How to Find Purpose After Losing Everything Feat. Ryan Kalish

Key Takeaway

When you feel helpless in your life, get helpful. Former MLB player Ryan Kalish discovered this truth after battling depression and identity loss post-retirement. He now travels the world serving vulnerable people—from cutting hair for those on the streets to feeding orphans—not for recognition, but because service aligned him with his truth. The transformation started when he stopped self-medicating and started asking not 'what can I get?' but 'who can I serve?' Today, his phone might be quiet, but his purpose is loud.

Episode Overview

Former MLB player Ryan Kalish shares his journey from professional baseball through mental health struggles and substance abuse to becoming a global humanitarian. After 14 surgeries ended his career, Kalish battled depression and suicidal thoughts before finding purpose through service. Now he travels monthly to countries like India, Uganda, Thailand, and Egypt, serving vulnerable populations—often on his own dime—while documenting his work to raise awareness and funds through the Hope of Life Fund.

Full Transcript

Transcript of How to Find Purpose After Losing Everything Feat. Ryan Kalish from The Ed Mylett Show. Auto-generated from episode audio; may contain minor errors.

Several months back, I see this clip of this man. He's walking down the street and he comes up to this man who was homeless and it ends up being that I watched him basically bathe this man and give him a haircut and clean him up and help him. Former Major League Baseball player. Baseball player. Baseball player. So, obviously in retirement, it was a choice. 14 surgeries. So, I stepped away and I started having, you know, some really deep and dark thoughts about, you know, maybe not wanting to be here.

And kind of what came through was the spirit of Jesus. Somebody mentioned like, "Hey, if you really want to like do this, you need to go like serve the people." And I was like, "Oh, that's what I'm supposed to do." Everywhere from Indonesia to Thailand, Uganda, India, Jordan, Tanzania, Egypt. Egypt. Egypt. And even my dad, he's never done this before. He's 70 years old. He's my cameraman right cameraman right cameraman right Come on, are you serious, brother? It's it's real special right now what's happening in my life, man.

Like We've been We've been through a lot, you know? I've you know, I've had a I had a struggle mentally. struggle mentally. struggle mentally. Someone's listening today and they're like, "I want to start down some path of making a difference in the world cuz I know my life has some meaning." For the millions of people who won't ever run into you, they're running into you right now. What would you say to them? Welcome back to the show, everybody. Listen, when I started the show about eight or nine years ago, I had a purpose with doing this show, which was to change people's lives.

To inspire people to make their dreams come true or make a change in their life and then give them the strategies to do it. And as the show became more and more successful, like many shows, you can get guests on anytime you want. You can get more and more famous people on. And I started to do a lot of that and I I felt like we were missing the mark sometimes. Just having a famous person after famous person on. And I want to introduce you to people that stimulate something in your heart and your soul, maybe your mind to get you to make a shift in your life.

That's really what I want to do and then hopefully teach you some of the strategies to do it. And I found somebody today that's going to do that for you. You're going to hear a story today like you've never heard before. before. before. Let me tell you where I found him and I know this is not my normal intro everybody cuz it's so meaningful today to me that you listen closely or watch if you're on YouTube. I'm scrolling through YouTube or excuse me, Instagram me, Instagram me, Instagram several months back and I see this clip of this man and I didn't know where he was but it looked to me like maybe he was in a foreign country.

He was a fit dude. He looked like an athlete to me. He's walking down the street and he comes up to this man who was homeless and it ends up being that I watched him get basically bathe this man and give him a haircut and clean him up and help him and put a little food in his belly and I thought, my gosh, what a beautiful moment. Who is this person? this person? this person? And then I looked into him and his story and I said, I want this dude on my show.

I want to introduce him to the world. And so we're going to do that today. Let me tell you about him first. Former Major League Baseball player. He played for the greatest baseball team in the history of the world, the Boston Red Sox. Sox. Sox. And then he played for another team called the Chicago Cubs. I'm just kidding. He played in the big leagues though. leagues though. leagues though. Um known for his athleticism, had a good career, just guys, tons of injuries. 14 surgeries. It just that dream was going to end.

to end. to end. His career ends and I'm sure like anybody his identity is a little bit lost. lost. lost. What's he going to do with his life and through a process we'll go through today, this man ends up stepping away from pro baseball and went through this transition and now you know what he does? He's a global humanitarian. humanitarian. humanitarian. He basically helps the most underserved people in the world. And by the way, he's done the majority of this so far on his own dime.

Everywhere from Indonesia to Thailand, Uganda, India, Jordan, Tanzania, Egypt. He helped orphans, refugees, vulnerable people. people. people. Just out of his heart. And he's personally funded a lot of this. And so, I if you're at a stage in your life, everybody, where maybe you're ready for a change. Maybe your dream's not to own a Lambo in a mansion, but you want to make a difference in your life. And maybe your identity's been attached to a relationship you were in or a business you did or money or something, and that's gone.

How do you find the new you? you? you? I got the guy for you today. Ryan Kalish, welcome to the show. Oh, man. What I appreciate the intro. I feel humbled and blessed to receive all that love. that love. that love. And yeah, it's been a journey, and I'm excited to get into with you today. Yeah, I'm proud of you, and I'm just meeting you. meeting you. meeting you. But I'm proud of you, brother. I really am. And by the way, he has something called the Hope of Life Fund, which we'll talk about a little bit.

