A few weeks ago I was blessed to attend a psychedelic healing retreat through VETS. Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions is a non-profit started by Amber and Marcus Capone that helps Veterans heal from TBI and  trauma through psychedelic medicine. In this episode, K and I discuss "how we got here" and linked up with VETS, what the process was/is like, my personal experience and how it was the hardest thing I have ever done,  how integration and returning to "normal life" is going, and a fundraiser we are participating in March 4-6 to help raise money for VETS so other Veterans can experience this life-changing healing modality.I am running the 4x4x48 challenge that Warriors Angels is hosting. You might recall previous BTE Podcast guest Toby Guillette talk about his experience, so I am excited to do it, represent VETS, and share in the weekend with K, too.If you would please consider donating and helping us reach our goal of raising enough for 2 Veterans to attend, it would mean the world to us and quite literally change someone's world.You can donate here: https://give.warriorangelsfoundation.org/fundraiser/3691417Thank you for your support and love!❤️ 🙏 👊 -Bill & KSupport the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

We kick off Season 4 debriefing K's Ironman Maryland event. She finished less than 48 hours from recording, so it is a fresh, vulnerable, insightful discussion about her experience. We discuss why she signed up, how her training went, what challenged her, inspired her, and changed within her as a result of engaging in the hardest physical event she has ever done.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

Anthony Falco is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has extensive experiencing working with individuals who are in pain and want to heal to return to living functional lives. Anthony is a student of life who has shared his  wealth of knowledge with the BTE and CF Motown communities and we thoroughly enjoyed this discussion.Among the many nuggets of wisdom Anthony shares, he touches upon the role belief has in healing, how working with clients is rooted in curiosity and service, how communication matters in how we work with others and ourselves, and more good stuff. Fun fact, Anthony was also one of, if not THE, first person to sign up for the very first BTE event, way before it is what has evolved into today.You can find Anthony on Instagram @falcophysio .Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

How well do you know your farmer?In our case, he has become a friend and part of our family's life. We know his story, we trust him and his farm, and we are inspired by his pursuits and purpose.Malcolm Salovaara's story is as rare as it is inspiring.After pursuing and obtaining  an Ivy League education, Malcolm decided to choose a different path than the traditional ones his peers headed off to. He chose to pursue a passion that would require hard work, a steep learning curve, and becoming an entrepreneur simultaneously. He chose to become a farmer.Malcolm resurrected his family's farm, PK's Four Brother's Farm, in Bernardsville and began his future as our local farmer.Malcolm provides transparency on his farm in an effort to educate people about the regenerative approach he is committed to. He encourages his customers and potential customers to visit the farm so they may witness animal agriculture humanely and safely executed. His work is more than a business, it is being of service to others in an effort to make an impact in our current environmental and industrialized animal culture. We hope this episode inspires you to consider a closer look at your food, farming, and your community. We hope this episode helps you develop something Malcolm refers to as 'food literacy'.As one of Malcolm's mentors, Joel Salatin, so eloquently said: "Know your food, know your farmers, and know your kitchen."You can check out Malcolm and PK's Four Brother's Farm on Instagram @pksfourbrothersfarm or visit https://pksfourbrothersfarm.com/Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

How do you define toughness? What characters, images, and stories come to mind when you think of displays of toughness? As athletes, we grow up thinking toughness is never letting anything get in our way of winning. It is playing injured. It is showing up early, outworking everyone, and leaving last. It is doing anything and everything necessary to be as  best prepared come game day...and then some. The toughest are feared by their opponents, respected by their teammates, legends to their coaches, and adored by the fans.At 17, Kevin Saum was the epitome of tough. Groomed and influenced by the external validation and outcome oriented ideal of what toughness is to an athlete, he would give everything to earn this label.He did just that. And it almost killed him.After suffering a traumatic brain injury that nearly cost him his life, Kevin found himself in an entirely new fight: Who am I if I am not Kevin the toughest football player around?Kevin is one of the lucky few who survived second-impact syndrome, but his identity as a hard-nose, tough player died the night he was airlifted off the field to fight for survival.What transpired next in Kevin's life is a story of rediscovery through struggle,  how he learned to redefine what toughness truly is, and how he serves others to inspire courageous action that could very well save aspiring athlete's lives. Kevin is a true inspiration, a beautiful human, and one damn tough dude.You can listen to his podcast Heads N Tales on all podcast platforms, find him on LinkedIn, and visit his website http://www.headsntales.org/.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

Omar Jabri has been a central contributor to BTE over the past few years, despite his geographical distance. His willingness to "do the work" of raising awareness to drive action not only helps him, but he has directly helped others by honestly and openly sharing his experiences. Omar also was the first person to introduce me to the concept of psychological flexibility and how it is one of the 'whats' that BTE does. We dive into what psychological flexibility is and how developing a practice that facilitates it can, and in Omar's case HAS, directly improved relationships, both to self and others.In just another example of the serendipitous frequencies and connectedness of life, shortly after Omar shared this concept with me, another friend , BTE mainstay, and fellow podcast guest, Tim Chan, also sent an article on the subject. When 2 awesome people say the same thing, you listen.I am confident you will enjoy listening to this episode.Thank you sitting down to talk and share with us all about this powerful concept you've lived and continue to explore, Omar.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

Do not listen to this episode while doing something else. It is heavy. It is raw. It is authentic. It is strong.  It is all things Vince Ruiz embodies.After going into the darkness and nearly losing his life to the perils of addiction, Vince returned to life with a light that he now helps others shine in their own lives as a mental health professional serving in community based and private practice.This episode is not for the feint of heart, which is exactly why we are appreciative of Vince sharing who he is with us.Vince along with his wife, Mary, recently founded H-Hour, a coaching company that blends their vast personal and professional experiences working to help improve human beings.You can follow Vince on Instagram @vincent_americo and H-Hour on Facebook.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

Solee Natal is an amazing human who has graced those the BTE community with her courage to face the unknown, tenacity to challenge herself,  and willingness to be vulnerable and honest with others - something that doesn't come easy to an introvert.Solee is one of the hardest working and inspiring people I've known and anyone who has shared the BTE space with Solee knows exactly what I'm talking about.Whether it in the Practice, Immersion, Vector Project, BTE Fitness. If Solee is involved, which she almost always is, the value and benefit of the group immediately levels up.Solee has an amazing story that she continues to write.It is an honor, truly an honor, to share her story with you all. Solee, you have been a teacher to us in ways we will forever be grateful to you for.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

K and I sit down to debrief the morning after her BTE12 event - 12 hours of rucking, running, and carrying a sandbag. There's simplicity in these pursuits that allow for clarity of purpose, questions, and ultimately ownership of why we do hard things. If you've ever questioned yourself, I think you'll hear some nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your own journey. Most importantly, I'm proud of her :) Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)

Tim Chan has been one of the most involved members of the Between the Ears virtual experience. Tim is a long time friend, former co-worker and a BTE enthusiast who has truly done the work to live his Who when it's been the hardest and mattered the most. This is a powerful, raw, vulnerable and beautiful conversation about Tim's journey through loss and discovery. He shares how he uses the tools he’s learned in the BTE Practice 1 and 2, how different movement expressions like Pole fitness help him to find joy and gratitude even in the darkest of times, and how he helped me so much when I was at my lowest without even knowing it and just by being Who he is.Tim is a remarkable human who always brings value to any discussion. When he speaks, we listen. We are grateful to share his light with everyone in this episode.You can follow Tim on Instagram @timchansd.Support the show (https://www.btwntheears.com/)