athlete Archives - The Travel Wins

Phoebe Mroczek – Becoming Unbecoming

Phoebe Mroczek is my guest on today’s episode. An extremely successful entrepreneur and podcast host of the show Unbecoming, Phoebe is well on her way to her “one name” status. Having traveled and lived in so many places at such a young age gives Phoebe some great insights to traveling for work. She has over one million downloads of her podcasts. We discuss the changing technologies for media companies and also how the changes have affected traveling for work.

She is the host of Unbecoming, a podcast and nationally-syndicated radio show that helps entrepreneurs release the judgments and beliefs. Sometimes holding them back from living a more meaningful life. The show reaches 350,000+ listeners per month from 40+ countries, 16 AM/FM stations in 20 cities nationwide and across 20 Internet platforms.

She built and ran a six-figure online marketing business for several years. Phoebe realized that her real passion was in helping entrepreneurs embrace their true identity. Wanting to amplify their message and have a greater impact by being more of themselves.

She believes that while what we do in the world is important, we’re meant to do so much more in life than just work. As an curious explorer and recovering perfectionist, she has traveled to 64 countries on 6 continents. Phoebe went cage diving with great white sharks, camped in the Serengeti and motorbiked across 15 countries in Europe.

She loves connecting with existing and established business owners that see podcasting as an opportunity for growth. Hope is an expensive podcasting strategy that rarely works. What she has learned, after several years in the podcasting space, can help you scale your impact.

Phoebe on social media:

Click here to see other guests choices for listening while traveling

PERSONAL BIO

Phoebe Mroczek is a podcaster and marketing strategist. She helps online entrepreneurs create a profitable business that is a reflection of who they are and what they want most.

She is the host of the Unbecoming Podcast, a show that helps entrepreneurs release judgment, expectations and past conditioning. Phoebe redefines their metrics of success and live a fun, free and fulfilling life.

Over the past few years, she’s built an online marketing business that helped established entrepreneurs refine their paid ad and launch strategies. She created a podcast she co-hosted with 900K+ downloads and organized various in-person events, masterminds and online communities.

Named a WOMAN TO WATCH by Austin Woman, Phoebe Mroczek helps people discover the best of Austin. The podcaster and media maven chose Austin to launch her new podcast series, New To: Austin. Having traveled to more than 65 countries, Mroczek understands the struggle of finding and creating community in a new city and vowed to change that for newcomers and local Austinites. She takes listeners on a fully immersive experience to discover, laugh with and learn from the people, places and things that keep Austin weird. Season one launches soon, but you can listen to the trailer on the website.

Intro song “Road Trip” by Robin Tricker

5 for Friday with Phoebe Mroczek

Phoebe Mroczek is my guest on today’s 5 for Friday. Phoebe is a podcaster (Unbecoming) and marketing strategist who helps online entrepreneurs. With all of the places she has visited and stories that are fun to listen to make sure to come back on Monday for the full episode.

Phoebe on social media:

Click here to see other guests choices for listening while traveling

PERSONAL BIO

Phoebe Mroczek is a podcaster and marketing strategist. She helps online entrepreneurs create a profitable business that is a reflection of who they are and what they want most.

Intro music by Robin Tricker. The song is “Road Trip” from her album “Salt Water Happy”.

Ryron Gracie – Keeping It Real With Family

Ryron Gracie is my guest on today’s podcast. A 5th degree black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Ryron shares his upbringing in jiu jitsu and some of his travel stories. Ryron shares stories from his travels over the past 20 years while teaching the gentle art of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Included are stories while training and cornering for fighters like Ronda Rousey. We discuss the differences in traveling as a single person and now having a family. I found out that Ryron and I have very similar outlooks in the desire to travel and see and meet as many people and places as possible with the time that we have.

“I want to to start making a list of everywhere I’ve traveled now that I’m talking to you”

A recognizable figure within the jiu-jitsu community, Ryron Gracie became also a familiar face among mixed martial arts (MMA) fans after a series of web episodes named “The Gracie Breakdown” where Ryron and his brother Rener Gracie go over techniques utilized in UFC events. Ryron Gracie is also an instructor at the Gracie Academy.

Ryron was raised on the mats of the Torrance academy, beginning his training as a toddler. Ryron also started teaching Gracie jiu-jitsu from a very young age, and by the age of 12, he was already coaching children under his father’s guidance. At that same age, Ryron was involved in the historical first UFC event, a competition created partly by his dad. Ryron had the chore of cleaning the mats after each bout. Having a 12-year-old clean blood off the mats was not taken lightly by the crowd, thus forcing Rorion to replace him with an adult after that first event.

Ryron and his brother Rener became known among mixed martial arts (MMA) enthusiasts through a series of YouTube videos called: The Gracie Breakdown. In these videos, the Gracie brothers broke down grappling techniques used on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce in some of the promotions most important fights.

Ryron on social media:

Click here to see other guests choices for listening while traveling

Gracie Academy Overview

In 1925, Carlos Gracie established the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Brazil. In 1978, Rorion Gracie brought Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the United States, and in 1989 he established the first Gracie Academy on North American soil in Torrance, California.

