Barbell Shrugged - The Path from CrossFit Coach to Marine, Finding a Mentor In Your Gym, and Mental Toughness for Marine Training w/ Jessica Woods  — Feed Me Fuel Me #113

Episode Date: November 15, 2018

When Jessica Woods came to CrossFit PHX life was not going her way. Back in Arizona and going through divorce, she was lost in a fog of indecision. It took almost a year to get back on her feet. Along the way, she had convinced herself that fitness was her life path, and made every attempt to prove that story true. Although she was having an incredibly positive impact on those she served as a trainer and coach, she still felt empty inside. As we've proven time and again through the stories of our guests on Feed Me Feed Me Fuel Me, timing is everything. Through soul searching and a few chance conversations with mentors like Derz, Jessica discovered that nursing was her calling, and decided to pave her new life path as a corpsman in the US Navy. As fate would have it, she ended up "greenside" serving alongside Marines. We catch up with Jessica as life has come full circle to see what she has manifested in her new life of service! Thank you to Jessica and all our service men and women!   - Jeff  and Mycal  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Show notes: http://www.shruggedcollective.com/fmfm_woods ----------------------------------------------------------------------   ► Subscribe to Shrugged Collective's Channel Here http://bit.ly/BarbellShruggedSubscribe 📲 🎧 Listen to the audio version on the Apple Podcast App or Stitcher for Android Here- http://bit.ly/BarbellShruggedApple http://bit.ly/BarbellShruggedStitcher Shrugged Collective is a network of fitness, health and performance shows that help people achieve their physical and mental health goals.  Usually in the gym, but outside as well. In 2012 they posted their first Barbell Shrugged podcast and have been putting out weekly free videos and podcasts ever since. Along the way we've created successful online coaching programs including The Shrugged Strength Challenge, The Muscle Gain Challenge, FLIGHT, Barbell Shredded, and Barbell Bikini. We're also dedicated to helping affiliate gym owners grow their businesses and better serve their members by providing owners tools and resources like the Barbell Business Podcast. Find Shrugged Collective and their flagship show Barbell Shrugged here: SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES ► http://bit.ly/ShruggedCollectiveiTunes WEBSITE ► https://www.ShruggedCollective.com INSTAGRAM ► https://instagram.com/shruggedcollective FACEBOOK ► https://facebook.com/barbellshruggedpodcast TWITTER ► http://twitter.com/barbellshrugged

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daysofcoaching.com. I will see you in your inbox. This is episode number 113 of the Feed Me, Fuel Me podcast with our special guest, Jessica Woods. Welcome to the Feed Me, Fuel Me podcast. My name is Jeff Thornton alongside my co-host, Michael Anders. Each week, we bring you an inspiring person or message related to our three pillars of success. Manifestation, business, fitness, and nutrition. Our intent is to enrich, educate, and empower our audience to take action, control, and accountability for their decisions. Thank you for allowing us to join you on your journey. Now let's get started.

Hey, what's good, fam? Welcome to another episode of the Feed Me, Fuel Me podcast. There's Jeff coming to you from Oceanside, California. And today we've got the esteemed pleasure to catch up with one of my old coaches, Doc H.N. Navy Corman. Is it Corman? Are they changing all that stuff? No, it's totally Corman. Jessica Woods. Cropsman.

The Corpseman. How are you? I'm well. I'm doing well. I'm so pumped that we got to catch up. This is very impromptu. So first of all, thank you for hopping on the mic with us. Thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. After all this time, man, now I'm following the show. So how's life in SoCal? Life in SoCal is life in SoCal. I mean, like we were just talking, I can't beat this view. Like every day I'm so grateful where I get to be, where I get to wake up, where I get to work. I'm blessed to be in this place and just doing the job that I'm in. I wouldn't change it for the world. But SoCal life, never thought I'd like fit into Cali life necessarily.

Really? From the south originally so i was like oh my gosh i'm such like southern kind of girl and how i was raised so like california's gonna eat me alive and then i got here i was like no these people are chill out here i like this vibe so it's been it's been good um and you know being on base everyone's welcoming so sure yeah it's good so there's there's this this theme of transition that we've been working through since we've been out here doing the show and um you know uh as i've hired my new coach for organizational leadership um one of the things

that we've we've unpacked in our coaching sessions is what phx is for the people that are part of the organization. And by and large, there is a huge component of what we do and the way that we do it that facilitates transition. And you are part of that story in that we got you in the, as you were making your transition away from California, right? You got what you needed from the experience. I think that, you know, the universe brought you to me for this, like, I want to do the military, but I don't know how to do it, what I want to do in the military, mentorship, mentee thing, and then you joined the Navy, and here you are, right?

But for everybody who doesn't know who you are, where you come from, and, like, what that journey is in detail, kind of walk us through it. Okay. So I'm brand new to the military. I'm baby doc, so been in for a short time. I mean, DERS was one of like the last movers to me to give me that kick in the rear. Like you, this is time, time to do it now, time to jump. So I'm grateful for that, like to the end of the world. So I started, I've always wanted to join. I always wanted to serve. But after high school,

I went to school for political science, international affairs. So I went to Arizona State. And I was like, you know what, I'm going to do that whole like, you know, run and gun from the back side of it. I'm going to do the politics thing. So I at least get to like make law. I'm like, I want to be like this congresswoman down the road. Long story short, you know, through life experience, life journey, ended up in different states. I did, um, lobbying work and things like that. Um, work for nonprofits here and there.

So I got to do a lot of networking, a lot to learn, learn a lot of tools that now I know have helped me in the military and nothing happens out of chance. Everything happens for a reason. So I'm where I'm supposed to, I'm where I'm, I'm where I need to be essentially. So, you know, going through politics and everything, I got to North Dakota. And I was prior married. And after that, I got back into coaching. Because in North Dakota, there's, like, nothing to do out there.

So I got into coaching. And I was like, this is my niche. I love doing this. Hands on. And, you know, when you find that thing, you find that passion that drives you, you just got to go for it. So kind of ditched the whole politics thing. And then, you know, moving around, found myself in Bakersfield, California, started my own business there with coaching.

I had already been in CrossFit for several years at that point. But I tried different things from CrossFit to, you know, bodybuilding, powerlifting, all this different stuff, and then found coaching to be the thing I was going to do for the rest of my life. So after everything, found myself back in Arizona. So when I got back to my roots, back to my ground zero, essentially starting literally from scratch, it was an opportunity to look at myself, look at my past experiences and who is the woman that I want to create in the next cycle, I guess. So I've had this life experience, but what can I bring to the table next?

So it's this big transition. So finding a gym and finding a new home was a big thing for me because, as you guys know, one of those things with fitness is that's your sanctity. That's your sanity. It brings you back to you when you feel your heartbeat, when you feel that breath and you know that you're in control of your vessel. That's, uh, that's the coolest feeling ever.

