LET'S GO!
We talk with ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Be inspired, LET'S GO!
LET'S GO!
Cancer Survivor, Assistant Director, and Personal Trainer Kyle Hardy
Life's grand tapestry is woven with threads of resilience, motivation, and sometimes, the guiding hand of faith. We wade through the early days of unpaid internships and the relentless hustle that propels one from fetching coffee to commanding the set. Through tales of personal trials, including a raw recount of my own battle with cancer, we uncover the profound growth that sprouts from adversity and the solace found in shared experiences and personal faith.
As the final reel of our episode unspools, we celebrate the crucial bonds of friendship – my camaraderie with Evan stands testament to this – and the role of unwavering motivation in attaining even the loftiest ambitions. From facing down financial uncertainties with a blend of strategy and faith to the cathartic release of gratitude for life's most punishing lessons, our discussion is a mosaic of the human experience, offering a beacon of hope and encouragement for anyone navigating their unique path.
Thanks for taking the time to listen in. Please leave us 5 stars on Spotify & Apple Podcasts with a review. THANK YOU!
Kyle Hardy welcome to the podcast man. It's good to be here. Thank you, tim. Thank you, tanya. Yeah, dude, finally Took six months, maybe more.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thanks for being so flexible too. Even tonight we had to push it back because I had a family event I wanted to be at. So you're the man I appreciate that. But, dude, tonight's the first time I met you and I kind of know you through Evan Nelson, who is on our month reviews. Great dude.
Speaker 2:Total killer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's awesome. How did you two meet?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I did acupuncture for probably close to a year in glendale and I was going up to my weekly I think I was doing twice a week. Uh, you know good looking well-spoken fella, very good looking man, and I were just chatting and you know good conversation, he walks out to pay his rent. I walk like nah, I gotta connect with this guy and so I'm glad I turned and we chatted, exchanged information, coffee a couple times and you know, told me about let's Go podcast and then our discourse, you know, occurred. Yeah, I wish I had a bit more time for Evan, but I know he's busy, you know.
Speaker 1:Oh man, he's engaged, he's. You know, he's got a lot going on in his personal training, but he actually he used to be my trainer, like back in the day, I think what 2016 and 2017?
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's Jack dude, he's ripped.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's always been that way. Don't mess with him. No, not at all, man, not at all. But okay, so did you know that, evan, he's an actor. I was not aware that yeah, I don't know if he told you that, yeah, he's. He did a couple short films and some other things. Told me that, yeah, because you're, you're in the film industry, yeah, yeah. So what do you do in the film industry?
Speaker 2:yeah. So that's been quite the journey and that could probably last, you know, a couple hours of conversation, but uh, yeah, short and sweet. I'm an assistant director and essentially what I do is I take a script and I break it down into what's called the movie magic scheduling uh, software standard, industry standard script and I break it down into what's called the Movie Magic Scheduling software Standard, industry standard. And you basically break it down into elements. You know, art, camera, g&e, hair, makeup, art yeah, I think I said art twice Very important department Shout out to art teams all across Hollywood. But yeah, and then we break that down into manageable pieces and days and production says 12 days. So you break it down into 12 days and you ship that out, you communicate with department heads and essentially you get to production and you shoot it and I just manage the set, block, light, rehearse, shoot and try to keep us on time, try to keep us safe and sail off into the sunset after day 12.
Speaker 1:I love how you make that sound so easy.
Speaker 2:I've worked with some producers and directors that say just put the 600 extras. I was like, well, you can say anything like that, it sounds so easy. Yeah.
Speaker 1:For a time I was in acting, did modeling for a little bit, but I was in a bunch of short films, one that went to a few festivals. So I kind of understand that behind the scenes stuff a lot of people don't know. There's so much work in the film industry that nobody sees the unspoken people oh shit, kind of unspoken like not seen on camera. Right, you get your credits at the end, yeah, but everyone sees the final product. Yeah, you see the movie and you know the people.
Speaker 2:Two hours of fun and you don't realize all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it behind the scenes, oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:So to me it's the Unsung Heroes. That's what I love my sister. She is in. She does hair for you know, in the industry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh great.
Speaker 1:She won an Emmy for Mad Men, she did the hair for Mad Men and a couple of Disney movies and stuff like that. So yeah, she's been there ooh, I want to say over 20 years now. Yeah, it's been a long time. So I always hear from her. She's always getting things ready on Zoom calls, meeting with the actors and there's a lot that goes into that. So, thank you for what you do in movies. I feel like you guys need to get some praise sometimes. No, no one ever you know recognizes. Yeah, that's so it's tough, it's rewarding.
Speaker 2:But you know, yeah, how long you been doing that about eight years.
Speaker 1:How did you even get into that, oh man, because I, you know, okay, from my perspective right, as a firefighter or any type of kind of job like that right, there's, there's a path. Okay, take these classes, go to this Academy, volunteer, do this Right. Or, if you're in the private sector, you know, get your degree in engineering or whatever. It's going to be Right. But you'd never hear, like. I always think this when I see producer, I'm like how do you, how do you become the producer? Like what is that? What's the path to that? You know?
Speaker 2:yeah, it's, it's very unbeaten path and I guess, if you know, we take it back. You know I graduated from college in 2012. Okay, central florida cold night are you from florida. Uh well, I was born in cali, spent a little time in texas but grew up in florida. Florida, short answer is florida, sarasota, okay, yeah, so hour south of tampa. Shout out to the Rams. Remember the?
Speaker 1:Florida man. What's your Florida man?
Speaker 2:he gives us all a bad name Florida man, I hope you're watching this.
Speaker 1:Some of the wildest things like memes and videos. It's like, yeah, it's.
Speaker 2:Florida, florida and Ohio, and that's who all migrates to Hollywood. Yeah, and that's who all migrates to Hollywood. Yeah, the Ohio boys and the Florida boys. But yeah, I graduated 2012 business admin in a management track, okay, and I was a door manufacturer actually right out of college about a year and a half, wow, and you know, I like to think I'm a loyal guy. I mean, you know, I guess you can't really self-proclaim yourself that you just do it with action, but I would have been there for 30 years, man, 40 years. Just, I hate this job with a smile, you know.
Speaker 2:But luckily, you know, um, blessing in disguise I got laid off about a year and a half, rather uh, out of, uh, out of my out of the gate, okay, and I was like I'm gonna go do something cool, you know, and I traveled, you know. It took me 14 days days to see parts of the US and, yeah, I made my way out to Cali and I was in NorCal for a little bit and then came down for a film festival. I was supposed to be down for just like a week and go back up to NorCal. Just wound up staying. All my stuff was in my car and unpaid internship led into unpaid AD work and a little, a little bit of money for credit and then eventually the the the rates get bigger and bigger. I remember the first day I got got a call for like a real show, 140 bucks a day, 11 days I thought I made it dude, thought I made it dollars a day.
Speaker 2:I was like I did it, dude, I'm there, mom and dad watch this and you know it fluctuates and it comes and goes and you know you get to the point where you're commanding 1200 a day, right, you know 500 a day, 600 a day, whatever. You know the, the rates and you know it's negotiable. But you know you fake it till you make it and you know just eventually you get pretty good at.
Speaker 1:it's not crazy how in the industry there's so much unpaid work just to to get into where you want to go, whether it's acting hair makeup, I mean to me. Sometimes I look at that and I'm like that's got to be illegal, like that's crazy.
