Nate Spangle === Vince: [00:00:00] All right, so I saw something on Insta maybe, was it yesterday or two days ago? You at ? Back nine golf. And there was, there was, I think it was just a photo. It wasn't a video. It was, it Nate: was a photo. Yeah. It was behind the scene. Yeah. I wanna see, is there any video? Oh, there will be soon we're gonna release the video. Uh, there's this like golf prodigy, prodigy. Yeah. Prodigy. Yeah. He practices during the winter and, and when it's not nice out, he practices outta back nine. Okay. He's 15. He's unreal at golf. And so we did a competition. Is he in high school yet? He's a sophomore at Brownsburg. Brownsburg. Okay. Uh, and so we did like, but he's been through the first TEE program has been Sure. He's played Pebble Beach, like some national tournaments and stuff and we did a competition to see one. He gave me some golf pointers and two to see if I could beat him at any of the mini games. Did Vince: you beat him? Oh man. Okay. Nate: Only time we'll tell. You have to watch the video. Alright, I'll Vince: look for that. Nate: Uh, it was good. His name is Blaze. He is Blaze the nicest kid. He was the best Golf Pro instructor like. Uh, he's gonna do very well for himself. One [00:01:00] day, I, I can truly believe it. Vince: Well, number one, I'm very interested to see that. Number two, did you talk to him? Say, Hey dude, what's the name? Blaze? Like, you better be a badass. Nate: Oh yeah. You gotta be tough, you know, like you can't be blaze and not be just like the coolest of whatever you're doing. Right. Vince: So does he have a logo that kind of goes with, that puts on his bag? Nate: No, no logo yet. He's just a, I mean, he's just a nice down to earth. Sophomore kid, uh, at Brownsburg who's just really good at golf and like really good at instructing. And he was talking about visualizing my shot and I'm like, dude, you and I play golf very different ways more. Yeah. He was like, he had just the mentality. He's like, man, like I don't, I was like, I try to put the pressure on him. No pressure. He is like, whatever, dude. I do this all the time. Hit this shot a hundred times, Vince: a thousand times. That's, that's interesting. That's key because, so I played high school golf. Um. And the things I know now that I wish I would've known then, like he, he's already ahead of his, ahead of himself in terms the, the players today are way better than we were back then. But, um, to have that mindset [00:02:00] is, is key. I mean, back then we were like, oh, I can hit it farther than you, like at the end of the day, who gives a shit? It's, it's what you put on the scorecard. Nate: Yeah. It doesn't matter how far you, it's like, and he was saying that, it's like, dude, you gotta be good. The, the smaller the club, the better you need to be. Right. He's like, your putt, like your short game is what. Like 150 Vince: yards and in Nate: Yeah. Like what? That's what wins you tournaments and for sure. Like, dude, you sure it's not the driver? It's like, no, not at, not at all. I love it, man. Vince: That's good stuff. Well, I look forward to, uh, to seeing the swing on, on video . Nate: It's Vince: rough. . Well, we, uh, we will work on it. We'll work on it. Is this thing going? Guys, welcome back to their episode of the Summits podcast. Thank you all for joining us from wherever your podcast or for tuning in on the Heroes Foundation YouTube channel. Thank you for tuning [00:03:00] in, by the way, if you're there and if you haven't hit the subscribe button, please do so. Also click that little notification belt icon so you can be alerted when new episodes like this one drop. We would greatly appreciate it. Um, alright. Special guest today, Mr. Ne Nate Spanel from GE, Indiana. Nate, welcome to the Summits podcast, man. Nate: Thank you for having me. You're welcome. I'm really pumped for this one. Welcome. Vince: So we've talked about the golf swing. We'll put that to the side because, we'll, we'll probably revisit that once the video comes out and Then we'll go from there. Um, why don't you do us a favor and introduce yourself to our listeners and viewers. Nate: Yeah. I'm Nate Spanel. I'm, uh, the founder of Get Indiana. I put out a bunch of content, all uplifting the state of Indiana, and, uh, fun hosier stories everywhere. Uh, I, uh, I've been in Indianapolis now for, oh man, I think it's I think this makes it six years. Okay. I think I, I think I've been here for six years now. I'm also the head wrestling coach of ard. Uh, I've been out on my own running the company for, it'll be a year in [00:04:00] June. So, uh, in the early stages of entrepreneurship and figuring it all out, but we're having a good time from a small town in northern Indiana. Yeah. Bourbon. Uh, I was, uh, I went to the. A proud alumni of Depaw University and uh, and then I was also a, a member of the OR fellowship program when I, right when I graduated. So I've been luckily plugged into a lot of really fun and unique, uh, circles here in Indianapolis. Vince: Yeah. So on that note, we've had prior conversations talking about some of the jobs you had before you, I'd go on your own and some of the connections you've made and In Indie, how that all relates back to Kevin Bacon at some point, right? Yes, but about two removed, not seven. Nate: Yeah. I I think I'm like two, two and a half, maybe three at the max from Kevin Bacon, but yeah, Vince: right there. maybe, maybe Kevin will join us on the golf course sometime. Yeah, I mean, Nate: we could do that, uh, still. I don't know until he sees my swing, like I'm not pulling any high profile guests with the golf swing. Let's just be honest there. Well, that's all right. Something to build on, but I'm a good time though. Vince: Right. Um, we talked, we touched on this a [00:05:00] while back, but what, for, for listeners and viewers of this podcast, what, um, uh, I guess what drove you to decide, hey, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do something on my own and, and kind of make that leap? Nate: Oh man. I have been a lifelong builder. I would say, like I am driven. Largely by impact. So like the bigger the company, the less happy I'm gonna be. Like, I wanna make, I wanna know that every day when I wake up, uh, the work that I'm doing is meaningful and, and it's nice to be, you know, be impactful. Like, I just get a lot of personal satisfaction from that. And so I always knew I was gonna. Go do something, whether it was startup, small business, or on my own. Like I knew that that was like the