Vereless n Free

Do What You Can't with Don Elliott (Marathon Runner & Grandfather)

What would you achieve if you changed our mindset from "do what you can" to "do what you can't"? What kind of dreams or goals would you chase if success was found in trying?  Would you run a marathon…or 20?

On Episode 006 of the Vereless N Free podcast, host, Heather Bailey interviews Don Elliott who's love for his family and positive outlook on life has led him to running 20 marathons-starting at the age of 40!

Don's life motto is "do what you can't" which he lives and breathes to the fullest. This motto has pushed him to experience things in life that most people (especially at his age of 70+) never ever dreamed possible.

Our conversation is filled with laughter, stories of struggle and triumph, and the pursuit of dreams. It will encourage you to try that thing, push out of your comfort zone, and to do that thing you think you "can't." Don shares how connections have been formed throughout his pursuit- like the incredible story of how he and Heather met in Hawaii.

Go and "do what you can't" and if you have questions along the way or need a push to get started, Heather is here for you! Just send her a message.

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Links from Show:
Shifting Gears: 50 Baby Boomers Share Their Meaningful Journeys in Retirement by Richard Haiduck

Honolulu Marathon
Maui Marathon
California International Marathon
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Say hi! Have a dream to share? Need encouragement? Don't know where to start? Want to connect? Have a guest recommendation?
Connect with the host, Heather Bailey:
On IG: @vereless.n.free
Also on IG: @heatherfheather
Website: Vereless N Free: https://verelessnfree.com/

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Ever wondered how Pro Athletes achieve great success and push the limits? Do they feel fear? Find out in Episode 005 of the Vereless N Free podcast as I, Heather Bailey, the podcast host, interview Olympic and X-Games Medalist Snowboarder, Shannon Dunn Downing.

My conversation with Shannon will encourage you to "live your dreams" the way she inspired me after I had to the opportunity to meet her as part of a magazine sweepstakes I won when I was 18 years old! (You'll hear all about that crazy experience in this episode too.)

Shannon shares how pursuing her passion of snowboarding led to her becoming a sponsored rider. She never even dreamed she could become a professional in a sport which, at that time, was so new to the world.

Representing the US in snowboarding's Olympic debut and becoming the first US Snowboarder to take home a medal, she greatly surpassed her dreams. Not to mention her 2 X-Games Gold medals and her spontaneous appearance at a Red Bull Air & Style event in Switzerland going off a 60 ft jump!

Shannon's hard work, determination, focus, and positivity contributed not only to her success in snowboarding, but also to the equality and progression for women in the sport.

Like most athletes, she had to battle injuries along the way and shares some unreal stories that will inspire and make you laugh (like the time she insisted on staying awake during surgery!). During those hard times, she found the love of her Heavenly Father which has led her to become a woman of great faith!

Shannon's current dreams are to publish the book she's writing and to keep the adventures going in her family life with her husband and two sons as they surf, snowboard, fly fish, and dive in their favorite spots.

Shannon will remind you to try that thing you've been thinking about and embrace your failures when they happen. The most exciting dreams are going to have times of difficulty. Roll with it!

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Connect with Shannon:

On IG: @shannon_dunn__downing https://www.instagram.com/shannon_dunn__downing/

Shannon's Blog: https://shannondunndowning.com/

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Links from Show:

Find Burton Snowboarding Gear on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gBkVbr

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Say hi! Have a dream? Have a recommendation for a guest?

Connect with the host, Heather Bailey:

On IG: @vereless.n.free https://www.instagram.com/vereless.n.free/

Also on IG: @heatherfheather https://www.instagram.com/heatherfheather/

My website, Vereless N Free: https://verelessnfree.com/

If this episode was encouraging, please share with a friend and follow for more episodes like this one.

Let me know how this has encouraged you, receiving your feedback fills me with joy!

Have you tried something new and in the beginning it didn't go as planned? I've been there too, especially with the launch of this podcast! Stick in there… In this episode, I've got tips for you on how to navigate being a newbie! Trust me, I've been a newbie a lot… and I actually love it! : )

I'm calling this episode a mini-episode. I was supposed to air an episode I recorded last week. When I started editing, I realized I made a HUGE mistake that could not be fixed by technology. Wait…what?! Yep, I'll tell you all about it! 

