Roy Wood Jr. is a man who made a mistake early in his life. He knows first hand that believing in people even after a mistake can be life changing. As a comedian and philanthropist, Roy Wood Jr. has learned not to dismiss anyone. He has used his platform to provide entertainment, to promote awareness in many areas, and to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Roy is not a runner but has a profound love of baseball. He also has overcome obstacles to make it to his finish line. He is a world -renowned comedian and producer of documentaries and TV shows. His story is one of inspiration and provides that everyone desires a second chance for greatness. Our conversation covers his unique journey.
Episode Highlights:
How Roy discovered his talent for comedy
Roy in college balancing his career in comedy and education
Early years as a standup comedian
Dealing with failing at a comedy show
Getting into radio
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Roy’s college mishap and how a probation officer and other comedians still believed in him.
Roy as a philanthropist
The future for Roy Wood Jr.
Guest Bio:
Roy Wood Jr. joined The Best News Team in 2015 as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-nominated The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. In 2021, Comedy Central continued its long-standing relationship with the talented comedian and actor collaborating on two podcasts–Roy’s Job Fair and Beyond the Scenes–as well as his third hour-long stand-up special, Imperfect Messenger, which is now streaming on Paramount. As an Executive Producer, his credits include the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground, an HBO Max project 1% Happy and an untitled medical field comedy for NBC. Wood will executive produce, write, and star in an untitled single-camera comedy about the National Guard in the works at FOX. Wood will also star alongside Jon Hamm in the long-awaited Fletch remake, Confess.
Wood’s first Comedy Central one-hour stand-up special, Father Figure, debuted in 2017, the same year he was named the new host of Comedy Central’s storytelling series, This is Not Happening. His second Comedy Central one-hour stand-up special, Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You, which debuted in 2019, remains the network’s highest-rated original stand-up premiere. Wood has entertained millions across stage, television, and radio. Forbes declared he is “One of comedy’s best journalists,” Entertainment Weekly has described his thought-provoking comedy as “. . . charismatic crankiness. . .” and Variety Magazine named him “One of 10 Comics to Watch in 2016.” Before The Daily Show, Roy co-starred for three seasons on TBS’s Sullivan & Son, and he remains a regular guest on various ESPN shows and the MLB Network. Wood began his comedy career in 1998 at the age of 19 while attending Florida A&M University. In 2006, he debuted on network television on The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2008, he appeared on HBO’s historic Def Comedy Jam and was selected by America as one of the top three finalists on Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyer, Conan, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He also performed on numerous USO Tours for our Troops stationed everywhere from Guam to Iraq to the Philippines.
Throughout the global pandemic, Roy spent time raising money for the displaced staff of comedy clubs through tipyourwaitstaff.com and Laugh Aid. In his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, his philanthropic endeavors include supporting Workshops, Inc., which enriches lives by helping people with disabilities and other employment barriers achieve their vocational potential. The DUBS Baseball Academy is an investment in sports to change lives. STAIR of Birmingham, where tutoring empowers students to read better and dream bigger. Also, I See Me, Inc., where the mission is to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and image.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
Tony Drees is a Purple Heart Desert Storm Veteran; as well as an adaptive athlete who uses skiing as a vehicle to serve the community.
He survived the deadliest scud missile attack of the Iraq war thirty year ago. Twenty-eight members of his unit lost their lives. Tony survived but his right leg was severely injured. He endured over seventy surgeries to save his right leg. He actually was able to function and live for a while with his injured leg, a feat that he doctors called a miracle
He was successful in a sales job. He got married and became a father. He unfortunately struggled with alcohol and opioid addiction, and then got sober. All the while, he was living with an open wound in his leg that just wouldn’t heal. In 2017 severe blood and bone infections left him with a choice: amputate his leg or die.
Just a couple days before the surgery, right around Tony’s 50th birthday, he was talking with his son Quincy about skiing, something he did in the past. After surgery his rehab was to be a year long. It only took four months. It was because skiing was on his mind.
The feelings of guilt for living always drove him to achieve high goals
So in 2018, he took up skiing on one leg and has achieved remarkable feats on the mountain. He uses his skiing to inspire, to serve to promote diversity.
Episode Highlights:
Serving his country and almost losing his leg.
Struggling with survivor’s guilt, depression and destructive behavior
Breaking from his career, moving to focus on being an athlete
How Tony Drees starting skiing again after his amputation
What’s next for Tony Drees in the coming season
Tony Drees sharing some powerful life lessons
Guest Bio:
Thirty years ago Tony’s story became public when he survived the deadliest scud of the Iraq War. Twenty-eight soldiers perished, fifty-four of sixty-eight of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s 14TH Quartermaster Army Reserve Unit were lost or wounded. He felt guilty for living.
This always drove him to achieve incredibly high goals in anything that mattered to him. A lifetime of that and it seems he’s amassed a tremendous amount of opportunities to succeed.
He lost his war-wounded leg after 74 Surgeries and a couple of bouts with cancer.
In 2018, he took up skiing on one leg. He turned out to be pretty good. He also transformed literally overnight from a 200lb pro baller looking-body to a 140 one-legged man.
Even with his leg gone, he still had a duty to serve. He is progressing rapidly in skiing. He is an adaptive champion and motivational speaker.
He is continually seeking to inspire across a diverse audience. After people see him people always internally (and often externally) compare themselves to the one-legged person- everyone. That’s equity. Many of these folks are then moved to do something. That’s his influence and he uses it inclusively for positive representation of many groups that may otherwise go underserved. That’s his service.
His next challenge is to do a backflip on one ski!
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
I’ve been running since 2010. I sustained my major first knee injury following three marathons in three months in 2012.. I wanted to be a marathon maniac.
My right knee never got better despite conservative treatment, which consisted of therapy, cortisone injection, hyaluronic acid or gel injections, so I ultimately had surgery in 2013.
Following that knee surgery, my right knee returned to its pre-injury status. I was able to return to running and since have run three marathons, and a plethora of other races.
In March 2020, I was ski racing and I was a little too aggressive and fell and injured my left knee. After months of conservative treatment which consisted of the same treatment I did on my right knee it never got better. I finally got an MRI. The MRI revealed a partial ACL tear, a lateral meniscus tear and a cartilage injury. In December 2020 I underwent surgery to repair my ACL, address my meniscus tear and cartilage injury.
My knee never was 100 percent but I did progress to running intervals. In 2021 during my college homecoming my knee really started bothering me again. I sought another opinion as I couldn’t run and I had races to do. . I was found to have a full thickness cartilage lesion following another MRI.. In order to return to running I would need to have another surgery. Tune in to learn the type of knee t surgery I underwent- microfracture.
Episode Highlights:
Various knee injuries
Treatments for knee injuries
When to see a specialists following an injury
Various surgeries for knee injuries
What exactly is microfracture surgery?
What restrictions are required following microfracture surgery?
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Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
As a woman who has walked in the same steps as many of her clients, Lisa Tanker lives and breathes spreading wellness education to help women improve their lives.
She had a health scare in 2008 where stress and burnout caused her serious respiratory issues. She learned that, as women, we need to prioritize rest and create self-care routines in our everyday lives..
Lisa’s 20+ years of healthcare and wellness experience have come full circle and allows her to truly understand the needs of women. Including how different bodies respond to different foods, and diets and how this, in turn, affects the weight loss journey.
Our conversation covers how Lisa got into the fitness industry, understanding women and their needs, getting into wellness coaching and writing her book.
Episode Highlights:
How Lisa started her fitness journey
How her career journey has brought her into the wellness industry
Starting her fitness studio
Shifting into wellness coaching for women
Challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur
Lisa’s advice on getting started and saying consistent with fitness
Her book, The Shift From Shame To Empowerment
How to look at challenges in your life from a lens of empowerment
Guest Bio:
Lisa Tanker is the Founder of Soul Beautifully Fit and lives and breathes spreading wellness education to help women improve their lives. Soul Beautifully Fit was birthed from Lisa’s eight years in Pharmaceutical sales, ten years of coaching clients as the founder of a boutique studio in Atlanta, Georgia and as the former VP of Sales at a wellness tech startup. Lisa’s 20 plus years of healthcare and wellness experience has come full circle and allows her to truly understand the needs of women.
As a woman who has walked in the same steps as many of her clients, Lisa’s ability to empower women to achieve weight loss came from teaching them life changing tools to manage stress and make themselves a priority in their lives. Lisa has personally coached over 2,000 women to achieve better health, fitness and wellness.
Lisa’s passion, personal experience and ability to truly help women connect the dots in wellness is the foundation of Soul Beautifully Fit. Lisa has also opened up in her book The Shift: From Shame to Empowerment to further inspire women to own their story and be open, shameless and fearless on their wellness journey.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
Dominique and Ken are creators of Lean In With The Kings and The Grow Up Wild Podcast. Lean In With The Kings is a platform focused on Marriage, Family and Fitness. Grow Up Wild is about the experience of others from a range of physical fitness, marriage, family, mental health, and individual growth. Dominique is a return guest on the show and today she is joined by her husband Ken.
The couple’s goal is to reach people who are looking for a platform that deals with everyday issues of relationships, family, fitness while holding on to their individual growth. They created these platforms to share experiences, advice while offering support, a shoulder and an ear. This is their passion.
Join us for a stimulating talk on how they met, how they got into running and fitness, raising their three kids, their platforms together and how running has shaped their lives.
Episode Highlights:
How Dominque and Ken met
How their blog was born
Positive aspects of running together
How to motivate your partner to get into running and/or other forms of fitness
Safety tips for runners
Vulnerability and communication in relationships
Podcasting as a couple and the conversations they share on their show
Connecting with your passion every day
Guest Bio:
Dominique and Ken are the creators of Lean In With The Kings, and The Grow Up Wild Podcast. Lean In With The Kings is a platform focused on Marriage, Family and Fitness. Grow Up Wild is about the experience of others from a range of physical fitness, marriage, family, mental health, and individual growth. Dominique and Ken King are from Northern California, and have three children.
Dominique and Ken’s goal is to reach people who are looking for a platform that deals with everyday issues of marriage, family, relationships, fitness while trying to hold onto their individual growth. They created these platforms to share experiences, advice while offering support, a shoulder and an ear. This is their true passion.
Dominique has always been a runner. Running has intertwined itself in her life at various stages. Growing up she used running as a way to escape her home environment. She used to run and walk between towns trying to make sense of why things shook out the way they did for her. In her older years running was my way of maintaining an unhealthy view of what I thought her body should be.
Dominique and I connected via Clubhouse- The Runner’s Lounge where she and her husband talk about all things running. She is my second return guest, and today she is with her husband Ken. Ken has always been athletic but not a runner in the true sense. He did run as part of his training but it was not a primary focus. Because it is Dominique’s passion and Ken wanted to spend more time with his wife, he decided to join her and now they never miss a Couple’s Run Friday
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
We discuss in-depth her journey into coaching, her recent award nominations, creating her legacy strategy, working with less represented women in sports and how cancer has impacted her life.
“Sometimes we have no choice but to be first.” Khadijah Diggs is back on the podcast to talk about her recent award nominations and notable achievements. She created the Diversity Infusion Syndicate ( DISK) to promote excellence and sisterhood as well as promote a positive image of women and Islam in general, and to diversify the landscape of triathlon.
She is the first African-American woman to be a member of the U.S. Long Course Triathlon Team and the first women wearing a Hijabi to represent the U.S. in any Multisport event.
We discuss in-depth her journey into coaching, her recent award nominations, creating her legacy strategy, working with less represented women in sports and how cancer has impacted her life.
Episode Highlights:
Getting nominated for several awards as a triathlete and a trailblazer
Getting certified as a USAT Certified Coach
Creating the Diversity Infusion Syndicate- DISK
The remarkable women who have joined Khadijah’s program
Candidate assessment to join DISK.
Partnerships and sponsorships for her brand
Losing her loved ones to cancer and why she races to raise cancer awareness
Various races: Completing Iron Man races, her first international race in Cuba
Guest Bio:
Khadijah is a Mother, Project Manager and a Team USA and Silver Ironman All-World Triathlete. Her MISSION is to Promote a Positive Image of Women and Islam in General through Sports.
“Training and racing started off as my therapy to recover from a failing marriage and the loss of loved ones due to cancer. It has remained that but has also become how I express myself and share who I am as Muslim, a Mother and a Woman.” Her GOAL is to open dialogue and connect women of all backgrounds on a personal level by sharing common experiences, joys and struggles through healthy living, group training and healthy competition. “I have learned traveling all over the country and the World to race, that at the core, we are more the same than different. The struggles of motherhood and just being female are universal and it binds us as women.”
During the pandemic Khadijah started organizing Get-Togethers open to everyone, to discuss common and not so common endurance athlete topics. “It was an amazing opportunity for experienced triathletes to share experiences with new triathletes. It’s like having everyone over, just online. These webinars are located on YouTube Channel or on Google Podcasts and are very informative.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
