Episode 197
Episode #192 - Exploring Your Passions Outdoors: An Interview With Mike Martin
Journeys in our lives are made up of different paths that we take throughout the interactions that we have. Whether they are with people that we trust, people that we have met for the first time, or with those that are required to perform the duties and tasks that we are assigned personally and professionally, the ways in which we engage with life means exploring opportunities that we are normally comfortable with, but also not comfortable with. When it comes to the outdoors, nature can be a fearful experience to some. However, today's guest, Mike Martin, has not only walked on various paths in his life, but has used the power of "Mother Earth" to help combat many of the things that he has achieved. Through his impressive podcast experience and powerful storytelling that helps others, learn how his insights about life fundamentally changed not only his path in his life, but how he has helped other explore theirs using the power of nature along the way. This story will not only impact how you can make a difference in your own life, but in someone else's.
Guest Bio
As a certified meditation guide, wilderness first responder, and survival skills trainer, Mike has the expertise to lead transformative outdoor experiences. He shares his knowledge through his popular podcasts, Project Mindfully Outdoors, and The Wilderness Experience.
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Intro/Outro By: Michael Dugan, Podcast Host: Voice4Chefs
Transcript
Welcome to the podcast where relationships, confidence, and
2
:determination all converge into
an amazing, heartfelt experience.
3
:This is Speaking From The Heart.
4
:Joshua: Welcome back to episode
number 192 of Speaking from the Heart.
5
:Today, we have Mike Martin joining us,
and as a certified meditation guide,
6
:wilderness first responder, and survivor
skills trainer, Mike has the expertise to
7
:lead transformative outdoor experiences.
8
:He shares his knowledge through his
popular podcast, Project Mindfully
9
:Outdoors, and The Wilderness Experience,
and I have to say, for this survivalist,
10
:which you've heard the sensationalism of
different people living outdoors, living
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:in the wilderness, surviving on the
elements, Mike is somebody that really
12
:stands out to me that has really grown in
depth with their spirituality, and seeing
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:what is around them, and we can take a
few lessons about what that looks like
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:especially as we continue in this quest of
finding the best version of ourselves, and
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:the best way to do that is to go outdoors.
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:Some of the things that you will hear
not only about his journey, which in
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:itself has so many elements about what
it has meant for him to go outdoors and
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:be able to provide others that experience
as well, means that it's living by a
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:code of honor, that connection, that
persevere through the skills that we have.
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:People that learn to go through
adventures in life also have all kinds
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:of experiences, but for our guest today,
to be able to build on that level of
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:consistency and strength, getting more
comfortable with the things that he has
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:persevered through life, I think that
you can see why over 393 plus episodes
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:of what he's been able to accomplish not
only is an inspiration for so many to
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:show that grit and determination, but
what it means to be inspired not only
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:on what it means to keep going, but to
keep on doing because through grace,
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:through the strength that we learn in
the journey that we walk, whether that's
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:indoors or outdoors, means that we can
find things in a full circle context,
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:which you're going to hear more about,
not only in today's episode, but how it
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:could change your life for the better.
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:But with that, let's go to the episode.
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:Alright, we're here with Mike Martin.
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:Mike!
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:Thanks for sharing your
heart with us today.
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:Mike: Absolutely, my friend.
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:Thanks for having me.
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:My heart has grown exponentially
from point A to where we're at now at
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:point B, so this is going to be fun.
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:Let's have some fun and cover
some pretty serious topics.
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:Joshua: Yeah man.
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:I appreciate it, and I really enjoyed
our pre-interview conversation here.
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:For my listeners, Mike seems like one
of those people that I would absolutely
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:hang around a campfire with, and I joke
about the campfire because we're just
44
:talking about that before we got started,
so Mike, thanks for doing this with me.
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:I really am excited about
our conversation too.
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:I've already let the listeners
know a little bit about your
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:background, but I actually was really
curious about this, and why I even
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:wanted to have you on the show.
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:You do something that I haven't had
somebody yet on this podcast talk
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:about, which is not only do you do
meditation, but you are a wilderness first
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:responder, and a survivor skills trainer.
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:I think of those people that actually
put war paint on, and go in the woods and
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:live for 30 days, and don't come back,
or they do come back in a safe place, but
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:I wonder if you could tell a little bit
for our listeners how you got into those
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:interests, and why those types of careers.
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:Mike: All right.
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:This is going to be pretty interesting
because it's going to be a bunch of
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:random things that all tie together.
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:Now, the outdoor aspect,
I grew up in that.
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:I remember as a kid chasing my grandfather
around on all his wild, crazy adventures.
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:Then fast forward later on
in life, and I came up to the
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:words that were thrown at me.
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:"You have nothing left off for
anybody, including your kids.",
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:and at the time I was
facing my second divorce.
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:I was finding myself homeless, and I
had spent all the years before that
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:masking my depression and my anxiety.
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:When those words were thrown at me,
they triggered a suicide attempt.
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:The next morning, when I woke up from
that attempt, I stumbled back to my
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:truck like nothing had happened, and
I turned on my favorite hunting based
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:podcast, which the stoic author, Ryan
Holiday, just happened to be the guest.