There's a learning curve when it comes to trying new things and I've got a few pointers for you to keep in mind so your failures don’t keep you from pursuing that activity!

• It Takes Time to Become Skilled: Learn to be ok with that
• You might need to overcome any emotions and pre-conceived notions you've had about that activity
• You are going to mess up.
  •  It's okay, we've all been there! That's how you learn.
  • Take time to understand what happened when things went wrong
  • Seek out people who are better than you and have more experience and knowledge
    • Coaches
    • YouTubers
    • Bloggers
    • Communities (Facebook Groups)
  • Continue learning and expanding your mind
  • Keep practicing
• If you keep after it, you will:
  • Gain more confidence
  • Learn tricks of the trade
  • Get a better understanding for the activity as a whole
  • Find your people and your mentors in real life
  • Create checklists for how to achieve your desired results

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Links from Show:

My Skateboard:

Brand: Kateboards https://www.kateboards.com/

The model I ride: The Breakthrough https://www.kateboards.com/shop/breakthrough2020

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

I train at a Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Associate Gym. Look for one near you here: https://pedrosauer.com/

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Say hi! Have a question? Have a recommendation for a guest?

Connect with the host, Heather Bailey:

On IG: @vereless.n.free https://www.instagram.com/vereless.n.free/

Also on IG: @heatherfheather https://www.instagram.com/heatherfheather/

My website, Vereless N Free: www.verelessnfree.com

Thanks for listening and sharing : ) Receiving your feedback fills me with joy

Have you ever been afraid that you were going to fail? Has your family's wellbeing depended on you overcoming your fear and taking action? Have you had to shift your dreams because tragedy hit close to home?

On episode three of the Vereless N Free podcast, Joyce Chung, my little sister (in spirit), gets vulnerable and real about experiencing the loss of her mother, stepmother, and father all by the age of 23. The loss of her father left her as legal guardian to her three teenage brothers. In college and still unsure of what she wanted to do in life, Joyce dropped everything and returned to the place where she grew up to be present in her brothers' lives again.

She took a big risk to step into the unknown and overcame the fear of failure. Through the chaos and difficulty, she shares how her savior Jesus Christ remained steadfast in providing opportunities, finances, and supportive people for her and her brothers. She opens up about her "awakening experience" with Christ and how His love brought freedom from anger and her past feelings of never being enough.

Joyce has fearlessly pursued her Bachelor's degree despite being older than most of the undergrads in her program. At the time the show was recorded, Joyce had a few more months left before graduating with a double major in Accounting and Finance. At the time of airing, Joyce graduated last weekend from UNCC and has a job already lined up!

My mom actually introduced me to Joyce and she has become one of my favorite people and is now my honorary little sister. This conversation is for you if you're experiencing loss, hurt, fear, and confusion or if you enjoy hearing a true story of overcoming adversity.  We kept it honest, raw, and emotional…some tears may have been shed. Joyce is Fearless and Free and I'm so excited to have her on the show!

Joyce and I love connecting with people- if our conversation resonated with you please reach out and say Hi on Instagram @vereless.n.free

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Connect with Joyce

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchung007/

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Links from Show

Calvary Church Charlotte, NC: https://www.calvarychurch.com/

Hipcamp: Hipcamp | Outdoor Stays: Tent Camping, RV Parks, Cabins & Glamping

Have you ever had a voice in your head asking you what’s next? Have you ever questioned the traditional route of work and family because it simply doesn't resonate? Have you ever had dreams and felt held back by fear and insecurities?

Lisa Jansen,  a good friend of mine who's a vanlifer in New Zealand is my guest on Episode Two of the "Vereless N Free" podcast ("Fearless & Free")! Lisa opens up about being a self-proclaimed dreamer who used to not take action, a university course that shifted her entire life perspective, and how buying a van for a summer on the road in New Zealand turned into a few years of full-time vanlife. She's fallen in love with her new lifestyle especially since it helped her find space and time to publish a book, start a podcast, and write an on-going blog all based around encouraging people to do "Life Differently."

We talk all things vanlife from how she got her start, fears, personal safety, daily routines, lessons learned, and her hobbies on the road. This episode is for anyone interested in vanlife or has the desire for a "Life Done Differently." It's also for the dreamers, those curious about New Zealand and expat life, or if you love hearing two friends chat about what they're passionate about in life and how they make things happen!