North Star to get to. Um, and then as the content businesses started taking off and there was a real appetite across the state of Indiana, I was like, man, I'm, I'm never gonna be any younger. I so recently just, uh, what Monday was my 28th birthday, happy birthday. So I was like, I'm never gonna be any younger. [00:06:00] I'm never gonna have less responsibility than I do now. You might as well go . Chart the course of entrepreneurship now because it's only gonna get harder as more people, you know, rely and depend on you. Right? So Vince: I remember when I was 28. Long time ago. Nate: It was, it's a good time. I'd say. I, I keep thinking like, oh, man. Like I, I have not hit the peak yet. I'm still, I'm still, yeah. Cresting. Well, it's better all the time. And as Vince: say, you'll never be younger than today. Is that right? Nate: Yeah. Something like that. Right, exactly. So I'm, uh, it's been a, it's been a fun ride, you know, coming up on a year of. Like being an entrepreneur and I had my first full-time hire starting in June. Awesome. A video editor, producer, like the whole thing, like I'm, I'm pumped. Like things are going well. I haven't had to look for a job, I haven't had to update my resume since college. Right. So like hopefully I never need a resume ever again. That's the plan. Vince: So you're at the one year mark and you're looking back and reflecting on that first year, what would you say has . What was your overall as, what's your overall assessment of that first year and what would you say has gone really right in some things [00:07:00] like, yeah, I'm definitely not gonna do that again. Nate: Oh, man. Um, I think the number one overall theme was like. , it's not as bad as I thought it was gonna be. Okay. Like, uh, I think that I was really scared that I wouldn't make any money and I'd go broke and I'd look, I'd be embarrassed and I'd have to go back and whether it's like get my old job back or look for a new job or post on LinkedIn, that I was open to work. Um, and it's like I haven't, not only like, that was like the worst case and I like envisioned it to be so much worse. So like, I probably could have done it. Years ago. Mm. Like just had gone and taken the leap and figured it out. Sure. But I was, I was terrified. Yeah. Um, so the number one thing was like, it, it was not as bad as I thought it was gonna be. So that's a plus. Right. Um, and. I love the fact that no matter, like, like how hard I work is how well I'm rewarded. Yep. And it's like, that's kinda like a sales mentality or, but it's like 100% of the choices, [00:08:00] uh, 100% of the upside. All the things like if I wanna work for 24 hours straight and lock myself in a room and do it, like I can do it and I will reap the benefits of it. I'll also, you know, have the suffering of like . Sleeping for 12 hours straight. But, um, I love it. Like, I love the fact that there's like a little bit of healthy pressure. On the flip side of that, I don't have a co-founder. I have some part-time employees, and my first full-time hire starting in June, like the buck stops with me and I like largely in my life. Uh, especially professional life. I have always had sounding boards and like the decision, someone may have like deferred to me, but it wasn't ultimately like I had to make the decision. Like if I didn't know the right answer, I could ask for someone's feedback and . , they would say, I think you should do this, and I'd be cool. I wanna do that. But now, because it is such a new, unique, like young industry, you know, like social media, newsletters, podcasting, there's no, there's not a ton of Indiana based like people that have been doing that for many, many years. [00:09:00] Okay. Like, there's a few of the like bigger brands, but they're still like modernized. Like we're all still like learning the Instagram algorithm and TikTok together. You know, like there's not that many. Experts. And anyone who says that, they're like, oh, I've been, I have 20 years of experience with TikTok. You know, like, that's impossible. Um, even if they haven't Vince: been around that long, it's changed so much Yes. And changes so rapidly Nate: and it's like next week it could be different. Right. And the only way to, like, you have to be like in the ecosystem to learn it. Right. Um, so like the, the . Hard part and like the growth that has come from the last year, obviously in like filing taxes and learning about payroll and stuff like that. Like figuring that part out. It's like it's all figureoutable. I think that they're like, I was so worried about like, oh my gosh, I'm not gonna have health insurance. And it's like, no, there's a marketplace you can buy your, like, right. It's not that hard. It's all figureoutable, but it's a lot of stuff that you have to figure out that isn't like there's, there was a decent amount of stuff to figure out that wasn't. Indiana content media, like the core of the business and now that I'm kind of getting that part, like handled accounting, that kind of stuff, right? It's like it's fun to focus more on the business and [00:10:00] and work there, but it is . I mean the buck stops here. You have to make decisions. You have to like go all into whatever it is and you know, like this is what we're gonna do and, and be wrong. And it's like, cool, I'm fine being wrong 'cause I'm gonna learn from it and fix it and be right the next time. Vince: Right. Yeah. Fear is a great motivator and you know that, that old saying, if you, you learn more out of your failures and you do your successes and oh my gosh. Nate: And it's like, and not having the ego, like I'm cool. Like I literally, we just talked about this golf video that's coming out, like on the internet in front of my 50 something thousand followers. They're gonna see me get , like, look like a total idiot. Yeah. Where this kid like can smoke the ball way farther than me and I look like a moron, but it's like, I'm fine. Right? Like that's my, that's my shtick. Like I can't be good at everything, but I'm willing to try anything. Vince: Yeah. That's well said. Well said. Well, uh, on that note, speed of willing to try anything, uh, . New title for you? Honorary Chair of the Heroes, foundation's Fit for Heroes 2025 Campaign powered [00:11:00] by American Health and Wellness. Two things. Number one. Thank you for doing that. Um, number two, what, I guess what motivated you to do that without getting into your, your cancer story, which we will in a minute, but I guess what it is it about this, this role and this, this