Motivate with Coach Camp

Rising From the Ashes: Alan Presson | Memphis Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic

Rising From the Ashes: A Firefighter’s Phoenix Story.  My guest this week is Mr. Alan Presson, Memphis Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic and Endurance Athlete.
“Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.”  ~ G. Whitefield
This week’s guest is retired fire lieutenant from the City of Memphis fire department Mr. Alan Presson.  Alan joined the Memphis fire department in 2002 and happened to be in my recruit class.  Alan and I became good friends during that time and stayed in touch after graduating from the academy. 
However, it was 2004 when we really grew in our relationship after learning that he and I both were running in the St. Jude half-marathon.  In our discussion we share how running became a huge part of our life and in a few years we would hold the incredible honor of being the first and second person to ever complete an Ironman as active employees of the Memphis Fire Department.  
As some may know that follow the show, I had to retire in 2016 due to shoulder injuries sustained while firefighting.  It is no secret that firefighting is a dangerous and labor intensive job, especially in a large city where it is not uncommon to fight 5 or more fires in a given month.  In addition to the physical injuries that happen every year to firefighters, there is always the threat of dying in a fire.
This horrible reality had happened more than once during our career with one loss being my Lieutenant was killed in a fire and another loss being my one of our classmates.  Alan shares how he faced this real possibility when he was upstairs in a house fire looking for the seed of the fire when the room he was in  suddenly flashed over and left him falling back on his training and fortunately finding the nozzle just in time to hold off the flames until he could be rescued.  Although he sustained several deep burns on his arms and abdomen Alan admits that he was fortunate that a few things went his way or things could have been much worse.   
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com 
 
 
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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Rory Thomas | President and CEO of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative

Revitalizing the Bluff City:  The Power of Urban Collaboration.  My guest this week is Mr. Rory Thomas, President and CEO of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative.
“True power isn’t held, it’s shared.”  ~ Unknown
Many times it can be easy to recognize a need for a community, but it is not so easy to know how to address that need or even where to start.  However, there is a well-known quote that reads, “the journey of a thousands miles begins with the first step”.  My guest this week shares how he saw a need for the city of Memphis and decided to take action.
The medical district of Memphis had several areas that needed improvement such as, safety, grooming and opportunity for growth.  When a city has something to offer its citizens then that city will become more desirable to recruit talent and maybe even more importantly, keep talent.
Mr. Thomas describes how networking and sharing his vision with others has lead him to some incredible people and accomplished some incredible things over the last 10 years.  We discuss what it means to have an anchor strategy, how collaborating with other organizations can become a super power and how he has found the inspiration and motivation to continue for now over a decade.
If you are an entrepreneur or simply you have a heart to serve, then this episode will give you some fire to maybe be the next person to step up and pursue your passion and change a community.  Life happens fast so I encourage you to take action today!
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com 
 
 
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🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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A Call to Heal: Jeff Dill, A Firefighter/Paramedic from Las Vegas, NV

A Call to Heal: One Firefighter’s Foundation for First Responder Mental Health.  My guest this week is Mr. Jeff Dill, A Firefighter/Paramedic from Las Vegas, NV.
“A healthy mind is a happy life – protect yours like you protect your heart.”  ~ Unknown
 
My guest this week joins the show via zoom from Las Vegas, NV.  Mr. Jeff Dill was a firefighter/paramedic and during the time he served he noticed a glaring gap in the overall resources available to first responders as it applies to the mental health.  Instead of just voicing his concern he decided to take action and he started the “Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance.”
I became acquainted with Mr. Dill at a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) conference in Germantown, TN.   Immediately saw his passion for his foundation and how he wanted to bring awareness and healing to those that serve on the front lines.  Mr. Dill revealed to the audience the shocking number of firefighter suicides nationwide that happen each year.  The jarring statistic of suicide is only one part of the destruction that PTSD causes each year to so many.  Many lose families due to substance abuse and personality changes.
We discuss how PTS causes another condition known as a moral injury where a person loses the human side of feelings.  The harsh reality is PTS is hardly talked about enough and we have a long way to go.  However, the hope is with foundations like FBHA other people from around the nation will take action and over time we will have organizations everywhere that are equipped to help.
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis you can call 988.  You can also reach out to Mr. Jeff Dill at 847-209-8208 or www.ffbha.org or text HOME to 741741.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
 
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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Thomas Attig: Expert Insights on Managing Grief and Finding Solace

From Pain to Peace: Expert Insights on Managing Grief and Finding Solace.  My guest this week is Mr. Thomas Attig, A Philosopher, Professor and Author of numerous books about understanding and managing grief.
“You don’t have to be okay to be healing – grief is a messy, beautiful process.” ~ Unknown
 
