Stubbornly Positive with Craig Grossi and Nora Parkington

We're back!! We are the traveling podcast once again! Recorded in-person in our favorite town of Hillsboro, WI with our Wisconsin sister, Jacqui Davison! In this episode we learn all about what makes Hillsboro and its people so special and we cover a “typical” day in the life of Jacqui on the farm. *Hint, there is no such thing. Buckle up for a wild and beautiful ride with an incredible human. 

In this episode Craig and Nora celebrate 12 episodes! A whole season flew by! They discuss the latest on Freddy’s recovery journey, answer submitted questions including a critter update, and share the story of Craig’s latest injury. Next week (Wednesday Aug 22nd) will be an off week and we look forward to the next season!

On this episode we are joined by the Lab-Father himself, Jody Hartman! Best known for his work behind the camera capturing the lab-diculous antics of his dogs, Stella and Mabel, and sharing them in hilarious and heartfelt videos with his 1.5 million followers. His journey from obscurity to lab-surdity is one you won’t want to miss! You can find Jody, Stella & Mabel on social media @DogNamedStella. In honor of Woodie Hartman, you can find more information on manatee research here: https://mission.cmaquarium.org/research-institute/manatee-research/.

This episode is 35 years in the making! Our very special guest, Chad Luibl, has been Craig’s best friend since they shared crayons and cookies in first grade. He is now a successful and highly regarded literary agent at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. His career has helped bring important and ground breaking books into the world, the first of which being ‘CRAIG & FRED’! We’re thrilled to introduce you to Chad and share some insight into the literary world and stories from our decades of friendship. You can find Chad on Twitter @Chad_Luibl and on the Janklow & Nesbit website: https://www.janklowandnesbit.com/people/chad-luibl.

On this very important episode we connect with the incredible veterinarian Dr. Courtney Pierce DVM, MBA, CCFP. Our first doctor on the podcast did not disappoint! This episode is full of valuable information, amazing stories and inspirational examples of Stubborn Positivity. You might want to listen twice! Dr. Pierce shares her wealth of knowledge gained over an impressive and ongoing career. Additionally, she shares the rewarding but often daunting challenges today's veterinarians face and how pet parents can best help their animals through understanding their vet. You can find Dr. Pierce on LinkedIn, and visit www.NOMV.org for ways to help veterinarian professionals and their mental wellness.

Nora and Craig sit down to recount the events of the last few months. The story of how they discovered a cancerous tumor in Fred’s mouth in Denver and all the amazing people that have helped them in this on-going fight. 

After just a few minutes with our guest we knew we were lucky to know him. His wisdom and composure is beyond his years. Born in Mongolia where he lived with his grandmother, George Ganbold moved to the United States at the age of 7. He faced the cultural and linguistic barriers ahead of him with equal parts grace and pugnacity. This would be the first of his many transitions. We know you’ll be just as impressed and inspired as we are by this walking talking example of Stubborn Positivity and the many challenges he’s overcome.

In part 2 of this episode, we learn more about Joe's perspective on Fred and why getting him out of Afghanistan was important. Joe shares his struggles and triumphs on his post Marine Corps journey: how he's managing the symptoms of his Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress and the mental health challenges that come with living an authentic and purposeful life. Keep up with Joe on instagram at @jwmurdy and his dachshunds Bella & Broski @realweens_of_cherrycreek.

(Part 1) Before Fred was "Fred" he was the caretaker of a wounded Marine. Joe Murdy had been knocked unconscious in Sangin, Afghanistan when a bullet struck his helmet on the morning of 10.10.10. His only memories from the week he spent recovering were of a small white dog coming in to check on and cuddle him. This episode dives into Joe's impressive military career and the incredible story of Fred from Joe's perspective. Keep up with Joe on instagram at @jwmurdy and his dachshunds Bella & Broski @realweens_of_cherrycreek.

The one where we sit down with Jess Kwerel, animal lover and licensed professional counselor LPC, LCPC who specializes in pet loss. Craig and Jess met at a dog park in Washington D.C. when she asked "What kind of dog is Fred?", and listened when Craig began sharing the story for the first time. This episode is a reminder to always share your story, you never know what kind of a friend you might make. You can find Jess at www.PetLossDC.com or Instagram @PetLossDC.

The one where we interview our first official guest, the one and only, Dennis Grossi: Craig's Dad and Fred's Grand-paw. We talk about his time in the Air Force, Kent State University, his career as a National Resource Specialist for flight recorders at the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and perhaps most notably, his special bond with Fred. For the full video interview, check out our Patreon where you will get a rare look at actual flight recorders and a picture of young Craig as a cowboy. Side note for anyone afraid of plane travel, in the expert words of Dennis Grossi "it is much more dangerous to drive to an airport, then fly".

The one where we talk about one of Craig's Stubbornly Positive Moments & share Fred's DNA results!

In the years since the publication of CRAIG & FRED we’ve been inspired by the people we’ve met on our travels with Fred. So we're starting a podcast! Here you’ll find uplifting and inspiring stories from people who faced challenging situations and seemingly impossible odds. Despite their circumstances , they found a reason to wag their tails, just like our dog Fred did on a hot and dusty battlefield in Afghanistan. And just like Fred, their lives were never the same because of the choice they made, a choice that is often difficult to define but we’ve come to know as Stubborn Positivity. 

Being Stubbornly Positive doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges and adversity in our path, it means facing them head on, with a grateful heart and a confident trot.

One of our favorite things about sharing the story of Fred is hearing other people’s stories, because as we’ve learned, when we share with others we learn and connect with the world around us. 

This podcast will be a place where we can demonstrate the power of the human spirit through real life examples from people of all walks of life. There is so much in life that we can be stubborn about, why not choose to be Stubbornly Positive.