Cool Hand Dross

The Path We Take, Leadership, and the People Who Shape Us | Conversation with Michael Blanchard | Episode 30

Life lessons. Leadership lessons. Wrestling lessons. In Episode 30 of Cool Hand Dross, Scott sits down with veteran wrestling coach, educator, and author Michael Blanchard for a conversation about leadership, resilience, gratitude, failure, purpose, and the people who shape our lives. A five-time Coach of the Year and contributor to Wrestling USA Magazine, Michael has spent more than 25 years helping young athletes and students develop not only as competitors, but as leaders. His book, The Path We Take, explores the lessons learned through adversity, mentorship, family, coaching, and the lifelong pursuit of becoming a better version of ourselves. Together, Scott and Michael discuss: • The life lessons hidden inside the sport of wrestling• How failure often becomes our greatest teacher• The coaches, mentors, and family members who shape us• Leadership, humility, and service• Gratitude, perspective, and personal growth• Why the path forward is rarely a straight line Whether you've stepped onto a wrestling mat or not, this conversation is ultimately about the universal experiences that challenge us, strengthen us, and help define who we become. The path we take is rarely straight, and none of us get there alone. About Michael Blanchard Michael Blanchard is a veteran wrestling coach, educator, and author with more than 25 years of coaching experience. A five-time Coach of the Year and published contributor to Wrestling USA Magazine, he has dedicated his career to helping young people develop leadership, resilience, teamwork, and character through sport. He is the author of The Path We Take and lives in New Jersey with his wife, Tricia, and their three sons. Connect with Michael Blanchard To learn more about Michael, his coaching philosophy, and his book The Path We Take, connect with him here: • Website: https://thepathwetake23.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mblanchard23/ Be the ocean, not the wave. You are the sun, not your clouds. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share the show with someone who might benefit from the conversation.

How Many Summers Do You Have Left? | Books, The World Cup & A Summer Reboot | Episode 29

How many summers do you have left? In Episode 29 CHD reflects on summer as a season of curiosity, community, and personal renewal. After stepping away from nearly two decades in the classroom, he shares why Summer 2026 feels different and why now may be the perfect time to reconnect with the younger version of yourself. Topics include: * The launch of Be the Book Club * Summer reading recommendations and four featured novels: Angel Down Lolita Blood Meridian The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao * Building community through reading * The youthfulness and global connection of the World Cup * Why summer is a reboot, not a reinvention * Putting down our phones and reconnecting with what matters Whether you're reading a great book, watching a football match, walking on the beach, or simply slowing down long enough to enjoy a summer rainstorm, this episode is an invitation to make the most of the season. Read the book. Watch the match. Call the friend. Enjoy the summer. Be kind to yourselves and to others. Be the ocean, not the waves. 🌊📚⚽️

Always in Service | A Conversation with FDNY Firefighter Vincent DeGennaro | Episode 28

Welcome back to the quiet little corner of the podcasting universe where we're building a little shelter from the storm. In Episode 28, CHD sits down with Vincent DeGennaro, a veteran FDNY firefighter with nearly 17 years of service at Lower Manhattan's Engine 10. Born and raised in the Bronx, Vincent has dedicated his life to serving others while also building a life as a craftsman, chef, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Together, they discuss life in the FDNY, growing up in New York City, entrepreneurship, fatherhood, purpose, and the lessons that come from a life of service. Topics include: Life at FDNY Engine 10 (Ten House) Growing up in New York City Culinary school and hospitality Entrepreneurship and craftsmanship Marriage, fatherhood, and purpose Leadership, contribution, and service This conversation also marks the first interview on Cool Hand Dross Podcast and the beginning of a new chapter for the show. Special thanks to Vincent for joining us and sharing his story. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, rate the show, and share it with a friend. Help us resist and multiply. Connect with Vincent… Instagram: @vin_e_deeInstagram @onebrickmedia

The Surfer, Big Waves, Team Rash and Finding Your Why | Episode 27

What do surfing, Simon Sinek, purpose, dolphins, and a major life transition have in common? More than you might think. In Episode 27 of Cool Hand Dross, Scott reflects on one of life's biggest questions: What is your why? Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek's Start With Why, legendary surfer Rob Machado, and a memorable encounter with a pod of dolphins during a Long Beach Island surf session, Scott explores purpose, resilience, freedom, and the courage required to begin a new chapter. In this episode: 🌊 The mental health lesson hidden inside the phrase "Be the ocean, not the waves" 📚 A practical exercise to help you discover your own Why Statement 💰 Why purpose still needs a plan and how to fund your why 🏄 Lessons from surfer Rob Machado and his decision to redefine success 🐬 A True Tale from the Mason Jar: Team Rash and the unforgettable Dolphin Story 🎙️ Reflections on career change, creativity, freedom, and life's next chapter Whether you're changing careers, starting a business, pursuing a creative project, or simply feeling called toward something new, this conversation will encourage you to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start paddling out because the waves aren’t getting any smaller. Cool Hand Dross is a weekly podcast exploring mental health, books, culture, creativity, and the stories that shape our lives. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and share the show with a friend. #FindingYourWhy #SimonSinek #RobMachado #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #LifeTransitions #Purpose #Surfing #Storytelling #Podcast #CoolHandDross #Creativity #Freedom #TeamRash

What Is Your Why? | 26 is half of 52 | Episode 26

Cool Hand Dross hits Episode 26 — halfway to the original 52-episode promise. This week,CHD reflects on consistency, reinvention, Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, and the strange clarity that comes from simply doing the work. How do you know if you’re a painter? Paint. A writer? Write. A podcaster? Show up every week. As another school year ends and a new life chapter begins, this episode explores fear, purpose, empty nesting, creativity, living abroad, writing books, learning Spanish, and finally honoring the dreams that refuse to leave you alone. This is a conversation about why certainty comes after action, not before it. Topics include:Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, creative confidence, personal reinvention, teaching burnout, empty nesting, podcast growth, living abroad, writing a novel, and choosing action over fear. Cool Hand Dross Podcast Candid. Compassionate. Comical.