Um, and then you get to make the next step. So found myself walking through your doors, like, okay, I want to find a new place. Um, one that's more Ollie based too. So I know there's programming for that. So, um, I didn't want this whole, I guess, competitive nature. There is a competitive nature at PHX. Don't get me wrong. But I wasn't trying to go to mom and pop either.

I wanted a legit, established, good programming. Everything that you brought to the table, I was sold from day one. I didn't even need to do a week thing. I was just like, well, sign. So you take my life. Here we go. So what i loved about phx was it was welcoming everyone was so welcoming and after especially being away from

arizona i just needed a new family um somewhere new to to spread my wings um and discover myself on this new journey that i was about to take yeah um and so phx was that welcoming place for me. And there wasn't this whole, like, you have to be the strongest, biggest, baddest girl out there. Like, you can be you, and we accept you and love you for you. Yeah. And we want to see you grow, too. So, you know, it gave me the opportunity to coach. And I'm glad that you saw those tools in me to be able to, I guess, grow as a coach, especially at the gym and find myself in that manner too.

But going from, I want to be the best athlete ever to now I love coaching. I was like, screw, put myself on the back burner. What can I produce in society? What can I give? What have I learned that now I can give back? So PHX gave me that opportunity. So then after that, I decided, you know what? How am I going to pursue the educational side of things?

Well, the military is right in front of me. I don't have kids. I'm not married. Now is the time. I have nothing holding me back. I need to make this move. So, I went in and signed, and I was so scared to tell you at first because it's just one of those things where i mean i mean anyone in the service kind of knows too like mentors that come along your way you're kind of scared to like see how

they they feel they react towards something especially making this big move because you hear both negative and positive side of it it is what it is embrace the suck yet also this has been like the best time of my life too right so i came to you and i was like okay i did this thing i'm gonna have to leave phx he's gonna hate me but i joined the military and you were like what and i was like but i signed as a corpsman and you were like oh my god baby doc all right let's go so um i mean that was just such a relief to me that you were supportive of that, kind of having been like one of my fathers back in Arizona again from the fitness community. So, yeah, I found myself signing my name,

and I could not be happier with this transition. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm here. Doing props, many things. Are you still content with being a green side doc for people who don't know what the – the Corman community uh operates

on both sides of the fence the navy and the marine corps side the marines don't offer or don't have our own medical personnel so we outsource that from the navy so as a navy corpsman Jess has the ability to work exclusively with Marines or sailors and for whatever reason yeah I convinced her to go greenside and she got it so you know I have had a lot of friends and Marines past but having it been so fresh to where I was just signing up and hearing your experiences I said this is definitely where I need to be it's an active community people that love to slay themselves just as much as I do just a bunch of like bros like I was super stoked to do it and so yeah a little bit

about it like you know what there's blue side and there's green side. With that whole community, I'm green side. It's one of those, like, you're voluntold to do something. But I was so happy to be voluntold. And I kind of, like, a lot of my leadership saw potential in me. So they were kind of, like, helping me along the way, talking to detailers and showing my physical capability to be able to go green side. But I'd be kind of a waste of a body if you were just to throw me on a ship. Like, I do not need to be stuffed in a room anywhere. I need to be, like, out in the field.

Right. So they saw that in me, and they kind of, like, helped along the way. So I was voluntold, yes, but I also kind of, like, helped pave my path along the way, too. Sure, sure. And just made it known what I would like and what I, you know, the career that I wanted to advance in in the military. um so being greenside i'm so happy i mean um yeah it sucks sometimes i don't lie about that but overall i love going to my job every day i love it um i get the opportunity to speak in people's lives daily both nutritionally

fitness wise and being a mentor being much older than a lot of people in my community, and having life experience. Sometimes they call me Mama Woods, and they're like, what can we do, Mama Woods? That doesn't surprise me at all. So it's been a really good opportunity, too. I mean, obviously, I learn along the way, too. Every day I go to my first classes and my leadership, my chiefs and all of them.

But I'm always going with, hey, what can I do to be better? Give me a new project like throw me in this What is it? Let me learn like let me have hands-on So when they see people that are willing to learn like that, they want you to do everything you can sure But yeah, bring being green side. I freaking love it and I get to work out all the time I get to hike for a job if people complain about rucking and stuff like that. I freaking love it, and I get to work out all the time. I get to hike for a job. You know, people complain about rucking and stuff like that. I freaking love it. Yeah, it kind of, like, makes my working out and, like, a lot of my strength.

I mean, my strength has definitely gone down a little bit, but I've found this healthy balance, and I'm so happy. I'm still strong. I can still throw down, but I can ruck. I can ruck for a long a long time like these tree stumps were built for a reason so i can carry a pack and i can carry my weight and i i like it and the guys i think appreciate it too sure being i'm the only female on my unit in my in my in the place that i'm at um i'm technically part of the hospital now but um we're like the field section of the

hospital because we work with a portion of mcrd so we're all like recruit kind of kids drill instructors and all that stuff so i'm doing hikes weekly um and they range in in miles and stuff but i get to look at this beautiful sunset every day you know we hike we step off like three o'clock in the morning but i can see that sunrise and it makes it all worth it and i love it when you uh when you look back on on your, what is the number one thing? Because you are, how old are you now? 31. 31, right? So your peer group, as far as the military is concerned has served you the most from your civilian experience in, from a mature maturation standpoint at, in such a junior

place in the totem pole in the Navy? I would say, um, I've been through a little bit of leadership training up until this point, um, through Clemmer and associates. That was someone that I had worked with before. Um, and what they offered me was a chance for me to create my own future, or at least for me to recognize how I can create that. By no means was like, this is what we do. You're going to go through that now. And it wasn't sitting in a classroom listening to stuff. It was more hands-on experience.

But it was more like you get to look at yourself in a different aspect. And then what have I been through? And what can I bring to the table next how can I not judge people how can I not break military bearing how like how do you how do you give back to society and how do you be an outstanding portion of that society right so I've now now a lot of people come to me and go why why are you so optimistic why are you so happy and positive and I'm now, now a lot of people come to me and go, why, why are you so optimistic? Why are you so happy and positive? And I'm like, that's a choice, man.

Like I've been through more shit than I'm sure you've been in your entire life too. Like we all go through it, but everyone's level is different. Like their bottom is different. So I think that you can take any kind of experience and you can learn from it and you can grow from it. So, you know, you find your bottom or, you know, you go through an experience. If you have the maturity to look back and say, okay, what did I learn from this and what can I do next? I think that really changes the game.

And so I wake up every day with the choice to be happy. Even when I was, like, living in the barracks as a 31-year-old woman, old woman, like with the 19 year old roommates that complained about fights with their boyfriends. And when I'm like, Oh my God, where am I right now? But you know, you learn to separate yourself and,

you know, mentally take charge and, um, pretty much just, you choose, you choose the next step. I choose how I come across. I choose how I want people to see me.

Sure. I want people to see this joyful, fun Jessica. And one that, like, takes life by the horns. And I will succeed. Yeah. And it might be hard. And I don't care. I sleep, like, less than four hours a night sometimes.

And that's fine. Like, I chose this. And I love it, and I'm going to embrace it, and I'm going to make decisions to grow. Nice. What have you learned about yourself, you know, joining the military in a structured system coming from, you know, being part of a CrossFit gym, and then now you're in the service, and it's so structured.

They're telling you what to do, like you said, voluntold. What have you learned about yourself in that transition? As weird as it sounds, I really love the discipline and and the structure i think definitely from the coaching aspect of it like having a program to follow having nutrition like there's all these things where you like as a civilian you can make these choices to be structured and disciplined but in the military you're told to do that and that's that's life like get over it do it yeah kind of thing i think for me um things that i've learned were to set myself aside sometimes um and really be observant um very observant now um i want to listen more because my mom used to say you can learn anything

just from anybody's conversation doesn't matter if they're dumb smart intelligent whatever it's like taking chicken off the bone. We're, again, from the South. So she said, Jess, just take the chicken off the bone. Take the meat of what you want. The rest is the bone. Throw it away. You don't need it.

So I kind of take a lot of my experiences with people like that. What is something that I can get from this and learn and grow from it? You know what I mean? But, yeah, I think more than anything, it's like embracing where you're at. Because tomorrow is not guaranteed to you at all. At all. And especially through friends that I've

had in conversations I've had, people that have lost people. My mom had cancer prior, almost lost my mom. Things like that. So you really start to learn tomorrow is not guaranteed so you better learn to be happy and live in this moment because you don't know what's next yeah yeah how many different type of personality types have you run across being in the military setting oh my gosh so many really so many i've heard that a lot you know because my pops always told me he's like you run across like people you've never even imagined in your life everybody you know so nor would you ever either like care to be in the room with either i'll say that too

you get this such a large demographic of people um but again like you have an opportunity to like for example i could sit in a room and people could think i'm crazy because i'm sitting there smiling to myself or i'll start a conversation with someone they're like who's this crazy chick talking to me and then you know either they like it or they don't. But you get all these demographics of different people. And I think it's a wonderful opportunity, especially for the younger people that are joining, too. Even myself, too.

I shouldn't set myself aside from that. But you can learn from anybody that's from the East Coast, that's from another country, from Puerto Rico. You get all these different types of people. And they have life experience, too. And they might have a different aspect on something. why not learn from it that's true is there anything going through you know basic is basic correct that really resonated and stuck with you like as like you didn't expect that to happen but it you came out on the other side of it like tested you to

push yourself to your edge yeah so for me um i was scared that it was going to be a physical thing and it totally was not that it was going to be a physical thing. And it totally was not that. It was quite the opposite. It was more mental than anything. And especially like going through more training statuses, like in field medicine and stuff like that. It was never the physicality of it. I loved it. Like beat me to the ground. Cool. Let's go. It was like another wad to me. Like, all right, I'm ready to train. Let's do this. So mentally I was ready for that portion of it. What I wasn't ready for was standing by and you are in your place. And so you learn rank, you learn structure and things like that. And you learn to appreciate on a whole nother level. But more so just like that mindset.

Yeah. Like knowing that whatever task is in front of you, you can beat it. Like it's just a drop in the like you know rain it's it's what do they say like a hair on the wind it's gonna pass whatever is gonna pass but being like of sound mind and being able to mentally get over whatever is in front of you i'll that's like to the grave that's the best attribute i've ever i've ever learned and i'm grateful for it like i was telling ders when I got back from boot camp, like, obviously, like, you know, you're a boot.

You're super moto and super excited. I'm still a motard. I totally am. I love it, though. But I got back, and I was like, I found my end. They found my buttons, and they fucking pushed my buttons. And he's like, I know. And I was like, as stupid as it is, I will never

forget. I was on the quarterdeck and I called a chief, a petty officer, which is a big no-no, right? So, yeah. And he like looked at me and I knew what I did. I just stood at attention. I went to parade rest immediately. I was like, yeah, I'm going to die. Today's the day. I'm going to die. So, I got beat for like an hour by myself on the quarter and when i say beat like they're like you know yelling up down up down on your face on your feet on your butt on your stomach like they're like you know just running you through it and you're doing a lot of pt and again they knew me these were people that were in my uh division so they knew like physically as a female i could handle it not a lot of females are like that so they were like oh this girl we know she can throw down we're gonna push her to her end physicality so like i

got to a point where i had like snot flying down my face and i was like you know more so mad and in tears the fact that was even in this position i was like how did i get here what is happening right now i have no control over the situation but you embrace it and you find this for me it was that mental end i was like okay they they got me for sure there's like two chiefs just like screaming on top of me like uh pretty cool experience you know in the moment i was like i'm i hate this why did i do this like you know you go you go through all that stuff in your head and then in the end when i got back into my compartment my uh my chief petty officer looked at me and he was like they got you didn't they and i was like yes buddy i was there

so i looked at him and he was like you're gonna look back and you're gonna laugh at it damn was he right yeah and the more i go through this training stuff i find it more and more fun i almost look forward to training statuses and stuff and um i'm trying to go through like life tissue training and i want to go to bridgeport, cold weather training, all this like super shitty stuff that I want to do to myself. And I'm like excited to find out more about myself internally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

That's dope. Because it makes you like not like an athlete. Yes. But a stronger person, stronger female, a stronger mind. Do you think – go ahead, Darcy. I was going to say, what is the thing that you said that, you know, what you thought it was going to be, it wasn't. You know, you thought it was going to be physical. That wasn't the deal at all, which I think I told you that.

Yeah, you did. Okay. But what was the thing? Like what was the mental part of the game that you discovered about yourself? Like what sticks out in your mind as like the lesson or the thing about you that you may not have recognized prior to this experience that you have now? That thing was that I can always do more and I can always do better. What I thought was my best wasn't actually my best.

That I can absolutely do more. And that, you know, you can keep going at a task. You can keep going at something, like even the physicality portion of it. Like it's not the end. You think you might reach your end but man your body is a lot shorter than your mind is so you just reach for that one last step one last ruck one last push up one last whatever it is one last freaking even if you're a scribe one more sentence whatever whatever it is like there's always one more that you can give you can yell a little bit louder

you could stand a little bit taller so there's always a way to get better. So That to me was that moment when I was getting beat on that quarterback I was like I could do one more push-up wouldn't my body was like, nope. No But yeah, I think that has been the lesson for me so like now going back to school and the military it's's been kind of hard because, you know, my job is really random with hours and days and field and hikes and physicality and blah, blah, blah,

blah, blah. You know, normal life, people in the civilian life have that too. It looks, it looks different. You know what I mean?

