From Muay Thai to Mindset: How Fitness and Grit Saved Ty Wilson

We share how training saved Ty’s life after a brutal car crash, then unpack the mindset, habits, and community support that carried him through recovery and back to service. We also break down Muay Thai lessons, youth coaching, and The MYCROBIG Project’s blueprint for turning ideas into impact.

• fitness as protective armor after 40
• injuries, setbacks, and rebuilding identity
• fixed mindset versus growth mindset
• Muay Thai conditioning and core endurance
• coaching kids’ minds before mechanics
• MYCROBIG intake, LLC and 501c3 support
• Destination We, camps, and a new school
• authentic self, legacy, and daily discipline

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Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Tease

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the Masters Athlete Survival Guide, where we explore the secrets to thriving in sports after 40. I'm John Catalinus, and along with Scott Feich, we'll dive into training tips, nutrition hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes who defy age limits. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong, and motivated. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

And we're back. Hey John. Hi. How you doing? I'm well. There's like we got Stranger Danger in Studio 6 tonight.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

So when I was walking down the hallway to get to this studio, I passed some guy, and he was like, he was with his entourage, which was weird, because I mean we don't have you know people with entourages. Normally, no. Um he had like his personal like shaman with him, and they were like saging him before he came in the studio. So I think he's afraid of evil spirits here.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

Well, you know, if if he's a master's athlete, he looks awful close to that 40-year-old ring.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

What are we gonna do? Like cut his arm off and count the rings? How do you determine such things?

SPEAKER_02 1:06

I think I think that's one way of doing it. That's the only way I know. Great. I'll be back from the kitchen in a moment. Okay. Well I'm still Scott.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Yeah, I'm still John, but okay, we have a guest. Let's not get a lot of people. We do have a guest.

Meet Dr. Ty Wilson

SPEAKER_02 1:22

And folks, it is uh we're truly honored tonight. Uh a colleague of mine, somebody that I consider a real friend of mine. Is he a doctor? He's a fake doctor like me.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Oh my god, I'm surrounded by fake doctors.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you and then allow him to introduce himself and uh talk a little bit about himself because he does that all the time. So he's very good at him. Do I really? Ladies and gentlemen, and for our 14 listeners, this is one of my dearest friends, Dr. Ty Wilson.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Yay!

unknown 1:56

Woo!

SPEAKER_04 1:57

Hola, Kunichua, bonjour. Salut.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Look at him honoring the fact that we're available in 37 countries. He had that planned. I like that he had that right in his pocket. No, it was just authentic. It was natural.

SPEAKER_04 2:09

I'm vibing with you guys. Thank you so much for allowing me to be on the podcast. It's always been a dream of mine, actually.

SPEAKER_02 2:15

So uh or at least for the last 50 episodes. Yeah, same thing. Boom boom, boom. Yeah, pretty much. Um Ty and I worked together at Bryant Stretton College. Ty is, as he likes to say, he is the illustrious dean of our Buffalo campus. Uh we met, what, about three years ago? Three. Something like that. About three, three and a half years ago. Yep. And um and been joined at the hip ever since.

SPEAKER_04 2:45

Pretty much. Pretty much.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Oh, that's why you're sitting on his lap?

SPEAKER_04 2:48

I wondered what I wondered what was on with him. John, don't get jealous. I'm not sitting on yours. Just saying.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

The thing is, you know, you've got two old curmudgeons over here, and you've got Ty sitting over there, all what, 110 pounds of them. He's a gorgeous, man.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

He's a gorgeous young man, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 3:06

He is. You know, I think that's the the saging that the shaman did. It may have been like uh hashisha laden when it was blowing by us, but all kidding around. Um Ty, like I said, one of my dear friends, Ty, do us a favor, do you know our listeners a favor, tell us a little bit about yourself. You know, I I know that you are a Masters aged athlete. You're 41, I think. Yeah. 42? Yes, baby. Yeah, no kidding. When I said he was at the early onset of Masters Athlete, I wasn't kidding for once. Yeah. So tell us a little bit about yourself. Um, you know, sort of what makes you tick. I know, and uh this is actually how John met you. You and your beautiful wife, the real Dr. Wilson. The real Dr.

SPEAKER_04 3:49

Wilson.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

Do uh an absolute ton of philanthropic work and charity work and whatnot. I know you've got enough uh different 501s of your own as well to uh to try to help some folks out and whatnot, which I think is another reason why I truly think that you're one of the three most beautiful people in this room right now. Ah shucks. Nice.

SPEAKER_04 4:11

I'm telling you, all the listeners out here listening right now, I paid him to say that. Well, your check bounced, so I told him I would create a fans only page, not only fans. Fans only? Nice. I'm covered in fans.

SPEAKER_01 4:27

I'm stealing that. That's funny.

SPEAKER_04 4:28

I'm stealing that. Hey, I need some audience in the background. You gotta give me some props.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

There we go.

unknown 4:35

Woo-hoo!

SPEAKER_02 4:37

Exactly.

Purpose, Philanthropy, And Micro Big

SPEAKER_04 4:38

So uh thank you so much for that warm um introduction, Scott. Uh so I I I the the the doctor's title is just more so just I needed to um help myself feel a bit more confident. And I kind of got that a long, long time ago. Uh but uh just going back to what Scott said, I really enjoy working with people. I really like helping people. I like to see people at their best because I was not brought up in the best environment and I've been on my own since I was 15. And so here I am um three, three family generations a little bit later, um, and actually standing 10 toes down and ensuring that other businesses and schools are staying open, uh, just trying to help people get to the next tier. Um, kind of missing what I didn't get. So I just like to just be that sponge or be that rubber band and just help people bounce back to get back to where they are. And so our business is called Micro Big. Uh, you can go check us out at www.microbig.com. That's M-Y-C-R-O-B-I-G. Yeah, we know it's Oxy Moron, huh?

SPEAKER_03 5:42

Like the word play.

SPEAKER_04 5:43

Oh, that's amazing. Only doctors could come up with that. Don't be a hater, John. Don't be a hater. Yeah, yeah. My slogan used to be small people doing big things. But then, you know, it sounded a little provocative, so we kind of got away from that.

SPEAKER_01 5:55

And um I thought he was like sued by micro wrestling or one of those things.

The Car Accident And Aftermath

SPEAKER_04 6:00

Wait, Dom is in here? Yeah, whatever. So we just believe in helping uh people who actually have some kind of desire. And so every year we have um um an award ceremony where we honor people who are actually doing the community work, and Dr. Scott Feich was actually one of those recipients. So now every year we have uh a Love Like Ben award in his honor and in his son's honor uh to ensure people who are actually doing the work and actually keeping Ben's um legacy alive. So uh next year if it'll maybe be someone listening. Who knows? So uh just keep us tuned. So if I could just dive in, first of all, we're talking about masters and athletes and all that good stuff. Man, I'm telling you, uh, I got into a car accident July 1st, and um it was the worst um, I guess, situation I've ever been in. I got T-boned by utility truck. Oh, and uh I'm sitting at a red light too, Jay. Uh sitting at a red light and um minding my own business. And this is why I don't eat fast food anymore because I was at Arby's, huh? By the red light. Really?

