The Fuzzy Mic
After retiring from a 30-year, major market morning radio career, I'm often asked what I miss the most about the job. I miss 3 C's...camaraderie, creativity but most of all, conversation.
The Fuzzy Mic is built around creativity and conversation to develop camaraderie. The 4 focus areas are: Mental Health, True Crime, Music and Sports.
So, while The Fuzzy Mic allows me to fill some professional voids, it's my sincere hope that maybe you'll find something personally fulfilling in it too.
The Fuzzy Mic
Battling Inertia For Mental Health
Ever found yourself in a motivational slump, struggling to lace up those running shoes or even step onto the yoga mat? I'm right there with you. Join me, Kevin Kline, as I get candid about my own battle to begin a long-distance running routine and the quirky yet effective tactics I've adopted. From my ritualistic anti-chafing preparations to the peculiar sense of obligation to not waste a single nipple cover, I unpack the mental hurdles of initiating any physical pursuit. Discover the surprising joy and mental clarity that comes from pushing past procrastination and embracing the movement, whether it's a marathon or simply a walk around the block.
Welcome to the Fuzzy Mike, the interview series, the podcast, whatever Kevin wants to call it. It's Fuzzy Mike. Hello and thank you for joining me on the Fuzzy Mike where we give you entertaining and helpful conversation on mental health navigation. I'm your host, kevin Kline, on the Tuttle Kline podcast, the podcast I co-host with my longtime radio partner, Tim Tuttle, where we give you new episodes every Wednesday. We spoke with Tim's brother, todd Tuttle, retired US Army colonel See Todd's two months into a six-month hike on the Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1:He's doing it for Warriors Expedition. Todd has covered 550 of the nearly 2,200 miles of the trail. He started in Georgia. He's gone through Georgia, north Carolina and Tennessee. He's now in Virginia and Todd's doing it along with nine other hikers as part of Warriors Expedition. It's a veteran nonprofit outdoor therapy program that helps veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long-distance outdoor expedition. During the expedition, veterans have the opportunity to decompress from their military service and come to terms with their wartime experiences. So we asked Todd when he was on with us the other day if what he's experienced so far has had the impact on his mental healing that he hoped it would have for this massive undertaking.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, there's no doubt that the what you get out of long term exposure with nature, or what they call nature therapy, I could definitely tell a difference with me. And they say it really doesn't click until about a thousand mile mark. Uh, but yeah, you know, the other veterans are doing great. Um, since I, you know, saw them at the start, you know, almost two months ago, uh, we cross paths all the time. Uh, I've been with one guy in particular Papa Smurf is his trail name and uh, he is definitely coming along. You know, physically we're all getting better too, obviously losing weight, getting stronger, doing that. But emotional and mental health Awesome, there's nothing better than being out in nature?
Speaker 1:That's the second question that my psychiatrist asks me when I see him on my regular visit how active are you? We've long discussed the benefits of physical activity, how it's the most affordable and natural way to curb mental struggles. It's what I call clearing the cobwebs. You don't have to do something as big as what Todd is doing. You don't have to run like I do. All you have to do is find something physical whether it's walking, biking, gardening, anything that gets you moving, and you'll be amazed at how different you feel. Listen, I hate starting. It's the worst part of anything for me. In our case here, since we're talking about physical activity, and long distance running is my method of mental clarity movement I'm going to equate it to that.
Speaker 1:Starting is difficult for me for so many reasons. First and foremost, I'd rather sleep in, but once I get up, though, I have to prepare my gear and body. I fill my hydration bladder, put on my Trailtoes anti-chafing and blister prevention cream. I swear by this stuff. I put it on my feet, I put it under my arms, I put it between my legs, my groin area, a little bit in the backside. If you know what I mean, you never know where you're going to chafe, when you're running 20 miles plus at a time. Then I cover my nipples with those little circular band-aids, I spray 100 SPF sunscreen on my neck and my arms, I put the similar amount on my nose with a cream, then I warm up and stretch, because I'm old now, and then I go outside in the heat and I see that hill that's waiting for me because we live at the bottom. So every run starts uphill, and those are the immediate detriments to starting. It's about 45 minutes where I can talk myself out of running. But once I put those nip covers on, I have to run because I don't like wasting them, and if I put them on only to take them off without running, that's a waste.