Speaker 2:I can imagine there's some labor laws that get tweaked a little bit, but it's like any marketing. You know system McDonald's. You know you're paying a marketing system to get more people in, right? So you go out there and you do the best work you can. I mean, eventually you know your worth, right? I don't go out there working for $150 a day anymore, but you get in front of new producers and you do a good job and the rates go up and again it fluctuates and it's negotiable and as you get better at it, you command more, so in your position do you have a representative.
Speaker 2:No, we don't have agents. I think maybe some do, when you get to AD for James Cameron or Spielberg or something, I'm sure you command something of that nature. But yeah, for a guy like me it's just all personal marketing and getting in front of people word of mouth.
Speaker 1:Word of mouth. Okay, I remember a few times talking to you trying to schedule you to get on here. Hey, I got. Well, I'm going to be on this set for two weeks or whatever, or something Like I think you were on one in. Was it Florida? Uh, north Carolina.
Speaker 2:South Carolina. Yeah, I've actually was there in 2022 and then the end of 2023 for the same production. I forget their production company name.
Speaker 1:Now, can you name some of those movies, movies or TV shows? Did I?
Speaker 2:The engagement plan was in 2022. Okay, that should be streaming. I couldn't tell you what to be. They're faith-based, faith-based movies, so you can find them on any of those, and then I don't think I NDA'd by now. It's got to be cut up, but God's Not Dead. 5. Nice Okay, so I know, the first one years ago had some buzz.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But yeah, they really got it. Are you a believer? I'm on my walk. Yeah, I've been grown, I grew up in it and you know I was very fearful of you know. Anyways, uh, the walk, definitely on the walk right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, dude, I same right. I grew up in a very strict Christian home, you know. So for me I walked away from my faith. I was like I don't want any part of this anymore. I'm good for quite some time, and I would say probably about two years ago is when I gave my life back to the Lord, and for me it just, you know it changed a lot.
Speaker 1:For me it's kind of like you got to figure it out on your own. You can't kind of be told right, Because how we grew up it's always like you shall do this, you're going to church on Wednesday night, you're going Sunday morning, sunday evening, and this and that. And the way I grew up was more of it's like God was on a throne waiting to punish you. And once I kind of got a hold and figured out that that's not what it's about. It's about a relationship and you make it personal. Yeah, you know it changed a lot of things for me.
Speaker 1:I had some some difficult times, you know where I was just kind of standing around like yo, what is life about? What is this? You know I did. I did everything everyone said be successful, get property, you know. Vacation homes, do well. Have cool cars. You know, he did all that and I remember it's like I had success in my own way, right, and you're kind of at that point where it's I don't want to say mountaintop experience, but okay, so I did everything.
Speaker 1:Everyone told me that was supposed to be success in this life, and yet I'm still empty as hell. You don't feel fulfilled. No, no, I did it. And that's when it really started to go on that kind of my own journey of all. Right, I'm going to dig into this and really see. And I remember I mean you, probably I shouldn't have said this to God, but it was like I'm gonna give you one more shot, I'm gonna see if this is real or not. You know, I'm gonna go for it. I'm gonna give you a month, one turn to two, two turn to six. And the next thing, you know, it's like I started feeling this like fulfillment. Yeah, it just changed everything, not that, not that I'm this person who's going to. You know, church knees you know.
Speaker 2:pray for your brother. Yeah, it's not me. Evangelical hands raised.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's, it's just not me, but it's definitely something that changed inside me. That was internal, yeah, and it gave me a lot more hope. Hope and that was the biggest thing, because in my line of work as a firefighter, we see a lot of bad stuff, you know, and a lot of people don't understand that and I talk about on here a lot my family. They think you, we have a cool uniform and right around a shiny red fire engine. Yeah, and it's not that there's so much that we go through and see and not to go down this track, but it's like there's a reason why suicide is the number one killer of firefighters and police. There's just we see so much bad stuff and then you get off duty and you're expected to go home and be a husband, father, live a normal life. You're just like dude, I just saw somebody like kill themselves and you know, cpr delivered a baby. I fought a couple fires and, like you got this adrenaline. It's like all right, go home, see you guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah it's just normal it for me it was just. It just changed a lot internally, you know, and it it was, I made it personal, and once I made it personal it just changed everything for me. So it so I understand what you're saying. You know it is a journey dude.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it's like you said. I probably shouldn't have said this to God. I'm, I'm of the, the belief, um, that if he is who we say he is, if he's this all powerful, he can probably take a little bit of, you know, criticism from a lowly little speck like myself. So I get pretty personal, like you said, with him, and you know it's a tough walk, you know. That's why it's difficult. Yeah, the whole process of being with God and getting closer to him. It's, you know, there's. It's difficult, yeah, the whole process of being with god and getting closer to him. It's, you know, there's. It's not, oh, I believe. And then you go out and you know your actions don't, yeah, don't, you know, abide by the word. There's, there's things that you have to abide by, but, like you said, you know you, you do all these things, you know to feel fulfilled and you just don't. And, uh, you know, I'm on that walk right now.
Speaker 1:No, I got you, man To me. I think it's a beautiful thing when someone is discovering their own faith. It's not a bad thing, I think, to question, and some people, oh, I have doubts sometimes. You got to figure it out. You got to let the Lord work, man, it is what it is. So I respect that dude. It's all good man. Keep on that journey, dog. You'll never know what you'll discover about yourself, about your life, what the Lord wants to do with you. So it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2:So you also, I think you have your own business right. Training, yeah Well, I do a couple other things outside of AD work. First off, I work in financial services. Hey, you're a good dude, let's go.
Speaker 1:Okay. So when you say financial services, is it like CPA, financial planning, investing?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we say it's asset protection, retirement planning and life insurance. Those are the three things that we tend to do, and essentially, what we try to do is get people on track so that way they're not worrying about their, their loved ones, they're not worried about their future and you know that they're able to protect what they've built. So that's the financial service side, and I'm also a certified personal trainer, so health and fitness is something that's you know. I think at the end of 2019, I was close to 320 pounds. Oh my god, and that was. That was the imposter. The real, real Kyle is what you see right now. Okay, um, and, and I was like dude, you know either, let you know, I wouldn't say I was suicidal or anything, but you know, there was definitely thoughts like man, life might just be easier if I just wasn't here.
Speaker 2:I did, I feel you you know, and so I was like either finish it or let's take over man, let's conquer this thing that we call life, and I just made that decision. I lost 100 pounds in 2020. And the foundation of my growth out of that darkness was exercise, and I felt it. And it's not like, oh maybe. Someone told me I've experienced what losing weight and what getting stronger and what looking and feeling better does.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, not that I've overcome every demon. You know this is four years coming, but, man, I'm in one of the best mindsets of my life, you know. And the foundation was exercise. So, you know, found my way into certified personal training. Um company called air, little story about that and if I refuse is the acronym. And, uh, you know I saw this clip on the, the Snow White and the Huntsman and, and you know he's surrounded. He's like help us get, get the, get the, the princess. And he's like and if I refuse, you know, the idea behind that is like. You know, it's motivation is great, inspiration and the happy side of growth is awesome. But sometimes we forget, like that nitty gritty, like you know, hey, the the hard days are here. Do I give up Hell? No, yeah, we're going to fight that too. Yeah, and so, believe me, ride those happy waves, but we're not always happy. Yeah, you know. And, and you know, overcoming the, the the hard, difficult days is where it really matters, dude, yeah.
Speaker 1:You know you say something really good. Exercise has been something for me that has helped me deal with stress. It's also helped me deal with when I'm having difficult times. But it's also become, in a way, for me, too, something that's very it sounds weird, but also a very spiritual experience, because you start to learn a lot about yourself very deep. And then for me, like today, I went for a trail run. I did 13 and a half miles or something like that. Excellent, it hurt. It was like I think I did over 2000 feet of climbing. It was about three hours of running.
Speaker 1:But even like for me, in those runs, um, I find myself praying just out loud, thinking about things about life, like you know, and asking questions to my creator like how's this gonna work out, what's this and how much? It lets me get so much off of my heart and mind to be out there but be away from people you know some people. It's a gym for me. It used to be a gym a lot too, but I find myself feeling so much better when I go for my long cycles mountain bike or trail running. I always come back Okay, I always come back tired you know what I'm saying and sore.
Speaker 1:It'd be weird if you didn't Right, but I feel better. You get those positive endorphins going. Also, I've had a lot of great ideas come from those moments of being alone out there for hours, hiking or running or mountain biking. Alone out there for hours hiking or running or mountain biking and gosh and how much, like you said, to burn calories and be out there and get that push Like man. It feels so good, like I feel like I conquered something for the day. Use the energy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we have our intake. Now, I think a lot of people they consume but they're not releasing anything. So they have all this energy. They can't sleep because they're not, you know. And then, being out in the sun, we're carbon-based beings. We need to ingest vitamin D. I mean these simple tasks that people push off that in their head. They know, but no, no, no, no, it's okay, I'll suppress the very simple, basic things that we should be doing. And yeah, I mean, get up and train has been my, my motto the last you know, four, four years.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:If you don't know what to do with your time, guys, get get up early and train. Yeah, why am I getting up early to train? Yeah, just start there, man. Yeah, don't change your diet, don't start reading books. Get up and actually you know what I. You know what I, I figured out.
Speaker 1:It took me all my 20s and part of my 30s. I'm about to be 38 here, so realizing that staying up late isn't the flex, it's getting rest and getting up early. That's the ultimate flex, dude Getting your day started and move that movement. Where I struggle and I have to deal with this is on rainy days or days where I can't get out and go do my long runs or cycle. I feel so like I'm antsy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm like dude, I got to move. Like I like I get all wound up. I'm like I gotta, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta go do something. Man, that's that the days where, okay, I got too many things scheduled, I can't get a workout in, how am I gonna deal with that, you know? So I still kind of struggle with that. But, man, the like you said, if we could say anything to anybody, is movement get outside, get sun in your face and move, yeah, get that I mean not only that, but like you got one
Speaker 1:body. Yeah, right, we got one shot at life and that that's the. A lot of people don't want to deal with that, right, that's the harsh reality that we live in is we're all born and we all will leave this earth Like no one's leaving here alive. It's you're going to, you have an appointed time to live and you have an appointed time to die. So what are you going to do in the middle? What are you going to do with that dash? What are you going to do mentally? What are you going to do with your family? What are you going to do physically?
Speaker 1:To keep yourself going, to preserve yourself, because I want grandkids one day, I want to be healthy, I want to be able to pick them up and do things. And so the decisions we make right now what we eat, what we drink, how we exercise, do we get enough sleep, all those little choices that we make every day, they matter so much, and it took me so long to realize that. Not only that, but with age, right, not that we're old, yeah, but we're moving on in life, right? Brother? When I drink a couple beers, oh my, now it's just like the next day. I'm like I can't do this, I'm bloated, I'm puffy in the face and I try and go for a run.
Speaker 2:I'm like I can't breathe, yeah I'll be 34 in june june 24th and I decided I'll be off the sauce till my birthday. This last drink I did was, uh, the 31st, late into for you dude in the first.
Speaker 2:and you know there's been you know a few days where I'm like, oh, that'd be nice to to drink a little something. But listen, man, when I commit to something, you know I, I, you know I'm not perfect, you know I'm not 50, you know I'm not floyd mayweather, but I pretty'm pretty good about self-motivation, accountability and that one I've been sticking to. And who knows, maybe after June 24th I won't touch it. But yeah, like you said, just with anything it starts today. The best time to plant an avocado tree was 20 years ago. Next best is today.
Speaker 1:Look at my guy dude, I like that.
Speaker 2:Stop waiting, guys. Tree, it was 20 years ago. Next best is today. It's like my god, dude, stop waiting, guys. Stop waiting. You know, and when it comes to your health, when it comes to your finances, when it comes to chasing your dreams, let's go. Let's do it now, like that. And what are you waiting for? You know, people are scared, they're nervous. I did a, a clip today. I posted some content about like, hey, let's go. Like, what are we waiting for? You know, know, we're waiting for permission, we're waiting for the right time, and that's never coming, that's not coming.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:And so the best time is to just jump and build the parachute on the way down. And and hey, I don't know how to work out. Okay, jump, go into the gym. I'm sure you know anyone that's there trying to better themselves is willing to give you information. I know you ask me, dude, I'll. You'll be like, oh shoot, don't ask him, he won't shut the hell up. You're like, I will help you, yeah, and we will get you on track. And you know, or youtube university, oh, you know how do I eat better? Oh well, it's pretty simple. But you know, go change that tire. Well, I've never changed a tire before, so you show them once, okay, and then you do it and you get better at it.
Speaker 1:Just with anything, you gotta, gotta seek it well, gosh, we all, we all started um at the, at the bottom, yeah, beginning of something you know. So it's like we've all had that fear. We all know what it's like to be that one person um, that's the new person you know and that's a lot of people ask me like yo, you, you know, you skydive, you do these ultra runs, you do this and that, but it's like because I don't wait for people. If you're always waiting for friends to do something or someone to encourage you, you're never going to do it. You're going to always be waiting. You have to have the, you kind of have to have that courage to step out and just go for it. That's how we did this podcast. That's how we did this podcast. That's how I've done so many other things.
Speaker 1:Like well, how I see things, I have nothing to lose, maybe a little bit financially, right, you invest in certain things to get it going. But to me it's like you hear people oh, I'm afraid right, there's so many great ideas and people who could have been so great that stayed behind fear. But if you can step past that and just go for it, my goodness. To me your possibilities can be endless, because I always think but what if you fly? But what if it's not that you fail, but what if you actually succeed? Yeah, that's a scary one. Oh yeah, right, momentous, oh yeah. I mean, even when I learned how to skydive, right, I was terrified, right, I wanted to. I I was, I was at the end of a divorce, right, I'm trying, like I do it. I gotta remember therapist was like you need to get out and like what's something you've always want to do and challenge yourself. I said skydive and she was like can you afford it?
Speaker 1:I'm like yeah okay, she's like, go do it. I'm like, really, she's like, yeah so, and I went and scheduled. I was like I'm just going to do this, I'm going to go for it and man it. It has brought so many great experiences and I've met so many amazing people just from skydiving because people come from all around the world to skydive in California. Yeah, so I've met people from Switzerland and New Zealand, australia, and they come out here for a few days and everyone always has this really cool attitude. They just they're trying to experience life, you know, and have a good time. So you meet so many cool. I've skydived with a doctor before. I skydived with this actor, I think her name's Pom. She was in Mission Impossible, one of the last missions. She's an Asian female. We were jumped off a helicopter together, which is cool, right, I mean it's's just. You just never know where your life is going to leave you if you just step out and go for it. And is it hard?
Speaker 1:yeah is it? You know you can't teach motivation. Yeah, that's one thing I always have, like try to wrap my head around, because I think my dad, how he raised me, was to always work for what I want, like he never gave us an allowance. You want something? Go out. I can't tell you how many times I painted my dad's fence. Yeah, there's probably like 18 coats of paint on that thing. Oh, you want some money? Go paint the fence. I just painted it last. Go paint the fence.
Speaker 1:Okay, paint it again yeah, paint it again, so you gotta earn and get what you want and that you know, and to kind of tag on to you with that is like the motivation it takes for you to go from 320 pounds to where you're at now. That is not easy, like I want everyone to know. That takes hard work, dedication and mental fortitude, because you don't lose weight overnight. No, that is something that takes time, that takes breaking down your life, from your sleep to your diet, to how you're working out. I mean even dealing with your own self-thoughts of how you look. You know that's hard, dude. I mean in 2020, like towards the beginning, I was in a bad accident and I had a brain injury. I couldn't do anything. I lost my speech. Dude, I gained weight I think most ever weight. I was like 215 for myself and, dude, it was hard.
Speaker 2:You're about 215 right now. No 190.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, 190. But it was so hard. After that year and a half I had to get my speech back, All these different things and going from someone who was surfing since they're a kid and doing ultra marathons and staying physically fit and I didn't move much for a year and a half.
Speaker 1:Dude, getting back it was one of the toughest things I think to do to go through Was to get that motivation Because you know, when you start back up and you have that weight and you remember what used to be, that's a, that's a hard thought. You have to be very careful with that. You have to really put that aside. But okay, I'm gonna start from the ground up. Yeah, I'm gonna start small. I'm gonna work back to where I was.
Speaker 2:We need obstacles, we need obstacles oh brother if life were just easy and dandy, you know it would be easy and dandy and you wouldn't have all these podcasts and these motivational situations where people can ingest good self-growth things. Yeah, because it would. You know, we wouldn't need it because it would just be easy. And we need these things in order to grow, um, and yeah, I mean, like I said, I think it goes back to exercise, proper nutrition, uh, getting sun. I could do a little bit better on the hydration, sleep is uh, but those little basics, man, um, you know, and, and we can make excuses and you know, it's what's funny about excuses that there's a lot of legitimacy to excuses and we can either allow them to to halt us. Well, this, oh, you don't know my story and yeah, and you know, personally I had cancer about uh 12 years ago oh, what, what?
Speaker 1:what did you have?
Speaker 2:yeah, it was uh, sacral chordoma. Wow. So for me I I didn't really think about it till maybe a year or two ago, like I would tell people I had tailbone cancer yeah uh, because it was a malignant tumor growing out of my tailbone, so I was just tailbone, you're gonna tell dude yeah it was like what's tailbone uh yeah, sac was like what's a tailbone cancer?
Speaker 2:Yeah, sacral cordoma. And I've been an avid lifter, fitness enthusiast since I was 11. And one day, just my tailbone started hurting and I was like what's going on here? So I took some rest and a couple weeks later it's better and that first squat back. I was like I'm 20 at the time and it's like you know, I'm on paper I'm an adult, but I'm like Mom, dad, you know, help me and you know they ushered me to. You know I was under their insurance and they helped me, you know, with setting all that up and getting imaging done. And oh, there's something going on in there. Oh, I think we know, in biopsy I got that call. Hey, uh, you know we got to act on this. Oh, wow, wow and uh. So, yeah, eight weeks of radiation surgery, um, six more weeks of radiation and um, yeah, I remember that moment, man, it was tough because it's like me, I'm healthy you know, I'm young right, right, I did the same thing yeah, I'm young, me, yeah, not me.
Speaker 2:And so I go for a walk around my, around my block. My brother matthew's there I think it was like it was summertime, uh, just before my 21st birthday and he's following me and I'm just like thinking, I'm like like a moment where you actually have to like oh like, and so you know he's trailing me, and like I just, I just let it out, I'm like I'm just yelling, yeah, and so, like a couple days, I'm like why me?
Speaker 1:and like I just I just let it out, I'm like, I'm just yelling, yeah.
Speaker 2:And so, like a couple days, I'm like why, me and I and I go to my first radiation and I see this, uh, you know, I'm in the back, you know, wearing my gown, getting ready to go to this radiation thing, and this, uh, young black lady is just wheeling herself and she's got this head mask on and, like, as I'm walking by, like I look over and we catch eyes and she's smiling at me and I'm like, what are you smiling about? Like in my head and that moment was it I was like, okay, we're going to. You know, and it wasn't that, you know. I was like I better find the positivity here, something with that smile, like I don't have problems, this woman's probably got brain cancer, she's probably going die, and you know, and it's like I don't have any problems.
Speaker 2:And it was never at that point. It was not like rah, rah, I can beat this the. It was. It was death was not applicable at that point, right. And so I just was like, all right, I'm just gonna win. And so I followed what the doctor said and and then just got back to it baby, wow, dude, you know it's the.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think of the best way to put this. Okay, I'll just do this. You see this picture right here, the pale blue dot. I always try to keep images or certain things to help me, remind me and keep me humble and realize like, yeah, I'm going to have my problems, but everyone's going through something. Yeah, everyone's dealing with something in their life. That's why I always try to say treat people with grace. Someone cuts you off. You don't know what they're going through. They're probably having a bad morning, whatever it's going to be. But what I like about this picture is you see that little dot right there. The Voyager took that. I think they sent a message to the Voyager, right, it was about to leave our galaxy.
Speaker 1:It they said turn around and take one last picture of earth. So it took that picture and it took, like you know, months and months for that picture to come in, right it's way back in the day, and they got like, oh, there's, there's nothing there. And then, right off of the solar panel, that's a ray from the sun and that little dot is earth. Oh, okay, and I was. I remember seeing that and that just it flooded me with so much emotion. One for me, just because, like you know what I believe and how big the universe is and how, you know, god says he holds it in his hand and he loves us. And but to know that on that little speck is an even smaller speck and it's me, yeah, you know, it's like I love that. You know you're going to get through this. You know what I'm saying. It's like it's going to be okay.
Speaker 1:But, that being said, when we go through stuff, you know personally, it affects everyone different. Everyone's process is different. So I can't even imagine you know going, what you went through, and you have that moment where it's just like you know, I remember thinking when I had my brain injury this is it, I'm done, I'm not gonna be able to work anymore. Lost my speech. I'm handicapped, like all these things just went through my head Like you're. You're done, it's over.
Speaker 2:And I remember thinking no, no, no, no no, no, we're going to.
Speaker 1:We're going to battle through this, even to the point where I had my own speech therapist coming in to get me back faster. Yeah, I was like, forget this, we're gonna be doing this all the time. I mean, it's to the point where you know they started small, right, it's like they have they. They would have these cards out with animals on it. Like one's a giraffe, what is this? You know, and like I remember what was like a giraffe, but I would say rhino, I don't. I'm like, wait, what I know that's I could think I could think it. I know that's a giraffe, but I would say rhino, I don't. I'm like, wait what. I know that I could think I could think it. I know that's a giraffe, but why am I saying rhino? This is the weirdest thing.
Speaker 1:They had, like these little puzzles out. It's crazy, dude, they have you play the, the, the, the simplest games, and I could see why. Now you're trying to build yourself back up, right, just like when you're trying to get in shape, it's the circle in the circle. You know, I sit there and I'd be trying to put the square peg in the circle. I'm just like, wait what? Yeah, I know what this is, but I'm still messing it up. Quite computing, yeah, but man, you know those struggles, kind of like you said, those mountains hit you, those, those valleys, it really will test you as a person.
Speaker 2:We're all on our own journey, which I love. How you said that. Yeah, um, because it's not really about what you've gone through. It's here the meaning and not the words. Right, it's like I had. You know, I was sick. I deal with I currently deal with nerve issues from the latent radiation issues.