SPEAKER_01 7:05

No, you're like you're like you're like superstitious of Arby's? Wow.

SPEAKER_03 7:09

Very superstitious.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

That's an interesting diet plan they have to be. I like it. I don't hate it. I don't hate it. It's not a bad move. That that that uh has to be.

SPEAKER_04 7:21

So I normally work out seven days a week. Uh normally uh I'm very careful about what I put in my body. Um you name it. So a lot of core training, a lot of core strengthening, um, push-ups, upside down on my head, a lot of yoga and Pilates, just getting myself, you know, uh grounded because of the work that Scott and I do. Uh, we deal with problem solving all day long. And regardless of how smart you are, you need that outlet. And so for me, my outlet was always working out. I mean, throw my headphones on, I got my Hoochie Daddy shorts on, I'm running barefoot outside, and I mean, life is good. And then since July 1st, it's kind of like took a toll and kind of I'm trying to get myself back to it. I had to come up here with like what 700 stairs? Yeah, at least 700. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 8:07

Well, that's because we we were talking about endurance. That's it. Studio six is it's only for our truly.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

But it keeps the riff raff away. You gotta be committed to wanting to be here.

SPEAKER_04 8:17

Hey, hey listeners, this is definitely a hierarchy. Okay, I'm telling you, you gotta go up to the top tier to get to here. Yeah, you do. The studio is beautiful. I'm so glad to be here.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

There is so much to unpack into things that you just glossed over. So let's let's start with the athletic side. Get in a bad car accident, yeah. Uh, and we'll and we'll talk about how bad. But uh, do you attribute being fit to helping?

SPEAKER_04 8:40

Oh, that's so crazy that you said that. Yes, and that sticks to me, stick with me to this day. Um, my doctor said if I wasn't so um in shape, yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't be here. He said I'd be dead.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Jeez.

SPEAKER_04 8:52

And uh my my wife and Scott were the first two people who knew what happened, what was going on. And um actually I blacked out. Okay, passed out. Um, they had to cut my uh clothes off.

SPEAKER_01 9:06

They didn't have to, they wanted to.

SPEAKER_04 9:07

Yeah, because that's one of John's recurring dreams. Yeah, they did.

SPEAKER_01 9:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:13

Yeah. So yeah, uh he he he and he said it and I'll never forget it. And my son tells me this all the time when I pick up a pack of cookies because that's like my my little We have a thing. Oh my god. Oh, I need it.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

John's thing is Cheetos, not a sponsor.

SPEAKER_04 9:29

Oh, Cheetos.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Not a sponsor, not a sponsor.

Fitness As A Lifeline

SPEAKER_04 9:33

So every time I go for that cookie, my son is like, uh that dude, that is weird.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Oh, it's so awesome motivation. Well, you would have died if you were out of shape.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

What was funny is like not funny, haha, but like when Ty and I met, in Tai looks the same because he doesn't wear the tight clothes and the stuff like that. He's always a very well-dressed guy. I heard Hoochie Mama running shorts.

SPEAKER_03 9:58

Hoochie daddy shorts. Yeah, when Hoochie go all the way up here.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

There's another visual for you, John. All right, we were talking visuals for you guys fans only, fans only fans only. You know, we were talking once and I was telling about the compound, and he says, Well, here's one of the workouts I do, because I've invited him to the compound. He just keeps blowing us off.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:19

So he shows me this video, and he was doing sit-ups on one of the ankle boards.

SPEAKER_01 10:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

I mean, dude, it was like somebody doing jumping jacks. He was going that fast. So I I have a question. Yes. Uh what's a sit-up?

SPEAKER_01 10:32

We do planks and what's a plank? Wait, sit-ups, is that like when you're too far from the Thanksgiving table and you need to lean in? Is that a sit-up? No, that's a pull-in. Um I don't know. Anyway. Yeah, all right. So let's get back to the series now. That's where I'm going there.

SPEAKER_02 10:49

Is the man was always in shape, and you could see it in the way in which he carried himself and the way he interacted. And, you know, I I remember that day vividly because when the phone rings, Ty and I will text all the time. Okay. If we call each other, something's up. Something's definitely up. Okay. And Ty does not call after like seven, eight o'clock. And I was home, and you know, my phone starts vibrating, and I look and it says, Wilson, comma, Ty. I'm like, hey, what's up? And it goes, Hi Scott. This is Dr. Wilson, Lafreya. And um the first thing in my mind was, oh shit. And that's when she said Ty was in an accident. Honest to God, so you know, you go through these things, especially with what I've been through. And you know, you you say the things that come to your head and whatnot. And honest to God, one of my first thoughts was thank God the man was in shape. And and I mean that seriously. And we've spent a lot of time talking in the podcast about people being in shape.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Well, I'm way more freaked out now, I'm not gonna lie. Yeah. Well, and Arby's is off the list.

SPEAKER_04 12:00

I use I really have panic attacks every time I see it.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

You know, it's funny because I was in a great because that's what's being served tonight in the intermission. Oh, we're gonna forget, I'll call the kitchen. Um I was in a not as bad, I got T-boned up on Route 104 up in Niagara County one day. Not as bad. Nothing like yours. Um, his car got punted. Yeah, but literally, when I drive when I used to drive through there, or if I was in a similar situation, you get the heebie jeebies. It's like wow, it's like, isn't it crazy though?

SPEAKER_04 12:30

Yeah, like just a blink of an eye, like everything can change.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

Yep.

SPEAKER_04 12:35

And it was so crazy. Uh I decided that morning, I was like, I'm gonna go to the gym a little earlier because I may not have the same amount of energy on a Tuesday night to go back to the gym.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Oh, so there's two lessons don't eat fast food, and you don't have to go to the gym so damn early.

SPEAKER_04 12:54

I'm actually glad I went because uh Oh, was this on the way home? No, this was actually I so I normally routine is normally five o'clock in the morning. I do my yoga Pilates and then I do my strength training. So I run barefoot for about three miles. Okay. Um, and then I go to the gym. So I do the stairmaster, I do um all the stuff that you and I think he's saying words I don't understand.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

He might as well be talking as his master. He might as well be talking Chinese. I have no idea what he's talking about.

SPEAKER_04 13:22

Let's just say since the car accident, I used to have a an A pack, I mean, down to a four. So I'm working on Chinese. I have an A pack six.

Injuries, Recovery, And Mindset

SPEAKER_01 13:29

I have an A pack, but it's in the fridge. Power keg is the way to go. Scott's got a one-pack. So what were your injuries? Like what are you dealing with?

