Salish Wolf #30 Chad Guenter on Fostering Mental Health, Healing Through Connection, and Paddling the Path
This interview with mental health champion Chad Guenter begins with a light-hearted discussion of standup paddle boarding on rivers and rapids and includes his takeaways from many years as a whitewater guide. And then, as if entering class V rapids, the intensity changes.
Being most at home on the water, Chad is not afraid to go deep, and in this episode, we descend into the abyss of mental illness. Paddling has been an integral part of Chad’s life and personal healing, and to help support loved ones struggling with mental health, he started using his paddle board as a springboard to raise awareness. But Chad is not just standing up for those close to him; he incessantly fights for the well-being of anyone facing mental health challenges.
Through his initiatives known as Keep Calm/Paddle On and Project All In, and in his role as a firefighter, Chad has dedicated his life to helping others both in the physical and mental/emotional realms. He is literally saving and improving the lives of people throughout Canada, and the impact of Project All in has cascaded around the globe.
I know and have interviewed many amazing and driven individuals, and Chad has quickly risen to the upper ranks of that list. His dedication to his selfless path of service to others is awe-inspiring, and his unabashed vulnerability touched me in a way that very few interactions have. Even with his enormous physical stature, I have found that it is his heart that is the ultimate titan. With Chad standing up against the stigmatization of mental illness, dismantled barriers are being left in his wake. Be prepared to fall in love with this guy and feel the embrace of his compassion.
Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with Chad Guenter.
Episode Links:
River Camp at NormHann.com
Episode 1: Norm Hann on Paddleboarding, Wild British Columbia, and Activism
Whitewater Intensive Leadership Development School
Anchor Point Links:
Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions