Hidden Pearls Podcast (Hidden Pearls Podcast)

Hello HPP Fam! In this episode Bruce & Emma are on the Like A Bigfoot Podcast again. We cover the Power of Mindfulness, Tight End University & The Abundance Mentality. 

Chris is one of our favorite podcasting friends and has an incredible show that just reached 300 episodes! Congrats Chris!!

Link to his show: http://likeabigfoot.com

Like A Bigfoot Show Notes & Links:

In this episode I am very honored to chat with the hosts of the Hidden Pearls Podcast and two very incredible human beings Emma Kittle and her father Bruce Kittle.

Emma and Bruce work with high level performers and athletes in developing healthy mindset, yoga and mindfulness routines with a focus on enhancing performance in the most healthy way possible!

In this episode we chat about some of their concepts in developing athletes and dive into the idea of “abundance mentality” when it comes to their help with George Kittle in creating Tight End University, a conference where the NFL’s Tight Ends came together to share concepts and help each other grow as a position group!

Hope you learn from these two wonderful people and enjoy the episode as much as I did!

MORE FROM EMMA AND BRUCE:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpearlspodcast/

Emma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekittle/

Bruce’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkittle61/

Thunderbird Performance: https://www.thunderbirdperformance.com

Hidden Pearls Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-pearls-podcast/id1531252205

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCevHgve_Kq_nbVg0Pv7QS-Q

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EhpBoeVG2pcTCGwHG85UG

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/speeches-african-american-history/1852-frederick-douglass-what-slave-fourth-july/

https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/884832594/video-frederick-douglass-descendants-read-his-fourth-of-july-speech

At HPP we are all about finding and sharing the “Hidden Pearls” out in the world and inside each of us. Episode 94 is a deep dive into one of the great hidden pearls serving and helping veterans out on the west coast. Operation Surf uses the healing power of water and the ocean’s surf to recalibrate, understand themselves more fully, and move toward healing on all fronts. 

Operation Surf is located on Avila Beach in the central coastal area of California. Their mission is “to channel the healing powers of the ocean to restore hope, renew purpose, and revitalize community.” Operation Surf’s research and curriculum-based programs aim to inspire injured military and veterans to seek wellness in all aspects of their lives while providing the necessary resources, tools, and peer-to-peer support to sustain this mindset over their lifetime.

Through their own experience with surfing, Operation Surf staff know, and research supports it, that surfing provides strength, confidence, hope, and inspiration. Learning to surf with other veterans in a supported, trust and integrity-based peer connected community, ultimately leads veterans to greater self-efficacy, reduces suicide, and creates greater opportunities for healing of the body, mind, spirit, and soul. Through surfing, veterans connect to the water, themselves, and other veterans. Operation Surf is changing participants’ lives – one wave at a time.

EPISODE 94 – In this show we sit down with Van Curaza (former professional surfer & founder), his wife Amanda Curaza (Director of Operations), and Justin Martinez (a 20-year Army veteran and Operation Surf graduate who now works on their fundraising committee!). In this episode we dive deep into the dark and windy roads the soul must travel through to understand and heal the self, and through the lessons of life fully step into the light on the other side. 

We hear the pain and struggle of transitions, in recovery and in life, and what it takes to move through these stages. We talk about addiction, the road of recovery, learning to check our egos, and the power of asking for help, engaging community through peer-to-peer support, and owning and sharing your story. Those stories lead us to the formation of Operation Surf and its outreach, support, and networking with the veteran community through surfing, eating, talking, and being together. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did in recording it!

All of the links mentioned in the show notes are linked on our YouTube channel or in the podcast descriptions. 

Thank you for walking this journey with us! We are so excited and grateful to be sharing these stories in person and continuing our journey to UNITE the world through storytelling. 

Website: https://operationsurf.org

Instagram: @operationsurfApply for Program: https://operationsurf.org/programs/week-long/

Netflix Trailer: https://youtu.be/l8W1yvrPA-UTransformed - World Surf League: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwJqlFEPqlw

This season HPP proudly enters its second year partnering with MVP (“Merging Vets and Players”). Over the course of last season and this past summer, we have highlighted a multitude of vets on our show as well as many of the various organizations that support veterans. This journey has been educational, enlightening, and inspirational. The courage, grit, determination, and unfailing spirit we have met and experienced in our stories and our travels truly has been life changing. We thank all the wonderful people and organizations that have been willing to share their stories of healing, hope, and transformation with us and you, our listeners THANK YOU!!.

Most of these stories include tales of struggle, pain, disappointment, and loss. But they also share with us the power of staying steadfast and focused, enduring and overcoming, willing to take small steps each day toward a goal. They teach us the power of community, of relationship, of honesty, of sharing with another, and of supporting each other.  They teach us of welcoming the stranger, showing empathy, and leaving judgment at the door. Over and over, we see that we have more in common than different, and that we are all STONGER TOGETHER!!  

At the heart and soul of MVP is the “Huddle.”  The Huddle was born of people gathering in a gym type of facility, meeting and talking, then sharing a 30 minute workout, then an hour of honest and often difficult conversation. Hearing people talk of their “wins and losses”, sharing where they are struggling and what has gone their way. We believe and live it out each day that you are not alone, it’s OK to be different and somedays not to feel OK. It is OK to reach out and ask for help. PLEASE ASK FOR HELP! No one should suffer alone, and we pray we never lose another person. 

This season the Niners start on the road at the Chicago Bears. We earlier shared our story of Emma and I attending the live LA West Coast Huddle (Thank you Dustin and Sergio!!). I usually attend via zoom because of distance from a live Huddle, and while the zooms are great, there is certainly a power to being in person with the group. For this week’s show I flew to Chicago early and was able to attend the Chicago Chapter of the MVP Huddle and it did not disappoint. We had a great workout (getting my jab, cross, uppercut and hook down!!), and then another powerful Huddle, where people shared hard realities, they cried, and they supported one another. Thank you to Oscar and the Chicago crew for their hospitality and love. 

I believe now more then ever there is indeed a Hidden Pearl within each of us. And there are so many people seeking to reach out, support others, and to be of help and service. This week’s show opens with George and me sitting down for a brief chat on some things football, some things silly, and some things very real. Then our lead veteran interview is of Army veteran Chris Buscher who tells of lessons learned as he lost almost 100 lbs in 2 years, road 2000 miles in honor of fallen comrades, and just last month, completed his first triathlon. Literally peddling himself out of a mental health crisis!  Life after the military did not go as planned, and he spent years enduring and overcoming until he found a way out. We also hear from Navy veteran Jeanette Tarqueno, who shares some of her struggles in transition and why MVP has been so important to her and has helped her on her journey. 

