Man Overseas Podcast Brad Dantonio

My guest is Benjamin Wall. He's originally from the UK, now living in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
The son of a former bank robber who was in-and-out of jail, my guest ironically had a successful career in finance, following work as a nightclub bouncer, debt collector and stripper.
Nowadays, Ben supports himself day-trading, which long-time listeners will know: Me, as for me, I prefer to get rich slow.
That's not to say Ben hasn't built wealth the long way—he's held long-term positions in $AAPL, $AMZN & $META, and continues to buy dips.
Ben is also the co-owner & founder of a concierge service in "Playa" called Prestige Luxury Services. He's partnered with a doctor-friend of his in paradise to provide a fully-holistic approach to tourism, health and well-being—all while vacationing ('holidaying' he might say:) in PDC and surrounding areas.
About the colorful life my guest has lived. Ben has resided in: Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio), South Africa (Cape Town), Thailand (Phuket), not to mention he's from the United Kingdom (Bristol).
In this episode, we discuss Ben's relationship with his father, who was consistently in-and-out of jail. He says although his dad was charismatic and extremely intelligent—he was also very violent and manipulative.
He says his father instilled lots of contradictory advice over the years. In fact, his dad taught him to hate those "born into money;" or those part of institutions, which of course included those in positions of authority.
While most kids bond with their fathers over hunting, fishing & other sports—Ben's dad would tell stories about prison. Or getting stabbed.
He'd teach Ben techniques to severely wound a man—the sort of know-how you'd probably only learn behind bars—where it's either you or the other guy headed to the great certainty.
So for a long time, Ben wrestled with who he was and what he wanted to be. He tried the corporate world. Logged 15 years in finance, Even vagabonded across SE Asia and surfed the coastlines of Costa Rica.
He visited Phuket, Thailand. Wait till you hear the story of how Ben managed to survive the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
When my wife & I visited Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, & Krabi in 2016—I must've watched the Youtube videos of the tsunami 15 times.
It was chilling to have the opportunity to speak with someone who was in Phuket when the tsunami hit; to chat with a man who saw dead bodies floating around him.
He'd see guys in board shorts looking like zombies, knowing they had nothing else to their name—no money, no wallet, no passport.
Ben says he won't go back [to Thailand]. I don't think I could either.
Luckily, Ben and his travel buddy managed to find a hotel that was at a high elevation. I'll let him tell you the rest of the story, which he says was the most horrifying experience of his life.
Please enjoy.
(By the way, I debated calling this episode: The Most Interesting Man in the World. I explain in the Intro why I didn't. But holey shmoley—this is worth a listen.)

Laurel Irwin is a wife, mother of 4, obsessed with weightlifting, which is why she is a fitness coach who specializes in global strength and body recomposition.
She is insatiably curious about the psychology of motivation and the power of internal beliefs. That will become evident the more you listen to this episode. She describes people and relationships as being her currency, her measure of success & fulfillment.
I would say that's unsurprising, coming from a female—that she would place so much value on people and relationships, as it's been proven time and time again that men prefer things, objects, working with their hands, that sort of thing. And women tend to veer on the side of people and relationships in their preferences.
This has been demonstrated by career choice among among the sexes, even in those countries widely considered most egalitarian, such as those in Scandanavia.
Laurel's says one of her deepest values is truth.
I'll tell you before we get started she's one of the top 2 or 3 smartest gals I've had on the podcast. I really, really, enjoyed our conversation, which felt like a healthy debate at times, which is something we don't have enough of...in this country.
I say "in this country," but it should be said—Laurel is from Canada and lives in Mexico—we recorded our podcast episode in Mexico—and I am from America. Still applies.
Before I bring her on, just want to let you know that you connect with her using the social media links below. She is offering five (5) online training & nutrition coaching slots for those who might be interested. Look her up, and please enjoy our conversation.

Gerald Awak is my guest. He is an African-American fella from Houston, TX. He would tell you that his experience growing up without a father had him seeking guidance from the older men in prison.
There were a lot of fights in prison. It sounds like a lot of them he initiated because it would help to make sure he maintained his own cell.
That was when he wasn't in "solitary," as he refers to it. What he calls the" free world," we call solitary confinement.
But Gerald got a lot smarter spending so much time behind bars. With nothing but his thoughts.
He was let out of prison early for good behavior. But you know, and this isn't to take anything away from him, I heard a lot of people got out of the pen early for good behavior during COVID—I should ask him about that.
He's utilized the knowledge gained from them to make a real impact now that he's out. He's determined to do something with his life. He's a rapper you can find on Spotify—he goes by 3G, which stand for Good, Gone, Gangsta, which he explains in this episode.