Speaker 2:But maybe, maybe your parents didn't love you, maybe you didn't, yeah, maybe your girlfriend broke up with you, the, the thing that happened to you obviously plays a role and it's individual and and you know there's there's a meaning behind that to that person. But what the problem is is that we've had issues and we have to overcome those issues. Yeah, right, and just because maybe I don't understand yours, what I do understand is that it sucks. Yeah, right, right. And how do we overcome that? Rather than say, well, mine, you know, be the victim, uh, olympics, it's like no, let's find the solutions, man, and you know, um, again, I think the solution starts with exercise, get up and train and again, everyone's got going to get out of whatever hole. Girlfriend broke up, parents didn't love you, you got sick, you're dealing with this or that. I think exercise, because if you're not moving, man, you're dying Straight up.
Speaker 2:Let's get you moving, let's go dude. Yeah, and I like this date. I was not a speck on there yet, but I love this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just try to keep those. I try to have things around me that just remind me, remind me of what I'm going through in life and the things that you know. It's a big deal for me, but remember everyone's kind of going through something you know. Even the point like dude, your radiation, you know, is that something that was it had to be painful? I mean it changes your body a little bit, right? Yeah?
Speaker 2:Well, I'll save you the gory details and all the current stuff that I deal with, but at the time I don't recollect a whole lot. I mean I wasn't a 75-year-old female, you know, I was a 20-year-old dude who was in relatively good shape. So yeah, I, I mean it was a pretty easy breezy deal for me. Um, pre-surgery, the surgery, you know I had some bathroom issues for a while and um, that wasn't fun, some numbness which I still deal with, and um, but you know, prior was pretty easy. You know the whole, the whole process, like listen, I tell people like if there was ever a time to land cancer, I nailed it.
Speaker 1:I nailed it man.
Speaker 2:And it's not always that lucky for everybody. And so again, it goes back to your own path, your own journey, and doing the best that you can with that and finding solutions. Oh, this happened, that happened Well what's the? Solution. Let's find that.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right. So when did you get into the personal training part of your life? Was that something that's recent, or was it after?
Speaker 2:certification. Yeah, yeah, so actual certification was early last year, so but I mean I, like I said, I've been physically active and since I was 11, you know 33 now so okay, yeah, I mean a mean a few years, a few down years, but yeah, but the actual certification was March of 2020.
Speaker 1:Is that a difficult certification to get.
Speaker 2:No, no, okay, no.
Speaker 1:It's just something you apply. I mean, apply yourself. Yeah, Put in the work right.
Speaker 2:Here's the pre-licensing Ingest. It Schedule your exam, do what the thing said, Right, right right. If you go seek the information, they're not trying to fool you. And that's the same with the financial license you just go through the stuff and you click the buttons at the exam.
Speaker 1:Well, you know Evan, you know he does personal training.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I'm aware that actually, now that you mentioned it, I do remember him saying he did some acting. I don't know why does personal training? Yeah, yeah, I'm aware that Actually, now that you mention it, I do remember him saying he did some acting. I don't know why that blanked, but yeah, no, I'm aware that he's actually a relatively successful online coach and everything, and I need to get with him and get some coffee with him. Catch up, he's such a good dude man.
Speaker 1:I'm so glad he's a friend and a part of the podcast.
Speaker 2:How did you guys meet?
Speaker 1:He was my trainer at the gym. Yeah, yeah, I was getting fit for some film thing that I was doing and you know you go to. You know, when I was like I need to get a trainer, and I was like oh, that guy's jacked. So I'll do with him, and we ended up just becoming really good friends, cause you know when you're training, you're talking, yeah, really well, and he was in school. I think you know his degree is in.
Speaker 2:I want to say acting, but it's in the arts. Yeah, um, he's a few years younger than me.
Speaker 1:I think he's 30, 31, yeah he's a little bit younger than us, but he's, you know, he's one of those people, at least for me. He's kind of I, I know a lot of people and that sounds very arrogant, right. I. I just I'm kind of I like talking. That's, of course, have the podcast, right, I just meet a lot of people and I enjoy it, but there's very rare few that I keep close, right, he's one of those kind of like five friends that I say, where if I'm having a difficult time or struggling, I can call him up and tell him anything. He's not phased, he'll never judge me, he'll be there for me, he'll help me work through it. We'll figure it out together through it. We'll figure it out together.
Speaker 1:And it's so rare to find that and people will soon like when you get older. I remember reading a statistic that once you hit your 30s, usually it says like you'll probably keep some of your. You'll keep a friend for like one or two years and then they move on. Then you keep a friend one or two. You know, to have someone as a friend longer than five years starts to become very, very rare, yeah, and so I've always tried to. Once I kind of catch on to someone who I can really confide in and be close with and I can tell they're good people. I'm like, ooh, I'm gonna keep this person really close.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and he's one of those. Yeah, when we first had coffee, he's very vulnerable and he'll drop my walls. Yeah, I'm vulnerable with him and you know it's rare to see someone share. You know, and you know great dude and, like I said, I need to. You know, link up with him.
Speaker 1:well, it's hard to find that. Dude guys, right, you know guys, especially Mike Garcia, all the time, right, everyone's put on this male bravado, freaking, I'm A type, I'm better than you, and then, like I remember, when you first see somebody who's really fit, it's a little I was a little intimidated, right. Oh, this guy's probably fooled himself all this and he just was humble, such, and he's super nice, you know, and I think for males we need more of that. I think everyone puts on this, you know, things about the point of face, like we're this tough guy and we're good, it's.
Speaker 1:I want to say you're human. Yeah, you have emotions in you that are God-given. It's okay to cry, it's okay to be upset, it's okay to struggle and doubt and have those things that you're doubting and talk to somebody about it. And I think, for some reason, it still seems taboo. It's getting better. The mental health thing I agree it really is. It's not as taboo as it used to be, but it's still not to me, my opinion, where it needs to be. Yeah, but I always want to say like, hey, it's okay to say you need help. Yeah, it's okay to say you're struggling. It's okay to say you're happy. It's okay to be like what the F is going on.
Speaker 2:It's definitely becoming more of an open thing to discuss. Yeah, so, and I'm delighted to see that, because people have problems, man, and, like you said, it's just tradition for men to hold that in, and you know, either you suffer forever or is it. You know, those moments happen where it's like, hey, what if you took a moment to to chat that out, yeah, discuss and just be vulnerable and and, uh, like you said, it's rare to find someone that will, that you can trust with that information. Right, because you know you're not telling it to this guy so he can tell it to that. You know, oh, fuck, I hate that. You know it's just like here's, this is you and me. You know, I mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you tell you're like I think you can trust this person right.
Speaker 2:And you tell him next and you know, not that it's necessarily malicious or anything, but it's like having someone that, yeah, you know, understands, like, yeah, vulnerable, vulnerable, and it just really does release a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1:You know, just like exercise, yeah, you know having those moments, dude, you seem like you know you seem very grounded, you seem very self aware and my biggest question for you is during you know, you had cancer, you're going through radiation, you were 320 and you lost all this weight. Like what drives you? What is it for you? Because a lot of people can't find that, you know, I always when I see someone that does that, I'm like okay. So what is that for you? What is that, that thing inside of you that no one can see, that's pushing you to do better to overcome these obstacles? Yeah, man.