event and campaign that enticed you? Nate: Um, well, one, uh. Uh, the, the impact of, of cancer on Hoosiers, on Americans is, uh, great. And I'm not a research scientist, right? So it was like, I, I just have a, a calling. It's like I've been blessed with, um, a lot of talents and time being one of those at the moment too, like I have time and being able to use these resources that I've been given to impact . Uh, a, a great mission. Like I'm really driven by that piece and, and I feel like God has called me a little bit to, like, I always say, it's like you're, you're giving me all these like, really cool experiences and these resources and these things, like make sure you continue to lead me on, on what's gonna continue to make my [00:12:00] family proud and, uh. And, you know, just be a good steward of all the blessings that I've been given. And on the other side, it's like, and the fitness is like, it kind of fits right in. Like, I, I live a pretty active lifestyle or try to, it's never, always, never as good as you want it to be. But like, I, I mean, I preached to all the high school wrestlers too, like Right. I never asked them to do something I wouldn't do myself. Like, I'll still cut weights sometimes with them just to show that I could still do it. , not, not as much as I used to be. And I'm a little bit older. Sure. But like, uh, I don't wanna ever want to be the like old grumpy. Chubby coach in the corner that's like barking at them, like they need to skip dinner. And it's like, I haven't missed a meal in 20 years, you know? Right. Yeah. So, um, like I even did a, I did a 72 hour fast this year. Really? I saw, I think Dana White did it. It was like straight or maybe just water, only water, black coffee. Okay. 72 hours. So it was like a Sunday night. I ate a huge dinner Sunday, and then I didn't eat until dinner on Wednesday and. I was really dialed on day two and then going to bed Tuesday [00:13:00] night and waking up Wednesday morning. Wednesday was a, a insane day, but like, you know, just doing stuff like that, whatever. So fitness, that's a Vince: little fasty, but like, like within the day, not even beyond 24 hours, it is, that would, it's Nate: heck of a feeling to go to bed hungry, like in a lot of Amer, a lot of just, I mean, Americans specifically like never. Well one, there's a lot of Americans that do go to bed and wake up and go to school and do all these things hungry, like, you know, like food insecurities a thing. Yeah. On the other side, like I would say most people in our individual circles and networks like never miss a meal. Right. Or if they do, it's on accident 'cause they're busy or something and it's like, no, try to go to bed hungry. It's an interesting, but once you make it through the first night, then it's not too bad then it's terrible. So all that, I don't know how we got on fasting, but like, would you Vince: say Yeah. Well, let's, let's stay on it for one more minute. What would you say it was more mental than physical or was there some physical aspects to it as well? Nate: So, the way I did it was over the course of, um, like three weeks, I had like a 24 hour fast. So I, like, I got used to, and I like [00:14:00] already don't usually eat until like mid-afternoon. Like I'm probably like a one, one and a half. Meals a day type person. Sometimes I'll just do one a day. So like I already have like, 'cause I just feel like you're, I'm super sharp and if I eat a big lunch I'm like, not there. Yeah. Um, so I did like 24 and then I did like a 36 and I was like, all right, let's do 72. So the physical piece wasn't too bad 'cause I was like used to it. Um, and then the mental piece was just staying busy. Hmm. Like the less that I like thought about food and the more I was like doing stuff and bouncing from place to place, I didn't even care. Yeah. Um, and it's like, then by lunch. Wednesday I was fully like, primal, like all I could think about was food and how good, like the taco I was gonna have that evening was gonna taste or whatever. Like that was the period where it was terrible from like 12 until 8:00 PM on the Wednesday. So that would've been like hours 60, 66 through 72. All you think about was food. I was just like, where's my next meal coming from? Like [00:15:00] it was wild. Vince: So what was the end result? Nate: I needed losing 12 pounds in three days. Wow. Um, and I cycled a lot of water through. Yeah. And so the thing is, I mean, again, I'm not a scientist and I have no idea about this, but, um, they say that when you do that, your body starts to like, attack its weakest cells. Mm-hmm . And then like, you flush all that out and your weakest cells are where like most, I like, like where bad things can happen basically. I, like, I listened to one podcast, so like, don't quote me on that, I dunno the science behind it, but I was like, I'll try anything once. Sure. And it seemed hard. And it's like, I love doing the things that like challenge you. So I did like whether it's fasting or running ultra marathons or doing a full iron man, like as like any, like we're doing rim to rim to rim at the Grand Canyon in October. Really? Okay. So you go 24 across and 24 back. So like down into the canyon, run across, run back up, run back down, come across, hike back out. Sounds good. Sounds great. We're, we're running the base and then we're hiking there. It's, I think it's gonna be really hard. 48 miles. Well, yeah. Um, but I love it. Like I always wanted what period of time? 17 hours. [00:16:00] So you'll, you'll hit the canyon at like three, 4:00 AM. And then it'll be like nighttime. The next It'll be nighttime. That's later that day when you get out. Right. But I'm excited. I think it's like I wanna live a life where I just have like these side quest stories where I can just talk about, oh yeah. Like I ran the Monan trail from North to South. That was awesome. Or I did, I like, I like biking across the state or running across the state, or going from South Bend to Evansville like. A motorcycle trip to every county seat. Like I wanna do, like I have all these things that would just be like weird little side quests that when I'm an old like grandpa, I can just tell all these crazy stories to my grandkids. Vince: Yeah, you need to do that. I'm, I'm, I'm, that's beyond me. I'll let you, you take that, that lead, uh, getting back to fit for heroes then. So with this Grand Canyon, um, episode coming up in October. Is that a precursor of what your Fit for Heroes campaign in April may be? Nate: Maybe the training for it. I, I have to do a lot of elevation, so I might have some elevation like involved in there, but I, I do need to like dial in my training like over the winter. I mean, I love everything about Indiana, but [00:17:00] it's hard to be a runner Yeah. In central Indiana in the winter. So I'm really excited to like, get back and like really increase my mileage and start to dial in this training plan. Vince: Is that your activity of choice running? Nate: Yeah. Okay. I like run . Two to three times a week and lift three times a week. Yep. Um, and then wrestle, obviously you like wrestle, like wrestling is a Right. You don't really coach wrestling from the sideline. It's more of a hands-on activity. So between those plus Vince: it's a good stress reliever, right? Yeah. Hey, you that haven't been listening to me. Yeah, we're going in this round. Come Nate: on. Yeah, you and me buddy. Come on. 106 pounder versus the 190 pound coach. Like, let's ride. Yeah. Come on. But it's sad when they beat you, like when, not the little kid, but when, yeah, like it's a great feeling, but it's also like a terrible feeling when like you're the kid that you smoked when he was like a. Freshman, sophomore. It gets to be a, like we have a D one wrestler. Vince: Oh, okay. Nate: He's really good. Nice. He, and there are times where he like, just about gets, he like, not today, but he's gonna come back from college next year. And I'm like, not, not going, yeah. You're, you're wrestling D one in the room, like, nope, I'm chilling. Like, you're good buddy. That's cool. Um, yeah, so I think, but I [00:18:00] running is what I love to do. Yeah, it's great. Especially when you live a, like a very plugged in life. Like, I mean, I'm on social media all the time. I'm on email, I'm on texts. Like to put all that away. Put your phone on do not disturb or airplane mode or whatever. And whether headphones or no headphones, just like go spend 30 minutes. Like all you're thinking about is like pick up foot, pick up foot, pick up foot. It's, it's amazing. Yeah. I love it. Vince: Um, you, you probably remember who this player is, although this, this is gonna show my age. So Walter Peyton, great. Running back for the Chicago Bears. I dunno if you ever, I'm sure there's on YouTube now somewhere. Um, part of his training used to be this sand dune. Um, and he would, you know, put his cleats on and literally sprint up the sand dune and back down. I don't, you know, who knows how many times and it was that, you know, running up this hill constantly was his, was his big training piece. I. So for the Grand Canyon thing, maybe just try to find a, a hill around here somewhere, which I dunno know where. Yeah, Nate: there's one behind Butler. It's like there, like the one [00:19:00] by the track. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That leads up to Henkel, right? We run that. So I have like a run club that meets every Thursday morning. Okay. And we always call that Hayward Hill 'cause Rick Gordon, we used to run these hill back in the day. Um. I, they're probably not the Butler. Boys probably aren't running it much these days 'cause they need a little bit of work. Yeah. Uh, , maybe they could come out to track Thursday on Thursday mornings and get some work in with us. Uh, but yeah, we run that hill. So, but I only have to do it like. A hundred thousand times to be the equivalent of the Grand Canyon or whatever. It's just a hundred thousand. Yeah, just a hundred whatever . Vince: Well, cool. Um, Nate, you know, the basis of this podcast and what the Heroes Foundation's all about, um, what is your cancer story? Nate: Oh, man. Um. It starts when I was in middle school-ish. Um, my mom, Susan, was, uh, diagnosed with breast cancer. Oh, maybe when I was like a freshman in high school, like right around that time. Uh, I live in a small town, 1200 people, [00:20:00] and word travels fast in a small town. And I remember like not really understanding, like no one I had like, I didn't really under, like when you're an eighth grader, you don't understand the. Severity maybe. So like she was going to doctor's appointments and she had had some ongoing health problems. Um, like can you transplant some heart stuff? Like being, her being around hospitals wasn't a unique or taboo, like she was always in and out of hospitals. Yeah. But like, it was never anything serious. I mean, like, I was never like, oh my gosh, my mom is sick. It was just like, oh, that's his mom. Uh, and she got breast cancer and our community kind of like, I remember there being . Maybe sophomore year, they like did a collection at one of the football games and I was like, oh, like, and everyone wore pink for my mom and stuff. And I was like, wow, this is kind of like a big deal. Um, but you know, you're a high school kid and you're so concerned with who you are and all your stuff or whatever. And she ended up going through treatment and, um, [00:21:00] rang the bell, you know, all that good stuff. I graduated from . High school and I left for DePauw and was kinda doing my own thing. You know, nothing really happened with mom and uh, I remember fall of my sophomore year, . Uh, she, it was actually the week before the Monon Bell game. Okay. Which is like a, the rivalry football game, you know, this is DePauw versus Wabash. And you know, we probably talked on the phone once every week or so, and after I graduated her and I got a little bit closer. I mean, I was still just a freaking dumb kid too. Concerned with himself and selfish about . Whatever. Um, uh, but she called me and like there was something a little bit off and, um, I remember her voice was just a little bit different and, uh, she's like, oh, Nate, like . Yeah, I'm in the library, like work. [00:22:00] I'm actually in the library working on homework. It was like, wow, I'm proud of myself, . Um, and she's like, well, my, my breast cancer, my cancer's come back. And it had spread to my lungs. That's what she said. And um, and I could just hear in her voice, like, she was like, don't worry, like we're gonna beat this yada. But like, you could just kind of hear that she was scared. Yeah. And I remember just like . Feeling that like intense feeling of fear and breaking down. I remember crying in the um, well after a Google search, then I remember crying in the middle of the library like, oh my gosh, she's gonna die tomorrow. And like, um. So by like a few different circumstances, I ended up transferring home, uh, for the spring semester. So she was going to Goshen Cancer Center. Mm-hmm . For all her treatment. And my, she was living with my grandma, who at the time was like 90. Um, [00:23:00] and like she had moved in with grandma to take care of grandma. Okay. Now mom gets cancer and grandma, who's 90 years old, has to take care of mom and by, you know, God's will, I suppose. I ended up back in, in Breman at the time as where mom was living and I was driving her to um. Cancer, uh, treatment. Mm-hmm . In in Goshen, and oh my gosh, I'll never forget this. And then this is how I knew I, like, I was over Christmas break and I was still like figuring out if I was gonna be going here or going back to DePaul or what I was doing. I remember taking her to an appointment and it was like, okay, they bring in like a counselor or whatever, you know, anytime you have like the, the . Like lung cancer is not good. Right, right. And, and you know, you can beat it, but survival is hard and they remember, and you can prolong a lot of stuff too. And I remember this counselor comes in and it's like, hi Susan, like yada. And it's like, so just thinking through like between now and the end of your life, whenever that might be, is like, what are some things that you wanna see? [00:24:00] And I remember her, my mom looks at the lady and uh, goes, I'd really like to see my son get married. And I'm like, 19 or 20 at the time, like, and the lady looks at me and goes, oh my gosh, when's the wedding? And I'm like, oh. I'm like, oh, I, I don't have a girlfriend. And her face just like drives. Okay. What about like something in a quicker timeline? And she said that she wanted to see me graduate from college and I was still, I was a sophomore. So when I heard that, I was like, okay, she wants to see me graduate from college. Um, I transferred to Ancilla, which is a juco, so two year program that would put me on a track for an associate's degree. Okay. And I remember going into the dean's office and I was like, I'll transfer any credit. I have these Ivy Tech credits from high school. Like I don't care if it's the worst degree you have or like, whatever, like general studies they put me with like the idiots. That's fine. Um, but I need to graduate this spring. And, uh, they were amazing. They put me in these, like, I was in like [00:25:00] Microsoft Word class, , like, it was like the easiest stuff I'd ever seen. And, uh, I took like five courses and with all my transfers, they're like, yeah, you can take these five courses and you'll, uh. You will graduate in the spring, which was awesome. So I'm like commuting to Ancilla and on days I'm not doing that. I'm taking mom to cancer treatment in Goshen. And I remember, um, she had been like complaining. I mean, and like, you know, anything with chemo, it's like everything is something you could complain about. Right. It's like, it's a horrible experience that like, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Yeah. And like to watch someone go through that, it's even like, like it's one of those things where it's like, man, I wish I could . I wish I could be the one. 'cause you hate to see people that are like experiencing that, especially people that you love and that are close to you. Mm-hmm . And she was just complaining about having a headache and it was like, this is Nate, this is really hard. Like yada yada yada. And she like started. To not totally act like herself all the time. Um, would get very, very, uh, like angry at times or just like [00:26:00] frustrated. And it's like, okay, well you're dealing with this disease and this thing. Like, I, I would be angry too, like, I understand. And there was one day it was just like she was in a tough spot and I rushed her to the emergency room and it was just me and my mom. And my mom was like writhing in pain in the hospital bed. And this like lovely . You know, doctor, she's a younger lady. I don't even remember her name, but I remember her. She's like, Hey, could you come out in the hallway with me? And I was like, yeah, sure. Like it's just like, I'm not even 20 years old yet. And I'm like, but I'm somehow the like, how did I get in charge of this? Like, how am I, the what, right? And she's like, looks at me and I can't imagine being her. She delivers me the news, just so you know, your mom's cancer has spread to her brain. and, um, we are gonna have to do more tests, all this different things. And so like now she has . Her breast cancer is metastasized to her lungs. So she's coughing all the time. [00:27:00] It's in her brain, which was like, and I'm like, it all made sense. I, I saw the writing on the wall. Mm-hmm . Where it's like when you start acting like a different person. 'cause there's like pressure on different parts of your brain and you're angry and frustrated and all these things. And I'm like, and her memory was starting to be bad. And, um. and another one of those moments where I like walked, I, I mean I, to have to deliver that to like a kid is like, I don't envy that job at all. Yeah. Like I make videos on the internet, I'll take that 100 times out of 100 over, but like, thank you for doctors who do do great stuff. And so we um, we get that news and I walk outside and I. Ball and I call my grandma, who's, she's 91 at the time now. So like, grandma's not leaving the house with us at midnight to take out to the hospital, like right. Uh, and you know, she was awesome like . In the face of adversity. Like grandma went from like, on the tail end of her life to like, she stepped up and could not have done like, she was amazing. And, and my mom [00:28:00] had some brothers that were, um, also . Like critical in this component of like helping me figure out like, I don't know, insurance and like talk about all these like, different things that you have no idea about. It's like, I have no idea. Like I used to rely on my mom to take me to the doctor's office, like I don't know what I'm doing. Sure. Um, and then, so that was probably like January-ish time and as we kept going, like I was still going to school, taking her to treatment, they like put her on some steroids and like tried to like, you know, give her as much time. 