1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: What is up, guys. Welcome back to Post Run High. 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: Before we get into today's conversation, I just want to 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: take a minute to share why this episode means so 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: much to me and really to this whole series. I've 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: always believed that telling real stories reminds us that we 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: are all human, especially when it comes to resilience. Today's guest, 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: Will Reeve, has been through so much. His dad, Christopher Reeve, 8 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: who many of us remember as Superman, was paralyzed in 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: a horseback riding accident when Will was really young, and 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: by the time Will was thirteen, he had lost both 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: of his parents. But instead of letting that define him, 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: Will has built a life fule of purpose. He's thriving 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: today as a journalist and as an advocate for spinal 14 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: cord injury research. I hope this conversation moves you as 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: much as it moved me, And with that being said, 16 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: let's get into our conversation today with Will Reeve. I'm 17 00:00:50,800 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: so excited, Will Reeve, but welcome to Post Run High. 18 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you for having me. I'm honored to 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: be here. I feel like I'm an esteemed company. You've 20 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: had some big names on this thing, lots of people 21 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: like to run and talk about their lives. 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: I guess you did a great job, Will and I 23 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: just ran one mile through Brooklyn and it was a challenge. 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: We got almost run over by two cars. Yeah, there 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: were at least two people on scooters. There was a 26 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 2: dog not on a leash. Those are the only obstacles. Ever. 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: The conversation was great. 28 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, we definitely hit some obstacles today. I love a 29 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: chaotic grun through New York City. 30 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: I feel like there is is there any other kind? 31 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 3: There is no other kind. 32 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: When's the last time you ran the mariton? 33 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 3: Twenty twenty one? 34 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 2: That's right, I ran it as well. I ran twenty 35 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: sixteen and twenty twenty one. I have run the New 36 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: York City Marathon two times on behalf of my family's foundation, 37 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: the Christopher and Dane Reeve Foundation. We have an arm 38 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: of it called Team Reeve, and we do a lot 39 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: of events like marathons and stuff like that. And we're 40 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: in New York, We've we're in Boston now, London, Marine Corps, Chicago, 41 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,639 Speaker 2: and we raise millions of dollars just by people signing 42 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: up and running on behalf of the refoundation and the 43 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: trade off is we get you a bib in a 44 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: marathon you've always wanted to run. You have to raise 45 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 2: X number of dollars, and people always blow through those goals. 46 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: And I feel like, if I'm going to be asking 47 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: people to donate or to run, I gotta do it 48 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: from time to time. So yeah, I've done it twice. 49 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: And I go through phases where I love running, and 50 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: especially if I'm training for those marathons or half marathons 51 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: that I've run, I get into it, and then as 52 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: soon as I'm done with that, I'm like, I'm good 53 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: on the running, and then I'm off it for a while. 54 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: So I'm right now I'm kind of off it. I 55 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: more like to go to the gym or do yoga 56 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 2: or whatever. 57 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: But I feel like that's a really healthy way to 58 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: be with running. And I always say that to people 59 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: that are that want to, you know, sign up for 60 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: a big race or get into running. 61 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: I'm like, you can. 62 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: You don't have to be one hundred percent all of 63 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: the time with running, Like you can go all in 64 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: for a little bit, train for a raise, complete that 65 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: goal of yours, and then take a little bit of 66 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: a break from it. I feel like that's the healthiest 67 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: way to approach running. 68 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, running is also a subjective act. You can go 69 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: as fast as slow as you want. No one actually cares. 70 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: And my whole thing is like, if you are lucky 71 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: enough to be able to move your body, do it. 72 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 2: That's all. 73 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: I love that we touch on your foundation, and I 74 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: want to get into kind of the reason why behind it, 75 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: And I would love to start off this podcast by 76 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: just telling your story, because guys, it's absolutely incredible and 77 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: I'm so excited for everybody to hear it. You grew 78 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: up in Massachusetts and you were only two years old 79 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: when you're larger than life, dad suffered a life changing injury. 80 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: Can you take us back and tell us maybe some 81 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: of your earliest childhood memories and then just about your 82 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: childhood in general. 83 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: Sure, well, we'll start at the beginning. It was twelve 84 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: thirty seven pm on June seventh, nineteen ninety two. I 85 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: came into this world. So it makes me a Gemini 86 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,839 Speaker 2: for all you people who love the uh what time 87 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: were you born trend? I don't know anything else about 88 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: what that means, but anyway, yes, I was born in Massachusetts. 89 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: My parents had met up there at a theater festival 90 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: in Williamstown, Mass and we bounced around a little bit. 91 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: I ended up living just outside New York City in 92 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: Westchester County, and I had such a great childhood because 93 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 2: I got to run around with my friends, and I 94 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: played sports, and I went to a great school, and 95 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 2: my passions were encouraged, and I felt safe and secure, 96 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: and I was raised with what I think to be 97 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: really good values. And I had incredible role models in 98 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: my parents, Christopher and Dane A Reeve. And yes, my 99 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: dad was injured. He was injured on Memorial Day of 100 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety five, so just before my third birthday, and 101 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: that was a life changing in many ways, could have 102 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: been a life shattering event for all of us. But 103 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: I think my parents were the ultimate examples of courage 104 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 2: and commitment and compassion and resiliency and hope. That was 105 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: how they lived, That was the model they set for me. 106 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: Those are the traits that they instilled in me. And 107 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: we just had a great time. I didn't get to 108 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: necessarily play catch with my dad in the backyard, or 109 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: go on a run with my dad or anything like that, 110 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: but we still had a deep, meaningful bond that has 111 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: sustained me for so long, and the same thing with 112 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: my mom. And I grew up really active and engaged 113 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 2: in sports and in extracurriculars, and I did well enough 114 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 2: in school, and I had friends. I had a great 115 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 2: I have had such a great life, and I'm so 116 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: grateful for everything that has happened in that life, because 117 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: I've had some bad things happen. My dad's injury. Nine 118 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: years later he died. Right after that, my mom ended 119 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: up dying. I've dealt with some stuff, I've endured some tragedy, 120 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: but the good far out way is that bad. I 121 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: have lived an incredible life full of blessings and great fortune, 122 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: and I don't take any of that for granted, just 123 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: as I don't take for granted that I can get 124 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: out and run a mile with you, because I work 125 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: on behalf of a foundation that advocates for people who 126 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: can't do that and would give anything to walk across 127 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 2: a room, let alone run a mile. So I'm living 128 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: a good life, and I have for my whole life. 129 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: I've been very fortunate. 