SPEAKER_04 13:38

So uh still dealing with still dealing with um left fracture, my left hip. Um under my foot, there's uh a sprain. Uh my knee, my left knee. So everything on my left side um has been damaged. My left uh shoulder came out of pocket. I put it back in socket because martial artists, right? Why not? Yeah, why not? Boom, put it back in. Like, this is nothing. This is what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

I saw Enner of the Dragon. I know how it works. I saw lethal weapon. Yeah, same thing. Oh, yeah, that's true. The better reference.

SPEAKER_04 14:10

Couple of concussions, and then my rib cage was cracked. So um quite a quite a lengthy. Yeah, because Scott's Scott told me you were out for a while.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

Soft tissue injuries too, though, didn't you?

SPEAKER_04 14:22

Yes, I got a lot of uh damage in my what was it? I think it's uh C4. What four through I've been drinking those lately. I don't know. In my spinal cord and in my neck. So I have uh herniated disc and you name it. So I mean, you know, life is good. Life is good.

SPEAKER_02 14:44

That's what we talk about. I mean, you're here. Yeah, you're alive to tell the story, right? You know, you're you're still moving around, you're still with your loved ones, you're still doing what you love to do. So yeah, life is good.

SPEAKER_04 14:53

Life is good because it could have gone a different way, and it's just it's just crazy because you know, Jay opened up with that. Like, uh, do you really think that pretty much you still being here correlates with you being in shape? And I would say a hundred and ten percent, yes. Yeah, because of the discipline getting up every morning, uh actually just being in a mindset or a mind focus to actually let's conquer the day. Uh, if I didn't have that mindset, I know for a fact the way my family, hopefully, if you are a listener, this is not a dig at you all. Um, but I am the only healthy one in my family. My grandmother has 11 kids, and I'm the um, and I'm the eldest out of, I think it's like 45 plus children. So I'm the oldest out of 45. And I am the only healthy one.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

I think those numbers are in line with you know the typical population at large. I mean, and dude, you are on the far end of the spectrum when it comes to discipline, repeatability, oh yeah, taking and taking the punches as they come. I mean, Scott tells me stories, and I'm like, oh, that sucks. I want to be like that, but yeah, absolutely. We basically had you on here just to steal your ideas.

SPEAKER_02 16:03

Well, you know, we a lot of what we've talked about over the you know the past episodes have been helping people who are just starting. There are a number of people that we've had on, including yourself now, who are doing this because they're disciplined. Who are, you know, we had Adrian on, we had Rockman on, we had Sean Urkhardt on. We had Candace. Candace. Um why am I drawing Jet?

SPEAKER_01 16:27

I don't know. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Yeah. You know, out in Oregon, we had um the coach.

SPEAKER_01 16:32

Well, you know, the thing, here's the thing I see about all you weirdly disciplined people with positive attitudes.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

See, I'm weirdly disciplined, I just don't have a positive attitude. Life blows, okay? Tyson's life is good. He looks at me and I'm like, oh, life blows.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

That's what I was gonna say. He doesn't think of it as discipline. He's not, you know, it's not the David Goggins, you gotta get after it. It's just it's just part of who you are.

SPEAKER_04 16:54

This is who I am.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

Yeah, that's impressive.

SPEAKER_04 16:56

Ever since I was a kid, though, I've always I grew up in the trenches, and the trenches means like the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto hood, hood, hood.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

Oh, yeah, me too, can't you tell?

SPEAKER_04 17:03

Yeah. So is the Lancaster boy, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Right, exactly.

Coaching Kids’ Minds First

SPEAKER_04 17:09

So I had to uh learn how to overcome at a young age. Um and so with that, I I kind of put that into my kids. So now my daughter, she's the captain of a varsity basketball team. Uh, she works out constantly. Um, my wife doesn't move anything except her finger. Um, and that's when she's uh kind of going off on kids at school. She's a principal shop for Dr. Wilson. Yeah. Um and my son, he's like maybe 95 pounds, soaking wet, six feet. Um super, super thin. That's my left leg, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

To give perspective. Ty has to be a nice guy.

SPEAKER_02 17:44

I've met your son a couple of times. He loves you, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

Ty's got to be the worst dad. You have to be the worst dad because it's like, dad, I don't know if I can do this. I was on my own at 15. I am now a doctor. You can do this. Suck it up buttercup.

SPEAKER_00 18:01

That's it.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

Suck it up. Yeah, right? They got nothing. Like, I'm sure your kids now just walk up about to complain and go, yeah, no, not worth it. Not worth it.

SPEAKER_02 18:10

Let me jump into this. Ty is at is the dean of our Buffalo campus, okay? Which is where like 99% of our athletes work out of the Buffalo campus. Okay. One of the things that Ty has been able to do is completely change the cultural approach in how the athletes approach everything. He, I mean, you get these kids that come in, they they're college jumping, they their grades are in the shitter. Oh, yeah. You know, and he meets with them and shares the stuff that he's been through and shares the discipline.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

They can't say anything either.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

Exactly. It's like they've got this this board. You walk into Ty's office, and there's the board that's got their goals on it. So I mean, what I love is that he's taking everything we've talked about, yeah, and he's now instilling it to younger gun.

Muay Thai Fundamentals And Toughness

SPEAKER_01 18:59

Sort of I wanted to have him on here. I mean, he's overly inspiring. Like I kind of want to go run barefoot right now.

SPEAKER_02 19:04

But oh, I would pay so much to I will go back to Arby's if you do that.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Horsey sauce for all my friends.

SPEAKER_04 19:19

Everyone listening, I do not condone violence.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

Or horsey sauce.

SPEAKER_04 19:25

Or going to Arby's returning to Arby's.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

So you talked about how you thought it helped you make it through the accident. Talk about after the accident now.

SPEAKER_04 19:35

Whew. That's a different set of disciplines, because you were you were out for eight weeks. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Something like that.

SPEAKER_04 19:41

Eight, ten weeks. I was so I was forced. I just want to throw that out there. So Jeff Treaton, shout out to you. Uh I was forced to leave because right after the uh the accident, I was released maybe two days later. Um of course all of those unnecessary Tests and all those different things. But I went back to work because I was writing off adrenaline. And in my brain, it's just like, hey, I gotta get work done. I gotta ensure these students are graduating. I gotta ensure the instructors are supported. I gotta make sure a certain person isn't asleep. I gotta make sure all these things happen. And he's not referring to me. I'm on an elevator. I have a handicap sign hanging in my window. Like, nice. What are we talking about? This is crazy. This is not the guy who gets up at five in the morning and drugs. And so uh there's a different part of discipline that I learned in martial arts. So I definitely want to give a shout out to my sensei, um, Aaron Peak. Uh, if it wasn't for that mindset, I know for a fact I would have thrown them towel a long time ago because for the first month, and Scott Feika is my witness, I was bedridden. And I literally had to have my son and daughter carry me to our upstairs bathroom, and we were upstairs. TMI, everybody. Uh oh boy, here comes and so uh it was it was it's humbling because it's like I always told my kids if I ever go to a uh a nursing home, shout out to all of the nursing homes loving our people. Um, but if I ever got put into a nursing home, I'm cutting them off the wheel. That's it. It's over. Yeah, that's over. And so the entire time my son is like, I'm letting you know now. You can't cut me out the wheel because I am carrying you to the shower, you old greasy man. Nice. But the discipline was there because uh I needed to remind myself that everything that I've done, I can't get rid of. I can't let it just become stale and put it back on uh the shelf. I need to um exercise all the things that I've done. So I actually start just reading more and turn anime off.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

No nice.