Speaker 1:So now I've started. But there's more starting that stare at me in the face, the starting of a new routine. How many days can I stick with this? But to motivate me further, you know, as if my own mental clarity and mental health isn't enough to motivate me, I sign up for a race or I think of some running feat I could do. That would give me a goal to work towards. So now I've started a countdown to a specific date. But here's the thing Once I start, it becomes easier.
Speaker 1:After my first mile, it's still shorter to turn around and go back one mile than it is to finish the remaining 13. But here's what I say to myself Kev, you're already in it. You might as well finish it. Suddenly, I'm relaxed, I'm taking in my surroundings, I'm looking for wildlife, deer, squirrels, turtles, snakes and I'm appreciating the flowing water in the river beside me. Now, 13 more miles is a treat. It's no longer a chore. This is where the healing and mental health progress begins, because I let go of all the reasons not to do something and can now consume all of the reasons to do it. A previous guest here on the Fuzzy Mike, hopefully you've listened to or watched my conversation with Bobby Sexton because it's so informative and empowering and it's one of my all-time favorite conversations. Coach Bobby said two things that have stayed with me since he said them. What is the difference between our mindset as what I'm going to say athletic mortals and professional athletes? Athletic immortals.
Speaker 3:The biggest difference is when they make a decision to do something, it's done. There's no variation, there's no going back. You know, if it's, I'm going to work out six days a week at four o'clock in the morning. They're going to work out six days a week at four o'clock in the morning. They're not going to wake up, and you know I'm too tired today. Roll back over it's done. Their, their, their mind is it's done. Their mind is so focused that there's no variation once they make their mind up to do something.
Speaker 1:For the past two weeks I've been living exactly what Bobby said. I've made a commitment that I'm going to follow a running schedule and there's no wavering. Once I'm committed, it's a done deal.
Speaker 3:The brain wanting to be comfortable at all times, it also resists positive change. Oh, because even positive change is change. Yes, so you know, if you've been doing something and it's uncomfortable, but your brain has gotten comfortable with it, your brain doesn't want to change that, so it says no, back off. And you know, what I try to help people understand is, if you're, if you're focused, you can actually use that to your advantage. You know, in tricking the brain to helping it understand that, you know what you're trying to accomplish is not the negative, it's the positive, it's the comfortable. And once you get to a point when you work that enough, you can be successful with it, and then the brain starts to help you change yourself.
Speaker 1:If I wake up and I say, oh, I got to run, then I'm not real enthused about it. But if I wake up and I say, oh, I get to run, that's Exactly Okay. So it is just as simple as that.
Speaker 3:Then it is. If you're consistent with that, I mean, it becomes automatic. Wow, running doesn't become a chore anymore, running becomes a treat, and your brain sees it that way. And once you get the brain seeing it that way, your brain says no, you got to run, you have to run, you know, if you don't run, I'm not comfortable. And that's, that's the goal ultimately.
Speaker 1:And it hasn't taken long at all for my mind to crave the activity. It's Monday as I record this and Monday according to my schedule. Now is my day off from everything no running, no walking, no biking, no lifting weights, nothing. And my body and mind right now are asking me what's going on. I am sitting here wanting to start and dreading sitting here, and that's my message to you this week If you're having a low point and need the cobwebs cleared, just start. I know I totally understand it's hard to do. Know I totally understand it's hard to do, but after you start it gets easier. Take it from Todd Tuttle Nature therapy provides so much benefit, from a definite mental aspect to even a possible physical transformation, depending on your activity decision, that will also positively affect your mind. So go for a walk, maybe a jog, tend to a garden, go birding or try your hand at floriography and seek out different flowers to identify. Let Mother Nature nurture your mental well-being. Thank you for listening or watching on YouTube For the entire conversation with Todd while he's on the Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1:Listen to this week's new episode of the Tuttle Cline podcast. Here's an activity you can easily do that will help boost my self-esteem and mood. Give the Fuzzy Mic a rating comment, like, follow or subscribe and share the podcast with family, friends and even enemies. To stay connected with the Fuzzy Mic, you can follow me on Instagram, facebook and Twitter, or send me an email at thefuzzymike M-I-C at gmailcom. The Fuzzy Mike is hosted and produced by Kevin Kline. Production elements by Zach Sheish at the Radio Farm. Social media director is Trish Kline. I'll be back next Tuesday with a new episode of the Fuzzy Mike, where we're going to talk about external worth and validation with an expert guest. So grateful for you, thank you. That's it for the Fuzzy Mike. Thank you. The Fuzzy Mike with Kevin Kline.