130 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: It's so nice sitting down with you and you're so glass, 131 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: how full, and you're so optimistic, and you're so positive. 132 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 2: It's all I knew. It's all I knew. My parents 133 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 2: just that's that was their currency, hope and optimisms. That's 134 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: all I knew. It was like, you just got to 135 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 2: be committed to what you believe in and if you 136 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: believe Look, I'll say, my dad always said, play the 137 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 2: hand you're delt if you think it's worthwhile. And whatever 138 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: hand I've been dealt, I think has been worth playing. 139 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 2: And optimism is in many ways can be a choice. 140 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 2: And I will say, by the way, thank you for 141 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: saying that I am a glass half full. Thank you 142 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 2: for those compliments. But I can get as negative and 143 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: as pessimistic and as complaining as anyone. Believe me, like 144 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: I can have big time mood swings. But on balance, 145 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 2: like the arc of my life, yes I'm optimistic because 146 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: I know that I'm living by the right values and 147 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: then I've got a great family and sports system and 148 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 2: that goes from work to life to all that stuff. 149 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: Like it's a why not be optimistic? That's my choice. 150 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: For people that aren't familiar with your dad's story, let's 151 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, the injury that he had, and 152 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: then maybe a little bit about who he was prior 153 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: and who he became after, because the after really I 154 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: think cemented his legacy. 155 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: Sure. So, my dad was an avid adventurer in many ways, 156 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: and that included being an expert horseback rider, to the 157 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: point that he entered competitions all over the world doing 158 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: cross country horseback riding. And in May of nineteen ninety five, 159 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: he was in a competition in Virginia. My mom and 160 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: I were there, not at the competition, we were nearby, 161 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 2: and it turned out that at three pm on May 162 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: twenty seventh, nineteen ninety five, my dad fell over the 163 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 2: front of his horse and landed on his head on 164 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: top of the jump that they were going over. And 165 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: if he had landed an inch or so to the left, 166 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: he would have gotten up and walked away. If he 167 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 2: had landed an inch the other way, he could have 168 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 2: been dead instantly. But he landed the way that he did, 169 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: and he was paralyzed from the neck down. He couldn't move, 170 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: he couldn't breathe on his own, and that was international 171 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: news because my dad was known as Superman back in 172 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 2: the late seventies. He was Superman. He was an unknown 173 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 2: actor at that point. I think he was twenty four 174 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 2: ish when he got the role. I think he was 175 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: twenty six when the movie actually came out, young Man 176 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 2: thrust into superstardom, and people thought that he was Superman 177 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: because he was big and strong and handsome and all 178 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: the things that Superman as the character is. That's how 179 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: he was in life too, And so that was the 180 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: tragic irony of it all that Superman now couldn't move. 181 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: But the tragic irony of the of the life away 182 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 2: from the camera was that this active dude who loved 183 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: to ski and run and ride bikes and play pond 184 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: hockey and wrestle with his kids couldn't do any of 185 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 2: that stuff either. So then after he was injured, my 186 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 2: dad became the face of spinal cord injury. He became 187 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 2: an icon of a movement that really didn't have much 188 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 2: movement behind it. At the time. Spinal cord injury and 189 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: disability more broadly were underfunded. There wasn't enough awareness, there 190 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: wasn't enough support, and my dad and my mom daneryve 191 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,199 Speaker 2: changed all of that. My dad used his platform and 192 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: his connections and resources whatever he had to put pressure 193 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 2: on the political community, the scientific community, the medical community 194 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 2: to work to find cures for paralysis, while my mom 195 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: realized there's no handbook for any of this stuff. What 196 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 2: do you do when your husband is suddenly paralyzed and 197 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: you're now in charge of taking care of him and 198 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 2: your child and paying the bills and oh my god, 199 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 2: our house has steps where it needs a ramp. All 200 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 2: these things that you would never consider until you were 201 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: confronted with them in the worst possible moment. So she 202 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: went ahead and made a literal handbook that it's the 203 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: guide now. It was the genesis of what is now 204 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 2: called the Paralysis Resource Center, where we can help people 205 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: all around the country, all around the world deal with 206 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 2: their new reality in those most crucial moments that twenty 207 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 2: four to forty eight hours after the injury, we're in 208 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 2: every hospital and rehabacility around the country. And it's thanks 209 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: to my parents. And that's a very long answer, but 210 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: that was the breadth of their life in a lot 211 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 2: of ways. But there's more to them as well. 212 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: I feel like it's such a good example of what 213 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: resilience looks like. We can't touch on Chris Reeve's story 214 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: right without mentioning data, So let's talk about resilience and 215 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: like what resilience means to you. 216 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 2: That's a great question, what does resilience mean to me? 217 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 2: I will tell you that resilience is an essential tool 218 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: in the human toolkit. I think that humans, by nature 219 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: are resilient, and the more you can tap into your 220 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 2: own resiliency, the better you will be. You are equipped 221 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 2: to handle far more than you think. And I don't 222 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: wish anyone to be in a situation where their resiliency 223 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: necessarily has to be tested. But we know part of 224 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: the deal of being alive on this earth is that 225 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: you're going to face hard times and it's how you 226 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: respond to those hard times that defines who you are 227 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: and how you'll be remembered. And my parents are remembered 228 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 2: as heroes because of their resiliency. And I'm not talking 229 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: about the millions of people who think of my parents 230 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: as heroes, though they do. They're my heroes because of 231 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 2: how they responded to all of the challenges that life 232 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: presented them. They set such a model for me to 233 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 2: live my life. And I'm not saying that I'm some 234 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 2: resilient hero who always has the correct response to adversity. Whine, 235 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 2: I complain, I avoid, I deflect, I bargain, I do 236 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 2: all the stuff that isn't resilient and is in fact 237 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 2: more human like avoiding the pain. But on balance, I 238 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 2: think that resilience means facing these challenges that you inevitably 239 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 2: and invariably are presented with and giving it everything. 