Kevin Polky - The Journey

In the midst of everything happening as we are getting ready for Christmas, have you been able to really listen to the lyrics of those songs you have heard throughout your life. Recently, I reflected as I listened to hours of Christmas songs as we drove home. Many memories came flooding back. But, one stood out, Amy Grants’s “My Grown-up Christmas List”. I wonder if this Christmas season we could...

An Artists who uses the Stage to Share a Message Dan has loved to act and perform from his earliest memories. Dan has been a true student of the arts, continue to learn and grow throughout his career. During this conversation, Dan shares about what it takes to make acting a career. He shares about his latest performance in “Every Brilliant Thing” and the impact it has on the audience and everyone...

Are you a Bears fan or Packers fan? So many times, we get caught in a perspective of my team vs. their team, right or wrong, black or white. It is developmental critical to start with this perspective but if we get stuck here we will not be able to grow. We will not be able to see grey. We really are not a football fan. Just a fan of a team (well as long as they win).

Xavier Returns to Share Her Story after her Son’s Death Xavier returns to The Journey to share her story about the trauma of finding her son on the day he died form suicide. Xavier had numerous losses in her life but this was different. A parent living through the loss of their child is beyond words. The fact she was the one who found him amplified the problem. She discovered she had PTSD. After s...

“Why do I do what I don’t want to do, and don’t do what I want to do?” Kevin shares in this brief teaching piece about the “blueprint” that drives our perceptions and decisions we make later in life. He introduces the concept of the wound and the false self that we create to protect ourselves. But most importantly men and women, he invites us to do the work on ourselves to break “the spell”.

Great conversation with John Penney as he shared about his story growing up with not enough money to play organized sports. He had a numerous of mentors who assisted in his growth as he walked through doors in his career in the trades. Later, he took his love for basketball and desire to help his daughter and started an organization to give girls opportunities he never had growing up. John’s organ...

Athlete to Business Leader to Community Activist Rob joins me on The Journey and shares his story from being a top performing tennis player who turns professional. He then graduates from college and returns to his father’s company which in few short years he becomes president. After successfully bringing a cultural change to the company, he desires to bring the same opportunity for cultural change...

Part 2 A Lady’s Journey with Depression and her Desire to Give Hope Lynn returns to The Journey and goes into more detail regarding her experience with depression. Lynn shares about the importance of not giving hope and knowing you are not alone. Awareness, education and pursuit for help. Medical assistance, counseling and healthy lifestyle are the key message she wants to share with others. Enjoy...

From Competitor to Coach to Creating Space for Greatness Lori started gymnastics when she was very young. She remembers her first setback as being a turning point as she faced her fears and overcame it. She realized avoiding something she was scared of was not a solution. She uses that motto as she coaches national and international athletes. She and her husband have created a world renown gymnast...

Paying Forward What He was Given in the Darkness Brian grew up in a small Wisconsin town. He admits he was loved by his mom but felt there was always something missing. He was constantly feeling not good enough. He discovered alcohol early in life and that became a problem. Drugs were added into the mix and things got worse. But, the core issue was a lack of relationship with himself and others. B...

A Storyteller Through Film Corbyn became intrigued with filmmaking when he was young. He has made a career out of expressing himself through this form of art. He thought a few years ago, he had reached the pinnacle of his career with The Fatherhood Project and being on the Today Show. But, that was just one part of the story. He has committed his life to being the best husband and father that he c...

He was Born Blind but He Can See This is an amazing conversation! Lenox was born very poor in Jamaica. And, he was born blind. He saw for the first time when he was 8 years old. He was sent to an orphanage after his mom died. He was brought to the US in his teen years where he was eventually adopted. Lennox shares what his life was like being blind to the transition of having sight. He talks about...

Through her Losses she has been a Voice for Others Tonya was the oldest of three children. She remembers always wanting to be around her dad. She was a “tom-boy” who was bullied by friends and extended family. And then the losses began. Her father died from a tragic car accident. It changed everything for her: dad, mentor, boss and inspiration, all gone in one moment. Years later, her brother died...

