Business - The Travel Wins

Tanya Stanfield – Road Warrior Strong

My guest today is Tanya Stanfield. Tanya is a branding expert and founder of Road Warrior Strong. Road Warrior Strong is a fitness concierge built for business travelers. Tanya shares years of experience of traveling for work while learning ways to stay fit and healthy on the road. We also talk about the necessity of good sleep while traveling. It was a great talk and I’m thankful for Tanya’s friendship and time.

TANYA STANFIELD QUICK BIO

My career has been a series of adventures and “firsts” that have dropped me in the middle of chaos. Shortly after finishing my degree at the University of Wisconsin, I began my career in London, England and acted as a spokesperson for Homes for Islington – the first American to do so. Upon my return to the States, I took over marketing for a small digital firm in Milwaukee and later, at a startup managed by Kellogg School of Management and McCormick School of Engineering (Northwestern University). After freelancing for a few years, I made the leap into corporate America where I became the first regional business development manager for a mid-sized consulting firm, expanded the firm’s business development and marketing capabilities while managing and motivating teams.

In my free time, I travel as much as possible, catch live music events, and fit in as much physical activity as possible both inside and outside the gym. In fact, I’m a three-time marathoner and recently launched a fitness hub for business travelers – Road Warrior Strong.

Activities & Affiliations

Techstars Seattle 2018 Class
• Ellevate, Member
• Vice President of Development, Steppenwolf Associates (2014)

Connect with Tanya Stanfield:

Transcript:

5 for Friday with Tanya Stanfield

5 for Friday with Tanya Stanfield. Tanya is the CEO and Founder of Road Warrior Strong. Road Warrior Strong is a fitness concierge built for business travelers. Sounds like a perfect person to speak with for The Travel Wins podcast. Tanya shares why she started Road Warrior Strong and how it keeps her busy.

Don’t forget to catch the full episode on Monday.

Here’s a clip from her website:

“No matter what my career threw at me, I always made time for working out and eating well. I even trained for my second marathon while working three jobs seven days per week, and never missed a training session. So when I began traveling for work, I thought staying fit on the road would be a piece of cake.
Easy, right?
I saw other consulting colleagues’ health crumble due to stress, horrible airport food, lack of sleep, and weight gain. But I was convinced that wasn’t going to happen to me. So before my first business trip, I spent over an hour on TripAdvisor viewing hotel fitness room photos to make sure I found one that would suit my needs. Needless to say, after all of the time spent doing that and with all of the real work I still had to do, meal planning went straight out the window.”

Connect with Tanya Stanfield:

Transcript:

Tanya Stanfield: You’re absolutely right and I think one thing people struggle with when they’re traveling is you know they go from destination to destination and sort of hope and pray that you know they’ll be able to maintain their health and fitness on the road you know they hope that there’s a decent gym in their hotel they hope that they’ll be able to find healthy meal options where they’re at but I think the disconnect happens when they don’t know that in advance and when you’re in the moment and when you’re traveling it’s such a stressful environment speeding in the first place not only do you not have time to search for those resources when you’re in a destination and you’re traveling but you also suffer a lot from you know fatigue and HSN and when decision fatigue sets in you know you have less ability to make the right choices for your body so that’s something that we’re really trying to do is just really close that gap for people I’m on Instagram and then on the website is I almost like a resource guide as well

The Travel Wins: I mean seems like you’re going after specific cities and really saying here’s how to you know, here’s how to travel in San Francisco or doing more City based types of stuff as well

Tanya Stanfield: We are yeah so right now we’re focusing primarily on some core cities Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle being three of them and expanding as we go along but we do help travelers. I help travelers personally for travelling to multiple destinations you know most recently I helped one traveler who’s traveling to Las Vegas and I helped another who was traveling to Louisville so I love just being a sounding board for people and just really helping them dig in and find you know where they’re gonna work out and where they’re gonna eat healthy while they’re traveling to these various destinations

The Travel Wins: Was your advice do not hit the slot machines in the McCarran Airport Vegas

Tanya Stanfield: It did not. no no it’s surprising because you know Las Vegas isn’t known for being you know a healthy paradise in the least but there are a lot of options there they’re just not very well publicized. So you know for this particular traveler we were able to track down some great resources for her as far as taking yoga classes were concerned which is kind of a surprise and also you know finding places where she could eat you know you know on her dairy-free diet so there are ways where you can you know find what you need for your body on the road again it’s just about having that plan in advance and knowing where to go and where to find it

Marcus Peterson- Prove Yourself Right

Today’s The Travel Wins podcast welcomes Marcus Peterson, MBA. Marcus is an NFL wide receiver (Los Angeles Chargers), model, business owner and entrepreneur.

