Laugh At Adversity With Gary Savoie: Inspirational Messages To Conquer Your Challenges And Turn Your Struggles Into Strengths

What does unbreakable success look like? Just ask Aaron Keith Hawkins. Aaron has been serving in law enforcement since 1995 and is currently a Captain in New Jersey. Although most of us would consider his accomplishments to be more than enough, Aaron had a life altering experience that made him desire more. In 2009, he collapsed to the floor in front of his wife, clutching his chest, experiencing what he believed to be a heart attack. In that moment as Aaron thought the curtain was about to close he was faced with massive regret and realized he’d be ignoring countless opportunities. After surviving what was later diagnosed as a mini stroke, Aaron decided he wasn’t going to coast any longer. Since that day, he has spent years evolving his understanding of what makes good people settle for less than the high levels of performance that they’re capable of. Aaron shares all of his framework on his website and through his podcast, Unbreakable Success. In addition to the podcast, Aaron is a high-performance coach wh

Failure is often defined as a lack of success or falling short. However, most of us associate the word failure with a timeline; forever. And because of this misunderstanding we become afraid to try again. We assume our career, relationship, and futures are over. In the real world, failure is a dreaded word; however, failure leads to success. Most of us give up way too quickly and far too often. We don’t realize that there are no shortcuts to excellence and that figuring out complicated problems takes time. Because of our previous lack of success we view failure as a permanent condition and as an excuse to not try again. I’m here to debunk the myth that surrounds failure. In fact, I’m here to prove that failure is much more than just falling short. Failure is such an important aspect of everybody's life. When you take a risk you don't always know what is going to happen, therefore you experiment with failure - it’s part of the journey.   Failures are literally the seeds of growth, opportunity, and success. Th

What does it mean to compete every day? Jake Thompson comes on the show to talk about going after what you want, being better than yesterday, and building a competitor's mindset. He is the Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of Compete Every Day where he inspires other's to focus on becoming the best versions of themselves. Jake is also the host of his own podcast, Compete Every Day, where he encourages his audience to be relentless and conquer each and every day. Whether it's through speaking engagements, his clothing line, or podcast, Jake's focus is always to teach people how to become a competitor. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The meaning behind Compete Every Day Why you should only compete against yourself Why comparing yourself to others is exhausting How tracking your goals everyday builds consistency The key to achieving your goals is to focus on the process and not the end goal Why conquering adversity is a process How your story can impact and inspire others Why courage always makes a bette

Want to learn how to improve your credit score? Are you interested in generating more cashflow? Or maybe you just want to get out of debt. If either of these apply to you, then don't worry you're not alone. Statistics suggest that as much as 70% of the population can't put together $1,000 in reserves. But don't worry, this episode with Matthew Pillmore will teach you how to improve your credit score, leverage debt, access more cash flow, and become debt free. Matthew, the President of VIP Financial Education, along with his team of industry experts have been providing in depth cash flow management education and coaching since 2000. Matthew is a popular educator, speaker, national credit consultant, and even completed his education under the guidance of founders of the FICO credit scoring system. He offers financial education on the national platform to unlimited real estate organizations, as well as several big companies such as NASA Space Center, Multiple Police Departments, Chicago Title, Coldwell Banker, P

Tired of the hangovers and regrets that result from having one too many? Do you want to know what is really behind your desire to drink? Are you interested in taking a break from alcohol? If so, then this interview with Rachel Hart is a must listen. Rachel coaches women (and men) who want to change their drinking habits so that they can live happier and healthier lives. During her 20s she developed a love-hate relationship with drinking which resulted in periodic breaks here and there. Like many of us, she loved the feelings alcohol provided her; however, wasn't a fan of the hangovers or the foggy (and sometimes) regretful memories from the night before. When her 30s came around, Rachel decided it was time to take another break from drinking. For real, this time. Why? Because she realized she was using alcohol as a coping mechanism. It made her feel relaxed, comfortable, and most importantly confident in social settings. So instead of using alcohol as a crutch, she decided to investigate what was really behin