'cause I mean, graduation is in May. Um, and I mean, things just don't get any better. It ends up, um, like she gets like a. But somewhere like on her, like in her bones, like in her hip, and okay, she ends up like breaking a hip and like, it, it just like, it's a horrible, horrible disease that I wouldn't, again, wouldn't wish her my worst enemy. And unfortunately mom ended up passing away. Uh. In April of 2017, about a month before my graduation. Um, so that was, you [00:29:00] know, uh, so close, you know, and, and she, you know, fought as, as hard as one could. And, uh, it was a. Crazy. Like I didn't imagine myself going to a JUCO and getting an associate's degree and spending a, like everyone else got to study abroad and I studied in bourbon and, and it was the, but it was the best semester of my college experience, like the worst semester, like a horrible, horrible experience, but like right to talk about perspective and to spend time with. One my best friend and grow really close with my 90-year-old grandma who like most people aren't, like, don't get the chance to be roommates and really close with their, you know, again, 90-year-old grandma who was born in 1926. Um, and so it was like a, a semester, like the most impactful semester of my life. Vince: Yeah, for sure. And I would say Nate: that's, that's my huge story and I think your Vince: perspective on it is right, taking, um, looking at the positives and a, in a horrible situation, um, the fact that you were [00:30:00] there versus being at DePaul still something you'll probably remember and, and cherish the rest of your life, for sure. Nate: Yeah. Um, and it's just funny how yeah, how like the plan works out and, and uh, and how I ended up back there and, and it was a brutal. Brutal experience, but also like during that, I, I would not be. I, I don't, I wouldn't say I was a bad person, but I was very, um, focused on me and my, like, I wanted to get my internship and fit and like, you know, get my job and, you know, make money and do Nate's things. And I was very self-centered, I would say before 2017. And then it's like you see this and you're like, man, like taking a test or whatever. Like that's, it doesn't even matter. You know? Like you see someone like battling for legitimately their life and people rallying around me and people [00:31:00] rallying around my mom and people sacrificing a ton of time like these doctor, and it's like, man. I am now like in a position like I'm called to go out there and like serve others way more and like, I don't like good things end up happening. Like I get really lucky a lot of times and good things end up being coming my way, but it comes directly from like this mentality of I need to go out there and serve others. Yeah. Um, because life is so fleeting, right? Um, I don't know, that's a kike a little bit philosophical, but, uh, uh, I've just like had this perspective that it's. Uh, very, very, it's like a short time and, and not to take that for granted, right? And, and like a lot of my friends, I'll see, it's like sometimes, you know, when people's parents call them or nitpick at them or whatever, and they're like, I don't know, like, oh gosh, that's my mom calling. And it's like, one day you're gonna miss that call. Like one day you're gonna wish someone was like, nitpicking you about have [00:32:00] you done your laundry yet? Or whatever. And, and it like made me grow up pretty fast and like become an adult. Um. Um, but I wouldn't be the person that I am today and I wouldn't be, maybe still, I would still probably be like motivated or whatever, but I wouldn't have the perspective, um, that I wanna go out there and like, make her proud. Mm-hmm . Right. And you talk about like doing a like, uh. It's like, like helping out and doing that kind of thing. It's like, well, yeah, it's like I'm, I have to, it's not like a do I wanna do this? Or it's like, no, like this is the right thing to do. You know, like use this platform that God has given me and these experiences that I've had to like, go out there and raise money so that another 19-year-old kid doesn't have to go through that. Vince: Right. Yeah. Yeah. It's a great perspective. Um. You know, I'm sorry you've had to go through that experience. Um, but I, I kinda really appreciate and, uh, pleased to hear the, the perspective that you have now and, and the want and desire to give back. Um, and [00:33:00] we appreciate you, uh, you know, supporting us and, and the upcoming Fit for Heroes campaign. Um, anything that you would wanna share with someone, maybe, you know, another, uh, 17 to 25-year-old who may be in a similar situation. Is there anything that. That you might wanna share with 'em. Nate: One of the most impactful things that I did, and I didn't even know, like, because you get on Google and you're like, what do you do for someone that has terminal cancer? You know, like, how do you support, like what do you talk to them about? Um, I remember I got my mom a composition journal. and I was like, just write about like, and in my head I was like, this is gonna be like your memoir. You know, like write this, write down your life story and well . The thing was is that it was very unstructured. Like you hand, I handed her a blank notebook and said, write your life story. It's like if someone just told you to share your life story, where do you even start? Right. And my mom wasn't, [00:34:00] um, like, wasn't college educated, so like writing and journaling and not that you have to be college, you can do that. But like that, like, um, like nowadays I feel like you hear about people that journal. You know, like the Harvard Business Review says you should journal 15 minutes a day or whatever. And it's like, that wasn't like a part of our lifestyle. So, um. I gave her this blank journal and like, and then I didn't check in again. I just like would ask if she was writing in it maybe, but I wasn't like looking at what she was writing. 'cause it was like it was her thing. Yeah. I was like, well one day I'll read this and then we will pass it on. And um, it's a very prized possession of mine, but it's also like. Some days it talked about what we had for dinner, like during that time. And it like, and I think that if I could go back, I would've like given her these prompts where it's like, oh, like, and I actually did this with my grandma. It ended up being, uh, uh, I like took the questions I wish I'd asked my mom and asked my grandma. Oh, that's cool. Okay. And so it was like. What's your most prized position? Like, what's a lesson that you learned the hard way? Like what are these, and it's like, basically, what are those stories that grandparents share when you don't even ask them the question? It's like, let [00:35:00] me tell you about a time that I really screwed up. Yeah. And then they, you know, go off on their thing and it's like, well ask that question. And I wrote it down in prompts for grandma. Okay. And she like wrote this