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:He was talking about his book at
the time, The Obstacle Is The Way,
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:and he was throwing all these Marcus
Aurelius quotes out that were so
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:relevant that I'd never thought about.
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:It smacked me in the face
and changed my perception.
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:I was in a situation where the adversity
was just terminal and I would die real
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:quick, to all of a sudden, if I could
turn that adversity into something and
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:rebuild my life off of it, it would
teach my kids something very important
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:and change that narrative, and from
there, I slowly got back on my feet.
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:I got into talk therapy, and through talk
therapy, I was introduced to meditation,
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:and I fought that idea tooth and nail.
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:I'm like, "I'm not going to meditate.
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:I'm not going to shave my head.
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:I'm not going to go buy a
chant CD from the nineties.
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:I'm not doing any of
that stupid stuff, man.
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:That's not me.",
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:and then I went around back
and I grabbed my crossbow; took
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:my nightly shooting practice.
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:I'm like, "Man.
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:I'm breathing.
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:I'm slowing my thoughts down.
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:I'm doing what I just heard
and fought for an hour.
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:Let me go find some place that that's
going to be safe for me to go."
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:Naturally, the wilderness was the
safest place that I knew, so that's
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:where I started to develop this
wilderness meditation practice,
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:and fast forward a month or two.
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:It was getting closer to hunting season.
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:I wanted to get a sponsorship.
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:I wanted to get some free gear.
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:I got hooked up with the Cerved Nation.
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:Part of their requirement was you
got to have a social media presence.
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:I hated social media, so obviously
I didn't, and I thought about
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:the how to's, and check out these
hunts, and this and that, but man.
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:Everything I went through, had I had
somebody there to talk to and support
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:me, I probably never would have been
there, so I wanted to be the guy that
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:would tackle that, and I wanted to make
having those difficult conversations
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:okay, and that's how I founded Project
Mindfully Outdoors which turned into
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:a podcast in a roundabout way, forced
me to deal with my depression and my
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:anxiety, because I had to maintain
this, this level on social media.
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:Therefore I was holding my feet to
the fire and I couldn't back down.
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:Lo and behold, five years later, I'm now
taking people out into the wilderness,
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:which brings up the first responder
aspect of things, because I don't do a
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:whole lot with it outside of the fact
that I thought it was something that was
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:important to be able to take care of a
situation if it came up, and luckily, to
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:this point, I've not had to really deal
with anything major, so we're good there,
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:but in the event that something like
that was to happen, I know what to do.
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:Joshua: Why is it that you wanted
to go into nature and provide
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:these types of experiences?
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:You said to us about the fact that
you wanted to have someone to talk
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:to and probably finding that person,
especially for men, and I've talked to
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:plenty of men on this show, Mike, about
that need, and I know I relate to you.
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:When you're trying to find someone
to be able to connect with, it's
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:really difficult, especially for
men, because then you got to show
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:another side of yourself, and
there's such a stigma with that.
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:It's something that I even
personally continue to work through
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:even after all these years of
even also trying to end my life.
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:Why is it that nature is your go to?
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:Other than running around as a kid, is
there a sense of peace with that, or is
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:there something else that draws you to it?
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:Mike: Okay, well, as it's developed
within this perspective and my practices
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:now, I've become really attuned to the
fact that in the living world around
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:us, within the wilderness, nature,
even something as simple as going to
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:the park, nothing else in this world
has the ability to tell a story.
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:We like to get caught up in our stories
of self suffering, but if you go out
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:into the living world and you observe,
you see that life is just life.
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:Things just carry on with their
natural order, and one story that I
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:really enjoy sharing was kind of that
real "aha" moment in dealing with
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:my anxiety based off of the power of
observation, because a few years back,
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:it was November 15th to be specific;
the height of the deer rut, that's
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:why I remember the date, and, on this
particular November 15th, it was cold.
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:It was miserable.
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:In fact, there was a blizzard going on.
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:I had been standing up in my tree all
morning, and sometime around noon,
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:this beautiful young buck that I'd
never seen before finally stepped out.
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:Now, I hold myself to a rule that if
I don't have a connection with that
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:deer, or story, meaning, I have to see
it more than once before I'll draw on
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:him, then I won't take the shot, so I'm
standing up there in the tree, and I'm
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:thinking to myself, "He's right there.
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:I can fill the tag.
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:I can go home, but I'm not
drawing, and yet, I call myself
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:a hunter, so what am I doing?",
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:and then that struggle with anxiety
that I'd been having really came to
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:the front of my mind and my heart, and
I thought about Longhorn, as I named
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:this deer, and what he was doing.
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:Here he is on the dinner menu for
everything, right, and he's out on
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:this particular day doing his job,
without a second thought, because he
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:knows in the back of his mind that if
he runs into danger, the skills are
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:within him to get out of the situation.
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:Now, an anxiety attack, especially a
panic attack, isn't life and death, even
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:though it feels like it, and if I was
able to put myself in that frame of mind
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:and look through the world through his
eyes, I can remember I have that exact
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:same skillset to get through whatever
that situation may be at that very moment,
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:and those are the kinds of things that
as I progressed along this journey, and
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:as I worked with people that I really
begun to embody, and really come to
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:understand in a whole new perspective.
