Underdog

Jim Munroe is a magician that travels all over the United States, but his show is one unlike anything you may expect. Jim incorporates his story of faith into his performance by sharing his story of beating cancer with his audience. His show leaves the audience with dropped jaws, and this interview will be sure to do the same for you. In this episode: Pursuing baseball in college and pursuing magic as a career Falling in love with magic at an early age Losing his co-performer, roommate, and best friend as a young adult Using the art of magic to start a much deeper discussion on faith Getting diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia “The worst sunburn on the inside of my body all of the time” – the toll that one’s body takes fighting cancer The staggering probability of finding a match in the National Bone Marrow Registry: 1 in 7,000,000 Being born again on the 3rd day with new life-saving blood Beating cancer and creating a new magic show centered around his fight with cancer Meeting his ma

Lisa Leann Dalton spent her entire career dancing in NYC before she transitioned to the world of rodeo in her early forties. After winning some rodeos in Texas, she was bucked off a horse during an event, and broke her neck. She was paralyzed for a couple of months and slowly regained some motor function. She is not the same person today with the same capabilities physically, but she has matured emotionally through it all. In this episode: Beginning ballet/dance at 17 years old and earning a scholarship for it Finding a dance career in NYC The emotional rollercoaster of auditions within the dance world Handling and processing rejection Dance is delicate, rodeo is rough, but both are difficult Competing in bareback bronco rodeo The similarities between dancing and rodeo Winning the biggest rodeo of the year in her first year as a rodeo star Breaking her neck in rodeo and becoming paralyzed Regaining motion bit by bit, moment by moment Getting back in the saddle again The good – How the injury led to a kinder

Corrie LoGuidice overcame endured the grief of miscarriage, divorce, and the loss of a loved one to suicide in the span of 4 years. Today, she runs a coaching practice that teaches other survivors of adversity to find emotionally fulfilling lives and manage value driven businesses. In this episode: Becoming SVP of the family business, but doing so by earning the position How to earn respect from non-relative coworkers who use to know Corrie as a child Miscarriage, abuse within a relationship, divorce, and loss of a loved one from suicide within 4 years Learning how to process and accept grief while remaining open with other coworkers How the birth of her son opened her eyes to the abusive relationship she was living in Overcoming miscarriage by talking about it openly with others Blindsided by the shock of suicide by her boyfriend Why suicide cannot be compared to any other type of grief Finding help in a suicide loss survivor group Jumping into the coaching world of entrepreneur – coaching survivors of adve

Diego Corzo is a "dreamer", an undocumented immigrant that came to the United States as a young child and calls the USA home. He was not able to get a job or a drivers license as a young adult because of his illegal alien status. However, his grit could not be defeated. He formed a business, invested in real estate, and became financially free at 27 years old. Growing up in Peru and coming to the United States as a “dreamer” What he could and could not do growing up as an undocumented immigrant What is DACA? What is a dreamer? Non-eligibility for work and scholarships led to a LLC and an IT business Grabbing the opportunity to speak up and share his voice on a national platform after DACA was canceled by the government Jumping into real estate through house hacking Financially free at 27 years old Supporting himself through college and paying the price of admission at the same time Working through a speech impediment to become confident in public speaking Giving a TED talk in his old college town – Tallahass

Baxter Humby has lived his entire life without his right arm, but it hasn't stopped him from becoming a world champion kickboxer. In this episode: Losing his aright arm after entanglement with the umbilical cord at birth Standing up to bullies by fighting back How a seemingly weakness became a great strength The difference between tae kwon do vs. kickboxing vs. muay thai How did he get the nickname, “One Armed Bandit”? Making the Canadian Paralympic team as a long distance runner How he proved the doubters wrong and won a Kickboxing World Championship The only man in history to win world titles with one arm The only limits you have, are the ones you put on yourself Acting as a stunt double for major Hollywood productions You can follow Baxter's Facebook fan page at https://www.facebook.com/BaxterOneArmBanditHumby/

Ebo Elder is a retired professional boxer who reached a ranking as high as the #5 lightweight boxer in the world. However, his battles continued outside of the ring. Ebo turned to drug and alcohol abuse after a painful divorce, but turned his life around when he found the Lord. He returned to boxing and fought the #4 fighter in the world in the biggest fight of his life inside the ring. However, the most triumphant moment of his life was pursuing his wife after divorce and remarrying her in a way that no one could have predicted. In this episode: Growing up to become a professional boxer since childhood Boxing grown men as an amateur teenage boxer Boxing the #1 ranked amateur fighter 7 times and losing 7 times Surviving a horrific motorcycle accident Knocking out his opponent in the 1st round of his first professional boxing fight The Greatback – coming back from divorce, depression, drug abuse, and defeat to find a fulfilling purpose in Jesus Experiencing marriage, divorce, and remarriage with his wife Why

Anthony Aguiniga is a Green Beret and the founder of a shoe company, Woobies. Anthony has a big plan to become the dominant shoe company in the industry. He shares how he overcame alcoholism and a lack of a fulfilled purpose in his career after the military to form the shoe company that he is so passionate about today. In this episode: Deciding to join the Army Starting his military career with no desire for infantry to only  change his mind a few weeks in The path to become a Green Beret Swallowing his pride by leaving an intense career as a Green Beret to attend the fire academy in Dallas Struggling with alcoholism after the military Losing a mother to drugs and a father to alcoholism The creation and motive behind his shoe company, Woobies Why the name Woobies? Customer, Customer, Customer – What separates Woobies from the rest of the shoe industry Anthony’s unlikely admission process to Southern Methodist University MBA program … one of the best business schools in the country Finding his confidence in a

Haven is a 16 year old swimmer who hopes to earn her spot on the United States Paralympic team for the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. She lost her legs when she was an infant because of a failed suicide bomb attempt by her birth parents. She views her life with no legs as a blessing and embraces the potential opportunity to represent the United States as an elite athlete. In this episode: Surviving a family suicide attempt as an infant, but losing both legs below the knees Going to Dancing with the Stars at age 11 Viewing her life without legs as a blessing Finding security in her identity which is far above swimmer, amputee, or athlete Gratefulness for adoption and her adoptive parents Feeling freedom while swimming 6-8 swimming practices/week, 3 crossfit workouts/week, swim 6,000 yards/day Implementing crossfit workouts into her training schedule Finding confidence in her family when she is in doubt Time experienced vs. time wasted Circumstances don’t determine one’s future You can follow Haven and h

Richard Miles was walking home one day when his life changed forever unexpectedly. He was arrested for murder and found guilty shortly after. He spent 15 years in prison before he was found innocent and exonerated. Once he was given his freedom, he decided to help others in Dallas adjust to their newfound freedom as well through Miles of Freedom. His organization provides resources and referrals to former inmates as they assimilate back into society. In this episode: Growing up in Oak Cliff, Dallas A normal walk home turns into suspect #1 arrest Arrested due to racial prejudice Finding a peace in being innocent Learn the system, and adjust to the order of the system The most brutal part of prison – the inability to choose Losing hope year 11 into prison I am in despair, I am a commodity, I must be useless Wrestling with God over injustice and his race Having faith before prison but working his faith for the first time in prison Words from my cell – A Bible Study in prison, regaining hope The shortest case Ce

Todd Orr was born and raised in Montana, and is a modern-day mountain man. However, no amount of time spent in the wilderness can prepare a person for a grizzly bear attack, let alone 2 grizzly bear attacks in the same day. Todd survived both horrific attacks and shares why his love for nature will not fade. In this episode: Growing up in Montana and working outside every single day. A normal hike one day turns into a fight for survival with a grizzly bear Bit 5-6 times in the right arm and shoulder How to properly avoid an encounter with a bear, or protect yourself if it attacks Playing dead while feeling the breath of a grizzly bear on his neck Walking down the trail to safety and getting attacked by the bear for a 2nd time Suffering a broken left forearm from the bite of a grizzly A foot away from her face and staring into the eyes of a grizzly Surviving 2 bear attacks and hiking 3 miles back down a trail to his car Recovering after multiple surgeries and stitches Returning to the woods and conquering fe

Trip Hawkins built Electronic Arts and created the most widespread and popular sports video game of all time, Madden. He pioneered the video game industry and is one of the most well known video game creators in the industry. Trip went on to start many more companies with various levels of success. He is a professor at UC-Santa Barbara now. In this episode: Getting hooked on the idea of video games at an early age Creating his own major at Harvard – Strategy and Applied Game Theory, and becoming a pioneer Finding a mentor in Tom Schelling, Noble Prize Winner, at Harvard Trailblazing his own path to learn more about computers and video games Joining Steve Jobs’ team and working for Apple Leaving Apple and launching Electronic Arts The birth of EA Sports - Having the first ever celebrity, Dr.J, involved with making a video game; Dr. J and Larry Bird go 1-on-1 Creating the most interactive sports game of all time – Madden football How the biggest strength can become a blind spot and become the biggest weakness

Haley Moss is the first openly autistic person to pass the Florida BAR exam and become an attorney. She is now practicing healthcare law in Miami. In this episode: What is autism? Her symptoms and signs at an early age Struggling to make friends and overcoming sensory overload Overcoming indirect bullying due to a lack of awareness Advocacy – not doing politics; being able to make a decision for herself Deciding to pursue law for the first time while she was an undergrad The spoon theory, a way of looking at energy allocation throughout the day Writing 2 books to help others with autism navigate through middle school and college Adjusting to her new career Haley’s suggestions on how to treat a person with autism Different can be extraordinary You can follow Haley on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @haleymossart, or you can check her website out www.haleymoss.net

Brad Smeele was a professional wakeboarder at the top of the sport performing tricks that no one else could do. However, during one attempt at a trick, Brad crashed into a ramp and broke his neck. He instantly lost the ability to move his arms and legs. He learned to live life without the physical talent he once had, and instead embraces the deeper perspective he has gained. In this episode: Falling in love with wakeboarding Becoming a professional athlete and training year round The first ever to land a specific trick and winning Trick of the Year How another attempt at the trick led to permanent injury Learning how to live life as a quadriplegic Losing his identity in his physical talent and abilities, and gaining a greater perspective The Movement Collaborative – Trying to speed up the research process by collaborating with other spinal injury organizations to find a cure The Keep or Cut Challenge – Taking the challenge involves taking the risk of allowing your friends, family and followers to vote on whe

Mark Grant grew up with parents who were addicted to alcohol. He eventually lost both of his parents to alcohol related deaths. However, Mark decided to never drink alcohol throughout his life and became a successful sports journalism major at LSU. Early in his career he became a director for ESPN, and he is 1 of 10 directors for CBS Sports now. In this episode: Growing up with an alcoholic father Becoming the man of the house after his dad left when Mark was 16 years old Watching his mother turn into an alcoholic herself after his father left Grieving two parents that passed away due to alcoholism Learning to be like the good in his dad Never seeing his father again after he abandoned Mark’s family Changing majors from pre-med to broadcast journalism Pursuing ESPN wholeheartedly “Sometimes the opportunity hits you on the side of the head” TV Director – Conducting the TV team orchestra Overcoming racial prejudice in the industry Holding 1 of only 10 Director spots for CBS Sports You can follow Mark on Twitt

  Stephen Wampler is the first man with cerebral palsy to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He created a stretcher and pulley apparatus that allowed him to pull himself up 2-6 inches at a time which equaled over 20,000 pull-ups over the course of his 6 day ascent. Stephen is also the founder of Camp Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs, or Camp Wamp for short. This organization sponsors children with disabilities to experience all of the fun activities of the great outdoors in Lake Tahoe, California. He empowers them to live beyond their disability. In this episode: Growing up with Cerebral Palsy Viewing disability with humor rather than shame Outdoors is a challenging classroom to learn how to overcome the obstacles of life Pushing through the fear of rejection and finding a wife and raising children Camp WAMP – providing the ultimate outdoor experience for children with disabilities; helping the kids achieve more than they ever thought possible The first person with Cerebral Palsy to climb El C

