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Inspirational comeback arcs aren’t reserved for fiction. Darren Waller, tight end for the New York Giants and Donny Starkins, mindfulness teacher, surface real-life tales of resiliency, including vulnerable insights into their ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests who illustrate what “comeback” means to them. 


Comeback Stories

Here's the first minute of Comeback Stories. Launches 2/4/21.

 

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Comeback Stories Trailer

Darren Waller (Las Vegas Raiders, tight end) delivers an incredible message in the inaugural episode of the Comeback Stories podcast and talks about his struggle with addiction and drugs and how his life story and struggle has transformed into his most powerful asset. Learn how even an accomplished professional football player can struggle with doubt and anxiety, and why the story you tell yourself is the only one that matters. 
 
 • Growing up for Darren was confusing. He was blessed with a good family, a good neighborhood, intelligence, and athleticism, but he was always sensitive to the harsh words of other people.
 • Despite access to a number of resources, Darren found himself going down a dark path.
 • Darren grew up in suburban Atlanta, Georgia playing a number of sports with the friends he grew up with. His earliest memory of pain is being told that he wasn’t black enough by his peers. He adopted that as truth when he was younger and didn’t realize the pain that it would cause him throughout his life. Even now, Darren still struggles with doubt despite being one of the best players in the game.
 • Pain is part of the shared human experience. If you’re alive, you’re going to go through the pain and that is what connects us and is the essence of common humanity.
 • Darren’s first real teacher was his father. He saw the way his dad treated his mom and respected her, and that became the template for how Darren treated women in his own life.
 • In terms of balance, Darren understands that no matter how well things are going, they could get worse, and if things are going badly they will eventually get better.
 • The way that Darren’s father loved him is how Darren thinks about his other relationships and it allows him to live a better life because of it.
 • The feeling of not being good enough led to Darren trying to earn people’s approval by becoming better at football, and it was around that time that he started experimenting with drugs in an effort to escape the anxiety of trying to please people all the time.
 • As his football skills improved, Darren felt worse and worse internally. After becoming a pro athlete, instead of feeling better the anxiety and pain only got worse and his drug use increased exponentially.
 • The status and lifestyle were something he thought he wanted but none of it gave Darren happiness or peace. Darren ended up sabotaging his own success and getting suspended from the team. He had to go through the process of recovery and relearn the value of hard work before getting another chance at football a few years later.
 • The biggest thing holding Darren back was trying to get approval and respect from others before he showed it to himself. Other people’s approval was either making or breaking him and he had to shed that mindset to stop trying to fill the void inside himself with other people’s approval.
 • Darren’s lowest point was fourfold: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It was August 11, 2017, when Darren overdosed in his Jeep. He had said that he had changed but his behaviors didn’t match the declaration. He ended up reliving all the pain he had been trying to mask in his life and that’s when he realized he had to change his life completely.
 • If you’re at your lowest point, you’re not alone. Darren had to stop telling himself that what makes him different is what is wrong with him.
 • The real story is what makes him different is what makes him special. He had to free himself from giving his power away to other people.
 • All that arises starts with our thoughts. You can train your mind to work with you instead of against you. Darren is grateful for his recovery because so much has come because of it. By surrendering all the things that he thought would make his life worth something, he has allowed himself to learn and grow in ways that weren’t possible before. All the things that Darren was afraid to talk about have become his greatest asset. Just because you’re striving for greatness that doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect.
 • Choose progress over perfection every day. Being authentic and sharing your story, complete with imperfections and mess, connects you more than trying to project a fake facade. Darren’s life used to consist of hiding nearly everything about him in the belief that it would make him feel free, but he’s done hiding.
 • As people, we tend to see others clearly but we’re not able to see ourselves very well. We need to be around other people that want the best for us and who are willing to guide us when we need it. If you’re not addressing your fear you’re going to keep getting the same results in your life.
 • Look at your pain and fear and figure out what it’s teaching you. In the depths of his addiction, Darren’s greatest fear was having other people see him the way he saw himself. He bent his life around making sure that other people told him what he wanted to hear instead of what he needed to hear.
 • Fear is now an opportunity for Darren to trust himself and his belief that he’s doing the right thing.
 • Fear is now an opportunity to be the best he can be. We’re all recovering from something right now.
 • We all have a comeback story within us, and sometimes we have to change our story to make something new happen.
 
