podcast

Oct 23

John SL Gavin

By Chrissy Bernal Personal Growth, Podcast, Professional Athlete No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for an inspiring conversation with former Minor League baseball player John Sealy Livermore Gavin. Our host shares his admiration for John’s remarkable journey, recently featured in The Athletic, and dives deeper into his experiences—from childhood baseball dreams to life transitions and lasting relationships. Tune in for an uplifting episode full of laughter, reflection, and a reminder of the connections that bring us together!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

In this Episode:

John’s Journey: From growing up in San Jose and attending Saint Francis High School to becoming a standout athlete at Cal State Fullerton, where he helped lead the team to the College World Series in 2015 and 2017, John shares how his passion for baseball shaped his life.
Radio Memories: Reminisce about the good old days of radio contests on 95.3 KRTY and the sense of community they created, leaving lasting memories.
Concert Fun: Get ready to laugh at some hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre.
Height Perks & Challenges: Enjoy a lighthearted discussion about the joys and quirks of being tall as John shares funny moments alongside his towering friends.
Life Lessons from Baseball: John reflects on the friendships and life lessons baseball has brought him, showing how the sport helped shape his character both on and off the field.
Career Challenges: Get insights into John’s post-baseball career challenges, navigating economic shifts while staying true to himself and his values.
Life Shifts: Learn how meeting his future wife shifted John’s priorities from chasing dreams on the field to building a meaningful life and family off the field.
Marriage & Companionship: A heartfelt conversation on the beauty of marriage and insights on how companionship enriches life, helping us live longer and healthier.

Quotations:

“If you’re expecting a different result, then that’s just idiocracy at its finest. You gotta at least embrace it and you gotta figure out a way to get through it.” ~ John Gavin

“The cool thing that I always appreciated about baseball was that I got to make relationships with people.” ~ John Gavin

“I am going to pretend to be over the moon until I actually am over the moon because the second I think what am I doing up here and like, why am I in this situation or I can’t believe I have to face that guy, you’re already doomed.” ~ John Gavin

“Everybody who knows me, my dimples are normally showing 99% of the time. And that was a struggle for me when I got to St. Francis, and I had to turn that switch. I had to turn into a killer.” ~ John Gavin

“I never wanted to have a backup plan for baseball.” ~ John Gavin

“I want to start a family. I want to be the best husband that I can be, and I want to be the best person that I can be.” ~ John Gavin

“My dimple, love-harding self, if I go out there with just kind of a go easy, let’s throw the balls out and let’s just see how it is, I would get absolutely rocked.” ~ John Gavin

“I pride myself in being an authentic, genuine person and I don’t want to put on an act.” ~ John Gavin

“The awesome thing about society that I love about people. It’s coming together through hard times and they make everybody so much better.” ~ John Gavin

Bio:

John Sealy Livermore Gavin is an ex-Minor League baseball player known for his drive to exceed expectations both on and off the field. He majored in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations at Cal State Fullerton, where he helped his team reach the College World Series in 2015 and 2017. John’s unique blend of emotional empathy and competitiveness makes him a standout candidate for companies seeking to expand and connect with diverse audiences. Passionate about building relationships and uncovering what makes people unique, John is dedicated to creating meaningful connections and driving success.

Guest Contact Info:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnslgavin/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnslgavin/

X: https://x.com/johnslgavin

Oct 16

Love13

Zach Tucker & Jeremy Grater

By Chrissy Bernal Personal Growth, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re sitting down with the hosts of The Fit Mess Podcast, Zach Tucker and Jeremy Grater, to dive into their personal stories of fitness, friendship, and transformation. If you’re looking for a little inspiration with a touch of realness, you’re in the right place.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter service!)

In this Episode:

Discover how they started their unexpected podcast journey and open up about life beyond fitness.
Learn about Zach and Jeremy’s 13-year friendship, which began through their wives during pregnancy.
Hear how their stories go beyond fitness to explore mental health, personal growth, and the power of forgiveness.
Listen to Zach’s inspiring transformation from nearly 300 pounds and a smoker to a long-distance runner.
Discover how a knee injury became Jeremy’s wake-up call, leading him to embrace bike commuting and mindfulness practices.
Zach and Jeremy emphasize the power of vulnerability and learn why they believe small steps, both in fitness and mental health, make the biggest impact over time.
Zach opens up about how forgiving his mother brought him peace, while Jeremy shares valuable lessons from therapy, including how to challenge inherited negative self-talk.
Discover their refreshing, realistic approach to wellness. Their advice? Focus on small, manageable changes—whether it’s a short walk or five minutes of mindfulness.