His upbringing in Inglewood, California at a very small school made him realize his need to work hard and appreciate everything that happens to him is for a reason. He went on to play football in college at Seton Hill and then traveled to England where he received his MBA. While living overseas he realized how big the world is and that it doesn’t revolve around the US. We also discuss his apparel business, MP Motivational Brand, and what his future holds for him after his football career is done.

I love the fact that he is using motivational phrases for his apparel. Anyone that is sharing positive vibes to the world needs to be recognized.

Connect with Marcus Peterson:

What The “MP” Brand Represents

“MP” Motivational Brand Apparel, represents for anyone who has ever been over looked, told they couldn’t achieve something, they aren’t good enough, or underestimated. Understanding that there are and will be times in our lives where we will be overlooked and counted out but we can never lose faith or site of our goals. No matter what industry we are in, we all have a story of challenges we endure to achieving success. This notion provides the opportunity to wear our struggles through apparel to ignite our dreams in overcoming the “No’s” in life to becoming living proof of YES!

“MP” apparel is a great concept to remind others and ourselves that when we recognize our “Why” & “Purpose” in life having control of the ending result and can NEVER give up on our dreams. Understanding, that whatever happens, a human being does not have the last word for on our destiny, God does.

5 for Friday with Marcus Peterson

Here is today’s 5 for Friday with Marcus Peterson. Marcus is an NFL wide receiver, model and entrepreneur. Being a young man from Inglewood, California, who attended a small Christian school playing “8- man” football and was not introduced to the game of football until his 10th grade year of high school. As his passion for the game grew he continued to sharpen his craft on the field and make his dream of becoming a professional football player a reality. Without receiving any Division-1 college scholarships, it was a long shot coming from the odds of his situation. Although, his college career did not pan out as expected, he did not let that diminish his drive for making it to the big leagues staying focused on his (Plan A).

After his collegiate senior year he had the opportunity to train with elite NFL quarterback’s, receivers, and trainers. Marcus’s faith in God & himself lead to signing a contract with an NFL team. He received his MBA while studying and working in London, England. Working as a model and entrepreneur, Marcus is using his positive mindset to grow his motivational apparel company, MP Motivational Brand Apparel.

The full episode will be available on Monday so make sure to come back and be inspired. I’d like to thank Marcus for sharing his story and passion with us.

Connect with Marcus Peterson:

What The “MP” Brand Represents

Transcription

TTW: What were some of the things that stood out when you traveled overseas?

MP: Once you think I understood how small America really was when you’re living here all you think about is like how America is so huge the American impact the population the market is so huge when I was over there it was so small if you have the Chinese and the Japanese market which can double you know for triple the US market yet that UK market the French market alone Germans aspirin so it’s like the world is so cute another thing that point out to me might was time management is key there’s no such thing as enough for instance you wake up maybe eight o’clock seven o’clock and go to sleep boom about 11:00 there’s really no such thing as a point time it’s just I’ve learned that there’s 24 hours in the day yeah it sounds it doesn’t sound like a lot but that that transformation of morning and night to morning and night to 24 hours is very drastic because like you can be sleep here but you know China just waking up you know you have to get that email fill out my signal Thailand was terrible because I was doing my dissertation and trying to build a global brand I’m having to set my alarm clock at 4:00 in the morning because it was 7 p.m. here in Los Angeles so you know if I need to email or get in touch for people in the US or you know in France or in the UAE you know times were different so just understanding that we have 24 hours in a day I will take a nap at like 10 p.m. which is absurd and then going to say that Alexis thing but like everything was just different because there’s so many different time zones

TTW: yeah well yet you know it can prefer my work my day job you know we deal with factories in China Vietnam India and Mexico at the same time so no but you know you start dealing with time zones of different countries and you got to get you know you had deadlines hurt for order cuts and everything else it’s different you know and then you’re dealing with Freight issues from China or India and then you got having cot so yeah you’re right I mean it’s just it’s actually a small world now with technology