 

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Darren Waller's Comeback Story - Stop Giving Your Power Away to Other People

Donny Starkins reveals his journey from a star baseball player with the world and success ahead of him to a drug addict that couldn’t escape his pain until he hit rock bottom. Find out how Donny realized he needed help, and how his experience with drug addiction and pain allows him to help other people free themselves from addiction and tell their own comeback story.
 
 • Donny’s childhood was easy and his parents always tried to make the best of a bad situation. Sports came easily to him and one of his early dreams was to play professional baseball.
 • He ended up playing at Arizona State, the same school as his father, where he suffered multiple injuries to his knee. His fifth surgery was experimental and resulted in unbearable pain, to the point where Donny realized that he would never play baseball again which sent him into a downward spiral of addiction to pain medication.
 • He avoided physically hurting anyone else over the course of his addiction other than himself. Even after overdosing in Mexico and having his brother-in-law pick him up in the middle of the night, Donny still didn’t believe that he had a problem.
 • His family wanted to help so Donny went into Alcoholics Anonymous solely to get his family off his back. It took a lot more pain and worry before Donny finally surrendered and accepted the fact that he had a problem. That was when he started to really hear the message that people were sharing during the meetings.
 • After three and half years sober Donny had a relapse because he stopped doing the work. Another knee injury led to Donny relapsing for 8 months. At the time, Donny felt ashamed for relapsing, but now he looks back on that as a major turning point in his life.
 • An early memory of pain for Donny was waking up from that surgery and losing his purpose. Baseball had been Donny’s life up to that point and he didn’t want to feel the emotional pain of that loss. The void was filled by taking pills.
 • Another painful memory is not being present with his grandfather before he passed away. It wasn’t until after his death was Donny able to make amends.
 • You need to show up for your family and friends, and when you do that it’s like living amends and it releases the shame and guilt of the past.
 • Donny’s first teacher was his father. His father kept Donny humble and showed him the benefits of thinking about the game of baseball differently. He taught him that you never know who’s watching and you always have to give 100%, which ultimately led to Donny landing scholarships.
 • Accepting the change from baseball star to drug addict was extremely difficult and prevented Donny from getting help and getting sober.
 • The feeling of neutrality and indifference to the substance he was addicted to was one of the biggest reliefs and spiritual experiences of his life. It was his unwillingness and ego that were holding him back from experiencing that.
 • The overdose was not the lowest point in Donny’s life. Donny’s lowest point is a memory of waking up and the very first thing he wanted was to take his pills. At that point, everything in Donny’s life revolved around getting pills. He isolated himself from everyone else in his life and his only friend was his dog.
 • Donny made a lot of bad decisions that hurt a number of people in his life. He felt buried by his guilt and shame, and it wasn’t until he released that shame did Donny get access to a higher purpose for his life.
 • Your mess is your message. Donny’s experiences and pain allow him to help other people through their own pain and tell their own comeback story.
 • Gratitude changes the way we see the world. Donny is grateful to be sober because without that every other good thing in his life goes away.
 • Yoga has also become an important aspect of Donny’s life. After a lifetime of thinking yoga was not for him, Donny took one class and realized that he was going to do yoga for the rest of his life. The greatest gift, beyond the physical benefits, has been the relationships and people that Donny has been able to meet because of his yoga practice.
 • If Donny could share something with his younger self it would be: Know your values, live your values, love yourself first, you’re here to serve so share your gifts with the world.
 • Donny never understood his values growing up, but by knowing his values now he knows exactly who he is.
 • Fill your own cup first. It’s selfish not to do what you need to do to feel full, because by avoiding self care you are not able to give more to others.
 • The only story that matters is the one we tell ourselves. Our thoughts create our reality and we can change that by changing the story we tell ourselves.
 
 

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Donny Starkins’ Comeback Story - His Journey from Addiction to Helping Others Free Themselves from It

Tyrann Mathieu talks about how his childhood without parents shaped his life and how he realized that chasing the love of other people was taking him in the wrong direction. Learn how Tyrann almost lost everything, and how he changed the narrative so that experience would drive him to even greater success.
 