To accommodate the worldwide expansion of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, in 2017, Ryron and Rener moved the family business to an even larger facility and established “Gracie University” to reflect the shift from a single academy to a global organization. The Torrance location is one of the most successful martial arts schools in the world with over 1,000 students. Torrance also serves as the global headquarters for hundreds of Certified Training Centers and over 150,000 home-study students learning online in 196 countries. Whether you live in Southern California, or you’re just visiting, we invite you to join us on the green mats in “Jiu-Jitsu Heaven” to experience first-hand the beauty, simplicity and effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

5 for Friday with Ryron Gracie

Ryron Gracie is my guest on today’s 5 for Friday. Ryron is a 5th degree black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Helio Gracie‘s grandson and the eldest son of Rorion Gracie. This is a quick and exciting episode of Ryron sharing a few travel stories from his work, sharing Gracie Jiu Jitsu around the world.

I ask Ryron a question at the end of this clip, “where has been your favorite place to teach around the world”? Try and guess Ryron’s answer to the question before the full episode is released on Monday.

“Everywhere you go there is something to see”

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Ryron Gracie

Team/Association: Gracie Academy

Even though he taught classes regularly at the Torrance academy when growing up, Ryron Gracie still managed to compete often in jiu-jitsu, including against his own cousin, Crosley Gracie, in 2001 as a brown belt, a fight that lasted 90 minutes and ended with Crosley giving up due to a knee injury. Ryron Gracie earned his black belt in 2003 from the hands of his grandfather, Grand Master Helio Gracie, after his victory at the Gracie International Open.

Ryron on social media:

Gracie Academy Overview

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!”

Dina’s traveling music/song/podcast choice is:

Podcasts – Ed Mylett, Dee Snider “I Wanna Talk”

Music – Spotify; Queen, Def Leppard, Billy Joel, Elton John, etc.

Click here to see all of the guests listening choices when traveling.

Angela Ruch – NASCAR and Adoption

My guest on today’s podcast is Angela Ruch. Angela is a NASCAR driver, wife, twin sister and soon to be Mom. Her recent success at Daytona International Speedway (Top 10) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Top 20) in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series will only add to the 2019 highlights for the Ruch family. Angela speaks about her hectic work/life schedule all while getting ready for the birth of their adoptive son. I appreciate Angela giving me a little bit of her day on such an important time in her life and wish her and her family continued successes.

Connect with Angela Ruch:

Angela Ruch Racing Background

She and her sister, Amber Cope, made NASCAR history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of its top three series. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA. Amber Cope, driving the No. 6 Dodge, finished 26th, while Angela Cope was involved in two incidents within 18 laps of each other early in the race and finished 30th.

The twins began racing in Go-Karts at age 9. They quickly gained attention by winning poles and races year after year. By age 15 they stepped up to late-model race cars—even before they had driver’s licenses.^[1] Angela took 1st place in 2002 at the Lucas Oil Can-Am 150 at the Sun Valley Speedway. In 1995, Angela finished 1st and Amber finished 3rd in the Tri-cities Gold Cup “Yamaha Class”. By 1998, both sisters were PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the “Junior Piston Port”. Both sisters split seat time in 2006 at the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, and Toledo, Ohio. By 2008, the twins qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway, with positions 8 and 15.

She currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports.

Racing Career

Angela and Amber Cope became the third generation of Copes to enter into the world of racing, when, at the young age of nine, the girls’ parents gave them a go-kart for Christmas and thus began their road to NASCAR. Once they began competing locally, the girls made a name for themselves and became the most accomplished go-kart racers in the Greater Puget Sound region. In their seven years of driving, go-karts included 50 first place wins and setting on pole position 20 times in the Pacific Northwest. Angela also set new track records at five of six tracks in the same region.

At the young age of 15, they progressed to late model race cars even before they had their license to drive. In 2000, a very short time after their debut in late model stock cars they instantly acquired national attention when they were featured on TODAY with host Bryant Gumbel.

As Angela and Amber became more experienced and confident behind the wheel, they knew that in order to pursue a career in NASCAR they would have to leave Washington. They moved across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina to start training with their uncle Derrike. The twins put all of their focus into learning the in and outs of professional racing. They traveled with their Uncle Derrike to every Cup race that he went to and became fixtures on the track and in the pit.

In 2006, the twins split seat time at the Automobile Racing Club of America’s (ARCA) Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Toledo, Ohio. In 2008, they qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway with positions 8 and 15. The most difficult part of the ARCA Re/Max Series was that they had to share a car. At times, there would be three weeks before one of them would get back into the seat, losing precious learning time; however, it was a great series for the twins performance-wise.

In 2011, Angela competed in four Nationwide Series races. In 2012, she shared the No. 24 SR2 Motorsports Toyota in the series with Amber Cope and Benny Gordon on a part-time schedule. Five years later, now going by Angela Ruch, she made her return to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series at Kentucky Speedway, driving the No. 78 B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet.

In 2019, Angela returned to the Gander Outdoors Truck Series with NEMCO Motorsports. She finished a NASCAR career best 8th at Daytona, her first lead lap finish and the second highest ever for a female in the Truck Series.

Darci Smith – from Athlete to Career

Today’s podcast is with Darci Smith. Darci was a college athlete playing soccer at South Carolina State. She now helps college athletes prepare for life after college as a career coach.

“One of our conference games, we drove a team bus from South Carolina to Utah, which took us away from school for quite some time”

College athletes compete at a high level for their schools but are sometimes unable to take heavy workloads or take on internship opportunities due to their demanding athletic schedules. Some feel inadequate entering the job market after graduation. The company Darci works for, Athletes to Careers, helps these athletes with their resumes, interview skills and reminds them that what made them successful in sports are the same characteristics that many companies are looking for. Darci travels to colleges thru out California meeting coaches and athletes to help them. A young millennial woman working hard, traveling the roads in Southern California trying to help others with their careers is inspiring.

Connect with Darci Smith: