Firewall Fireside Chat

Eric Higgens | The True Red Rocketeer | Episode 76

If you haven't met Eric at the gym before, you're missing out big time.  He has an incredible sense of humor, while at the same time very down to earth. In this episode we talk all about Eric's life from his growing up in North Attleboro, to meeting his wife Betsy through his fitness career (who's also a member at Firewall), to present day where they now have 2 amazing children, Jack and Lilly. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this hour learning all about Eric's life!  We can't thank Eric enough for coming on the show.  It was truly a treat sitting down and chatting with you! P.S. Enjoy the audio bloopers at the beginning of the episode ;)

Lisa Mendoza Wood | Owner of Bar Athena | Episode 75

**This podcast was recorded on May 3rd, 2021. If you haven't been to Bar Athena yet, you've been missing out big time!  Bar Athena is located in downtown Holliston on the corner of Washington Street and Central Street (next to Fiske's General Store). Lisa is an incredible woman who we're so grateful to have had the time to sit down with and chat.  There's nothing like a good origin story!  Lisa's start is most likely very different than you think.  Starting the restaurant wasn't even her idea!  Originally she thought she wanted to go into photography or art but then pivoted towards the culinary arts.  Early on, she had exposures to world-renowned chefs who heavily influenced her views of how food should be served at restaurants.  The actual search of finding the spot they're in is fascinating.  While her family was contemplating packing their bags and heading back to New York (in their depths of dispair), their dreams finally started coming to fruition. Bar Athena definitely isn't for you if you're looking to sit down for a quick meal.  This place embodies such an ambiance that you don't want to leave.  Each table is lit with a candle.  The lighting is dim but not too much.  The restaurant gives you a chance to connect with your loved ones and friends. Bar Athena isn't just a restaurant - it's Lisa.  She's put her blood, sweat and tears into making her restaurant successful.  The environment captures so much of her life experiences including her travels overseas, her career at WholeFoods, her art background, and her love of history. Website: https://www.barathena.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bar%20Athena%20Holliston/2293663800854863 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bar_athena/

Christine, Jay, and Billy | The Corner Market Owners | Episode 74

This was such a treat to sit down with all 3 owners of the Corner Market to talk about how all 3 of them got together, how the Corner Market came to be and how they've continued to thrive through the pandemic. We start by discussing how Jay and Christine met for the first time as well as they're "intimate" first date.  Then we find out how Jay and Billy hooked up early in life and then reconnected in early adulthood.  Billy  dives in to the rise of his pizza creation abilities, and  Christine describes how she always wanted to open up a taco business (a proclaimed mid-life crisis by Jay, ha!). Their humility and willingness to experiment led to early success once they took over the restaurant.  From the start, they empowered all of their employees to create and collaborate new dishes.  Christine says "it's not encouraged but expected".  Nothing is off limits, just "do it".  The worse that can happen is they scrap it if it doesn't taste good!  We dive into the power of social media not only from an advertising perspective but from a food creation perspective as well.  Many times they've asked their following to suggest dishes they'd like. The banter between these 3 is second to none.  The more and more you listen to them talk, the more you understand why their restaurant has become so successful.  They're passionate.  They care.  They give their customers their everything they have every single day.  They show up.  They make each experience special.  And they make the most bomb food in town. We can't thank Christine, Jay, and Billy enough for taking time out of their busy day to sit down and record this epic episode with us.  You guys are awesome and have brought so much deliciousness to Holliston that we're all incredibly grateful for.  You 3 are amazing.  Keep rocking it! Be sure to support them on social media (including Billy), and if you haven't checked them out yet, be sure to get a taco, pizza, burrito, WHATEVER the next time you're looking to eat out! https://cornerofdelicious.com/ https://www.facebook.com/cornermarketholliston https://www.instagram.com/cornermarketholliston/ https://www.instagram.com/billy_the_pizza_man/ P.S. Maybe one day we'll get to see Nacho Libre and Fatties and Skinnies come to fruition...

Dr. Zach Moran | The 3 Pillars of Health and Much Much More | Episode 73

This is a very exciting episode as it was the first time we went remote!  On top of that, this was also the first time we ever had a doctor on our show. Dr. Zach Moran is not your typical doctor for a couple of reasons.  The first being that he's insanely fit, and the second being that he's not an MD.  Dr. Zach is a Naturopathic Doctor which specializes in a more holistic approach compared to traditional medical practices. We start by diving into how Zach and I met and how our friendship grew through fitness.  Zach also explains how he found this unique field he decided to pursue and why he liked this approach over the conventional system. Zach practices what he preaches.  He was an unbelievable college wrestler and at one time a top tier CrossFit athlete.  Here's a video of him setting a handstand walk (more of a run) world record at the CrossFit Regionals in 2015.  Fast forward to 8:54:00 to see it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6lgWcKJQm8&ab_channel=CrossFit%C2%AE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6lgWcKJQm8&ab_channel=CrossFit%C2%AE] After a little bit of an introduction, we get into some pretty fascinating topics!  We start discussing anti-aging beginning with the common saying "don't get old!" or using age as an excuse. Dr. Zach gives some pretty amazing tips for anyone to use during the pandemic when it comes to defeating a sedentary lifestyle or how to just practice living healthier in general.  We also dive in to different eating styles such as intermittent fasting and ketogenesis.  He introduces a word I had never heard of "autophagy" explaining how the body can activate this clean out process through intermittent fasting. Later we shift gears towards our shared belief in the most effective exercise which is high intensity exercise predicated on flexibility and proper mechanics.  Zach also explains how EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) plays a major roll in its efficacy. Throughout the conversation we keep touching on Zach's 3 pillars of health: Nutrition/Hydration Sleep Exercise At the very end of the show, Zach shares with us the 3 exercises he thinks are the best and lays out exactly why he chose these three: squat, plank, pull-up. Following the top 3 pillars of health, Zach presents a second tier he believes are the next 3 things to focus on once you have a good grasp on the first 3: Breathing Daily Cold Water Exposure Fasting/Supplementation Zach gives some really good insight into each of these pillars in the second tier and supplies a bunch of references which we've linked at the bottom of this description.  Like Zach tells his patients, "The mouth is made for eating.  The nose is made for breathing".  One of his many tips he drips in throughout this nearly 90 minute episode! We can't thank Zach enough for coming on the show and educating so many in the Firewall community and beyond!  Below are links to everything we mentioned throughout the recording including where you can connect with Zach. We'd love to make a new segment on the Firewall Fireside Chat where you can ask Zach any questions you might have and he can give you his best educated answers.  Be on the look out for a post regarding this Firewall! James Nestor https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615 [https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615] Wim Hoff https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ [https://www.wimhofmethod.com/] Zach https://www.facebook.com/zachary.moran.315 [https://www.facebook.com/zachary.moran.315] Zach https://www.instagram.com/moranz4/ [https://www.instagram.com/moranz4/]

JayJay Mudridge | What Actually is Autism? | Episode 72

This was potentially the most informational recording we've ever done.  JayJay is an open-book as you'll be able to tell very early on in the interview! The majority of this podcast is me (Bucky) learning all about autism.  Even if you know someone who has autism, JayJay gives an incredible perspective from an autistic person's point of view being an autistic person herself and teaching autistic individuals too.  JayJay also dives into the "spectrum" of autism describing how we should start thinking about it rather than how we're probably thinking about it currently. I found this whole episode absolutely fascinating, and I hope you do too!  JayJay, I cannot thank you enough for coming on the show and being such an absolute bad-ass.  We'll definitely have to link up for another episode as there was so much we didn't have the chance to touch on.  You rock!