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Bold Journeys Podcast

Bold Journeys Podcast

Written by: Rob Spee
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About this listen

 Bold Journeys is a faith-based podcast for people navigating challenge, change, or reinvention. We share real stories from people who have endured deep trials or undertaken extraordinary adventures — and emerged stronger. Hosted by Rob Spee, a former global high-tech executive and devoted Christian, each episode explores grit, adventure, and faith through honest conversations about the challenges our guests have faced and the wisdom they've gained. If you're coping with loss or uncertainty — or seeking a more grounded, authentic, and purposeful life — this podcast exists to remind you that you are not alone, and that joy and meaning can be found on the other side of suffering.All rights reserved Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • From Infidelity to Redemption: How God Saved a Man and His Marriage

    From Infidelity to Redemption: How God Saved a Man and His Marriage
    Feb 17 2026
    In this Bold Journeys conversation, host Rob Spee sits down with Carlos Hidalgo for a raw, unfiltered story of infidelity, redemption, and God's relentless grace. Carlos opens up about growing up in church, learning to "perform" Christianity, and living a double life—successful on the outside but driven by anger, selfishness, and the need to control everything around him. He shares how casual pornography use while traveling escalated into a two‑year affair, the moment his wife uncovered the truth in 2015, and the devastation that followed: a broken marriage, fractured trust with his kids, and the collapse of the life he built. Carlos explains how restoration only began when he finally surrendered—letting God dismantle his manipulation, pride, and illusion of control. The grace, forgiveness, and rebuilding of the family prepared them for what came next - a hemorrhagic stroke that hit Carlos suddenly while he was alone in a church weight room. He recounts losing vision, the emergency life flight to Albany Medical, and the sobering risks of brain bleeds. Through it all, he describes a surprising peace, the strength of community, and how suffering reshaped his priorities toward urgency, gratitude, and deeper relationships. Carlos shares the spiritual anchors that carried him—prayer, Job 23:10, and the hymn "And Can It Be" (the hymn you hear in the background of the opening clip) —and offers this hope to anyone walking through darkness: God can redeem what feels impossible, and joy can coexist with hardship. Key Takeaways Rock bottom revealed the real fight: When his affair was exposed, Carlos faced a defining moment—keep fighting for control or finally surrender to God."Getting life back" wasn't love: A counselor confronted him with the truth: his push to restore life on his terms was manipulation, not transformation. Redemption required surrender: Healing came only when Carlos stopped trying to be sovereign and yielded fully to God's authority.Small compromises lead to collapse: Pornography wasn't harmless—it was the first step in a long chain of choices that eroded his integrity.Suffering reframed everything: After a hemorrhagic stroke, Carlos embraced a "win‑win" outlook—life with family or life with Jesus—and committed to urgency, gratitude, and intentional relationships. Join the Journey Stay with us, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone who seeks the courage to transform pain into redemption. Together, let's foster a world where divine love and faith conquer the toughest trials. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/ Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/ Chapters 00:00 Rock Bottom: 'Are We Still Doing This?' 02:11 Bold Journeys Intro: A Story of Betrayal, Grace & Redemption 04:32 Carlos Returns: From BMC Days to This Conversation 05:02 The Hemorrhagic Stroke: Symptoms, Fear, and the Hospital Dash 08:09 Finding Meaning in Suffering: Valleys, Not Mountaintops 09:36 Growing Up in Church, But Not Knowing God 11:53 Rebellion in Disguise: 'Independent' and a Workplace Chameleon 15:19 The Slow Drift: Porn, Escalation, and the Affair That Blew Up Everything 19:13 Surrender and the Long Road Back: Pikes Peak Prayers & Family Restoration 21:18 Aftermath: Anger, Emptiness, and Becoming a Trophy of Grace 23:05 From Intensity to Surrender: Chasing Success vs. True Fulfillment 24:41 The Stroke Reality: Pain Meds, Chest Pains, and a Second Scare 27:35 Knowing About God vs. Knowing Him: Joy, Control, and Community 30:15 Reframing the Future: Mission, Speaking, and Living With Urgency 33:19 Rapid-Fire Faith: Win-Win Perspective, Verses, Prayer, and Worship 38:37 After the Stroke: Relationships, Gratitude, and the 'Why' Question 41:19 Advice for Dark Seasons: 'God Has You Right Where He Wants You' 43:36 Closing Reflections: Owning the Story and Giving God the Credit
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    42 mins
  • How to Rewire Stress: The Power of Physical Intelligence and Surrender

    How to Rewire Stress: The Power of Physical Intelligence and Surrender
    Feb 10 2026

    What if you could rewire stress from the inside out?

