LET'S GO!
We talk with ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Be inspired, LET'S GO!
LET'S GO!
Preston Durnford & THE EPIC JOURNAL
As we ride the waves of discussion with our returning guest, Preston Durnford, we uncover the therapeutic power of surfing, the hindrance of overthinking, and the beauty of embracing the present moment. We delve into the triumphs and challenges faced by Preston as a business owner. Our chat takes a turn down memory lane as we explore his passion for helping others and why it is so important to him.
Want to manifest your thoughts and ideas into reality? Journaling is your best ally. Listen in as Preston shares his inspiring journey of perseverance and the satisfaction of seeing his ideas come alive. We also venture into the importance of maintaining deep friendships, discussing an intriguing article which suggests people tend to have fewer close friends as they age.
We shine light on Preston's magnificent creation, The Epic Journal, which has gained clinical approval for use in behavioral health. We also spotlight the upcoming "First Responders Night of Hope" event and underscore the importance of mental health among first responders. Be ready to be inspired as we navigate this wave of enlightenment, challenges, and creativity.
Thanks for taking the time to listen in. Please leave us 5 stars on Spotify & Apple Podcasts with a review. THANK YOU!
Preston Dernford. Welcome back to the podcast. How are you, man? I'm doing good. It's been. Uh gosh, when's the last time you came on?
Speaker 2:I'd have to go on the Instagram. Look, I think it's been a few years.
Speaker 1:You're here in our old studio. Two or three, yeah, it's been. Yeah, yeah, you were one of our uh early guests that came on, dude, I was one of the early ones, I think. So First year, right, first year, maybe in the second.
Speaker 1:I can't remember spelling, yeah, yeah, but, dude, great to have you back. Thank you for taking the time to come out here this morning, because you have been working hard and expanding just your life, business, things that you've been doing Um and I really want to talk about it because I support um, this journal that you've made, which is pretty awesome. But, all that being said, you've also been getting and surfing. Yeah, my man.
Speaker 2:Well, I've been in, like I've been surfing, for like nine years but I've done like a collective of I don't know, man, I just kind of chase what's exciting for me. It's hard, um, but I've been surfing for like nine years, between skydiving and moto and this and that, but uh yeah, I mean absolutely crave the ocean.
Speaker 1:So well, you and I are kind of the same way with that. Now I don't know if this is the same for you, but for me surfing, yes, it's fun. So is skydiving. We have a lot of things in common but for me the ocean has been so therapeutic most of my life been surfed since I was eight, so it's been like even more as an adult.
Speaker 1:Now I see the importance of it for me to get out in the ocean and water and the waves and just cause every time I go in, you know it could be having a uh, you know, a long week or long shift before or whatever. But once I hit the water I have to focus so much on just timing and surfing and what I'm going to do on the long board or my mid length that I, you know, I forget about everything else and every as soon as I catch that first wave, it's just the old school saying chest, chagrin dude, just ear to ear, smile and I feel good and I always leave and get out of the water happy. Better than you came in, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know if that's the same for you. I was thinking about cause I do like to everything I do. I like kind of like process it, like I. It's hard because being out in the ocean, yes, there is a bit of presence on it, but I was just talking with a buddy where I a couple of days ago and the swell was good, but I can, though my mindset going into a wave, like I can overthink about thinking about something, about life piling into a wave and I'll blow it. So it's, I don't know it's, it's a, it's a kind of a learning lesson. I'm kind of an overthinker, so like I have to really center myself and then if I'm not, if I'm just thinking about the wave and everything and what I'm going to do, then I can serve so much better. But well, it's funny you say overthinking.
Speaker 1:I've learned through therapy and some other things. I've done that a lot of people, who most people who are kind of like overthinkers or like us, who are creatives right, we're always, we think outside the box. Right, we think, we always think what's the worst that could happen, but then we think what happens if we don't do something. But that comes with being someone who is an artist, right, a creative, someone who creates a business or music or art or cert, whatever it may be, and that's kind of like, and when I see you, that's what I see, right, you've done a lot as far as businesses and helping other people from where you came from. And I think that's kind of part of it the overthink, because I'm the same way, dude, I am absolutely the same. Now, when I get to the ocean, I probably should overthink a little more because I've gone out in days. I probably should have been out there Like there was I think it was two months ago, it was probably, I don't know like eight to 10 feet, maybe a couple of 12 footers coming in and nobody was out. It was huge and I was like, well, I came down here to surf, man, it's a beautiful day, I'm going out. There was nobody, dude, and everyone looked at me like I was crazy Because of course I took my longboard and when it gets big I put a leash on.
Speaker 1:So when I put a leash on, you know it's like, okay, this is going to be legit, right? So, anyways, I paid for it that day, trying to get out, I was getting hammered and then all the local guys that I kind of served with have known my whole life, they all went onto the shore to watch. So now you're feeling like pressure, but anyways, I got two fantastic waves out of it Huge, probably a couple of 10 footers dude, beautiful left, beautiful right. But I remember on my third I wiped out and I absolutely paid for it. Yeah, I got pretty much, took me out of it short dude, oh really, yeah, I was underwater just getting churned. You're washing machine, I was doing cartwheels. I remember thinking, okay, relax, let the wave do what it's going to do, don't fly it, you're going to lose more oxygen. And by the time I came out, I came up and I got my board. I'm like, well, there's the shore, I'm getting out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, when you go in, it's extremely humbling. You learn. Every time I go in the water I am so self-aware of myself and every time my ego gets checked I get humbled. Every time I get in the water I have this relationship with nature that's kind of gotten me through everything, and every time I get in the water I'm like hi, hey, nice to see you. You know this like bond, that I have this craving for that. How grounded I feel out there.
Speaker 2:But yeah, like when I get into something, I'm very obsessive over things and I want to be the best. And so right now I'm in the water nonstop. But everything I do I want to be so good. And then my buddies I haven't seen me surf a lot because it's kind of a lone wolf sport. Not everyone can really go out at the times I do, or the way of life that I live, I can just kind of go whenever I want. Or, you know, and especially with surfing, they can turn off, like that it's on, it's very just timing for it, but I go out and I'm getting, I'm getting, I'm doing all right right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, you, you typically you're at. You go to the state beach, huntington State, pretty much right Like Brookhurst, yeah, like Magnolia.
Speaker 2:Magnolia.
Speaker 1:Brookhurst. So I've been going out there a lot more and I forgot how hollow it is there. So I've actually been. I got a new 6'6 and a 7'2. I've been taking those out there and I've been having so much fun. Now the 6'6, I need, I need. I've been forcing myself like sacrifice being such a great, you know, being a good lawn boarder to learn to be a better shortboarder so I can keep going and get those better ways that are hollow.
Speaker 1:So, I've been doing that more Been a little bit of a learning curve. I've had some pretty good wipeouts, but I want to take that 7'2 out. Man, it's that mid-length is so much.
Speaker 2:See, but it's up, so I ride a shortboard all the time. And then when I went to my mid-length, that was a goober, yeah, you know. I took my girl out like yeah, you know I surf, yeah, yeah, just freaking purling it. Oh yeah, no, I feel you, it was a whole other thing. And then I got up and I'm trying to like pump it. I'm like no, that's not how you surf this. So it was kind of foreign to me.