240 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: You have so impressive, and you're incredibly humble because you 241 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: are so resilient, and I just I can't even imagine 242 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: what you went through losing not only one of your parents, 243 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: but both of your parents so close to one another. 244 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: I mean, it's horrible. You've obviously gone on, You've lived 245 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: this incredible career. You're creating an incredible legacy for yourself, 246 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: you know when you of course have these incredible values 247 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: that you've learned from your parents and you embody them. 248 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: And everybody listening to this interview can see that when 249 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: you went through this at such a young age, what 250 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: kept you so motivated. 251 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: I was raised in a household where doing well in 252 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: school was non negotiable, So I don't actually know if 253 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 2: I was that motivated generally. I don't know if I 254 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: was the hardest worker. I just that was a thing 255 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 2: you had to do. You had to do well in school, 256 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: You had to do whatever you did, you had to 257 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: do well. Right, and failure was allowed, and experimentation was 258 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 2: encouraged in my household growing up like there was no 259 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 2: I never felt in the short time I had of 260 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 2: my parents, or after any undue expectations externally from anyone 261 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: saying you have to be this, that or the other. 262 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 2: But there were standards that had to be met academically, 263 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: standards that had to be met in the way of 264 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 2: how you treat other people, how you treat yourself, And 265 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 2: any time that I've not met those standards, I am 266 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 2: my own harshest critic. But I also know that I 267 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: have this amazing group of people in my life and 268 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: I always have who will hold me to account or 269 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 2: not let me get off the tracks and keep moving forward. 270 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 2: And I also know that I am trying my best 271 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 2: to honor my parents' legacy by being the person that 272 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 2: they would want me to be. And I don't judge 273 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 2: my daily life by the rubric of what I think 274 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: my parents would think of one decision or the other. 275 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 2: But on balance, I do try to uphold the values 276 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 2: that I know they instilled in me, and I guess 277 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: that's my motivation, but I don't think of it. It's 278 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 2: not It's not a conscious motivation. It's just sort of 279 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 2: the setting that I've been tuned to. I guess. 280 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: When your parents passed away, who became the parental figure 281 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: for you? 282 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: I was adopted by a very close family friend of ours. Like, 283 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 2: my life stayed about as as normal as it could 284 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 2: have given the circumstances. And I have I'm close with, 285 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: you know, my extended family and my half brother and sister, 286 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: Matthew and Alexander, who there's no half like. We share 287 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 2: a dad and not a mom, but we're as tight 288 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: as anyone could ever be. I've had them forever, and 289 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: their families have grown, and so my family has grown. 290 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: I've now got this amazing fiance of mine, Amanda, and 291 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: her family who are just so wonderful. So I've had 292 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: this growing but still very tight circle of support throughout 293 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 2: my life, and that's been if anything's made all the difference, 294 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: it's been the people I've been around, and that extends 295 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 2: to at work. The people who have supported me, believed 296 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 2: in me, encouraged me, taught me my social circle, my family, like, 297 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 2: I try my best to be around people who know 298 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 2: me for me and motivate me, because I'm actually not 299 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 2: that self motivated okay, Like that's why I sign up 300 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 2: for marathons. 301 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 3: Let's talk about that. 302 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 2: I'm not okay. 303 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: I'm shocked by that. 304 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 2: I am. I am driven, and I am ambitious, and 305 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: I am purposeful, and I have a plan long term 306 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: and short term. Like I'm very I'm committed to the 307 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 2: to the cause, whatever it is. But I'm lazy. So 308 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 2: that's why I need external motivators. I need to set 309 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 2: goals to reach, which might that might sound like it 310 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 2: is in itself self motivated, but to me, it's like 311 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 2: I signed up for the first marathon that I ran 312 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: in twenty sixteen because I was feeling like I was 313 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: not I wasn't accomplishing anything. I felt like I wasn't 314 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 2: doing anything. I was in my early to mid twenties. 315 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 2: I was like, I need to do something, so I'll 316 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: sign up for a marathon, like at least there's that, 317 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: and that will get me running because I was not 318 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 2: a runner, so like, at least that'll get me running. 319 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 2: And then I ended up loving it. And then I 320 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 2: came back and I was like, I want to do 321 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 2: it again, but I want to raise double the money 322 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: that I raised for the Refoundation the first time. The 323 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 2: second time, and that was my external motivator to like 324 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: really keep going, like do it run a better time. 325 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 2: I go to the gym or get exercise every day 326 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: because I know that I have to for my mental 327 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 2: and physical health, not because which I. 328 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: But you're describing all of the things I'm self motivated. 329 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 3: Yes it does, but I. 330 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 2: Want to do it for other people like I want 331 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 2: to I will. 332 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: Okay, listen, I get it, Like, okay, So I'm curious here. 333 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: This is kind of a different direction too, is all right? 334 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: So I feel like, you know, we talked the importance 335 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: of like having you know, people in. 336 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 3: Your life that you love, trust, support you, lift you up. 337 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 2: I don't want to let them down. 338 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 3: You don't want to let them down. 339 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: For me, it's so important to having like a supportive 340 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: partner in my life. And my fiance is literally my 341 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: rock through every single thing that I go through. Congratulations 342 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: on getting engaged. 343 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 2: Thank you. 344 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: What would you say are the qualities about Amanda that 345 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: like really compliment you and help you stay self motivated? 