Bold Journeys Podcast

Some people chase adventure. Others build a life around it. Offshore captain Hank Schmitt has done both. In this conversation, Hank traces the long arc of his sailing life, from Long Island summers and high school racing, to oil rig shifts, boat work, deliveries, and eventually founding Offshore Passage Opportunities (OPO). Hank walks through the defining moments that shaped his leadership at sea — dismastings, jury rigged steering, a mid winter rescue, and the quiet discipline required to keep a crew steady when the ocean has other plans. We talk about navigation before GPS, the mindset of a solo Atlantic crossing, and why self‑reliance still matters in a world where Starlink can make the ocean feel smaller than it is. And we explore OPO's decade of work in Dominica — rebuilding after hurricanes, expanding moorings, and strengthening a local sailing community. Hank shares how OPO began in the pre‑internet days, after watching aspiring crew fly to the Canaries to "walk the docks" hoping for a ride. He built a better way to connect captains, delivery skippers, and sailors who want real sea miles — a system that's helped hundreds of sailors gain confidence, competence, and offshore experience. Here are five of my takeaways from Hank's approach to staying calm under pressure and how we can apply them in our lives: 1. Lead without leaking panic At sea, a skipper's energy sets the tone. On land, it's the same. People read your face before they hear your words. When you stay steady, you give others permission to stay steady too. Calm leadership isn't about pretending everything is fine — it's about refusing to amplify fear. 2. Deal with what's in front of you Good seamanship is solving the problem that exists, not the one you're afraid might happen next. Life works the same way. Most situations get worse when we dramatize them. They get better when we take the next clear step, then the next, without spiraling. 3. Slow down before you act On a boat, taking the wrong action can make a small issue a big one. In life, rushing decisions often does the same. The discipline is the pause — taking a breath to choose intention over impulse. 4. Repetition builds self‑reliance Confidence offshore comes from miles, mistakes, calms and storms. Confidence in life comes from the same ingredients. You don't become resilient by reading about resilience. You become resilient by living through things, learning from them, and showing up again. 5. Expect systems to fail — and stay adaptable Boats break. Plans break. Technology fails. People disappoint. Calm comes from expecting that reality and preparing for it, not from hoping everything goes smoothly. When you know your backups — your skills, your values, your ability to improvise — you stop fearing the unknown. Join the Journey If this conversation resonates, follow the show for more real stories of grit, adventure, and faith — and share it with someone who could use a steady voice in their corner. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/ Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/ Chapters 00:00 Staying Calm at Sea: Pressure, Leadership, and Problem-Solving 01:55 Podcast Intro: Meet Hank Schmidt & Offshore Passage Opportunities (OPO) 05:10 300,000 Miles of Experience: Dismastings, Jury Rigs, and Self-Sufficiency 10:40 Where the Calm Comes From: Early Independence and Life Choices 11:37 Building OPO Before the Internet: Boat Shows, Side Hustles, and Survival 14:19 Falling in Love with Sailing: Long Island Childhood to High School Racing 17:12 First Big Passages: Florida Dockwalking to Offshore Oil Rigs 23:59 Solo Crossing on a Shoestring: Minimal Gear, Old-School Navigation 24:52 Speed vs. Soul Offshore: Tech, Starlink, and the Changing Ocean Experience 28:43 OPO's Core Concept: Matching Crew, Building Skills, and Win-Win Deliveries 32:02 Rob's Path Through OPO: From Dominica to the SWAN Program 34:12 Why Dominica Became a Focus & Building a Mooring Field 39:01 Dominica's "Back in Time" Cruising & Why It's So Special 46:48 Modern Forecasting, Weather Windows, and Fast Swan Passages 48:25 Why Offshore Sailing Hits Different: Quiet, Connection, and Community 51:58 Rapid Fire + Real Skills: Gear, Autopilot Myths, and Steering Lessons 58:17 Scariest Moment & Dream Sailor to Meet (America's Cup Story) 01:01:50 Rallies, Self-Reliance, and Getting Younger People into Sailing 01:06:18 Legacy, Scaling Back, and How to Take Your First Step into Sailing

What if you could rewire stress from the inside out? In this episode of Bold Journeys, host Rob Spee explores how surrender, resilience, and a science‑backed practice called Physical Intelligence can transform the way you move through adversity. After losing his wife to a sudden brain aneurysm, resilience coach and speaker Rob Swymer found himself rebuilding his life from the ground up. What helped him rise wasn't willpower alone — it was learning how to surrender to adversity and work with his body's chemistry instead of fighting against it. Rob shares how adversity shaped his mission, how surrender became a turning point, and how Physical Intelligence can help you regulate stress, shift your emotional state, and reconnect with purpose. You'll even learn a simple PI exercise you can try today. If you're navigating stress, grief, or a major life transition, this conversation offers grounded, practical tools for finding strength, clarity, and hope. What You'll Learn How surrender can create clarity in hard seasons A simple Physical Intelligence practice to help regulate stress How your body's natural chemicals can support emotional stability The role of gratitude in blocking fear and anger How Rob transformed profound loss into a mission to help others If this episode resonates, hit Like, Subscribe, and drop a comment. Your support helps Bold Journeys reach more people who need these conversations. Join the Journey If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more stories of grit, adventure, and faith — and share it with someone who needs strength today. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/ Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/ Chapters 00:00 A Tragic Night in Atlanta 00:31 Understanding Resilience 01:12 Introduction to Bold Journeys 01:14 Meet Rob Swymer 01:33 Rob's Life-Altering Event 01:46 The Concept of Physical Intelligence 02:17 Rob's Journey of Transformation 04:10 The Power of Surrender 09:09 Rob's Childhood and Early Challenges 11:42 Struggles with Alcohol and Sobriety 16:00 Finding Purpose and Spirituality 23:24 Embracing Adversity and Gratitude 29:37 Parenting and Resilience 30:28 Mental Health Pandemic 30:44 Mission to Teach Self-Activation 32:50 Physical Intelligence Explained 33:58 Four Quadrants of Physical Intelligence 37:49 Manifesting Goals and Purpose 42:59 Living with Gratitude 47:58 Rapid Fire Round

Mitch Lewandowski's story is a raw, unfiltered journey through illness, loss, faith, and triumph. It's the kind of adversity that reshapes a life. From a near‑fatal battle with COVID‑19 to a MRSA infection that almost cost him his leg — and then walking with his wife through stage‑four cancer — Mitch's path is a powerful testament to resilience and strength forged in the hardest seasons. In this episode of the Bold Journeys Podcast, Mitch shares how early hardship shaped his grit, how faith carried him through the unthinkable, and why "doing hard things" became the foundation for rebuilding a healthy, whole, and purposeful life. What You'll Discover · The medical crises that nearly took Mitch's life - twice How early adversity shaped his grit and character The turning points that sparked his transformation The role of faith, surrender, and determination in rebuilding Practical ways to find purpose and courage in your own storm If you're navigating loss, uncertainty, or a season you didn't choose, Mitch's story will remind you that hope is never out of reach — and that a meaningful life can be rebuilt from the hardest places. If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more stories of grit, adventure, and faith — and share it with someone who needs strength today. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY YouTube Instagram CHAPTERS 00:00 A Miraculous Survival Story 01:37 Mitch's Humble Beginnings 02:58 The Impact of a Bicycle 04:54 Realizing Socioeconomic Differences 06:32 Chasing Success and Its Consequences 08:30 A Life-Altering Realization 10:43 Facing Life-Changing Events 12:20 Surviving COVID Against All Odds 18:41 Battling MRSA and Personal Loss 22:37 Embracing the Journey of Life and Death 27:05 Drawing Strength from Adversity 29:28 Understanding Pain vs. Suffering 32:00 Cycling as a Metaphor for Life 36:58 The Importance of Faith and Devotion 38:01 Rapid Fire Questions 46:12 Empathy and Leadership 48:57 Advice for Personal Storms

What if you could develop a systematic way to build grit and resilience, a mental model that would help you handle life's hardest moments without falling apart? 🌟 Join us in this profound episode as we explore Jay McBain's journey of systems thinking—a way of living that's both practical and transformative. Jay McBain is one of the most respected voices in the tech channel world, known for helping companies understand where partnerships and ecosystems are heading. He's widely recognized for helping businesses navigate the fast‑changing world of partner strategy and go‑to‑market models. Growing up in Canada, Jay's childhood was filled with pivotal moments that shaped his logical and resilient mindset. Discover how early lessons in financial planning, sports, and technology prepared him to face life's toughest challenges, from the heartbreak of divorce to the failure of a tech startup. This conversation is essential for anyone seeking courage, clarity, faith, or reinvention. You'll come away with practical strategies for: 1️⃣ Compartmentalizing life's challenges to avoid overwhelm. 2️⃣ Using statistical and logical thinking to overcome emotional hurdles. 3️⃣ Embracing gratitude and acknowledging privilege in personal success. 4️⃣ Finding adventure in travel and life's unexpected turns. Jay's wisdom offers a fresh perspective, empowering you to approach your storm with a heart full of determination and a mind ready for calculated action. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will elevate your sense of possibility and prepare you to face your own storm with a resilient heart. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY YouTube Instagram CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to System Thinking 01:31 Jay's Early Life and Family Background 02:17 Childhood Memories and Early Influences 04:00 Pivotal Moments and Early Career 06:59 Financial Lessons and First Motorcycle 12:57 Building a Future and Facing Adversity 22:31 System Thinking and Resilience 26:04 Prostate Health and Genetic Testing 27:29 Family History and Genealogy 29:41 Christmas and Family Traditions 31:13 Adventurous Travels and Rollerblading Tour 35:21 Skydiving Proposal and Rapid-Fire Questions 41:49 Reflections on Life's Challenges and Advice

Hello, Channel Pros! Welcome to the final episode of Channel Journeys—a moment that's both nostalgic and exciting. After celebrating our voyage with highlights from ten fantastic guests in the last episode, it's time to chart a new course toward "Bold Journeys." This December, in the spirit of advent—a season of anticipation and joy—I reflect on the past seven years of Channel Journeys and the joy it has brought me. Through insightful conversations with astonishing people, we've explored channel stories that resonated with our ecosystem, the channel community. The podcast has evolved from an emerging platform to a sought-after space where guests frequently requested to share their partnering wisdom. But as I transitioned from my career as a channel chief, my passion for sharing channel stories shifted to adventures, grit, and faith. Join me in this final episode as we dive into grit, adventure and faith behind the pivot to Bold Journeys. You'll hear stories from Jay McBain, Louise McEvoy, and Mitch Lewandowski that personify these themes. KEY TAKEAWAYS Grit: A Formula for Success Grit combines passion and perseverance, serving as a cornerstone for long-term achievement. Often more crucial than natural talent, grit fuels persistence in challenging times. Jay McBain, known for his analytical approach as a chief channel analyst, transforms obstacles into manageable challenges. During our interview, he emphasized the importance of compartmentalizing life's difficulties, aiming to prevent overwhelming piles of stress. His analytical mindset is a hallmark of his ability to overcome life's hurdles. Adventure: Stepping into the Unknown Adventure starts where certainty ends. It's about embracing risks for rewarding experiences. Louise McAvoy, a partnering executive and avid mountaineer, embodies this spirit. Inspired by reading about the 1996 Everest Disaster, she set her sights on climbing Everest. What started as a simple promise turned into a 14-year journey to the summit. Her narrative illustrates that adventure is a choice to leave comfort behind and discover personal limits, whether in careers, relationships, or personal growth. Faith: Trust in the Unseen Faith is the compass guiding our journey, even amidst unseen challenges. For Mitch Lewandowski, faith was a lifeline through three critical life challenges, including a near-death experience with COVID. Emerging from his trials stronger, Mitch highlights how faith fuels perseverance, molding us for future challenges. His conviction that trials develop character echoes deeply as we navigate our own journeys. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Final Episode Announcement 01:17 The Pivot to Bold Journeys 02:30 Sneak Peek: Grit, Adventure, and Faith 03:05 Exploring Grit with Jay McBain 06:21 Adventures with Louise McEvoy 09:27 Faith and Perseverance with Mitch Lewandowski 12:22 Conclusion and Invitation to Bold Journeys THANK YOU! As we embark on "Bold Journeys," I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished guests—Jay, Louise, and Mitch—for their inspiring narratives and insights. Thank you, too, to our devoted listeners who've been part of the Channel Journeys community and all of the guests who have shared their stories over the past 7 years. While bidding farewell to Channel Journeys, I invite you to join me on this new adventure. When it launches in January, subscribe, share, comment, and let's be bold and courageous together. Thank you so much for being an integral part of the Channel Journeys adventure and for embracing the upcoming Bold Journeys.

Chris Day, CEO of ScalePad, shares his transition to CEO and the steps they've taken to provide cutting edge technologies that power Managed Service Providers' (MSP's) businesses.

Ryan Walsh, Channel Chief and Chief Strategy Officer at Pax 8, discusses the Agentic AI-driven transformation of MSPs to Managed Information Providers (MIPs).