 • Growing up for Tyrann was a mix of both worlds. His parents weren’t around because his father was in prison for murder and his mother wasn’t responsible enough to raise him on her own.
 • Tyrann was raised mainly by his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Tyrann remembers asking his mother why he didn’t live with her and she couldn’t provide an answer, which has always been a source of pain for him.
 • It was lucky for Tyrann that his grandmother instilled structure in his life because that allowed him to get into sports and stay out of trouble.
 • The pain of his relationship with his mother still comes up, but he reminds himself that he’s not in that situation anymore and it shouldn’t determine his life.
 • An early memory of pain was when Tyrann’s grandmother sent him to live with his uncle. At the time he didn’t realize why she did it, but looking back on it now he can see that it was probably the best thing she could have done for him.
 • If you can shift your perspective you can find meaning in your pain. It’s not the event that happens, it’s the meaning that we attach to it.
 • Tyrann’s high school coach was his first real teacher. He made Tyrann realize that football could take him places if he took it seriously, and could be the foundation for a greater mission.
 • If that particular teacher had not come into Tyrann’s life he would not have chased his dreams the way he did.
 • Tyrann’s fall from grace was in being kicked out of school and not being able to play football. Not having football in his life forced Tyrann to put his trust in himself, and a lot of his success in the NFL he attributes to that early struggle.
 • The lies that Tyrann told himself were the things that held him back. Tyrann wanted people to believe in him and to feel like he was enough for them.
 • We have to go through those low moments to find the real answers in our life.
 • Going to jail for possession of marijuana was where Tyrann realized that everyone was watching him and he let people down.
 • Tyrann had to stop chasing love from the people in his life before he could start telling his comeback story. We all have the story in our heads where we are not enough.
 • Tyrann had to stop believing what other people were telling him and believe in himself. If we don’t address the narrative of not feeling enough you’re going to get stuck and it won’t matter what success you have in your life.
 • If that feeling is hijacking your mind you will never escape the feeling of inadequacy. Much of what we are experiencing in the world right now is a result of unfaced fear and unresolved trauma.
 • Tyrann is most grateful for his children and being able to give them the life that he never had. The things we can’t put a price on are things we become the most grateful for.
 • If Tyrann could send a message to his younger self it would be to keep going and to smile first.
 • As a kid, he didn’t know that people were looking to him for inspiration and that there is value in pushing forward for more than just yourself.
 • Trust in the process and enjoy the journey.
 • Don’t just crush your goals, have a good time doing it.
 • If you feel like you are being held back, dig deep and take the blame off others. Figure out what your part in your situation is your responsibility and what you can do about it.
 • Patrick Peterson was one of the first people to believe Tyrann was an elite talent and helped him believe that about himself.
 • Having Patrick in his life has given Tyrann someone to look to for inspiration.
 • For those days where you are struggling to find gratitude, think about the people that have always been there for you.
 • Your comeback story is not about freedom for yourself, it’s about freedom from yourself. Being patient and accepting of yourself is the beginning of self-love.
 
 

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Tyrann Mathieu’s Comeback Story - Getting Unstuck

Seane Corn shares her experiences with childhood trauma and sexual abuse, and how that put her on a path of self-discovery. Listen to Seane’s story of growing up as a hypersensitive child with obsessive-compulsive behaviors that she used to manage her anxiety, pain, and grief, how she learned to process her emotions, and the teachers along the way that showed her how to release her anger and allow Seane to help others do the same.
 