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:Joshua: I love that, and I'm like sitting
back, and I'm thinking about this myself
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:because I've heard it in different
ways from not only people I've also had
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:on my podcast, but I'm thinking about
even my own clients, and every exposure
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:to even some of the things that we've
learned from other people, or even other
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:experiences, it is truly fascinating to
me how much we actually gain out of it.
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:One of the cool things; I'm
sure you can relate to this.
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:I've gotten so much out of doing this,
this whole experience of doing this
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:podcast, that I would have ever gotten out
of 10 lifetimes, and I say that because
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:in the back of my head, I know that these
are the right things I need to do, but
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:my front part of my brain says, "No!
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:I have anxiety about wanting to do that."
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:It's almost as if there's this natural
shift back and forth, trying to
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:figure out what's the best way to not
only connect with others, but also
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:how to work through some of these
problems that often come up in life.
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:It almost sounds like to me that when
you're talking about Longhorn, the deer
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:that you named, it's almost not only just
a sign of respect, but also being at one
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:with the fact of we all go through it.
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:It isn't just about humans.
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:It's about nature in general.
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:I don't know if you want to
say anything to that, because
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:I really am fascinated by this.
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:Mike: You're absolutely
correct on that point.
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:There's a struggle, whether it's something
that we put a story behind within our own
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:minds, or it's something that we observe.
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:If we're sitting out in the field,
and actually a better idea with that
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:would be standing on a boat, fishing.
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:There is a reason that we have
the fishing lures that we have.
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:It's triggered the predators and
myself, I'm a bass fisherman, so I'm
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:out there targeting bass, and a lot
of the time you'll see the prey fish
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:actually skip along the top of the
water, trying to get away from the
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:predator, and that was another moment
that really helped me to understand my
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:place within the world, if you will.
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:It is the fact that I have a voice.
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:I'm able to tell a story.
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:I'm able to share with the community.
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:I can vocalize what that specific little
bluegill was going through, and trying to
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:get away from that bass, or what that deer
connection actually felt like to me, and
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:as I'm telling it to you, it may resonate
with you and you may be able to understand
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:that, but somebody that's listening to
this conversation, that anything within
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:the outdoors is a foreign vocabulary.
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:It can impact them in a way that is
relevant to their world, and it can help
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:them to build a bridge across the river,
and deal with a problem that they're
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:currently struggling with, which is the
coolest part, I think of what I do in
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:every aspect, whether it's the podcast,
or it's the outdoor adventures themselves.
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:Joshua: Let's talk about that, because
you've built a bridge to use your words
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:to that, and your business, again, for my
listeners is Project Mindfully Outdoors.
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:With that concept in mind that you've
been through that journey, how do
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:you get people that want to do this
outdoor adventure with you, or even
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:the other things that you offer
through the business, to help resonate
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:with what they have innately inside,
like they have to work through?
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:Is there any special technique?
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:Is there something that you plan for them?
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:Do you customize it, because it is a very
interesting perspective of a business
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:model that most people would say, "Whoa!
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:I don't know if I can
do whitewater rafting.
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:There's insurance and stuff like that.
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:I don't know about doing with this dude.
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:What does he offer?",
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:so I don't know how you overcome that.
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:You very much intrigued me with
this offering that you provide.
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:Mike: Throughout the journey, I've
reached out for help in this and that.
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:I get a lot of that too, you know.
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:A lot of doors closed in my face about
trying to help me further my mission,
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:and this and that, but in reality,
it's the authenticity behind it.
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:It doesn't need a sales pitch.
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:It's the fact that each and
every one of us, in one way or
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:another, go through something.
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:We struggle with things, and I just
happened to utilize the storytelling and
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:the metaphors, whether they're a physical
metaphor or they're a spoken one, in a
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:way that people can really connect with,
because I've been there, so I've got the
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:sympathetic understanding of where you're
at, but at the same time, within that
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:empathy, there's enough strength developed
to be able to be that neutral voice that
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:can kind of direct where you're going,
and as far as a business model goes, it's
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:very much a trail of blazing your own
path, and it's beautiful that way to me,
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:because it allows me the opportunity to
customize what I'm doing to meet whoever
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:it is that my path crosses with, and a lot
of what I do I think I found peace with
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:that idea based off of a line from The
Wind Is My Mother, by Bear Heart, where he
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:talks about when you uncover your purpose
in life, you literally fall into it,
243
:and that journey becomes a celebration,
and it's really interesting to me.
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:The fact that when I first started with
the writing and the podcasting, it was
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:geared and aimed at making a difference
within the outdoor community, and while
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:I still speak to those folks and help
those folks through the podcast itself,
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:it's opened up a whole new branch
with all these people from outside the
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:community that I'm welcoming in, and I'm
showing them all these different things,
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:and through conquering those fears of
going outside, they're making these
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:dramatic changes within their lives.
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:Joshua: You saying that, and I
have to describe for my listeners
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:who I'm looking at right now.
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:You're a very rugged guy.
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:You very much put together, Mike.
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:I give you that as like a positive
comment, because I know that it can come
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:off as a completely different thing, but
do you have people that are the direct
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:opposite of you coming to you for this?