Different set of sunglasses, different set of filters. Sure. But, um, now I'm adding school on top of it and I still keep my nutrition, my nutrition on point working with, with Caitlin and with macros and met cons and, um, still trying to keep my nutrition on point working with with Caitlin yeah and with macros and metcons and still trying to keep my nutrition on point I'm trying

to study in the field I take my note cards out with me on the field but we're not doing anything you know other guys like throwing rocks at water bottles if you follow terminal lance you know exactly what I'm talking about just like finding stupid stuff to do I'll never forget. I was in the field one time and it was pouring rain. And this was in field medicine. So it was pouring rain on us. And I had my note cards in a plastic baggie.

And like one person forgot their Gore-Tex. So no one can wear Gore-Tex, right? So one person forgets it. So you're not allowed to wear anything rain-protectant. So we're all sitting there just soaking wet. They're Kevlar, like, rain just dripping off your Kevlar onto you. And you're soaked. And now your flak is, like, an extra 40 pounds because it's soaked with water.

And you're sitting here, like, leaning on your pack. And you're like, where did I get to this point in my life? You're, like, really? Like, everything goes back. You're like, why did I do this? And I'm just studying my note cards in a plastic bag, and everyone else is throwing rocks at each other, right? And I'm like, okay, all right. I'm, like, a little bit better for making myself study in this really terrible situation.

Yeah. So, like, that's the one thing, you know? What's that next thing that you can do to make yourself a little bit better? Yeah, that's terrible. Yeah, so that's been my experience. That's awesome. thing that you can do to make yourself a little bit better so that's um yeah so that's been my experience sitting where you are today you know you're you're mature going into to the service 31 and you say you had like a lot of younger age demographics coming in 18 to 22 looking where you are today do you feel like you got in at the perfect time right now or do you wish you had

had done it earlier i do wish i did it earlier earlier. However, I know where I'm supposed to be at the right time. Yeah. Like, nothing happens for a reason. Everything I've gone through, I've been able to speak in people's lives and not even know it. You know, like, they've come back to me like, Jess, that really means a lot to me. I was like, oh, I'm just sharing a story with you, man. Like, you know, and that's why I really encourage people to have conversation and be open and vulnerable with others because you don't know how that other person is taking that conversation. They could learn something from it that you had no intention of sharing, a life-changing thing or even whatever it is.

It could be a small thing, but down the road, that could mean something to that person. So you're robbing someone from, from learning or from their personal growth by keeping to yourself. I feel like it's necessary for people to be a little bit more open, a little bit more vulnerable. They'll find more about themselves as well as influence other lives around them. So I'm really happy to be where I'm at at my age with my maturity level. Um, I come at it with a completely different angle and yes, I do want to succeed and go the nursing route. And I have the career goal in mind, but my mentors look at that and they go, okay, we're going to help you with that. They're very supportive of it, but I'm also very respectful

and I want my work to be the best that I can give them too. So it's like a tit for tat kind of thing. Like it's, you know, leadership to me is from someone. Yes. We'll go to battle with you. We all know that, right? That's the, that's the PC answer, but really it's that leader that sees the best in you and they push you a little bit farther. And then when they see that in me, or at least this is how I take it. When they see that kind of greatness in me, it makes me want to help their job be a little bit easier for them. I want to help them shine too, because I want them to, I want all their peers to see what a great leader that is in my life. And so it's like this like tearing thing, right? So like he's

helping me, I want to help him. And you know, it makes everyone's job a little bit easier and everyone gets to grow from that. Yeah. See, I love hearing that because that's motivational and inspirational to hear that you have such a positive framing because you hear a lot of people where they like, I wish I would have done... They look at somebody else's story and they relate it to their life. For entrepreneurship, for instance, they'll see a kid who started at 14 years old, becomes a billionaire or whatever and say, I wish I was doing that at that age.

It's like, you weren't even ready to do what this man or woman is doing at that age. And they don't enjoy their journey to get to where they are in their current situation. So I love that you have such a positive outlook on that because I think that's truly inspirational and motivating because you're living your best life and you're not comparing your story to anybody else's, whether they're younger or older, you know, that's very, I mean, I just, my hat's off to you because a lot of people would look at my mama she taught me so much i think that's huge because that's you know it shows that you're you're very self-aware and because age is it's honestly the dumb thing age is nothing but a number and it's actually it's true because you are where you're supposed to be because of the current

the situation you may not have been ready to be exposed to those type of stressors at an earlier age. So it's great to see you doing so fantastic. Thank you. That's awesome. Thanks. I mean, definitely, like, I hit some low points before, but, again, everyone's low points a little bit different. But, man, you cannot compare yourself to anybody else because you'll always fall short. Yeah.

Yeah. You've got to compare yourself to who you were yesterday and who you can be tomorrow, but live in the now. Yeah. Because, again, the mental spot, you can always do a little bit more. So if you're here in the now, I'm going to stay awake one more hour and study a little bit more. Yeah. Get, you know, 1% better on my test the next day kind of stuff, you know? Yeah, because like studying your note cards in the rain, you know, like.

It's miserable. I know at 18, if I were in that situation, I would have been throwing rocks. Just be honest with you, you know. But being older, you can see, like, what they're doing is not necessarily important. It's just killing time. And you're sitting here taking advantage of sort of, like, essentially the dead time that everybody else sees. And you're making it, you know, positive. That's huge.

Well, I tell people all the time, you know, that are junior in status within the military or even after they get out and they don't know what to do with the benefits that are just sitting on the table, the GI Bill and stuff like that. You know, I always looked at it as, you know, Uncle Sam is, I'm contractually obligated to give Uncle Sam everything he asks for. Yeah. At the same time, there's all kinds of shit written into the fine print that allows me to use Uncle Sam for everything that he's worth as well. Oh, 100%. And I don't think that that message is preached enough. You know, my big brother, for example, he's in his Twilight tour in Quantico right now. And he's going to retire with a master's degree on Uncle Sam's time.

Yep. You know what I mean? Yep. Like, that's the kind of thing that if you see the forest for the trees, you know, above and beyond, you know, throwing rocks and just marking time, you can use these resources to your advantage and intentionally make yourself better as opposed to what you'll hear when you get up for that next assignment. Yeah. Wherever you end up, there are people that are there already and they just wound up there. Right.

You know what I mean? Yeah. And rather than a, uh, putting themselves in a situation where they got to choose or making the best of a situation that they have now and being positive and productive about it, they just sit and wallow and, you know, and they wait.

What was me? What am I going to get next? Well, you got to do something about it. You know, like for everything, everything that you want to do requires you to be the best version of yourself possible, right? To get that officer candidate package, to get into nursing school and all those good things. You know what I mean?

Like I've sat on those boards and looked at those packages, you know, and there are people that they're the rock throwers, we'll call them, you know what I mean, that submit for that shit too. It's like, how did this kid even get a package in? Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. Because it doesn't match. Your actions don't match your desired goal.

Yeah. You know what I mean? And the fact that you are aware enough to see that, I think that that comes with maturity. So you being in the right place at the right time is because you're in the right place at the right time. You know what I'm saying? So, no, big, big, big ups to you for seeing that.