Lisa brings so much positivity and realness to this conversation and she's been one of my biggest inspirations in my vanlife journey. I'm so grateful for the time I spent with her and hope you enjoy it!

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Connect with Lisa Jansen

On her blog, "Life Done Differently": www.lifedonedifferently.com

On her podcast: Life Done Differently | Listen on Spotify

On Instagram: @lifedonedifferentlynz

On Facebook: Lisa Jansen

Read Her Book: "One Size Does Not Fit All"

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Links from Show

Book: Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi

Resources for Vanlife and Travel:

New Zealand Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz)

CamperMate NZ | Mobile App for Finding Campsites in New Zealand

CamperMate AU | Mobile App for Finding Campsites in Australia

Hipcamp USA | Find Outdoor Stays: Tent Camping, RV Parks, Cabins & Glamping

Facebook Groups:

Female Travel Buddies NZ

Solo Female Vanlife

Solo Women Van Dwellers

Safety Item: Lisa's Personal Locator Beacon | PLB - KTI

Life Done Differently Episode with Heather: EP21 – Making the Vanlife Dream Happen – Heather Bailey

Have you ever felt the desire to pack up and move to a different state…even if you have a so-called "good life?" Have you felt the urge to chase your dreams and your passions outside of your comfort zone? Has fear held you back? Have you embraced the uncomfortable in your pursuit?

Lisa Romanov, one of my best friends, joins me on the first ever episode of the "Vereless N Free" podcast ("Fearless & Free"). It was such a fun conversation. She shares her passion for travel and how her desire for a change (and to hike as many mountains as possible) led her away from her family in Hawaii to build a new home for herself in Seattle, Washington. Lisa shares practical tips useful for anyone planning a move or wanting to work remotely from abroad. She pushed past being scared and admits it was one of the best things she's done. Taking this risk has helped her expand her mind, let go of her desire to be in control, and has opened the world to her.

Listen in as Lisa opens up about moving to Seattle, traveling the world, anxiety and fear, tackling finances, falling in love, and her favorite spots to dream. She took risks, chased her dreams, and is now experiencing freedom!

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Connect with Lisa Romanov

On her Travel Blog "Cultural Foodies": www.culturalfoodies.com

On Instagram: @cultural_foodies

On Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/culturalfoodies/

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Links from Show

Budgeting/Finance:

Mister Money Mustache

Mint - Budget Tracker & Planner

Building Community:

Meetup.com

Facebook Groups:

Female Digital Nomads

Puerto Vallarta Digital Nomads

The Vereless n Free podcast is for the dreamers and wanna-be risk-takers who are ready to push outside of their comfort zone, choose freedom over fear, and live Vereless n Free ("Fearless & Free").

Do you chase your dreams? Or do you live in your comfort zone fearful of taking risks?

We all have dreams. On the Vereless n Free podcast we encourage you to chase them! On this podcast we share real stories of people who have taken action to bring their dreams to life. Join, host, Heather Bailey as she has meaningful conversations with those who have chased their dreams, taken risks, overcome fears, and experienced freedom. We talk about travel, business, alternative lifestyles, faith, family, hobbies, and much more!

We aim to provide practical tips and advice to help you make your dreams a reality. We get real and talk about fears, failures, success, and the freedom that follows.

Heather is a world traveler, adventurer, dreamer, risktaker, Enneagram 9 Peacemaker, business owner, vanlifer, and child of God. She also skates, surfs, snowboards, runs marathons, and trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She has worked on a private yacht, at a beachfront resort in Hawaii as a Lead Concierge, and for a private airline.

In this trailer Heather shares the beginnings of her desire and curiosity to see the world. On her own, she made it happen by saving her babysitting money when she was a teenager. As she experienced the world and other cultures, she began to realize life should be more than sitting in a cubicle, working 40 hours a week, and only earning 2 measly weeks off per year. It's been her dream to avoid that "normal life" all costs and to live a life of adventure, experiencing the beauty of the world, and sharing it with the people around her. You'll hear her share some of her fears during the early days of traveling solo, how she overcame them, and how that experience has opened the door to freedom and opportunities.

Enjoy! We hope you find encouragement and  take the small steps that will help you live your dreams.

Say hi on Instagram @vereless.n.free