MP: yeah exactly and even with that like the dollar fluctuates so low if you know the again when we can be what 85 cent compared and then you know couple days later it could be you know 60 cent so David so you have to look at that as well so everything was just way more advanced when I was able to travel when I came to cultures religions history laws it was just international trade laws and yeah I think that’s why with what you’re trying to do after your NFL career actually getting your MBA in London probably it’s best suited because it gave you that mindset I’ve always looked at it like you know for instant I school to learn Spanish yeah someone rushing help for you yeah so on so my Spanish teacher with african-american he swore dismantle everything it’s been but I think it’s a correlation from running someone who typically is a Latin descent or Hispanic so it’s cut its have a mixed it like that so I learned international business which is called global business there so to learn international business and ordeals internationally kind of made not just more sense that I learn more authentically than I did then I would have probably followed my international affairs in just one market

Curtis Fisher – Fitness, Food, Lifestyle

Here is my podcast with personal trainer Curtis Fisher. Curtis has 20 plus years experience training himself and others to be healthier and maintain fitness levels. He shares his story of clean bodybuilding while working a day job and raising a family. He shares his time constraints and is aware of us travelers reasons/excuses we have when we travel for our work.

I particularly like his tips for exercising on the road without going to a gym. Providing simple exercises while being based in a hotel room is essential and easy.

He also shares how to eat healthier on the road which, at least for me, is often a struggle. For me when I’m home I feel like I can control my food prep and cooking. I struggle sitting in a hotel room wondering where there are good food choices around. Curtis helps by reminding us that most restaurants have better options now and many supermarkets have deli shops and ready to eat meals inside.

If you have any additional questions or want some advice or clarity on a topic discussed, Curtis is more than willing to help and guide you on your way to better health.

Connect with Curtis Fisher:

5 for Friday with Curtis Fisher

Here’s my 5 for Friday with personal trainer Curtis Fisher. Curtis shares some food strategies and supplementation possibilities for us road travelers. I know for myself I’m always trying to eat better when I’m on the road. When I slip up or have to eat something that isn’t the best for me I remind myself that overall I’m still eating better than before and life is about moderation. Hearing that we should cut out processed sugars, breads and that we should plan out our meals better to stay or get healthy are great goals to shoot for and terrific words of advice. He works with all types of people who look to improve their quality of life as well as the advanced athlete.

On the full episode releasing on Monday, Curtis also shares some travel tips for exercise as well as some mindset goals on how to live healthier.

Anytime I can get advice and tips from someone with 20+ year of experience I take it. I might not always listen at the time and I usually alter the advice to my own personal goals……I always appreciate the time and knowledge shared with me and my listeners.

Connect with Curtis Fisher:

OG Mack Drama – Bridging The Gap

Today’s podcast is with OG Mack Drama. Mack is a nationwide personality, entrepreneur, artist, growth hacker, social media expert, artist development, label executive, consultant, traffic, writer, radio host, influencer and community figurehead with Gucci Mane and 1017 Brick Squad.

His background, large family, stories on road and especially the stories of his future makes him a great guest to chat with and spend some time with. He shares his mindset for success with some behind-the-scene stories of the music industry.

“Always strive to be something better, but still at the end of the day be content with what you have achieved”

OG Mack Drama verified on tsu.com and twitter. @powertalkwithog is a nationwide personality, entrepreneur, artist, growth hacker, social media expert, artist development, label executive, consultant, traffic, writer, radio host, influencer and community figurehead. With the values of family and working with the “starving artists”, Mack Drama possesses a wealth of knowledge in the music industry along with a variety of other industries (Automotive, Legal, M&A, Fencing, Pest Control, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, Cloud Computing). Mack’s leadership and vision are what make Brick Squad Mafia a network of multi-talented professionals!

Mack’s personal motto is that everyone deserves a chance! Mack spends countless hours working to make the organization a success and views thousand of submittals regarding talent monthly.

He heads a team of dedicated professional that are ready and willing to put ANY artists on the map! (If they are ready 2 work)

His other interests include:

Owner/Partner: WWW.TOPSTARHIPHOP.COM startup Hip/Hop web portal
Partner: B.O.B.C (Best of Both Consulting) Bridging the gap between the Corporate/Wall St. and the streets
President: Top Star Hip Hop @topstarhiphopRa RADIO NETWORK (Digital platform airs daily with various programming & host)
Various alliances; industry partnerships & joint ventures.

Mack’s motto: “I don’t have no competitors just people operating & moving in parallel directions. We are team members, it just has to be explained & shown to them! We can all get it! There is room enough at the top for plenty!”