What I also love about your situation being, you know, 30 plus in the junior ranks right now is it's by your choosing. You know? I don't. I wouldn't change it for the world. I really wouldn't. There's, you know, I had a lot of apprehensions as I expressed to you

before you left for Great Lakes. Which a lot of them came true. Sitting in the barracks like, why am I here? You do realize that. Okay. Cool. Got it. Noted.

You know, we had a lot of those conversations. And, you know, not necessarily to dissuade you from your decision, but to really open your eyes as to what you were really getting yourself into. And I really admire your conviction and sticking to your guns and knowing that you know you did your homework you know that there there is a path and this is just part one of the steps that you have to take right in that journey yeah and uh whereas many would have been like oh fuck i don't want to be in the barracks of 19 year olds again. Like I'm in a totally different space in my life, you know. And but that that's not a deterrent, you know, for you.

It's a motivator to get out. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. To get better. Yeah. I mean, this is a career choice for me at my age. I'm not trying to change careers again. Right. You know, having gone through politics and having a degree already, things like that. I don't want to wait around anymore. What's next? What's next? What's next? And it keeps me busy and I like it. Keeps my mind busy. The one thing I've had to really work on is finding that balance of like, okay, you've now worked yourself

literally into the ground. When do you take care of you? So my gym time really is that, and I've changed a lot of my training and things like that to just straight slave sessions where I still definitely get my slave fest in there for sure. But sometimes I'm like, I'm just going to go lift for a couple hours, do a couple squats. I'm not even going to have a program today. I just want to move. I'm going to do this workout barefoot. Fuck it. So, like, you know, you get to those points, too.

You're like, you've got to take care of your mind and body, too. So, yeah, that's been, I'm now starting to come to that point where I'm like, okay, now I've got to definitely figure out this portion of it, too. And my mat, my yoga practice is definitely, like, a big thing to me, too. Sure. and my mat my yoga practice is definitely like a big thing to me too sure um so if i'm missing it on that i'm like dang i know that that's going to keep me grounded in the center too so i always have to find time for that eventually but yeah you know it comes and goes it's just an ebb and flow it really is it's and we talk about like just like the goal writing process or anything and we talked about it with mike bledsoe like the other day asked him a question like what's your purpose he's like you have many purposes it's not just one single target

you know and like goals are always shifting and changing so it's like constant constantly monitoring yourself and that feeling and saying am i in the right situation my do i feel happy doing what i'm doing if so keep going right if not like let's find out that adjustment you know and i was talking with you guys earlier, and I really do mean that. But, like, when you think you have it figured out, you better hold on. Yeah. As we would say in the story, stand the fuck by. Because that will change.

Yeah. Like, you think you have it figured out, then you're doing it wrong. You're doing something wrong. Because something has to change for growth, right? You know, change comes at the end of your comfort zone. So, like, you find yourself at the end of your comfort zone. Yeah. And it's kind of fun to be like, okay, well, I'm comfortable and I'm happy.

And something else comes along. Well, that just took a huge divot in the road. Well, you know, how can I, like, what's next? Like, you got to keep that positive mind frame. Otherwise, you'll find yourself suffering real quick. Yeah. How has this area helped you, like, mentally? Because it's, like you said, you mentioned the mind frame otherwise you'll find yourself suffering real quick yeah how's this area helped you like mentally because it's like you said you mentioned the location oh it's beautiful yeah you used to you manifest it though like being top in your class and getting the opportunity to come out here it's not just it happened but it happened through your manifestation through your hard work like right how's the energy feel to you being in this area

coming from the south moving out here here? Do you feel a difference? I think that it's helped. Okay, this is going to sound so kind of like over-the-top moto. Go woo-woo, girl. But, like, okay, honestly, being a female in an all-male, you know, environment, which I'm not abnormal to. It's not, like, unfamiliar for me being a coach and being in the gym all the time. I'm used to being around all the bros.

I get it. And I fit in, I think. I don't know if I being in the gym all the time. I'm used to being around all the bros. I get it. And I fit in, I think. I don't know if I fit in. No, you do all right. I'll tell you later. We'll talk about that. No, but being a female here, being in this place, it's allowed me to manifest my like individual prowess, if you will. Like as a female being like, okay,

yeah, hear me roar. I'm going to, I'll throw down just as hard too. So, um, it's, it's been really fun for me here. Um, also I am a huge outdoorsy person. So, you know, being taken away from Arizona where you have Sedona and all these beautiful places to go. Oh my gosh, California has so much to offer too. It's funny. Cause I I said I'd never live back here if it was on my own dime and here I am, but not on my own dime. Thank the Lord for that because I get the beach here. I get to learn how to surf, which I've always wanted to do. That's super cool. I get to like go do my homework while the sun sets on the water. How cool is that? And again, I get to hike in the morning. It might suck. I might have a pack on, but you know what? I get to the top of that mountain

and I get to see both the ocean and the rest of the hills behind me. And not a lot of people get that opportunity to see a view like that. I'm not in the sandbox. Thank God for that right now. But being greenside, who knows what's going to happen, you know, next few years. And I can't wait for it. but then the here and the now i get this land around me and i'm gonna oh i'm gonna run it as much as i can and just get the full experience of it i love that do you journal absolutely yeah yeah do you go back and read your journal i do sometimes and i really like i've not been as good as it right now being back in school because like I get done like okay lights out I'm done crashing um but there have been times that I've journaled especially like my divorce and

things like that and growing into who I am now because I'm not the woman I was two years ago by any means by and large completely 180 and I love the woman I am now. Like I think that I do have something to give to society. And, um, I think I'm like a pretty cool chick to have as a friend. Maybe. I don't know. I like to have fun.

So I, I like to look back at these things and see where I've come from because again, you always have something to learn from. And it's interesting cause you're like, Ooh, I felt like that. Really?

That's like what I was manifesting at the time. So then there lies your choice and what you're going to do next. You led off with happiness being a choice. But I know prior to joining the Navy, that wasn't necessarily a mantra of yours. So when did it become so? When did you start living in that happiness is a choice? Like what was the catalyst? You know, I really don't know what the catalyst was for me.

Maybe it really was joining because I knew that I was supposed to do that. I knew from 18. Like I thought I was going to join the Navy. Here I am in the Navy. And as 18 years old, I'll never forget, my government teacher was, like, one of the biggest inspirations in my life. And he was like, dude, you're going to be great if you do, like, the NSA kind of stuff. So I was like, oh, yeah, I'll totally rock Intel. I can do that.

Yeah. Didn't do it. And I made those choices because of other people's opinions. So I look back at that and go, well, that was a kick in the ass. Cause here I am at 30 now doing it when I could have been doing an 18. And you know, we were talking earlier about, do you wish you could have, you know, done something different back then? It's not really that I wish I would have done it different. I mean, I had the opportunity, but I'm here now because now I'm chasing a medical career and by God, do I love my job in the medical world. I've never felt like I've belonged somewhere before so much.