And I'm going to give you the website, even though if you're driving, you probably won't remember it, but it's givebetter.com/hope-of-life-fund, in case you end up wanting to help Ryan change other people's lives. Okay, here we go, brother. Jeff, if you're watching on YouTube, you can tell he's a big, jacked, stud athlete. Career ends, your whole life, I know what this is like. You grew up wanting to be a baseball player. You became it. And then it was sort of taken from you. So, now you're at this spot in your life, your life, your life, "Who the heck am I?" And I think there's a lot of people listening right now or watching that feel the exact same way.

Take us through that period of your life and how you ended up landing on, "I'm going to go to Indonesia or Thailand and help vulnerable people." How the heck does that happen? that happen? that happen? Oh, wow. Okay, I'll do my best. So, obviously, retirement, it was a choice. 14 surgeries. I was trying to keep playing, but my right knee was really not doing well. So, I stepped away, and it was this period of 2 or 3 months where at the same time every day, I was going to cry, right?

Like it was just going to come out of me. And I started having, you know, some really deep uh dark thoughts about, you know, maybe not wanting to be here. Mhm. So, I ended up out in California, and I was like, I have to try I have to do something. something. something. Yeah, anything. Yeah, anything. Yeah, anything. So, I signed up for a Pilates teacher training course. Uh so, I'm actually a certified Pilates teacher as well. Although, I don't really do that. And then, then, then, you know, it was really nice to get me going going going um through the process, make try something new.

And then, man, actually, you know, just to be completely vulnerable, it like um you know, I kind of started abusing substance a bit. Um Um Um Marijuana was kind of the thing, and then psychedelic drugs was in the mix. Okay. Okay. Okay. And it was it was very powerful, and I got carried away. Um Um Um and kind of what came through was the spirit of Jesus, which was so interesting because it wasn't something I I'm not religious. I never really liked religion. It wasn't my thing.

And all of a sudden, here I am. I'm like, why am I thinking so much about him? You know, like know, like know, like Wow. Wow, I didn't know that. Okay. Yeah, it was like a it was a really soul-touching experience, and I don't really like really like really like but the way I was expressing it wasn't because I was on all of this substance, I it wasn't really grounded. Um and it made people worried, and you know, long story short, I went through a long mental health battle even with that spirit kind of coming down into me.

Um So, over time, I kind of felt lost in America. I decided I needed a change. I'm going to leave. I'm going to leave. I went over to Indonesia right around 2020. 2020. 2020. And the spirit of Jesus kept coming in, but but but I couldn't figure out like I couldn't ground it. I was not behaving perfectly, you know, like my mental health was just unstable. And then I ended up getting clean, you know, clear and clean, especially in Indonesia. It's not a place where marijuana is legal.

So it was really good for me to go there. Right. Right. Right. I ended up meeting my wife, you know, along the way. I was I became an entrepreneur out there, started a business. business. business. Okay. Okay. Okay. Um so kind of stabilized my life, you know, had a my daughter came along, which is like just such a blessing. Um Um Um and then we ended up moving 4 years, right? We have like a pretty normal life. life. life. And we go out to Thailand, you know, we moved to Thailand.

And this was where again, you know, actually now in Thailand, the marijuana is legal. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like fully legal there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it kind of came back into that a little. And here comes the like spirit of of Jesus. And I'm like this is this is this is So I'm like no, I don't want this. Don't mess around with subs. You have a family, like relax. So it's been over I want to say it's been 16 months since I haven't had anything like that, but the spirit was still with me.

Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. And I was like, what am I to And I was like, what am I to do with this? But this feels like a calling, you know? And I'm like, okay. I went out to Austin, Texas. I was trying to connect with certain people, didn't quite work out. And I was sitting by this river and I was feeling anxious and was like this spiritual calling of like the reason that you don't feel good yet is because you're not really walking with Jesus yet. And I was like and I was like somebody mentioned like, "Hey, if you really want to like do this, you need to go like serve the people." And I was like uh that's what I'm supposed to do.

That's what I do. And so, you know, as a baseball player, when you get a mission and you get that calling like I got when I was 5 years old for baseball, now I have this new one and I'm like let's go. So, I flew out to It started in Egypt um on Easter last year. last year. last year. Wow. Wow. Wow. Went to a church with these underprivileged kids. underprivileged kids. underprivileged kids. Started serving and I just started moving and I I've been doing it once a month month month ever since I met like another um humanitarian, but he was really good at content creation in Uganda.

And he taught me some of the stuff and I started to think like well, how can I raise money and and get my message out if if if I'm not recording this. I don't really love it. love it. love it. I can tell. Cuz you're kind of putting people, you know, people's lives out there, but we ask everyone and if somebody says no, we don't show it, of course. Uh most Let me jump in. I want to say that first cuz I wanted you to keep going, but I want to just pull kind of some clues out of what you said, brother.

And that is number one, you did so you changed your life, I think, like when identity like that ends, whether you're divorced or business fails or you're just like chasing something in your life and all just occurs to you midway through, I don't want this anymore. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Whatever it is, right? You Success leaves clues. A couple things happened that I want to make sure that people know you did. Number one, you did take some time Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. to like listen to the voice on your heart, which you say is Jesus, right?

But like just to get quiet and just not maybe not go to the next thing right away. Maybe take a moment to yourself and listen to your soul. Listen to your spirit. spirit. spirit. And I so I just think that's success clue number one, okay? That I want everyone to pull out of this from Ryan. Number two, Number two, Number two, God uses imperfect people. So, the I'm so grateful that you're vulnerable. Hey, man, I'm smoking a lot of weed, doing some psychedelics, you know, and you're self-soothing is what you were really doing during those times.

times. times. And but the second part of it is when you're feeling helpless in your life, get helpful. get helpful. get helpful. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Get helpful. And that's really what you did. Now, I can't imagine when you sign your deal with the Red Sox that you're like, you know what? In whatever amount of years, within the next 10 years, I'm going to be in Uganda giving some dude on the street some Isn't life amazing? So, how does this service start? How did you know who to serve or you know what I'm saying?