My guest this week hails from Victoria, Canada.  Mr. Thomas Attig has dedicated his life’s work to better understanding the grieving process and how people learn to cope with great loss.
Mr. Attig explains that he had a lot of experience with death growing up because he came from a large family.  Losing loved ones never became easy to him, but he became better at working through the pain.  One reason for this was his ability to better understand what he was feeling and why he was feeling it.
We talk about the much talked about, “5 stages” of grief.  Those being denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  While it is certainly reasonable to have any one of these stages or even all of them, it is not always necessarily the case.  Sense everyone is wired differently and death comes to people from a lot of ways and at all different ages, you simply cannot broad brush how everyone one will go through grief.
We discuss some of the things that one must hold true to themselves when grieving and other possible emotions one might experience.  If you are interested in learning more about Mr. Attig’s philosophies and approaches you can find his books on Amazon and his most recent book, “Seeking Wisdom in Death’s Shadows” by going to Oxford University Press and you can use the promo code AUFLY30 to get 30% off.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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Michael House: A Candid Conversation About the Realities of Adoption

The Unspoken Challenges: A Candid Conversation About the Realities of Adoption.  My guest this week is Mr. Michael House, A Firefighter/Paramedic with the city of Southaven, MS
“Adoption is not a last resort, it’s a first choice for a forever love.”
~ Unknown
 
As most of you know, the decision to start a family can be both an exciting and scary time all wrapped up together.  Knowing that you will have a person on this planet that will be solely reliant on you for everything is perhaps the most important decision you will ever make.
My guest this week describes how he and his wife set out with a goal having three kids, but after their second child things took a turn.  Having had two children without any issues the couple had no reason to fear trying for a third.  However, it was on her third pregnancy that she suddenly faced some complications.
Statistics show that nearly half of all pregnancies end with a miscarriage.  This is a national average with those statistics being much higher in some countries.  Suddenly the House family found themselves falling victim to becoming a statistic.
Michael shares how over the next few years they ended up having 4 total miscarriages and the fear of trying again had overtaken their will to try again.  This reality didn’t change the fact that they still wanted to have a third child so they took the next steps to inquire about the process of adoption.  We take a deep look at all of the hurdles they faced and the overwhelming cost that is associated with adoption.
It became apparent that adoption is not for the faint of heart, but as Michael shares, he has no regrets at all, so much so that he and his wife have decided to move forward with adopting their daughters half-brother.  If you or someone you know are looking at adoption you will definitely want to check this episode out and if you are interested in helping the House’s reach their funding goal to adopt their daughters little brother you can donate at their GoFundMe @ “Bring Baby House Home”
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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Ambleside School in Nesbit: Hannah Hatcher and Krista Dornier

Learning Without Limits: Exploring the Innovative Approach of Ambleside’s Hybrid Schooling.  My guests this week are Mrs. Hannah Hatcher and Krista Dornier, Employees of the Ambleside School in Nesbit, MS.
“Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.”
~ K. Gilbran
 
One of the most important things we do as parents is ensure that our kids get a quality education to prepare them for their future.  My guests this week explain the uniqueness of the school they both work at and how they were drawn to this particular school.
The Ambleside school was originally founded by the 19th century British educator Charlotte Mason.  Her vision was to create a faith based school that focused on character formation, habit training, nature study and artistic appreciation.  Her goal was to keep the classrooms small and make it a more intimate setting to really hone in on each individual students specific needs.  There are only 19 Ambleside schools in the United States and the one in Nesbit, MS. is unique in its own right.  It is the only one of the 19 that happens to be a hybrid of home school and in class instruction.
Hannah and Krista share how Ambleside has impacted their personal lives with their own children.  The ability to watch their children grow in ways they never imagined, has solidified why they trusted Ambleside for their children’s education.
We discuss the variety of teaching styles and topics that Ambleside covers and how the classes are interchangeable with those things that are taught is public schools.  If you would like to learn more about what Ambleside offers you can reach out to them at www.amblesidehernando.com or Admin@amblesidehernando.org
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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Swim, Bike, Run, Repeat: The Mental and Physical Grind of My Ironman Triathlon Quest

Swim, Bike, Run, Repeat:  The Mental and Physical Grind of My Ironman Triathlon Quest.  In this week’s episode I share with my viewers my year long journey to completing Ironman Louisville!
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
~ T. S. Eliot
 
Personal growth can happen when we allow ourselves to push further than we ever dreamed possible.  There came a time in my life where I started seeking out incredible challenges to see what I might be capable of actually doing.  Part of my journey was tied to my job as a firefighter/paramedic.  Another part of my journey was pursuing a higher education.  However, it was my physical journey that I found myself being challenged in ways that I never had dreamed possible.
After having ran over a dozen marathons I decided it was time to challenge myself in a huge way and committed myself to training for and running an Ironman Triathlon.  If you are not aware of what that entails it is, a 2 ½ mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run, 140.6 total miles.
In this episode I share how I had to take the first 6 months to simply learn how to distance swim and ride on a tri-bike.  Every step of the way took total focus and I developed a mindset that would allow me to see anything other than success.  My goal for sharing with my audience about my personal achievement of Ironman is, the hope of inspiring others out there to go for something bigger than they have ever dreamed of.
This experience changed me in ways that I would have never gotten otherwise.  It taught me how to have impeccable time management, extreme determination, incredible flexibility to life and above all, how anything can be possible when you go all in on something.  If you would like to see my wife’s journey to her completing her Ironman you can watch her 6 episodes on YouTube.  The channel is called, “Southern Ironmom”.  You can also go to my website www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com for other inspirational and motivational content.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
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PTSD: Kevin Whitsell | Paramedic Pedi Flight Manager