Yeah. And so I found my niche for sure, like human body, hands healing, medical world. Oh, I just love it. Corpsmen are pretty weird. We like some weird shit. But actually two in the last couple days oh my gosh we did a silkies hike the other day uh last saturday okay we did silkies hike so it's like i think we had like 1600 people and it was all active duty active and veteran stuff like that

so i had my pack on and my med bag and my thermometer is like you can visibly see it so another corpsman grabbed it took it the thermometer out and put it on the end of one of his american flag poles and started like running around like trying to like it's all marines too so he's like i'm coming for you oh my god i was like crying laughing so it was just and i was like bro, laughing. So I was like, bro, you need to curl it up. Fresh ass juice on that.

These Marines are like, no. Yeah. That's a daily for me. Well, I'm in recruit training. Like it's all, it's all these like,

you know, little kids. But then again, I get to speak in these little kids' lives. Oh, my gosh. They call me like, stop bothering these kids. I don't mother these kids. My mom was harder on me than I feel like boot camp is on a lot of these kids. My mama was like, that's not going to fly.

I mean, boot camp is nowhere what it is now to what it was with y'all. Nothing like it was then. Trust me. So much more SOP has changed. Oh my goodness. The only thing I really know is that you can't respond in the affirmative with the word kill anymore. We can to each other,

but not to the kids. Right. I shouldn't call them kids. We're recruits. Boots. Yeah, boots for sure. I'm still a boot. What can I say? I haven't done shit yet. But yeah, I get these 18-year-old kids come in the back of my car and they're sick and lonely for sure. I'm still a boot. What can I say? I've not done shit yet. But yeah, I get these 18-year-old kids come in the back of my car and they're sick and lonely.

And I'm like, so you got a reaper tomorrow, huh? And they're like, yes, ma'am. Stuff like that. And getting the opportunity to speak in their lives, I don't care. But I might come at it from a different angle. They see a human again because they're not used to humans. They're used to drill instructors.

So they get to talk to me and they're like, okay, I this like yeah i got this i got this it was like a fresh motivation for them so that's really fun to be able to kind of like be that motivator for people yeah yeah um but yeah i don't remember where i went on that tangent but yeah like do you do you see yourself at this point in your life being somebody that you wish you had at some point way back when? I do. Yeah. I do. Who is that? Oh, that's what we're talking about.

A catalyst as to like happiness being my choice. I wish that I would have known this Jessica probably, probably, I'm going to say, like, six years ago. A lot of things would have looked different. A lot of things would have. I kind of took an interim in my life for a little while, for a few years there. Lost myself to someone else, and I'll never do that again. I'll never make that choice again. Sure.

Because I have that power to make that choice. And you know what? Whatever happens down the road road someone else gets to see a different side of me yeah um but yeah i definitely wish that like you know wish i wouldn't know what i knew then right that kind of stuff um but i still wouldn't change it for the world yeah i might be 31 but um you know especially the military people like oh my god you're so old how does it this feel? They'll laugh. They'll be like, so what were the 60s like, Jess?

And I'm like, yo, whoa, whoa, whoa. Bring that shit down to the show, man. We'll take it out back when I'm more clean, more than you can. That's fucking funny. But, you know, even being 31, I'm really happy to be 30 thriving right that's like anything i don't know something like that right i heard that went like a cow but um yeah i wish i would have known myself a little bit sooner because i'd have more life more years down the road to share my story to you you got plenty left but i've got plenty left. But I've still got plenty left, exactly.

So in hindsight, I'm where I'm supposed to be. Sure. Have you defined a vision for your life at this point or where you want to be? I belong in the practice of healing. I do. I belong in the practice of medicine. I belong, you know, Durs knew me when I was trying to do some internship stuff with physical therapy because I really found my niche. I found my niche with the human body.

And coaching requires a different skill set, a different set of eyes. I feel like coaches that really know their shit know how to look at a body and you can assess them from the ground up. All the movement pattern, things like that. It's not just like, hey, bro, let's go lift a lot of weight. Not at all. There is science to it. You know, you're breaking down foundation. So when you can look at someone's body and go, oh, my gosh, okay, we're going to fix this, this, and this.

We're going to change this. And even like when you're training like a female, for example, from female to female. I had one of my girls get her very first pull-up and she cried. And I was like, it was just a pull-up. Okay. But, you know i was younger when i was coaching at that point but now i'm like oh my gosh that she was a woman too she was like in her she was almost 40 and she had her very first pull-up but she cried she was like

i wanted to do a pull-up since i was like 13 i've never been able to do one wow so like that kind of stuff is so cool to me like seeing someone change over some of the simplest things. But my simple is different than someone else's simple. So, everyone's life journey is a little bit different. Yeah. I love that. That's fire. Jess, we need you around more often, girl.

Well, come find me on the beach. I miss you. I miss you. We'll come out and see you in OC. Yeah. How many years you got left here? I'm here till 2020. If I don't get picked up for my officer package. So we'll see.

Okay. Because I guess you're getting picked up for it. Yeah. Yeah. Lord willing. Lord willing. You're going to get picked up for it. But I got to tell you, I've never felt more just in tune with the medical side of things.

I never, ever in a million years, being from the politics world, never would have thought I'd ever go back to school for medicine. i have to start from ground zero again i have to go back to all my prereqs for science classes all this kind of stuff i have a degree but now i have to get a double bachelor's just to be able to get my practitioner license so like looking back i'm like dang this is a lot of school for what i want to do but i found my niche and when i have hands on a patient when i have the opportunity to heal someone through medicine oh that's such a cool feeling like and everything else it's like tunnel vision like i laughed because like when i went through t triple c and like cas evacuations and

stuff like that you have algorithms and things like that but you drill drill drill right but i've never felt so zoned in to when i had a patient in front of me and I was like this, okay, nothing else. I don't hear any noise. I don't hear fire. I don't hear anything else. I just have my patient in front of me. So now, you know, definitely finding that there's career paths and on Uncle Sam's dollar, thank the Lord, because, you know, now pursuing nursing and then going into the flight nurse community and being able to pursue stuff from that aspect like i get to have fun and do one of the coolest jobs ever and that saves someone's life that's what's up it's nice when you're in flow because you're doing a career you love and you have the outlet of lifting or working out and that's something that you're passionate about as well so it's like do it for a job you know it's like that's the best place

that that's the best lane to be in because life doesn't feel like you're pressing against a wall yes like you're just that have that perfect flow in life and that's just a beautiful place to be and i'm happy that you found it because and you you actually you see you seek i don't know in the words like you sought it out you know and like actively sought it out because a lot of people they'll sit in that their misery and say like i wish i wish i wish and they'll do they'll put all these barriers in front of me and they're like who told you these barriers are exist yeah and you you're showing people that's like there are no barriers if i want to if i want to go into this i'm going to do it i'm going to bust my ass no matter my age or anything that was against me like i love that mindset and even in the military you know there's so many boundaries that are put up so many walls that are put up, so many walls that are put up. Oh, you don't have this? Sorry. Try again. So, like, there's so many things