Like, people always think, well, how did he get started? Did he just like go, I don't know, but I'm going to take some action next. What happened to get it going? going? going? Yeah, no. I mean, it was just, well, a quick story. When I was 6 years old, my mom told me we were in Washington, D.C., and she told me I got angry. And she's like, "Why are you mad?" And I was like, "Well, why is that guy on the street sleeping and that building so nice?" Wow.

Nice. Wow. Nice. Wow. Nice. So, it was kind of potentially always there for me. And once, you know, even during my baseball career, you know, one of my dad's friends or my Sorry, my best friend's dad said, "You know, if you want to be close to God when you see somebody really struggling, throw them $5." And that always kind of stuck with me. So, me. So, me. So, I always had the eye for seeing vulnerability. And so, you know, especially uh in Uganda, when it came down like, my friend was already doing this for many years.

Such an amazing story. Congolese refugee starts, you know, gets over into Uganda and starts feeding kids on the street when he was 15. Wow. Wow. Wow. And he started, you know, kind of doing that. So, that was where I Like, I already could have the eye for the, you know for the vulnerable but now I'm starting to mix in like how do I build this message? this message? this message? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Build it into whatever it's going to do. You have to share it. So that was that moment there.

And then you know I've been to India four times. I've done Thailand, you know, all over the place and place and place and I just figure out a team, you know, I find people that kind of you know the path it leads itself if you're willing to walk it. Yeah. What about what's it what's it feel like the first time or what's it feel like? By the way, it's amazing to me this is only really been a year or two. I didn't realize that. One year.

One year. One year. It's crazy Ryan. I mean the amount of places you've done I love that you use the word vulnerable people. Tim Tebow's a good friend. He's been on the show a bunch of times and we live near each other. We speak at a lot of similar engagements and he said always wanted to be an MVP when I was playing football. And he said I do now but it's a different thing. It means I want to help the most vulnerable people. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And Tim does that. He's actually the he's the real deal on it. And but I think sometimes with Tim and I can say this I think people look at him and he's like almost perfect. You know, and what attract any and and frankly he is. And what I love about you is like you're like no I'm imperfect and yet I'm still making a difference because most of us as humans we look at ourselves and go I'm not qualified. Nobody I can't help anybody. I can't even help myself.

Why should I be helping other people? And that's not the truth. I'm wondering compare the two feelings hitting a jab in baseball in the big leagues and you're circling the bases and be honest compare that feeling to like the first time you fed somebody who had no food on the street. You know, when I coach people one-on-one the main question I get asked that we work on as well is scaling. And if you're going to scale a business it takes the right expertise at the right time.

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He's 70 years old. He's starting to when we go out there. He's my camera He's my cameraman right now. Come on, are you serious, brother? It's It's real special right now what's happening in my life, man. Like we've been we've been through a lot, you know? I've you know, I've had a I had a struggle mentally. mentally. mentally. They seen me through a lot. And so, for him to be here on the journey journey journey Wow. Wow. Wow. like feeling it, you know? He's taking It's a spiritual richness that Wow.

Wow. Wow. giving back and helping people and just seeing like, "Wow, like you know, a lot of people all around the world are in a difficult position um and you know, it's like I don't know where it's all leading. Wow. Wow. Wow. But, I'm like I'm here and I want to be a leader in this world now, you know? I feel like feel like feel like it's the time. Bro, it is. And And uh you know, I think often in life we think we're not qualified and and I often say I think you're most qualified to help the person you used to be.

And if you're lost in your life, you're helping people that to some extent are lost or have been left behind. In your case, how beautiful, bro, that your dad I didn't know your dad was the cameraman. cameraman. cameraman. Well, yeah, this this trip. You know, it always varies, but this one is like extra special. extra special. extra special. Bro, no question. Tell your dad thank you for the work he's doing and God bless him. I'm sure you weren't easy in going through your mental health stuff and they probably stood through you through some tough times.

For sure. For sure. For sure. Yeah. You know, one thing I want you to picture everybody before I get into some more questions. When you see his work now, you're like, "Oh, there's this man he, you know, cut his hair on the street." And it's beautiful the way you care for people, bro. It's this big strong dude, you know, he's walking up to people on the street and but now it's being filmed cuz you got to raise money for it and all that. But just remember this when you're watching these videos, guys.

That's not how it started. It started with just with a man that's like, I just feel like I need to help people. There was no camera. There was no plan. There was no idea of what it was going to be. He wasn't promoting anything. He was just doing it. And so not everything you do has to be on Instagram the minute you do it. And maybe nobody will ever know you've made this difference. That doesn't mean it doesn't count. God's watching you, the difference you're making every day.

And so so so when you do What if What do we What have you learned? you learned? you learned? You know, sometimes you'll walk by somebody who's on the street and and and you can feel bad for them or something, maybe. maybe. maybe. And and or judge them or what happened to their life or whatever it is. What What do you now know about people that are vulnerable like that that some of us that have not done that work don't know? Meaning, how you look at them, how you view them, how they their life status.

Like what what do you see Like what what do you see and know about them we don't? All right, so this is a great question. In India, I cut about 50 people's hair that that can't afford it. People might not even accept to cut their hair. You know, they're living on the street. And yeah, some of them are they're drinking, some of them. Start cutting people's hair and you see scars, like big scars, like surgical scars, and potentially, you know, maybe they had a bike accident earlier in their life, maybe they were abused, like So, the the whole point is that we don't know how they got there.

Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. And so, to, you know, with the spirit of Jesus with you, Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. the having compassion for these people and and like, you know, you know, we just don't know how they got there and even if they did get there on their own doing, like I feel like they deserve more chances than whatever it is that they've had because some of us are privileged, and some of us are just born into they're never going to have anything. And so, like for me, I really, you know, try and just always keep that in mind with everyone that I meet um cuz it's real, man.

Like I would say 70% of those guys that I cut that hair had some sort of significant head scar, which would, you know, be a tr- head trauma potentially. Indicate a lot of abuse probably in their life more than likely. Yeah, exactly. And so, you know, you you you know, being here in America, too, like I mean, I haven't cut people's hair yet. Uh it doesn't seem necessarily like something everybody wants, but I see souls pretty well now, and I I can feel that like so many people just they I don't know, man.

They didn't have the the luck, and they didn't have like I don't know, like the David Goggins mindset of being able to push through everything. And And that's like not everyone can be David. Uh and we we need to have that compassion to like have systems in place um to be able to do I think we can do to do I think we can do better is what I'd say. Well, you are, bro. And I when I was younger, I used to use the term weak and strong.

strong. strong. And as I've traveled the world, you know, I don't necessarily believe in that all the time. Meaning, just because somebody's in a difficult situation or they're down on their luck doesn't mean they're weak. they're weak. they're weak. Maybe they just made a bunch of You By the way, you've acknowledged you've made bad decisions in your life. So have I. Just for the grace of God, I've been able to land on my feet many different times. And so, you know, your work gave me perspective in the sense that let me tell you what it did for me, and I'll have you speak to it.

to it. to it. I think I do a pretty good job, but like how many people do I walk by in a given day day day that I don't even see? Meaning, and I'm not just talking about someone who's on the street. I'm talking about someone in the grocery store. Someone at the airport. You know, we have a lot in our lives where our heads are in our phones and we don't even see each other anymore. And what I love about what you're doing is, especially people on the street, you know what most people do?

They keep their head up and they walk right by them. them. them. And if I don't look at them and I don't see it, I don't have to deal with it. But I think that's a metaphor for life. I think a lot of us walk by each other every day and don't see one another anymore. anymore. anymore. Like we should. Do you feel that way, too? too? too? Absolutely, man. I I see it all It's all over the world. Um it's not specific to anyone country and you know, I I also have compassion for this is the society that's been created.

It's how life is happening fast. happening fast. happening fast. Um and so it's easy to get swept away and I think that I can do, you know, all of us good to you know, just step back and and try cuz like I mean, I wasn't always doing this, either. So it's like I'm not If you haven't done it, it's not like, "Hey, you know, come on There's a little bit of like, "Come on. I know you could We could all do a little more." But it's like it all life I mean, life is short.

Um and so we're only here for a short time. So if you haven't got there yet, it's not like a knock on you. It's just like it takes, you know, time and and life circumstances to get you to that place. But you know, man, I was listening to your podcast with Pete Holmes and you were talking about your dad. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, "What am I going to leave behind?" You know, I I'm not going to leave my my car. You know, it's like, "What impact am I going to leave behind?" That's what I'm after now.

after now. after now. Yeah, bro, you are. I I actually was thinking while we were talking, this is no joke, about my conversation with Pete while we were just talking. And cuz he and I have talked about this off camera, too, and you know, you know, you know, I I I I You can't, you know, if you're a Christian, you don't earn your way into heaven, heaven, heaven, right? That's That's been earned for you, if you're a believer. But whatever your faith belief is, set that aside even for a second today.

A buddy of mine gave me a compliment one time, and it's just I I kept the message. And it was after a speech I gave, but here's what he said to me, this is what I think about you, and I want everyone to think about this. He said, "Bro, you can't earn your way into heaven, but what you did today" and it was a speech that I gave, and he said, "It's makes me emotional." But he said, said, said, he said, "I just want you to know there's going to be a long line in heaven when you get there with people there to thank you for making a difference in their life." [clears throat] And whether that's true or not is immaterial.

I've not stopped thinking since that day about, about, about, you know, you know, you know, what can I do to make sure that I've helped somebody? And you made me think that. Truly, like try to describe for it Like, what does it feel like when you you get back to the hotel, and you just help three or four people that day on the street, and you, by the way, spent your own money so far, mainly. I want everyone to understand that. Do you get back? Is it lonely?

Is it fulfilling? Is it emotional? Do you cry? Like, when you make a difference I want everyone to feel for a second like they're sitting there going, "Does my life have meaning? I don't feel like I'm probably ever going to own a Lambo or a mansion, and I don't even know that I want one anyway. What's my life mean?" That's what most people daily, and it causes depression, by the way. They They conclude it most people subtly, slowly, bro, if we're being honest. This is why I'm so glad we're doing this today.

I think most people are reaching the conclusion, "I don't matter. My life doesn't really matter much." And I think this causes a sense of depression in people that they don't feel like they have meaning in their life or that they matter. And or that their life matters. And so does this give you a sense of that a little bit in your life when you get back to the hotel afterwards or what are you feeling? you feeling? you feeling? Oh, absolutely. Well, I would say to anyone who I know even for me still you know, when you're going to go step out of your normal like take care of myself only routine.

It's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable. The feeling is there for me almost every time I go to do it. In the morning I'm you know, I could just go to the sauna. I could just go to the gym. No, no. I know what feeling I'm going to have after I do this. And the feeling at the end is like at the end of the day when I'm sitting back it's just like like like this pure like I'm a very anxious person if I'm out of alignment with my truth.