Please enjoy these conversations, stories of hope and healing. In them, and each other, let us see our common humanity, and let us each day work to break down the walls that divide, building community, being vulnerable, sharing the love, and with each other, finding our own way to healing. Thank you. - BK
https://vetsandplayers.org
Info for Chris Buscher
Phone: 708-714-0056
Email: Christopher.buscher@gmail.com
Facebook: Chris Buscher
Instagram: Cbuscher12
TikTok: Cbuscher12

This HPP Short is an addition to HPP Episode 97 with Chris Buscher, also a MVP member. BK gets a little behind the scenes action of the workout before the huddle and then sits down and talks with Navy Veteran Jeanette Tarqueno and her dog Gaza. Cameras aren't usually allowed in the MVP Huddles so we want to give a special thank you to the chapter for letting us share some of the magic. 

If you are a veteran or a retired professional athlete, please hear these stories and know you do not have to walk this path alone.

https://vetsandplayers.org

#hiddenpearlspodcast #kittle #mvp

This is part 3 of 3 HPP Shorts with Diving with Heroes. 

Ethan Allen was a Command Sergeant Major and has been on multiple trips with Diving with Heroes. He shares his experiences of working with Diving with Heroes and how the Ocean can heal your mind, body and spirit. If you have never tried scuba diving, this is an incredible organization to get involved with. They help you with certifications, continuing education and introduce you to a community of brothers and sisters in arms that you can trust. 

Diving with Heroes is an organization that takes wounded veterans scuba diving. They cover all their expenses for certification, travel, lodging and diving. This full scholarship program is dedicated to helping our heroes find peace and feel connected to a community and to mother ocean. 

https://www.divingwithheroes.org

Jill Hottel is the Executive Director of Diving with Heroes. Over the summer, BK and I traveled to Cozumel Mexico to meet the team and share some of their stories. 

This is part 1 of 3 shorts that we will be releasing. 

Diving with Heroes is an organization that takes wounded veterans scuba diving. They cover all their expenses for certification, travel, lodging and diving. This full scholarship program is dedicated to helping our heroes find peace and feel connected to a community and to mother ocean. 

https://www.divingwithheroes.org

This is part 2 of 3 HPP Shorts with Diving with Heroes. 

Katara Trammel is member of Diving with Heroes and an absolute joy to be around. We were lucky enough to spend a few days and share a few dives with her in Cozumel this spring.

She shares  stories as a Master Sergeant E8 and Chief Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer and explains how Diving with Heroes helped her to find her peace.  

Diving with Heroes is an organization that takes wounded veterans scuba diving. They cover all their expenses for certification, travel, lodging and diving. This full scholarship program is dedicated to helping our heroes find peace and feel connected to a community and to mother ocean. 

https://www.divingwithheroes.org

We are BEYOND honored to welcome Peggy Shanahan to the show!

For those of you who aren't football fans, Peggy is the mom of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and married to the very decorated collegiate and NFL coach, Mike Shanahan. 

BK traveled to Denver to sit down with Peggy and talk about what this wild football experience has been from her perspective. Going from never watching football to being the foundation of an incredible football family, Peggy shares stories of the transitions, the importance of knowing yourself outside standing in a supporting role, and how to ride the highs and lows of football.

#hiddenpearlspodcast #ninergang #shanahan #momsrule

This week the Niners host the LA Rams in Levi’s Stadium on Monday Night Football. There really is nothing like the feeling of playing on national TV, under the lights, at home, on the grass, against a divisional rivalry, and have it play on Monday Night Football, the original new football time slot. I still remember when I was young and they started playing on Monday nights and people thought they were crazy. But they were not, and people loved it and now we also have Thursday Night Football. So here we go.

George and I sit down to review last week’s game (OUCH!), noting some lessons learned and where the Niiners go from here. Then we take a peek at the Rams along with our college and NFL review. We also talk puppies, recovery, finding “Hidden Pearls” (people and organizations doing good work), and talk wine and movies. 

Our MVP veteran guest is Andi Ward. She is a Navy veteran with 2 deployments, a sex abuse survivor, a domestic abuse survivor, and someone who has successfully found sustained recovery and sobriety over alcohol and meth. This is a remarkable interview and a bit longer than our normal. But Andi has quite the story and has been through so much and has persevered, fought, struggled, got set back, relapsed, but never stopped climbing and moving toward the life she believed she could have and deserved. 

Andi now serves as the Director of Training and Resources for MVP (creating trainings and offerings for the national staff) and is also a trainer/strength coach at the elite performance & MMA gym, Unbreakable Performance in West Hollywood (Jay Glazer’s gym and home of the Wednesday night in person MVP LA West Huddle). She is plenty busy but never too busy to lend a hand, sit and listen, and seek out new adventures to learn, grow, and serve others. 

I found this an inspirational and empowering interview with some gold nuggets on recovery, surviving and overcoming sex abuse, transitioning into and out of the military, and how the body is such a powerful tool in recovering from trauma. Lessons learned on how to rebuild trust in yourself, and then eventually with others. For Andi trust is a cornerstone to the recovery and healing process. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed sitting in on it. Thank you Andi! 

REMINDER: It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!); and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 

If you are a retired military or former professional athlete, please go check out the MVP website and sign up.  

Have a great week spreading love, kindness, healing, grace, and non-judgment! (at least that is what I am working towards!! : )  GO NINERS!!

Bruce

Andi Ward
Merging Vets & Players - https://vetsandplayers.org

Merging Vets & Players
https://vetsandplayers.org

Wounded Warrior Project
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

In this episode we go deep into an exploration about how a successful Executive Chef, with over 17 years in the food industry and who had achieved his own dream of owning a 5 Star restaurant, had an awakening while working with some kids in a local juvenile justice center teaching them how to make ice cream. How those kids, in their honesty and vulnerability connected with him (and one of them won a taste testing contest with their ice cream!) and inspired him to eventually sell his restaurant and create what is now Café Momentum.

Café Momentum’s mission is “to transform young lives by equipping our community’s most at-risk youth with life skills, education and employment opportunities to help them achieve their full potential.  “There is no silver bullet that can course-correct decades of disinvestment, neglect, and marginalization. But, we can at least attempt to create a new system of support for our kids coming out of the justice system. We can create a place for them to land.”  – Café Momentum Founder, Chad Houser.

Meet Chad Houser, Founder and Executive Chef of Café Momentum, who was often told when starting Café Momentum, that it was tantamount to “taking kids out of jail and teaching them to play with knives and fire.” Despite the resistance he faced when starting the program, Chad persevered and now has one of the most successful and impactful youth programs in America. Their main location is Dallas Texas, with new programs being started in Pittsburg and Nashville. And that is where we get into the story.