Speaker 1:But yeah, Right, that's how I feel like when I stand up on my. You know, my 6'6 is a quad fan too. Yeah, and I remember the first couple of waves I got with it. I just stood up. It was like a lawn board, right. I'm like whoa, this is squirreling. I need to learn to pump better. So I've gotten better with it, but it's definitely you know, it's different style. It's just a learning curve that you got to get. But I've been trying to take that out a lot more because I've actually been having a lot of fun with it. It's been so much fun, yeah.
Speaker 2:It's when you're out and you remember. If you just get one good wave, you remember it. But I've been doing like, I've been getting so excited and if I'm going for like, I'm going for a wave, and it was like the gym coming through Right and I was so tired. I was like three hours out in the water and everyone's like, yeah, go, and I completely goob it, and then like talking about getting humbled my ego, everything, because I was just doing pretty well all the ways before, but the one came through.
Speaker 2:You're not alone bro, it's not gonna be many times Right my face.
Speaker 1:It's embarrassing, but I love surf. Man, it's so nice being down there, but you've been traveling. Seems like a lot too right Traveling. Did you up the 395?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's so much to do up there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I've been on the 395 road. There's actually like I want to say there's an Instagram data kitty to it. I mean, I found it a long time ago, is it really? Yeah, like places. It's like I gotta remember I'll show you. But it says like Highway 395 Adventures or something like that. But it shows you all the like little spots that can't for go hike and do stuff. So when I saw you do that, I was like mom man's gonna have a good time.
Speaker 2:I've been doing that for a while and I just crave that and I've never. I've just on my GPS and my truck. I'll just look at it and look at like dirt roads on it and I've always just camped and just take off and just I've explored all over there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like a tour guide, yeah, but being camping and being outside, I feel the same way. Yeah, I love it no-transcript, the noise of, I would say, the city, but suburbs life. We live in Southern California. It's fast so to get out and be away into camp and see these views and these mountain tops and these hikes that are so beautiful, and sometimes there's waterfalls or other people, whatever it may be, I always it's like surfing. I come back a little exhausted, right you?
Speaker 1:can hike and do stuff, but you feel so good in the evening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know. Yeah, I'll come back. It's funny you say it's real fast Cause, like I love Joshua Tree too. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And someone more recently explained to me like you did earlier. He said earlier like as an artist. But I think, like you know, you can live your life very artistic and the way you go out and live and to go explore those areas. People know, I know people that know other countries so well but they don't know what's in Southern California, right, they don't know where, up through 95 and Joshua Tree and Sequoia and Big Sur and all these beautiful areas, and I feel like you're not well traveled. I'm like, well, I know Southern California pretty darn well, but there's still so much to go.
Speaker 2:And when this life can get in, you know Orange County, everything, there's a hustle to it and fast pace and to go out there and, you know, get some stillness, feels really nice. But coming back you're like, oh, you get hit with, like especially pulling up on the 55 right into Costa Mesa where I live. I've came back for my great trips. I'm riding and drawing, just like, ah, you know. And then I come back and I get hit and go into the grocery store and people are tapping their foot behind me. I'm like man, you guys take a show pill here.
Speaker 1:But that's how I feel coming back because I have, you know, my little Eepa. Besides, it's getting worked on, yeah, but my RV it's a little 24 footer, it's nice Mercedes got a slide out. But I usually take that right when we go out and so great, Like I went through Utah, arizona, and we've gone up north, you know, up to Bishop and all that stuff, but it's always coming back from those places. It's kind of like as soon as you start hitting that, you feel it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you feel the stress coming, you're just like ah, there's more cars and people are like cutting you off when you come back through LA, like through Sequoia, like that way, when you have to go through LA, that part I feel it the most when you do like the 15 up yeah, that way through 395. Yeah, but coming through LA you just feel the force. You're like ah, ah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, You're like traffic. There's like any time of day coming through LA, it's always traffic yeah.
Speaker 2:No matter what you do, almost every time I want to turn back around and go. I'm like I need to get back at the end of that, oh yeah, but I think what is it?
Speaker 1:Over New Year's we'll be up in Pismo. That's fun. So, yeah, if you're going, ah, let's just start the end of New Year and start the end this year and start the New Year. Have you been to Pismo before? Yeah, so this time I'm not going to be at the Dunes, so I had a different campground. Ok, on the beach, though, yeah, ok, yeah, so I'm going to go up to like Morro Bay in Surface, which is way cold. Yeah, because I remember I went I think it was last year, little sharky, little bit dude. There's been some attacks up there, but I remember you've probably been up there, right? Yeah, you know the big rock and you park, yeah, and I get out. Oh, it's good waves, and I was thinking why does everybody have like hoods and booties and gloves on.
Speaker 1:And I had a 4-3 sealed team right Like, ok, I should be good I get out there. And as soon as my feet hit the water I went oh yeah, oh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm not prepared. When I first I did a road trip up to San Francisco and I surfed all the way up and then, on the way back down, a swell was coming and I kind of chased this swell all the way back down but I went all the way up to Ocean Beach in a 3-2. And I was in October, november, that's all you had Just toughed it out. I was so dedicated, I wanted to learn, I wanted to list. You know, I was just like there was great waves and it was so frustrating seeing these great waves and not being able to surf. I was so dedicated.
Speaker 1:Well, I was surfing out there, moral dude. I remember the first wave I could swim. I feel my feet. You know I'm walking, the board hanging the pipe. And then by the second and like the, I only did like 30 minutes. It felt like I was walking on my ankles.
Speaker 2:Like ankles, only right, little nubs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like are my feet here? This is crazy. So true, it was fun, it was worth this. So this time I'm going prepared. Yeah, because it's definitely going to be a lot colder, especially in December.
Speaker 2:So the booties and the gloves, oh yeah, everything I'm going to do it Now, the hood thing?
Speaker 1:I don't know, that's not. I typically like my head and face. I'm fine. It's more or less like my hands and my feet, to make sure they're big, big difference. Huge difference, dude, huge difference. But to give people also kind of a background about yourself, because I want to talk about this journal and why you have made Epic Journal, which is pretty cool Because you started with Epic Journey- right Company-wise.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I mean, I started my first business when I was like 17. Oh my gosh, yeah, I dropped out of high school when I was like I hated school. I'd never liked a thought You're a good company, never liked authority. Don't tell me what to do Ever since I was a little kid. So yeah, I started a clothing company when I was like gosh, maybe 16 or 17.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:And I lived down by Coachella Fest and my buddy had a screen printing press or whatever for shirts and so I bought a whole bunch of shirts and sold them at Coachella Fest and just crushed like 2,000 shirts. Wow, they're all neon. Like I said, if it ain't neon shouldn't be on. It was like twisted, that's cool. But my dad when I was 15, my mom and dad, they just knew I didn't like school, I always hated it. And so, yeah, one day my dad was like you don't like school, you don't want to go, you're ditching all the time. And when I would ditch, the security guards for the high school or the school would catch me at the skate park. So when Preston's not there, I'd be at the skate park by myself, just roaming around. But I hated school. So my dad's like hey, well, if you're not going to go to school, then you're going to go to work.