S/O (recently I was mentioned in twrtland.com a major social media app that I rank in the top 1% of all social media users)

Some folks say to me, Mack do you ever sleep? (I am constantly grinding) my answer is I will sleep plenty when I’m dead!!” #squad #maestrodance #internetofthing #google isn’t #God but it does answer all my #request #SteelersNation #1017BSM #VIPRecords #KonvictMusicGroup #YMCMB #MMG #ColossalRecorders #BlackWallSt #WilliColon #RIP #Bobhernandez #GucciMane #BarakObama

Connect with OG Mack Drama:

5 for Friday with OG Mack Drama

Here is my 5 for Friday with OG Mack Drama. Mack is a nationwide personality, entrepreneur, artist, community figurehead, growth hacker, social media expert, artist development, label exec, consultant, traffic , writer, radio host and influencer.

With the values of family and working with the “starving artist”, Mack Drama possesses a wealth of knowledge in the music industry along with a variety of other industries (Automotive, Legal, M&A, Fencing, Pest Control, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, Cloud Computing).

Mack Drama is signed under Waka Flocka’s Brick Squad Monopoly Records, Gucci Mane’s 1017 Brick Squad Records, and Debra Antney’s Mizay Entertainment, he also has his own record label called Brick Squad Mafia Records, which is branched off of Waka Flocka’s Brick Squad Monopoly Records, also known as Brick Squad Monopoly West.

Mack’s leadership and vision are what make Brick Squad Mafia a network of multi-talented professionals!

Mack’s personal motto is that everyone deserves a chance! Mack spends countless hours working to make the organization a success and also views thousand of submittals regarding talent monthly.

Mack heads a team of dedicated professional ready and willing to put ANY artists on the map!(If ready 2 work)

His other interests include

Owner/partner: WWW.TOPSTARHIPHOP.COM startup HIP/HOP WEB PORTAL

Partner: B.O.B.C (Best of Both Consulting) BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE CORPORATE/WALL ST & THE STREETS

President: Top Star Hip Hop @topstarhiphopRa RADIO NETWORK (Digital platform airs daily with various programming & host);various alliances; industry partnerships & joint ventures.

Connect with OG Mack Drama:

Hakeem Valles – NFL to Real Estate

The Travel Wins podcast this week is with recently retired NFL player Hakeem Valles. Hakeem decided to make the career switch from professional football player to real estate investor and public speaker. He came to the self realization that he would not be a franchise player in the NFL and wanted to spend more time pursuing his careers in real estate and speaking while having the time to be with his fiancée and new baby.

In this episode Hakeem shares his thoughts on:

Time management
Being uprooted every year while in the NFL
Balancing time with his family and new careers
The start of raising a child
Being a positive influence to children
The benefits of investing in your future
Using the leverage you have

Connect with Hakeem Valles:

BIO

Hakeem Valles is a former American football player who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Monmouth and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

Early years

Valles was born in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township, New Jersey.

He played high school football at Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey as a wide receiver. He garnered First Team All-New Jersey Prep accolades his junior year. He also spent some time at quarterback and defensive back while at Peddie

College Career

Valles played for the Monmouth Hawks of Monmouth University from 2012 to 2015. He was redshirted in 2011. He majored in Business Administration at Monmouth.

He was a wide receiver from 2011 to 2013. He played in four games in 2012 and 12 games in 2013.

He converted to tight end during training camp in 2014. He appeared in 11 games, starting nine, during the 2014 season. He caught 18 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. He played in 11 games, all starts, his senior year in 2015. He recorded 22 receptions for 236 yards. He was also a team captain as a senior.

He played in 38 games, starting 20, during his college career. He recorded career totals of 40 receptions for 491 yards and three touchdowns

Professional career

Valles was rated the 30th best tight end in the 2016 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com predicted that he would be selected in the seventh round or be a priority free agent. Zeriein said that Valles was an “Intriguing prospect due to combination of size and speed and an apparent willingness to scrap it out as a blocker.” He also said Valles “Has an outside shot of being drafted and might kick around on a practice squad a year or two while he hones his skill at the position

Arizona Cardinals

Valles signed with the Arizona Cardinals on May 2, 2016, after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was released by the team on September 3, 2016, and was signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on October 6, 2016. He made his NFL debut, and first start in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. He played in 11 games, starting 1, during the 2016 season and recorded three solo tackles.

On September 2, 2017, Valles was waived by the Cardinals.

Detroit Lions

On September 6, 2017, Valles was signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 26, 2017.

On October 6, 2018, Valles was waived by the Lions and was re-signed to the practice squad. He was released on November 7, 2018.

