ES 🍝 35: A 72-Year-Old Grad, How To Deal With Intrusive Thoughts & The Untold Mental Health Struggles Of Athletes

Cheers to the weekend! We hope you had a productive week. Here’s what we’ve got for you on our 35th version of Extra Sauce Fridays 🍝 ⬇️

• A 99-year-old mother sees her son’s dreams come true, a culinary intern saves a life, and a South African woman helps others fly high

• Our Expert’s product picks of the week

• A note from Minaa B. about intrusive thoughts

• Former Divison 1 College Athlete JB Copeland talks mental health and football on the podcast 🎙

• Sibongile Sambo’s dreams of becoming a flight attendant with South African Airways didn’t go as planned, as she did not meet the minimum height requirement to become one. However, that didn’t stop her as she is now the founder of SRS Aviation, Africa’s first female aviation company that provides private charters to government charters. Sometimes, rejection leads you in a better direction! ✈️ ☁️

• Sam Kaplan, 72, finished high school in 1969 but couldn't attend college due to having six siblings. However, he recently enrolled at Georgia Gwinnett College after hearing about their script writing degree on the radio. This year, Sam received his Bachelor's degree in Cinema and Media Arts from Georgia Gwinnett College. His 99-year-old mother attended the ceremony and cheered for him. This was an incredible moment for Sam and his mother, and proves that age is really just a number. 🏫 ✍️

• A security camera captured when an elderly man began choking on his food while eating in a restaurant. The man was saved by a 16-year-old culinary student who was doing his internship in the shop. The student quickly approached the customer and first slapped him on the back. Realizing that the intervention was insufficient, he applied the Heimlich maneuver, which he had recently learned from social media. Sometimes heroes wear aprons! 👩‍🍳 ✨ 

Here’s what our experts are recommending for you this week: a cycling product that’s convenient for workday movement, a natural detox cleanse that’s gentle on the body, and a sleeping aid that may improve your sleep quality.

Discover the power of self-care and community care with Minaa B., 1AND1's Chief Behavioral Officer and licensed therapist, as she shares actionable tips in "Minaa's Minute" each week — check it out below!

In S3 EP 13, Danny is joined by former Division I football player JB Copeland. From the outside, high-level athletes seem invincible, but even the mightiest can experience mental setbacks. In this episode, Danny takes a deep dive into the life of JB Copeland, a rising star from Texas whose journey took him from the gridiron fields of the University of North Carolina to unexpected battles with trauma, addiction, and self-identity.

"I attribute most of my anxiety and depression to childhood trauma, not head trauma." – JB (10:11).

"When I realized my father could accept me for me, everything changed." – JB (37:41).

If you've ever felt knocked down, this episode is your beacon of hope. Join us for an honest conversation about hard truths, family, and the transformative power of healing. Discover how JB went from blaming the world, to finding redemption and understanding. You won’t want to miss this one!

Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts New episodes drop every Wednesday

Join the 220+ 5-Star reviews on Apple Podcasts and leave a review.

That's it for 🍝 Extra Sauce 🍝 035. Please rate our newsletter below and send us some thoughts on how we can be 1% better, too! Remember — 1 Step At A Time, 1 Day At A Time, 1% Better, Together. ☝️👆

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