SPEAKER_04 21:57

Uh but then when I turn anime back on, it was like he's doing like push-ups, and I'm like, ah, turn it off. I can't do push-ups. And then the other one is kind of doing like finger push-ups, like upside down with his finger. Um, but I miss all of those things, and I'm slowly getting back to things now. So um the mindset was there. I believe there's a separation between fixed mindset and growth mindset. And so the fixed mindset will say, Hey, you got into a car accident, you'll never be able to walk again. That's what they told me.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_04 22:22

Um, and I said, nah.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

I said, nah.

SPEAKER_04 22:26

Growth mindset says, if I gotta just run around on one foot and just do this, then this is what I'm going to do. You know, and so um, with that, uh, especially, and I gotta give Scott Fike a a shout out. Um, he's annoying as hell. Yep. Yes, I am. That's a good shout-out. That is an excellent shout out. Oh my god, he's annoying as hell. Um, he called me and text me every day um and pretty much said, if you need me to go grocery shopping, I'm coming around, I'm gonna go grocery shopping for you. You don't have to worry about anything. That's good. So I'm really appreciative uh to have uh a friend. And when I say friend, you know I mean friend. Um I appreciate that because if it wasn't for him, I really wouldn't be in the headspace that I was during that time. Because if you work out every day and now you can't work out and you barely can get out of bed without assistance from others, it really can mess with your psyche.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

Yeah, I was gonna ask you, because uh and it's called the dark night of the soul, and I read it in a book once, and it's it's stuck with me forever. But a lot of who you are was taken away from you. Yes, you you couldn't be that motivated, you couldn't inspire others, you were taken away from the sphere that you have so much influence in. You couldn't get at the 5 a.m. runs, you know. And I'm sure I mean for you to come out the other side of that, I'm sure there were a couple dark times laying in that bed.

Mental Grit Over Fixed Mindsets

SPEAKER_04 23:37

Oh, yeah. Oh yeah. There was times I didn't take showers for like a day.

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Yeah, shout out to your kids.

SPEAKER_04 23:44

Armpits like jungle fever under there, looking crazy, looking like moss at the bottom of an aquarium. Um I I really just just going back to the strength training I used to do in tennis, cross country. Um, I was on the swim team, uh, of course, martial arts, um you name it, all of those things led up to me actually becoming an athlete who I am now. And so it's kind of I don't want to say easy to coach my daughter in basketball or coach my son um in martial arts and swimming and things like that, but it's easier to kind of look at that perspective and say, hey, this is a goal, this is achievable, you can do this if you're coachable. And so all of the stuff that Scott and I have been trying to instill into our new instructors, our our adjuncts, and all that other stuff, I had to actually eat a piece of my own pie. You know, just like I don't know if I like this pie. I don't I'm allergic to nuts. I think there's a little crunchier. I think there's a little crunch.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Um, so you mentioned coaching. Yes. You mentioned you coach your kids. When you think of coaching, are you coaching their brains before their bodies and their and the techniques? Or like what's your because you you give off this aura of you know what, it is a sunny day, I am on two feet, and we are gonna get some. I mean, that's just that's just who you are in a cute in a cute little anime bundle. That's you.

SPEAKER_04 25:12

That's that's so true. That is so true, Jay. Um, I used to do that, and then my daughter told me, uh, you know, I have asthma, and I'm like, I have asthma too. Oh you got it from your dad.

SPEAKER_01 25:22

I got no excuses. No excuses. And that's my hashtag.

SPEAKER_02 25:25

All the time I got he'll send an email at the end, it says hashtag no excuses. No excuses, no excuses.

SPEAKER_01 25:30

Oh, so that's why you and I are friends, because I have all the excellent.

SPEAKER_04 25:35

You gotta have a balance. He has to have a balance.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

I bought him a shirt once to work out in it said, you know, I'm dying, I'm this, I'm that, I'm whatever. And the bottom says, just shut up and do it. Yeah, it's this whole laundry list of excuses. Which John has used with me so many times. I understand it now, it makes more sense.

SPEAKER_04 25:53

Well, when I coach my my my children, I coach them like I'm getting them ready for the Olympics. But I do strength uh mindset training first, and then I go for the actual goal.

SPEAKER_01 26:05

No, I think that that's wise because I mean, if we take a giant step back and be realistic, like your kids aren't gonna end up being professional athletes. No, I mean they might, but they probably won't. But if you can coach that strong mindset, they can meld that into whatever discipline, relationship, life problem, Arby's mistake that they you know that comes up.

SPEAKER_02 26:26

I think building on you know John's point there, the mental side of it I think is even stronger. And that that's what you've talked about a lot. We've tried to hit on that, but I think Ty has encapsulated it right here because that's part of what kept him. You know, yeah, you're in a car accident. That fixed mindset, fuck it. I'm gonna sit here, I'm not gonna do anything. You know, you you got up, you know, sometimes with the kids literally carrying you and dragging you, but I think that's part of what you've built that we really I'd like to explore more.

Building Community Impact

SPEAKER_04 26:57

I I you know, I that's a great point because um I actually was talking to my my doctor and he said, I've noticed I did not clear you to take stairs, and I see you're taking stairs. I said, Well, hey, I'm not waiting for someone else to tell me how to live my life. And no one was there to help me guide me where I am now. So I gotta go, I gotta revert back to what got me to this part. And so where I am now is just Ty, get up. You can do this. I know it hurts, I know it's uncomfortable, but we're gonna just put a little bit more heat on you and we're gonna stretch a little bit more, but you can do this, and because you have to leave a legacy, so what are we gonna do? Are we gonna sit here on our ass and just wait for an opportunity to come to us, or we're gonna go and grab that opportunity by the neck? And you know me, I'm going after the opportunity. And I'm gonna grabbing you by your neck, baby.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

You know, I have to say this, and this is gonna be the worst part of this any one of these 50-something episodes of the podcast. No, because I'm gonna say something nice about Scott. Um my god, I know turn the camera on, picture, recorder. Yeah, no, but I think what's important to say here is that you guys embody education. Like, you are the best part of education. It's not, I mean, anybody could teach physics because it's in a book, and here's the book. But to hear you be so inspiring and to know all the adversity that Scott gone through, like you guys, there should be more of you. We we'd be a better world if there were more of you. I appreciate it. All right, now I'm gonna go back to being an asshole to Scott.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

Oh, I knew it wasn't gonna last. That was it.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

That was it.

SPEAKER_02 28:31

You better record that, and you are the reason that I got a compliment.

SPEAKER_01 28:35

Merry Christmas. Thank you. You're welcome.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

My Christmas gifts are gone for you.