Speaker 2:And I started working with my dad and love, I was fascinated with him. Like he had a concrete company. So when he'd pull up on the job sites, everyone knew him. He just had this kind of grubiness to him. He's a really artistic, creative guy and always writing everything down in his yellow pads and it was just like, oh, I loved it. And then, yeah, I ended up dropping out of school and then I started a clothing business, but that was my first one. Then I started a company called Epic Transformations with my brother. It was a marketing company for treatment centers. And then what we did with that? We saved our money. No mom or dad helped us out. We saved up our pennies and then we invested into a subacute detox and we bought into that and then I got the other partner out, bought them out, and then we started that and then I started Epic Journey after my brother passed and then I was consulting for the treatment centers and building other ones, and business has been a journey.
Speaker 1:Yes, I definitely know it's not easy being a business owner, but it seems like you have a heart for people.
Speaker 2:Where does that come from For me? I mean, ever since I was a little kid I was just this kid looking up at the moon I was just always curious about everything and why people did things, and I was always just kind of a self-aware kid, but also a little hurt kid. And so I've always been the guy that would go and rescue the stray dogs, since I was my mom. It's like another dog press. I'm like, yeah, my mom, like you know.
Speaker 2:So, ever since I was a kid I'd be bringing stray dogs home and I can just see a lot of myself in people. When I see people hurt, I'm like, oh man, I have a way, because I've worked with thousands of people over the last 10 years, so I'm pretty good with people and there's just a way that I feel like, hey, if I have programmed myself to get through anything and there's just working with all the different clinicians I've worked with and people and this, and that I've found a way that has worked for a lot of people. But the reason I created the journal was because I would have all these really complex conversations with a lot of people and I would tell them yeah all these suggestions on what to do, and.
Speaker 2:But what happened after all these long conversations? Coffee shops or wherever in the treatment centers I own, whatever, I would follow up with them a week later so, hey, where are you at? Oh man, I didn't, you know. All right, well, it was just talk. And so I kept having this I would say hundreds of times to where I kind of got fed up Because they had nothing physical, nothing tangible to write in, nothing like what I was voicing on paper. So I was like I need to write something. So, because after these great conversations, life happens, they step away, they got Instagram and Facebook and their own porn or emails and girlfriends and boyfriend, so they would completely forget about all this energy. I just jumped into a conversation and so I'm like you know what?
Speaker 1:Like I'm going to put this whole thing together and I've been journaling for a long time, so I put everything together and so I can kind of be like here yeah, I remember talking with you a few times through the years and how you said oh, I have this idea for doing this or this journal or this business idea, and you were always telling me the importance of writing everything down. And that stuck with me. And that's what I do now with this podcast and a lot of other things that I'm involved in is now, instead of just keeping it in my head, boom, I'm like OK, step one.
Speaker 1:I'm going to write this down and do this, and it's helped me so much.
Speaker 2:Well, down to like check your chest wrap. I mean, I put that in right.
Speaker 1:It's so true, right? Oh my gosh, it's so true. It's kind of like yeah.
Speaker 2:One day I almost jumped with it off and I was like, well, check your chest, wrap. Yeah To this on your yeah yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean it's really cool what you're doing, because I see the importance of journaling, getting my thoughts out down, not just keeping them in my head, but getting on paper, and I mean the good and the bad Things that I'm upset with, and sometimes I even write prayers out there.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and that's just me, you know anybody, you journal the way you want. But it's actually cool too, because I did it yesterday Because I've been remodeling and clinging some stuff out my home and I found an old journal and I opened it just to page one, so cool. Going back to Dude, it was. It kind of got me emotional because I remember where I was at during that time and the state I was in mentally and how down I was and I was just looking at my words and I remember thinking to myself look how far you've come. Yeah, you know, and that's not to like feed the ego or anything, but it's like, dude, you've made it through some difficult times. You can do this Like hang in there, bud, it's going to be all right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's cool to kind of and I just flipped through and you can start seeing where things are getting better and oh, there's the day I went surfing. My dad was out there, it was a good time. It's just, it's so cool to see the progress. Yeah, so what, like what, was the process of making this journal?
Speaker 2:Well, like I said, I've always kind of been, you know, my own best friend in a way, and I've always enjoyed my own company. Sometimes bringing people along on my little journey has gotten the way of it, because I do think certain way and I don't know, but the thing behind it is. So it's called the roadmap, like I've already written on, the roadmap to becoming the best of you, but it's also like becoming your own best friend, because in order, if you want to go and you know you have these dreams of business or this life you wanna live or whatever it is, you have to be your own best friend, because in good times are bad, not everyone's gonna be there, but the only person that's there all the time is you, very true. So you know, when I've had really hard times and there wasn't a lot of people around, because they also have their own lives going on, so I can't expect people to be calling me because they have their stuff. So by writing. My dad always says if it's not writing, it doesn't exist, and so you know it was. Yeah, I just. If people learn to become their own best friend and truly love themselves, then a lot of their pain would kind of go away, and they always had someone. They're never alone. Yeah so, yeah, I mean, it's the big thing. A lot of people know that but don't know how to do it.
Speaker 2:So, and my journal is not. It's something that like, if I've been around a lot of high achievers, you know, in my life and when I've talked about journaling, a lot of people really didn't know how to journal. So in this one there's like 28 principles in section one. Section two it's a morning, evening and then stream of consciousness style, but everything has examples. So I put examples to everything. Yeah so, yeah, it's just by the end of the journal you can go off into a blank one and design your life. You can have that pen and paper and learn to become your own best friends through good times and bad, create business and visions, or, you know, you can use it in so many different ways, but I designed it to. You could say, oh, I love this, I didn't like this way. And now I can go off into a blank one and, boom, now I'm off my journaling journey.
Speaker 1:That's so rad, yeah. So when you said, hey, I'm gonna do this, I make this journal let's say it was you know, this is month one. What? How many months or years? What was the time period from starting it and having the idea to, okay, this is completed and done. And now I have this, I wanna get this out to people. Gosh.
Speaker 2:Probably like three years, wow, so it was like 10 years of journals. And then someone I was in a relationship with before had her sister bought her this journal called the Five Minute Journal Okay, and it's a popular one and she had it there and I was like, can I see that? And I started opening it up and I was like, oh, what did these exist, right, right, and I that just boom started creating or this. I just started having these visions and this whole thing and so I said okay, so I pulled out all my journals I had a big office at the time and I started putting them all into piles of coming up with different principles. And how am I gonna structure this whole thing? You gotta also gotta think that, like I'm not, I would say what educated, like school wise or anything like that. So shout out to YouTube and Google huh. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And mentors At YouTube.
Speaker 1:University. Yeah, I mean, that's how I fixed up my home. Yeah, just look at videos, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean so I put it all on the floor and I started to go on paper by paper and eventually they were scattered over the floor and they started just coming together and yeah, it was like it was a pretty fascinating process. But yeah, and then what I did after I started to get all these principles together, I hired a company that helped me publish it. Shout out to Enjoy your Mind.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, that's what I was gonna ask yeah okay, okay.