 • For Seane, growing up was complicated. On some levels, it could be considered the ideal childhood and at others, she felt unsafe, unprotected, and ungrounded. As a young person who was hypersensitive to the world Seane could feel when something was off.
 • Due to the lack of support for her sensitivity and feelings, her natural reaction was to shut down and dissociate and create compulsive behaviors to try and regain control. Seane wouldn’t change her experiences because those complexities were what made her do the work to become who she is now but she would prefer people like her had more mentors to show her the way.
 • Seane’s earliest memory of trauma was a sexual assault at the age of 6. As a result of that, she developed an obsessive-compulsive disorder which only became more exacerbated as she got older. What she wasn’t aware of was those compulsive patterns were a way for her to self-regulate her nervous system. Any time she felt anxiety, the patterns helped her feel calm, and this self-regulating effort developed into drug and alcohol consumption later on in her life.
 • These survival mechanisms were a response to a trauma that wasn’t allowed space to discharge.
 • It was once Seane moved away from home and lost her family support system that her random partying became more intensified. The patterning no longer staved off the anxiety and isolation, and drugs and alcohol became the only way to help her feel comfortable socially.
 • Everyone in Seane’s life has been a significant teacher, including her abuser. The reason that Seane has so much self-awareness at this point in her life is that she went into therapy at the age of 18 and did the work.
 • It wasn’t until she was in therapy that Seane even realized that the trauma of her childhood was the source of her compulsive behaviors. It was then that she understood that she was going to have to stop drinking and using drugs, to commit to sobriety at every level if she was going to heal.
 • Your coping mechanisms work for a while but eventually they turn on you. They became the biggest obstacle from living the life you actually want. For Seane, the anxiety was always living in her body without ever being discharged or processed. This led to her always being triggered and seeking more control, which resulted in a vicious cycle of compulsive behavior.
 • Sobriety is a lifelong journey. Seane’s patterning still comes up, but when it does, she recognizes it as anxiety and a need to breathe through the grief that’s underneath.
 • Seane’s low point occurred when she was bartending and high on drugs to the point where she was genuinely scared she might die. She never wanted to experience that again. Seeing other people die from overdosing became a vivid visual example of her destiny had she continued down that path.
 • Seane’s narrative continues to grow and evolve, even now. As a young person she just wanted to be liked and accepted, and love and hurt became synonymous. She had to work very hard to reclaim her love and beauty and separate it from her pain.
 • The more that cultivate self-esteem, the more in relationship we will be to spirit. Otherwise, we look to the external world for validation and will never feel fulfilled.
 • All the moments that invoke the shadow is what gives us fodder to learn about the light that teaches us patience, acceptance, and love. Life is a constant process of dismantling our identities so that we can continue to move into the right relationship with our highest essence.
 • Your identities and narratives aren’t bad. They serve a purpose and a part of the essential journey we are all on.
 • Once we own our wound we can write the ending of our story. Until then, the wound will hijack your life.
 • Seane is deeply grateful to be part of a community that is helping break the shame and pain that many people have. In a world damaged by trauma, many people are responding to hate with hate, and it’s an important time to be able to show the world another way.
 • If Seane could send back 140 characters to her younger self her message would be to simply cry. Her suppressed grief manifested into rage and other problems and she often wonders that if her younger self had space to cry would her path have changed. She would also want her to know that she will be okay and that pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice.
 • Seane has two comeback story shoutouts. The first is her mother, as someone who showed her what a strong, independent, fiery woman could look like. The second is her teacher Mona Miller, who was the first person to teach her anger work and help Seane develop her relationship with God.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
SeaneCorn.com
 
Revolution of the Soul by Seane Corn - https://www.amazon.ca/Revolution-Soul-Through-Radical-Conscious/dp/1622039173

 

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Seane Corn’s Comeback Story - Embracing Your Shadow To Find The Light

Listen to James May as he tells the story of his life as a heroin and cocaine addict, and how he went from consistent run-ins with the wrong side of the law and a near-miss with a violent death, to accepting the truth of his situation and starting a treatment program for people in recovery.
 