SPEAKER_01 28:39

You're welcome, that's all you get. That's all you get. So, what what so you keep saying martial art? What what art? I'm learning we just had a guest that did what did she do? Kimchi?

SPEAKER_02 28:50

No, um Shannon Duval. Oh Kimchi. Kali Arngs.

SPEAKER_01 28:54

Oh no.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

Kali fight sticks, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

I'm gonna call it Kim Chi.

SPEAKER_02 28:57

Shout out to Shannon. Yeah, what was hilarious is John goes, how do you get a point in this? And Shay's like, that's a great question. Like, if I break a stick over someone's head, his face was like, so now Shannon Shannon's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 29:10

Apparently.

SPEAKER_02 29:10

And next time she comes up, she wants to break a stick over there.

SPEAKER_01 29:12

I was gonna say, I've never met her. I'm a little afraid of her, honestly.

SPEAKER_04 29:15

You should, you should be. She uh she takes my uh student center approach to a whole different level. Oh, I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02 29:22

Oh she will not let anybody fail. It is like it is painful for her to let someone fail.

SPEAKER_04 29:28

No, I agree with her. Uh I I kind of just make I'll go back to the high school principal days and I'm like John, grab your laptop, come sit here. Yes, sir. I thought he was baying like a goat for a moment. No, I'm like, what the freak was that?

SPEAKER_01 29:41

I mean, the the worst part is given the Catholic school upbringing, I was looking for my laptop. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Dr. Ty wants me to do work. I better get doing some work.

SPEAKER_04 29:50

And it's you know what? I I thought at first that my personality is intimidating, but it's not.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

Your personality is a lot of things. It's big, it's beautiful, it's infectious. Yeah, infectious. I appreciate that. Intimidating? I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 30:04

No, um uh my predecessor from Erie, Pennsylvania, when I was interim supervisor, stated that I was intimidating. And I said, No reason why I could be intimidating is because you never turned the school around, and I did in three months.

SPEAKER_02 30:19

So there you go, it's because you're a warm demander.

SPEAKER_01 30:22

Warm demander. Yes, yes, now these guys are using work terms.

SPEAKER_04 30:26

Beginning of term and service. Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

I'm sorry. This is what Scott and I do like. For all of for all of us that aren't in education, these are like little cutesy inside jokes that teachers tell each other. We get in trouble.

SPEAKER_02 30:40

We're not allowed to sit in your chair.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

I was assuming you guys like giggle in the back of like oh no, right in the front. Like we really didn't.

SPEAKER_04 30:47

We get in trouble all the time. We we we normally get in trouble together.

SPEAKER_01 30:49

Excellent. All right, I will try to bring this back to the what I asked.

SPEAKER_02 30:53

John being the voice of reason. I know when I'm the voice of who had holy shit at 30 minutes in.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Yeah, when I'm voice of reason, things have fallen off the rails. What's your martial art? Are you beating me with sticks too, or what's your thing?

SPEAKER_04 31:04

Actually, it's called sensei cata.

Destination We And The New School

SPEAKER_01 31:06

Oh, see, everybody's got a thing that I've never heard of. I love this. And Muay Thai. Oh. You've heard of that. I have, but I haven't. So I usually do some of the fundraising. There's a K2 fighting thing down at Riverworks, and they have it literally is mixed martial arts. They will have Mua Thai and some sort, and there's all these other ones I've never heard of. There's a lot of BJJ involved. Yeah, there's a lot of just weird, but they're awesome and give talented. Like those cute little 80-pound girls that are kicking each other in the face. Oh, yeah. So tell me a little bit about Mua Thai because I knew nothing.

SPEAKER_03 31:41

So Muay Thai.

SPEAKER_04 31:42

Moo Thai. It's cow fighting.

SPEAKER_01 31:45

It's cow fighting. Moo cow fighting. It's big in Kansas.

SPEAKER_04 31:48

Well, it is.

SPEAKER_01 31:49

Or in armies.

SPEAKER_04 31:50

I don't want to say nipple fighting.

SPEAKER_01 31:51

Um, it's nipple fighting?

SPEAKER_04 31:53

Wait a minute. He's looking at the fertility goddess you've got sitting here. Sorry if you all didn't know that there's a fertility goddess here.

SPEAKER_01 32:01

From uh Indiana Jones.

SPEAKER_04 32:04

So uh Muay Thai is uh a skilled art pretty much that you focus on your toes. One of your toes can be your most deadly weapon, and so it's about flexibility, it's about endurance. So the point uh or the object of Muay Thai is not to kick somebody's ass, it's more so to ensure that you have the endurance if they decide to keep going. And so you have to do a lot of strength training, especially especially a lot of core training. And one of the things, and I know this really helped me, especially during a car accident, we had to stand in line with our hands behind our back, and I'm people like Scott coming in and they have to punch you for two minutes straight, and you gotta hold your abs. And then the next person comes and punching you, and you're stuck.

SPEAKER_01 32:47

This is why I played pickleball.

SPEAKER_04 32:48

New comp workout.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

Nobody's punching me anywhere. Is that really true? No, it's so true. I wouldn't like to.

SPEAKER_04 32:56

But it helps because I'm sure when uh when a Buick hit them.

SPEAKER_02 33:00

Yeah, oh I bet.

SPEAKER_04 33:01

That is true. But when someone, an attacker comes, they're not gonna come and say, Oh, let me hit you, John. Right. They're gonna try to beat the crowd.

SPEAKER_01 33:08

Right, and they're gonna do something evil. And yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 33:11

And usually they try to grab some kind of um some kind of destructive tool and try to go for your midsection.

SPEAKER_01 33:18

Oh, yeah, because it's the yeah, why not? It makes sense.

SPEAKER_04 33:21

So then the grappling part is learning how to get every get it out of every hold.

unknown 33:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 33:25

You use your toes and your fingers for everything.

SPEAKER_01 33:27

So I'm gonna need a lot more on use your toes and your fingers. No, seriously, with all So what am I doing with my toes? Like, am I doing like toe locks?

SPEAKER_04 33:35

Like, am I like So I actually jog on my toes, like I actually run on my toes. To build your toe strength? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

No kidding.

SPEAKER_04 33:43

So uh I don't want to talk about the the move here, uh, but if I do, you know, it might come back to me. But you can actually use your big toe as a weapon um if you hit a a certain um point. Really? Yeah, really? So you have a pressure point.

SPEAKER_01 33:59

So you know what I've learned from this whole podcast, Scott? Like, not just this episode, all of them. I should be afraid of like 70% of the universe because they're all training some wacky ass crap. Ty can kill me with her toes. There's a lady out there that's gonna hit me with a stick. Oh, there's more than one. Oh, yeah. More than one. Yeah, I guess that's true.