And at the at the end of the day it's like it's just so ah, I did it again today. And like but it is also at least for me cuz I'm an athlete like I have a a pretty, you know know know I guess major league goal for all of this. this. this. Like I want to go further. I Let me ask you this. Are there moments where you're like I'm totally not the person that should be doing this. Like do you feel inadequate? Often? inadequate?

Often? inadequate? Often? No. No. No. No, no, not anymore. Uh no. I mean Jesus was a carpenter apparently. So apparently. So apparently. So it's like what I I mean I don't have a degree degree degree but I have the heart and I feel like I could be a really good leader here on Earth for connecting back to [clears throat] [clears throat] [clears throat] the message of Jesus which isn't that different from what Muhammad was saying. It's not very different from Krishna. You know, uh I think all of these guys are you know, I'm I'm connecting a lot to the Lakota nations, their prophets.

It's kind of all about like taking care of the planet, taking care of the people. people. people. And you said it uh just on your last podcast with Pete as well. It's like uh with politics is like where where sorry [snorts] using the word sorry, using the word love like where I'm like where is that? Right. Right. Right. Humility is not Humility seems to not be rewarded in the world today. Um you got to always be right. I have this thing I want to ask you about.

I Yeah, sure. Yeah, sure. Yeah, sure. How much of your old identity had to die for this to happen? And what I mean by that is this. Tell you an interesting story. story. story. I have this I bought this property and on the property there's these bald eagles. eagles. eagles. Um Um Um we call them Fred and Wilma. They were this married couple and they lived there about 15 years before I bought the property. Anyway, long story short, Fred passed away. passed away. passed away. And now Wilma is a widow.

And I had the people from the bird sanctuary place come out and they're like, "Well, she's probably going to pass in the next year or two as well." And I said, "Okay." And they said, "Just you know, at her age and plus when they lose their loved one they usually they lose their will to live." Anyway, like Anyway, like Anyway, like 6 weeks later, I hear this like pecking noise at the in the mornings on like these rocks. I'm like, "Do we have woodpeckers? Like what's going on?" Mhm.

Mhm. Mhm. And I find out it's Wilma hammering her beak against the rocks. I'm like, "Is she trying to kill herself? What's happening?" Then the next time I saw her, she looked like she'd lost all her a lot of her feathers. feathers. feathers. And I'm like, "Oh my gosh, she's dying." So I called the people at the bird sanctuary. Actually, the caretaker on my island did. So I said, "You know, what what's going on? I think she's in this process of killing herself." And the the bird sanctuary people got so emotional.

Like, "Oh my god. That's not what she's doing at all. She's remaking herself." She said 2% of these eagles go through a process where they remake themselves. What she's doing is she's sharpening her beak. And she's plucking all the feathers off of herself that no longer serve her. Ah, yeah. Ah, yeah. Ah, yeah. And she's going to remake her life and she could extend her life by double. And guess what? Wilma is still alive. She's remarried, she's had a baby, and she's flying strong now. And what she did is that old identity had to die.

She had to pluck out of herself all these things that didn't serve her anymore. And I think that's a metaphor for life. Old identities, old beliefs, maybe some old relationships, you have to pluck them them them in order to make room for the new. Did you have to do some of that being an athlete? athlete? athlete? You have no idea. It's like it's happened multiple times. And you know, even to the point where sometimes my phone is very quiet, but since I'm so like in touch with me and I know the path is unveiling itself that like I used to, you know, crave like people to text me all the time and stuff like that.

And now I'm just like there's a it's good. Like enjoy the peace because I don't I don't think it's going to last forever. It's it's a season of the life where you're like trying to build something. I'm in year, you know, April 20th will be year one. Easter was, you know, 420 last year. So So you So you changed your life smoking all this weed on 420. No, not last year, but in my past, yes. Last year Last year Last year But it was 420. That's an ironic date.

420 was Easter and I was at the church in Egypt and that was a huge shift. But like like like Got you. Got you. Got you. Obviously, it was kind of funny. I'm like, huh? like, huh? like, huh? That's interesting that Easter is 420 this year. this year. this year. By the way, just to tell you, I want you to keep going. That's the day my dad got sober. sober. sober. And my dad celebrated that day, but all my life I thought only my old man would get sober on 420.

So anyway, keep rolling though. Keep going. Well, I mean I kind of we were talking about like my my Jesus was a person who lived a life. You know, he didn't really talk about uh any teams. He didn't talk He didn't say the word Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, but he's in all of them. How did he do that? Because he just took care of people. He loved God and he loved thy neighbor as himself. And so the more that we can connect back to that message, that message, that message, Mhm.

Mhm. Mhm. you know, I'm not saying like the religions are are bad. I'm just saying like the person that lived the life Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. is like what I'm focused on and the more of us of us of us that feel connected to that spirit, no matter your religious belief, because that archetype is in all of them. The caretaker, The caretaker, The caretaker, the the the bridge builder, the peacemaker, like what Jesus was. He's He's everywhere in the world, you know, in different forms. And so the more that we connect back to that and then, you know, like obviously like obviously like obviously let's just be honest, the modern-day Pharisees are still here.

They haven't gone anywhere. Mhm. Look at you. I'm so impressed. What If Was there one thing though of the former you that had to go away? You said one was like need for attention, right? Sure. I relate to that, too. Like as I became more well-known, I think there's an addiction to that, like like like oh, people know me. Oh, I walk in a room. And as I've purposely sort of tried to shrink my public profile, it's a navigation I have of I'm enjoying the peace of it, but there's still this thing like I'm not quite that I'm not a I'm I'm not getting the attention.

