Swan Dive
Now in its 5th year, with over 100 episodes, Swan Dive features inspiring people who had the clarity and courage to pivot in life and chase their dreams. Hosts and life-long friends, Ron Rothberg and Stu Sheldon, both made massive swan dives from successful careers in media and finance to the unknowns of content creation and fine art. Through failures and successes, both eventually found the soul satisfaction of becoming "who they wanted to be when they grew up." Their joyful wisdom graces each conversation with guests that include: legendary musical artists, National Geographic photographers, social justice warriors, clergy, journalists ... even Africa's first black, female brain surgeon. Each guest opens up about their unique emotional journey, their fear of the unknown, the grind of starting a new path and, hopefully, the world's embrace on the road to their most authentic selves. Vulnerability, laughter and inspiration abound. Hopefully, you'll find comfort and kinship in your own big pivot, whether you've made it yet or not. Share your Swan Dive story with us and we may feature you. Find us @stuart_sheldon and ronrothberg@comcast.net.
Swan Dive
Tracey Ryans - Surfing Thermals - Legendary NY Restauranteur, Hotelier, Buddhist, Activist
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This legendary Buddhist bon vivant, restauranteur, hotelier and serial entrepreneur’s only conscious memory of his mother is watching her grab her head and die of a brain aneurysm when he was five. Nevertheless, nearly 50 years later, Tracey Ryans' wondrous self-made empire of business, personal and spiritual success, has transformed this gregarious seeker into an arbiter of “cool” at the forefront of branding and creative activism. His wife calls him as a “pathological optimist” and his billion dollar smile fills any room he enters with hope (even virtually). The fifth guest in Swan Dive's Wide Awakes activation, Tracey's palpable hunger for human connection and civic joy is exactly what society needs to prioritize right now. Tracey shares how, not long ago, while he sat cross-legged for 14 days in an excruciatingly painful silent meditation, his mother visited him. Plain as day, Tracey watched her, as she sponged his aching shoulder (an old sports injury) with a cool cloth. What she said to him in that tender moment affirmed for Tracey that none of us are ever alone. And the time that we do spend alone can be the richest of all. Listen now on Swan Dive!
Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!
We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com