Speaker 2:So a lady named Jen Miller, another guy named Nathan Hassel or they're well, they're like really like intelligent on that side. So I said, hey, I had this big stack of big old clip on it and I said, hey, look, I have this and I need to like, have you guys help me edit it and put this into something. And we worked on it for probably three years, two and a half, maybe two, and then, once I got it to one point, they were probably really frustrated with me because I would go through it and comb through it and didn't like this, and they were probably like gosh man, but they dealt with me, it's your baby, you gotta make it what you want?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I paid them well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was gonna say that's what I'm gonna pay to do. But what's cool I like about what you're saying is it shows that yes, look, anybody can go after and do anything they want to do just be real right, At least here in the United States, right? This was what's great about this country.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:We love comeback stories. You can make yourself anything you want to be right. How bad do you want? Absolutely? But it wasn't something that was quick. You put the time in.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, you put the work in you got the experts to help you.
Speaker 1:It's not something that was just boom overnight.
Speaker 1:And I think that's personally. Nowadays we're living in a fast-boot society. Everybody wants that instant success. Everybody wants it. Now it's like no for me. I enjoy the process of getting to the goal of what I want to do. I like and that's what I kind of see with you. It seems like you enjoy the artistic process of getting things and putting it together and seeing it come to fruition. So it's a good example of look. I had no idea I put all this stuff together. I've worked on it for three years and boom, here it is now. Like I said earlier, before I came to the podcast, I'm like dude, your Instagram for Epic Journal. The ads you guys have are beautiful. They look really good. Thanks, I make sure to like them all, by the way.
Speaker 2:Yeah thank you very, very much.
Speaker 3:I'm always like dude. I got to support my dude man.
Speaker 1:So it's really cool that you stuck with it, that you didn't give up during the frustration or the times you doubted yourself or man, what's going on. I don't know this isn't working, but you stuck with it. You kept going Because I'm sure you had those moments at that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. And then you're putting a lot of money I mean I have a lot of money into that thing. So yeah, I mean it's, if I don't, I have to at least try.
Speaker 2:you know, and I've tried a lot of things and I've failed at a whole bunch and I learned. But I love the part of creating a brand in a community. I love taking photography. I do photography and videography and if I don't know how to do something, I know who knows and I've always been good. Like well, I don't know how to do this, but you do Like. Can you help me Reach out right?
Speaker 2:Reach out and ask for help. So it's like what's the brand good to be like? And then you have you know. So what's it gonna be? Who's my audience? And learning, that whole process of yeah, I kind of, if I'm not really creating something or doing something artistic, like I'm kind of discontent, so I always have to be either drawing or living a life in some artistic way or going after some type of goal. But yeah, the whole process of that was great.
Speaker 1:But from manufacturing to that whole thing, like wow, Dude, how did you feel when you finally got the finished product in your hand, like it's done? Did the three years of work? It's been printed, it's leather bound, right From what I have, I mean, when you got that in your hand, I'm sure what did you get? A box or something like that full of them, right when you opened it up? How did that feel?
Speaker 2:Crazy. Yeah, it was wild and I ordered a whole bunch of them and, yeah, like it was, fortunately at that time I was able to, you know, have like a lot of people proofread it from the clinical perspective and it was amazing watching people use it and hearing the feedback. But the biggest moment and I've had this with other businesses as well or after pulling cool things off events or this, and then like sitting back and stepping out like, wow, good job, man, you know. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I had it up in Joshua Tree. It was like I don't know, maybe three months ago, and one of my things is I love to go and rent cool air babies. That's one of my things. I don't buy fancy clothes, really, you know.
Speaker 1:What are you looking right now, bro? Trust me, you got some swag going on right now. You know what I'm doing.
Speaker 2:I'm just going to China. No, no, never mind. No, the surf side right here, thanks. But I like to get places where it's a vast view and I like to have this big view and to kind of look at. It's just really, I don't know. It's good and empowering for me.
Speaker 2:But I was out at this Airbnb by myself on the hillside, overlooking all of Joshua Tree and in the evening and I was looking down at the whole town at night and it was lit up and I had the one house on the side of the mountain. It was a beautiful home and I had this big like boom moment and I was like there's so many hurt and lonely and sad people down in that little town and my intuition was speaking pretty loud at that time and it was like, well, you created something that if people legitimately, legitimately followed this, which you hear all these people talking on YouTube and this, and that everything that for the most part, is in that is in this journal. I pulled this from not just me, I'm no genius, but I pulled this from how many books I've read, how many podcasts, from everything I put. All of this stuff. It's a huge collective.
Speaker 2:This isn't me, this is people this is like all the good people you listen to putting in this and I was looking out down at everyone and I was like man. I just know how many people are in pain and if they legitimately followed this and did it every day and saw it through like their life would change. So I had that big moment and my intuition whatever you wanna call it, god, it's like I don't think you really know what you created and, yeah, now we've almost sold like 2,000 of them, which has been pretty cool, and I don't know. I wanna hear more of like hey, is it working? You enjoying it?
Speaker 2:Like come on guys, but yeah, so it's pretty amazing.
Speaker 1:Well, it's interesting because I think the things that we do in this life we probably won't really know the impact we've had until our time's up, right.
Speaker 2:We'll be our creator then it's gonna. It'll all we'll know right, yeah, have a good job boy. Yeah, like hey.
Speaker 1:I've said it on here so many times when you're in the business of helping people transform your lives whether it's what I do in the fire service or what you're doing with the journal and other things you're involved in you know you impact that one life. It's like throwing that rock in the that ripple effect.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that still the lake right, boom. You see that ripple effect. You don't know the lives they're gonna touch. And then the lives those people touch it's all because of something that you did and it's powerful and I like that. I mean, in a way, it's probably good we don't know. So it keeps us humble, cause I say it all the time. Like you know, I'll hear it every once in a while like, oh my God, your podcast dude. I've been listening. This is so cool. I'm like I didn't, oh, I didn't know you listened. Like I don't get feedback from people.
Speaker 1:You know, I just put these out into the ether and let them. You know it gets downloaded worldwide. Now it's pretty cool. But I don't know. You know I'm very honest on hearing people with struggles and things I've been through and they're good and bad and we have guests that come on and they're honest and it's cool when you hear people say, oh yeah, like you had this guest on, I had no idea they struggled with this cause. That's what I've been struggling with. And it's.
Speaker 1:You know, it was empowering to know that this person got through it this, so it made me realize I can get through it, you know. And when you hear that, you're like, okay, I'm doing the right thing here Like this is pretty rad.
Speaker 2:And it's amazing that you're doing this too, cause I remember I was going through a pretty hard time and you were one of the ones that reached out and know that there was only maybe a few. You're one of a few that reached out, so you are your darn good soul, brother. I appreciate that and yeah, I think it's just. This isn't my train of thought there. What was I saying? No, you're good.
Speaker 1:You're giving me all excited.