So, is was that the main thing you had to peel away or what What had to die or get What feather had to be plucked that was the biggest thing with you for you to remake you? Well, I like I would say that in baseball you live a very selfish life. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's all about you in the now and what you're doing. And now I feel like like like I'm living for something greater than myself, although it's still, you know, it's a it's a balancing act.

Like I do want to be seen. I have that that same want, but want, but want, but not just for an act like not just so I can make it to the big leagues in the here and now. It's like what I have a daughter, you know? Like I don't Like I'm a little nervous about what I'm seeing. seeing. seeing. I want to like try and be the change that I would like to see in the world for like her kid and their kids and beyond.

Like I I have a video I'm going to put out today. I I said that. I don't think Jesus was just living for like his life. He was trying to show us how we grow a society based more on love and heart rather than the greed and and the service to just power and money. So I want to be a bridge for that. Did you have to let go of that? You know, one of the things that comes with being a big league baseball player [clears throat] [clears throat] [clears throat] is money.

is money. is money. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And a lot potentially. I was just reading what Otani's making. I was like, "Wow." He's like in a world economy all of himself. And the attachment By the way, I don't think there's anything wrong with making a lot of money if that's what you want to do, but but but but did was did you have to detach from that? Cuz you basically went from making money to do what you're doing to now giving it away. You give your time, your focus, your attention, your energy, and your money to this cause.

You give a lot, and I know you don't want to take a lot of credit for it, but there's a lot of giving, and you know, today I'm going to try to help a little bit with you receiving cuz I'm going to make you promote your site, but did was that one of the things you had to sort of abandon is this attachment to I don't know, stuff, physical material stuff? Well, yeah. I I mean, 7 years ago, even before I got into the service, I started like kind of selling material possessions.

possessions. possessions. Mhm. It was kind of naturally it's naturally happened to the point where I literally have a suitcase of items. I have my daughter, I have my wife. Those are the treasures, you know, and getting back to Jesus, he says like, you know, kind of he says sell your treasures now here on Earth and you'll have treasures in heaven. You know, so I'm really into his message. And so it was kind of just like naturally a part of me, but I to be honest Ed, I I kind of wanted to bring this up with you is I struggle.

Like I don't really I don't love money. I just feel like there's a balance that could do us a a bit of favor where we like really So I'm still like I want to get money because I want to good with it and of course I want more and more safety for my family, which right now we're fine, but honestly speaking like I at some point I need to make this bigger to keep it going. And like I want to do more sustainable stuff. So money is necessary.

Um Great Great Great Right, great answer because I have to tell you feel like I think today's one of these shows where like people are just listening to two dudes talk, you know, about life. One making an unbelievable difference in the world and then one interviewing him, which is me. But I've struggled with that, too. that, too. that, too. Because I've accumulated a lot of money. And I've pursued it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Pursued it at the in my mind at being rewarded for doing good for others.

But others. But others. But it is a unique nuance of I want to give and make a difference. I also want my own family to be safe. Because you said your two treasures are your wife and your daughter. Well, that means one of your obligations is to care and protect them and likewise they'll care and protect for you. And so I'll tell you an interesting thing. This is at a little bit different level, but I'm recently doing like estate stuff like cuz I'm 55 and I've had some health issues, so I have to think about this world and my life post me.

Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. and one of the things they ask you when you have a couple bucks is like, "Well, how much do you want to leave to your family? And how much do you want to leave to leave to leave to the colleges that you want to have?" And I'm in the midst of making those decisions right now, and it's difficult. It's difficult It's difficult It's difficult to to to I don't want to feel selfish when I'm making money or leaving it to my family at the same time.

I want to make sure they're cared for and protected. And so, I very much relate. It's why I admire you so much. You've decided kind of on faith to go, "I'm going to go into service. service. service. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And And And I'll figure the way and the path to also care for my family." I think that's sort of what you're doing. I well, I have I have a business. It's kind of a break-even thing right now. And so, but yeah, it's like, "Okay, why can't I grow this into something more?" I feel like with the world the way it is like, it's there are people doing it, you know, like the MD Motivator guy.

I don't know if Yeah, he's like he's grown a huge thing. And like, you know, I'm just and consistency as a as a former athlete. Like, I know how that grows things. You know, you know that as a businessman. Yep. Yep. Yep. You know, consistency, action, faith with a you know, for me this is definitely like a bit of a divine calling. calling. calling. And you know, I even my friend Chase I and I sitting in the local donation. I was telling him like my old story recently.

He's like, "This is In our world, this is a divine calling." Like, so so so there's a little like it's like that balance between fear and love, you know? So, So, So, I'm going to ask you one of the hardest questions I've ever asked on the show. You're going to hate this. But, I want to ask you it. So, there's this idea of that a lot of people believe, which is like, "We need to care for our own country first before we go care for the world.

There's a political ideology that says that. I think a lot of people nod their head when they hear it. Then I've got other friends that go, "Bro, there's poor in the United States. That's one type of poor. And then there's poor in some parts of the world and that's a different poor. And because I haven't traveled that much, I've not been exposed. been exposed. been exposed. I really don't know. And so, help us, those of us that have not traveled the world and seen poverty in other nations or other places.

