#23 Recovery, Leadership, and Global Impact – with Guest Bernie Anderson

What does it look like to emerge from the darkest part of your life and rebuild with purpose?

In this episode of the Wholistic Productivity Podcast, I talk with Bernie Anderson—a marathon runner, mountain climber, nonprofit leader, and overcomer of addiction. Bernie shares his powerful story of recovery, resilience, and redemption—and how the lessons he’s learned continue to shape his leadership and his life.

Today, Bernie serves as Director of Church Engagement at World Vision USA for the East coast, helping communities around the world thrive. He’s also raising $25,000 for clean water projects through the 2026 London Marathon and leading treks up Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond.

This conversation is about more than endurance sports or career milestones—it’s about what happens when you align your goals with your purpose, and how overcoming personal battles can open the door to a life of impact.

Show Links

Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn - https://wholprod.link/bernieanderson

Higher Ground Treks - https://wholprod.link/treks

Donate to provide clean water through Bernie's 2026 London Marathon run - https://wholprod.link/cleanwater

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
07:09 Bernie's Journey from Pastor to Nonprofit Leader
14:27 World Vision's Mission and Child Sponsorship
20:30 Team World Vision: Running for a Cause
29:15 Higher Ground Tracks: Group Adventures and Impact
32:00 The Power of Group Climbing Experiences
34:31 The Impact of Community and Connection
38:00 Creating Higher Ground Treks
39:39 Leading Large Groups on Kilimanjaro
45:46 Breaking the Silence: Addressing Addiction
58:53 Overcoming Fear in Life's Challenges
1:02:20 Conclusion 

This episode is sponsored by Efficient.app
Don't waste time searching for the best software. Let the experts at efficient.app do it for you. They have tons of "No BS" reviews on all kinds of software so you'll always get an honest recommendation. When you're ready to buy they offer discounts as well. So check them out next time you are looking for new software!

Free Offer
Stop feeling like your week was a bust. Go into your weekend feeling accomplish and productive.

The best way to achieve this is planning your week before it starts. That's why you need my Sunday Strategy worksheet and guide. In just 15 minutes each week you'll be able to build the perfect strategy for a winning week. 

Get my Sunday Strategy for FREE when you subscribe to my weekly newsletter.