346 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 2: You know? Oh gosh, Oh she's just so great. She's 347 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 2: so awesome. She's she is so kind and compassionate. She 348 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 2: is an amazing friend. Above all else. She sees everybody 349 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 2: who for who they are, but she also sees their potential, 350 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 2: and she believes in people, and she helps people get 351 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: to where she knows they can be. And I know 352 00:17:53,960 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: that certainly she makes me want to be better in 353 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 2: some way for her at all times. Not that she's 354 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: holding me to some standard, not that she's dictating anything, 355 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 2: but I just I love her so much and I'm 356 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 2: so I admire her so much that I want to 357 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: do everything in my power for her to make our 358 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 2: life together better, to make her life easier and better, 359 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 2: to hopefully one day grow a beautiful family that has 360 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: the same values that we both have, because we both 361 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,719 Speaker 2: come from really strong family units, and that's really family 362 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 2: is so central to each of us. She's so compassionate 363 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 2: and really fun, just like a great hang And if 364 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 2: you put all of those things together on package, it 365 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 2: sounds like it would be over stuff, but no, it all, 366 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 2: it all exists in Amanda, and I think I just 367 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: I like, right right now, while we're having this conversation, 368 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,239 Speaker 2: she's out of town working, and I'm very sad about that. 369 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 2: I want to leave here and go home and talk 370 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 2: about how I did on this Podcas because she watches 371 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 2: she before before I actually was I knew I was 372 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 2: coming on here, but I hadn't yet told Amanda, and 373 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: she shows me like, you should do this. It showed 374 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 2: up on whether it was her TikTok or her Instagram 375 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 2: or something. She's like, you should do this, like running show. 376 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 2: I'm like, I actually just got asked to do it. 377 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 2: So she's a fan. Well, I don't know, not enough 378 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 2: time in the day to talk about all the ways 379 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 2: that Amanda motivates me to be a better version of 380 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 2: myself because I want to be great for her and 381 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 2: for our family one day. 382 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 3: I love that. 383 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you are self motivated. So that was like 384 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: a long circle. But you are self motivating. 385 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 2: Apreciate that. But it's really like, I don't want to 386 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 2: let people down. I'm the ultimate people pleaser. So it's 387 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 2: like that's kind of why I don't think of it 388 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 2: as self motivation, because I'm like, I know a lot 389 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 2: of people believe in me. I gotta make sure their 390 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 2: bets pay off. That's kind of the difference in my mind. 391 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: I congratulated you on this before we started, but I 392 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: watched your documentary last night Finding My Father and guys, 393 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: if you haven't seen it. After this interview, you're gonna 394 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: go have to go and watch it. It is so 395 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: beautifully done, It is so good. What made you want 396 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: to finally share your story now? Because I know you 397 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: said that this is something that you've wanted to do 398 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: for a while, So why now? 399 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 2: So I had to back up. Right before my dad 400 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 2: was injured in nineteen ninety five, he had been spending 401 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 2: parts of a full year following the migration of the 402 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 2: Pacific gray whale from the far reaches of Alaska up 403 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: in the Arctic Circle down to Baja Mexico. It's the 404 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 2: longest migration of any mammal. My dad flew his own 405 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 2: plane to follow them. He scuba dived with them, He 406 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 2: met locals and natives in both Alaska and in Mexico, 407 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 2: and it all became this hour long documentary that I 408 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 2: watched on repeat because it was the last thing my 409 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 2: dad ever filmed before his accident. And I didn't have 410 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 2: much experience with my dad, not in a wheelchair, so 411 00:20:56,119 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: it was a portal for me into a version of 412 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 2: him that I didn't get enough time with, and a 413 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 2: version I wanted to get to know better. So then 414 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 2: as I grew up and I developed my own interests 415 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:15,239 Speaker 2: and passions and skills and talent. I realized that I 416 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 2: needed to go to those places that he went and 417 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: see what he saw, and hopefully find the people that 418 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 2: he found and turn it into a product, in this case, 419 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: a documentary that might be able to give people a 420 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 2: portal into their own relationships with their father or mother 421 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 2: or someone else they loved but didn't know enough or 422 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: want to know more about. So that was almost a 423 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 2: lifelong pursuit. But then I got really serious about it 424 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 2: about three years ago. I realized, all right, I've I 425 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 2: think I understand how to do this, and I think 426 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 2: I know who to talk to, and if not, they'll 427 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: help me. And bump up, up, up, And we finally 428 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 2: figured it all out. And it started with a cold 429 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 2: email to the son of the man who took my 430 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: dad around in Mexico. I reached out to him. He 431 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 2: responded and said he was running the family business now 432 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 2: and I should come down. So I did that, brought 433 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 2: a camera crew down to this remote outpost in a 434 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 2: lagoon in Mexico hang out with Pancho Myrale, son of Pachico. 435 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 2: So he took Pachico took my dad around, Pancho took 436 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: me around, did the same thing up in Alaska with 437 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 2: the son of the guy who took my dad around Alaska, 438 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 2: and it was an exploration of the connectivity between generations 439 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 2: using the whales and the connectivity between their generations that 440 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: have been going on for millennia. They do the same 441 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 2: migration migratory pattern every year, and it just it was 442 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: so enriching for me as a son to understand that 443 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 2: I had this profound connection to my dad, separated by 444 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: thirty years in space and time, but connected by the 445 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 2: fact that we were both there thirty years apart, seeing 446 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 2: the same things, finding versions of the same people, next 447 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 2: generations of the same people, and learning that in each 448 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 2: of these remote places, those people who met my dad 449 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 2: remembered him not because he was superman, but because of 450 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 2: how he treated them and for how he moved through 451 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 2: the world as human being, the values that he brought 452 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 2: with him, the spirit that he carried in any any interaction. 453 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 2: And that's what made me proud as his son. It 454 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,479 Speaker 2: is like, oh, my dad was just like a great person, 455 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 2: and I wanted to share that with everyone, and so 456 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 2: I did, and we put it on put it on TV, 457 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 2: and it was cool. It was also something I wanted 458 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 2: to accomplish because not to brag, but I was sort 459 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: of the driving force behind this whole thing. I came 460 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,719 Speaker 2: up with the idea, I did a lot of the writing. 461 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 2: I'm in every frame of the thing, and I had 462 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: such I mean, I had a dream to of people 463 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 2: helping me, including Diane Sawyer the Legend, Robin Roberts the 464 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 2: Legend as executive producers and guides and mentors to me 465 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 2: as they have been for a really long time. Having 466 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 2: their names associated with this helped me get into rooms 467 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: and open doors that I might not otherwise be able to, 468 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 2: and it gave it some legitimacy, I think beyond just oh, 469 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 2: here's will like this is a nice idea, a cute idea, 470 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: but see how it goes when you get some of 471 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 2: the names involved that we had. It added heft to it. 472 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 2: And I was so grateful to the support that ABC 473 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 2: and Disney showed to it to promote it and share 474 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 2: my story. I'm forever grateful. And I really wanted to 475 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 2: do this because it's my thing that I made, and 476 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 2: it was a part of my story and my dad's 477 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 2: story that didn't get told in the theatrical documentary that 478 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,479 Speaker 2: came out about my dad that is a amazing as 479 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,479 Speaker 2: well and has won a bunch of awards and all 480 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 2: these things. It's been twenty years now since my dad died. 481 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 2: It's crazy, so I wanted to This is a good 482 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 2: time for people to remember. 