As many of you know, George offseasons in Nashville. In 2021 we got hooked up with the folks over at the Players Coalition, a social justice group made up of current and former NFL players working to “end social injustices and racial inequality so future generations have the opportunity to thrive without barriers.” Their key pillars include education, community relations, criminal justice, and economic justice. https://players-coalition.org/key-pillars. But long story short, they (thank you Dr. Chelsea Heyward!!) hooked us up with the Café Momentum program, which at the time was just expanding to Nashville. 

In 2022 we continued that connection. After TEU in June 2022, we followed up with them through the Nashville program’s Executive Director Rokeisha Bryant, and George and Claire were able to support the Nashville program’s development with a $15,000 gift.  With that, we knew we wanted to do a full podcast and here it is. This podcast includes a great conversation with Chad on all things Café Momentum as well as food, youth justice issues, mindset, and giving back to the community. We also have some time with Rokeisha, as she explains her work and the development of the Nashville program. Please enjoy the show as much as we did in recording it.

Below is more information on Café Momentum and what they do. However, before closing I feel compelled to include here our deepest sympathies for the kids, staff and families connected with the Nashville Café Momentum program. In May and again just recently in August, Café Momentum lost 2 youth who were participating in their program to murder. Our hearts and love go out to all of them as they deal with these losses. Let us support them in whatever ways we can, and also look more broadly to the issues our youth face today and seek out what each of us can do to make a difference.

Check out the Café Momentum documentary film “Building Momentum” here:

 https://www.buildingmomentumfilm.com/the-film 

https://cafemomentum.org/about/

This week the Niners are in week 2 of their east coast swing and are off to Atlanta to face the Falcons after a week of solitude at the Greenbrier in West Virginia. In this show we open with a chat with George from the Greenbrier in his “green room” as we discuss the win over the Panthers, the upcoming game verses the Falcons, on goings in the NFL (including that every other team in the West lost last week!), issues on synthetic turf fields, concussion protocols, and the power and technique behind mental “resets” after emotional events. 

This week I traveled to Atlanta early and joined the Atlanta MVP live Huddle on Wednesday night for a work out and Huddle session. My thanks to all the Atlanta MVP crew for their warm welcome and especially to Assistant Program Manager Brandy Powel who lead our workout and Huddle. A swim instructor, trainer, and fighter, she has wisdom beyond her years. We have a special segment with Brandy included in this episode so please look for that as well. 

Our MVP Veteran interview is with Atlanta Program Manager Mark Zinno, a 28 year Army veteran, currently a Colonel in the National Guard. Mark shares insights on his military career (including two deployments), as well as his very active broadcasting/radio career. Mark also hosts and produces the “Hazard Ground Podcast”, which is about to hit its 300th episode. In HGP Mark interviews other veterans to tell their stories and share insights of the highs and lows of military service and the issues vets face on transitioning back to civilian life. As we talk about frequently, it is OK not to be OK, you are not alone, and it is OK to ask for help (that is why you are not alone!). 

Mark shares his own journey with mental health issues, how he realized he was dealing with PTSD, and what it took for him to get help and the steps he has engaged since. Mark is also a strong proponent of positive and effective leadership, which he believes requires 3 primary elements: (1) Self-sacrifice, (2) Empathy, and (3) Putting people first. Mark explains lessons the military has taught him and how his mindset has changed and evolved over the years and how his military experiences have helped him make those mindset adjustments that have allowed him to see all aspects of life as opportunities for growth. 

This is a high energy and intense conversation filled with passion and love. Mark has a strong commitment to the greater good and making the world a better place in all the small ways each of us can. Simply put, do your job as well as you can, and it all takes care of itself. Thank you Mark for sharing. I know all of you will enjoy this one. 

REMINDERS: 
It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!); and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
CANCER SUCKS – and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

Peace, love, kindness, and healing.   May we all be one and take care of one another. 

Bruce

https://vetsandplayers.org
@mergingvetsandplayers

Mark Zinno
@markzinno 
https://killcliff.com/blogs/warrior-stories/mark-zinno
Foundation: https://www.fdnyfoundation.org/donate/

Brandy Powell Hester
@brandy_the_beest (instagram) 
Brandy Chris (Facebook)
Foundation: http://www.pertheskids.org/ 

#hiddenpearlspodcast #mergingvetsandplayers

Niners are back home after tough loss on the road at Atlanta. We knew that would be a very physical game as Falcons play same ball we like to and, on this day, did so better than we did. Lots of injuries on both sides of ball but defense down to just 2 original starters by end of the game. This week we hope to rebound, get some players back (Trent Williams and Nic Bosa!!) and get back to playing physical tough Niner football.
 
This week we start out with George and I sitting down with 14-year vet and 3x pro-bowler Greg Olsen. We have gotten to know Greg through his work with us on Tight End University (TEU). Now entering its 3rd year and will once again be hosted in Nashville again at Vanderbilt University. Last year we had around 85 tight ends in attendance and likely to be bigger this year.
 
We talk National Tight End Day and wonder if it is coincidence, providence, or something else that Travis and George play each other AND Greg is calling the game on FOX on this historic and sacred holiday?? We think not but will let you decide for yourself! Then more on TEU, Greg’s transition after leaving the NFL and into broadcasting, mental prep and mind set from football to calling a game, coaching his kids, and an update on his son TJ and his heart transplant. Super high energy guy with lots going on with, (including starting a new podcast platform!). Know you will enjoy getting caught up with Greg.
 
In honor of October and Cancer Awareness, as well as the NFL Crucial Catch cancer awareness effort, our interview this week is with Sarah Waul. George and Sarah have a long history as they first met when Sarah was about 8 years old, and George was a redshirt freshman at Iowa as he made a visit to her while she was involved with the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital as a cancer patient. She survived that but a few years later was back and she and George (and Claire) reconnected as she went through treatment again.
 
Now 18 years old Sarah was diagnosed a 3rd time about 15 months ago and again listed as terminal (and was facing two different types of cancer this time including thyroid cancer). But never one to listen to anyone tell her what she can or can’t do, Sarah did treatment, had surgies, and as she visited us on this her Make-A-Wish trip to the Niners for a football game, now has reductions in all of her inflicted areas, is on the mend, and again has been taken off the terminal list. WOW!
 

No easy answers here and some hard story telling for Sarah and her mom and dad, but we learn about the power of believing in something beyond yourself, how faith can lift us up (and crush us at times), and how a family unites to pull together and bring energy, strength, and healing to Sarah and each other. All 6 of them are in town this week to visit the Niners and attend the Chiefs game, and we offer special thanks to Saya Lindsay and all the folks at the Niners who worked so hard to make this trip come together and be so special for Sara and her family.
 