Speaker 1:No, you're good I mean, dude, here's the thing. Man like you opened up to me, told me you're going through a hard time and I said, look, I've been there. I know Like there's some dark times in the situation that you went through and it's difficult, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. It's like you gotta hold out, grit your teeth. And I try to make it a point at least in my the people that have been put in my life that I'm close with or have ties, relationships with, one's you right, and I try to always do the same way. I say, brother, check, I try to. Every couple of weeks I'll just send a text and I'll say, hey, I don't need details, I don't need anything, I just want to know are you good, you okay? And then actually you know, boom, they're. Oh, yeah, I'm good. Dude, thank you for reaching out. And I'll usually do a phone call too just to make sure. And it's like, dude, I've had multiple. I do it with just guys, just you know what I'm saying, cause I don't want money in the waters and this is not to be like sex or anything, but I think it's better for me to do that with men, you know, just check on them, but it's cool to actually hit them up and talk with them. They say, kind of what you have said and this is not to glorify myself, but it's like man, thanks for calling and even just texting me.
Speaker 1:I have like no one ever reaches out to see how I'm doing. Yeah, you know, cause I've been there. I know it feels like to be alone and not have hope. That's a dangerous, freaking place, cause you can go to a dark, dark place where you know you're going to make a bad decision, you're going to reach out for something that's not good for you or you're going to make a permanent decision to a temporary problem.
Speaker 1:You know and I know what that feeling it feels like man and to have hope, to know that somebody actually cares, it's getting me emotional thing about this, because I just know that feeling, man, and I agree with you. And you know, now, with some time and age, and you know I've had success in many different things. I've had a lot of failures, I've made terrible decisions, I've hurt people, but to know that you can change your life, you can do better and there are people that care and love you, is it's so, in a way, soothing and empowering. It's like okay, I have these small group people that no matter what I do, good or bad, they're going to help me, they're going to support me, and that's very few.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you're going to have a very yeah, oh it's very.
Speaker 1:I tell people it's. It's very, very small it's probably. I tell people it's less than five.
Speaker 2:Yeah, For me I said if you got a solid five around you, then you're doing all right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's crazy. I read an article a while ago. That was it. Like it projected. It shows you from 20 to 30. It says like close friends, right, I think it was like 10 or 15. And then, once you hit 30 to like 35, it drops down to even less than that, but from 35 to 40 or 45, it says most people don't have friends longer than a year. Wow, it was really interesting. I was like what, yeah, and I've I have great. I tried to be that person who's connecting with people.
Speaker 1:Like even our normal camera operator, sam. I've known him since third grade. I reached out to him when we first started this podcast years ago and had him come on and I was like hey, dude, like you're, it's been great reconnecting Well, do you want to be a part of this? You want to do it? You know, and through that we've cultivated such a close bond and deep friendship and he's been through difficult times all of us in the podcast have but we've created this huge bond, almost his own, like family, within this podcast where it goes so much deeper than just doing the show Now, like everyone's checking on each other how are you doing this? And that you know sending funny memes, different things, and they'll send a group text.
Speaker 1:Hey, like, I had a rough day today. Yeah, cool, we all start calling. What do you need? Are you good? And it's to me it's sad to think that so many people don't have that support as they get older and they just feel there's a lot of loneliness, even during the holidays, right, and during the holiday, suicide rates go up and that just kills me, dude, especially in first responders. That's where I have a heart for a lot of people because I'm in that career field.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I've worked with a lot of first responders and someone that you know I was going to work with or referred me to someone to work with them. I've worked with first responders for a long time and it's tough. Oh yeah, I mean, you know especially what on the day to day basis of what you know, you guys see and stuff, it's tough yeah. Yeah, and you have to completely reprogram, rewire. You know everything, you know. It's a lot of work, it is dude, it's.
Speaker 1:I mean, like I got off shift the other day it's not like it wasn't a busy shift, we didn't see too much but even having to turn on that being a first responder and you're there for two days and you got to go to these calls Everyone's worst day. Remember coming home and I was like man, I want to. I just felt off, I didn't feel present. I was just kind of like in this weird numb mode and I remember telling myself you need to go out and you need to, like, go for a walk, come home, whatever you need to do. I didn't even go surf. I ended up going for just a short walk and then I came home, took a fat nap and I felt so much better. Yeah, I need a second.
Speaker 2:But that's the little thing you just said is so hard for people. When just to go for a walk, yeah, like that's hard. It's hard to get outside that door, yeah, you want to. Kind of a lot of people just want to sit in it. That's comfortable, yeah, but going in for a little walk, I've told that the little thing you just said seems so easy but it's extremely challenging for a lot of people it is. Yeah, even just before coming over here, like obviously the waves weren't good and the spots where they were it was crazy how packed it was. But I just I had to go jump in the ocean because I just get centered and I'm grounded and I'm just good. Then I'm connected.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, but now it's wired, I'm programmed to do that. Yeah, if I don't do it, I feel off. I don't do something like that. Oh, so I need to be barefoot and I need to be grounded into something I need to do my talk in and yeah, and I can get much more centered like that. But it's really hard for a lot of people to do a simple little act like that for themselves.
Speaker 1:Oh, I could see it because I deal with it. I deal with it, dude. I deal with it on a probably on a daily basis. Even this morning I woke up, you know I grab a rodeo and I'm like, okay, I got to do this today, I want to surf. But then I was like man, for me it's like it's either, it's got to be something physical. So I put on my running. I just went for a six mile run. I saw your shoes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're dry now, dude.
Speaker 1:And I just dude. I came home and I felt so much better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm just getting out running dude, I remember switching to that topic real quick, though I remember last time I came on I was doing a lot of triathlons and. I've done a lot of long distance stuff too and my girlfriend now was asking me like why, why? Why are you doing it? And like it wasn't to go get in shape, like if you want to go and say you're not going to go by running, you know you don't get, like you don't get on.
Speaker 2:No, yeah, it doesn't work like that you come back and you're extra hungry and you overeat or whatever. Yeah right, they have a cool study on that actually. But I think that like the biggest thing, like last time we were out there, last time we talked, we were talking about all that, and now I don't do that anymore. I used to run every day. Now I like more calm and like conscious, like you got to work out. It's real light and or, if I go and surf, it's, it's, it's. I'd rather go and surf than work out. But the grunting. And I have a buddy who's getting the triathlons. Right now he's racing the Orange County triathlon that's going on.
Speaker 2:And he was. He's getting all in it and I wanted to go and do with him. But I'm like I've done it, like I don't feel like grinding it out anymore. I feel it's doing more harm than good. It's like I don't want to do that. I needed it then because it was like finding who I was. It was like, oh, you know, like when I do these long distance runs, I'd want to stop at mile 10. But I would push through to 30 miles or whatever, and I kind of really found myself in what I was capable of. But speaking on running, I remember last time I was really into triathlons Little skinny little madman, I remember, dude, you had all the gear.