483 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: Remember when you were younger and watching clips from your 484 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: dad's journey. Was there one that when you went back 485 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 1: to recreate it for the documentary that you just put out. 486 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 3: Was there one experience. 487 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: That he had that was always your favorite that you 488 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: always hyper fixated on that you really wanted to do. 489 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 2: Yes, there was a list of them, but the number 490 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 2: one at the top by a mile was I needed 491 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 2: to touch a grey whale. There is this lagoon in Mexico, 492 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 2: son Ignacio Lagoon is one of the only places on 493 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 2: Earth where these wild animals, gray whales forty feet long, 494 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 2: weighing many many thousands of pounds, will come up to 495 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 2: your tiny little boat and invite you to touch them. 496 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 2: It's not a petting zoo, This isn't SeaWorld, it's not 497 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 2: this is a wild lagoon, but these whales. Thanks to 498 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 2: that man Pachico who took my dad around. Turns out 499 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 2: that they're really friendly and social and invite human interaction 500 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 2: because they trust humans. And my dad got to touch 501 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: a whale in this documentary that he made in nineteen 502 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 2: ninety five, and I have wanted to go do that 503 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: since the moment I saw that as a little kid. 504 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 2: So if I do nothing else, I need to go 505 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 2: touch a whale because my dad did, and how cool 506 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: would that be? Whales have always been my favorite animal 507 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 2: because my dad loved the whales, and I wanted to 508 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: be like my dad, so I loved whales. 509 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: Did filming the doc change the way you saw your 510 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: dad in any way? 511 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 2: I didn't going in. I didn't know if it would 512 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: or not. I thought I spend a lot of time 513 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 2: thinking about and talking about my parents. It's a way 514 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 2: to keep them present with me and hopefully in the 515 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: minds of other people, because I think what my parents 516 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 2: represented and who they were is worth carrying with us 517 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 2: in the present day. We could use more people like 518 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 2: my parents in today's world. So I talk about them. 519 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: I think about them all the time, and as a result, 520 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 2: I feel like I know who they were, right. I 521 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 2: think I knew pretty much everything. And I went into 522 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 2: this project, wondering am I gonna look? Is there gonna 523 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 2: be some revelation, And what ultimately ended up happening was 524 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 2: a crystallization, like the ultimate clarification or confirmation of how 525 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 2: my dad was as a person, what his passions were, 526 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:42,919 Speaker 2: what his values were, what his sense of humor was like, 527 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: what his sense of adventure was like, all these things 528 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: that I knew and I had been told and I 529 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 2: had sort of seen on film that never really got 530 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: to experience. But getting to go to these places there 531 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 2: was there's some sort of special energy there. There were 532 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,959 Speaker 2: moments where I would be sitting out on this lagoon 533 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,959 Speaker 2: waiting for a whale to show up and maybe let 534 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 2: us touch it, or like I'd just be sitting out 535 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 2: there staring off into the distance, and I would realize, 536 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 2: like I'm in the I know that I am in 537 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 2: the exact physical spot within this lagoon where my dad 538 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 2: was because I recognize it, and here I am, and 539 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 2: I am filled with such enthusiasm and childish wonder and gratitude, 540 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 2: and I know he was too. And that was I 541 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 2: don't mean to get too woo woo on you here, 542 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 2: because it wasn't. 543 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 3: No, let's get woo woo. I feel like you were 544 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 3: literally seeing the world through his eyes. 545 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 2: There you go. See, that's exactly what I'm trying to say. 546 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 2: But I'm giving you all these like long winded answers. 547 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: That's it. I was seeing the world through his eyes, 548 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 2: and that made me feel closer to him. 549 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 3: Of course it did. 550 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 2: That's what I was looking for. Gosh, where were you 551 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 2: on like the original press tour for this, I wasn't 552 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 2: like feeling his spirit. Maybe I was, I don't know, 553 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 2: that's what I'm Sally, I'm not sure you were. I 554 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 2: was feeling an immense and profound connection to him and 555 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 2: my mom because I was in it. I was in 556 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 2: these places that I know they would have wanted me 557 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 2: to be in it. It was like a life checkpoint 558 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 2: because not only did I get myself to these gorgeous, 559 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: like naturally beautiful places in the world that deserve to 560 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 2: be seen and then shown to the world, that was 561 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: an accomplishment, right. Not only did I engage with the 562 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 2: people who live and die there and usually don't really 563 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 2: leave and get to learn more about them and share 564 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 2: their stories with the world. That's an accomplishment that's worthy 565 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 2: of pride and not only did I have a really 566 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 2: good time. I was like, was I happy doing it? 567 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 2: Which they would have wanted, but I was doing it 568 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 2: on my terms, on my own path. I was there 569 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 2: because I work for ABC News, and I I had 570 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 2: done all the necessary work to get people to believe 571 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 2: in me enough to go to do this thing that 572 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 2: they also thought was a good idea. And my parents 573 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 2: would have been really proud of the initiative that I 574 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 2: had taken to go make this thing, Like they were 575 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 2: seeing the whole confluence of all my dreams and passions 576 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 2: and skills and talents coming together. And I felt really 577 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 2: proud about that. They felt like an accomplishment just to 578 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 2: go there, Like I'm doing a thing that they would 579 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 2: love and that was cool. 580 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,719 Speaker 1: It is cool, and you did it in your own way, 581 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: and it's I think what is so amazing about it 582 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: is exactly what you said. I love the word storytelling. 583 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you've become a journalist, right. I think it's 584 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: so fun that you got to do a passion project 585 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: that means so much to you and is so you. 586 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 1: And it's just really cool for people to look beneath 587 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: the covers a little bit and see, like what's going 588 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: on in like Will's mind. And you know they see 589 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: you all the time on TV, but it's cool to 590 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: feel that personal. 