Kevin Polky - The Journey

In this episode of The Journey, I share a simple moment from Fort Myers Beach that turned into a powerful reminder about growth, change, and the opportunities we miss when we keep our hands full of the past. As I watched a young boy struggle to grab a starfish because he was already holding shells, I could not help but reflect on how often we do the same thing in life. We hold onto what is familiar, even when something greater is right in front of us. This conversation is about learning to let go so we can truly move forward. I talk about the awareness, intention, and courage it takes to release what no longer serves us, make space for new possibilities, and stop standing on the sidelines admiring what could be. The journey requires risk, but that climb is what shapes us into who we are meant to become.

During this reflection, I continue the conversation about the importance of developing a morning and evening routine. I suggest about being intentional of utilizing activities to develop physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Enjoy!

During this reflection, I share about a new fitness goal of walking to increase my stamina and endurance through walking has led me to being intentional about how many steps, miles I am walking each day. I have noticed the increase in strength and endurance. It has also allowed for growth in emotional and spiritual areas as well.

Ben has committed his life to helping others. He primarily gives back to others what has helped in his own journey. He has been with Safe Families for the past four years. Safe Families is an essential resource for our community and our most valuable and vulnerable assets, single parents and their children.

I welcomed Kelli Ritschel Boehle to The Journey. Kelli shared her moving story of her youngest son, Nik’s battle with cancer. During his treatment Nik met another young adult, Nate who had cancer but was ineligible for Make-a-Wish because he was 18 years old when diagnosed. Nik thought that was wrong and wanted to do something for this group of individuals from the age 18-24 who are battling. After Nik died, Kelli decided to bring Nik’s desire and legacy to life. With Nik’s Wish she has been able to grant 440 wishes. Awesome story!

During this reflection, I share some thoughts about pursuing greatness. What it takes? What are the trade-offs? And what are the distractions? What we learn on the journey is what we transfer to the next chapter of our journey. Greatness is not the outcome rather what we learn along the way.

I wonder if this ever happened, I believe the prompting is not an accident and I know what direction to go in. But it does seem to be the right time. So, I must just wait and be patient. Not comfortable but necessary. So, what to do. A quote from Maya Angelou helps, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”

Clark Kelly joins me on The Journey to share how music shaped his life. What started at 10 years old with an inexpensive guitar eventually led him to Nashville, where he was performing and signed with Sony. Like most meaningful paths, his hasn’t been a straight line. There have been pivots, challenges, and growth along the way. But through it all, Clark has stayed committed to following what lights him up.

Continuing the series on replacing habits and establishing routines. This reflection focuses on what can I control: my actions, response to my thought and emotions. Choose to focus on gratitude and happiness versus hatred and disappointment. Our choice!

In this episode, I talk about what it really takes to set and maintain personal goals when life gets hard. I walk through my own daily wellness routine—physical exercise, spiritual practices, and moments of mindfulness—and explain how consistent habits and intentional rituals have shaped my growth. I challenge listeners to look closely at their daily choices, their interactions with others, and how often they’re truly present, reminding us that progress is built through consistency, not perfection.

Continue to reflect on goal setting and desiring to be the best version of myself this year for the ultimate goal to be able to help someone who is struggling. To be able show through kindness some hope and Light in their darkness.

Recently, I did a 3-hour workshop on changing habits. I initially did this workshop due to the tradition of New Year’s resolutions at the first every year. I wanted to see if there was a way to help individuals be more successful achieving their goals creating healthier habits. The episode focuses on what I learned from Charles Duhigg’s research on the habit loop. Enjoy!

A couple of weeks ago, I had Nathan Sills return to The Journey to talk about his film Afterglow. The night of the final public showing a fellow guest speaker was SaVana the older sister of Devon and his two brothers who were in the film. During the episode, SaVana shares about her experiences growing up in extreme poverty, homelessness, mental illness and addiction. She shares about her mental awakening at an early age the introduction to Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and how that have served as templates to navigate in life today as woman, wife, mom and sister. Enjoy! Afterglow is free on YouTube at this time.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is more than a holiday classic—it’s a mirror. Through the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, we’re reminded that change doesn’t require perfection, only honesty, courage, and a willingness to see ourselves clearly. In this episode, I reflect on how Ebenezer’s awakening—his reckoning with the past, his awareness of the present, and his responsibility for the future—can be our story as we step into a new year. Growth begins when we stop running from discomfort and start listening to what it’s trying to teach us.

In this episode of The Journey, I take time to reflect on the last few weeks and the many conversations I’ve had around the Hero’s Journey. I share how quickly life can change—sometimes in a single moment—and how those moments often arrive as a call we didn’t ask for, but need. No matter the situation, I believe every disruption carries an opportunity for growth, deeper awareness, and transformation. This episode is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and consider how we choose to respond when life calls us forward.

In this episode of The Journey, I sit down with Nathan Sill to explore the deeper themes behind the documentary film Afterglow. We talk about parkour as a pathway to personal growth, the role of urban exploration in self-discovery, and how community and connection can transform lives. We also dive into the vulnerable stories shared in Afterglow, its impact on mental health awareness, and why making the film freely available on YouTube matters. This conversation is about resilience, shared experience, and the power of story to help people feel less alone.

In this episode, I take some time to reflect on my experience attending the final showing of Afterglow at Beloit College. I was invited to speak about mental health and resilience, and the evening became a powerful reminder of what it means to be a light for others. The hero’s journey is never a straight line—it’s circular, ongoing, and full of opportunities to step into something greater than ourselves. Afterglow will soon be available on YouTube, and I look forward to sharing that once it’s released. I’m hopeful we can bring Nathan, Devin, and possibly Savannah onto the podcast to continue exploring their powerful story and what they’re creating next.

In this episode of The Journey, I share a reflection sparked by the first meaningful snowfall of the season in central Wisconsin. After Thanksgiving, the world around me slowed under a fresh blanket of snow—a moment of solitude, beauty, and quiet that invited me to breathe, listen, and reconnect with nature and with God. I talk about the importance of embracing these pauses in our lives, especially during the winter months, and I encourage you to take a little time to step outside, bundle up, and appreciate the stillness this season offers.

In this episode of The Journey, I sit down with my friend Mike White to talk about his life, his work, and the powerful story of his son, Connor. Mike shares how he transformed his pain into action by creating Connor’s Second Chance, an endowment supporting at-risk youth through Youth for Christ. His commitment to honoring his son by helping others is a powerful reminder of resilience, gratitude, and choosing goodness—even in the hardest moments. If you’d like to support Connor’s Second Chance, visit the Community Foundation or Youth for Christ. This is a meaningful, heartfelt episode and I’m grateful Mike chose to share his journey with all of us.

During this reflection, I talk about recent experience speaking at Rock Valley College regarding International Suicide Survivor Day on November 22nd . We never know what others are experiencing, so it best to choose to be kind and seek opportunities to be available to others.