Ep #16: David Vobora

If you don’t want to run through walls and change the world after listening to this episode, then you must not have been paying attention. Anytime I’m around David Vobora, I am so inspired and fired up. David started Adaptive Training Foundation, which is a unique nonprofit that empowers those with physical disabilities to transform their lives through exercise and community. Mizzen+Main dedicates all of its philanthropic giving to ATF as our commitment to give back to the veteran community as many of those going through their program are veterans. David explains that ATF isn’t a veteran only organization because as society we shouldn’t view ourselves along that divide: veterans and civilians. We’re all Americans. We’re all human. We should reinforce and help each other, and there is power in that community and the bonds formed as people work hard to transform their lives. David’s story is truly remarkable. Drafted as “Mr. Irrelevant”, his NFL career was cut short by injury and an over prescription of drugs that led to a scary addiction. Thankfully, like so many founders, his wife helped redirect his life and give him new purpose. It wasn’t until he met Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee, that the new purpose really took shape. I’ll stop there and let our conversation speak for itself. Please say hello to David on Instagram @davidvobora and check out the life changing work ATF is doing @adaptivetrainingfoundation.

Show Notes:

• 05:00 The story of Travis Mills transforming David’s life as a catalyst
• 06:00 Where do people go to better themselves?
• 11:00 Purpose in their pain
• 15:10 Your scars are your qualifying factors
• 17:00 Treat people like whole people
• 19:15 From the NFL to the floor of a rehab facility
• 21:20 A wake up call for family
• 23:30 A healthy reminder from Brent Beshore: if you’re struggling, just focus on serving others
• 25:00 Slow down when things are accelerating to get it right
• 29:45 Truth is where words and actions meet
• 33:40 Civilians teaching veterans and veterans teaching civilians
• 47:10 Challenge: stare at yourself in a mirror for 5 minutes without looking away
• 54:58 Charity done well: getting people together and doing life with your unique gifts and those things you might not want to talk about
• 56:25 The future of disability
• 01:03:00 Next time you feel disconnected from the moment, which happens to those with PTSD,  Say 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing that the inside of your mouth tastes like… now welcome back