Quotations:

“If we just share our experience, we don’t necessarily have to be experts. But if it helps other guys the way it helps us to hear the conversations that we’re having, why not? Let’s do it.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“You can’t just fix things. Like you got to understand why something’s broken in the first place.” ~ Zach Tucker

“I am the happiest, healthiest I’ve ever been because not only did I lose a ton of weight, but like all the exercise and all the clean eating, it really helped me manage all the mental health issues, anxiety, and depression that were running rampant because of it.” ~ Zach Tucker

“All the imposter syndrome I was having about, like, they’re going to find out one day that I don’t really belong in this job I’ve had for a decade. Like it all just started to go away because I found that just by focusing on what’s right in front of you right now.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“I’d spent so long running from my feelings and running from my fears that I never stopped to realize that like I actually had it pretty good.”~ Jeremy Grater

“I’m at peace because I can’t dwell on that, right? You’ll, you’ll destroy yourself if you dwell on situations like that. You just have to move on, be okay with it, and forgive it.”~ Zach Tucker

“I learned that those voices, the things that I was saying to myself, were not me.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“I’m doing my best here and it’s not going to be very good, but just by being here, that’s enough.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“Mistakes happen. It’s okay.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“One of the biggest things is just really learning ⁓ what you believe about yourself and why you believe it.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“Now I look forward to going to the gym because I know that I’m going to be able to put myself through something challenging, put myself through something hard, and accomplish it where I spent most of my life looking at the hard thing and running the other way.” ~ Jeremy Grater

“The training in the gym. Yes, it trains your body, but for me, it trains my mind to overcome those obstacles and to find the hard things in my life and lean into them because I know that on the other side of that is the reward.” ~ Jeremy Grater

Bio:

Zach Tucker resides in Albany, NY with his young daughter. Zach has a passion for helping people define and meet their wellness goals. He thinks that every person is different and there is no one size fits all solution for someone’s wellness. He is on a mission to share his story and some of the tools that helped him on his own wellness journey. Zach is certified to teach yoga and Insanity® Live.

Jeremy Grater is a married father of two young girls and lives in rural British Columbia. He’s been in the broadcasting and podcasting business for about two decades. Jeremy is a certified REBT Mindset Life Coach.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.thefitmess.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitmessguys/

Youtube: @fitmessguys

X: https://x.com/FitMessGuys

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitmessguys

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fitmessguys

Oct 09

Love15

Karen Howard

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Personal Growth, Podcast, Politics No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, our guest is Karen Howard, the brilliant author behind the book, Upset is Optional and Executive Director of the Organic and Natural Health Association. Listen in as she shares her wisdom on personal growth, professional journeys, and societal reflections.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you so you can save 20%!)

In this Episode:

Meet Karen Howard as a powerhouse in natural health advocacy and an insightful author aiming to help us control our reactions to life’s challenges.
Discover the essence of Upset is Optional, focusing on maintaining control over one’s reactions.
Explore parenting insights deeply tied to overcoming adversity.
Hear how 9/11 significantly pivoted Karen’s career trajectory.
Learn life lessons & parenting tips for teaching children to follow their passions rather than societal expectations.
Dive into Karen’s extensive involvement in government policy-making.
Understand how political engagement has evolved with an emphasis on voting knowledgeably about candidates and issues.
Learn the value of open-mindedness in decision-making processes & educate oneself to actively participate in democratic processes and remain open to evolving perspectives.

Quotations:

“When things happen to you, you learn from them and then you have a choice. You can either carry it with you as pain your entire life. And I was not the love child, I was the accident child. You make that story up or you can flip it around and you can create a totally different story. And it’s really all within your power.” ~ Karen Howard

“I succeed when I love my work and when I know that I’m serving seven generations.” ~ Karen Howard

“do what you love. We say that, and I don’t know if we really mean it or if we’re helping them understand what that means. Because I could love to eat ice cream all day long and that really wouldn’t serve any purpose.” ~ Karen Howard

“I think teaching our kids to be brave and understand themselves, they don’t always have to jump. They’ve got good advisors, their parents are there to help, is something we need to be more mindful of instead of go get your degree, get your graduate degree, then you’re gonna make a six-figure income, you’re gonna buy the house. Those expectations can cause a lot of stuff.” ~ Karen Howard

“Expectations are really the original form of all suffering.” ~ Karen Howard

“Being able to figure out how to be your best self and what might be holding you back, you know, in terms of all the things that we get upset about now. Are they really worth the effort?” ~ Karen Howard

“I think that politics has always been, it’s a sport, know, and I think people forget that. The difference I think now is that the stakes are so incredibly high and people are so connected that they, for probably more than any other time in our history, feel like they have a vested interest in it. So that’s the good side, you know, that people are getting upset and actually awake instead of not voting.” ~ Karen Howard

“Don’t vote just because of TikTok.” ~ Karen Howard

“People need to be more judicious in what they read and what they learn and in their effort to be participants.” ~ Karen Howard

“Being an observer and being able to pick and choose where you want to insert ‘X word’ is wise and sometimes it’s just better not to say anything.” ~ Karen Howard

“ It’s real that these people lived, breathed and what happened to them is part of our DNA. And I love that. I love that story. And that I have the ability to leave a legacy not in what is in my will, but through my work, through my kids, and through their kids, that to me is meaningful and that’s reason to be on the planet and even to continue to vote.” ~ Karen Howard

Bio:

Originally from Springfield, MO, Karen spent the last 40 living years in Washington,DC working as Congressional Committee staff, lobbying for health care issues, and working for a variety of professional and trade associations. She have experienced a monumental shift in her outlook since the fateful events of 9/11 in 2001. This cataclysmic event left an indelible mark on her sensibilities, prompting her to seek a more purposeful existence. Thus commenced her extraordinary journey towards healing and self-discovery.