He lost Half of Himself and Now He is Able to Give Back Ethan gave himself a wonderful gift on his 21st birthday, he lost over half his bodyweight through changing his eating and exercising. He had always been big for his age. He silently endured the ridicule and not knowing where he fit in with his peers. The deadly combination of depression and unhealthy lifestyle lead to making some huge change...

Returning to the podcast is Kylie Lewis and Dalton Bullard. Kylie was one of the panelists for our most recent event, Artists & Athletes Out of the Ashes, and Dalton is a former Division 1 athlete. In this episode we discuss the topic of using the arts and athletics as a vehicle for transformation and developing resiliency.

A Music Lover who wants to Change the Industry Ryan was a shy, introverted self-proclaimed “nerd” growing up. He discovered the punk music scene and it changed everything. He felt like he fit in and could relate to the sound and the message. Today, he believes deeply in the power of music and the artists who create and perform it. He wants to provide solutions to a broken industry as speaker, mana...

Scott grew up playing sports like most young people but his love for football and wrestling were not enough to quiet the thoughts in his mind. Alcohol was one of the only things that would make him forget. But, the problems that were caused when he was under the influence of alcohol kept the cycle of avoidance and alcohol, repeating. Twenty months ago, Scott started his journey of sobriety. Six mo...

Out of the Darkness into the Light through Art and giving Back Erica grew up in an extremely conservative home impacted by a legalistic religion, divorce and mental illness. As an adult, the world was much bigger than she had previously ever known. Alcohol became part of it and then became a problem. A secret with no limits. Many unsuccessful attempts of stopping until she hit her bottom. There sh...

Seeing the Opportunities even in the Darkness Growing up for Gregg there was numerous setbacks. During high school, his mom was diagnosed and died from cancer, his dad in his grief died from suicide, brother and best friend died from suicide. In the midst of that darkness, there was Light. Significant individuals and opportunities came into his life. Listen to this powerful conversation of how Gre...

How recovery has allowed him to give back Mike grew up the only child of two loving, conservative parents. But, sensed there was more outside the walls of his house. He discovered music and became entranced but alcohol, drugs and the desire to be liked distracted him and took over. Through recovery, Mike has the opportunity to share his story and words of wisdom to others through conversation and...

Part 2: Simply Us and a Bus Aaron returns to the studio days before he and has family leave Rockford to live on the road in their 225 square foot bus. Aaron shares about the lessons he learned from the first year. “Be open to what God has right in front of you.” And shared about what he is going to bring on the road for this part of the journey.

She’s a Survivor Andrea grew up with parents who cared for her but emotionally compartmentalized feelings. She was in an emotional and verbally abusive marriage that turned physically violent and then she was liberated. And, she has been cancer free for the past year. She now uses art, yoga and what she learned through these experiences for her students. Listen to this conversation of an amazing w...

What Makes a Champion Dalton joins me in a conversation recapping his first year being the head coach of the Belvidere Co-op wrestling program. Dalton was a 4x All-State wrestler in high school and placed 2nd twice in the state tournament and 2x All- American in college. We discuss how athletics can be a platform in which students can develop character, resiliency and transform their lives. Compet...

We Needed to Make a Change Aaron is a former police officer who became a professional photographer as result of a near death experience. After a few years of raising their family and running a successful photographer business, Aaron and his wife, Phelan decided to make a big change. They bought a school bus and converted it into their home. Listen to this authentic conversation about Aaron’s story...

A Brother’s Love Brad never saw it coming. He never in his wildest imagination thought his brother, Greg would die from suicide. Greg was his older brother, someone he looked up to and his best friend. In the midst of grieving his brother’s death, Brad decided to make a difference by raising awareness about the high rate of suicide among police and first responders. He started the Greg Lindmark Fo...