New York Giants

On November 27, 2018, Valles was signed to the New York Giants practice squad

His younger brother, Max, also plays in the NFL

“5 for Friday” with Hakeem Valles

I’m excited to share this “5 for Friday” with Hakeem Valles. Hakeem is a real estate investor, public speaker, fiance, and new father, who also happen to have had a successful career in the NFL. After playing several seasons in the NFL Hakeem made the decision to move on to the next chapter in his life on his terms. I reached out to Hakeem on a social media platform after watching a video showing Hakeem speaking to others in a public speaking venue about his decisions to invest some of his football earnings instead of just spending it. I was blown away by his maturity and wisdom at such a young age. He was gracious enough to share his time and I hope we all learn something from his words.

Here is the “5 for Friday” introduction to Hakeem talking about his biggest challenges of time management with the NFL and the “why” he started investing in real estate and public speaking. The full 1 hour episode will be available on Monday at www.thetravelwins.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and share your comments.

Connect with Hakeem Valles:

Dina Parise – Fast and Fun

My podcast today is with Dina Parise. Dina is the President of Dina Parise Racing, as well as a driver, cook, PR person, social media and marketing maestro. Parise is the 2015 IHRA Pro Mod World Champion and is the first female to hold that esteemed title, yet that only scratches the surface. How many former Professional Figure Skating, World Champion Pro Mod Drivers do you know? That’s right! Only one! That is what makes Parise one of the most dynamic figures on the circuit today.

“I will normally get my workouts in at the track in the mornings, I’ll get up a little earlier as I always do a track walk”

Connect with Dina Parise:

Growing up on Long Island, she was a competitive gymnast all through school but her real passion was figure skating. Her ultimate dream was to skate professionally for the World-Renowned ‘Ice Capades’. She took that passion and made her dream a reality, although it almost did not come to fruition! She passed her audition with flying colors, but there was an issue. Parise was told she did not meet the height requirement. In the scheme of things, that did not seem to matter to the gentleman running the audition. He was so impressed with her, he had her ‘adapt’ her height (yes, she lied) on the application, and the rest is history. She then skated, touring with the ‘Ice Capades’ for four years.

Did you ever see something and just know you had to try it? Even if maybe you did not succeed, but you just had to try? Well, that’s just what Parise thought when she began Drag Racing. She had to try it. When your very first time down the ¼ mile is 9 seconds at 146 MPH you know you mean business! Not to mention, she was in her 30’s at the time. There was no looking back from there!

Now in her Pro Mod Cadillac ‘Stella’, she powers down the ¼ mile track in under 6 seconds at over 240 MPH. In her words, “I was born with glitter in my veins and a led foot!” Racing is not just a man’s game as some may think. The most engaging part about it is the fact that in racing, men and women compete equally and are not segregated by gender (unless you are affiliated with F1, but that’s another story).

Something many people do not realize is that Drag Racing circuits and touring Ice shows are quite parallel. Touring with an Ice show consists of traveling week to week from venue to venue. The ice surface changes, but the performer still has their ‘skates’ (to perform with) and ‘sequin costume’s. The fans wait (by the backstage door) for autographs and the children have positive role models to look up to. In Racing, the game is the same although the venue and the equipment may be vastly different. The racers race at a different track (venue) each week. The track surface changes, and racers have ‘Tires’ (for performance) and ‘Fire suit’ (as clothing). When coming back from a run, fans wait to have autographs signed, and meet the drivers. You see, it’s all relative!

DPR has a rich history in giving back to the community on many levels. DPR has always gone by the motto, ‘it’s an accomplishment to get to the finish line first, but the journey getting there is what is most important.’ DPR is very proud to take fan engagement to the next level in the way of programs Parise herself has developed to honor our nations Veterans and Military Members. Creating visibility honoring those who have served this great nation is paramount to DPR.

Having an eclectic background has led Parise into the realm of motivational speaking (not as cliché as it sounds) combined with elite athlete mentorship as well as keynote speaking for various companies and events. Parise has also ventured into the hosting side. Her days as a performer for the Ice Capades honed her skills for promotion, marketing and on-camera work.

“I want people, (especially females) to know they can achieve anything they set their mind to.” Said Parise. “Never let anyone tell you no.”

“Follow your dreams. If you feel the need to try it, then try it! Life is not a dress rehearsal,” Stated Parise “As I always say… In life you get one ticket, and I’m using mine until it expires!”

Erin Lamont The Business of Dance

On today’s podcast is Erin Lamont. Erin is a choreographer, dancer, entrepreneur, wife and mom who has been working professionally ever since she graduated from college with a B.A in Dance, and a B.B.A in Marketing from Western Michigan University. On this podcast she shares her views and insights on how to be successful in business as a working mom and wife.

