We Are Superman

About We Are Superman

Get deeper into the inspirational guests of the WASP, the wit and wisdom of David Clark, plus coaching tips and entertaining stories from Bill Stahl's coaching career. billstahl8.substack.com (https://billstahl8.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Bill Stahl

Category

health & fitness · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Oct 2017

Latest episode

15 May 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 365 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   15 May 2026

   #381 - We Are Three Blind Veterans Climbing Kilimanjaro and Leading Inspiring Lives

   I’m talking today with three truly remarkable men, all veterans, all of whom have not let the loss of their eyesight and sometimes more affect their willingness to help others in monumental ways. They have started foundations and programs so others are not glued to their couches but instead get active and find meaning in their lives. They have found ways to adapt to the world to produce podcasts and music, and telling stories about overcoming steep odds. They have set and attained what would be unfathomable goals to most people that are even more impressive for the blind. They have also formed a tight bond that has led them to the Top of Africa – the summit of Kilimanjaro. Imagine if you will a multi-day trek starting through the jungles and pouring rain up an Alpine peak that tops out at 19,341 feet, all without vision. One of them, Aaron Hale, even first ran 200 miles from the Indian Ocean to the base of Kilimanjaro to join the climb with the others, Steve Baskis and Lonnie Bedwell, who by the way is the first blind person to kayak the length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The climb up Kili itself is arduous enough for most, but being blind adds elements that others wouldn’t encounter. Obviously, every step on a rocky trail can be riskier. Or take a little thing like leaving your tent in the middle of the night to answer nature’s call when no amount of lights is going to help tell you if there is a cliff a step ahead. I think you’ll be riveted to hearing this enthralling story. I would recommend following up this WASP episode by listening to Steve’s three-part series telling of their climb on the Blind Endeavors podcast channel. And also check out their other amazing achievements on their web sites, which I have listed in the show notes, including Lonnie’s quest to complete the last leg of the Explorer’s Grand Slam, which includes reaching the top of the Seven Summits, which are the tallest peaks on every continent, as well as trekking to the North and South Poles. The only part he’s missing is the North Pole, soon to come. Steve meanwhile, is working to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Blind Endeavors Media Hub: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/ (https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/) Steve Baskis stevebaskis.com Facebook Steven C Baskis Instagram and X @stevebaskis YouTube @Baskis360 and baskis360.com LinkedIn Steven Baskis Lonnie Bedwell lonniebedwell.com lonnie.r.bedwell@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @Lonnie Bedwell Aaron Hale Facebook www.facebook.com/aclayhale Instagram @aclayhale LinkedIn Aaron Hale pointofimpactpod.com YouTube @pointofimpactpodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billstahl8.substack.com (https://billstahl8.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   24 Feb 2026

   #370 - We Are Karen Smidt Putting the Bulldog Into Traveling to Races

   As many of you are planning your 2026 race schedule, you might be considering traveling out of town. Of course, that’s very different than waking up in your own bed, throwing your gear and some nutrition into the back of your car, stopping at a coffee shop along the way for some caffeine, and making a leisurely drive to a local race when few others are on the road. For answers about what and how to pack when the race is in another state, how to deal with not being able to bring big bottles of your favorite liquids on a plane, and more, I thought I’d turn to travel warrior Karen Smidt. Karen was featured in episode #186 four years ago as she was navigating her way toward an impressive goal of completing a 50-miler in all 50 states while in her 50s. She is now only six states short as she approaches her 60th birthday later this year. She not only finishes these races, but she is often a top placer in her age group or even overall in them. As Karen’s husband and crew chief Dan says, the only thing that she likes more than running is talking about it, so we have a fun time as she breaks down the gear she takes (hint: less), how she packs it, and how she achieves her need to drink pickle juice during races. Plus, we share many stories we’ve had at ultra races in far-flung locales. Definitely listen closely so you have smooth sailing at your next travel race, until you kick a rock and do a Superman on the trail! Karen Smidt Cairn Runner (https://substack.com/profile/255255769-cairn-runner) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billstahl8.substack.com (https://billstahl8.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   17 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   WASP #369 - We Are Jerzy Gregorek Reveals How a Happy Body Leads to a Happy Life

   Jerzy Gregorek and his wife Aniela survived a perilous journey living behind the Iron Curtain in Poland while it was subservient to brutal Soviet Union domination. He describes the darkness of living there in the 1970s and 80s, and how it led to him becoming an alcoholic at age 15. He had a mentor who pretty much dragged him into weightlifting at the time of the rise of Solidarity, the movement that led to the fall of the repressive Communist regime and to the free Poland that exists today despite constant threats from Putin’s Russia. Escaping that destructive, alcoholic path shaped his understanding of resilience and personal responsibility. He rebuilt his life — becoming a political exile in the USA, then a four-time world champion weightlifter, and later a mentor, poet, and a student earning his PhD in Humanistic Psychology. His core philosophy — “Hard Choices, Easy Life; Easy Choices, Hard Life” — comes from lived experience and years of guiding people through transformation. Jerzy founded the weightlifting program at UCLA, and Aniela herself is a five-time world weightlifting champion with six world records. What sets Jerzy apart is his ability to integrate physical training, creative expression, and psychological insight into a holistic approach to health and resilience. He emphasizes that emotional intelligence is a crucial element in overcoming life’s adversities, and that it can be practiced, cultivated, and mastered. His three books, titled “The Happy Body: Mastering Food, Exercise, and Rest Choices,” are designed to help people embrace this path of strength, wisdom, and balance. The poetry book “The Happy Body: Food For Your Soul” helps with emotional eating. “The Happy Body Virtues: Daily Practices for the Modern Stoic” helps with emotional eating and self-regulation, while “I Got This: The Art of Getting Grit” helps with integrating the stories that contribute to building the skill of living a good life. Listen closely to the wise lessons Jerzy shares here and strongly consider getting deeper into The Happy Body to learn to apply the “Hard Choices, Easy Life; Easy Choices, Hard Life” philosophy to your own life. This might be one New Year’s resolution for change that I can heartily endorse. Jerzy Gregorek thehappybody.com jerzygregorek@gmail.com The Happy Body book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N21PL3D (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N21PL3D) Facebook The Happy Body YouTube @thehappybody LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerzy-gregorek-ab87475/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerzy-gregorek-ab87475/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billstahl8.substack.com (https://billstahl8.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Inside a recent episode

WASP #369 - We Are Jerzy Gregorek Reveals How a Happy Body Leads to a Happy Life

Published 17 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Yeah, well, it's not different than addiction, this is addiction to negativity and thinking negative is not different than alcoholics, but negative thinking is something that happens in culture, and when this negative thinking happens, complaining happens, blaming happens, and inability to actually own things happens as well, so a person can be in a situation believing that it's too late for the person, and it's too hard, and that's why I think that we need mentors, we need people, role models, that people can help us to see what's possible, like I saw Charlie Henderson, you know, I could never think that a person like that exists, right, but when I saw him, so I was, you know, 40 something, it was 48, and when I saw him, I really liked what I saw, and I said, okay, I want to be like that when I'm 80 years old, and so, and then I pursued everything to actually become this 80. […]

Who has been a guest on We Are Superman

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Tyler Andrews
• Kat Edwards Anderson
• Alex Neist
• Benji Anderson
• Bobby Kiesewetter

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

923

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

96

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

50

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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