Salish Wolf #2 Paul Underhill on Founding a Functional Beverage Company, Defying Cystic Fibrosis, and Kiteboarding
Have you ever met someone who earned your respect and devotion within seconds? For me, Paul Underhill is one of these people. I have actually known Paul for about a decade, but this interview is only the second time I have had a conversation with him – the first time having also been in an interview.
In my opinion, there is nothing to not like about Paul. Through his five-decade-long battle with cystic fibrosis, Paul has not only defied survival odds, but he has and continues to show the inspirational power of the human spirit. While his health deteriorated with each passing day, Paul launched a social impact beverage company while hoping to stay alive long enough to receive a double lung transplant. Nearly ten years later, Paul is thriving, and so is his functional beverage known as Rumble that is not only delicious and healthy, but as has been the case with Paul, serves as a vital nutritional component for so many chronic health sufferers. Certainly, for Paul the last decade has not been easy, and he and I discuss many of his losses and near defeats along the way, including a tumultuous period where it seemed his world was literally unraveling while his company hung by a thread.
But Paul and Rumble are tenacious, and both have rumbled back, emerging stronger than ever. Alongside his physical struggles, Paul talks about his ongoing spiritual development and how he has been impacted by meditation, Qi Gong, and his relationship with his own mortality. Perhaps few of his successes would have been possible without the ongoing support of his friends, family, and business partners, and Paul’s inherent drive to drive for social impact through his actions and his brand.
Rumble is not yet a titan in the beverage industry, but it was built on the shoulders and with the heart of a titan in life. This is Paul’s story, compressed into 90 minutes of raw and humbling dialogue. It does not matter who you are or what interests you have, if you listen to this episode, you will walk away a richer soul. And you will likely find yourself cheering for Paul, just as I do.
Episode Links:
http://www.transplant.bc.ca (For BC)
https://beadonor.ca (for Ontario)
The Heart’s Code by Paul Pearsall
The Corporation film
Raising the Bar by Garry Erickson
Learning Links:
Surf Retreat through Anchor Point Expeditions
Meditation Podcast with Steve James on Pacific Rim College Radio
Qi Gong online courses through Pacific Rim College Online