For a decade, Karen collaborated closely with naturopathic physicians, leading the way as their Executive Director. She ventured to Ecuador, immersing herself in the wisdom of native healers.

It was during that time that she was introduced to Bob Duggan, the visionary behind Tai Sophia acupuncture school. Pursuing a master’s degree under his tutelage, Karen learned to cultivate a state of well-being through mindful language and actions.

Karen invites you to explore Bob’s final body of work—an enlightening collection of ten practices that have empowered her to navigate life’s tumultuous waters with grace and bid farewell to unnecessary suffering. The stories she shares are intended to guide you in honing your ability to listen to your body, adjust your response to external influences, and experience your power to shift how you respond to what we commonly refer to as stress. Karen’s sincerest wish is that you derive immense benefit from Bob’s teachings and tap into the profound wisdom residing within your own body. Remember, upset truly is optional.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://upsetisoptional.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.howard.75641

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhoward1761/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-howard/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karenhoward857

Oct 02

Love12

Luppe B. Luppen & Hunter Walker

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Podcast, Politics No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we have a groundbreaking conversation with two esteemed guests, Hunter Walker, an investigative journalist and former White House correspondent, and Luppe B. Luppen, a lawyer and a prominent social media presence and writer. Together they discuss their book, The Truce: Progressive, Centrist, and the Future of the Democratic Party, offering listeners an insider’s account of political dynamics within the Democratic Party.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this Episode:

Access to Insider Stories
The Relationship Between Barrack Obama and Joe Biden
Obama’s Role in the 2020 Election
The Standard Bearer of the Democratic Party
Kamala Harris & Missteps
Likability and Sexism in Politics
Attacks and Double Standards in Politics
Tension Over US Support for Israel’s Campaign in Gaza
Fractures with the Progressive and Centrist Coalition
The Importance of Key Voters Groups of Biden
The High School Drama of Politics
Writing a Book Together
Unvarnished Understanding of Political Players
Election Insights
The Goal for Biden and Trump: Just Win, Baby

Quotations:

“Democrats recognize these questions. They know that the central thing we confront in The Truce, which is who’s going to lead this party after Biden and how are they going to do it, is in dispute. And they are, I think, eager to litigate that conversation.” ~ Hunter Walker

“One of the most interesting conversations we were able to report in the book was that late in the wee hours after Trump’s election, at 1:30 in the morning, Biden was in the Naval Observatory, the vice president’s residence, and he called the White House and we spoke to people in the room who heard him say to Obama, we told you, boss, people just don’t like her right, and referring to Hillary Clinton. And essentially, Biden was participating in what may be history’s greatest I-told-you-so moment with his former boss. So Obama was clearly haunted by that.” ~ Hunter Walker

“I think that of Obama fundamentally as a pragmatist, as much as he has the real ability to inspire his audience to tap into those sort of loftier rhetorical notes of idealism as a politician and as someone who is an operator within democratic politics, I think he is very pragmatic and calculating.” ~ Luppe B. Luppen

“Democrats have won the popular vote, right? If you look at issue after issue, whether it be abortion, gun control, public education, or health care, the values of the public are progressive. And that becomes more and more true as Generation Z takes the stage and as the country becomes more diverse. And yet our electoral result doesn’t always go that way. Right? And so that’s one of the questions we confront in this book.” ~ Hunter Walker

“The salience of this compromise that was forged with progressives is that you do not see a progressive challenger in this Democratic presidential primary where Joe Biden is weakened, where there is a foreign policy crisis that is almost designed to put strains on the coalition he built and make progressives feel like they need another option.” ~ Luppe B. Luppen

“I tend to think that as a woman of color going into politics, you have to know how much better you’re going to have to be and how much more intense the opposition that you’re going to have to face is.” ~ Hunter Walker

“Unfortunately, in the world we live in, it’s impossible to pull apart questions of likability and political promise from sexism and racial attitudes.” ~ Luppe B. Luppen

Bio:

Luppe B. Luppen is a lawyer and a writer in New York City. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he graduated from Stanford University (2005) and Washington & Lee School of Law (2008).

Hunter Walker is an investigative reporter and author based in Brooklyn, New York. He has written for notable publications such as Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and The Atlantic. Walker spent five years as a White House Correspondent for Yahoo! News during the Trump administration and has covered politics for outlets like Business Insider and the New York Observer. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.