 • James is coming up on seven years in recovery from a crippling heroin and cocaine addiction. James grew up in a poor family in a wealthy neighborhood, and that mismatch had a profound impact on his life.
 • His first run-in with the authorities was in 3rd grade after James set some toilet paper on fire in his school’s bathroom. As a child, James tried to find the approval of the wrong crowd and found himself stealing and vandalizing.
 • James’ first memory of pain was from 2nd or 3rd grade, where he was humiliated and traumatized after being rejected from the girl he liked and deceived by who he thought he was a friend.
 • The kids who made fun of James when he was younger became the target of his rage as he grew older, and one of the underlying reasons he began selling drugs was to try to ruin their lives.
 • James’ grandfather was his first real teacher who showed him how to live well. No matter what happened in his life, James’ grandfather still showed up every day of his life. James’ grandparents were as much parents to him as his real mother and father.
 • James started smoking marijuana in 8th grade, and that quickly escalated to oxycontin and other harder drugs in high school. He sold a considerable amount of drugs at that time and eventually went to jail for dealing drugs.
 • James got arrested in 2008 and charged with a violation of the Georgia RICO Act. He was part of an operation that was selling marijuana and Xanax through the mail.
 • After that incident was James’ first attempt to get sober. Unfortunately for him, James burned every bridge in his life and life became very dark. He developed a resentment towards God and ultimately was hoping to die from his drug use. This whole time was a three year period of despair.
 • The biggest thing holding James back was accepting the truth of who he was and what was happening in his life. James believed that it was everyone else’s fault and wanted to prove everybody wrong. He was at odds with the world, and it wasn’t until he came to grips with the fact that he was molested as a child did James start the path to recovery.
 • James’ lowest point was right before he got sober. He remembers a crazy interaction where his drug dealer got into a shootout, and shortly afterward James got pulled over and finally asked for help. After being in jail for two weeks and the withdrawal symptoms passed, James finally felt free.
 • The reality was that James needed to change his pattern. The path of reconstruction and healing his wounds was the only way James could achieve peace in his life. Just stopping the drugs and alcohol wasn’t enough.
 • None of us can do this alone. Even a star athlete has a support system around them that allows them to perform at that level.
 • James’ life is now completely different. When he finally got sober James lived at a homeless shelter where he got the passion he has now to help others. He has made it his mission to help other people and started a sober living program for men. The program started slow but now it’s serving 50 to 60 people at a time.
 • Service work is now the most important aspect of James’ life at the moment. The work is what gives James’ life meaning.
 • James is most grateful for the guy or girl that wants to get sober. He has found a renewed belief in God and being able to help others recover is the fuel in James’ tank.
 • If James could send a message back to himself it would be to keep going and not lose the drive. Stay humble, put your principles into practice, keep growing, and don’t put a limit on what God can do in your life.
 • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The biggest thing that holds people back is the judgment of the world. Addiction doesn’t define you, it’s just a journey to go through. Connection is a powerful piece of the recovery process.
 • James’ comeback story shoutout is Spencer Stein, the person who went through the recovery process with James the first time and who is now James’ business partner in helping people.
 
 

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James May’s Comeback Story - Accepting The Truth and Changing Your Pattern

Listen to the incredible story of Andre Norman, who went from violent prison kingpin to the Ambassador of Hope for thousands of people trapped in the cycle of incarceration. Learn about the key lesson that turned Andre’s life around and helped him escape his past of violence and trauma, and eventually become a Harvard fellow and respected leader who helps people overcome their own addictions and negative behavior.
 
 • Andre had a rough childhood being raised in a household with violent parents. Early on, at the age of 9, Andre learned three lessons that went on to define his life. He ended up in prison because of those lessons.
 • When you quit on everything positive, all that’s left is negativity, and negativity takes you to one of two places: prison or the graveyard. The lesson Andre learned about quitting is what led him to prison where he met thousands of people, all with essentially the same story as him.
 • Andre became quite a skilled trumpet player in sixth grade, but he was forced to quit playing in order to keep his friends. This was the point where Andre gave up on his dream, and without it, his life took a dark turn.
 • The opposite of addiction is connection. Some games you win by not playing, some of the scenarios we face in life we are choosing to play when we should be walking away from the table.
 • As we grow up we start to make agreements with ourselves that lock us onto a particular path. We have to make space to make choices.
 • Andre’s first really important teacher was his 3rd grade teacher. She taught him how to read and showed him the capacity he had and how to access it. On the negative side, Andre’s cousin taught him how to rob people and sell drugs at a high price.
 • Being taught it’s okay to quit was foundational to the way Andre learned to live his life. We can only do what we see, and when we’re taught that drugs and alcohol are the solutions to our pain, it’s no wonder that’s what people resort to.
 • Andre didn’t become an addict, he became violent as an outlet for the pain and trauma in his life. Addicts convince themselves they are okay and their reality is fine. Addiction is like being the frog in a slowly heating pot of water, eventually the water boils and you die. 80% of the problem is believing the false stories we tell ourselves.
 • It was in prison where Andre started to see the truth of his situation and realized that he was the king of nowhere. The first thing he decided was to establish the goal of going to Harvard to begin the process of change.
 • Andre started listing all the obstacles in his way and began working down the list improving the different problem areas in his life.
 • If you are locked up in a scenario that is unhealthy for you, that is a complete waste of time. Without a purpose, you are wandering through life, but not really living. Andre understood that he needed to change his purpose if he wanted to change his life.
 • There are millions of dollars being made behind the walls of prisons, trading in illegal contraband. The people who are lost in the system are struggling everyday for a share of this shadow economy.
 • Being free is a concept that means you have the ability to impact people’s lives. It’s not about your ability to move around. Andre became free six months before he was let out of prison when he freed his mind.
 • There is nothing more powerful than mental freedom. That’s when you understand that you are more powerful than bad days or addiction.
 • Andre’s plans were initially all about him, but that’s not what life is about. A key mentor entered his life to show him that service is the key to getting out of your own way.
 • For Andre, helping people stay alive supersedes the material aspects of life. The realization that he could actually save people’s lives became the core motivation for Andre’s work with the Academy of Hope.
 • Two and half years ago, there was a riot in a prison in South Carolina where multiple people died. The administration locked down the whole prison to avoid retaliation and called Andre in after 5 months of lockdown. Andre spoke to the whole prison population in a voice they understood. He showed them the administration cared and drastically improved the situation.
 • The prison system is not based on education, it’s based on punishment. One of the bigger initiatives of Andre’s organization is bringing in the great thinkers to the prisons and providing books that teach real, powerful lessons.
 • If Andre could speak to the fifteen year old version of himself, he would tell him to find a professional counselor. He had real issues and needed professional help, in the same way you don’t go to your girlfriend for a toothache.
 • When it comes to emotional issues and mental trauma, we often take the advice of people with no skill set. Counselling and therapy are the key, and when you go, you need to be 100% honest. When seeking help, the worst thing you can do is tell a lie.
 • Once Andre determined that he was no longer a quitter, his whole life changed. It took him 25 years to accomplish his dream of graduating from Harvard but he never gave up.
 • Andre’s comeback story shoutout goes to Gordon Hoss. He was the man who saw that Andre wasn’t going to quit and pointed Andre in the right direction. Gordon gave him the key to unlock his future.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
andrenorman.com
 