“It’s a grind but you just learn how to sleep on a plane, especially when you have kids that don’t realize you only slept two hours the night before.”

She has worked with notable artists; Kevin Rudolph, the Veronicas, Trace Adkins, Boys Like Girls, and Lady Gaga. Her choreography can be seen on; L.A Fashion Week, the 2009 Miss USA Pageant, the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant in Vietnam, NBC, Exercise TV, and ESPN. Other credits include; Warner Brothers Film “The Lonely Dog” directed by Avika Goldsman, Skechers, Nike, Nuskin, ABC, Puma, Wella, Wyndham Resorts, Playboy, EMI Records, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Disney, Spike TV, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the NBA L.A Clippers Dance team.

Erin also tours as a guest artist and has worked with Sydney Dance Company, Melbourne Music Academy, ABC Dance Group in Vietnam, Broadway Dance Center Tokyo, EDGE Performing Arts Center, and has taught master classes in over 40 states across the U.S. Lastly, this year she was nominated by Capezio and Dancer Magazine as one of the top ten choreographers in the country. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA where she produces L.A’s most rockin burlesque group called: The Lalas.

Connect with Erin and The LaLa’s:

About The Lalas Burlesque

Definitely not a typical bawdy burlesque show, The Lalas is a Los Angeles based burlesque troupe delivering an extra special dose of fun. Lead by creator and choreographer Erin Lamont, The Lalas dancers also include Kelley Koski, Tonya Kay, Janelle Dote, Kelley Koski, Reyna Godoy, Tonya Kay, Janelle Dote, Jahnel Curfman, Erika Marosi, Aleksandra Wojda and Chantel Gonsalves. There is so much more to these glamorous beauties than their impeccable performance technique, professional industry status and striking looks. Audiences are in for an over-the-top extravaganza performance, which goes way beyond traditional burlesque. Every time the Lalas step out on stage, crowds sit at the edge of their barstools. The Lalas put on a tongue-in-cheek presentation, which includes comedic shenanigans, daredevil aerial tricks, Indiana Jones style whipping vignettes, jazz dance, pointe ballet and of course the girls exercise their talent to tease. While The Lalas Burlesque dancers love their bras and undies, they do a lot more than just perform while scantily clad. Whether it is performing a bluesy and seductive cigarette-filled show to the likes of Peggy Lee or rocking out to AC/DC and James Brown, The Lalas have the market covered when it comes to live burlesque entertainment. Breaking walls, The Lalas go way outside of the box and you never know what you are going to get!

Pete Koch – Fitness, Acting and Football

My guest on today’s podcast is Pete Koch.

Pete was a defensive end who played five seasons in the National Football League, for the Cincinnati Bengals, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Los Angeles Raiders. After his football career ended he decided to stay in Los Angeles and started his acting and modeling career.

Always staying in shape Pete added personal trainer to his resume helping people get and stay into shape, including some celebrities. You can follow Pete on his website at www.petekoch.com.

It was great listening to Pete share some stories and he provided some key tips for us business travelers to stay in shape while we travel the roads and skies.

Connect with Pete Koch:

“Make sure you get moving, at the very least you have accomplished something”

Pete’s BIO

YouTube interview show host, actor, fitness expert and retired NFL defensive end. Creator and Host of ‘Breakin’ It Down With Pete Koch’ a YouTube based talk show designed to inform and entertain audiences by interviewing thought leaders and leading experts in sports, entertainment, fitness and popular culture.

Born on Long Island, NY Pete began playing contact football at the age of seven and didn’t stop for twenty years.

Along the way he captained his winning New Hyde Park High School team, then his University of Maryland team to the ACC Championship and appearance in the prestigious Citrus Bowl. Pete received All ACC and All-American Honorable Mention honors. Pete was a First Round selection (sixteenth overall) in the 1984 NFL Draft; selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. Pete spent four years with the Kansas City Chiefs, notably starting at right defensive end in their playoff run of 1986. Pete wrapped up his six-year NFL run with the Los Angeles Raiders teaming with future Hall of Famers Howie Long, Marcus Allen and Mike Haines.

Upon retirement from the NFL, Pete transitioned into a successful fitness modeling and acting career starring alongside Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge, Burt Reynolds in Heat and Evening Shade, Patrick Dempsey in Loverboy and others totaling more than 120 Hollywood productions.

