Unscripted with Spencer Lodge

I am thrilled to bring you this week’s episode as I am chatting with one of the only people on Earth to have lived in space AND at the bottom of the ocean! Today I am in conversation with the one and only Colonel Ron Garan - a decorated NASA astronaut, fighter pilot, test pilot, humanitarian, and social entrepreneur. Ron has a remarkable story as he has spent 178 days in space and has traveled more than 71 million miles during 2,842 orbits of our planet. He flew on both the US space shuttle and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, where he accomplished four spacewalks. Ron also spent eighteen days at the bottom of the ocean during a research mission held in the world’s only undersea research lab, Aquarius. Ron and I discuss how he made an ‘impossible dream’ become reality, the training it took to become an astronaut, why he is so passionate about improving life on Earth, and his upcoming book launch, Floating in Darkness. If you find this interview as fascinating as I did, then you’ll want to be among the first to get a hardcover copy of Ron’s new book Floating in Darkness, launching in May 2021. Floating in Darkness, the sequel to Ron’s critically acclaimed first book The Orbital Perspective, adds the perspective of inner space to take the reader on a profound journey of discovery. It addresses fundamental aspects of the evolution of society and humanity and serves as a call to action to help steer the trajectory of our society toward a future we would all want to be a part of.   As a 'thank you' to my listeners, simply use promo code "SPENCER" at checkout to get 10% off your pre-order copy of Ron's book here: https://www.rongaran.com/spencer

This week I sit down with Jihyun Park, a North Korean Defector, who tells me about her harrowing escape from North Korea in 1998. Jihyun reveals her experience of fleeing the darkest place on Earth, being human trafficked in China and forced into a marriage with a Chinese farmer with whom she had baby boy, and being separated from him for years. Jihyun highlights her experience of being reported to Chinese authorities and being sent back to North Korea, the torture she faced in a forced labour camp, and her brush with death while in captivity. Today Jihyun lives in the UK; she is a Human Rights Activist that campaigns for the rights of all North Koreans and helps North Korean refugees in the UK rebuild their lives. Note: I encourage listeners to head to my YouTube channel where you can experience Jihyun’s story with visuals and subtitles, to fully immerse yourself in her story. Head to: http://bit.ly/Jihyun-Park-Video-Interview

This week’s episode is a story of incredible resilience. I am speaking with Tulsi Vagjiani, an airplane crash survivor whose parents and brother perished, along with 89 others, after their plane crashed in Bangalore in 1990. At just 10 years old, Tulsi was dragged from the wreckage and flown to England where she was treated for 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 45% of her body. To date, Tulsi has endured more than 50 operations to repair her face, chest and legs, yet the severity of the burns meant she grew up feeling like "a freak." In our chat, we discuss her determination to overcome unimaginable loss, undergoing a life-changing kidney transplant and how she began to accept her appearance.

My guest this week is none other than Natasha Hamilton - former bandmate of the British girl group Atomic Kitten. At the tender age of 16 Natasha signed a £1.5M record deal with Virgin Records to form one of the UK’s most successful girl bands - quickly becoming a global sensation with their single “Whole Again”. With the girls’ overnight success came intense pressure, paranoia, loneliness and anxiety. After 5 years as the lead singer, Natasha left the band at the height of her career to seek treatment for postpartum depression. In this episode, Natasha and I discuss the struggles she faced with sudden superstardom, leaving the limelight to raise her family and the loneliness she experienced after fame. We also touch on her experience with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and her journey to becoming a Holistic Therapist. 

I watched a viral video a few years back of this week’s guest delivering a heartfelt talk to a room full of students. It was a truly moving, emotional talk about the loss of his mother that had the entire audience in tears. That man is Marc Mero - a Former WWE Professional Wrestling Champion, motivational speaker and the founder of the non-profit organization, Champion of Choices. Today, he is America’s number 1 school presenter, regularly speaking about anti-bullying, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. The tragic loss of more than 30 of his close friends and family members – largely due to substance abuse and poor lifestyle choices – is what inspired Marc to teach children about the consequences of their choices. He shares his powerful story of tragedy and triumph, speaking candidly about where his good and bad choices took him, his faith, and what he'd say to his mother if she were still here. His passion for reaching youth with his Champion of Choices School Program saves lives, encourages youth to achieve their goals and helps them become the Champions they are destined to be.

Trigger warning: this episode includes conversations about suicide. To mark World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th), I am honoured to share the story of Kevin Hines – one of the only people in the world to survive jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of the few interviews that brought me to tears. Kevin’s story hits home because I – like so many others - have battled with my own mental health struggles and thoughts of self-harm. Nearly 2,000 people have committed suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge since it opened in 1937. It is a suicide attempt that is 99% fatal. The 4-second fall can be compared to the force of slamming into a concrete wall at 120km/hr. If jumpers don’t die from impact trauma, they succumb to hypothermia or drowning. Thankfully, Kevin’s experience has a different ending. At 19 years old, after years of battling several undiagnosed mental illnesses, Kevin made his way to the bridge, with thoughts of jumping but hopes of a stranger asking if he was okay. Because nobody spotted the signs of his distress, Kevin threw himself over the rail. In a remarkable turn of events, Kevin’s attempt to take his life was unsuccessful after a SEA LION circled him and kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. While Kevin’s story has a happy ending, but this isn’t the case for the 800,000 people who die due to suicide each year. If you are thinking about suicide, please speak to a trusted friend or family member, a qualified professional, or call a suicide crisis helpline. Visit www.suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.

If you regularly forget names, misplace your keys, or fail to recall simple details then you NEED to listen to this week’s episode! Once labelled “The boy with the broken brain,” Jim Kwik is now the world’s leading expert in memory improvement and brain performance. Jim joins me to share the techniques he teaches his celebrity and CEO clients to help them learn ANYTHING faster. Tune in to this 1-hour ‘memory coaching masterclass’ for practical tips to improve your memory, enhance your focus, and to learn Jim’s famous M-O-M tactic to unleash your limitless brain! Whether you're learning a new language or want to remember events more clearly, these memory techniques are you for! As someone with a very bad memory, I can’t stress how life-changing these tips are, so go on - get stuck in! Grab Jim's 12-Week Memory Masterclass Course NOW through Najahi Events and save 95%! This is a once-off offer! You don't want to miss out! Get it here: https://kwikbrain.com/najahi

Imagine being 18 years old and discovering that the internet exists. Then imagine learning that the world isn’t flat, the United States of America has something called a President, and your grandfather is accused of incest. That’s the backstory to this week’s guest, Emma Gingerich. Emma was raised Amish, and her family is originally from the ‘Swartzentruber Amish’ which are widely considered the least modern and uneducated Amish people on the planet. In January 2006, with $50 in her back pocket, Emma took off her bonnet and walked out the door of her family’s small farmhouse to begin her new life. Having only attained an 8th-grade education, Emma completed her GED, went to college and eventually earned herself an MBA. Emma’s story is courageous and listening to this episode, will take you to another world.

Trigger warning: this episode includes conversations about suicide. This week’s episode is by far the most emotional podcast I have recorded. It was my pleasure to invite Rahaf Kobeissi into the studio to share her heartbreaking story. From living through the pain of her father’s suicide to having her brother accidentally kill someone in her home and attempting suicide three times herself - her story is truly devastating, yet courageous and brave. But like all grey clouds, it has a silver lining: Rahaf discovered her purpose as an advocate for men’s mental health and became an acclaimed Men’s Mental Health Coach & Personal Development Trainer. I want to remind my listeners about the importance of speaking openly about mental health. If you are struggling in any way, please reach out to a trusted friend, family member or qualified professional. I am also available to speak to anyone who is battling with mental health issues. Remember, you are not alone. Grab your tissues and hit play.

If you’re looking to grow a business, build better habits or achieve big goals, then you’ll want to tune in to today’s episode because I am speaking with the world’s most disciplined man - Craig Ballantyne! Craig is THE premier coach for high-performing entrepreneurs and executives looking to triple their productivity, achieve better work-life balance and take control of their life. He is the author of 3 bestselling books: The Perfect Day Formula, The Perfect Week Formula, and the Best-Seller Unstoppable. If that isn’t impressive enough, he’s built five 7-figure companies in the last 20 years! Craig shares his secret to writing books in the most productive way, the various ways that self-sabotage can manifest and what he thinks people should do to get through challenging times. Listen to this interview if you want some great advice that will help you improve yourself while working a lot less!