SPEAKER_02 34:16

So we were it I think it was a grip comp we were at at the compound, and we've got calibrated plates. Okay, they're in kilos. So John's got a 10 kilo plate in his hand, and he's going to put it onto the the weight tree. And I I have no idea why, because now's my chance and my my time to pay John his kudos. In 2023, John took second in the world. Oh, yeah. Look at that. We bring a oh, was that the year I got the world record? The the year you scored the world record. And the ego comes. I'm being so humble. I know you are.

SPEAKER_04 34:51

But you're turning a little bit red. There's no humility there.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

Yeah, there's not. So he's going to put this thing on the on the tree, and it slips out of his hand straight down onto his toe. So when you talk about toes, okay, we do things to try to strengthen our feet. Oh. John does everything he can to like get them out of the way because his toe looked like a crushed ground.

SPEAKER_01 35:13

And I had to ask my running friends, like, because I know this happens to them. I'm like, my toe turned black. I'm like, what do I gotta do with my toenail? They're like, oh, take a little drill bit and drill through your toenail. And I'm like, I gotta do what? Yep. So he got out his Ryobi. Yeah.

How Micro Big Helps You Start

SPEAKER_04 35:29

You know, that happened to me before uh I was 13 years old, and I don't know, Indiana Jones was on in the background. Obviously. Of course. Definitely want to turn it out there. Trying to pull it to put ropes from our ceiling fans, and those just didn't work out. I can't imagine why.

SPEAKER_01 35:46

Seemed like a good idea.

SPEAKER_04 35:47

I climbed up this old-fashioned cabinet we had. We had these hard metal uh drawers that you have to put your finger under to pull away from it. Oh, I kind of remember that. Oh gosh. So I'm running and then I'm jumping out, but I'm like, oh, I forgot the syrup, so I gotta go back up. And boom, toenail is black. But then a day later, yeah. Fells off. So now I still have the split down my toe. Down your toe, yeah. Yeah, so I still have the split there.

SPEAKER_01 36:14

So like I'll tell you, because of that, when I watch spy movies where they're like ripping people's toenails off, I'm like, I would tell you everything. What do you want to know? Like, literally, where's the safety?

SPEAKER_02 36:26

Yeah, 16 right, 42 left, 16 right. As a matter of fact, let me open it for it.

SPEAKER_01 36:32

Yeah, let me let me I'll open for it. It's fine. I'll open it for you. It's fine. Do you do you compete in Muay Thai or you just train Muay Thai?

SPEAKER_04 36:39

Oh, yeah, you you definitely compete. So yeah, uh Muay Thai is pretty much what most of the UFC fighters utilize.

SPEAKER_01 36:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 36:45

Uh-huh. Uh Grapplin, um, some other Mitz martial arts. Yeah. But um, I used to fight in the um the diamond.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 36:52

Um, I fought a bunch of uh people in Toronto.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Dude.

SPEAKER_04 36:56

Um, I got some cartilage, some cauliflower ear. No, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 37:00

That's just bragging rights.

SPEAKER_04 37:02

Got a couple of uh missing teeth and some other things and uh some hits in my face from uh from some some brutal fights, but super, super, super um fun.

SPEAKER_01 37:13

Yeah, fun, fun.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

I love getting punched in the face. Beating people up, yeah. Beating people up is fun.

SPEAKER_04 37:19

But it's funny because you're taught not to fight in anger, you got to fight to anticipate what the other person is getting ready to do. And that's what Muay Thai is. So instead of us being the first person to attack you, we're waiting to see what you're getting ready to do. And usually it accompanies with a dance move.

SPEAKER_01 37:34

I and I'm sure it's a boy thing, and it's not a boy thing because I've seen plenty of women at them, but I love watching UFC because if you get beyond the bloody brutality, there is it, it just feels like mentally there's so much going on. There's so much going on. I'm thinking about what do I have to do next? What do I need to protect myself from?

SPEAKER_02 37:54

It's uh that's the side of it that we we we talk about, we hint about, we sort of dance around it a lot, but that mental toughness that you develop just from age. Oh, you mean that guy sitting over there? Um I'm ignoring him. He's heading over to the barista. Can I can I have my chai green tea, please?

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Hey, don't ruin his intimidating image.

SPEAKER_02 38:15

Um eat your spinach, baby. But dad, I don't want to. Shut up. Yeah, basically. You know, it it is the mental side of it, and I think that's part of what helps you get through everything. You know, a day at work, uh a wicked piss or bad car accident. Did we move to Boston all of a sudden? I didn't say wicked pissa. Oh does that make a difference? Yes. Okay. But it it it it is that mental side of it, and that's the ability to sort of manipulate that for others to show them how to grow from that. I think that's something that our are the folks that are listening to us, we need to explore more with.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Ty, I I can't thank you enough for being on here because I think you've you've filled in a lot of the gaps that I mean, Scott and I just don't exist in your universe of Wicked Bad? Wicked Pissa.

SPEAKER_02 39:08

Wicked Pissa. Yeah. Now we've moved to Boston. Yeah. Exactly. Anyone can change those definitions. We don't we don't ascribe to that here. Okay. Hashtag Wispissia.

Authenticity, Legacy, And Closing

SPEAKER_01 39:20

I need to hashtag more. The other thing I don't the other thing I don't want to uh I I don't I need we need to unpack a little is your business. Because so I went to the the one event where Scott received the award, and uh it was a hard event to not cry through the entire event because everybody's story was so genuine and the way you reached out to them, brought them together, and and we had set up the opportunity to help them out was if you don't know, you don't know. You don't you don't realize that there are good people like you out there actually doing great things.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Well, think about it. The you the that was the first year that we gave stuff Out from Love Like Ben. And Ty and his organization were incredibly generous and allowed us to use their venue to do it. But I mean, some of the people, I mean, all three of the awardees that year for us came through your organizations. I mean, you know the the the puppet lady? No, not the puppet lady. Oh my god. Mama Chili.

SPEAKER_04 40:20

She's fired.

SPEAKER_02 40:23

But I mean, working with inner city women, you know, helping them understand that you're gonna get beat up mentally, physically, emotionally, but you have such strength inside you. We you know, we met them through you. Uh Destination We, which, you know, is your organization, and you know, the summer camps and the leadership and the stuff like that that sort of speaks to what we do. Yeah. And then I'm I'm drawing a blank in the one that had the basketball camp. Help me out of time.

SPEAKER_04 40:51

Uh Girl Sports Friday, GSF.

SPEAKER_02 40:54

Yeah. Them. I mean, just this again, the stuff that they're doing and empowering people. And it doesn't matter, black, white, pink, purple. It wasn't a color issue. It was we want to help kids. And I mean, just tell us about you know more about those organizations that you know you're a part of and you and the missus have basically started.