whole, and I have like a 90 page biography of my grandma. That's, and I wish, so if I was a 17-year-old kid. And obviously like the piece of like, you have to stay positive, you have to do your job. Like you have to like, like that's the table stakes, right? You know, you need to do that. You know that like for whatever the period of time is, you have to be selfless and just show up and give a hundred percent and you can't be negative and you just have to say like, this is the journey that we're on and we're gonna find a way to get through. It doesn't mean like, and, and I, I mean, it's always like. I hate the term. Like you lost your battle to camp and it's like, you know, like, yes. I guess that is what happens, but it's like, uh, did you fight? Like what People don't remember whether they won or lost. Right. They remember like how you fought the battle. Mm-hmm . And so I, I was always really impressed with my mom that like, she [00:36:00] never just like threw in the towel. And even when it was hard, she still like got up and went because she wanted, like, the goal was to get to graduation and like, try as hard as you could to get there. So. Uh, they advice to the young people. It's like the table stakes is not caring about you, and I did not do a near good enough job. Like there was times where I was still a stupid 19-year-old kid who chose to like, go out and party on Friday instead of like spending time watching Jeopardy with my mom. And I could never undo that. Like, I can never undo, like going to interview for Jo like, and like . Wanting to live my life more and like not understanding how severe it actually was. Like I, I, it's like hindsight's 2020, you know? Now I can speak from this of like, I wish I would've been better because like she didn't choose for that to happen to her. Right. And like, I don't know if I was always as understanding or patient or calm as I should have been. And they're like, 'cause I just didn't understand either, like. There's a little bit of like youth and [00:37:00] selfishness, and then, then like you come to the end and you realize, oh, sh I was like a huge dick. Like I could have been way better. Um, so that's like that piece. But then this, this thing that, that I ended up doing with grandma and I got like the second, like, so grandma was 90. She, uh, lived to be 98. Okay. Um, so we had eight more years and we were the best friends, like from 2017 to. 2023. Yes. 2023. So she passed away a year ago in November, um, just of like old age and it was like, it was like the exact opposite. Like we were ha like she was happy. She was like, I have lived a full life, whatever, but I got this like second end of life experience chance with grandma to like, call every week and like send postcards and like do it all over again and like be the son that I probably should have been better at, um, emotionally, you know? Yeah. So that was what I would do. I would like, if you have someone that's diagnosed with terminal cancer, like get them . Like some [00:38:00] prompts of things you're curious about that like they can pontificate on and write about and, and like, kind of as, as an escape too. Like Yeah. You could talk about like, uh, for grandmas and one of the things was like, your first automobile or like, what was your first car? Like that kind. And like, you get to go to a different place. You get to like kind of teleport out of the situation that you're in, which is kinda shitty to a place that's like, oh, like everyone remembers like cruising in their car by themselves for the first time and like feeling like, wow, I'm really an adult or whatever. Um. And so I would do that. Like, that was like the one piece of like tactical that, uh, advice that can help with the situation. 'cause you're thinking about better times. Vince: Yeah, definitely agree with that. Um, so here's Foundation actually has some support packages and in that is a, a journal, uh, notebook and a pen to, for people to do the exactly that. I think that was a great idea. And the, the gift that's gonna keep on giving is the fact that you have this journal in your mom's handwriting. That you can refer back to, uh, if you haven't done this, I'd probably scan it also [00:39:00] and digitize it, just, just in case as insurance policy. Uh, and then what you did with your grandma, it was also very cool. So those are two key pieces. Yeah. Nate: And I, and I do think that, um, don't assume, right? Like, like, uh, I assumed that my mom could read my mind and she would want to know what me in 20 years would wanna know. And I think like writing the questions out or asking those questions. . And even if like, you don't even have to like, maybe just turn on your phone and like listen, let it replace in your pocket or something and ask these questions and have those conversations. Yeah. Because it's like, it's good timeless advice a lot of times or stories that, you know, over generations can get passed down and, and it's all like, I think that that a piece of it's like legacy. Um, I still like post every now and again. Talking about lessons that, uh, I learned from my mom, and I mean, I think that, that people that experience it are hesitant or nervous of like, oh, people are gonna think that I'm doing this for attention or whatever. People are gonna think that, [00:40:00] like, for me it was just like a way to cope through things and to like, um, not let her legacy or her memory . Like be stuck in just my mind, like she was an amazing person that like was hilarious and. And would laugh about nothing. It would make the worst jokes, but it was so funny. Right. And it's like a disservice, like not to come on and tell this story or not to like, on the anniversary of her death or on her birthday, like post, like, just like people post about their moms today. It's like, oh, well here's something about my mom. And, and it also gives, uh, I feel like, um. People that experienced loss. Then like your friends, your other close family or whoever it might be, your coworkers like, don't wanna bring up that name or don't wanna talk about it because they're worried you're gonna like burst into tears. And I got like pretty resentful. I was like, no one even cares. Like not one person has like wanted to talk about my mom to me. Like I didn't go to like counseling or anything like that, which like I would probably go do that. Especially if you're young. Like don't, you're [00:41:00] not, you're not tougher than the world. Like just, and there's nothing wrong with talking about it. And