"The way you act and behave is far more powerful than the words you use. Attraction rather than promotion is the key to inspiring leadership." This is just one of the many nuggets of wisdom that Charlie Engle, Global Ultra-Endurance Athlete, shares with us on this Red Shoes Living podcast episode. This episode is packed with jaw-dropping experiences and powerful takeaways for leadership in today's ever-changing business landscape.

Charlie Engle is a global ultra-endurance athlete and the founder of the 5.8 Global Adventure Series, one of the most ambitious expeditions in modern history, trekking from the lowest to the highest points on all seven continents. He is also one of the most accomplished ultramarathon runners in the world, having placed in hundreds of races in dozens of countries.

His incredible athletic ability was profiled in the film, Running the Sahara, narrated by Matt Damon. The documentary highlighted his historic, record-setting journey across the world’s largest desert, running more than two marathons a day for 111 consecutive days, for a total of 4,500 miles. Charlie’s transcontinental run through deep sand and politically unstable countries remain one of the premier accomplishments in the ultra-endurance and adventure sports worlds. After crossing the Sahara and seeing the global water crisis first-hand, Charlie teamed up with Matt Damon to create H20 Africa, which later became the global humanitarian organization, Water.org.

Charlie’s memoir, Running Man, became a bestseller shortly after it was published in 2016. While the book details his inspiring life story, it is about more than just running. It is about facing demons, overcoming impossible odds, keeping your sense of humor, and discovering the redemptive power of putting one foot in front of the other, even when you feel like you can’t keep going.

His motivation to run and tackle extreme adventures stems from his battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Charlie has been in recovery since July 23, 1992, and he credits a large part of his recovery to the purposeful devotion and emotional release he experiences while running.

Charlie is a dynamic speaker who has enthralled audiences around the world, from keynotes at the Boston Marathon and Google to the National Geographic Society, NATO, the United Nations, and the deck of a nuclearclass U.S. Naval aircraft carrier.

He’s been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Weekend, Outside, Runner’s World, NPR’s All Things Considered, Men’s Journal, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He lives with his wife, Astacianna Hatcher, in Durham, North Carolina.

In this powerful Red Shoes Living Podcast, Lonnie Mayne talks with Bronze Medal Olympian, Kellie Wells Brinkley. This is a special and talented woman you want to know. Her story keeps you on the edge of your seat and you find yourself cheering her on throughout the podcast. Kellie shares the incredible hurdles she powered through, over and conquered, to go on to win the Bronze Medal in 2012. It was considered one of the most dramatic stories in the history of the Olympic games.

Kellie shares with us her belief that "not all types of movement is progress. Sometimes, you have to stop to move forward." She also believes that when you think you have reached your "glass ceiling", set a new one and keep pushing.

Kellie Wells hails from Richmond Virginia. She attended James River High School where she graduated with honors and then chose to attend Hampton University in Hampton Virginia. During her time at Hampton University, Wells was a four-year letterman, three year Captain, elected the school’s most valuable athlete, earned all Mid Eastern Athletic Conference honors, and made history by becoming the school’s first NCAA Division 1 All-American in any sport. While she thrived on the track, she managed to graduate college in three and a half years and go on into the University’s five year MBA program and complete that early as well.

Kellie suffered a heartbreaking injury at the 2008 Olympic Trials where she was unable to compete in the finals due to a severe hamstring tear. Wells made an impressive comeback in 2011 by winning her first USA outdoor and indoor national titles and dominating the 100-meter Hurdles. Wells’ winning time of 7.79 at the 2011 USA Indoor Championships was the No. 1 time in the world for the year and at the ninth fastest of all time. In the summer of 2011, Wells also went public with another heartbreaking struggle she faced – being sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Wells moved out of the abusive house in the 10th grade and a few weeks later her mother passed away in a car accident along with her mother's boyfriend. Wells unknowingly drove past the accident site on her way home, not realizing her mother was in the car wreck.

Her honors include:

• Four-time National Champion (100-meter hurdles); two-time National Champion (60-meter hurdles); Co-National Record Holder (55-meter hurdles)

• 2012 Presidential Rising Star Award; awarded by President Barack Obama

• Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame Inductee

• Olympic Ambassador

• United States Army Athlete Ambassador

• USA Track and field ambassador

• US Olympic committee safe sports advisor and Ambassador

Kellie has a foundation called “The Hits and Hurdles Foundation”, that services people that have taken major hits and overcome many obstacles in life. Kellie enjoys helping Men, Woman, and Children that have overcome obstacles, sexual abuse, and all types of violence. The foundation also teaches self-love, empowerment, and taking care of their Mind, Body, and Soul. Kellie prides herself on being a champion for the voiceless and empowering women to take back what was stolen from them and not only surviving but thriving.

In this week's episode of the Red Shoes Living Podcast, Lonnie Mayne talks with former world record holder and Olympian, Willie Banks.

Willie talks with us about how to be a renaissance individual and leader. Every day starts with gratitude for Willie. His daily practice includes choosing positive words in all of his communication. He shares with us what it takes to go after a world record and personal best. Willie also lets us in on the five things that have helped him navigate the COVID pandemic.

For many years Willie has assisted cities bidding for international events like the Olympic Games. He has served as the Deputy Executive Director for the 1994 World Cup of soccer and the Director of Athlete Services for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Village. He is famous throughout the world and has represented his country in many ways. Taking note of Willie’s international popularity and outstanding personal character and leadership qualities, Time Magazine once dubbed him “The United States’ ambassador of track and field”.

Though Willie is a former world record holder and Olympian, much of his fame comes from his innovative approach to sports. Willie entertained the crowd and in response, the spectators rhythmically clapped while he ran down the runway for his jump. It became so popular that it set a tradition that is mimicked throughout the world to this day.

Willie is a leader. In 2019, Willie was elected to World Athletics, the international federation responsible for the sport of track and field (athletics). He currently also sits on the World Olympians Association Executive Committee. He is past-President of the US Olympians. He is a member of the Board of Directors for USA Track and Field, 1988 Olympic Team Captain, USATF Alumni President, and past chairman of the USATF Athletes Advisory Committee. While working on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games the Martin Luther King, Jr. Women’s Association awarded Willie with their “Drum Major for Justice” award given to that individual who exemplifies a positive leadership image. During a critical time for US cycling, Willie raised funds to revitalize the Olympic Velodrome in Los Angeles and started the Southern California Velodrome Association which managed both the Olympic and San Diego velodromes.