like that, but there's ways around that. Like, you fight for what you want. It might be a little bit harder in the military because there are, like, actual, you know, instructions that are listed, stuff like that. But, I mean, in the long run, like, you'll find a way. Well, there's a way. And, you know, when people go, I wish, I wish i wish i wish we'll stop wishing and do yeah take that next step it's uncomfortable yeah it's scary but i'm right here with you that's the coach's job i'm right here with you like i've got you it's like learning how to do a back hands ring for the first time you're gonna get off the ground like you're gonna have no joints on the ground but you have to trust me being right there next to you so like that's super cool to

be a coach in that aspect where you can like i'm right here with you and then having someone to trust themselves in you and that's how i feel with a lot of my mentors too like i will die next to them because i'm like i trust you and you trust me too so that's a pretty cool feeling i think the catalyst for me um when i realized this is the new jessica that I want to portray, it was the outlet of the military because it's given me the opportunity to do so many different things and find out more about myself. Sure. Absolutely. But, yeah, it's having that outlet. And, you know, I know we've had other podcasts earlier from today, too, where they talk about I got up and moved from one state to another.

That's a scary thing. That's a super scary thing to pick up your life and just start over. But when you have a calling, we know you're supposed to do something. You have to do it. If not, you will regret that. And you will look back and go, if I could, if I would, I wish, I wish there's, I wish. So you just have to do, and it's scary, but things fall into place and you'll make things happen and you'll find out more about yourself too. So, yeah, the Navy is really, I'm grateful. And happy birthday, Navy, today, 1775.

Is it? Hey, happy birthday. Okay. Yeah, so. I'll watch somebody swim to that. There's a good one. But, yeah, this was my outlet. Yeah, I'm really grateful because there's a lot of cool stuff down the road.

Can't wait to do it. That's dope. Excited to see you continue to crush it. Yeah, thanks, man. Yeah, it's really interesting how you've not only accepted quality guidance from quality leaders, but you've also taken that and become a quality leader yourself as well. Thank you. And, you know, the military is just a place

where you get to see all sides of leadership, good, bad, and indifferent. And I think that it's in your best interest as you pursue your own greatness that you align yourself with leaders that may or may not be inside your chain of command that can write those letters of recommendation for you, that have your direct,'re higher in their ear, you know, and you seem to have mastered one of the things that takes people years to understand about the military.

And it is a people business, just like coaching is a people business, just like fitness is a people business just like fitness is a people business and the you can never have a big enough network oh yeah you know because you know the your your direct report may not have the answer to the question you're asking but you can reach sideways and above yep and get that shit figured out and i think one of the things that um i always people about the military, if you ever want to get shit done, figure it out in the gym because there's no rank in the weight room. You know what I mean? Yeah. You as an HN can walk up to an 06 and ask a question unabridged with zero negative ramifications. And it's really fucking hilarious how things get done

when you address the man or woman at the top of the chain in an informal environment that doesn't require any fucking paperwork or anything else. So by pushing yourself to these to go above and beyond what your peers are doing, it

just better positions you to have the voice that you have now. Yeah, thank you. It's actually funny you say that. I've had a couple conversations with the first sergeant in the gym a few times, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got to, like, patch up his daughter's feet. She cut her foot.

So, like, I was doc for his daughters. Such a cool experience because now he's like, yo, Doc Woods. And then it's like first sergeant and all the other Marines are like, whoa, you talked to our first sergeant like that? And I'm like, he's cool man like as long as you address him accordingly absolutely good to go 100 full respect that's right that's right because you know first sergeant mass sergeant whatever you know it's like you're supposed to be afraid of them yeah you still do a little creep up right but once they make it known it's cool it's cool you're supposed to be afraid of them yeah you still do a little creep up right but once

they make it known it's cool it's cool you're good once they fist bump you you can fist bump back that's so funny you say that yeah it totally can happen in the gym and i love being oh man like i love being one of the strong females. I do enjoy it. You guys get so much love. So much love. We're treated like one of the bros. I enjoy it. Being a strong female, you already have a solid presence.

But being a physically strong female in this Spartan culture that is the Marine Corps. Totally Spartan. That's such a good analogy. is a huge plus you know and when I was in a lot of my buddies who were just kind of biding their time through the process you know cuz on the officer side in the Marine Corps it's a lottery so not everybody doing the job is doing what they signed up to do you know and I'm sure you see history degrees doing like calm stuff like okay how did i get i wanted to be a good now i'm

an adge and shit yeah you know um you know so like you can you know make if you life gives you lemons you make lemonade right and uh um you know i got to uh spend a lot of time volunteer coaching uh really got to harness my my craft and conditioning i got to go out and body build and i was fully endorsed by the marine corps my buddies are like how the fuck do you get to do all these things i'm like well i asked for it yeah and i'm not an asshole yeah you know it's kind of the two main ingredients you know the command isn't going to give you what you want just by wanting it yeah they don't they're not going to read your mind the mission's got to come first and if what you want doesn't interfere with the mission chances are the answer is yes

yeah you know but it seems like you're getting everything that you're asking for and at the same time you're going above and beyond your peers in helping with that mission accomplishment so you're killing two birds with one stone and that does nothing to help you thank you so yeah it's you said it yourself the mission always does come first and i've had people come at me and heal why do you get to do that oh that's female you get special treatment i'm like yo you don't see like that i'm working all day and then i go to school at night like yeah you don't see that side of it what you see is what you want to see because it might be excuse for your laziness i don't tell you man so like then they're like oh well that okay okay maybe you're right and then like you know my channing command will back me like she definitely like i volunteer to come in on saturdays if i'm not in class and things like

that to like try and help out my team as much as i can because i don't want to be looked at number one i'm a female i already got targeted with back so i have to and it's by choice i want to go above and beyond i'm not going to be that female that they look at me and go she got because it it's handed to her oh hell to the to the no. Right. No way. Especially not greenside. That will not fly. You earn what you get. Yeah.

And you fight for what you want. And that's okay. Some people go, oh, that's so, that's taxing. Yeah, okay. Just makes it a little bit stronger. A little bit more dirt and your nails never hurt. Yeah. So you definitely have to like, as long as that mission's first, your command will absolutely,

there's enough people on your team that you can make it work. There's more than enough bodies. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Give me two. Give me two. The command's willingness to work with you is completely dependent on your willingness to help the command. Period.

Yeah. And it sounds like you just have very solid leadership above you that is you know putting you in these positions to to grow and accumulate more more skills and credentials and stuff like that for a lot of people that that's a byproduct of punishment you know like you're a shit bag so here's more more work. Yeah. You know, in your case, it's feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me. Totally. And they're like, they're rewarding you with more work and beefing that resume. So when you do submit that officer package, you're like, damn, she's got to sew it up tight.