Throughout the years, Pete has remained deeply committed to maintaining his strength, flexibility, conditioning and overall health through regular workouts. A natural curiosity and commitment to ongoing education, drives Pete’s continuous research in the field of Athlete Performance. Self preservation factors into the zeal Pete brings to his studies and training, initiated by five orthopedic surgeries (due to 20 years of contact football). Pete’s early exposure and relationships with internationally renowned strength and conditioning experts Dr. Fred Hatfield and Frank Costello motivated him to continue his exploration of cutting edge training methods and techniques. He successfully rehabilitated from two spine surgeries, which helped him to solidify his ideas on the importance of spinal stability/core conditioning.

In 2004 Pete Developed a system of training that he calls Functional Advanced Sports Training or FAST, a melding of numerous scientifically proven training methodologies to optimize neuromuscular control and maximize athletic performance. Pete was then called on to direct the training of a number of Hollywood luminaries including Tobey Maguire, Joseph Fiennes and Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro. Pete is currently certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Sports Fitness Specialist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

His FAST Company trains people of all ages and levels of physical condition to help them achieve their fitness and conditioning goals. A University of Maryland graduate, Pete remains committed to ongoing education and research in a lifelong commitment to maximizing human performance and health in people of all ages.

Danny David – Digital and Branding Strategist

My guest today is Danny David. Danny is a proven marketing and branding expert in the sports and entertainment industry. He currently works with professional athletes.

“You never know what’s going to happen to the schedule you planned when you left”

Danny’s vast experience in digital media and brand development is one of the reasons why I was so interested in speaking with him. He began working with talent on management and marketing when he was just 18 and the social media era was first beginning to boom. Danny attended The Ohio State University and was able to network and see up close what an athlete’s life really entails and how there is massive potential for them to capitalize on their brand given the platform they have.

He then started working for VaynerSports, at the time a newly formed sports marketing company, as their Director of Business Development. Now as the Managing Partner of Fifth Down Marketing, Danny is just now hitting his stride in helping his clients realize and maximize their brand potential.

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Jake Zweig – Navy SEAL and Football

My guest today is ex-Navy SEAL and D1 Football Coach, Jake Zweig. This episode is a two part episode. Part 1 gives us background of Jake and his mindset. Part 2 we talk about his time traveling internationally while he was a Navy SEAL. He speaks about his time working on the television shows and I also ask Jake how he prepares his student/athletes to schedule their time while playing football at the University of Illinois. His response is one for every coach on most levels.

Jake is man who has accomplished a tremendous amount in a short time and is just now hitting his prime. Jake attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he played football and wrestled. He graduated as a commissioned officer receiving his degree in computer science.

“My smart phone probably makes me 40% more efficient”

He served for two years before reporting for Navy SEAL training where he was named the SEAL class leader. Following his SEAL training, Jake reported to SEAL Team 8 in Little Creek, VA and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

He then went on to earn his MBA from the University of Michigan.

Jake began his coaching career in 2005 when he joined the University of Maryland staff as a graduate assistant working with the Terrapin wide receivers. He has since worked as an assistant coach at several colleges and is now working at the University of Illinois as their Special Teams Analyst.

His off the clock activities keep him equally busy. He co-hosted the Discovery Channel series called “Dude You’re Screwed” and competed on History Channels show “Top Shot” against law enforcement officers, military snipers and professional shooters. He still goes scuba diving and parachutes to raise awareness for veteran’s charities and just for fun.

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Dr. Nii Darko – A Doc outside the box

Dr. Nii Darko is a Board-certified General Surgeon who is pushing past the limits of the status quo. He hosts Docs Outside the Box, an Apple Podcasts Top 100 in Careers – where he highlights stories of doctors doing extraordinary things outside of medicine to inspire other doctors to think outside the box. Through his successful locum tenens business, Equal Access Health, physicians are empowered to have the lifestyle they deserve. He recently became a best-selling author with his book, 3,2,1…Podcast, that helps you build brand authority through podcasting.

“I’ve really embraced this locum tenens lifestyle as a traveling doctor”

Alongside his wife, he does yearly medical humanitarian work to the underserved in Ghana. Dr. Nii Darko holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences and a M.B.A. in Health Care Leadership from Rockhurst University. He completed his General Surgery residency at Morehouse School of Medicine. He then went on to complete a Trauma/Surgical Critical Care fellowship at the University of Miami. Dr. Nii Darko is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Visit his website www.drniidarko.com for more information on how Dr. Nii is making the world a better place.

Excerpt from his website:

“My name is Nii-Daako Darko and let me get real with you. As a kid, I always wanted to have an impact on people or be larger than life. I thought about becoming an astronaut, athlete, lawyer, or doctor. It wasn’t until the Cosby Show that I knew what I wanted to be. A successful doctor with a beautiful wife, great kids, and lives in Brooklyn… What more could a regular kid from New York City want?