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:I'm thinking like people with
business suits on, and have dresses
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:that they're women, and they're
coming to you and be like, "Oh!
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:Please take me on a nature adventure
and help me with finding my inner self."
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:I mean, do you have people
like that, that come through?
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:Mike: As of late, I've been doing
a lot of work with people that are
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:starting their recovery journeys
and things like that, but I have had
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:very unique experiences like that.
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:In fact, on the podcast, I actually had
featured a former Senator, and we've kind
266
:of talked here and there and this and
that, and she's actually come out and
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:gone on the trail with me, which, it was
really interesting because we started at a
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:point where she grew up in the inner city.
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:That's all she knew, and she thought
even going to a park, it would be full
270
:of bears and they would attack her, but
as we started talking through it and I
271
:got her in her own area to start walking
around the block, and then build up to
272
:going to local parks, and then we met
up at a national park and went on a
273
:trail, it was very fun and very amusing
to see that growth, and then realize
274
:that it does impact the full circle.
275
:We're all working for the same sort of
goal and outcome, but we're just all
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:doing it differently, and when we take
the fear, and the preconceived notions,
277
:and we set those aside, it allows
us to grow because we're channeling
278
:different ideas; different influences.
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:We're getting outside the box in a
way that we never thought we could.
280
:We're challenging ourselves in different
ways, and that comes full circle when
281
:you bring the inner circle of who you are
of your spirit and your soul together.
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:Man!
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:It just makes your heart
gush with positivity.
284
:Joshua: I can only imagine what some of
those people, especially with connecting,
285
:getting them over their uncomfortableness
with doing it to then getting them into
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:going to a national park, or going on
these excursions that can last for a
287
:couple days, or even if they're doing
it by themselves, so let's flip this.
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:You do this as the podcast too.
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:Same name.
290
:You interview people and you talk
about these experiences and helping
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:them, as well with seeing what they
got going on in their lives, and
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:you're like the complete package.
293
:This is very interesting for me because
I never had a guest quite like you
294
:that kind of brings all this together.
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:What does the podcast mean for you
as an individual being able to help
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:others in their journey going through
it, whether it's a mental quest, a
297
:spiritual quest, getting to where
they ultimately feel, like you said,
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:that happiness, that inner peace?
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:How does that all interact with what
you're ultimately trying to achieve, Mike?
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:Mike: I think if I take all of that out
of the equation and I just shine the light
301
:on myself, what the podcast essentially
means for me is a way to develop my voice,
302
:because my social anxiety at points,
especially within the last five years, has
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:been so severe to the fact that I isolated
myself to where I was sitting in a tent.
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:That was kind of where I lived, and
that was just what I did, and even
305
:during COVID, when all of this first
started, I was having such difficulty
306
:that I would go days without eating,
because being homeless, living in
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:my truck, it was hard to keep food.
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:I'd have to rely on going through a drive
thru, and I couldn't make those decisions,
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:let alone express them, and by doing
the podcast day after day, I've learned
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:how to become comfortable with my voice.
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:I become comfortable with who I am, and
then when I shine that scope out on a
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:broader range, and I think about the
people that have reached out to me and
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:shared their story, and inspiration that
they have found within what I do and the
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:message that I share, it's just baffling.
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:It's like a celebration, because I'm
one of those people that I don't give
316
:myself much credit for what I do.
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:I'm always onto the next
thing and this and that.
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:However, when somebody sends you an
email and tells you, you know, "I heard
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:your message and I heard your podcast.
320
:I was struggling the same way, and I found
inspiration within your story to realize
321
:I can make it through the next moment.",
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:those are beautiful things to me.
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:They're so easy to celebrate, and
they speak to my soul and they
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:speak to the purpose that I'm here.
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:Joshua: I have to say this, and your
last comment threw me off, because
326
:I find it as even though you've been
through all this, you saying that
327
:you're still kind of picking up all
these pieces, and putting them into
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:this bigger tapestry of who you are.
329
:As of the time of this recording, for
my listeners, obviously I do these
330
:episodes way in advance and then I
published them because of the schedule
331
:that I have, but at this very moment,
Mike, you have- and I'm shocked by
332
:this, because I said to you just
before we started, I'm only up to 192.
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:You're number 192.
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:393 episodes that you've published,
and it isn't about quantity.
335
:It's about the quality.
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:Absolutely, so here's my question.
337
:You've had 393 episodes of great quality
in which you've been exploring this
338
:topic, whether it's from an outdoors
perspective, whether it's from that
339
:inner spirit that we have that you have
been talking about up to this point.
340
:You have been on this
quest to figure that out.
341
:What do you think drives you to keep on
wanting to find that ultimate answer?
342
:I really am fascinated by this.
343
:I know I keep saying that,
but I really, really am.
344
:You very much intrigued me as to somebody
that wants to dig more than what's
345
:even underneath the surface, which
sometimes that's about as far as I can
346
:normally get, and most people would get.
347
:You go and take like another
10 scoops and go below that.
348
:Why is this so important for you?
349
:Mike: It gets back to the experience that
I've been through in the past five years.
350
:I think that's what draws people to
it is the authenticity behind that,
351
:because for me, there's so many different
things that I really, truly enjoy.