She's ready to go. I hope so. Like even being as junior as I am as an HN, I'm only three, but, like, hopefully they do that kind of stuff, too. I mean, I really appreciate that we get to do, like, boards and things like that because paper says so much. Sure. You can have so much on paper, but then you meet that person behind the paper and you're like, okay, so now I see a different light of who this person is. And I think that's a great opportunity the military gives people. And you said it so many times yourself,

like people don't, they don't go after these opportunities. They know they're there. They're just not going after it. Or they don't want to do the research because there's so much the military can do for you too. So like if you're willing to put in the work and you're willing to fight for it, like by all means, you're going to get it.

Like totally. So props to my first class. And H1 Lee has been super awesome, and so has HM2 Williams. They're my direct unit command on field section. And H1 Lee came from 3-5. This dude is awesome, right? Knows his shit.

And he is just so willing to be like, okay, what do you want to do next? There's just a phone call away. What else can we add on your plate? So he's really like him and Agent Jules Williams have been so great in helping the rest of the command to all the guys around me. Like, yo, she's going to get this because she fights for it. And I even bring in speakers and be like, hey, you want to do this in-route care program?

I'm going to set this up for you guys. Let's set it up so we can all do it together. Nice. You know, it's like that kind of stuff. And it just brings the team a little bit closer, too. We're a really close-knit clinic. Yeah. And I'm really grateful for that.

So, I mean, I'm where I'm supposed to be. At the time, I'm supposed to be here. My clinic's awesome. My leadership is awesome. And I'm just really excited for what's going to happen next. That's awesome. That's dope. Yeah.

Yeah. Before we let you get out of here today, tonight. Yeah, night, no. The sunset's amazing. These Arizona guys are not used to this cold weather. New Mexico, I take that. No, I'm joking. You know, in terms of your daily practice now, you've got so much going on,

and, you know, consistency is key. But with an inconsistent lifestyle, I'll ask you two questions, and you can answer them on any level, whatever speaks to you, mental, physical, spiritual. Go for it. But I'll ask them back to back. The first of which is what do you do each and every day to feed yourself and create that choice of happiness?

And the second of which is what do you do each and every day to fuel yourself and create that sustainable happiness over the long term? Okay. I would say to feed myself, I pray every day, every morning, every night, whatever it is. And I listen to a lot of worship music too because it really just amps me up. It vibes me up. Don't get me wrong.

I love my metal music. I'm a metal head up and down like total like rocker chick but my worship music just brings me back down to ground zero like that's and i feel that energy too so that's something for me that definitely feeds me um even when i'm doing yoga i'm praying majority of the time it's just it's just my time where i can chill out and um really get rooted and grounded and centered. Yeah, my heart chakra, that's one that I have to feed. So as we know about the chakras too. Yeah, like that third eye is going to be face on my mat,

and then my heart chakra is just like grounded in. I love it. Once you start a yoga practice, you'll understand what I'm talking about. And then my fueling, I would say that would definitely be the gym for me. Okay. For sure. So, like, people know me, and if I don't get to work out that day, I would say that would definitely be the gym for me. Okay. For sure. So, like, people know me, and if I don't get to work out that day, I'm not happy, Jess. Like, just let me get mine, and I'll be totally good to go.

Like, even if it means go running or rucking three miles, whatever. I get to run on the beach in the morning. It's still freaking cool. It sucks every minute of it because it hurts really bad. But at the end, you're like, I did that. That was cool. Tap on the back, you know, good I did that. That was cool. Tap on the back. Good to go.

Sweat for the day. If I don't sweat and get my endorphins going in some form or fashion, that's my time. Even if I'm rushing to get to class or something, I'm going to go hammer out a nasty set of squats. Like an AMRAP of like a 10-minute AMRAP. I don't know. Freaking something to get buried under a barbell. I love it. Frigging something.

No, no. No, no. You're just spending too much time on the green side. Those two words don't come in combination naturally. Frigging something. Frigging something. That's awesome. Oh, yeah.

Frigging ears. Where can everybody in this community go connect with you and support you on your journey? Yeah. What did you say that one time? Where can everybody go this community go connect with you and support you on your journey? Yeah. What did you say that one time? Where can everybody in this community go follow you and support you on your journey? I mean, I'm not like, so let's see, my Instagram? Yeah, Instagram, it'd be J-E-S-K-A 820. So Jessica 820.

You'll see me. I'm like the girl lifting weights on my main picture thing. And I'm probably tagging a couple things on my main picture thing and probably tagged a couple things on CrossFit PHX on my Facebook also cool

so yeah Jessica Woods so yeah follow me I got a bunch of stuff on there from like military to my nerdy life

so feel free that's what's up that's what's up yeah no it's so good to catch up with you absolutely you know

this was an unexpected surprise yeah real talk that we got to we spent the day with you good to catch up with you. Absolutely. You know, this was an unexpected surprise. Yeah, real talk. That we got to, we spent the day with you, got to throw down with you, got to hear about your hip hop roommate, your hip hop comedian roommate. Oh, she's so cool. Love you, Zara. Just catch up with your life to date. I'm so proud that you saw this thing all the way through.

You ended up out here, you know, and you are reaping the rewards of all that hard work. And you're now in a place where you get to choose to live life on purpose. Yeah. And that's so massive. So I'm proud of you, girl. Thanks, man. Thank you so much. And I can't wait to report.

I love reporting back. Like, I did this and I did that. Oh, man. I learned this. So I really appreciate you supporting me in that journey, too. And my PHX family, I miss all you guys so much back at home. Oh, my gosh, I miss y'all so much. But just know, like, every time I call back home, I'm like, what's new?

And you're like, not really too much, man, not too much. I'm like, well, I got other stuff to tell you. I got to come home soon and, like, talk to you all. So, yeah, just wait for me. Just hold out a little longer. I'll be home soon. And I miss all you guys. I miss the family. Yeah, we miss you little longer. I'll be home soon and I miss all you guys miss the family Yeah, we miss you too. I'm glad to see you doing well

Just like going anywhere in time soon. Yeah. Yeah For everybody out there and in feed me fuel me world. Make sure you get out there and support everything that Jessica has going on Thank you for your service. Yeah So good to say that to you still feels weird as fuck when i say it it means my time in the sun is done uh yeah but no for real thanks for everything that you you brought to phx while you were there thanks for everything that you bring back when you report and uh like i said you know where home is and uh until next time guys feed, Feed Me, Fuel Me.

And that'll do it for this episode with our special guest, Jessica Woods. If you want to check out everything that Jessica has going, go to the full show notes on shrugcollective.com. Also, be sure to connect with us on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Feed Me, Fuel Me. We would love to hear from each and every one of you. If you found this episode inspiring in any way,

please leave a rating and a comment in iTunes so we can continue on this journey together. Also, be sure to share this episode with your friends and family on social media. We really appreciate you spending your time with us today and allowing us to join you on your journey. We would love to hear your feedback on this episode, as well as guests and topics for future episodes. To end this episode,

we would like to leave you with a quote from an unknown author. Being a soldier is more than courage. It's sacrificing yourself for something greater than yourself. Thank you again for joining us and we'll catch you on the next episode. you