“I used to have a neighbor who’d always say, ‘When you rest, you rust’. Well, I don’t ever want to rest and rust to the point where I can’t impact others.” ~ Tony Russell

Tony Russell was only four years old, in preschool, when his mother passed away. She had been having health issues but the suddenness caught everyone off guard. He transitioned through different family members, all doing their best to raise him, but the challenge proved too great and he was given up for adoption. Upon learning this news, Tony’s preschool teacher, Mrs. Russell went home to her military husband and said, “Tony Russell Senior, I know our kids are grown and out of the house and we thought we were done with raising kids, but we are adopting another one.” To which Tony Senior responded, “Yes Ma’am.”

Later in life, Tony followed in his adopted, and beloved, father’s footsteps and pursued a career in the military. While on an air force mission he was injured and died. You did not misread that, Tony Russell was pronounced dead and was deceased for a full 7 minutes before he, just, started breathing again.

Ultimately, staff sergeant Russell spent a month in a coma after the incident when, one day, as he tells it, he just woke up. He’s since experienced many forms of PTSD but his support dogs, Rush and Rip, help him live an active and vibrant life of kindness and appreciation.

A true miracle and a truly exceptional person, I can’t wait for you to hear Tony Russell’s story.

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**Video broadcast available** on YouTube @imperfectbest

**Learn more about Jason Freeman** at AwkwardlyAwesome.com

My next guest and I run in some of the same circles. There’s a particular image of him that I can’t shake. It revolves around a group of us going out for a night of bowling. Everyone was dressed pretty much exactly how you’d expect someone who’s going bowling to dress, except for Kiley Naro. Nope, he showed up wearing a dress shirt, tie, and slacks, trading only his Oxfords for a pair of bowling shoes.

Being dressed up and looking sharp is indicative of Kiley’s drive for excellence. Kiley has been immersed in computer programming since he was a kid and found a way to nurture his passion into a successful career. Within the last decade, Kiley has found himself immersed in something else too, something that surprised him because he’d always held such a profound doubt of it: Religion. Now, faith guides him and this journey has rewritten the programming of his life, going so far as to call him to move to a state he had only ever read about in a book, South Dakota.

Not one to accept loneliness or stew about not knowing anybody in his new home, he joined a Toastmasters group. After a few short years, he was elected to serve not only as President of his club, but also Division Director in the same year. He now serves as Area 64 Director. He also landed a position lending his talents to a non-profit organization that inspires him deeply.

And I’m inspired too! By a friend who constantly steps up and strives for something greater. I trust you will be inspired too.

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**Video broadcast available** on YouTube @imperfectbest

**Learn more about Jason Freeman** at AwkwardlyAwesome.com

I’ve always had great admiration for people who work in healthcare. Since my Dad is a kind and gifted neurologist, you could say I was born into this love for the medical field. This respect has only increased in recent years as I’ve studied more about the challenges that abound in healthcare. The skill and courage with which these challenges are met by teams of healthcare professionals on a daily basis is nothing short of miraculous. My awe and admiration were taken to new heights, pun perfectly intended, when I had a conversation recently with my next guest, Rob Freese.

Rob is a flight nurse, a registered nurse who transports patients to a medical facility on a helicopter or plane. In his 26 year career, he’s logged just over 2,600 flights. That translates to thousands of life saving efforts for patients who are critically injured or severely ill. In our chat, we discussed what he has learned about dealing effectively with crisis situations. In his line of work, he said working well as part of a team is absolutely essential, as is, the importance of debriefing and creating space for healing after a crisis.

I’m excited to interview Nurse Rob and explore these topics further. I’m also so curious to learn why he chose this challenging field and garner some lessons from his experience that we all might apply in our own lives. As with all my guests, I’m honored to celebrate the unique wisdom and perspective Rob Freese brings to the world.