Speaker 1:I feel actually the same way because I used to do triathlons, the 50, 60 mile runs. Yeah, now I feel so am I. I don't know if I want to put all that work in, because I've kind of I've done that. Yeah, you know, I've seen how far I can push myself, and but I have been running more because I'm like, all right, let's see if we can get back and do in the ultra marathons, see if we can get you up to those 50 mile runs again.
Speaker 2:See, I'm waiting for that, and I was. We were out at dinner the other night and someone was asking, like both, do you want to do it again? I was like, well, when it calls, yeah, yeah, I mean I'll check, but the energy is not there for it. Like this is a different season of life. So I'm kind of flowing with the wind, with what feels correct for me right now, and it's a lot of peaceful, very kind of slow movement, or it's very ocean related. You know, we still haven't speak, we haven't skydived yet.
Speaker 1:I'm going up tomorrow. Are you really? Yeah, I'm going to Parameter. I was supposed to do a balloon jump tomorrow morning, oh really, but that got canceled. So we're just going to meet at Paris at like 830 or something like that in the morning. Thanks for the invite. You're the one who's going. I was going. I was like oh, my God.
Speaker 2:They hit me up yesterday. Sweet yeah, I'll meet you guys out there.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So if you want to come, you're more than welcome to jump on board.
Speaker 2:It's a good time. No, I'm right now as we're talking about the ocean and all that like I went out and bought some kayaks.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:And so I've done a lot of free diving over the years and I've skydived for a long time, like nine, 10 years, something like that yeah.
Speaker 1:You got a lot of jumps on your butt bro.
Speaker 2:And like I have a weird relationship with it. It's and it's pretty interesting. I was talking to a guy named Joe Jennings. He's like a legend in the sport. He's the one that's sent cars out of the back of the military planes. He's learned to keep them stable. He shot all anything in the sky. He's like the videographer for it. Yeah, he's like 61 now and still doing. He's just goes. He's just geared like that and a lot of people with that sport.
Speaker 2:It's like everyone uses it differently and I had a certain way that I used it. It was a great place for me to pray and meditate on the way up. Yeah, and when you're your mind's saying all these things and your fear's kind of screaming at you you're going to die or you're this, or you're the checker chest strap or all these things, I can kind of sit and like, hey, you know I can. Really I've used it in a way that's propelled me into business ventures or into life, Like, yes, I had a season where I had fun with it, but I used it to kind of like I did with the running, you know, but right now the ocean has been so amazing and I've never left it, like throughout the weeks, but I've got really in all these different sports. But right now I have buddies around the world that are diving with whales. And then I met, I got my book into Laguna Beach. What's her name? Uh, Laguna Beach bookstore, Anyway. So another guy named Rich man. I'm sorry, man, I'm forgetting your name.
Speaker 2:But anyways, he, um, he published a book on his paddle board. He'd take, go do photography out there and he was showing me what type of whales migrate, and he's orcas and gray whales and humpbacks, and he's got all these amazing photos of it and uh, so I went out and bought a kayak and so, uh, as I've been free diving more offshore, now I can bring the kayak out, know when they're migrating and start. So I got, uh, I got a whole bunch of really nice cameras, but now I'm going to get a housing and so I can go and chase the ocean as I chase the sky, right, right, but the ocean is absolutely fascinating.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So in this new season is to go out and chase the ocean and see what's down there. I'm still I'm terrified of it, which I know. That's probably why I should do it, because I am afraid of it and I know I'm going to be okay and it's a whole other world out there. But, um, yeah, this the it's really fun because it's really cool actually coming back and talking with you now, because as I'm talking, I remember where I was when I came on last time and I didn't expect where I'm at right now.
Speaker 1:It's cute and, um, that I would be really chasing this and well, it's cool because, looking back on that time, you were going through a tough time. I mean even your countenance. Now you, you're who you are, you seem happier, you seem way more fulfilled.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know so it's cool.
Speaker 1:It's cool to see that progression and what you bring up. Something really cool is what you're doing, is you're still exploring? Yeah, you're still seeking. And I read this book and it was called Wild. At Heart it was a long time ago.
Speaker 1:It's a Christian book, christian author. But how we're not created to be stuck in our homes or in an office all day, every day, like we're actually. We should be out exploring and trying new things and discovering things. Now are we going to discover some new animal? Probably not Right, most things have been discovered. But as far as like getting out hiking and seeing nature, getting in the water, trying new things and how that helps us develop as humans to keep seeking, to keep looking for things in life and the meaning and what it is, I mean because so much can start happening within yourself. You know, as we call it, what the journey? Right, it's cool because that journey can take you anywhere, but it's really dependent on you and what you want to do and how important it is to keep exploring. There was even a slogan, there was a sticker keep exploring. It's so important as humans to do that.
Speaker 1:We're not meant to be sedentary. And everyone always asks me it's probably the same with you, like skydiving and surfing, and all of a sudden, who are you afraid you're going to die, and this, and that I'm like, well, this is probably more to say it, but in my head I'm like none of us are making off this earth alive. Yeah, we're all. We're all going to get an expiration date. Oh, yeah, you have a beginning and an end. It's we know. What you do with that dash in the middle is up to you. Yeah, so I always tell people I've already accepted that I'm already dead. It's going to happen. So I'm going to enjoy my life. I'm going to go do the things that I want to do. I want to experience these things, and skydiving for me is a very as odd as it sounds. I've said this to a few people and they kind of look like you're crazy, but it's a very spiritual experience. I first for me to be up in the air, to consciously look down, point out my drop zone and then to let go of that plan or jump out and to fall through the. The sky is one of the most amazing feelings. It is a rush, but one of the best moments I've ever had skydiving and it gets me. It gets me, it gives me goosebumps now, because I was going through a difficult time.
Speaker 1:This was years ago and I went and jumped at Oceanside and I did the sunset. I can't remember what time of year it was, but I was the last out of the plane and it was just, it was a free, free jump. You know load we all. There was no tandem in there and I was the last to go and I went solo and I jumped out and I remember I was just, I felt numb, but then it clicked to me hey, the sun setting turned around. So I freaking, and I turned and, dude, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the sun was setting into the water.
Speaker 1:You can see the Were you under canopy when you turned around? No, no, I was still falling and I was falling and I just, I remember it felt like forever, right, but really it was probably just seconds. But I remember turning around and seeing that sun setting and how beautiful the ocean looked and the shoreline, and as you're falling, as I was falling, and I look, it was all happened so quick, right, I remember I wasn't even looking at my altitude, right yeah, and it just hit me You're gonna be all right, everything's gonna be fine, like get through this and everything's gonna be fine. I remember getting under canopy. I was kind of teary-eyed and I was like, dude, I'm good man, I'm good, I know, so it's weird to explain it to people, because I was like aren't you afraid to die?
Speaker 1:It's like look, there's safety protocols and things they teach you in AFF school free fall school right, check your altimeter.
Speaker 1:We have our AAD and all that stuff and I would say it's up to the person how you're gonna fly that, your canopy and coming in low, swooping whatever you're gonna do. That's, those are the most injuries I've seen. But as far as like man, I don't swoop dude whatever. I'm on a 170. So I still come down a little bit fast. I'm 190, but I have found Skydive to be healing in so many different ways. I've met so many great people doctors, surgeons, book writers, I mean people traveling from around the world to come out here to Skydive and it's like you get this collective of people who are all doing the same thing. It's just fun.