Speaker 2:You know that's an interesting one because, you know, oftentimes there's something external and for me, like, I just feel like it's always been, there's always been something inside of me. It might sound cliche or whatever, but like it's always been that voice You're better Like, you're better for your, you're meant for something great. Ah, got you and I just want to fulfill that. You know, in the last, the last, you know, four years or so, 2020 on, like, I've really bought into myself. You know, and and just you know, the, the true idea of belief. You know, and, all the while maintaining humility and and and whatnot. But yeah, I want to be the guy that I say I'm going to be. I want to hold myself accountable and and when I'm able to check those things off the list, yeah, there's nothing better, you know. You know, obviously I want to prove my parents right. You know they my, my dad's a military engineer.
Speaker 1:My brothers are the same oh, is he full-time a military yeah, he's retired.
Speaker 2:Now he works for the state department that was full military guy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, green beret, yeah, uh navy, three years army and then right and um, anyways, I don't want to get too much into them. But yeah, security, you know these guys are studs, these are my heroes, my dad and my brothers, but you know they're going the security route. You know 401k, this and that, and I'm an entrepreneur, filmmaker and that's just what I. You know, obviously, the cancer medically, you know, I never really experimented with trying to get recruited in, but I can assume that that's probably a medical thing that wouldn't allow me to disqualify, but yeah, I mean just fulfilling this thing that's always been there, that I suppressed for a long time.
Speaker 2:You know, having these discussions. Yeah, I'm going to be a millionaire, I'm going to be a billionaire, I'm going to do great things I'm gonna help lots of people.
Speaker 2:It's like that's a scary thing to like announce yeah, good, good, good. Announce that you know, put that you know, put that into the air, you know, and hold, you know. That gives you an additional thing to hold yourself accountable to. So, yeah, of course, proving my parents right, you know, proving the you know. But really it comes down to what keeps me motivated. It's like, hey, man, are you the man that you say you are? Let's find out. Time's ticking. Yeah, let's go, you know. So that's what keeps me motivated.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's, it's again. It's so hard to teach motivation. You know there's people in my family, others that you know they want to. I want to lose weight, I want to do this, I want to do that, but they think there's a magic pill. Right? There is no magic pill for staying in shape. There's no secret to success besides hard work and putting yourself out there and going for the things that you want. And I'll tell you right now. There's days where I do not want to go run. I don't want to go run 13 miles in the hills. I don't want to go cycle 60 miles, you know. Or I don't want to go serve. And then, you know, I remember those dark times. It was, you know, when I was having such a difficult time. Getting out of bed seemed so hard. Yeah, that was like the toughest part of the day was just get up.
Speaker 2:And you're not going to win every time You're not, and get up. And you're not going to win every time you're not. And that's okay, man, that's okay the. But it's human nature to miss one day. And you, oh, next month, next week, it's like okay, you fell off one day, you slept in a little late, you ate the bed. Okay, let's get back on tomorrow, let's not let that thing slide. And it's just human nature and I think finding that is is is huge, um. But I think back to the obstacles. Uh, thing, it's like, you know, we have, we, we can give so legitimacy to these excuses. You know, that's evident, yeah, but just because there is legitimacy to the excuses doesn't mean we have to let that prevent us from overcoming them and and doing the things that we want to do. Yeah, it's, it's cold outside, you know, I don't want to go run. It's like, do it anyways, dude, worse than winter dude, I know, gosh, and it's cold outside, you know.
Speaker 1:I don't want to go run. It's like, do it anyways, dude, it's worse than winter, dude, I know Gosh.
Speaker 2:And we're slowly getting out of that, which is nice, and we're begging for the cold here soon again, right?
Speaker 1:But yeah, I mean just looking in the people many times, like how is gold refined Through the fire? It's purified through fire. Yeah, I mean, there's another thing. You don't, you know, a skilled sailor doesn't become skilled through easy, calm seas. You become a skilled sailor through rough seas. You learn through those hard times how to become a solid sailor through rough seas. You learn through those hard times how to become a solid sailor. So for me, you know, looking back on my life, even the bad decisions, man, you know, there was a time in my life I was making a ton of bad decisions. I didn't care about anybody but myself. Excuse me, but looking back now one seeing how the Lord has just kind of led my life and protected me, but looking back and seeing those difficult times, I'm actually thankful for him.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because it's made me into the person I am now. It's helped me learn some very hard lessons as well, where you're like I'll never do that again. You know, like through the consequences. That was terrible, because our life is based off choices every day. Right, you choose what time to wake up, you choose what to eat for breakfast, you choose to go in your car and start it up, you choose when you're going to fill it up with fuel. You know what I'm saying? Choices, choices, choices. You make good choices, you're going to reap the benefit. You make bad choices, you're going to reap the consequences. Yeah, yeah. So it's kind of like gosh. How that?
Speaker 2:that fine balance of always trying to keep your life on track and doing well. You're chasing your dreams, man. It's like people are scared because, like, what if it doesn't work out? What if it doesn't work out? Well, if you don't try, you'll never know. Yeah, but then you know, that's kind of the spice of life. It's like, hey, you know if, if I don't try, I won't know.
Speaker 2:But I like to say, if you, if you do, put what happens if you do push-ups? Right, if you do push-ups consistently, over time your chest is going to get stronger. It's not like you can do push-ups and wish the push-up growth away, right, right, you do the push-ups, it happens, period, physiologically, yeah. And if you put the work in, you make the cold calls, you interact with people, you let people know what you're doing. That's going to build whatever it is that you're trying to do. You get to the gym. If you put the work in, it pays off and sometimes it's slower for others. But if you just keep chipping away, keep chipping away, you let that seed sprout. Once that thing sprouts, it's off to the moon. But a lot of people just stop watering the seed before it's almost there.
Speaker 2:It's about to sprout, but they give up. Yeah, and it's like. You know you don't necessarily need to be 100% the whole way, but you know 10%. You know maybe it's on the back burner for a little while, but you're still doing little things. And a lot of people miss that notion because it's discouraging and maybe it doesn't work out. It's like well, at the end of the day, if you put the work in for a long enough period of time, it'll pay off, and you just got to trust that process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what I see too. You know, with God this will make me sound like an old guy, but you kind of see it in the current generation. They want instant success. Well, I went to college, I have a degree. I should be the ceo like dog. Look, it's not how it works. Let's be real around.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if when I first started in the fire service I get hired day one and they make me the fire chief, I would completely ruin that fire, destroy it. It'd be done if when we started this podcast, you know the first few I would say the first year shows were ridiculous. Right, it was a mess, it was fun, but we learned as we went. Now, if I would have started the podcast and I was instantly having 20 million downloads and I have success like the best podcast, joe Rogan or whatever we want to, whatever you listen to, I'd ruin it. Yeah, I would fail. Yeah, there's no way, because I haven't learned the process of doing these things. Yeah, how to doing these things, how to talk to people, how to have an interview with people. You know having the right equipment I mean even to being in my career as a firefighter how to fight fire. You know the reason why. You know the discipline it takes to understand putting on your protective gear the correct way every single time, because your life matters.
Speaker 1:The rescuer can't become the rescuee. There's no way you're going to screw it up. You know so the process. You know what. What I got 17 years on now, I wouldn't know what I know now. If you know, I didn't start from the freaking beginning. You have to. You got to start at the bottom and I say to people all the time you're going to eat a crap sandwich. Wherever you begin, you are going to eat a crab sandwich. Learn to enjoy the crab sandwich man it never ends, yeah, but there's gosh, there's so much.
Speaker 1:There's so many good things in those rough times of learning that's going to get you to where you want to go and give you so much experience to become, hopefully, that great leader or be good at whatever you're doing?