What is Is there a There's there's a bit of a difference. Um Um Um I mean, I guess it's such a In the United States, it's such a contrast because most of the terrain is really nice. really nice. really nice. Your streets are paved well, sidewalks are nice. are nice. are nice. And then, you know, there's these forgotten people by the system. Now, I'll say I'll say I'll say there's a lot more of a drug problem here than there is overseas. And then, people might be into the into the alcohol on the street, but you don't have the same erratic, you know, kind of like drug problems where you kind of see people talking to a wall like you do in the United States.

Like people are I I guess they're I don't know. They're on the streets. the streets. the streets. You know, in Africa it's just so it's just so poor and and it's sad and I have so many so many so many like things and about to say about that in my life, but it's like for the most part, you know, people are sober. They can't even get to, you know, pharmaceutical drugs and opioids and all the things that are on our streets. So, and you know, it's kind of like Africa's just overall more poverty has more poverty.

Same with India. It kind I guess it it blends in a little bit. Like whereas here it's just like so stark and and when you see it cuz like you could just see this amazing businessman or woman walking with a nice suit and a Louis Vuitton bag Vuitton bag Vuitton bag and then there's this just poor person like picking dirt out of their out of their feet. I you know, I'm down here in Phoenix. I had no idea what the situation was. It's really bad here.

It's really hurts me in my soul cuz I can just can just can just I can just feel that we are not attentive to those things. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Um which again kind of leads me back to like, you know, we're a Christian nation. That's Jesus territory, man. And like we got to step up our game. That's what this guy said, what you do for the least of these you do for me. Gosh, you're so good. You're so unique. I have I have like a a I'm like a little sad and mad a lot of time.

time. time. I can see it. I can see that in you, by the way. I actually I think for me anyway that's coming across. I can see this kind giving man, but he's still a little bit pissed, too. Yeah, I'm pissed. and there's that the world has got to this extent. Help me understand something. I'm I'm like really going there with you today. As I've traveled and most of my travels are US. I travel internationally to speak, but usually when I do it, to be really honest with you, I'm there a day and I'm gone.

So I've not spent time like what you have. I've done some missionary work in my life in the world. I'm not going to talk about that on the show today, but but for the most part when I speak I travel the US and certainly the last 10 years years years the major cities that I go to, whether it be Austin, Texas or San Francisco or LA or Phoenix, Arizona or Portland, Maine where I have a place or wherever, the growing population of people that are unhoused or homeless is just dramatically exploded, right?

And a lot of the times when I see folks take us into what you see. Educate us. I do see a lot of drug use. Um I have to say that. Like I see a lot of needles. I see a lot of drug use, I see a lot of heroin, a lot of meth. I do see that. And I had started to form that picture in my head. And then I went, "Okay, "Okay, "Okay, they're drug users or mental health issues." issues." issues." Then one morning, I was going to to to get a cup of coffee, and I watched a woman come out of a tent Mhm.

Mhm. Mhm. in a business suit. And I watched her walk out of the tent. This was in Portland, Maine. to the bus stop. Sure. Sure. Sure. And I watched her get on a bus. I thought that was interesting. And so, about 2 weeks later, I saw the same woman, and I asked her. And she's like, "Well, my husband left. Um I had a drug problem, but I'm completely sober." And she appeared to me to be completely sober. And she said, "I work at a bank. I just got the job there part-time.

And right now, I'm so down on my luck, it's just easier for me. It's the summertime. I'm living here to save money cuz I cannot afford my own house with what I make. Rent here is so high." And she's really making a minimum wage income when she started. started. started. And so, it changed my heart a little. I'm like, "Wow, there's different profiles. There are people who are using drugs. There are There is mental illness." illness." illness." Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But then, there are people like this woman who's just fallen on such difficult times, and she actually is working working working and could not afford a place to live just yet.

And I know there'll be people in the comments right now going, "Ah, that's that's that's No, I'm telling you, there's such a dire split in our country between rich and poor. poor. poor. Poor in the And certainly, this must be the case in the world. This woman's trying to change her life and work, and she cannot afford a roof over her head currently. currently. currently. Do you see a little bit of that when you travel and help people? And I know that's the exception, not the rule.

But who do you Who do you see on the street when you're on the street? Who are they? Oh, man. Well, I see Yesterday, I talked to a guy who he was he was talking about his education background. Um Um Um but mainly it's not I would say it's like 50% that drug mental health problem and just a lot of people who have gotten kicked and kicked and kicked by the system, veterans all the time. You know, which is really sad because like those guys have been through something in like service to the country.

Obviously, I don't agree with war, but they've gone overseas for their country and come back and you know, their mental health for killing people overseas can be at risk and the programs are very bad. I say this to people the United States dollar is a strong dollar everywhere except the United States. States. States. And so when you're been kicked and kicked and you might have made a few mistakes mistakes mistakes then you can get down quick and then it's like your spirit is down. And you know, I don't know, man.

I I go back to Jesus. He says you can't serve God and and mammon, which means money. So the spirit of God seems to be getting kicked down out of people because circumstances, choices, currency, power, especially at home. You know, you make a few bad choices, man, and like and you make a few mistakes or you just have a tough time. It's uh there's a lot of things stacked against you right now in this system. Bro, I so wonderful to talk with you. I hope hope hope I hope for the audience too.