Speaker 2:It's fascinating.
Speaker 1:It's amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's the community in there. There's a lot of people that, for instance, packers, people who pack your parachute. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:People living in their vans and they go from Skydive place to each drop zone and they travel and the community aspect's really cool. And then you have like, then you, there's just amazing freaking humans. But before I go into, I want so the thing that we're talking about is like going out and adventuring and exploring and to do that things. Now I've taken over a thousand people out Skydiving, probably more than that, I don't know exactly, but it's somewhere around the world. And this is through.
Speaker 1:Epic Journey.
Speaker 2:Epic Journey, yeah, and a lot of people, and for me, I've had a lot of contact with all these treatment centers, like I was saying, a lot of people that are leaving an old life, coming into a new one, and a lot of people want to do that stuff, but they don't know anyone that does it. So I've been this catalyst to bring people into the sky. When I get excited about something, I've been this person that goes out and do these things. Like I said, I go and freedive myself. I got in a skydiving by myself. I surf, you know. If people can join, fantastic, but regardless, I'm going out. You know, I'm right there with you. Come on, come on, preston, let's go. I'm happy to do it, but I've had to go.
Speaker 2:I didn't know anyone that did any of these things, so I had to go out and do them myself because I wanted to go out and explore it. And then once I found that I wanted to bring more people to do it, but first I have to go and do it. So when I found skydiving, I was absolutely amazing, and so then I was like, well, god, check this out. So I started bringing a whole bunch of people out to do it. I've done that with surfing.
Speaker 2:I've taken hundreds of people out in the ocean but a lot of people want to do these things but they just don't have anyone to go out there and explore with. So by it's all it's in them to want to go and explore. But that's the thing with back to my journal is, after you go through that, you will learn and you will find a way to go out and do those things. You will learn, you will get the courage and to go out and explore, you know, without anyone, to go out into the unknown and go and see, kind of what you're made of. And yeah, so yeah, by you saying that stuff I know because I've heard this so much that people want to do it but they don't.
Speaker 1:They don't know what to take with them. Now your journal, you have it in recovery centers, right? It's been what's the best way to put this. Your journal has also been certified through clinicians, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's been clinically approved. So it's CBT, dbt and motivational interviewing, so it's all like different clinical modalities. So I've had a lot of clinicians review it and then it's called the Joint Commission Accreditation so it's clinically approved to be used in behavioral health. So it's like the big gold seal of approval. So that, yeah, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:That's huge. Yeah, that's gotta make it more viable, right For sure, it gives it like that stamp like this is legit. Yeah, yeah, this isn't something so enthused. Together you went through the time and the prep and had the right people look at it to say, hey, this is legit, let's get people to start using it. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I had a lady fly out from East Coast to come out and approve it and she sat with all the clients that were in the program at that time and went through it with them and really combed through it. And I had to wait. It was a three day thing. So they came and flew out and went through it and went Dude, how stressed are you, those three? I was I was in there and I was out. You know all the staff was like guys, I'm not gonna be here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And at the end she sat and she's like, wow, all right, good job, so you can use this here. So having that was a pretty big deal.
Speaker 1:Now, what does that do for your journal as far as getting it to out to people? Will that make it go into more treatment centers, since it's kind of has that stamp of approval?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's a way to get that Like I mean I would have to market it that way and tell people that way. But when I go and tell any you know programs that are out there like when I tell them that that they're more inclined to use it. Yeah, yeah, Cause a lot of other places, like a lot of them from what I've seen, aren't really. There's some amazing journals out there. Mine journal is great. Yeah, how do you sell one Five minute journal is great. But yeah, having the clinical approval cause I've worked in treatment forever so I knew that that gold, silver approval is a big deal. Other people probably just didn't. It's probably just as good, you know, but yeah, it wouldn't be able to use it in like a in behavioral health.
Speaker 1:I got you. Yeah, so people can get ahold of this. What's the best way they can look up Epic Journal and buy it?
Speaker 2:Theepicjournalcom Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then you have your Instagram, right. What's the Instagram for it, man? It's all messed up.
Speaker 2:So I had the Instagram you guys are blowing it. They had, I had the Epic Journal and then I just, it just was sitting there, so, and then they said I violated some terms or whatever. So I have it's like an underscore, yeah, underscore, the Epic Journal underscore. But you just look up the Epic Journal, that pops up regardless.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I follow it my public account and also with the let's go podcast. We're huge supporter. Yeah, I think what you're doing is amazing, man, and you know to, to have known you as long as I've known you and having you on the first time and you coming back and what you've done to your life. Your a great example of people. Just don't give up, keep pushing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You have ideas, put them on paper, go for it Absolutely, cause my thought is I'm sure it's the same as yours what do you have to lose? Yeah, go for it. So, behind the scenes, I've been working on this event. It's going to happen on March 8th. It's going to be called First Responders Night of Hope. It's open to everybody, but it's geared towards First Responders and we'll talk a little bit later about this.
Speaker 1:I think you might maybe want to be a sponsor or put your name on it with Epic Journal. Sure, this is just going to be the night of concert, worship, prayer. I'm going to speak, okay, and it's going to be at this venue in Irvine. It's pretty cool. It's got a huge, like 16 foot screen with everything lights, all that. It's been going pretty good. The official sponsor is going to be Public Square. If you've heard of them, what's that? Pretty cool? So they have like a bunch of businesses on their website that people can go to, like mom and pop ones. They're all over the US. They got millions of businesses on there and they're doing. They just went to the stock exchange and like opened up, did the ringing of the bell. Oh wow.
Speaker 2:It's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:They sponsored Nitro Circus so I had one of them on. I told them about like hey, we believe in our first responders and believe in what you're doing, like we want to sponsor it, want to help, so it'd be pretty cool. I think we'll talk more about that so we can get those journals out to people, cause my thing is I really want to help first responders but everyone is invited, of course, because suicide is now the number one killer and first responders which is pretty sad, I know.
Speaker 2:And if you, with what I do with the journal, I also do coaching. So I have epicjourneycoachingcom, so I work one on one with people and take them through the journal. Oh, that's awesome, yeah, so with any of the guys that you know, or anyone like. Send them my way and then I can work one on one with them too.
Speaker 1:Oh, I think it'd be huge. Dude. I think I'll leave the open invite for you to be there as well. For sure I'll send you. We're getting the flyers and the logo. I didn't realize, bro, when you put on a vent, how much work goes into it. I know it is. It's so much behind the scenes, it's intense, it's been a labor of love, but I know it's going to a good cause. The money that will be generated from that night's gonna go to the Iverson Foundation. Okay, ashley Iverson, her husband was, was a firefighter and he was killed in the fire and she went through a lot. But she also started his foundation to help with first responder mental health. So all the money from that night is going to her, to her foundation. She's got a bunch of professionals and all that stuff on there.
Speaker 1:So it'll be a pretty good night, man. It's gonna be awesome. I'm excited about it.