Speaker 2:You really only look back at the crap sandwiches and go thank you, you know, because if the current crap sandwiches and I think I'm just starting to get into that mode, you know- I've overcome a lot and you know there's always going to be more to overcome.
Speaker 2:But you know, I I look at those moments now, in the face of them, like good, I'm thankful for these moments. You know, I'm grateful for this opportunity to learn and get better. You know, rather than say, oh man, this sucks, let me wait three years before I understand why, it's awesome, you know, I'm starting to understand, like in those moments, like what am I learning from this? And I think that comes with growth and listen, I got a long way to grow and but you know, it's kind of nice to really start embracing the failures and embracing those hard times and understanding that there's something that's going to be gained from this you know, do it 100.
Speaker 1:You know for me, you know when I I'm the best way to put this but I used to be kind of a stress case about my life and future and I always felt like I was never good enough. And I I know what that is now just from going through therapy and you know how I grew up and I was always chubby. You know me and my brothers were picked on and during those times it's always like you're not good enough. I wasn't the cool guy in sports until, like finally, senior year, when I've got sprouted into my own, you know. But, man, that stuck with me for so long. Now you're never good enough.
Speaker 1:You got to work hard, hard, hard, hard. I remember one day it was a family member, I think it was my sister. She's like Tim, like why are you? Like you need to take a second and look at your life. You've done really well, Like it's okay, it's good to take a second and look back and be like, oh geez, good job, you know.
Speaker 1:And now, after coming back to my own faith in you know Jesus and what he's done for me, it's actually taken so much more of that pressure off, and that's only because I've learned that if I go to him, I talk to him and I tell him my problems and things that I'm going through. I need direction. I've always learned like yo, it works out, Even when it fails. I realize there's certain things that happened in my life. He was protecting me. I look at it now and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so glad that job didn't work out. I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so glad that job didn't work out. I'm so glad I didn't get on that film. I'm so glad I didn't end up with this person, because now where I'm at, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Speaker 1:Like my goodness, like everything they told me and everything I've learned and read trust in the Lord. He's got you, he's got a plan for your life. He literally has a plan for you. He has a plan for me. I mean he knew us both before we were made. You know what I'm saying. It's like you were fearfully, wonderfully made. There's no one like you. He knew you were going to go through what you were going through, but he also knew you would overcome it and what that's going to do is how man and it's a mindset and you can make that decision.
Speaker 2:It's like, oh, this happened to me, this happened to me, right right, or it happened for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not like to be churchy, but it's also. It's taught me that even in my pain, in the good, in my pain, in my failures, I'm still going to praise him because he's worthy and because he has a plan and he can change what was once bad into something good. He trades beauty for ashes. I a hundred percent believe that. Now, like I'm not afraid to say that, I look at my life and where I was and like I'll just say, a shit box, it was for a while. And then where I'm at now and how far he's brought me and I can't help but say thank you, like, oh my gosh, thank you so much. Like thank you for protecting me, for guiding me, even when I denied you, even when I put you to the side because where I'm at now I wouldn't trade it for anything the hope that you've given me, the drive, the courage to overcome you know, the courage that even when I fail, I'm going to keep moving and I'm going to fail forward. I'm going to try it again, I'm going to regroup. You know, it's just changed a lot for me. I think that's where now a lot of my motivation kind of comes from, where it's like dude, there's something better coming. Yeah, you know he's gonna use. He's either gonna use my life and things I've been through to help other people and be a testament to what he's done and he's gonna make it okay. Yeah, you know, even when it hurts and that's that's, brother, that I'll tell you right now.
Speaker 1:That has been the toughest part of my walk I can imagine. You know, when you're, when you're like yo, what the f is going on. Dude, you said you love me. You said you're gonna help me. You said you're gonna protect me, and that's one thing that you know. I don't even know about the book of job, but you know job went through some hard times. Yeah, you know the lord said test him. That is my good and faithful servant Lost his family, kids died, lost all his you know wealth, everything. And the one thing I learned from that when I read that is his prayers were tough. He wasn't afraid to tell God exactly how he feels and I tell people that all the time, fellow firefighters who are struggling that confide in me. It's like look, dude, there's only so much I can do, but I can tell you right now if you just pour your heart out to the Lord and tell him what you're going through. I guarantee you're going to feel a lot better.
Speaker 1:Because, put it out. It's not this whole thing where it's like I'm going to put my hands together and I'm going to bow down. It's like dude, he knows you and he loves you. Tell him how you feel is, tell me if you're pissed. Tell me you're pissed. Job was upset. Why would you do this to me? Kill me? I don't want to be here anymore. But at the end of his prayers he always said I trust you. Yeah, bro, that spoke to me so much. Yeah, and that's like that has changed the way that I kind of like talked to lord, even on my my runs and hikes and stuff. Where it's like I'll be like yo, bro, I'm effing pissed. Yeah, why would you let this happen? Yeah, yeah, you know. But once I get it out I'm like, okay, I'm good, but hey, I do it, I trust you, but this sucks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they say fear of God is healthy and you know, a lot of times, people, you know, use fear as the reason why they follow God. Yeah, and good, good, oh, good, good, oh, yeah, one of the camera batteries, but we're good, copy that, um, and for me, I don't want to, really I don't want to use god as an insurance plan myself, personally, um, so, you know, get it becoming godlier, you know, getting closer to god, uh, you know, is really my goal and you know, I think, I think, and you know, I like man, man, I am on my walk, yeah, it's so good, bro, but yeah, I mean, I think, understanding the fear because, you know, like, if we're not right with God and that moment of truth happens, right, sorry, you know, but you know, I think a lot of people use, you know, oh, if you believe, you know you're going to heaven, right, it's like, is that really what you want this to be?
Speaker 1:Yes, dude, don't you want to become?
Speaker 2:closer to God. Like don't you want to follow his rules? And isn't that what you want, right? You don't want to just be scared. Let me you know. Why don't we use his word to make other people?
Speaker 1:better. Let's go, kyle, not just fear, and that's you know.
Speaker 2:again, I think it sounds like from what I hear from brothers and stuff. It's like, hey, it's healthy to have a little fear. Oh yeah, but you know my thinking at the point that I am in my walk, it's like you know, how do I get godlier, how do I become closer?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Like more like him. Gosh, you had such a good point because I heard someone say this the other day. It was kind of along the lines of well, I want to make sure I'm right with God so I get to heaven. I'm like it's not about getting to heaven, dude. If it was about becoming a believer and accepting what Christ did for you, it's about getting to heaven that as soon as you accept him, you should just be gone. That's not what it's about getting to heaven that as soon as you accept him, you should just be gone. That's not what it's about. It's about relationship with him, dude. He just wants I always say it's so simple, but people make it hard, right? I feel like Western church has really made it interesting, right? Yeah, when really it's like it's a free gift and all he wants is your heart. He knows you're not going to be perfect. He knows to mess up. He just wants to be there for you. He wants to know that you're going to accept him as he is.
Speaker 2:That's it. It's a free gift, dude.
Speaker 1:God knows your heart. That's it, dude. I mean, if going to church makes you a Christian, it's just as much as being in a garage makes you a car. It's not about the four walls. Church is about the people, dude. It's not about getting to heaven, it's about love. Love, grace and forgiveness, and for me, that's what changed me. Am I a perfect dude? By no means, brother. I'll even say hell, no, okay, I am not a perfect person. No, I have my struggles, I have my doubts. I still have things that you know that I struggle with, but at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, I'll always say I believe him, I believe in what Jesus has done for me because, dude, has changed me a hundred percent. It's become such a motivation and so much hope that it's just like, oh my, I get so excited.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I'm like, yeah, this sucks right now, but I'm gonna be good yeah, yeah, trusting in him and and that's something that I need to to be more accepting of is and I've gotten closer. Yeah, dude, just let let him handle it. Yeah, you know, if something bad happens, it's meant for a purpose. You know it's guiding you in the direction that he wants you to go. I know you want to go a different route, but, hey, why don't you relax? That doesn't mean give up on your dreams or something because something bad happened. Right, 100%, but it also means looking up and asking him and saying, hey, help me understand dude Help me understand and maybe he won't teach you.