I, so I got really resentful though. I'm like all over the place right now. I got really resentful of like, why the heck doesn't anyone wanna talk about this? Like, don't you even remember? Like yada yada, yada. And I, then I realized. There's some empathy. It's like, put yourself in their shoes. They don't wanna like say, oh, remember when your mom did that one thing? And then all of a sudden Nate's crying at the party. Like, oh. But then when I started to bring it up or post about it or talk about it, it like gave them permission to know that this wasn't off limits. To know that like. Even though she's not here, like I still talk about her 'cause she was still my mom. Like, you can talk about it and like, it would actually make me feel good. Yeah. And like to share a lesson that I learned or a memory about this. Or like, especially with my old, like my high school friends who really got to know her. Whereas like, she was just like the craziest, like she had a cowbell she'd come to all the football games with and like, just, and she didn't, she died not knowing the rules to wrestling. And I wrestled for like 10 years. . Just, just get up. Just [00:42:00] get up. Um. So, I dunno, like just, uh, giving people like that, that grief stage, right? Or if you do go through that cancer battle, like I'm definitely not like there's a side on the cancer. I'm sure you have a bunch of podcasts where people come on and their cancer story is like, we freaking beat it. It's like, I hope you end up on some, I hope you end up on that story. Yeah. The story for me is like, okay, how do you like honor someone's legacy? Um, and do your best to like store like even, I mean, what it's. eight years later, my mom's still my background and I have people that ask, and like, a lot of times they're like, who, who's that? Like, and from a distance rate, is that your girlfriend? I'm like, no, it's not my girlfriend. Like, that's my mom. And, and people don't know, like, oh, why is your mom your background? And I get to like, tell that story. Yep. Um, and it's like a, a, it's not like a thing. Oh, don't be sad for me, like it was a life changing moment. Obviously it's really like, it is sad, but like the, what I'm called to do now is, you know, like honor her legacy and continue [00:43:00] moving forward and, um, figure out a way to help others. Using the, the legacy of Susan. Vince: Yeah. Well, and on that note, um, you know, as, as part of going back to what you're gonna do and helping us out and supporting, um, fit for heroes is, is, is a great thing in terms of, you know, whether you're gonna do it on your own or as part of a team. Um, not just do it for yourself in the name of cancer prevention and personal lifestyle and healthy, uh, wellness choices and whatnot, but, um, you know, do it, do it for someone, you know, do it either in Susan's memory or do it for someone that in your, in their life that is, um, being affected by cancer as well. Uh, it's a great motivator for sure. Nate: Yeah. So I have on all my running shoes, I have like a little pink ribbon. That I tie around with my shoelaces. Sure. Yeah. And like in the hardest smile of a marathon or like the hardest part of Ironman, I like will look there and just be like, dude, it's not that hard. Yeah. Like if, if there are people out there fighting way harder battles than I'm fighting, like there are people that are like, that have way higher stakes than if I [00:44:00] like dn. If I DN F at this marathon where I don't hit my goal time, but it's like in the hardest time where I'm like, oh, I wanna quit. I wanna quit. It's like eyes are down. I just like have like we're on the right shoe, just like rib up there and I'm like, okay. There's people fighting a lot harder battles than this. Like there, like the, it's a way harder than this mile. Uh, and it's a really good reminder for me and one of those things where it's like at the right time, in the right moment of the right race, you get like the, the hairs in the back of your neck. Standup. Yeah. Uh, and then you're like, I dude, if they can do what they're doing, right, right. I can do this. Yeah, well Vince: said. Nate: Gets me fired up. Vince: Well said. Well, Nate, thank you for coming on and, and sharing your story. We appreciate it and we hope that, uh, somebody out there who might be in a similar situation found some comfort in, in hearing your story and, and, and might, uh, find some value in that. And thanks again for, uh, also, uh, lending your, your support to being an honorary chair for the 2025 Heroes Foundations Fit for Heroes Powered by American Health and Wellness. Campaign starts April 1st. [00:45:00] You don't have to fast for 72 hours, but if you want, and that's gonna be part of your campaign, knock yourself, maybe throw that in there. Throw out, man. Nate: Maybe we throw that in there. Vince: Yeah, just, just on top of whatever physical activity you're gonna do. We also want you to fast for 72 hours maybe. Nate: Let's do it. Let's do fast for the whole month. . Yeah. Nothing but water and bone broth. Oof. Yeah. I don't know about that. Well, maybe 1, 1 24 hour fast per week. Like Sunday to Sunday to Monday every week. Vince: If Nate: you're a Vince: physician or a dietician, and know a lot about fasting com, put some comments in there to help educate us on like what's, what are the side effects, what's realistic, what's, what's good? Maybe what's not so good. Interesting. What can, Nate: where can we tow the line of like, this is a hard challenge and this is bad for your health. Yeah. Vince: And by by we, I mean, he means me not, yeah, exactly. As a him, not me. I don't know if I can fast for, well, 24 hours, maybe 72 at 24 Nate: hours is not that bad. Yeah. Vince: You know, you could, you could Nate: swing that one. Vince: Yeah. I Nate: mean, eight of it's sleeping at least well, right. Yeah. So there we go. Vince: You're Nate: cool, . Vince: Alright. [00:46:00] Appreciate you, man. Yep. Thank you. And thank all you guys for joining us on this episode of the Summits podcast. We appreciate you guys joining us from wherever you get your podcast. And for those of you tuning in on the Heroes Foundation YouTube channel. . Thank you for doing so. Hey guys, don't forget Fit for Heroes. Coming up, starting April, first month long campaign. You pick your, your, your, uh, activity of choice. Just get out there, be active, do something and do it in the name of cancer prevention. And don't forget everyone, we're doing all of this. Under the guise of Beat cancer.