Also want to mention the Women of the Niners event we attended Thursday night this week with at Levi’s Stadium!! This was a women’s health event and we had a variety of vendors on site addressing women’s health issues including nutrition (Nutrition Palace), fitness (Niners’ Fit), cancer support and prevention (Latinas Contra Cancer & Cancer Carepoint), and domestic violence support (Next Door Solutions). Thanks to our vendors for attending and sharing info.
 
Emma led a yoga session on the turf at Levi’s for everyone and after that we had the great pleasure to facilitate a discussion with Q&A on wellness, healing, and community. Really enjoyed being there and thank everyone for coming and inviting us. This was Emma’s 3rd year participating and we had over 90 people in attendance. This was a great night and so fun. THANK YOU!
 

Niners working to rebound from loss to Chiefs last week as they load up and travel down to our good friends in LA the RAMS!! Still down some players and needing the upcoming bye week to get healthy. But no rest for the weary as Niners face a Rams team also fighting for their playoff lives. Ram are sitting at 3-3 and coming off their bye week after a win over the Panthers 2 weeks ago. Before that Rams had lost back-to-back games to Dallas and Niners. Be a great test and opportunity to get to 500 and in the driver’s seat for the West. They will be fresh, hungry, and ready to go, playing at home. But Niners will travel as always so let’s get it done!

This week George and I get into some deep issues that I believe you will find interesting. We talk football including Niners, NFL, and Big 10 review, and then look at some mindset issues around re-set and how to overcome setbacks. We talk about the power of having a good friend and a safe space to be vulnerable and share what is going on in your life. George talks about the pressures of having to always be “on” and the reality that no one is ever 100% happy. The importance of knowing when you aren’t feeling 100% and having someone to go to and talk it out. That it is OK not to be OK and to reach out and share our concerns and connect with others. Let’s make this a normal way to work together on our mental health! 

We close out with some talk on the baseball playoffs, and if there are issues with Eagles QB Jalen Hurts showing up at a press conference wearing his favorite baseball team’s colors (Houston) when Houston is playing his city’s team the Phillies in the playoffs? It’s like inviting a friend to your game and they come to see you but wear the opposing team jersey because that was their team growing up! WTF?? Loyalties and team colors. Let’s go.

In our MVP veteran interview we speak to 9-year Marine veteran Sergio Cuevas, who serves as the LA West MVP Huddle Program Coordinator. We talk enlistment, deployment, combat situations, and returning home. This interview really gets into the struggles and difficulties being in the military can place on families. Both while you are in the military and as you transition out. And what happens to someone when you end up losing both at the same time. Transitions are tough, and Sergio talks real about homelessness, fighting to see his kids, and struggling and fighting back to reclaim his life after feeling completely lost in the world and with nowhere to go. 

We close with his own introduction to MVP and how the people and organization literally saved him by helping him get an apartment, reconnect with his kids, and get stable employment. Life in the gaps is not easy and all of us, at times, need someone to help us out. I know you will enjoy this episode for its depth, candor, and transparency. Thank you, Sergio!! 

Find your gratitude. Share yourself with others. Connect, heal, grow, inspire. Have a great week!!     Bruce

REMINDERS: 

• It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!) - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• CANCER SUCKS –YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!

We have Andi Ward back on the show!! This #HPPshort is a story we filmed when Emma & Bruce went to the @mergingvetsandplayers Huddle in LA. If you’re not a member already or know someone who could benefit from this tribe please direct them to vetsandplayers.org for more information! 💕

#hiddenpearlspodcast #mvp

This is another  #HPPshort filmed in LA for the MVP Huddle. This time we have West Coast Program Manager Sergio Cuevas sitting down with Emma & BK. 

If you’re not a member already or know someone who could benefit from this tribe please direct them to vetsandplayers.org for more information! 💕

#hiddenpearlspodcast #mvp

Niners resting up this week after traveling to Levi’s south and beating the Rams 31-14. Great win for the Niners heading into the bye-week, which offers a much-needed rest and period of recovery as we head into the second half of the season. Sitting at 4-4 Niners control their destiny and if they indeed get 5-7 additional players back from injury and can continue the momentum from this win and high level of execution, especially in second half, then no limit to what we can do and we are in for a heck of run. Let’s go fellas, lock and load and get it done!

In this bye week we offer you a podcast we did this past summer where Emma and I, and Emma/George’s mom Jan, all participated in and recorded the process of an Equine Healing Workshop with a group of MVP veterans and athletes at the Sweetbeau Wild Mustang Horse Ranch in California. What then, you might ask, do veterans and former professional athletes, wild mustangs, round pens, and healing have to do with each other?? A lot as it turns out. 

The answer to that starts with the wonderfully complex and intriguing story of Michael Soffel and Patricia Griffin-Soffel, who are the focus of this interview. In this podcast you will hear their story of an unexpected love (which involved some losses incurred by Michael betting with Patricia against the Niners), a passion for detail and excellence that led to a wildly successful business life and career, the development and eventual sale of their own start up, and a life-long love affair with horses, and their more recent focus on saving, protecting, training and placing wild mustangs. 

You will hear their story of leading the largest ever single mustang rescue in the history of mustang rescues, the search for meaning following the sale of their business, the purchase of their horse ranch, their journey into wild mustangs, and the development of a training and placement protocol that has set the bar for all horse adoptions. 

Sweetbeau Wild Mustang Ranch is a rescue ranch yes, but it is unlike most rescue facilities with their intense focus on horse protection and safety, training, training, and more training, and “forever” placements of these amazing and wild horses with people. From this mission, and actually as part of it, they have stepped into the creation of a “healing portal”, which has been the creation a space of healing for horses, people, veterans, and all who need to find peace, comfort, support and the honest and direct feedback from a wild mustang while you are in their round pen looking each other eye to eye. The intuition, energy, and connection these horses have with humans is so real there is no way to fake anything, and any effort to do so leads to exposure, revelation, and learning. All of it is wound up into a healing journey deep into one’s soul, where these amazing animals teach you more about yourself then you thought possible.

We know you will enjoy this interview, of passion, love, sharing, and healing. Be well and share the love!! 

Bruce 

https://sweetbeauhorses.org
Instagram: @sweetbeauhorses

vetsandplayers.org
Instagram: @mergingvetsandplayers

#hiddenpearlspodcast

This HPP short is was filmed at the MVP / SweetBeau Retreat covered in HPP episode 115. Dylan Klumph played in the NFL and is now member of MVP. We had the pleasure of meeting him at an LA Huddle and also linking up again at the retreat. We love this interview as Dylan opens up about living in a very dominant power driven world and how being with the mustangs and learning gentling techniques has shown him how to be more gentle with humans and himself.

Link to HPP 15 SweetBeau Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G273T...