591 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 3: Connection with you. 592 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 2: I feel like a few things going on in my 593 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 2: mind at once. 594 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 1: As we start talking about your career that you've built 595 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: for yourself, let's dive into journalism. How did you become 596 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: interested in storytelling? 597 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 2: I got pieces of it along the way. When I 598 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 2: was a kid. I wanted to be a professional athlete, 599 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 2: and then I got to middle school and realized that 600 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,120 Speaker 2: that was not possible because I wasn't good enough at 601 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 2: the sports I wanted to go pro in. So then 602 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,239 Speaker 2: I decided I wanted to work at ESPN because that's 603 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,280 Speaker 2: where you go to talk about sports, right, so that's 604 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 2: the next best thing. And I was always good at writing. 605 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 2: I love to talk, I like to tell stories, I 606 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 2: like people, I like travel, And turns out that journalism 607 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 2: is a lot more than just that. But those were 608 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: the basic building blocks that got me interested in wanting 609 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 2: to do it. And then I interned at ABC News 610 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 2: in college and fell deeply in love with it, and 611 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 2: I knew immediately that I had to work at ABC 612 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 2: and at GMA specifically. That was the goal. Always like 613 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be on Good Morning America. That's what I 614 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 2: really wanted to do, and I was sort of secretly, 615 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 2: privately strategically orienting all of my life around that. And 616 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 2: so to get to now do that every day with 617 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 2: Robin and Michael and George and everybody else is such 618 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 2: a privilege. It's so fun. It's really challenging, but in 619 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,239 Speaker 2: a great way, and I love it and have I 620 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: still have so much to prove and so much to learn, 621 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 2: and so much left to do, but where I'm at 622 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 2: right now, I'm incredibly grateful. I just I feel this 623 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 2: interesting balance of gratitude and fulfillment that isn't complacency, like 624 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 2: I haven't made it, but I've achieved some goals, which 625 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 2: then makes it time to set new goals. And on 626 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: post Run High part two some other time we can 627 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 2: discuss at the. 628 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 1: End of this, we're gonna touch quickly on like new 629 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: goals and kind of what you have that you're looking 630 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: forward to that we can shout out and just get 631 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: people excited. Fork But on the topic of what you 632 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: do for a living, you're so young, it is so 633 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: cool to see how much you've accomplished. 634 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 3: I mean, it's incredible for me to say, yeah, I mean, 635 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 3: I'm sitting. My favorite thing to do. 636 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: We talked about this before, but my favorite thing to 637 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: do is to interview journalists and interview people that work 638 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: for networks and are in the industry because I want 639 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: to be a journalist. 640 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 2: You know you are being a journalist right now. Thank you. 641 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 3: How am I doing? 642 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 2: You're doing great? Guys, you being awesome and you did 643 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 2: You don't need my approval for that. You're crushing it. 644 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: Well. I want to ask you what are your favorite 645 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: stories to report on and maybe why. 646 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: My favorite type of stories are any that involve people 647 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 2: overcoming the odds. That and that can take so many forms. 648 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 2: That can be people rebuilding after a natural disaster. That 649 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 2: could be a sports story where you know, the team 650 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 2: comes back and wins the big game when no one 651 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 2: thought they could. That could be a town rallying around 652 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 2: a member one of their own who is going through 653 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 2: a hard time. I love those stories because I enjoy 654 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 2: exposing the best of humanity, and I think the best 655 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: of humanity exists when people have to triumph over adversity, 656 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 2: and adversity doesn't necessarily have to be obvious, it doesn't 657 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 2: have to be a natural disaster, it can be doesn't 658 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 2: have to be a disease or a spinal cord injury. 659 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 2: It can be doesn't have to be a huge deficit 660 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter, the big game that you overcome, 661 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,839 Speaker 2: but it can be. Adversity knocks on everyone's door every 662 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 2: day in some way, shape or form, and we all 663 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 2: possess the ability to overcome it. So if I can 664 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,720 Speaker 2: be there to shine a light on everyday people who 665 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 2: are triumphing over some sort of long odds, in whatever 666 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 2: form that takes, that makes me feel like I've contributed 667 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 2: to the human experience, which sounds maybe super pretentious, because. 668 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 3: No, it doesn't. You're so humble. I don't know, well, 669 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 3: I feel like you saidcond guess things that. 670 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 2: You say, but you are so My therapist tells me 671 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,360 Speaker 2: that I qualify too many things. 672 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: It makes so much sense that those are your favorite 673 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:21,240 Speaker 1: stories to tell because you have faced so much adversity 674 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: in your life and you've figured out ways to overcome 675 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 1: it and you know still thrive and you know not 676 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: like let really traumatic scenarios bring you down. 677 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 3: So like you are the perfect person to be having 678 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 3: those conversations. 679 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 1: And I love that. I love that you use the 680 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: word humanity. My favorite thing to do with interviews is 681 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: to show the humanity and people, whoever you are, from, 682 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: whatever walks the walk of life, whatever you believe in, 683 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:45,840 Speaker 1: there's humanity and everybody, and I think everybody has the 684 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: right to share their story. I love asking reporters this 685 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 1: and journalists this, because it's different for everybody. 686 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 3: What does preparation look like for. 687 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: You when you're getting ready, maybe just to go on 688 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 1: Good Morning America or to cover a big story. 689 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 2: Preparation for me start the night before I whatever I'm 690 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,760 Speaker 2: working on, whether I'm out in the field, meaning on assignment, 691 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 2: or if I'm home and I'm gonna be in the 692 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:13,839 Speaker 2: studio the next morning. I'm making sure that everything that 693 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 2: I have written that I that I then track into 694 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 2: my little microphone and either in a coat closet or 695 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 2: under a duvet cover, it depends. Make sure that's all 696 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:26,799 Speaker 2: as buttoned up as it can be. Everything is factual 697 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 2: and informative and hopefully entertaining on top of it. If 698 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:34,759 Speaker 2: the story allows for entertainment, I'm making sure that I've 699 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,760 Speaker 2: read everything about the subject, or watched everything or whatever. 700 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 2: If I'm covering a sports story, I try to watch 701 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 2: the games. If I'm not at the game itself and 702 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,479 Speaker 2: I try to get sleep, it doesn't work. I need, 703 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 2: I really need to step up my sleep stack, as 704 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 2: they call it. I gotta get better about sleeping. I 705 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:59,200 Speaker 2: put together my little green juice concoction with some amino 706 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 2: acids in there and some creatine and all that. Shake 707 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 2: that up. Put it in the fridge. I make either 708 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 2: a smoothie or an overnight oats or or something for 709 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 2: breakfast that I put in temperware. Put that in the fridge. 