PTSD: The Unspoken Epidemic Among First Responders.  My guest this week is Mr. Kevin Whitsell, Paramedic Pedi Flight Manager and Podcast Host of “A Silent War Within”.
“PTSD was my darkness, self-care was my dawn – I rose again.”
~ Unknown
 
One of my true joys that have come from podcasting has been the opportunity to connect with amazing people and share their personal stories of trials and triumphs. This week’s guest has chosen to take that same opportunity, but he has chosen to keep it centric to helping first responders face and cope with PTSD or as some call it, PTS(I) for injury.
 
As a paramedic and now Pedi-Flight Manager, my guest Kevin Whitsell has seen his fair share of harrowing calls.  We take a step back to see what roads led Kevin to first getting involved in EMS and how the years took their toll.  Then we take a look at how he decided to take action helping those dealing with PTSD by giving them a voice on his podcast.
Kevin describes how he has seen his podcast create real healing by just allowing someone to tell their story. As he put it, “sometimes people just want to be heard and know that they are not alone in their struggle.”  Finding help is the number one thing you can do if you are struggling with PTSD and knowing that there can be a better tomorrow when you have the right tools and resources.  If you or someone you know may be struggling with PTSD you can reach out to the Don’t Struggle Alone Hotline at 1-888-610-9279.
If you are interested in hearing more about Kevin’s podcast and check in on his episodes you can find him on YouTube and Facebook “A Silent War Within” and on IG @‌Asilentwarwithin901.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
📺 WATCH - YouTube and Facebook
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
SRPStudiosLLC.com

George Argeropoulos | Testicular Cancer Survivor and Autism Warrior

Testicular Cancer and Neurodiversity: A Personal Story About Pursing a Passion and Embracing a Journey.  My guest this week is Mr. George Argeropoulos, Testicular Cancer Survivor and Autism Warrior.
“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.”
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
In this week’s episode we tackle two very big topics that both deserve our attention.  My guest this week is Mr. George Argeropoulos and by trade he is an IT Technician at FedEx.  However, what brought us together has nothing to do with IT.
Originally, Mr. George was asked to come on the show to share his passion for Autism Acceptance and how he helped to bring about the first annual Reconnect for Autism event in Corinth, MS.  Then, before we could meet for our podcast George was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to have immediate surgery to remove the affected testicle.
We have a very open and honest conversation about the need for more education on checking for testicular cancer and how a simple check can save your life.  Early detection can make all the difference in the world.  George exclaims that this will now be a part of his message for the rest of his life.
In addition to his new found mission, George has always had a heart for Autism and that is what inspired him to put together the first annual music festival in Corinth, MS to raise money and awareness.  George has a heart for others and I know that you will see this through our conversation.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com
 
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
📺 WATCH - YouTube and Facebook
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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
SRPStudiosLLC.com

Laura Carpenter | Dyslexia Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist

Beyond Labels: A Deep Dive into Dyslexia – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Solutions.  My guest this week is Ms. Laura Carpenter, Dyslexia Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist.
“Dyslexia is not a disability, it’s a different ability – and mine became my superpower.”
~ Unknown
 
The world can be a difficult challenge for anyone to navigate.  Regardless of where you come from or what resources you have available to you, we all must learn how to process information and respond appropriately.  This ability to process the information in front of you can more challenging for some and this week we take a look at one of those communities that have extra obstacles in this area.
My guest is therapist Laura Carpenter and she found her calling after many years of teaching in the Special Education programs in DeSoto County schools.  Throughout her career she had witnessed individuals written off because of their lack of ability to grasp information and apply what they had been taught.
What she realized was there were a lot of misconceptions and false beliefs as it applied to certain learning disabilities and she made it her mission to learn as much as she could and help as many people as she could.  Ms. Carpenter shares with my listeners the many different aspects of dyslexia and how it affects individuals, as well as how the process happens to diagnose someone and possible treatments.
Ms. Carpenter also shares some personal stories of success and how she stays inspired through her clients and what it means to see someone grow and find new strengths that they never thought they had.  You will leave with a much broader understanding of what dyslexia is and what tools you can gain if you have been diagnosed yourself.  If you want to learn more you can go to her website at www.desotodyslexia.com or call at 901-827-9763.
Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website MotivateWithCoachCamp.com  Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.
 
👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj
🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com
📺 WATCH - YouTube and Facebook
🎧 LISTEN - Apple and Spotify
 
This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC
SRPStudiosLLC.com