#hiddenpearlspodcast

This HPP short is was filmed at the MVP / SweetBeau Retreat covered in HPP episode 115. Chris Palacios shares his experience in finding MVP and his new brotherhood that would help him find a new way of living and loving himself. Chris has a vision of owning a ranch someday so it was very special and exciting to see him interacting with the horses and getting ideas for his future. 

Link to HPP 15 SweetBeau Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G273TkCw3lw&t=315s

#hiddenpearlspodcast

Niners indeed did bounce back in their last game, showing up big at Levi’s South once again (and thank you to all the many, many, many Niner fans who took over So-Fi stadium – WOW!), completely dominating the LA Rams (now 3-5) and took home a 31-14 win into their bye week. Many great performances, including Jimmy G (with an overall QB ranking right now of 16th and he also has the longest active streak of consecutive games with an 80+ Passer Rating with 17!); and of course, CMC who did the trifecta 3 TD performance; and the entire defense who really showed up in 2nd half. Was great to see defense shut them down like that and so good to see offense score points late to close it out. Great game and maybe best of all no injuries. Niners roll into this game at 4-4, playing surging 6-3 Chargers on Sunday Night Football!! Even though we won’t get the Bosa brothers together in this version (Joey is out for year with injury) we are set for a great game and for Niners to make yet another strong 2nd half run. 

In honor of Veterans Day and the NFL Salute to Service game at Levi’s on Sunday night, we decided to limit our show to one segment and offer you a more extended interview with one of our favorite MVP veterans Jason Jarman. Jason is the Program Coordinator for the Seattle MVP Huddle and is in his second full year with MVP. Jason’s story has many twists and turns, like all our own stories, and certainly the stories of all our veterans. But his was an emotional, painful, and yet joyous and victorious experience, and we know that you will really enjoy it. 

Jason’s story covers a wide range of topics including: (1) A lot about love and sustaining hope in the face of loss, (2) Not being OK, learning you are not OK, and then finally understanding that you can’t and shouldn’t try to go it alone (“We never would think of going into battle alone, why would we think we should deal with our trauma, PTSD, and substance abuse issues alone?”), (3) Returning to civilian life after deployment (“My body came home from Iraq but my mind stayed there for another 6 months.”), and (4) That for Jason, finding peace, growth, and healing comes through accountability built on honesty and vulnerability. As most consistent MVP Huddle members know, healing starts when we can “Acknowledge our own shit, own our own shit, and share our own shit.” Secrets in the dark lead to pain and struggle, secrets exposed are no longer secrets and once exposed/shared, they lose their power and allow for healing. 

A shout out to all the Veterans out there, those who have served and those still serving. We are grateful each day for all you do and the many, many sacrifices you make on behalf of our country and each of us. THANK YOU! And it is with great honor that I am able to announce that the Niners have nominated George for the NFL’s 2022 Salute to Service Award. If you are interested in learning more please go to:  https://www.nfl.com/causes/salute/nominees/2022/49ers 

In gratitude for life, breath, health, friends, family, and football. Let us share ourselves with others to connect, heal, and grow. Let us meet at love, kindness, and service. Have a great week!!     Bruce

It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!) - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
CANCER SUCKS –YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!

#hiddenpearlspodcast 

http://vetsandplayers.org

Niners head into week 11 at 5-4 riding a 2-game win streak with wins over the Rams and Chargers (Battle for LA – won by a team from The Bay??). Was a great win (every win in NFL is a great win!) and Niners are now poised to lock it in and get on a roll for the 2nd half of the season. One week at a time yes, but getting healthier each week, finding their groove on both sides of the ball, defense is the best in all of the NFL, and lots of tools on offense to work with. The future is ours to claim!! LET’S ROLL!! 

Niners spent this week in Colorado at the Air Force Academy working out to adapt to the altitude of Mexico City and Estadio Azteca! This is the largest stadium in all of Mexico seating 87,522 and sits at an altitude of 7220 feet/2200 meters (Mile High Stadium in Denver sits at 5280’). Hopefully the cold weather they experienced will add to their preparation from working out this week at 6700’. No doubt altitude can be a thing so we will see how that all worked, as Cards simply stayed in Arizona. Will hope that is an advantage for us. 

This week we are thrilled to have with us a good friend of the family and iconic “photographer of the stars” Brian Bowen Smith. You might ask us, what does a fancy-pancy photographer who has shot pictures of almost anyone and everyone in Hollywood has to do with football, mental performance, mindset, and successfully navigating transitions? That is a good question, but the answer is actually a hell of a lot. This story found its origin way back in 2020 in the midst of COVID lockdown when Brian drove his 1958 F-150 pickup cross country to take pictures of the U.S. during the midst of COVID. The pictures are all from inside the truck and were published in his book “DRIVEBYS”. Anyway, Jan hit him up and invited him to come through Nashville and he did, and our family picture made it into the book. 

From there we have continued to be good friends with Brian and his family. We are also both involved in our favorite tequila (Casa Del Sol), for which Brian is the corporate artistic director. With the trip to Mexico City we though it prudent to include a story that talks about tequila. So we did and this is that story. Brian shares how he worked through photography to capture the heart and soul of not only the tequila itself, but also the people making the tequila.  It is a work of love and spirit and one we really enjoyed telling.

This week with the holidays approaching let’s focus on accepting who we really are, inside within our heart and soul, and to finding the courage to embrace that and life that life out fully. Dropping the masks we wear to make others happy, the rules we follow given to us by others that are not out own. This holiday season let us offer grace, love, and forgiveness, for ourselves and others. But let’s do so without sacrificing who you TRULY are. Let us lead always with love, grace, and kindness. 

Be safe. Happy holidays. Have a great week being uniquely you!!     Bruce

REMINDERS: 

• It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!) - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• CANCER/ILLNESS SUCKS –YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!

Brian Bowen Smith
https://bowensmith.com/
IG: @brianbowensmith


https://www.casadelsoltequila.com/
IG: @casadelsoltequila 

Mexico City! Unbelievable and amazing, and a wonderful win by Niners who are back home for a 3-game home stand. They head into week 12 at 6-4 with a 3-game win streak. Now the 4th overall seed in NFC and #1 in the West. Yes, it's still early and lot of ball to play but sitting good and just need to take care of business. Which this week is the 4-7 Saints.  Who can forget the 2019 game with them in New Orleans that was a back-and-forth slug fest with Niners coming out in the end to win 48-46. Incredible game and so much fun. This time Niners picked by 9 and we all hope it is more like last week with another beatdown.

This week we have a great show with MVP Clinical Director Suzi Landolphi. We have wanted to have Suzi on the show for a while but thought this week was most appropriate with the holidays upon us, which can be wonderful for many. But they can also be sad, difficult , and triggering for others. With our focus on mental health we wanted to talk about why the holidays can be so difficult and offer some practical suggestions that can help us through.

We talk Suzi’s up bringing and the lessons learned from her family, as well as the “legacy trauma” handed down to her by her family (which most of us have to some degree). We work through her many transitions (she is a “builder/creator’ rather than a “maintainer”), including sex educator and family therapist (being sued by Jerry Fallwell for speaking in high schools about safe and “hotter sex” and how that case made it to the Supreme Court and eventually opened the door for sex education in public schools.

We move through her transitions into Horse Equine Healing (getting trained and buying a ranch), her work in recovery and shifting the conversation from what’s wrong/broken with people to what has happened to us. Helping people realize that “We all get to heal, choose what happens now, and create the person we deserve to be and life we deserve to live.” A theme that fits right in with mindfulness, the notion of separation from our thoughts and emotions (thoughts are just thoughts and emotions just emotions – they are not us and do not define us). Staying curious and examining our feelings/thoughts, and then CHOOSING how we want to show up in life.

We close out looking at her work with veterans, creating the Warrior PATHH program (focusing on Post Traumatic GROWTH), and then eventually starting her work with MVP, and her new podcast “Be Crazy Well.” Many great insights in this one on healthy living, setting boundaries, reclaiming control over your life, and how to survive the holidays with family (WALK!).

Two thoughts as we close out. First, in this holiday season let us be kind to each other and with intention decide who you will see, for how long, and what those interactions will be like. Reminder to check in on whose rules you are following and if it is an old one given to you by someone from your past, get rid of it if in no longer serves you. And ask for help if you need it. 

Second, we offer our support and deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of those brutally shot down in Colorado at The Q nightclub, another mindless attack on the LGBTQ community. Singling people out on the basis of their sexual or gender orientation must stop. We stand proudly with the LGBTQ community and will do all we can to support them and the freedom to live in peace and without violence or oppression. We must stop hate. Happy holidays. Let’s lead with love and kindness.

suzi@vetsandplayers.org
818.470.2013

Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue  Www.wildhorserescue.org
Wolf Rescue  Www.apexprotectionproject.org
MVP  Www.vetsandplayers.org

Best mental health books:
What Happened To You? By Dr Bruce Perry and Oprah. 
It Didn’t Start With You by  Mark Wolynn

Niners win again13-0 over the Saints! Now at 7-4 and riding a 4-game win streak, on top of the NFC West with no losses in the division. Last Sunday we watched an unbelievable performance by Niner defense in a shut out of the Saints (which makes 4 straight games with 2nd half shutouts!). Terrific goal line stands with turnovers caused by hard hitting tackles and great team defense.  Niner D is ranked #1 in NFL in every significant defensive category. Offense was a bit sluggish but got it done and give some credit to Saints defense who had both starting DE’s back in the lineup. This is always a very physical matchup and this game lived up to that mark as well.

This week we host the Miami Dolphins with our good friend and former run game coordinator Mike McDaniel at the helm. Miami enters WK 13 at 8-3 and tied for 1st in the AFC East with Buffalo and playing great football.  Should be a great game as McDaniel and Kyle know each other very well (McDaniel started as an intern under Mike Shanahan in Denver back in 2005). Lot’s of scheming and planning going into this one as well as seeing some former Niner players who are now on the Miami roster, including WR Trent Sherfield, RB Raheem Mostert, and RB Jeff Wilson Jr. In addition, former Niners Tight Ends Coach John Embry is now on the staff at Miami. And you have QB Tua Tagovailoa, as well as former Chief’s standout WR Tyreek Hill to contend with. Should be a great matchup all over and I am excited to watch it all play out.   

This week we have another great show for you as we sit down with Andy and Curtis Hayes (father and son) to tell the story of Ed Hayes (Andy’s father and Curtis’s grandfather). This story has a lot of overlap for us personally as Ed and the Hayes family all hail from Mt Pleasant Iowa in Henry County (SE Iowa), which is where George’s mom Jan and all her family are from. In addition, Ed graduated from the University of Iowa as an undergrad but also from the UI Law School (which I also graduated from). Helping us with the Iowa Connections is retired Army Colonel (and my brother-in-law) Pat Coen. 

While all of that is cool enough, we offer it to you this week in honor and remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day, which is next week on December 7. The Pearl Harbor attack was on Dec 7, 1941, which was right smack in the middle of Ed’s first semester in law school at Iowa. As a result, Ed immediately was drafted, left law school, reported and shortly thereafter left on what would be a 4+ year deployment overseas as part of the WW II war effort. He was stationed in North Africa, and later in Italy after the front moved, attached to a MASH unit. Finally coming home in 1945 to marry the love of his life Cora. 

You will hear of that journey as well as his lifelong tenure at Drake University Law School in Des Moines Iowa, where he served and taught until 1990 when he retired. This is a story of humility, engagement, sacrifice, loyalty, and service, which are all a common theme of that generation. I found this story inspiring and hopeful, as it connects us to each other in powerful ways, and affirms the need to always have a lookout for the welfare of our neighbor and the common good. 

We also hear from Curtis (grandson to Ed) who is Command Sargent Major and served in the Army and was also the Recruiting Battalion commander in California who we have worked with for the past 2 years to help us bring more than 150 veterans to Niner games, both at Levis and on the road. He shares his journey into the military, lessons learned, deployments, and transitions home. He also explains how his grandfather Ed shaped and formed him, directly and indirectly through his father Andy. This is a great family military story and one I know you will enjoy. 

Happy holidays as we enter into December. Encouragement to all of us to use self-care during these times, know that it is OK to say no and to set boundaries

Niners faced down the Mike McDaniel led Miami Dolphins, and after fighting to a 17-10 half-time lead, came out and finished the deal with a 33-17 victory. Niners sitting 8-4 and riding a 5-game win streak. While a great team win, we appear to have lost QB Jimmy G to a season ending injury. Playing top-flight football and arguably his best season ever, it was so painful to see him carted off and then to hear of his injury. By all accounts he is done for the season. Our thoughts and support go out to him and his family.

Just a reality of the football world we live in where injuries are part of the game and things for players, coaches, and teams, can change in the blink of an eye. Niners now reload with Brock Purdy at the helm, a former ISU standout (Iowa State) who played at an amazingly high level and executed the offense well enough to lead us to a victory over a solid Saints team, supported by another massive and impressive effort by the Niners’ NFL leading defense (who also added a score of their own for good measure).

This week we complete our 3-game home stand playing Tom Brady and his Tamp Bay Bucs, who on MNF squeaked out a last second and hard-fought victory against those same Saints and come in at 6-6.  Hopefully good for us as they will have a short week and have to fly cross-country to play us.  Know our guys will be ready for them as every game matters in the fight to win the West and work our way up the playoff seeding ladder. Lots of ball yet to play and everything to keep fighting for.  