710 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 2: I pre make the coffee for Amanda because she wakes 711 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 2: up later than I do, so I set the timer 712 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:21,759 Speaker 2: on the coffee machine and get in bed. I try 713 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:26,120 Speaker 2: to read. I'll read anything. I'll read fiction, non fiction, 714 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 2: doesn't matter. Spend time with Amanda, spend time with our 715 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 2: dog Stella. That's my preparation. Morning of wake up. Close 716 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 2: are already laid out, Get dressed in the dark. That's 717 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 2: why the clothes are already laid out. So I don't 718 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:39,760 Speaker 2: like I have a mismatch. 719 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: Shoot, yeah, cannot wake up at Amanda. You guys are 720 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:43,759 Speaker 1: up so early for yourself. 721 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 2: We get I get up very early, not as early 722 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 2: as other people. But I do get up pretty early, 723 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 2: like in the fives, like five, and then I go 724 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 2: to work and I I try to be the best 725 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,359 Speaker 2: I've ever been, and sometimes I am and sometimes I'm not, 726 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:01,359 Speaker 2: and I'm okay with either, and then I just keep 727 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:01,759 Speaker 2: it moving. 728 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, keep it moving. That's that's what you got to do. 729 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,399 Speaker 2: Do other people give better answers, like really specific answer. 730 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 3: Your answers are incredible. 731 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 2: No, but thank you, But on that one, like does 732 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:12,319 Speaker 2: someone else, like who has a no? 733 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:13,880 Speaker 1: People say the same thing, Like, I think that the 734 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: biggest commonality that I've heard through everybody, through Lindsay Davis, 735 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:19,880 Speaker 1: through Dana Prino, through youth is preparation is key. And 736 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: whatever you're doing that can look like what you were 737 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:24,800 Speaker 1: just describing as your you know, your routine the night before, 738 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:26,719 Speaker 1: the routine in the morning of, Like those are all 739 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 1: part of your preparation, right, because it gets you in 740 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:29,840 Speaker 1: the right headspace, It gets you ready to go for 741 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 1: the day, It makes you less nervous, makes you less nervous, 742 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,720 Speaker 1: less unknown. Yeah, there's confidence that comes from a routine. 743 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:38,640 Speaker 1: And there's nothing better than confidence when it comes. 744 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 2: From your creature of habit and routine. And I don't 745 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 2: have a job that really allows for it, because I 746 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 2: can get a call at any moment saying you're on 747 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,160 Speaker 2: a plane to hear or this is your new story 748 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,799 Speaker 2: or whatever. But it's that's what I signed up for. 749 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 1: So what is the biggest lesson you've learned in your 750 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:54,080 Speaker 1: career to date? 751 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:58,640 Speaker 2: Oh? Boy, the biggest lesson I've learned. I think this 752 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:01,600 Speaker 2: is the umbrella lesson, and then there are smaller lessons 753 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:03,280 Speaker 2: that we don't have to get into. But the biggest 754 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 2: lesson that I've learned is show up. And that can 755 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:09,000 Speaker 2: mean whatever you wanted to mean. I think it means 756 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:13,440 Speaker 2: show up, like be there, whether it's show up at 757 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:19,320 Speaker 2: the story, show up at the office, and meet new people, 758 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:22,879 Speaker 2: ask them to be your mentors, like develop relationships and 759 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 2: a network within your own within your own organization or 760 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 2: within your own industry. Show up for people emotionally and spiritually, 761 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,840 Speaker 2: as a friend, as a colleague, and in my business 762 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:37,640 Speaker 2: and in the news business, showing up is like a 763 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:41,360 Speaker 2: huge part of getting ahead, just being there on time, 764 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:45,279 Speaker 2: being reliable, like if you can be physically where you 765 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 2: need to be and do a good job when you 766 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:51,359 Speaker 2: are there, whether that's on camera or off you're going 767 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 2: to be miles ahead because some people don't show up, 768 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,920 Speaker 2: either physically or in the more metaphysical sense. So I 769 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:01,760 Speaker 2: would say show up and then also be kind. Kindness 770 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 2: costs nothing, and the ROI on kindness is exponential. 771 00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:10,160 Speaker 1: Do whatever you need to do the morning of to 772 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:12,440 Speaker 1: get yourself in the right headspace to make sure that 773 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,680 Speaker 1: everybody you meet your bringing the right energy. 774 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 2: To Yeah, you want to be an energy there's what. 775 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:21,200 Speaker 2: There's a thermostat and a thermometer. One takes the temperature, 776 00:40:21,239 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 2: one sets the temperature. The thermostat sets the temperature, right, 777 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:28,160 Speaker 2: I don't know. Yes, thermometer is what you like put 778 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 2: when you're yes. So a thermostat is what you do 779 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 2: on the wall. Yeah, sets the temperature. You want to 780 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 2: be a thermostat. You want to be setting the temperature, 781 00:40:35,719 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 2: setting the energy. You want to be an energy fountain, 782 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:40,319 Speaker 2: not a drain. All you've probably heard all these. 783 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:42,239 Speaker 3: Sometimes I can be both, but I do no one 784 00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:42,839 Speaker 3: can too. 785 00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:45,560 Speaker 2: Like that's the thing you don't have to be. Nobody 786 00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:48,359 Speaker 2: is all always just one thing. Like you've been very 787 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:53,080 Speaker 2: kind to say that I'm humble, but I'm not always 788 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:55,920 Speaker 2: like I have plenty of an ego, but I reserve 789 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,120 Speaker 2: that for moments where I think that's appropriate, or even 790 00:40:59,120 --> 00:41:03,399 Speaker 2: when it's not appropriate it's on camera or whether it's 791 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,640 Speaker 2: ego or you said that I'm always positive, which I 792 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:08,399 Speaker 2: try to be, but there are times that I'm not 793 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:10,279 Speaker 2: because I'm a human being, like I live a full 794 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:14,760 Speaker 2: human experience, and that's I think why I have found 795 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 2: some level of success in my job is because I 796 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:20,759 Speaker 2: understand that every single person that you've ever encountered is 797 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:22,400 Speaker 2: just doing the best they can to figure it out 798 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 2: at any given moment. No one's better than anybody else. 799 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:28,000 Speaker 2: No one really knows what they're doing. If you just 800 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,560 Speaker 2: approach something with the right attitude, that's like more than 801 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:31,880 Speaker 2: half of the battle. 802 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:33,360 Speaker 3: You know what I want to ask you? 803 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:34,319 Speaker 2: You ask whatever you want. 804 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:38,280 Speaker 1: So I am two years into being on camera a lot. 805 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,319 Speaker 1: I'm about a year into doing this podcast, which is 806 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 1: the first time I've been on camera in a long 807 00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:43,880 Speaker 1: form setting. 808 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 3: I love it. I'm having so much fun with it. 809 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:47,960 Speaker 1: You work in the industry, You've got so many incredible 810 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,239 Speaker 1: mentors around you. You know that I've done this for years. 811 00:41:50,239 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 1: I'm sure I've given you great advice. What is a 812 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:56,120 Speaker 1: tip for me? That you have about being on camera 813 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:58,719 Speaker 1: to make sure you're always showing up as your best self, Like, 814 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 1: are there little tips that you've learned along the way, 815 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 1: adds a journalist, And this is good advice for people 816 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:03,600 Speaker 1: that want to get into broadcaster. 