Hi, I'm Michael Leach, dad, author speaker and coach.  I've been talking about launching a podcast for a long time now—for many moons. The stars have aligned and I’ve been working around the clock, and the people I’ve been eager to sit down with for a conversation have jumped on board, ready and willing to make a contribution to the cause and I’m so excited to share their gold—to share their stories. We’re calling this first episode, Episode 0, so consider this the official launch of The Bounce Forward Podcast. In this first episode, it’s just me, sharing a smorgasbord of what this podcast is about. At its heart, my plan is to provide long-form storytelling and discussion with people who inspire me. From athletes to artists, activists to adventurers, actors to authors, the one thing every guest will have in common is a shared vulnerability and willingness to embrace the struggle as they endure and persevere. Every guest will embody stories of endurance and perseverance, and I’m confident that their stories will help us on our path to become our strongest and truest selves. Right now, we’re a one man show and the learning curve has been steep. I’ve long wanted to launch a podcast, but the technical side of things have proven too overwhelming and intimidating—straight up daunting—to take the plunge. But I’ve often said, when we uncover the courage to go all-in on a project, the stars often align, and even though we’re still navigating some tech issues and I’m still learning how to edit audio (and video) and we’re working through the kinks of our remote recording and editing platforms (we’ve tried multiple platforms already), I’ve decided that instead of waiting until everything’s perfect, I’m going to just dive in, and begin this adventure. Like I coach my daughter and athletes up on, instead of getting wrapped up in results, I’m going to focus on the process, and growing this podcast organically. So, I hope you’ll be patient with me as I find my legs and gain a feel for the water as I’m very much a work in progress on every level as a podcaster, but I’m eager to show up and to bring you stories and episodes that uplift and inspire. With so much noise out there telling us how to be, how to think, how to live, how to parent, how to train, it’s my hope that this podcast can help listeners redefine what success looks like (a deeply personal thing and matter of perspective), while combating the demons of self-doubt and fear that so often accompany athletic pursuits, creative endeavors, bold adventures and passion projects. This is very much a Be Audacious project in line with my books, blog, and mission; it's for those bold enough to believe we can do hard things. It’s for those fighting to persevere and overcome life’s challenges with courage, character, grit and grace. Ultimately, it’s my hope that this podcast can help you unlock your truest, strongest and most authentic self, so together, as a community, we can all become the best versions of ourselves. I hope you ride this wave with me. It’s going to be a wild ride and I can’t wait to bring you our first two long-form episodes, because I think they’re pretty special. With nothin’ but love, Michael W. Leach