This week we have a very special treat for you on HPP, as we host the NFL host with the most – Rich Eisen. Rich has been a good friend and supporter of George in his years in the NFL and is well known from his days at ESPN and now for the past 19 years the NFL Network. He is a 6-time Emmy nominated broadcaster, author (Total Access), and just all-around good guy.

In this show we talk all things Big Blue (Rich is die-hard and avid/rabid Michigan alum and fan of Big Blue Football), and we tackle some of our own Power Rankings as we get George and Rich’s top 5 Sports Broadcasters’ Birthday Parties they each would like to attend (good stories on Dan Patrick and Al Michaels!). We get inside stories on how Rich broke into the industry, hard lessons learned as he went from stand-up comedy to sports analyst, the early days at ESPN, and we hear a great Chris Berman story on the power of acceptance and welcome. Then Rich’s move to the NFL Network and the startup of the Rich Eisen Show. We close with the Run Rich Run story, his 40 yard-dash event at the combine and how that turned into a fundraiser for children’s’ cancer treatment and St Jude’s Hospital.

This is fun and story packed show and one that has insights and wisdom for the journey, as well as some laughter and appreciation for the great game that football is. Please enjoy! 

Happy December wherever you are and whoever you are with. We wish you the very best and joyous of times. Encouragement for self-care, safety, and healthy boundaries. There is magic in this season, it just lies within each of us to find the clarity to see it, feel it, and be it. Reminder to ask for help if/when you need it, you are never alone. Peace, kindness, and grace.

Bruce

REMINDERS: 

• It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!) - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 
• CANCER/ILLNESS SUCKS –YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!
• HATE IS NOT OK – LET’S BUILD A SAFER, MORE JUST, AND MO

Niners whooped up Tom Brady and the Bucs. This week off to Seattle for a Thursday Night showdown, playing the Seahawks with a chance to clinch the Western Division title. Six in a row and building. Let’s get it done!!

This week we are super excited to have Adam Skolnick on the show. Adam is a journalist and author, and most recently finished his second book as ghostwriter with David Goggins on his newest release “Never Finished” (which just came out December 6). They previously collaborated on David’s first book “Can’t Hurt Me”, a hugely successful best-seller. If you do not know David, he is a former Navy Seal and ultra-successful, ultra-endurance runner and athlete. Both books are a guided master’s course on mindset, mental toughness, and mental prep. Many of you might also know Adam as co-host of the “Roll-On” series on the Rich Roll podcast. 

In this episode Adam shares his story on finding his way as a writer and the struggles he faced along the way. Great insights into the writing process and surviving as a writer. We also look in depth at working with David Goggins, how they created the space for this second book, and what it looks like for a writer to “get out of the way” in telling a story. Inspiring, informative, and a lot of fun. We know you will really enjoy this episode. Thank you, Adam, for being with us!!  

Happy December wherever you are and whoever you are with. We wish you the very best and most joyous of times. Recommend you check out Adam’s tips for surviving the holidays, shared in the podcast on the HPP IG site!! 

Love, peace, gratitude, and grace, for you and all your tribe in this holiday season. 

Bruce & Emma

IT IS OK TO NOT BE OK - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! – IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP!!

-----

Adam Skolnick
http://adamskolnick.com/
IG @adamskolnick
Never Finished
LA Water Keeper - https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/

Niners continue to roll and now on a 7-game win streak after taking the show up to Seattle and putting it on the Seahawks to clinch the Western Division Title! Brock Purdy continued to roll as did the Niner’s top ranked defense. Three games left as we fight for the 2nd seed in the NFC and some home field games. Just keep playing Niner ball and this will be a special Holiday Season indeed!!

For our “Christmas/Holiday” show we deliberately picked Operation Freedom Paws, a non-profit organization serving veterans through paring and training them with rescued service dogs. Nothing says happy holidays like rescued dogs matched with veterans, and trained as service dogs. This is an amazing feel-good story about this dog and vet-friendly non-profit located in San Martin, CA. 

OFP was founded by Mary Cortani, an Army and Vietnam era veteran, who is a certified Army Master Instructor of Canine Education and an American Kennel Club Certified Canine Good Citizen© Evaluator. Mary serves as the OFP President and Executive Director of Operations. Mary started OFP in 2010 after she was contacted by a vet who was facing a 1-year wait period to be matched with a service dog. After looking into it Mary found the need was immense and she in turn answered the call. 

Why match veterans with service dogs you might ask. Well, simply because dogs are amazing and when properly matched and well trained, they can read their veterans and help alert them and protect them and assist them in navigating the perils and challenges of living life with PTSD (and a variety of other mental and/or physical challenges). OFP not only rescues all their dogs, they also then train the veterans to train the dogs through a lengthy and detailed training program. The match and bonding that takes place makes all the difference and the results are amazing.

You will hear Mary’s story along with 2 of their veterans who have gone through the program and live with their own OFP service dogs. We met them and their pups and honestly it was all so amazing the difference these dogs make in the lives of these veterans. We know you will enjoy the show and encourage you to check them out and consider supporting them. 

Happy Holidays!! Wherever you are and whoever you are with, we wish you the very best and most wonderful of times. Take care of yourself, set limits, say no if needed and yes only if you want to. Stay connected and remember you are not alone!!  

Love, peace, gratitude, and grace, for you and all your tribe this holiday season. 

Bruce & Emma

OFP Website: operationfreedompaws.org

OFP End-of-Year Giving Platform: (QR code attached as well) https://ofpendofyear22.givesmart.com

Niners win again, defeating the Commanders and now on 8-game win streak. Heading off to Las Vegas to unite up again with our good friends the RAIDERS!! First trip there for the Niners and sitting at 11-4, West Division Champs, and guaranteed at least the 3rd seed in the NFC, now playing to finish strong and possibly take over the 2nd seed if Vikings should stumble. Raiders have had their struggles and sit at 6-9 after a tough loss to Steelers on MNF. No rest for the weary and Niners come in hot, strong, and rolling. 

With Niners’ trip to Las Vegas this week we thought it appropriate to get a Las Vegas native and resident, and we are super proud and excited to have on as our guest Marine veteran and Las Vegas MVP Huddle Program Coordinator Bruno Moya. His is a powerful story of service, loss, struggle, a commitment to life-long learning, and the power of experiential connection and forgiveness, and family. He is a big believer in healing the self and believes it all begins with learning how to love yourself. He is finishing a PhD program to extend his MSW into the areas of shamanic healing, and has some new perspectives to share that we know you will really enjoy. 