Figuring out how to pay off student loans fast can be a daunting task. I remember the feeling all too well. It was spring semester 2012, the final chapter of my undergraduate journey. A sense of tension took over my chest. The anxiety was overwhelming, often keeping me awake late into the night. Feelings of “What am I going to do next?”, “How am I going to make this work?” were occupying my mind at all hours of the day. Even after accepting an early job offer, graduating, and months into making a good income, my anxiety still lived on. Since freshman year, the same question continued to haunt me, “How will I pay off these student loans?” The same question torments millions of students each year and here’s why: The standard repayment plan for student loans is a 10-year track; however, research has shown the average undergraduate takes 21 years to pay off their loans. Over 44 million Americans are impacted by the student loan debt, which now totals $1.4 trillion. The average graduate of the 2016 class has $30,

After spending nearly six years as a successful chef, Mario Porreca found himself constantly tired, overweight, and needing a change. He decided to leave the kitchen and focus on regaining his health. In just six months, Mario shed 70 pounds. With everyone noticing his results and asking questions, Mario saw a prime opportunity in coaching people to reach their health, wellness, weight, and mindset goals. As Mario operated this business he was also spending every available second studying mindset, psychology, personal growth, spiritual development, and more to apply what he learned to his own life and to more importantly be able to serve others at a deeper more profound level. Mario has authored two cookbooks geared toward healthy living and has also authored a third book centered around achieving personal and business success. He is also the host of the podcast, 10 Minute Mindset, which is designed to help busy people start their day in the best state possible by following his daily GIO method. Mario’s main

Maggie Wilde is known as The Potentialist, where she specializes in uncovering her client’s untapped potential. As someone who battled her inner critic growing up, struggled with overeating, and overcome a stroke at age 40, Maggie fully understands what it takes to regain control of unhelpful habits, beliefs, behaviors and emotions that have been holding you back. Maggie has helped thousands of clients and workshop participants throughout the world achieve their desired outcomes. She is often referred to as ‘the Therapists’ Therapist, training and educating others in the industry to improve their results with clients too. As a Master Clinical Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner and a Confidence Coach & Counselor, she is trained in a variety of life enhancing modalities. Maggie’s hope is that through the skills and secrets she teaches that she can help you tap into the potential of your own mind and create the life of your dreams. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How growing up with an inner critic im

As a personal trainer, wife, and mother, Amberly Lago was living the California dream until it turned into a nightmare in May 2010. As she rode her Harley down Ventura Boulevard, Amberly was hit by an SUV, throwing her thirty feet down a busy street and shattering her right leg. Despite an arduous recovery process, being a former professional dancer and athlete she was determined to walk again and return to work as a fitness trainer. After a lengthy hospital stay and 34 surgeries, doctors were able to fuse her leg together and repair her severed femoral artery despite the initial recommendation to amputate. However, Amberly was diagnosed with a nerve disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (formerly known as RSD) and deals with chronic pain daily. This chronic pain has led her to develop positive, healthy ways of coping with pain and all the emotions that come along with it, and pass it on to others in any kind of pain. This episode is all about turning tragedy into triumph. In This Episode, You Will Le

In 2016, after numerous doctors visits, loads of tests, and an increase of symptoms, Omotola Thomas was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As a wife, a mother, and a warrior she quickly decided that she wasn't going to let Parkinson's disease stand in her way. In order to make her mission bigger than herself, she created ParkinStand to inspire others. A ParkinStand is any positive action performed in defiance of the mental and physical limitations imposed on a person by a debilitating illness like Parkinson's disease. Omotola established ParkinStand to motivate people who are dealing with any type of illness to fight back (with information, proper nutrition, exercise, and, most importantly, an unconquerable mindset). Her goal is to encourage people to redefine the boundaries of the limitations brought on by such illnesses. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Parkinson's disease has impacted her family life Why your mind is the gateway to your destiny How Omotola was able to get past her cultural social bar

While preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army, Marcus suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His life was turned upside down, and after dying twice on the operating table, he was told he would never be able to walk or use his hands again. As days quickly turned into months, he was forced into life changing soul searching. He discovered he was left with two choices, he could either be a victim, or he could change his mindset. Having no other option, he began looking for any lessons to be learned from his injury, and soon discovered that his Adversity was a gift. During his recovery Marcus relied on mental resilience, gratitude, and changing his perspective in order to go from hospital bed to walking again. Within the same week that he began finding things to be grateful for in his situation, movement in his hands returned. Now an author, speaker, and coach, Marcus continues to spread his message that adversity is a gift. He's also a firm believer that adversity is something

When I first stumbled upon Zachary's website, I had no idea what retroactive jealousy was. Shortly after reading his story, on how in his early years, he allowed his thoughts regarding his girlfriend's past relationships occupy his mind and eventually end their relationship, I realized he'd be a great fit for an interview. At some point in any serious relationship, we have "the talk", about our partner's past relationships. And for some of us, we get into this self-destructive cycle of unnecessary questions, details, analysis, and judgment regarding our partners sexual history. After his break up, Zachary realized that to have a healthy relationship, he needed to do some self reflection and self development to get over his jealous tendencies. He decided that he was not going to allow retroactive jealousy win. And began a journey of soul searching, experimenting, relearning, risk taking, and help-seeking. Now that Zachary has beaten retroactive jealousy for good, he works with people all over the world to help

At the early age of 4, David Dilks began his first career as a classical pianist and played competitively from age 5 until 13, even performing at Carnegie Hall in NYC and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Although David found success early on with his musical talents, he never wanted to play the piano. He often felt loads of outside pressure to continue playing and perform at a high level. By age 14, he was escaping reality on a weekly basis, by downing Busch light and smoking weed. Two years earlier, he was prescribed Adderall which did a great job masking his emotional pain by further altering his developing brain chemistry and giving his mother a pharmacological excuse for his "bad" behavior. During his college years, pain-killers would become his go to when he just couldn't deal with reality anymore. After college, David moved to NYC to pursue his dreams of rock stardom, which is where he would encounter heroin for the first time. His usage wouldn't last long, and after going through withdrawal sympto

Former professional soccer player Jordan Angeli knows all too well what it’s like to be injured. Having torn her ACL three times (in the same knee), she still somehow found a way to return to the pro level. Now retired, Jordan has transitioned her leadership traits into a new purpose: helping others. She’s the founder of theACLclub, which focuses on bringing together a community to support, empower and inspire athletes in persevering through the challenges and triumphs of the ACL journey. And here’s a surprising fact for you, there are 300,000 ACL surgeries a year in the US alone. You hear about ACL injuries all of the time, especially in pro sports, but I had no idea the number of surgeries was that high! Jordan is also the host of the Show Your Scars podcast where she features guests with the focus of embracing your scars, overcoming injuries and sharing your strengths. Needless to say, Jordan is a huge influence in not only the ACL community, but a great role model for anyone overcoming sports related inj

Mary Claire Dilks is a licensed Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Rhode Island and board certified Chinese herbalist. As a teenager with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Dr. Dilks came to appreciate the power of alternative medicine. She understands how illness can hold us back from fulfilling our dreams and has made it her mission to help people overcome illness. Dr. Dilks entered the field of Integrative Medicine in 1999 while working at American Whole Health in Chicago with Dr. David Edelberg, an internist who is highly respected in his field working with patients with Fibromyalgia and chronic illnesses. Watching other patients manage and even beat chronic illness using complementary medicine including Traditional Chinese Medicine solidified Mary Claire’s desire to study it further. After completing her 4 years Master's program at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Mary Claire opened Emerging Energy Acupuncture in 2004 in Providence, Rhode Island where she now practices both acupuncture and he