My guest is Dr. Jessica Kind. She is a climate change scientist, entrepreneur, and NFT illustrator currently living and working in Guatemala.
Back in 2015, she and a group of friends started the fossil fuel divestment movement in Switzerland because of the risks it poses for both investors and the planet. In 2011, she also searched for wind's historic directions in the deserts of Australia and enjoyed cave expeditions as part of her paleoclimatic studies.
In her 40s, Dr. Kind spends most of her time studying environmental education & emotional intelligence (EQ)—she comes across as quite the student and professor of emotional intelligence. Probably because she's near infinitely intelligent with a keen insight on EQ
At the time of recording, she had just finished a workshop at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), where she wanted her students to be curious, actively participate, and be aware of the environmental problems upon us here & now.
Growing up in East Germany
In this episode, Jessica says before German reunification, she grew up with her grandparents and aunt in very poor conditions. She recalls living in a multi-family home with an outhouse rather than a regular bathroom—which most of us take for granted today.
At night, she would often opt to pee her pants rather than walk out in freezing temperatures to put her bare ass on a freezing seat. Hard to blame her (we men have it a little easier). They only had one room with central heating in the flat, which was like a little stove fired with coal.
She says the primary reason she’s living in Guatemala now is because she can’t stand cold temperatures.
Who could blame her?
We also discuss how Dr. Kind became interested in climate activism. She says it started when she was around 18 years old and went to her first demonstration. She realized it’s something she would like to continue, and went to more demonstrations.
By the time she started studying environmental science, she immersed herself in the topic. Over time, she admittedly became more radical in her activism. She and her radical friends decided to occupy a German coal-fired power plant, which she thinks is the most exciting thing she's done in her life so far.
I knew I’d enjoy this conversation and learn a lot—how often do you get to sit with a climate scientist for 2-3 hours and discuss her life growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Hope you learn a lot too (she's also got a great personality).

Chase Lambin played professional baseball until he was 35 years old. During that span, he played a stint for Bobby Valentine in the Japanese Big Leagues with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
He is a man who's had the sort of career for which movies are made. But he walks around like the beauty who doesn't know it. Could explain our long-term friendship (I like to think I'm pretty too). I kid. But for certain we married the type (that doesn't know she's beautiful).
First time I met Chase in 9th grade, humility would've been the last word I'd use to describe him. Not only was he the most cocksure fella in the club on this particular Friday night—sporting a blonde mullet, yellow Polo, khaki pants & Red Wing boots, dude was gettin' after it on the dancefloor. He took no songs off.
Finally, he took a break and I walked over to introduce myself. He was sweating like a woman who sells her body for money, yet still attends mass on Sunday.
One thing you've gotta understand about 'high school Chase.' It didn't matter if he was in the on-deck circle talking at a pitcher, walking up to the plate talking at the pitcher (and catcher), or chirping as he passed the pitcher after the play, he was going to talk throughout the whole game.
I can't say it turned me on or off. It's who he was. I thought it was his way of firing himself up, and since it mostly worked, who was I to say anything?
In all my years playing (and watching) baseball, I've yet to see a more excited and animated shortstop who brung it everyday to the ballpark the way Chase did.
Yet ask him today what he's most proud of during his reign in baseball—he'll tell you this: "Being a great teammate, no question."
That's not a full-180, but I've forgotten most skateboard terminology. And if I called the way he changed throughout his career an "about-face," it'd be my first time using that word too.
Let's just say the game changes you. Competition changes you. Camaraderie changes you. Deep slumps...I could go on.
Unlike so many other guys who left the game disgruntled because they didn't get their shot in the Big Leagues, Chase has insisted it was about the journey. He expounds on his journey during his first appearance on the podcast: Becoming a Human Catalyst with Chase Lambin.
Naturally, you'd think the "bestie" was a shoe-in for my first guest-spot. But no. "Alf" and the older brother from The Wonder Years, Wayne, had publicists who both wanted to know how many listeners I had.
When I asked them if relatives count, twice I said "bye" to a dial-tone.
Lesson learned. Bring on "the bestie."
Of course he 'killed.' His passion for storytelling—rivaled by few—wouldn't have been topped by Alf or Wayne from The Wonder Years.
But I had this idea I'd go for the nostalgic play right out of the gate. Same way wifey is antique shopping for the home where we plan to live a little (it's our first). Same concept.
Chase's interview game is lit. Just an example, he's never wanted to prepare. Never had notes or index cards in front of him.
Why?
He believes speaking contemporaneously is speaking from the heart—which is the way he coaches young ballplayers. No wonder they love & respect him so much.
Chase is now Bench Coach for AAA Round Rock Express in the MLB Texas Rangers organization. He has a beautiful family—wife is Sara, son Champ, daughter's name is Stella. I'm sure Champ is two years older than I think he is, so let's say 11. Stella, maybe 8? Who knows.
You will never in your life meet someone who is genuinely happier for another man's success than his own.
That's Chase.

My guest, Florica Means, is the first polymath I've had on this show. She was born & raised in Romania. She escaped her home country in 1990, at the age of 36.
Her story is incredible, which, even writing the word incredible, feels like I've cheapened the word a long time. I've done it justice here though, but I've been forced to grapple with using the word too often—as we frequently use others words. Awesome comes to mind. Or unbelievable.
But trust me when I say that "Flory" (permission granted to use her nickname)—her story is hard to believe. It's incredible, but true. I've been inside her home. I've seen pictures, passports, stamps, etc.
I'll leave most of the story for her to share. Because she tells it so well.
In this episode, once combined with her accent, goosebumps may ensue, which she herself admits to getting while telling her own story.
We spend considerable time discussing Florica's experience living under Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime.
We also talk about what led her to ultimately leaving her home country—the only home she'd ever known. Hint: she'd finally had enough, and wanted a taste of freedom.
This was such an insightful discussion from as candid of a guest as I've welcomed here. In fact, I've never had a podcast episode like this.
So candid. So vulnerable. I hope you enjoy and appreciate Flory as much as I did.