SPEAKER_04 41:14

Yeah, I appreciate that so much. And so, um, like I said, going back to Micro Big and Destination We, what we do is we take your blueprint, who you are, your ideas, and we just give you the motivation. We just give you the tools and the resources so you can move forward. And um I want to say shout out to uh Love Like uh Ben Foundation because they have paid for six individuals to uh attend Destination Wii Summer Camp for complete free. I mean, they uh they pay for um three field trips, and when we go to field trips, we go to field trips. Up in a car and go to the bakery. Hostess is closed. We don't go there anymore. John was going on the field trip. I do like bakeries. I'm not against bakeries. Uh they actually uh go to the science museum where there's like a uh art museum, they actually go in and do physical things, they learn how to operate on people for real, uh to see like uh fake bodies and things like that. So we try to provide opportunities for children and their families to be exposed to things that they normally wouldn't be exposed to. Yeah, and so with the help of the Love Like Band Foundation, that really took the edge off a lot of things transportation, um, extended stay. And now I'm super excited we have we're approved. Our school is opening this upcoming August, August 2026.

SPEAKER_02 42:40

Oh, that's so freaking cool!

SPEAKER_04 42:41

Super excited about that. Yeah, um, and so we're opening, uh opening our first phase. It'll be uh grades five through eight. Um, and we're only gonna open up uh four uh cohorts. So it's gonna be uh guy and girl, one girl, one guy, and another guy and girl um group. And we focus on their we call them super abilities. So most of the students that we deal with have some sort of dyslexia, some sort of autism, or uh they're introverts, they have social anxiety, and so we coach them through all of those things so that they can actually be career ready, they actually can go out into the world and actually uh obtain all of these uh monies that the state doesn't want us to know about.

SPEAKER_02 43:23

Yeah. Let me jump into this real quick. And one of the funny things is you know, Ty talked about some of the challenges that everybody deals with, you know what I mean? It doesn't matter what your age is, we we know those challenges are out there, and you know, the abilities that they have because they have these challenges, and Ty mentioned being an introvert. Folks, I want to tell you, and for those of you that know Ty, you might not believe this. Ty's one of the most introverted people you're ever gonna meet.

SPEAKER_03 43:51

Correct.

SPEAKER_02 43:51

That guy sitting right there. That guy sitting right there. Correct.

SPEAKER_03 43:54

You know, correct.

SPEAKER_02 43:56

It is the hardest thing. That guy sitting right there. Yes. When I see him get up and the way he interacts, and you know, one of the first in services I saw Ty do, you know, he's standing in front of what we have like 60 odd people there, something like that. Easily, and he's got people who I've seen others try to do in services with, and all I hear is two snaps in a clap, and he's got everybody doing it. And I'm sitting here thinking to myself, I know this man.

SPEAKER_03 44:26

Right.

SPEAKER_02 44:27

This is not him day to day. At all. No, he he he is empowering, he is uplifting, he is an introvert. And the fact that, you know, and this is the discipline side of it, and this is the the mental and and the physical that they can take that and put it out into everything else, it's incredible.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

Well, I appreciate that. On behalf of the universe, um, thank you for overcoming that because I think, first of all, I don't believe you, but I believe Scott, so I guess I believe you, but but I can see, especially with your school, I can see, I mean, nothing's gonna give you more tools to help people than the fact that you're basically there, right? Like you've you've been through hardship. Introvert, introvert? Total introvert. Do you guys define is that like doctor? Do you guys like define that differently?

SPEAKER_04 45:17

And I'm so glad that Scott said that because uh, so you know, social media has this press um like this presence where they they judge you pretty much on one little video, like a three to five second clip off TikTok or whatever, and they already pretty much sum you up and put you in a c uh category. Um my entire life, I have always been the little geek in the corner somewhere. Uh and I prefer to do that because I used to really, really struggle with social anxiety to like 110%. So this is why it's my mission to kind of help other people get out. Uh, because if I've never would have taken that path, I would I would have been stuck as a substitute teacher for the rest of my life.

SPEAKER_01 45:54

Yeah, again, I think that what when I when I said the other, I think you guys embody a lot of education. I mean, that's a big part of it. It's not the subject matter, it's that that that reaching that little kid that's sitting in the back that's really trying to learn, but is so afraid of like raising their hand.

SPEAKER_02 46:11

Yeah, but you know what's funny, Ty, is he can't believe it in you because John is the exact opposite. Yeah, I'm not we did introvert would not compute. Extra extrovert, yeah, yeah. It's not a thing. I've told the story before, but you've never heard it. We did a comp in Columbus, Ohio called Oktoberfest. Oh, yeah, and it was a Hercules hole. So basically, it's you stand there and there are two pillars leaning away from you. You're holding them, and there was what, like 300 pounds in a hand or something. I think it was a thousand pounds a hand. Oh, that's right. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_01 46:46

I was thinking of the of the light. Different event, different event.

SPEAKER_02 46:49

So he's standing there, and like I said, John is a phenomenal athlete. That's meaningful. John is uh he was Hottie, by the way, everybody too. He was second in the world. Yes, he held a world record. Keep going. He was a master's national champion. Keep going. He was number 15 in the world, Highland game. If you forget anything, I'll I'll email you for next time. But all kidding aside, we're standing up there. And one of the things we love about this, and shout out to our friend Sean Ehrkhart, who is the AD of this event. It's called the Columbus Oktoberfest. It's held early September down in Columbus, Ohio. And in this little amphitheater where four of the five events take place, we're standing on a stage, and without exaggeration, there's a thousand people out there, and they're all drinking and having a good time and whatnot. And John's up there on the stage, and he ended up coming in like third or fourth in that event. Because he's awesome, you know, something like that. But he's holding it. And the idea in these type of events, put your head somewhere else, right? So he's there, and all of a sudden, here in heaven, there is no beer.

SPEAKER_01 47:56

In my defense, that's why it's a single it's an Oktoberfest, and I'm holding a shit ton of weight in each hand, and the crowd's there, and they're kind of hushed because they think that I'm gonna get ripped in half because it seemed possible. Yeah, it seemed possible. Drifting across the whole thing is like an umpa band, like there's a German band somewhere, and that's all I could focus on, and that that's where it went from there. All right, Scott, thank you for telling stories about how awesome I are. Let's bring it back to because we're getting late in time. Tell me about I I I need you, I need your business. I'm introverted, I I have dreams, but there are these nebulous things that I can't I can't make them concrete. How do you help me and how do I find you?

SPEAKER_04 48:38

How do we get in touch? Yeah. I I appreciate that question. Great question.

SPEAKER_01 48:42

Uh and so you don't have to suck up to him. It's too late. We already did we did the resume. I'm good. Listen, and he's a hottie everybody, so I can't so I'm not wearing Gucci Papa shorts, though.

SPEAKER_04 48:53

So fan only shorts. Fan only. This is gonna be a thing when we return to work. I just want you to know that.

SPEAKER_02 49:04

This is why I'm not in the Buffalo campus for a while.

SPEAKER_01 49:06

Just so you know, in case you guys are looking for like secret Santa presents for each other, fans. We should be buying each other fans.

SPEAKER_04 49:14

You're officially my new bestie. And so I'm sending you a fan.

SPEAKER_01 49:17

There you go. Let's see, that's how it works. I'm telling Sarah.

SPEAKER_04 49:21

You are a snitch. He is a snitch. He kind of is a snitch.