Tofe's story is an interesting one. After facing multiple set backs in 2014, Tofe was facing severe depression and resorting to self infliction, hard drugs and alcohol, and prescription medication as coping mechanisms for his pain. Somehow Tofe was able to find an escape route and turned to running as his new addiction. Now known as an endurance athlete and resilience thought leader, he's managed to change his life through endurance events and gratitude. Although, these endurance events and gratitude have saved his life, he's been doing these events for a greater purpose than himself: to help raise money for charities and increase the awareness around mental health. Some of Tofe's crazy accomplishments are: Ran 40 endurance events in 1 year to raise awareness and money for cancer research 60km Ultramarathon on Mt Everest for Cystic Fibrosis 100km run for Blind + Amputee 12hr & 24hr Treadmill Challenges (Yes, that says 24 hr!) 100km War Trail for Youth Military - PTSD And much much more   In This Episode,

Having grown up following the standard North American lifestyle of eating junk food, taking medications, stressing out over everything, and repressing her emotions, Samantha became sick. At 26, she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer and told that she needed to start chemotherapy and radiation. Not wanting to accept that as her first option of treatment, Samantha opted for a different approach and began to heal herself in a multi-faceted natural approach which you will learn about during this interview. Now Samantha is a Lifestyle Alchemist, Yin Yoga Instructor & Certified Nutritional Practitioner specializing in Psychoneuroendoimmunology. She is also the founder of Real Life But Better, a Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Wonderland where she educates about the power of self-healing and mentors her clients in achieving optimal mind/body/soul alignment. Samantha has made it her mission to facilitate the practice of naturopathic self-healing through self care, self love, empowerment, and much much more

A misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder and countless addictions pushed Cyndi's health to the limit in 2008. Overweight, overwhelmed, pre-diabetic, suicidally depressed, fearful, hopeless and discovering that she had 6 months to live before reaching liver failure, Cyndi decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. How? Through mindfulness, movement, and meditation. Nearly 7 years later, Cyndi has completely transformed her life through the tools she now teaches others. Having lost 80 pounds and now living without medication, she is no longer pre-diabetic or facing liver failure, and has successfully transitioned from victim to victor mode. At her private West Hartford, CT Yoga Studio, you’ll find one-on-one therapeutic, gentle, restorative and prenatal yoga sessions as well as reiki, meditation, physical therapy, myofascial release, and much much more. Cyndi is so passionate about teaching others how to create more space, healing, and love in their lives and relationships through the use mindfulness, yo

I came across Kyle's Instagram a few months ago and was blown away. From our first conversation, I knew Kyle was a perfect fit for the show. He's just an incredibly inspiring individual who is doing amazing things and impacting so many people's lives. Kyle was born with Erb's palsy, which resulted in nerve damage in his shoulder and paralysis of his right arm. Instead of letting his obstacle get the best of him, he's created workout videos on YouTube and the 1in1k community which allows others to share their stories with Erb's palsy. This conversation with Kyle isn't just for those with Erb's palsy; it's for anyone who is dealing with any form of adversity in their lives. What surprised me the most about Kyle, is that he gets it. He understands that the principles he's learned from overcoming Erb's palsy can be applied to all obstacles in your life whether they're physical, mental, emotional, marital, or a combination of them. Many of the lessons Kyle talks about can be applied to all areas of your life. I wa

Welcome to the first episode of Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie, a podcast designed to help you overcome life's challenges and create growth in your life. In this episode, you'll learn about my story, the purpose of the podcast, and what to expect. Creating the Laugh At Adversity Podcast has been a dream of mine for a while and I'm so excited to finally launch it! Even as a kid, I was always the curious type who preferred sitting around family and friends listening to the stories and lessons life had taught them. This podcast is no different. I'll be picking the brains of inspirational people who have overcome adversity first hand. As well as, influential experts with the purpose of teaching you methods to overcome your obstacles and create growth in your life. Whether you're dealing with a relationship issue, financial struggles, a physical obstacle, or a mental hurdle the principles you'll learn from this podcast can be applied to your situation. In this episode, you will learn: What you can expect fro