The New Year approaches and we wish all of you the best over this holiday weekend and into the coming year. We hope you can be with the ones you love and who hold you up and support you the most. Let all of us in this new year pay homage to our roots, those who have helped and supported us, and have sacrificed for us. Share our gratitude and love for this life, this world, and each other in all we do.  We offer our love and support to all of you and thank you for your love and support of the Hidden Pearls Podcast!! 

Happy New Year!! With love,

Emma & Bruce

IT IS OK TO NOT BE OK - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! – IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP!!

https://vetsandplayers.org
———-
Puppy surgery GoFundMe : https://www.gofundme.com/f/champa-acls-surgery-costs?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Niners win in a tough one over a spirited Raiders team, in overtime, in Las Vegas, on New Year’s Day!! WOW! Not perfect by any means but it’s not always perfect and it doesn’t have to be. You never get style points, only matters if it is a win or not, and this one was and now Niners riding a 9-game win streak. Close out regular season holding the 2nd seed with a possibility of earning a bye and the #1 seed if Eagles would fall to Giants. Seems unlikely but it is the NFL and ANYONE, can beat ANYONE on ANY given Sunday. Let’s play it and see what happens. A bye would be nice!  

We close out the HPP regular season this week with a person who has become a mentor and good friend of mine, Ralph Steele. Ralph is a licensed therapist, Vietnam veteran, and a meditation teacher grounded in the Buddhist tradition, with a specialty in working with trauma. He has been teaching meditation and leading retreats since 1987 and is the Guiding Teacher at the Life Transitions Meditation Center in Santa Fe, NM. Some of you who participate in our MVP mindfulness courses will recognize him as one of our co-instructors.  

Ralph spent his early years in South Carolina where his father was killed in the early 50’s by Klan members when he was 4 years old. He and his mom made their way to Japan where he attended high school. This is where he was introduced to meditation and martial arts.  After graduation he enlisted in the US Army at the height of the Vietnam War. He spent 18 months deployed serving as a door gunner on a helicopter. His experiences in the Army, in combat and with the Army itself, are very powerful, as are his stories on how mindfulness and meditation helped him.

After the Army he went to school earning a BA in Humanistic Psychology and an MA in Family therapy. He ran a meditation-based trauma clinic for 32+ years, and in there he left and spent a year training and serving as a monk in the Buddhist monasteries in Burma and Thailand. He wrote a book entitled Tending the Fire: Through War and the Path of Meditation. He later began breaking the race barrier in US meditation circles leading retreats for people of color. His most recent project is a 3-day meditation retreat exclusively for veterans to be held in Albuquerque NM in October of 2023. More on that to be released soon. 

Thank you to all of you for your support over the past year(s). We really appreciate it. We are excited to be sharing these conversations with veterans and the organizations that support them. We will continue to offer support through meditation and mindfulness courses and invite all of you to enter 2023 mindful and being present in the moment, choosing each day who you want to be and how you want to show up. Together we can do anything!!  Love, peace, and kindness!!

With love,

Emma & Bruce

IT IS OK TO NOT BE OK - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

 LET’S SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER – IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP!!


https://vetsandplayers.org/

Niners win again, (10 in a row!), defeating Cards 38-13 to secure 2nd seed in the NFC and a Wild Card weekend home game vs our close friends from the north, the Seattle Seahawks, who come in as the 7th seed after an OT win over the Rams. All good in our win vs the Cards, we moved the ball well especially in the 2nd half and with the score was able to rest some people in the 4th quarter. This is the first time in years the Niners have swept the entire Western Division. Mr. Bosa gets another sack to finish the year with 18.5, and all systems are go for this weekend in the 1st round of the playoffs.

Now it is win or go home, and 3 games to the NFC Championship game, and 4 to win it all in the Super Bowl. This is what it is all about and what the team has been working towards all year. It is so hard to do and we will spend time in appreciation of the accomplishments of this season with an eye to the challenges that lie ahead. But this is what this organization is always about – CHAMPIONSHIPS!! Excited and ready to. Secure the hatches and let’s go get it!!

This week Emma and I talk through the 2023 All Pro team (congrats to all who were named including 4 from the Niners on the 1st team (Bosa, Hufanga, Trent Williams, and Fred), and 2 Niners on the 2nd team (son George along with special teams player George Odum!!). Very happy for all of them and well deserved. We also review the playoffs, the best matchups and likely next games, and take a look at Seattle and the issues with defeating a team 3 times in 1 year (NOT!!)!

We also introduce a HPP exclusive release of Emma’s “Recipes for Wellness.” This is an offering she/we have been working on over the past year. RFW will bring together a multitude of concepts around wellness, including mental health, nutrition, movement, sleep, hydration and more. Our goal is to help you optimize your life in 2023 to become the very best version of you! Look for more on our website as well as upcoming shows where we will be breaking it all down and making it easy to start to make the changes in your life you want to see. Together let’s make 2023 our best. Year yet!!

Another NFL regular season is in the books, and we are on to the playoffs. Grateful to all for the support and love. Let’s keep working together to find ways to create the communities we all want and need. Together we can make a difference!!  Love, peace, and kindness!!

With love,

Emma & Bruce

#hiddenpearls #hiddenpearlspodcast
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Four Paws Five Directions A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats & Dogs 

Niners take Seattle out for third time this season with a strong 2nd half winning 42-17. Now at 11 in a row and set to play Cowboys on Sunday in Levis Stadium. House will be rocking as the fans crushed it last Saturday, especially in 2nd half. Multiple illegal procedure penalties by Seattle and LOUD, LOUD, LOUD!  Thank you Niner fans and Levis, it was magical. Let’s do it AGAIN! 

It is still win or go home but win this and we are back in the NFC Championship game. This is what it is all about and what the team has been working towards all year. It is hard to do but it is exactly what this organization has always been about, as well as this group of players – WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS!! Strap it up and let’s go! 

George was able to join Emma and I this week, so we dissect the Seattle game a bit, he tells me I have too many stats (but I read them anyway) and we look at AFC games, Eagles vs Giants, and then the Cowboys. We talk a bit of WWE and his friend Bayley who sported his jersey into the RAW ring last week and is a huge Niner fan. 

Emma and George talk “Recipes for Wellness” with a closer look at the importance of sleep and some tips for maximizing your own sleep. We close with a review of some of the special “Hidden Pearls” we each have experienced of late. A lot of great people out there doing great things and remember, even the smallest thing can be a big thing if done with the right heart, spirit, and love. 

Let’s keep working together to find ways to create the communities we all want and need. Together we can make a difference!!  Create the world you want by living it out! Love, peace, and kindness!!

With love,

Emma & Bruce

PS: Look for more info on Recipes for Wellness coming soon!