Speaker 2:at the moment I'm still questioning some of the things that I'm like. It'd be nice to know why. You don't necessarily need to heal me, but maybe understanding why you're doing this would be nice, and I'm sure he'll reveal that in time.
Speaker 1:You're a good dude, carl. I'm going to tell you right now like I'm so glad you on this podcast and I can say this man, I, I, you know, I think he's got great plans for you, man, and there's there's nothing wrong with you on the journey. You're on, dude, it's okay to be questioning, it's okay all of it, dude, yeah, he loves it, he knows where you're at. You know, I'm saying now the last thing I do want to talk to you about, because you're financial planner, right. Yes, so, dude, the state that we're in right now as far as inflation, people are losing things, right, people start to lose jobs. You're seeing it with jobs, right, these big companies are laying people off. You know, I'm seeing it online. You've seen people start to sell their boats, you know their toys, right, starting to get rid of stuff for a lot cheaper than what they're worth. Yeah, rvs and everything.
Speaker 1:What do you think is the best way for people to survive and get through a time like this with inflation? Because it's a difficult time, right, when I go fill up my vehicle, my vehicle is a lot bigger. It's an Expedition Brother. That's a 30 gallon tank. Now, I've done well for myself, but that still hurts, like it's 205 bucks to fill that bad boy up. Sometimes Now I think about people who a two household income and they don't have the opportunities maybe that I've had and they're paycheck to paycheck and maybe they have to decide okay, are we going to buy groceries or only fill up the? You know, fill the gas tank up halfway. You know they're starting to have to make very crucial decisions. Or, hey, we can't live in California anymore.
Speaker 1:It's too expensive, we move out. That's one option.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So it's like you know and this is not to like catch you way off guard, but you know finances are a big deal right now.
Speaker 2:It's tough for people, you know, and I see it.
Speaker 1:I see it in my job. How do people prep for these times or cut back? You know it's a real hard time.
Speaker 2:Well, financial planner, we call ourselves licensed independent educators. We teach people financial literacy and business ownership, and one of the first things that we teach is to know their options. And finding things that beat what the banks offer and outpace inflation is our very first thing that we teach folks and we help them understand what the options are and what it means to find a strategy or a solution that does just that, that gets you 8, 10, 12 or north of that percent of return. Yeah, finding things that offer market protection, but also upside growth, but also upside growth. And then the business ownership side is like, hey, 50 years ago you could be a bus driver and be able to save and whatever Buy a house, and nowadays it's no longer a luxury to have a second stream, a third stream of income, it's a necessity.
Speaker 2:And so, just keeping your eyes up for opportunity and it's tough because we have shiny object syndrome. Grass is greener on their side, not naturally, it's important to focus on one thing, uh, but you know, having your your side, things that are growing on the back burner and and um, you know, uh, yeah, so, so finding things that offer, uh, higher rates of return is number one. Putting your money to work for you and then opening up, you know, opportunities for additional streams of income, passive income, et cetera. So eyes, eyes up, guys, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, gosh, it's a. I hope we get through these times, man, because it's a bummer to see people struggling. You know that's one thing. It's just tough, you know it's. You know I've seen, I've had friends that we a bummer to see people struggling. That's one thing, that's just tough. I've had friends that they're like dude, we can't afford to live in California. We got to bounce. It's a bummer, you're just like dang dude, it got that bad. I'm not in that position. Thank God I've done okay. But it's tough when you see your friends and family struggling.
Speaker 2:They're on fixed incomes and it's getting tough and things are getting tight. Well, when you know, uh, someone reached out to you at some point not you, but in general and you're like, ah, you know, I'm 30. I don't really need to worry about you know the future or you know it's like, well, maybe maybe listen, guys, listen to that person, because you know, maybe it's not for you, maybe it's not the right time, but at least give yourself the shot. You know let's, let's, let's go through the options, let's talk about how money works, compound interest, you know how money's tax, how to, how to mitigate those things, and and maybe, maybe there's a gem there, maybe you find some value, maybe you know someone that does. But I think what it comes down to is just opening your ears, getting educated on how money works and how you can can make it work for you, and and not let it get beaten up by inflation. Um, and then you know, if you don't act on it, that's fine. At least you knew, at least you understood so you got it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just just open up your ears. Yeah, I got you do so. Somebody wants to get a hold of you for either financial planning or, um, your personal training. Is that two separate things? Or they? Can they come to you directly at your instagram, or either financial planning or your personal training Is that two separate things? Or can they come to you directly at your Instagram or your TikTok?
Speaker 2:Yeah, reach out directly. Kyle Hardy 43 is my Instagram. My TikTok is Kyle Hardy 127. I do have individual websites, that's wwwhardyfinancialorg for the financial side and then wwwairllcorg for the personal training side, and, like I said, direct message through the TikTok and IG platforms.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, dude, very good man. I can't thank you enough, dude, for spending time to be on this podcast. I want you to come back, dude. I wish we had more time yeah, me too.
Speaker 2:I'd love to maybe do one with, uh, with evan, mr nelson, that would be, I think that would be fire.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it'd be great to have both you on. But, dude, all I could say is you're an awesome individual man. You've been through a lot and I think you know the things you've talked about here with your cancer and losing weight, and where you've been, how far you've come, as a testament to who you are as a person, dude, um, you have a lot to give this world. You know what I'm saying. Don't like. I know you're not a person to give up. Keep going, doc. Yeah Well, keep going.
Speaker 2:That's the plan. And you know, uh, if I can leave, leave the podcast with. Anything is is take the challenges. Yeah, you know, don't, don't shy away from them. Jump over the hurdles, go around and bust through the walls. Just because there's an excuse that has legitimacy to it Doesn't mean you have to submit to it. So, overcome and, uh, you know, do the things that you say you're going to do and become that person. Dude, I love it, man of your word huh, that's right, Everybody man, hey man, I don Try to be.
Speaker 1:I'm not perfect. That's for everybody. Man, be a man of your word. Hey man, I don't really do this often, but I'm just going to end this right now. I want to pray for you. You cool with that? I would love to pray now. Let's do right now, real quick, dude. Heavenly Father, thank you for my friend Kyle, and that please continue to guide him, guard his heart, show him who you are, reveal how much you just love him and how much you've protected him, and what you're going to do with his life. Lord, I am so thankful that he's here, that he's now one of my friends. Lord, work out his life, bring the success that you want for him, lord, and just continue to show your love for him In Jesus' name. Amen, amen, dude, you are the man, my friend. Likewise, you are welcome on here anytime. I'll be here anytime, and we always end this podcast with a let's go on three. You ready for this? Yes, let's do it. One, two, three, let's go.
Speaker 1:Let's do it. Bye everybody. Thank you so much for listening in. If you like what you just listened to, please leave us 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 steven clark, our sound editor. He's a huge part of this team that is unseen. It's eight, nine barbers. Our first sponsor. Feel good, be great. That's two locations Orange, california and Long Beach, california. Book your appointment online 89barberscom. Bye everybody.