I hope I've asked the questions that you would want asked and I've asked them respectfully, I hope. I mean um I want to learn and understand more too so that I can make a bigger difference in the world. And I also want to understand the mindset of somebody who's gone from I mean just miraculous, world-class, top 1% of 1% of 1% of athletes on the planet had a setback, started behaving in ways he didn't like. He's like, "No, I want to turn my life around and I'm going to do it by helping the most vulnerable people in the world." I just think it's it's beautiful and you really made me think, too, about myself and I I know you're doing that for a lot of other people and a lot of you that are looking for a change in your life, maybe it's not just to start a business.

a business. a business. Maybe it's to start doing something where you just care with your gift or your heart for people that need you in whatever way that means. Maybe that's your path. Maybe it is a business. Maybe it is to make more money. Maybe it is to take care of family, but also maybe it's not. not. not. Maybe it's like what Ryan's doing and maybe it's your own version of that. Um Um Um I have a friend of mine who left a business and she still has her her She took a job, but basically what she does now is she rescues animals rescues animals rescues animals and she went from making $200,000 a year and she's like, "I don't want to do this anymore.

I'm going to downsize my life. I'm going to sell my house. I can live in a smaller place." She's making 80,000 bucks a year now and she rescues animals. And she she's never been happy in her life. And I want to at least expose people through this show from time to time to people that have taken a different path. It's not all about scaling a business. It's okay. I can have the guy who ran Tesla on a few weeks ago and I can have you on today and you guys can get exposed to both of those views of the world and I very much admire what you're doing, bro.

Very much. Um I still have one more question for you though, but before I do it cuz you won't promote it, I'm going to. We'll put this in the show notes. If you want to give to help this guy continue his work, go to givebetter.com/hope-of-life-fund or you can follow him on Instagram, which is I am Ryan Kalish. And that's k a l i s h. Okay, last question, stud. Um someone's listening today and they're like, "I'm kind of emotional." And And And you know, I want to start down some path of of of making a difference in the world cuz I know my life has some meaning.

And I'm not Maybe I feel like I haven't lived up to quite what I'm capable of. Um what would you say? Cuz you're going to run into these people, especially after this interview, bro. Right? You're going to run into these people like, "Hey." "Hey." "Hey." And they're going to ask you that question. That'll be one of the questions you get. So, for the millions of people who won't ever run into you, they're running into you right now. What would you say to them? Well, first of all, like you said, if you're feeling that way and like, you know, a little bit emotional and like, "Damn, I wish I was doing something." Like, give yourself a hug.

Be be compassionate to yourself because I wasn't always here. You know, it it was it took me 37 years to get here, basically. Uh before I've been doing this particular work for a year. So, be gentle. gentle. gentle. Um and then, yeah, I would say like, obviously, you know, it doesn't have to be at the scale that I'm doing it. It does like but make it a part of your routine to where like maybe you just volunteer somewhere locally. Like, there are people suffering outside of everyone's homes all over this world.

And the more that we can connect, like you said, to the fact that our lives actually do matter and we can make a difference um and connect to you know, that's the kind of like, there's a separation between the prophets and us, like Jesus and you. But I mean, you read the Bible, he talks a lot about how actually I am in you and you are in God and all this like, he's talking about oneness. So, maybe we can't all heal people's, you know, know, know, uh blindness in their eyes, but we can all all all take a step towards helping someone in a small way here or there.

And the more of us that do it, you know, our collective consciousness turns up um and and all of the sudden, you know, I don't know if that like, you know, I don't know when or if like like like the leaders of our world are going to get that heart, but they can. Like the more of us that do it cuz maybe it's not this generation, maybe it's your kid or their kid who finally makes their way into into into politics and and brings the world together.

So, together. So, together. So, you know, we are powerful. We are not that separate from God, I don't think. So, So, So, that's it. that's it. that's it. Bro, it's so good. I uh you used the word collective consciousness there at the end and that makes me feel like it's confirmed I was supposed to have you on because for years, I haven't in a long time, I've talked about that. And I really believe, this is just one dude's opinion, but that is what needs to change in this world is the frequency in the collective consciousness of our culture.

We're getting the leaders, you guys, guys, guys, that we that we that we deserve. And we need to ask more of them. And that means raising our consciousness, and I think every single day it's just finding a way to make the world better in your way. And you are qualified, and you're not an impostor, and it's not too late, and you've not screwed up too much, and you're not too old, and you're not too young. And here's the biggest thing Ryan's taught me. me. me. You don't have to have it all figured out.

out. out. No. No. No. He's figuring it out as we're doing the show today. What's the business model going to be? How's he sustain it for his family? He just started making a difference and finding a way to serve. True? serve. True? serve. True? Yeah, yeah, and I I don't have all the answers today. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We might never. This is just one lifetime of a plan of a space rock that's been floating for however long it's been floating. Like, if we get 80 years here, we're lucky.

And I I I joked with my my my wife there the other day. I said, "Are Do we ever really become adults?" We're just like kids, you know, forever. By the way, the happiest people don't. Yeah, yeah, Yeah, yeah, Yeah, yeah, Happiest people The happiest people spend their life at play as much as they can and in service. And uh by the way, as I'm looking at you, it's a funny thing to say at the end. Most people are listening on audio, but everybody if you're watching, he kind of looks like Jesus.

At least our picture that we've been showing of him all these years. So, anyway, I just had to say that at the end cuz it's been on my mind the entire time. Ryan, uh I'm really glad I had you on. And I hope that I hope I'm giving everybody exposure. It's just Just for today, man. Just look at your life a little differently. There are people, even though Fox News and CNN and whoever else you watch doesn't report on it every night, guess what everybody? There are people in the world doing good and making a difference.

And you can and probably already are one of them. You could just maybe do a little more after today. So, Ryan, thank you. I really appreciate you having me on. It's such an honor. Oh, bro. The honor's mine. Stop it. Everybody, this is one you share. You hit the share button. You say, "You know what? You want to feel better? You want to make a difference in the world? Listen to this conversation that was on the Mile High Show with Ryan Calish." Love you all, everybody.

God bless you and max out.