817 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:06,120 Speaker 2: I would so I have some like I have some 818 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:08,600 Speaker 2: tips that you would hear at like a commencement address, 819 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,400 Speaker 2: or I have some actual practical tips. I'll give you 820 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,759 Speaker 2: both the practical tips. Take a deep breath or two 821 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:18,680 Speaker 2: before you're about to be on camera in whatever form. 822 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:22,120 Speaker 2: Just reset the nervous system, whatever you do to sort 823 00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:25,880 Speaker 2: of center yourself. For me, it's just some deep breaths, 824 00:42:26,719 --> 00:42:29,080 Speaker 2: just just to get the nerves out. Whatever that looks 825 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,520 Speaker 2: like for you. Do that. If I'm really nervous, I 826 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:35,560 Speaker 2: will try to make conversation with people around me, so 827 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:39,040 Speaker 2: I forget that I'm like about to be on camera, 828 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:41,880 Speaker 2: because I still do get the butterflies that Like. I 829 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:45,200 Speaker 2: take my job really seriously, I take my performance really seriously. 830 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:49,360 Speaker 2: I take my product, like whatever I'm delivering really seriously. 831 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:51,920 Speaker 2: So I want to do a good job. But sometimes 832 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:54,360 Speaker 2: that means that I'm like gripping on too tightly to 833 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:56,680 Speaker 2: the thing, and I need to loosen up. So that 834 00:42:56,719 --> 00:42:59,080 Speaker 2: means that I'll just like chat with whoever off camera 835 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:02,239 Speaker 2: to get the nerve energy out that helps breathing. That 836 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:08,080 Speaker 2: being prepared, generally are the good tips and the sort 837 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:17,360 Speaker 2: of graduation commencement address advice. Version of that is be yourself, 838 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:22,080 Speaker 2: which I'm sure you've heard a million times. I've heard 839 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:25,160 Speaker 2: it a million times. For the longest time, I didn't 840 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 2: know what that meant, because like, all right, yeah, like 841 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:33,920 Speaker 2: I'll be myself, Like sure, But as I've been doing 842 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,600 Speaker 2: what I do longer and longer, the more I realize 843 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:40,520 Speaker 2: we're all unique. We all bring our unique experiences and 844 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 2: histories to whatever we're doing. But as I've actually been 845 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:50,680 Speaker 2: more myself, the more confidence I get, I'm like, oh, 846 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:55,400 Speaker 2: I just I know my subject matter, and I know 847 00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:59,239 Speaker 2: that I'm decent enough at the blocking and tackling and 848 00:43:59,360 --> 00:44:01,880 Speaker 2: x's and o's like being on TV in terms of 849 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:03,520 Speaker 2: which camera to look at and how to read a 850 00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:09,359 Speaker 2: teleprompter or write a script. I can just relax and 851 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:11,839 Speaker 2: be me like i'd be with my buddies or with 852 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:16,880 Speaker 2: my fiance whenever that situation calls for it, And that 853 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:20,920 Speaker 2: is going to cut through to the audience. To the viewer, 854 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 2: to the listener. Whatever. The authenticity that you bring, and 855 00:44:26,120 --> 00:44:29,400 Speaker 2: I mean you specifically, the authenticity that you bring to 856 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:31,160 Speaker 2: what you do is what is going to set you 857 00:44:31,239 --> 00:44:33,279 Speaker 2: apart from anyone else who might try to imitate what 858 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:38,279 Speaker 2: you do and don't lose that just be you and 859 00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:41,919 Speaker 2: you already are, so you don't need You might think 860 00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:44,239 Speaker 2: you need my advice, but you don't. But that is 861 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:45,160 Speaker 2: my advice anyway. 862 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:47,040 Speaker 1: It's such good advice and I'm so happy that I 863 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 1: have it on camera to like always look back to. Seriously, 864 00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:52,680 Speaker 1: this entire interview is like, is like mentorship for me. 865 00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:55,759 Speaker 2: Very kind of well, hey, as you probably already know, 866 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:59,080 Speaker 2: and if you don't, life is just is a series 867 00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:01,080 Speaker 2: of networks that you we are sort of responsible for 868 00:45:01,120 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 2: building and finding mentors in whatever you do. It doesn't 869 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:08,320 Speaker 2: have to be anything that's ever televised or broadcast to 870 00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:11,560 Speaker 2: the world in any form. Finding people who you look 871 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:16,520 Speaker 2: up to and trust and know will help you get 872 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:18,759 Speaker 2: to be the best version of yourself in whatever your 873 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 2: pursuit is is essential to living I think, a happy life, 874 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:25,920 Speaker 2: and certainly essential to progressing in one's career. 875 00:45:26,040 --> 00:45:26,960 Speaker 3: We've talked about so much. 876 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:28,440 Speaker 1: I feel like I could talk to you for hours, 877 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:30,120 Speaker 1: and we could go in so many different directions, and 878 00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:32,080 Speaker 1: I still have so many questions for you. But I 879 00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:34,040 Speaker 1: want to know what is next for you? What do 880 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:36,120 Speaker 1: you have going on that you're really excited about. What 881 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:37,200 Speaker 1: can we be on the lookout for? 882 00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:40,240 Speaker 2: Tell us Let's be on the lookout for the GMA 883 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 2: five K. This is a running podcast, running adjacent podcast. 884 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:49,200 Speaker 2: I finally stopped sweating the GMA five K May fourteenth, 885 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:56,640 Speaker 2: nationwide virtual race. All abilities welcome you follow GMA Good 886 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,920 Speaker 2: Morning America on Strava. You get involved. We're going to 887 00:45:59,960 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 2: be broadcasting from around the country, including in New York 888 00:46:03,080 --> 00:46:05,920 Speaker 2: at Governor's Island. I'll be there. Robin Roberts is running. 889 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:09,799 Speaker 2: Ginger Z, our chief meteorologist, is running and doing the 890 00:46:09,840 --> 00:46:13,320 Speaker 2: weather at the same time, which I can't wait to 891 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:15,919 Speaker 2: see how that turns out. I don't I think I'll 892 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,600 Speaker 2: be there running. I'll maybe I'll be just handing out water. 893 00:46:18,680 --> 00:46:20,920 Speaker 2: I'll be there with enthusiasm and support. But we're we're 894 00:46:20,960 --> 00:46:24,879 Speaker 2: doing it in conjunction with some important charities doing great work, 895 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:28,719 Speaker 2: Achilles International Helping Disabled People for All Mothers, which is 896 00:46:28,760 --> 00:46:32,480 Speaker 2: helping moms stay active and get active despite all the 897 00:46:32,520 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 2: barriers to that in a lot of mothers' lives. It's 898 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:37,160 Speaker 2: just gonna be a good time. There's gonna be a 899 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:40,480 Speaker 2: band there. I don't know what else we have in store. 900 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:44,560 Speaker 2: It's gonna be a five K, but morning TV extravaganza fied, 901 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:45,720 Speaker 2: so it's gonna be great. 902 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:46,920 Speaker 3: I am so excited. 903 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:50,240 Speaker 1: Guys, May fourteenth, be on the lookout for more updates 904 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:53,840 Speaker 1: about the GMA five K. I am gonna be there hopefully, 905 00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:57,040 Speaker 1: fingers crossed. I am going to try to be there. 906 00:46:56,880 --> 00:46:58,120 Speaker 2: Also, I have to be there that early. 907 00:46:58,239 --> 00:47:00,959 Speaker 1: You should, Yes, I think I should. And I also 908 00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:03,160 Speaker 1: feel like I need to get the weather woman on camera. 909 00:47:03,239 --> 00:47:04,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, you got to get Ginger on there. 910 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:05,719 Speaker 3: Ginger doing the weather, I'd be iconic. 911 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:07,680 Speaker 2: But like, I've looked at the weather while I've been running, 912 00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:09,279 Speaker 2: but it's just me pulling up the weather app on 913 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:10,839 Speaker 2: my phone. I feel like she's gonna be doing something 914 00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:11,800 Speaker 2: a little more involved. 915 00:47:12,239 --> 00:47:14,959 Speaker 3: I'm really curious to see what she's doing. Well, thank 916 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:16,560 Speaker 3: you so much for being here with me today. 917 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:18,799 Speaker 2: You're having me this is awesome. I'm just like we've 918 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:22,240 Speaker 2: only just met, but I've watched your stuff from Afar 919 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:24,600 Speaker 2: and honored to be in the company that I'm in, 920 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:28,600 Speaker 2: with the folks that you've had on and I am 921 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:32,640 Speaker 2: very impressed by what you're building, and just keep building it, 922 00:47:32,719 --> 00:47:35,160 Speaker 2: keep running fast, thank you so much, but not too 923 00:47:35,239 --> 00:47:36,479 Speaker 2: fast because I no one can talk about