SPEAKER_01 49:26

Yeah, he is.

SPEAKER_04 49:27

All right. So you can meet us at uh www.microbig.com again, M Y-C-R-O-B-I-G dot com. Um, so if you go there, you can uh easily pin for free consultation. What we do is we ask you a series of questions and we contact you immediately. And so we walk you through what we call an intake form to see what your strengths are and areas of opportunity, almost like a SWOT analysis, and then we dive right into what the area of need is. So if you're starting off and you uh haven't obtained your LOC, we actually work with you to get your LOC. If you need to get your 501c3, we actually help you get your 501c3. Okay. Obtain uh grants, you name it. And so what we do is we find out that most people have like these amazing ideas and they lack organization. We just bring the organization. Or we find that they have everything in play, but they lack the resources. We bring the resources, and so micro big is pretty much the fly on the wall, and then we make sure that uh we can connect you to whomever or whatever business to get you uh where you need to. And so our mission right now is to ensure that businesses stay open, uh churches grow and develop, and schools stay open. Uh, and they have quality instructors and an admin team. So, you ever see one of those bar um shows? They do hire and fire, they turn the bar around. Oh, yeah. Bar rescue and stuff.

SPEAKER_03 50:54

Yeah, bar rescue.

SPEAKER_04 50:55

You're talking to bourbon drinkers. Yeah, yeah. Speaking of which, okay, let me let me let me stay focused. Let me stay focused. Uh, we actually uh go in instead of firing, we actually develop the instructors to the next level. What we find and what our data suggests is that just because someone graduated with a degree does not mean they're qualified to be in that position. So we go in, we provide the tools.

SPEAKER_01 51:20

That's cool. So who who am I to reach out to you? Am I 50 years old? What if I'm a high school kid that I have no idea what I want to do with my life?

SPEAKER_04 51:28

That's great.

SPEAKER_01 51:29

Can you help me?

SPEAKER_04 51:29

Yep. If you're five years old and you want to do it, we come on. Yeah, we got you.

SPEAKER_01 51:34

That's cool.

SPEAKER_04 51:34

So there's no there's no limitations. Okay. The only thing we ask is that you actually sit down and think about is this something you really want to do?

SPEAKER_01 51:42

Because there is going to be some some footwork on your your I was gonna say, what what heavy lifting do I have to do as someone that's come to you?

SPEAKER_04 51:48

Yeah, so there is a process. Um, say for instance, if you were going for your LOC, you wanted your LOC, there is like a six to eight week window of work that you have to do, and you have to check in with us bi-weekly to ensure that there's some progress. Um, so I think the same way I run the campus is pretty much how we run a business. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 52:08

You know, one of the things, and John, you know, you first met Ty a couple years ago at that banquet. Food food was good. Food was great. See? First time I have ever been to a banquet that instead of like a uh, you know, there was a fixed dessert, there was a candy table. Yes. Oh, there was a candy table. There was a table.

SPEAKER_01 52:27

That was a good call.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

People walking around with a bag and their candy table. That was a good thing. There's like trick-or-treating for adults. That was a good call. I forgot about that. One of the things, Hercules.

SPEAKER_01 52:39

This moment brought to you by Eddie Murphy. Great. Now you got him going. I know. He's so introverted. He is.

SPEAKER_04 52:49

I'm around my besties. I can do this. I wouldn't do this in public, though.

SPEAKER_02 52:54

We um I would strongly recommend folks because one of the things that you see that Ty and his organizations do uh probably amongst the very best that I've ever seen is he finds those grassroots folks who sort of really live what they're trying to embody. You know, the different awards we saw that were given out that night, uh, the gentleman who won the Love Like Dunn Award this year from the organization. When I read his bio, I'm like, Jesus, Ben, would have loved this guy. Yes. You know, so I mean, those type of things. Get in touch with the organization, you know, make yourself known because they're gonna help. And if you're doing something, Ty's gonna help you move that forward too to help others because it's always about moving that forward. So I mean, the banquet is in early December, yes, you know, so keep an eye out for it for next year, but really strongly, strongly urge you to reach out to microbig.

SPEAKER_01 53:55

Yeah, and I'm gonna I'm gonna go out on a limb and sort of parallel this to what we tell people about going to the gym. If you think you have the germ of the maybe of the kind of of an idea, but it feels so overwhelming that you're drowning in the fact that you could never possibly do it. I know a guy you should talk to.

SPEAKER_02 54:14

He's an introvert.

SPEAKER_01 54:15

Yeah, he's an introvert, but you know, you're never gonna achieve anything if you don't try. And I think I met somebody that will fill in the gap and take your hand and carry you to the finish line if you don't want to go by your damn self.

SPEAKER_04 54:29

I appreciate that, John. I'm actually gonna steal that from now on. I'm gonna say micro big fills in the gap. That's it. That's yeah. So of these these long eight-minute paragraphs that I give people, I'm just gonna say we fill in the gap. Yep. And so John is gonna be our speaker next year for the micro big awards.

SPEAKER_01 54:44

I don't know, though. You know, I'm I'm a little concerned about talking. I'm afraid about talking in front of people. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 54:51

With his shirt halfway off with a star right here. I'm gonna make sure. I saw it's a inappropriate. Why would I say that?

SPEAKER_01 54:58

It's a Janet Jackson tribute. That's all that is. See, I got it. I knew I knew where it was going. Yeah, I knew where it was going.

SPEAKER_03 55:05

Crab me a river. Just a lake. Shout out to you.

SPEAKER_01 55:09

Scott, we should end this or we're gonna talk all night long. We are.

SPEAKER_02 55:12

That's the scary part.

SPEAKER_01 55:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 55:16

We try to tie things together at the end. Oh, Jesus. Yeah, that was bad. That was bad. Thank you. So given what you know, you you talked about your upbringing and the role the Graham played in it, and you know how you know at like 15 you were on your own, and I know where you're at right now, and some of the philanthropic stuff, and you know, the horrific car accident and everything else. If you had to tell our listeners, you know, remember, we're talking 40 plus up to, I mean, some of the pickleball folks that are whipping John's ass are in their 80s, basically. Okay, what is one piece of advice that you would give them right now?

SPEAKER_04 56:00

Be your authentic self and you have to enjoy and love who you see in the mirror, regardless of whatever flaw you see. Uh, because I don't care who says they love you, I don't care who says they have your back. Nobody's gonna treat you the way you treat yourself. So you gotta set that standard. And so I believe in you, and you gotta believe in yourself. So that's just what it is. That's dope. Appreciate that. Oh, God. Thanks, PB.

SPEAKER_02 56:27

Folks, we were we were truly blessed this evening to have Dr. Ty Wilson with us tonight. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's our pleasure. I'm still Scott. He's still Ty.

SPEAKER_01 56:37

And you are? I'm still John.

SPEAKER_03 56:38

He's still John.

SPEAKER_01 56:39

Thanks, everybody. Bye. Bye. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide. Thanks again. Now get off our lawn, you damn kids.