Life's New Normal Podcast With Host Long Jump Silver Medalist John Register

\Marwin "Marz" Timms is a local Chicago comedic improviser who uses his skill not only to inspire his audiences, but also to push himself. Hear what he discovered about himself in the ove ten years he has been studynig this craft.  Chicago  Improv/sketch/standup Timms, a Dadaist in sensibility and “nerdy, yet urban,” will stop at nothing for a laugh. In the coat-and-tie-wearing percussive duo Tony Symbals and Cocoa, the baby-faced Timms plays only a tiny set of cymbals, accompanied by the imposing Keith Smitherman bashing away at a drum kit made for a child. The two take absurdly long, silent onstage bottled-water breaks between numbers. Timms elicits even more squeals with Pimprov, a dressed-to-kill, so-wrong-they’re-right all-black quartet so funny you’ll shoot beer through your nose.  NOW PLAYING: Timms is a member of The Annoyance Theatre. Also, catch Pimprov in an open run Fridays at 10:30 p.m. at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater. Leadership lessons galore for you to use in your life.  About The Ho

Aja Evans, Olympic bronze medalist in the bobsled, discusses how she creates her new normal. Evans, who is from the south side of Chicago and ran track and field for Morgan Park High School, attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas before transferring to the University of Illinois where she competed in both shot put and the sprints, with the former culminating at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials. After earning her degree in sports management, and a brief stint as a personal trainer at the famous EFT Sports Performance training facility in Highland Park, IL, Aja realized she was helping everyone else achieve their dreams. She needed her goals fulfilled. The sport of bobsled provided the cure for her competition hunger. Today, on Life’s New Normal, Aja shares her journey to the Olympic podium and the persistent performance it takes to sustain competitive excellence. About The Host  John Register is a long jump silver medalist and American record holder from the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. H

John Morris, is 27-year-old globetrotter behind this accessible travel website, WheelchairTravel.org!  He regularly receives e-mails from readers curious about his disability and how it came to be. Since he's always focused on writing about destinations and ways to make travel more accessible, he rarely have an opportunity to write about himself. If you would like to learn more about John's life's journey to this point, tune into the show.  John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War Vet | Disability Rights Advocate | and 2 x TEDx Speaker. He shows business leaders how to hurdle adversity and create the new normal to increase bottom line performance.  

Mona Patel might be only 5 feet tall, but the height of her passion reaches beyond the mountains she has scaled. Mona is the founder and executive director of the San Antonio Amputee Foundation. Her passion to help people realize their inner strength and uniqueness is becoming legendary.  The SAAF, a nonprofit organization, with the mission to help amputees through support, education, and advocacy, case managment/social servies, health and fitness programs, home modifciations, car modifications and prosthetic limbs...whew...keeps Mona hopping. She led an team of 15 men up to the summit of Mt. Kilmanjaro  just to show others that they, too, can climb and conquer the mountains in their own lives.  Her passion is a testimony that with a strong heart and determination, disability is only a mindset. ---------- John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War Vet | Disability Rights Advocate | and 2 x

David Zurfluh, a native of Washington State, has served as Paralyzed Veterans' senior vice president since 2015. Zurfluh is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served his country in Operation Desert Shield/Storm before being injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1995 while on active duty in Hachinohe, Japan.  Following one year of inpatient rehabilitation and two years of outpatient care, he resumed life as an incomplete quadriplegic.I caught up with him at hte National Vetearn Wheelchair Games to discuss his vision for hte PVA. Jataya Taylor is all about not allowing anyone to tell her what she can or can not do. "You never accomplish anything wtih out motivation."  She chats about fighting with the doctors to amputaate her leg. It was lifeless and uselleess  and shey just wnated it  gone" Listen in as these two chat with us on how they created their new normal. John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War

Scott Blackburn is Interim Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Previously Scott led the My VA Task Task Force charged with reorganizing and transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs. Scott is formerly a Partner at McKinsey & Company where he served industrial companies on a wide range of topics related to large business-wide transformational change. Prior to joining McKinsey, Scott served as a Captain in the US Army and worked for the Cleveland Browns (and dreams of one day returning to pro sports to run a franchise). I caught up with Scott at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and had the opportunity to ask him about how his process of transforming the VA paralleled transforming the lives of veterans through sport.  The National Veterans Wheelchair Games are an outgrowth of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ historic involvement in wheelchair sports. Wheelchair sports had their beginning in the aftermath of World War II, when young disabled Veterans began playing wheelchair basketball in

At 19 years old  Dawnna called a broken down to dodge home. She made her first bartering deal soon after. A man who hated washing windows at a local YMCA exchanged this task to her for access to a hot shower. Soon after, she was befriended by a not so friendly police officer who called her "stupid."  She would learn later that it was a term that pushed her out of her situation and into her greatness.  We all have greatness.  How does yours show up? What impacts does it make on society?  Dawnna transformed a class business project (that the professor did not agree with)  into a $250M Empire called BizIntel.   What do you do when someone says no? Dawnna sold BizIntel for 250M.  Today she shares her incites and where her drive comes from to rock riches. About The Host  John Register is a long jump silver medalist and American record holder from the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. His business, Inspired Communications International, LLC, shows business leaders how to "Hurdle Adversity, and creat