352
:I tap into a lot of historical points and
this and that, and I look at it from a new
353
:perspective and it's just that continuing
quest for the wisdom and the understanding
354
:that one piece of positivity, or maybe
that one nugget of knowledge or thought
355
:that we need each day to continue
to go forward, to make progress.
356
:Actually, this morning, I gave a talk
about the Stoic philosopher Seneca the
357
:Younger, and that was a driving force
within all of his work was just finding
358
:that one piece of progress, and it was
funny because as I was delivering that
359
:speech this morning, it really hit me.
360
:That is what it is for me, is, "Yeah.
361
:I love what I do.
362
:I live what I do.",
363
:but providing that one piece of
progress each day is what drives,
364
:ultimately what I do with that show
365
:Joshua: You have obviously been through
so much in those five years, and when
366
:this comes out Mike, I've been through
it for five years myself, and it must
367
:be uncanny that I'm talking to you the
month that this has happened when this
368
:eventually airs, because I have seen so
much in what this journey has meant for
369
:me not only through the experiences of
reading other books, in reading people's
370
:philosophies about their lives based
on what I've seen coming through my
371
:door as a coach, and even what I have
experienced even in this second life,
372
:I guess I can call it, because it's
been not the same life that I once led.
373
:You do all these things.
374
:You help people with giving
them that guidance through
375
:meditation and other things.
376
:People listening to this today are
probably drawn to the fact that you
377
:do this from a nature standpoint,
and even giving those people those
378
:experiences, whether it's through
your podcast or other means.
379
:For them personally, and this is
something that I'm hoping that
380
:maybe you have some words of advice,
because I always ask my guests this.
381
:Many of my guests have given much,
much great advice over the last
382
:year; two years that I've done this.
383
:What is it that you would say for somebody
that is looking to start that journey of
384
:finding that one nugget that would help
them with getting involved with their
385
:progress, moving them on to that next
step because they've been feeling stuck?
386
:What would you recommend for them?
387
:Mike: I would recommend just to give
yourself the grace and understanding
388
:that every journey, no matter what
it is that it involves, or where
389
:you desire for it to take you,
begins with one simple small step.
390
:As I'm sitting here now, there's
an oak tree, a big giant oak
391
:tree, that's off in the distance.
392
:It's really hard for me to just gauge
how far off it is or how many steps
393
:that it would take, so if I was to
start walking there now, would it be
394
:the first step that I take that's the
most important, because I'm beginning
395
:the journey, or would it be that final
step because I get to touch the tree?
396
:I don't think either one of
those steps are relevant.
397
:It's actually about the journey, so,
if I make big steps in that journey,
398
:I get there a little bit quicker, but
if I make small steps, it takes me a
399
:little bit longer, and in between there,
somewhere I got to rest, so that rest
400
:often represents the slip ups that we
have along these journeys that we take
401
:in life; the low moments, and those
are okay, because if I'm walking toward
402
:that tree and I sit down, I'm going
to nourish my body with water, maybe a
403
:snack, but when I'm going through life,
and I have those slow down moments, it
404
:gives me the opportunity to nourish my
mind, my heart, and my soul, and that's
405
:what's important, because you're able
to get back up and continue to go.
406
:Joshua: Mike, what keeps
you going, even today?
407
:You have said so much to us about why this
business, why this podcast is so important
408
:to you, but you as one fellow nature
dweller to another, what keeps you going?
409
:Mike: What keeps me going is my children.
410
:That was, ultimately, the motivation
to turn myself around, and finally turn
411
:toward life, instead of turning away
from it, and then, from there, I'd have
412
:to say it's learning how to embrace
the celebration that each step of
413
:life is, living present in the moment.
414
:It gives you an opportunity
to feel things, to enjoy them.
415
:Whether they're good, whether they're
bad, you're able to take away something,
416
:and then you end up having to let it go,
and that's okay, because it takes with it
417
:the feelings, and the things that we get
hung up on, but we get to keep the memory.
418
:We get to keep the joy.
419
:We get to continue to allow our heart
to grow, and that's what motivates
420
:me nowadays is that full circle,
keeping balance within my life.
421
:Joshua: Having that full circle is
something that, even for me, I hear
422
:what you're saying, and I think in
this world that's ever changing,
423
:because that's what I call it, I find
it sometimes that we forget what that
424
:prize is that we're trying to achieve.
425
:Sometimes it is by what
other people say it is.
426
:"Oh!
427
:The financial piece of it."
428
:"Oh!
429
:I have that freedom.",
430
:or, "Oh, I have those
possessional goods.",
431
:but you say something to me that
many people I think have come so
432
:close to saying but haven't been
able to say it until you said it.
433
:It's about what I am able to achieve by
seeing that peace, by seeing that ability
434
:to just be able to see where all my
place is on this earth, and I love that.
435
:It's a very wholesome approach by
seeing it from all the kinds of
436
:different perspectives, so Mike.
437
:Thanks for sharing all of this today.
438
:I really love this conversation.
439
:I want to give you the last few minutes
though, before we wrap up; let people
440
:know how they can get in touch with you,
if they're interested in maybe learning
441
:a little bit more about your story.