cafeofhope.com

 

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Andre Norman’s Comeback Story - Saving Lives At The Academy of Hope

George Mumford shares the wisdom he has learned during his life as a coach to some of the highest performing athletes in history, and what he learned from his personal struggle with addiction and pain that nearly cost him everything.
 
 • Michael Jordan credits George Mumford with the transformation of on-court leadership of the Chicago Bulls that led to 11 NBA National Championships. He has worked with a number of world-class athletes and helped them achieve at some of the highest levels of their sport.
 • His coaching method is focused on the whole being approach and treating athletes as people instead of a performer.
 • Principles are universal and timeless. They allow you to make choices that are aligned with the feedback that you get and let you live in recovery.
 • George was one child of thirteen and remembers the theme of his childhood being “be seen, not heard”. He learned how to cope by living in his own personal world and holding his sensitivity within. He was injury-prone in school while playing sports because of the stress placed on his life.
 • He found himself in a strange place where he had to mature quickly and know a lot about life, but without knowing what to do with them.
 • In college, George realized that he could be more social when he was taking pain medication which led to an addiction to painkillers. That developed into alcoholism and drug abuse until his spiritual rock bottom.
 • He went into a 21-day detox program and realized that the person that comes out of the program has to be different than the person that went in or nothing was going to change.
 • One of George’s memories of pain involves his father humiliating him before his sister’s wedding. This experience made George feel like he couldn’t ever ask for what he needed and led to him becoming self-reliant. Trauma can take many subtle forms and understanding that is the only way to heal. In many ways, George’s father was just acting in the way that he was taught.
 • People are doing the best they can with what they have. Seek to understand rather than be understood, and the best way to help yourself is to help others.
 • George’s first real teacher was his grandmother. She would give him a card on his birthday and call him Master George, rather than simply George. At the time George didn’t understand what she meant she was trying to impart that he was equal to other people and beneath others.
 • He also found a number of mentors growing up in the athletes he knew like Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown.
 • In terms of comeback stories, George admires Frederick Douglas, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Harriet Tubman.
 • We all have a masterpiece. Our job is to break through our shell and share our divinity with the world.
 • The spirit is the life, the mind is the builder, and the physical is the result. George allowed the world to be his teacher because great men are open to new experiences and continued learning and growing.
 • George encountered a number of struggles growing up, especially being injury prone and getting injured enough to lose his place on his sports team. It was a real challenge to be in school and not be an athlete because he didn’t know who he was at that point. He struggled considerably once his addiction got to the point where he realized that no matter how many drugs he was too much and not enough at the same time.
 • After getting clean, George’s doctor explained to him that his nervous system never dealt with the world on the world’s terms. Once George was off the drugs he had to find an alternative solution to dealing with his pain which led him to meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and taichi.
 • Instead of a curse, it was an opportunity to learn how to be with himself.
 • George began listening to that small sensitive voice within himself while meditating and he realised that one of the things he was missing was being intellectually stimulated. For the past 36 years, George has read a book a week and began sharing the wisdom he’s learned. He wanted to learn as much as he could to help people see things as stepping stones instead of roadblocks.
 • There are four steps to self-knowledge. The first is you are your own best teacher. The second is to be responsible with no excuses. The third is you can learn anything you want to learn. The fourth is that true understanding comes from reflecting on experience. Understanding and living this gives George more joy and purpose than he’s ever felt before.
 • No matter who you are or how good you are, at some point your athletic career will end. When it does you will need to know who you are.
 • George is committed to living now and enjoying the journey. He’s grateful for the opportunity to share what he’s learned and to continue to grow and evolve.
 • What you develop spiritually is the only thing that will stick with you for your whole life. Winning isn’t about winning championships, it’s about knowing that you got better today.
 • Pain comes from identifying what we do with who we are, so when we can’t play sports or lose our ability to perform we become lost.
 • If George could send a message back to his younger self it would be “you can be anything you want to be” and “no struggle, no sweat.” Embrace whatever comes and believe it can be overcome.
 • You need to integrate your darker self, but also choose to embrace the positive aspects of your mind. You can create a space between stimulus and response and control your habits. 90% of our long-term happiness is predicated on how our nervous system interprets our experience. You can choose to interpret things in a way that empowers you.
 • If George had to shout out someone he would choose the avatars like Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Muhammed, and others. George focuses more on the wisdom of the teachings and the archetypes rather than individuals in particular.
 • Any experience is an opportunity to learn profound teachings if the student is ready to learn.
 