Join me once again on "Life's New Normal," as I introduce you to another phenomenal guest who share with us his secrets for living life in the New Normal. The amazing thing is this. I keep running into actors who are genuine, down to earth, and who have work ethic that just will not quit. This is Kevin Sizemore. Yes, he has been in on the small screen, as Anthony, the US Air Marshall on the Emmy nominated series Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 (2015), as well as the hot headed Gary Humphrey on the series Resurrection (2014). And yes, he's created many memorable characters on shows such as Rizzoli & Isles (2010), Under the Dome (2013), Drop Dead Diva (2009) and Weeds (2005) to name a few. On the big screen, Sizemore is remembered as the energetic Coach Jerry Stearns from the football movie Woodlawn(2015).  But today you get to hear the heart I heard in our taped interview. The heart who has a deep passion for his wife, a fathers love for his son, and a committment to promoting opportunities for people

Some people call her a beauty queen. We call her a scholar. This is the slogan of the Miss America pageant for the state of Colorado.  Shannon Patilla (2016 Miss Colorado) and Patricia Regan Leines-Pike (1997 Miss Oregon) discuss their experiences and why these pageants are important. If you are like me and think that all pageants are the same, well, you are going to be schooled just as I. I was a judge at this year’s pageant and did I have a lot to learn. First of all I thought all pageants were the same. To be honest I thought a bit superficial. But when I heard these young women in their interviews give some amazing answers coupled with actions steps of what they would like to do as well as shared what they are currently doing on a variety of topics, my mindset changed.  The state of Colorado and the nation for that matter are in great hands with these brilliant young women. From science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to post traumatic stress disorder and from suicide awareness to emergency

Father’s day is extremely important as it help acknowledge the contribution of fathers to individual families and to societies as large. Besides observance of Father's Day provide children an opportunity to express love and respect for their fathers. The sentiment goes a long way in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in the emotional development of a child. I had no clue just how rewarding being a Dad, as now a Grand-Dad (Fa Fa) to my little Aiyanna, would be.  Yes, there have been some tough days, but the push to be excellent and support my children to the best of my ability has been rewarding for me and I hope for my children. I also realize that there are Dad's out there who are surrogates. They are the Uncles or cousins who often will step in when a father is absent. This does not necessarily mean for when a father has left the family, but rather when they just cannot be there. I think about military men. I played a surrogate role for my niece while her Dad was serving our country

Ashlei Reign imagines a world where people pursue passion instead of security, where people love themselves more than the thoughts of them and where we live in the right now rather than the moments that have passed and those that have yet to come.  A world where the mind, body and Spirit agree and God is easy to see. This is the 3rd time I have had this remarkable young lady on my show. She never ceases to amaze me with all the work she does. I am dizzy just trying to keep up. Today we are exploring how individual gifts, coupled with an active faith, relates to every day life. For Ashlei, her being an Oakland Police Officer, a rap artist and a painter has positioned her uniquely in a space of personal security. This profession takes her all over the world.  Learn how to discover your gifts in order to find a path that helps others. Follw Ashlie by clicking the following links. Facebook Twitter Instagram ---- John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Managem

Clayton Frech and his son Ezra are forces to be recognized. They were inspired to create the Angel City Games in June 2015. With 150 athletes participating in Track & Field and Wheelchair Basketball clinics and competitio and over 1,300 attendees attracting Hollywood elites like sports fanatic Adam Sandler and Christian Bale as well as several pro athletes, these games break down the negative stigma around disability. They show what is possible in overcoming the expecations of other by adapting to the impossible and suirpassing the insurmountable. Today, I chat with Clayton about his vision for using the 2017 Angel City Games to push into corporate America and lay obliteration to the negative stigma of hiring people with disabilities.  "It is our hope to address the myriad of challenges that exist - lack of events, programs, training, and coaches, transportation and access, the high cost of equipment, and the expansive geography of Southern California - and spark the Paralympic and Adaptive Sports movem

From USA Today Sports and the by line of Rachel Axon,  COLUMBIA, S.C. — For years, basketball was an escape for Chamique Holdsclaw. The more time she spent on the court working toward her goals of being a top WNBA draft pick and being the first woman to have major endorsement deals meant less time to focus on the mental health issues that she’d dealt with throughout her life. Years after her retirement, Holdsclaw finds the game that gave her an escape has given her a platform. Since the 2015 release of the documentary Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw directed by Rick Goldsmith, the six-time WNBA all-star has been sharing her story of confronting mental illness. Today, I talk to her about about her passion in the space of mental illness and the people she has since helped. --- John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War Vet | Disability Rights Advocate | and 2 x TEDx Speaker. He

Paul Vorreiter (Vor-eater) is a creativity and presentation expert with over two decades of design, branding and marketing experience. As a recovering creative director, Paul used to lead art directors, designers, and writers, but these days you will find him speaking and consulting with business teams across the United States, helping them realize how creativity can propel their business to new heights. He has a book coming out this summer entitled, “UNLEASH: Strategies to unleash your creativity and revolutionize your team.”  Paul has designed creative for companies such as Dell, Intel, International Data Corporation and Texas Mutual Life Insurance. He has also enhance the brand for keynote speaker power houses such as Simon T. Bailey, Neen James, Scott Halford, and Ruby Newell-Legner. Hear his wisdom on life's new normal and book Paul by clicking HERE. John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War