442
:Maybe they want to work with you
through Project Mindfully Outdoors.
443
:Maybe you want to give a quick snapshot
of everything you offer, including even
444
:the podcast, and how people can contact
you, so I'm going to give you the last
445
:few minutes to do all that for us.
446
:Mike: All right, so I appreciate that,
and basically what I've done is I made
447
:it very, very simple to get in touch with
me or work with me in any way, because
448
:simplicity is a very important theme in
my life, so projectmindfullyoutdoors.co
449
:is the website.
450
:That's the base camp for everything where
you can sign up for a free trailhead
451
:call with me where we'll walk through
some guided meditations, and see how
452
:working together can benefit you,
and get that journey started for you.
453
:There's the podcast, which
airs seven days a week.
454
:Anywhere that you pick up
a podcast, you can find it.
455
:It's Project Mindfully Outdoors.
456
:All my social media tags are the
same, and if you want to reach
457
:out personally, directly to me,
mikemartin@projectmindfullyoutdoors.co,
458
:and altogether it's kind of branched
out into three different phases.
459
:Obviously we do the podcast.
460
:We also do outdoor gear fitting,
so outfitting, whatever it is you
461
:need, we can hook you up with.
462
:We do the digital meditation sessions
where we get together just like a
463
:mentor or a coach, and I kind of help
guide you along your journey, and then
464
:the cool part that we rolled out this
year is the indoor meditation classes,
465
:but we get into the outdoors together.
466
:We'll take a hike.
467
:We'll go on some different excursions,
whatever it is that you feel that you
468
:want to go out to do to experience,
and ultimately build that better
469
:aspect of yourself, literally
one swing of a hatchet at a time.
470
:Joshua: Man, I feel like
Abraham Lincoln a little bit.
471
:I'm thinking of like him, like
cutting logs and all that.
472
:I don't know why I'm thinking that.
473
:Lincoln logs.
474
:You told me where you're from and all
that, and I'm not going to disclose
475
:that, but I have to say that it's
so reminiscent of you saying that.
476
:I should have expected that, but I did it.
477
:Mike, I got to say this before we wrap up.
478
:First off.
479
:Thank you for failing to kill
yourself because I'm going
480
:to be honest with you, dude.
481
:I am so glad that we've had
this conversation today.
482
:You've given me some perspective
that I'm not alone, and I'm
483
:a little selfish right now.
484
:I got to say that.
485
:I'm so glad that we had this conversation,
because we've both been similarly on the
486
:same journey together, whether we were
from different parts of the United States.
487
:I do want to say it's very unique
to me to have somebody on that
488
:takes this journey seriously through
ways in which is a experience in
489
:nature itself is very fascinating.
490
:It's something that intrigues me because
not many people think about, "Well.
491
:How do I get away?
492
:How do I stay away from
all these bad influences?",
493
:and essentially, you already can.
494
:It's a matter of just walking outside your
front door or your backyard, if you have
495
:a backyard, and if you don't, it's called
a park, and there's plenty of parks all
496
:around and being able to ground yourself.
497
:You're not talking about
grounding yourself though.
498
:You're talking about finding peace
where peace exists within ourselves, and
499
:that's a journey that each of us have to
find on our own, and I love that you're
500
:guiding people to do that through a
variety of different ways, and for all
501
:those reasons, Mike, thanks so much for
being on Speaking From The Heart today.
502
:Not only did I enjoy your conversation,
but I love that you're doing this work.
503
:Keep doing that work, and
I'm proud of you, brother.
504
:Mike: Thank you most definitely.
505
:Before we go though, since we do
have that common thread, I want
506
:to add one really important thing.
507
:Joshua: Go for it.
508
:Mike: Is that the common
thread of suicide?
509
:It's not necessarily the
fact that we want out.
510
:It's a breakdown; a breakdown of our
coping abilities, of our coping skills,
511
:and just like the clouds move in and
out of the sky through our view, our
512
:thoughts and our feelings, especially
the ones that overpower us in that way,
513
:do the same, so if you can just take
a moment to sit down and touch some
514
:grass, as the hip kids say nowadays,
just sit down and feel that connection.
515
:Mother Earth is here to take
all those things away from you.
516
:That's her job to support us.
517
:Just allow yourself that grace
for that one moment to allow
518
:that cloud to blow past you.
519
:Thank you.
520
:Joshua: Yeah.
521
:Thank you, Mike.
522
:And I think it's so wise to say
that, and for anybody, there's
523
:always 988, especially United States.
524
:If you're outside the country, which I
know I have a few listeners, you know,
525
:there's always resources available
closest to you, but I will say that you
526
:are valued and it is a matter of just
being able to find that source, even if
527
:it is just walking outside your door.
528
:You proved my point, and I love
that you said that to wrap us up,
529
:so Mike, again, thank you for all
your wisdom and your words today.
530
:Mike: Anytime.
531
:I appreciate it.
532
:Thank you.
533
:Joshua: Again, I want to thank
Mike so much for being part of
534
:the show, sharing a lot of his
expertise and what he's been through.