 

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George Mumford’s Comeback Story - Seeking Truth and Wisdom Despite the Pain

Alex Smith shares the story of how his promising NFL career was derailed by a broken leg which led to an infection which threatened everything. Hear how Alex found a new mindset while in recovery and rehab at the Center for the Intrepid and how he became the Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 after he was told he would probably never play football again.
 
 • Alex grew up on the mean streets of San Diego as the third child of four. He was fortunate enough to have a supportive family and not really know adversity as a child.
 • He distinctly remembered being frustrated in his youth, and his dad helped him cultivate the mindset of accepting that certain things will happen and how to move on. That helped Alex avoid being distracted from what he was trying to achieve and stay focused.
 • It’s easy for us to have tunnel vision with what’s going on in our own lives. Alex’s parents helped him understand the wider vision which helped him be grateful for what he did have.
 • After Alex left college, his best friend fell into a deep depression and ended up taking his own life. It was during a time where Alex was concerned with what was happening in his own life and he missed his chance to make contact with him. It’s one of the first big challenges in Alex’s life and one of the things he regrets.
 • The more comfortable we can be with death, the more grateful we can be for each day that we are alive.
 • Alex’s adversity begins with when he broke his leg. So much of his identity was wrapped up in being a football player and when infection set in and they had to remove so much of his leg, he wasn’t sure what his life was going to be like. It took months for him to come to terms with it and he had to relive it each morning when he woke up.
 • The mental battle and doubt was the hardest part of Alex’s struggle. Seeing his kids live their lives kept Alex motivated to try to get his life back.
 • The Center for the Intrepid is the center for all limb injuries and they offer treatment to civilians that have injuries that are deemed warlike enough. In return they get to study you so they can continue to improve their treatment and rehab process. It was there that Alex started his rehab and found a new outlook on life.
 • The Center allowed Alex to enjoy the process of recovery and to focus on simply taking one step at a time. Putting all the focus on a single small step made it achievable instead of overwhelming.
 • Alex struggled with the weight of the expectations he felt when he was first drafted and it became a self-perpetuating circle that was unhealthy and unproductive. He went from loving football to feeling like it was a burden. It wasn’t until he flipped his mindset and he realized that he needed to “just live” and enjoy the moment because it wasn’t going to last forever.
 • The times when Alex doubted it was going to work out were just before something good came around the corner.
 • “Just live” became a mantra for Alex and it’s the message he would send back to his younger self. Don’t try to be perfect or worry about other people’s validations.
 • Being mindful and present in your life is how you accept the stresses and frustrations of life. Even in a sports context, being present is how you perform at the highest level.
 • The main things in life you control are your effort and your attitude.
 • Alex eventually returned to the football field once he had recovered enough. He was determined to see how far that road went and that it would have been disrespectful to walk away from the opportunity that was put in front of him.
 • Alex’s comeback shoutout goes to his wife. She managed to keep their whole life going while he was getting through his recovery and has been extremely supportive.
 
 

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Alex Smith’s Comeback Story - The Comeback Player of the Year

Tim Storey, the acclaimed author, speaker, and life coach to world-famous celebrities and athletes, shares his wisdom on the Miracle Mentality that he wants everyone to be able to achieve. Learn how Tim helps his clients create their own comeback story through forgiveness and insight, and how you can use his teachings to better understand yourself and live a more full life.
 
 • Tim Storey is known as the Comeback Coach and has helped a number of popular celebrities, business people, and athletes.
 • Everyone is on a journey in life and begins with a lot of momentum, but we usually run into obstacles that we need to overcome, and it’s those life turning points that Tim helps people with.
 • Structure was missing in Tim’s family because of financial stresses. It wasn’t until Tim was in 4th and 5th grade did his teachers really start to take notice of him and those teachers played a big part of his growth as a person.
 • When you have a set back, you have choices. You can sit in it, you can settle, which is what most people do, you can cement yourself, or you can push through it. When you feel the sting of a set back, God is preparing the comeback.
 • Tim recalls a memory of a race when he was in school where he forfeited his opportunity to win in order to help someone else who was having an asthma attack. That’s when he realized that he’s a humanitarian that will gladly give up his chance to win to help an underdog win.
 • Sometimes you just have to sit with someone when they are in crisis. Tim is always looking for people he can help, regardless of who they are.
 • Tim’s brother died from his addiction and that experience helped him understand that addiction is widespread and plenty of people need help.
 • The average person nurses, curses, and rehearses their problems. To get past that, you have to be awake, take an inventory, and partner with the right people. That’s Tim’s strength. He’s not afraid to ask for help or get therapy if he needs to. He’s smart enough to know that he needs an infusion of strength into him as well.
 • It’s rare that someone will change quickly. A slow transformation is the one that lasts.
 • A lot of celebrities are surrounded by people who want to take advantage of them, so trust is always an issue. They face the same challenges as most people, but they get amplified by their celebrity status.
 • There is a price to do what we do. The deeper Tim goes with someone, the more he needs to know in order to help them.
 • Tim tells the story of a famous football player that believed that his problems were taking over his life, but when he went back to his childhood school, he reconnected with his innocence and put his life into perspective.
 • We talk about triggers in recovery as a negative thing, but there are positive triggers as well. Tim triggers himself every day by reconnecting with the music of his childhood and that helps keep him grounded.
 • A lot of what we are looking for is momentum, but there are a number of people that will come into our lives that will want to hold us back. Their offense towards you will put you on the defense and kill your momentum. If you’re too offended, you will pass by the things that really matter. You have to forgive in order to keep moving forward. Freedom comes from forgiveness.
 • Not everyone will accept your apology. Not everybody is going to be supportive of your comeback story.
 • Meditation has changed Tim’s life. Every morning, Tim prays and meditates which puts him in such a state of peace that people ask him what he does to stay so calm. Meditation allows Tim to stay calm, cool, and collected no matter what happens in his life.
 • The Miracle Mentality is how we think when we’re kids, and we need to relearn how to release it to make great things happen.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
The Miracle Mentality by Tim Storey
 
timstorey.com

 

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Tim Storey’s Comeback Story - The Miracle Mentality

On this episode of Comeback Stories, Darren & Donny are joined by Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker turned analyst for Fox Sports 1. Emmanuel shares how his story as a Nigerian-American shaped his childhood and his father's continuous impact as an adult. 

He then explains how he was able to partner with Oprah on his book, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” as well as work with a mystery caller who pushed him to find his purpose as a communicator and fine-tune his revelations to those who will listen.

Follow Emmanuel Here:

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho 

Have a question or topic for our next show? Text or leave us a VM at 480-701-8844

 

 https://www.comebackstories.com/ 

 

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► iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comeback-stories/id1551398819 

► Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6aatkzIGU9a7rrp26gAoTp 

 

 

 DARREN WALLER 

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 DONNY STARKINS 

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Emmanuel Acho's Comeback Story

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