Mackenson Bonnell was born in Haiti and lost his parents as a teenager. He became the caretaker of his younger siblings, and eventually developed Type I Diabetes when he was living at an orphanage. He was adopted by US parents and together they formed Kay Mackenson which is a clinic in Haiti that provides treatment and education to Haitians regarding diabetes. Mackenson just finished his collegiate career in soccer and is hoping to attend physical therapy school in the near future. In this episode: Growing up in Haiti Losing his parents at a young age and becoming the caretaker of his siblings at 13 years old Having faith and trusting God throughout his loss Learning English at the orphanage Waiting 3 years to get adopted and live in the United States Diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at 17 Forming the Kay Mackenson Clinic – Providing healthcare and diabetes education to Haitians Overcoming the culture shock of transitioning to small town Texas Earning a position on a collegiate soccer team without playing high

Brett Bramble has been affected by the harmful side effects of drug abuse both directly and indirectly. He was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug possession, and lost his sister, Brittany, to a drug overdose shortly after he was freed from prison. He decided to take action against drug addiction and walked across America twice to raise awareness of the harmful side effects of drug abuse. He is now planning to open Freedom to Grow which will be a drug rehabilitation center in Georgia. In this episode: Violating probation and being sentenced to prison for 18 months Breaking addiction through counseling Losing his sister to drug overdose Taking action by raising awareness against the harmful effects of drug use by walking across America to find relief from pain The strong support community he met along his walk Meeting a woman in Kansas City who also lost her sister, Brittany, to drug overdose Raising money for his own non-profit Freedom to Grow Walking across America a second time and becom

John Peck served as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his second deployment, an IED detonated after he stepped on it, and he lost all four of his limbs. After a long road to recovery, he received a double arm transplant and became the second veteran ever to receive this life-changing surgery. He has regained motor function in his arms and he can accomplish numerous tasks that most never thought he would be able to again. In this episode: Being broke down and built back up during Hell Week in the Marines The brotherhood mindset in the military Excitement to deploy No regrets in serving as a Marine and sustaining injuries 1st tour of duty to Iraq: enduring a frontal tear in his brain lobe that led to a 21 year loss of memory 2nd tour of duty to Afghanistan: stepping on an IED and losing all 4 limbs The pain of divorce after losing his limbs Overcoming suicidal thoughts by learning that he can find love as an amputee Becoming the second veteran ever to receive a double arm transplant Relearning how to wi

Travis Mewhirter picked up sand volleyball for the first time at 24 years old and found a way to become a professional athlete in this sport. Life on the beach as a sand volleyball player may seem glamorous, but there are often extensive hardships outside of the court that all sand volleyball professional players deal with day-in and day-out. Travis shares how he turned pro, the sacrifices he has had to make, and why he loves this sport above all others. In this episode: How a bartender initiated his interest in volleyball Sacrificing brand name credibility in his career with the Washington Post to pursue a better lifestyle The training, practice, and regimen that a 24 year old with no volleyball experience did to become a pro Newfound motivation after getting embarrassed in his first professional competition Pursuing greatness in a sport that doesn't offer much financial compensation, even if you are one of the best in the world Using a passion to create a platform and find a career in writing about volleyb

Yonas Hagos was born in Africa and grew up in a Sudanese refugee camp before he came to America as a young boy. He enlisted in the Army after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and was hit by an RPG in Iraq during his tour of duty. He survived and went on to become a successful serial entrepreneur in Illinois. In this episode: Growing up in a Sudanese refugee camp Muslim vs. Christian persecution Family is important and family must stick together Coming to the United States and living in the projects but feeling like a king Learning English, preserving Ethiopian culture, and avoiding the hood life by listening to his parents Serving in Iraq and getting hit with an RPG Overcoming PTSD and how he views it now Transitioning to an entrepreneur: 16 Dunkin Donuts, 2 Pet Supplies Plus, and a gun manufacturing company Persistence beats resistance You can find out more information about Yonas at www.yonashagos.com or on his public Facebook profile https://www.facebook.com/yonashagospage/