535
:I commend you, sir, for what you've been
able to achieve, and I commend all of
536
:you, my listeners, in what you've been
able to learn through life, being able
537
:to chase all the things that you have
going around you, even if your kids are
538
:part of that equation, dealing with life
at the same time, because what we are
539
:able to do, what we're able to focus
on when we move ahead, is by being able
540
:to turn ourselves into this practice.
541
:This practice of being better, being more
consistent, heading into a direction that
542
:although we might be going through some
valleys, we will definitely climb the
543
:mountaintops literally as this gentleman
has talked about today, but the biggest
544
:thing that stood out right from the
beginning is about his suicide, turning
545
:into a meditation exercise, being able
to get more attuned into nature, knowing
546
:that we are, by law, natural creatures.
547
:It isn't like we separate
ourselves from the animal kingdom.
548
:We are part of this bigger collective,
and to talk to someone, to provide that
549
:comfort to somebody, especially in the
safety of somebody that is professionally
550
:trained to lead outdoor excursions, is
something that, for me, as I've had so
551
:many people on this show, this really
fascinates me more than anything.
552
:Living around us is the ability to have
all the resources provided right in the
553
:backyards of our own homes, regardless
if we live in cities or not, to be
554
:able to survive, but being able to take
care of ourselves, being part of this
555
:exercise, means that we also have to
live by values, that code of honor.
556
:Mike talked a lot about how it meant
to go through those skills that he's
557
:learned, but also to persevere by learning
through those skills the value, and value
558
:in itself means learning to share your
voice, being able to tell your story of
559
:what it means to be involved with it,
and he really dug deep with us today, and
560
:it just shows that he's been practicing
this craft through that meditation
561
:exercise for many years, but authenticity
in itself doesn't need a sales pitch.
562
:I didn't need to tell you that.
563
:It can be done through the storytelling
through the experiences that he has
564
:learned and grown in throughout his
life, and if we had more time on these
565
:types of episodes, we could certainly
dig into some of the things that he
566
:has even experienced, but I think you
get the picture when we're able to
567
:customize through those experiences
what we're trying to achieve,
568
:what we ultimately set out to do.
569
:That's the biggest thing here, is that
by customizing on our journey the ways
570
:in which we want to learn and grow,
especially with the time and attention
571
:to detail that Mike provides, and even
for businesses like myself that I try
572
:to provide, we start to see how those
adventures can be lived through those
573
:people that want to walk in our path.
574
:They want to walk behind us.
575
:I always think about the poems that are
written by Robert Frost when I think
576
:about the roads that we take, and one
of his most famous of poems, The Road
577
:Not Taken, is something that I wanted
to read out loud because I think it
578
:makes such a big difference in what
Mike is trying to share here today.
579
:The poem, The Road Not
Taken, by Robert Frost.
580
:Two roads diverge in a yellow wood,
and sorry I could not travel both,
581
:and be one traveler, long I stood,
and looked down one as far as I could,
582
:to where it bent in the undergrowth.
583
:Then took the other, as just as fair,
and having perhaps the better claim,
584
:because it was grassy and wanted wear.
585
:Though, as for that, the passing there
had worn them really about the same,
586
:and both that morning equally lay
and leaves no step had trodden black.
587
:Oh, I keep the first for another day,
yet knowing how way leads on to way.
588
:I doubted if I should ever come back.
589
:I shall be telling this with a sigh.
590
:Somewhere ages and ages hence.
591
:Two roads diverge in the wood, and I.
592
:I took the one less traveled by, and
that has made all the difference.
593
:The paths that sometimes we walk on,
especially in what Robert Frost's poem
594
:talks about, is really not just what
people have already laid out in front of
595
:us, but also the ones that although they
have been laid out, they might not be
596
:walked on as much, because especially when
it comes to the things that we go through
597
:in life, we have to sometimes cut down
our own path, and I always think about
598
:when it comes to these types of episodes,
what we can all be doing differently.
599
:Can we be walking a
different type of path?
600
:Can we be channeling different ways of
achievement, and I think in Mike's story
601
:today, he's built on this strength,
this consistency, this direction of
602
:being more comfortable, being more
engaged with not only the people he
603
:wants to serve, but also for himself,
and it has to come full circle, 360
604
:for that matter, when it comes to even
doing what you really set out to do.
605
:We can create that opportunity, though.
606
:We have to stay focused, which, for Mike,
especially, 393 episodes with all the
607
:things that he's been able to achieve in
his podcast, really shakes me to the core.
608
:It's something that, yes, as I get ever
closer to my journey of achieving so
609
:many different types of things, being
able to do almost 400 episodes when we
610
:recorded this is something that I am just
shocked by, but we have to give grace and
611
:those that are able to do it and others
that are not, because the journey that
612
:is ahead means that we have to focus.
613
:We have to tailor our ability to be
able to work on ourselves, but being
614
:able to rest, being able to take care
of ourselves, is something that I
615
:think Mike intentionally practices
even amongst the campfire, because
616
:amongst the campfire, amongst the things
that we're trying to keep on pushing
617
:through, we are finding that motivation,
so I ask you today, my listeners.
618
:What motivates you to keep going?
619
:What is helping you get full circle
on the dreams, the goals, the
620
:aspirations that you want to achieve?
