that we are offered. Hoping you find some takeaway value in this discussion with the inspiring Joe Siddall.

Connect With Joe
Twitter

Check out Joe's daughter Mackenzie's "Attitude with Gratitude' website.

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.

“Does that own me, or do I own it?” In today’s episode, Andy is talking with Herb Thompson, retired Army Green Beret. And they cover a lot of ground. Herb has had the deck stacked against him many times throughout his life. Any one of them could have easily overtaken him and changed the trajectory of his life. However, that very quote at the beginning has allowed him to keep things in perspective and keep them in order.

Herb grew up living a life of poverty in a trailer park. However, instead of allowing his humble beginnings to keep him down, he used it to drive him. He saw many people living around him in the trailer park who had given up and were living defeated lives. When thinking back about those days, Herb sees examples of his core value of positivity throughout.

Another mantra he adopted during his special forces training was to “keep stepping, one more step, one more step.” He has applied that to his daily life and shares what it means with Andy.

Herb has written a book to help military men and women successfully transfer out of the military and into civilian life. It’s called the Transition Mission: A Green Beret’s approach to transition from military service. After spending 20 years in the military, Herb found himself at another one of those crossroads. He joined the military at 17 and it’s the only job he ever had. What do I do now? How do I get a civilian job? For that matter, what job am I qualified to get? How do I find my calling into a new career. As you might imagine, Herb’s advice and mantra is “Own your journey!”

He relied on the skills he learned in the Army and applied them to help him in his career transition. The first thing he did was to get an MBA from Cornell. He knew he was lacking the business language and experience, so he kept taking one more step, one more step. He also intentionally engaged in informational interviews with people in many different professions so he could get a better understanding of those careers. It really served two purposes. First, he learned a lot about business and careers. Second, he met a lot of people. He built an amazing network that has served him well in many ways.

Herb admits that his life is as fulfilling today in his new ventures as he was in the military. The last thing I’ll encourage you to listen for in the interview is Herb’s strong sense of who he is. He knows that if he is happy with himself, he’ll be able to help those around him and make them happy as well. Herb is constantly reminded of this concept by his 18-year-old son. When Herb mentions him in the interview, you can almost hear him smiling. His son has Aspergers and marches to the beat of his own drum and Herb couldn’t be prouder. He presents his true, authentic, vulnerable self to the world and if you like him. Great. And if you don’t like him? That’s okay too.

You can’t make everyone happy, so you might as well make yourself happy. Good advice from Herb. Hope you find value in this discussion. Please share with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Thanks!

Connect With Herb
LinkedIn
Website

Find Herb's book here
Read about Herb's harrowing combat experience here

Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.