Jamie Staff MBE is an English racing cyclist and coach, formerly on BMX and later on the track. A world and Olympic champion, he also won numerous other medals at World Championships, World Cups and at the Commonwealth Games. Jamie began his career in BMX when he was nine years old. Switching to the track after the 2001 BMX season had ended, he was part of Great Britain's first team sprint world championship winning trio. In 2010, after twenty-seven years of competitive cycling, Jamie shifted his focus to become the Director of BMX for USA Cycling. Jamie not only oversees the track program, but he also works with the elite level BMX athletes and contributes to training programs. He specializes in High-Performance and taking athletes from good to great. You will learn Jamie's secret sauce from ensuring maximum performance and how to take your own life from good to great as well. About the host: John Register, Paralympic Long Jump Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Autho

Today we hear the journey of 4 athletes who offer insights and wisdom into why they want to bring awareness to Paralympic sport as they venture to Fort Smith Arkansas for the "Battle with the Blades." Their journeys are varied. They are the first to say that as athletes with disabilites they are not super human as some would suggest, but rather they are just athletes who want to showcase their talents and be equally recognized for their achievements as their counter parts who have no disability Under the lights of the Jim Rowland Stadium, Southside High School, in Fort Smith, Arkansas these athletes took center stage as fans peered over the rails to get a glimpse of the blades and the athletes who wore them. Five athletes came to compete with area high school athletes and bring awareness to adaptive sports as well as raise funds for a sports prosthesis to be given to an Arkansas child or aspiring athlete. The give-a-way blade was the result of the Never Say Never Foundation. 1. Nick Stilwell - President an

THE BULLET OF BARCELONA In the men’s 400m hurdles final at Barcelona 1992 Kevin Young became the first and only man ever to run the event in under 47 seconds, setting a new world record that has stood ever since. HISTORY IN THE MAKING As the men’s 400m hurdles finals unfolded before them on a golden August afternoon in 1992, the 80,000 spectators in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium knew that they were witnessing something special. Only taking their eyes away from the track to check the clocks on the giant screens, they saw the USA’s Kevin Young power down the back straight, destroying the field in the process. Taking 12 strides between hurdles before switching to 13, he came out of the final bend with a massive lead. After clearing the final hurdle, Young lifted his right arm in triumph five metres from the line, before stopping the clock in a stunning world record time of 46.78 and receiving a rapturous ovation from the crowd. Looking back on his outstanding achievement, Young listed the reasons behind it: “

Cam F. Awesome, formerly known as Lenroy Thompson, is an American amateur boxer best known for winning the US Boxing titles in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2016, and the Golden Gloves in 2009, 2011 and 2013 at super heavyweight. He frequently fights in pink to show his commitment to and involvement with the Breast Cancer Awareness Program. Awesome is the U.S. National Team Captain and is also the Athlete Director on USA Boxing Board of Directors. But Mr. Awesome also is a stand up comic, and a motivational speaker. His message is powerful. Here his story here on Life's New Normal. --- About the host: John Register, Paralympic Silver Medalist | Inspirational Catalyst | Change Management Speaker | Author | Long Jump Record Holder | Gulf War Vet | Disability Rights Advocate | 2 x TEDx Speaker who shows business leaders and sports professionals how to courageously step up to championship performance by walking in the new normal.

Janet Evans: Despite her small size and unorthodox windmill stroke, Janet Evans was a natural-born swimmer who was swimming laps at the age of two. By the end of her storied career, she was considered to be the greatest female distance swimmer of all time. On her path to earning that accolade, Evans earned four individual Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, won seventeen international titles and forty-five US National titles, and broke seven world records, many of which stood for two decades. Janet is a true legend in her sport as well as in women's sports. Janet is now at the helm corralling athlete for the LA2024 Bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Olivia Morgan: Olivia Morgan, who won the individual high point title at the U.S. Collegiate National Championships in March, was named USA Synchro’s Athlete of the Year. Morgan, a USA Synchro athlete representative, helped lead Team USA to the bronze medal and finished fourth in the duet free at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia. M

There are true fighters amongst us. No, I am not talking about those who have seen the battlefield of military combat, but those who have overcome the negative stigma and stereotypes to live their life in a unapologetic way. They refuse to let the negative value of one person determine their self-value. In continuing with our theme of, "Disability the Dynamic Factor" for the month of March, I caught up with Amy, a 20 year old blogger from Birmingham, UK who was born with the disability (PFFD) a shortening of one leg. Because of this condition Amy always wore a prosthesis but at age 8 she also had the affected foot amputated to get a better fitting prostheses which allowed her to be more independent.  Yet, Amy always struggled so much with negative self-confidence issues. She did view herself in a positive ligh. It was not until she saw children with the same condition and thought about her impact on them that she turned her negativity into a positive. She set out on a quest to become a great role model. Ha