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What if you could take your love for biking and nature to create a unique and thriving business? Meet Adam and Mica Harju, the dynamic duo behind Dirt Candy Designs, who turned their passion into a successful bike trail building company, building extraordinary trails across the United States and in Aruba. Join us as we uncover their inspiring journey of starting a business from scratch, overcoming challenges, and balancing their work and relationship along the way.

Discover the fascinating art and science behind bike trail construction as Adam and Mica break down their process of working with the land to create natural and accessible trails. From Adam's lifelong biking experience and his talent for spatial relationships, and Mica's conservation core background, their combined expertise makes them the perfect team for this one-of-a-kind venture.

Whether you're a hardcore biker or simply intrigued by trail building, you won't want to miss this insightful and inspiring conversation with the energized team behind Dirt Candy Designs.

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Have you ever wondered how the power of storytelling can impact our lives and create a lasting legacy for future generations? Join Joe Boyle and Mark Wolak as we discuss the importance of sharing stories of hope and resilience, and how these narratives can play a significant role in connecting people from all walks of life. We also dive into our personal experiences with adversity and the role stories play in helping us find connection in a sometimes isolated world.

Discover how captivating and positive storytelling can be both entertaining and educational, leaving listeners eagerly awaiting the next episode. Mark and Joe explore the art of creating content that is real, believable, and inclusive, as well as the importance of balancing entertainment with inspiration. Don't miss out on these insightful conversations - and be sure to visit our website to learn more about us and our mission to share extraordinary stories of everyday people.

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Imagine if you could combine your passion for mountain biking and nature with your entrepreneurial spirit and relationship goals? Our guests, Adam and Mica Harju from Dirt Candy Designs, are doing just that. As a trail-building couple, they took a leap of faith in starting their business, creating mountain biking trails across the United States while fostering trust, commitment, and inclusiveness in their partnership. Join us as we chat about their journey and the innovative and adaptive approach they bring to trail building, as well as the industry's exciting future.

In this fascinating conversation, we also explore the joys and challenges of working together as husband and wife in such a rewarding field. As trail builders, Adam and Mica emphasize the importance of getting more people out there, riding bikes, and enjoying nature. They share some of the greatest lessons they've learned from their work together and the unique projects they're working on. Don't miss out on this inspiring episode of Stories in Life, and visit dirtcandydesigns.com to learn more about the incredible trails this dynamic duo creates.

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Ever wondered how systematic innovation can transform organizations and businesses for enhanced decision-making? We had the honor of visiting with Darrell Mann, an expert in this field who has worked across various industries and continents with a focus on research and decision-making.

Darrell Mann is CEO of Systematic Innovation, Ltd. A prolific writer and researcher, his recent books include: The Hero's Startup Journey, EveryThink, Dealing with the Mirage and Generation Z.

He shares fascinating insights on 25 years of generational research, the decision-making process for innovation, and the perspectives of people from different countries. You'll also hear about his current work in India, China, United States and Europe and the cultural challenges of operational excellence and true innovation.

In this conversation, we get an introduction to TRIZ, a theory of inventive problem solving, and how difficult it is for people to move away from a focus on operational excellence. We learn about his billion-dollar success story with Procter and Gamble and how Samsung has thrived through use of the principles of systematic innovation.

Join us for this first enlightening episode (First of Three Episodes) as we dive into the factors that contribute to successful innovation and the challenges leaders face in today's rapidly changing world.

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What if we told you that the secret to successful innovation lies in understanding the relationships between trends? In our enlightening conversation with Darrell Mann, a world-renowned expert in systematic innovation, we uncover the third part of the DNA of success and discuss how identifying connections between trends can shape the future. Darrell shares fascinating insights from his 25 years of experience/research working with companies and organizations across the globe.

We also delve into the realm of complex systems and emergent behavior, outlining ways to predict the future by recognizing the relationships between trends and specific conflicts.

But that's not all! We take a closer look at Darrell Mann's research on generational patterns and explore the turbulent period of 2020 to 2025 that he and his team predicted. As we examine how these predictions have been playing out in different parts of the world, we also discuss his research on generational archetypes and the implications it has for understanding Generation Z.

Darrell gives us a fascinating glimpse into the characteristics of this generation and what we might expect to see from them in the coming decades. Don't miss this riveting discussion that could help you grasp the importance of relationships between trends and how they can shape our future.

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What if embracing failure could unlock the secrets to innovation? Join us as we sit down with Darrell Mann, a global consultant and expert in systematic innovation, and unpack the idea of learning from failure to drive success. We also dive into the changing dynamics of knowledge work, as countries like India and China rise in prominence, and discuss how the United States can rekindle its spirit of entrepreneurialism and innovation to remain competitive on the global stage.

This captivating episode also explores Darrell's new book, The Heroes (Startup) Journey, and the integral role of truth in the age of artificial intelligence. Discover Darrell's insights on the importance of leadership and truth, as well as his passion for music, as we learn about his record-breaking number of concerts attended in 2020 and 2021.

We conclude with a powerful song by Otis Redding that serves as a poignant reminder of the value of speaking the truth. Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with thought-provoking insights on innovation, leadership, and the future of global competition.

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This week, we're on board with Gary W. Anderson, a sailor and friend, with a serious knack for adventure and an unforgettable story. We set our course to Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake in the world, where Gary and his crew find themselves stranded on Cat Island, with nothing but their resourcefulness and a sense of camaraderie to navigate through the challenges. Prepare for a tale that's adventurous, frightening and entirely captivating.

Our journey begins with the crew playing beach bocce under hot afternoon sun and enjoying an afternoon of sailing in the beautiful Apostle Islands. The next day, the evening beach party ends with a daunting reality that the dinghy has floated away from the beach. The crew finds themselves marooned on the island through the night with their sailboat anchored 200 yards away. Darkness and damp cold overcomes the crew. It's time for the skipper to lead some serious problem-solving.

Hear about the ingenious way the crew constructed a makeshift raft using logs tied with shoelaces, drawstrings, one belt, and a canvas bag. Facing cold waters and uncertainty, the crew perseveres and eventually makes it back to the sailboat via a creatively designed ferry line. Stay with us as we navigate through this challenging adventure, and discover the power of resourcefulness and camaraderie in the face of adversity.

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You're about to embark on a memorable journey through time, as we sit down with my Uncle Alphonse Wolak to share his unforgettable experiences serving in the now famous Eighth Air Force during World War II. From the moment he enlisted at Fort Snelling at 18 years old, to flying harrowing missions over Germany and Belgium, Alphonse's stories paint a vivid picture of bravery, sacrifice, and loss. As a left side gunner on the B-24 Liberator, every mission was a testament to the fortitude and dedication of young soldiers to our country. His descriptive tales from the front are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.

Alphonse's stories give us a rare glimpse into the humanity amidst the chaos and loss of war. Like his ten-day leave in Glascow, Scotland, when he found a brief respite from the war in the warmth of a local family and the comfort of a pub - reminding us that even amidst war, the human spirit endures. So, brace yourselves for a journey back in time as we honor our veterans and the sacrifices they've made. Alphonse's first-hand accounts from World War II will captivate, inform, and inspire.

This is part one of a three part series.

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