After getting the degrees, credentials, and certifications, I realized that my life was far from a TV show. As a doctor, not only was I not in complete control over my life, but I also hadn’t explored other talents I knew I had. I was in a box.

After a year of doing locums work, I had met so many doctors making moves outside of traditional medicine. There were doctors who did medical humanitarian work in war-torn places of the world, others running their own businesses, and some on TV.

They were happy and passionate not just about being physicians but about being IMPACTFUL and adding VALUE to society by doing more than just medicine.

I thought to myself “If I had known some of these stories or met these people during my climb up the ladder, maybe I would have done things a bit differently.” So, I pulled my other talents off the back burner and created Docs Outside the Box podcast.

Docs Outside the Box podcast brings stories of ordinary doctors doing extraordinary things to inspire other docs to think outside the box. My guests are living proof that doctors can break free from the exam room.”

John Bonaventura – CFL scout and Dad

This podcast is with western regional scout for the CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team, John Bonaventura. John has worked in the football industry for over 30 years as a player, coach, scout and administrator. He has worked at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. In addition to coaching, John has 9 years of professional football as an NFL college Area Scout, CFL pro scout and consultant, NFL combine director and XFL football administrator.

“What they don’t understand is the travel, the ins and outs of hotels, rental cars and the numerous hours spent away from your family”

A husband and father of two boys makes juggling life on the road a struggle at times and he has found ways to incorporate his family life with his professional life, a struggle most of us business travelers have experienced. Let me know what you think of this episode.

Audra Russell – Massage and Community

Today’s podcast is with Audra Russell. Audra works as an Osteopathic Body worker massage therapist.

Working and living in Northern California while having clients in Southern California allows her to travel every few weeks to see her clients. A professional woman working at her passion to help other peoples’ lives improve is a great way to make it thru this thing called life.

She does mention the loss of a community feeling with all of the traveling but it’s offset by the wider range of people she has met while she’s out and about.

Carey Portell – Ranching with disabilities

Today’s podcast is with Missouri cattle rancher and inspirational speaker, Carey Portell. Carey became a Speaker and Blogger, not only to purge and heal, but to encourage others down a positive path in life. She speaks about her four year recovery after becoming a survivor of a drinking and driving collision and her choice to overcome this tragedy. She is partially disabled and works a cattle farm.

“I’m just not used to people seeing in to my life this much, but if you don’t let them see certain moments, vulnerable moments, that is what inspires people to think more”

Her journey is compelling and humbling. Her passion to speak to others about the affects of drinking and driving actually puts her on the road more often, making her more susceptible to encountering another drunk driver. She faces her fears in the hopes to inspire and help others. In addition to speaking about the affects of drinking and driving, Carey also speaks on agriculture, healthcare, faith and community.

Carey is a huge advocate of AgrAbility. Their vision is to enhance quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America.

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Who am I?

I am a country girl who likes to kick up her heels in the city every now & then.

I am passionate about life and love to bring a smile to others.

My roles include: mother, wife, farm hand, photographer, inspirational blogger and speaker.

My four year recovery after being the survivor of a drinking and driving collision has sparked a passion to inspire others along a positive path in life. My journey is compelling, humbling and I share it with gut wrenching honesty.

I schedule speaking engagements with different presentations according to the audience.

My presentations divide into these categories:

*Drinking/Driving: Your Choices Matter

*Inspirational/Motivational

*Spiritual/Faith

*Community/Agricultural/Healthcare

Cristina Alcivar – Airport Lifestyle

Today’s podcast is with Cristina Alcivar. Cristina is the founder of Vane Airport Magazine, a digital resource for airport travelers.

“Airports more recently are diversifying and increasing more healthy food options”

Vane Airport Magazine is a complete resource guide providing information on air travel and varied information available at airports around the world. Cristina started Vane as a way to help airport travelers find and locate the hidden gems for us business travelers. Her website is packed full of information on airports, traveling, food and fitness.

Vane Airport Magazine is a digital resource for the health-conscious traveler.

They inspire, guide, and connect travelers to airport wellness services around the world. For example, airport healthy food options, airport spas, airport meditation/yoga rooms, airport gyms and so much more.

Vane Airport Mag has been mentioned in well-known publications such as Huffington Post and travel.usnews.com. In addition, VANE was shortlisted in the 2014 Global Wellness Summit competition for wellness innovation forefront of travel.

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