Speaker 2:Do you have a date for you? March 8th, march 8th, march 8th okay, it's coming up.
Speaker 1:It'll be a Friday.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, we can talk more. I've done with the event side. There is a cool spot like once the event's going, you can, after it's done, just sit back, like I was saying we were talking about stepping away from it and like, wow, we're doing it, yeah, so yeah, it's been.
Speaker 1:it's crazy because when it first came to my mind, you know I didn't want to do it. I was like, no, god, like you, somebody else, like, yeah, I got too much going on. I got all this. But the more I denied it, the more it was on my heart and I was like, okay, I'm just going to talk to a couple of people about it, see what they think. And the more I talk, people are like dude, you gotta do this. The one's ever done a night like that. I'm like okay.
Speaker 1:And then every time I doubt myself or things aren't lining up, I'm like dude, it's not going to work. Next day it works. I was just like okay, all right. I see what you're doing Like I'm going to get this done.
Speaker 2:If it's supposed to happen. You know the energy's there. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's been. It's been interesting to see it all come together. It's exciting, it's cool, it's nerve-wracking because I haven't been on stage and sang in a long time. Are you singing? I'm doing the concert, bro, you're?
Speaker 2:singing yeah.
Speaker 1:I got a professional band that's backing me of the page. I didn't know you're singing. Oh, yeah, I'm doing music. I'm doing music. Let me hear you. I'm done for a living, dude. Let me hear you a little bit.
Speaker 1:Oh, I heard you do it out of here Three two, one yeah, no, but yeah, it's going to be pretty cool how it's shaping up, dude. It's stressful, but you know, I'm hoping a lot of healing and the biggest thing is to just people have hope. Dude, that's my biggest thing, because I feel the same way you do. I look around, I'm like gosh, I don't care who you are. You can be the richest person, or someone who doesn't have money, or destitute. Everyone's going through something. Everyone's dealing with difficult times, because life is hard. It ain't easy, man, whether it's from a bad decision or things that are out of your control. It's difficult and to have hope is amazing. It's brought me through so much. It's brought me through some very dark times, and I want to pass it on to other people, like I want to tell them look, it's great to have a great job, it's great to have these things homes, cars, whatever we can serve but at the end of the day, when your life is towards its end, none of that stuff's going to matter.
Speaker 2:You can't take any of it with you.
Speaker 1:What are we going to spend our life? What are we going to do? What are we going to cultivate for each other in our hearts, for our future and our hope? And for me, that's been my own faith. Now am I a person who's out there? Turn it burn. No, bro, it does not mean.
Speaker 1:I more or less it's more through my life, how I live and just being there for people and loving on people, because that's what I've found in my own faith in reading through scripture and different things that I have learned. It's about love. Love, grace and forgiveness. That's it Biggest thing, dude, straight up, I'm like it's not that hard, but we as humans make things very difficult. So all I have to say love to have you there. We'll talk about maybe putting your name on the flyer so people can see.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm sponsoring something else. On the third, it's an event out in Anaheim, so I love sponsoring that stuff, all about it. Yeah, it'll be cool, I'll come out there and yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, it's cool, dude. It looks like we're going to have firefighters from across the nation coming in, so I'm trying to get discounted hotels at least to give the government read. So it's going to be pretty cool. Man, there's some reach happening with this, which I'm really surprised. I'm like whoa, because I didn't realize that many people were listening to the podcast too. They're. Hey, I heard you talk on the podcast Night of Hope. I'm like OK, yeah, it's happening.
Speaker 2:Kind of you build it and they will come to do it. Yeah, I guess it's crazy.
Speaker 1:But the biggest thing it's like what you're doing, dude it's to give people a path and show them there's a community and that there's so much more to life than just the pain and the things that we're going through, like it won't last forever. The difficult times come, but, trust me, there's more good times coming.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think within those times I was just thinking about this the other day and writing that a lot of those tough times are so necessary Because if you want to be this certain individual, you want to be this man or woman, you can't just step into that person. You have to go through those trunks of verily dense and hard times. You can't just step into that. So, as you sit back and you look, those three months were tough but I had to do that because there was a lot of teachings and learning in that. So, yeah, I think a lot of the hard times are necessary. Man, some are unfortunate when people pass and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Yes, but as you go down the road and you kind of turn around and you can see, well, I had to do that because it's sculpting you into the person you're supposed to be. And if you have that perspective it's good, because when times are good, sit in it, save your energy, because down the road there is some stuff coming and it's going to be hard. But if everything's OK at the moment, sit in it, say hey, relax, sit and be prepared for what life is going to throw you. Be present.
Speaker 1:Sam too, I think Preston should speak. I was really good dude. Well, man dog. To wrap this up, I 100% agree with you.
Speaker 1:I have done a lot of introspective and looking back many times on my life to see where I'm at now and how fortunate I am to have what I have and to be blessed with what's been given to me. It's come from hard work. But looking back on those difficult times, even in decisions where I've made terrible decisions, I look back. I'm like man. I'm so glad that I never gave up and that I went through those times, because it's taught me so much. It's taught me so much about myself, about others, how I don't want to treat people, how I don't want to be treated. But it's maybe into the person that I am now.
Speaker 1:And you're so right, I wouldn't be who I am without those difficult times. We share a lot, dude. I've had a brother pass away. That hurts and that's something I still deal with to this day, and that's been since 2004. Oh yeah, you'll live with it forever, but you learn to live with it and you learn that it's part of your story. And then I've learned that I've been able to share that part of my story with others who have lost loved ones in their life, like I know.
Speaker 1:I've been there. There's nothing I'm going to say, but you're going to get through this. We're going to get through this. There's hope.
Speaker 1:Again that key word is just there's hope. Promise you so, preston. Thank you so much for coming back on the podcast. Man, I know this might sound weird. I'm so stinking proud of you. I'm so glad that your friend. It's great to see how much you've developed and what you've done with your life and how you're impacting others. It's priceless, man. You can't put a price tag on that. It's a beautiful thing. It's cool to see another man doing that. So good job, man, cool, thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah, so we usually do a. Let's go on three at the end of this. Did you get it, by the way, man? The beard, the beard and long hair. It just comes.
Speaker 2:It's so nice.
Speaker 1:Overnight.
Speaker 2:But you're lucky because if mine.
Speaker 1:I have a lot of white on the left side of my face.
Speaker 2:Embrace it, oh man, the salt and peppers Island.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, 40s coming, quick man. Yeah, I'm like wow life comes at you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, embrace them, dude, come on next time. I know I got to figure out, dude.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's go on three. You ready, brother? Yeah, all right, one, two, three, let's go. Bye everybody. Thank you so much for listening in. If you like what you just listened to, please do listen to a five-star review on Apple podcast and on Spotify. Please follow us on YouTube, on Instagram and on Facebook, and a big shout out to Stephen Clark, our sound editor. He's a huge part of this team that is unseen. It's 8ix9ineBarbers, our first sponsor. Look good, feel good, Be great. It's two locations Orange, california, and Long Beach, california. Book your appointment online 8ix9ineBarberscom. Bye everybody.