621
:One of the things that maybe you didn't
realize as you were listening to today's
622
:episode is that when I was recording this
with him Mike was in front of a fire.
623
:This fire, especially as I talked
about in a previous episode, when it's
624
:roaring inside of ourselves, means
that we are staying around that circle.
625
:We're willing to work on ourselves,
regardless of whether it's individually
626
:or amongst a group of people, it means
that we have to give ourselves some time
627
:to reflect, to be able to focus through
the stories, the actions, the consequences
628
:of our lives, being able to really
generate that opportunity, that excitement
629
:that we want to have in our lives.
630
:I was a little bit puzzled when Mike
was doing this in front of a fire,
631
:but he even said to me with doing this
podcast, he always lights the fire.
632
:He wants that fire to be part of the
conversation because not only is it that
633
:we're looking amongst each other amongst
that fire, but we're also building that
634
:conversation, that ability to dig even
deeper than we maybe would have never dug
635
:if we weren't able to work on ourselves,
so I find this to be quite interesting.
636
:Somebody that is a podcast host, that
is a survivalist by trade, wants to do
637
:something like this in front of a fire?
638
:Who would have ever thought?
639
:It isn't as crazy as you might think.
640
:Fire is the source of not only
our subsidence, but it also is a
641
:place where warmth takes place.
642
:It's the ability for us to work through
the different types of challenges,
643
:whether that's through conversation
or activity, or some other need that
644
:we need to do in front of the fire.
645
:I have learned so much in this interview
today, as I hope that you did, as it
646
:relates to not only having that care for
yourself, but also doing in front of a
647
:fire, a sacred place where you're able to
build not only on yourself, but to build
648
:upon others, really shows the credibility
and the authenticity of Mike today.
649
:I think it really helps us to understand
too, that when people go through all
650
:these different types of adventures,
from all walks of different lives,
651
:we have to learn and respect the fact
that people, like Mike, find their
652
:energy, find their purpose, and some
of the passions that they love doing,
653
:whether that is a routine that to the
naked eye might be a little bit, quote
654
:unquote, weird, but is it really weird?
655
:Is it really as crazy as you might think?
656
:Robert Frost would say to you
that you could walk on that path.
657
:It just might not be a
path that is well traveled.
658
:I hope that maybe in this inspiration
of this season that we're in, especially
659
:as we continue to emerge from winter,
that we can all do something different.
660
:That we can continue the
challenged status quo.
661
:The ways in which we can have achievement.
662
:The way in which we build strength,
consistency, and direction in our lives.
663
:By getting more comfortable and
engaging with others on things that
664
:we have never thought possible,
that's where true achievement lies.
665
:That's where the gap is between where we
are today and where we can be tomorrow.
666
:Finally, this episode makes me
think about what the future is.
667
:It makes me think about what it is
that I want to do, and maybe I even
668
:start a fire after I'm done recording
this, but the truth of the matter is,
669
:that fire was lit on May 30th, 2023.
670
:The first episode of Speaking From
The Heart talked about what is on
671
:your heart, and I go back to all those
times, even as I approach the milestone
672
:episode of 200 on this podcast,
thinking about what it has meant for
673
:me to continuously work on myself.
674
:Working on myself.
675
:It isn't just about what I
want to achieve, but what
676
:everybody else wants to achieve.
677
:That journey is customized and
tailored towards things that
678
:we want to be passionate about.
679
:What I'm motivated in doing is helping
you to see what you are capable
680
:of becoming, and Mike is doing the
same thing in quite a different way.
681
:By taking people on excursions, these
journeys in the backyard of his house,
682
:or some other place that might be very
challenging to live in nature, and allow
683
:them to see and expose for themselves
what those opportunities are, through
684
:grace, to be able to work on themselves;
through meditation, through exercises
685
:that would help them, both physically
and mentally, to become much better
686
:than they once were, so today I ask you.
687
:How are you doing that for yourself?
688
:How are you motivating
yourself to keep on going?
689
:How are you challenging the gap
that lies in front of you, whether
690
:that's behind you, or sideways, to
help you to become better than you
691
:once were, because let's face it.
692
:In this journey of what we call life and
what we're trying to create, even if we
693
:have to take a break from time to time
because of the challenges that lie in
694
:front of us, or even sideways or behind
us for that matter, I think that you can
695
:find a lot, not only in the outdoors, but
in also what you're trying to achieve.
696
:I think it's really about not only
becoming who you want to be, but
697
:envisioning what it is, through that
quest, through that outdoor experience,
698
:what you really want to do, so if I
catch you on that trail that is not less
699
:traveled, just know that I'm rooting you
on, going through all those different
700
:things that you're trying to do, always
by your side, even if I'm just your guide.
701
:Thanks for listening to episode
number 192 of Speaking From the
702
:Heart, and I look forward to
hearing from your heart very soon.
703
:Outro: Thanks for listening.
704
:For more information about our podcast
and future shows, search for Speaking From
705
:The Heart to subscribe and be notified
wherever you listen to your podcasts.
706
:Visit us at www.yourspeakingvoice.biz
707
:for more information about potential
services that can help you create
708
:the best version of yourself.
709
:See you next time.