    In this episode of Bold Journeys, host Rob Spee explores how surrender, resilience, and a science‑backed practice called Physical Intelligence can transform the way you move through adversity.

    After losing his wife to a sudden brain aneurysm, resilience coach and speaker Rob Swymer found himself rebuilding his life from the ground up. What helped him rise wasn't willpower alone — it was learning how to surrender to adversity and work with his body's chemistry instead of fighting against it.

    Rob shares how adversity shaped his mission, how surrender became a turning point, and how Physical Intelligence can help you regulate stress, shift your emotional state, and reconnect with purpose. You'll even learn a simple PI exercise you can try today.

    If you're navigating stress, grief, or a major life transition, this conversation offers grounded, practical tools for finding strength, clarity, and hope.

    What You'll Learn

    • How surrender can create clarity in hard seasons
    • A simple Physical Intelligence practice to help regulate stress
    • How your body's natural chemicals can support emotional stability
    • The role of gratitude in blocking fear and anger
    • How Rob transformed profound loss into a mission to help others

    If this episode resonates, hit Like, Subscribe, and drop a comment. Your support helps Bold Journeys reach more people who need these conversations.

    Join the Journey

    If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more stories of grit, adventure, and faith — and share it with someone who needs strength today.

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/

    Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/

    Chapters

    00:00 A Tragic Night in Atlanta

    00:31 Understanding Resilience

    01:12 Introduction to Bold Journeys

    01:14 Meet Rob Swymer

    01:33 Rob's Life-Altering Event

    01:46 The Concept of Physical Intelligence

    02:17 Rob's Journey of Transformation

    04:10 The Power of Surrender

    09:09 Rob's Childhood and Early Challenges

    11:42 Struggles with Alcohol and Sobriety

    16:00 Finding Purpose and Spirituality

    23:24 Embracing Adversity and Gratitude

    29:37 Parenting and Resilience

    30:28 Mental Health Pandemic

    30:44 Mission to Teach Self-Activation

    32:50 Physical Intelligence Explained

    33:58 Four Quadrants of Physical Intelligence

    37:49 Manifesting Goals and Purpose

    42:59 Living with Gratitude

    47:58 Rapid Fire Round
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    53 mins
  • Resilient Leadership: Lessons from Service, Failure, and Hard-Won Success

    Resilient Leadership: Lessons from Service, Failure, and Hard-Won Success
    Feb 3 2026

    What does resilient leadership look like when the stakes are life‑and‑death?
    In this episode of Bold Journeys, Rob Spee sits down with MK Palmore — Marine, retired FBI executive, cybersecurity leader, and now founder of his own enterprise risk consulting firm — to explore how true leadership is forged through failure, discipline, and hard‑won experience.

    From childhood to the Marine Corps to a 22‑year FBI career, MK shares the defining moments that shaped his philosophy on courage, integrity, and leading under pressure. This conversation cuts through clichés and gets to the heart of what makes a leader resilient in the real world.

    What You'll Learn

    • How early conversations shaped MK's leadership mindset
    • Why failure is essential for growth — and how to recover from it
    • Lessons from the Marine Corps and FBI that apply to everyday leadership
    • How MK transitioned from public service to entrepreneurship
    • The role of values, discipline, and courage in resilient leadership

    Why This Episode Matters

    If you're navigating a demanding season — in leadership, career, or personal life — MK's story offers a roadmap for staying grounded, acting with integrity, and rising stronger from every setback.

    About MK Palmore

    MK is a former Marine officer and retired FBI executive with decades of experience in crisis leadership, cybersecurity, and enterprise risk. Today he advises organizations on resilience, risk, and strategic leadership.

    Join the Journey

    If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more stories of grit, faith, and the kind of leadership shaped in the fire.

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco

    Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction

    02:24 Childhood and Early Influences

    08:59 Dreams of the Naval Academy

    13:00 Joining the Marines

    15:38 Transition to the FBI

    18:55 Challenges and Failures

    23:41 Grit and Resilience

    28:32 Are Leaders Born or Made?

    29:31 The Impact of Parental Influence

    30:23 Rapid Fire Round: Business and Leadership

    32:33 Morning Routines and Core Values

    38:56 Transitioning from Public to Private Sector

    40:15 Writing a Leadership Book for Youngsters

    45:50 Challenges and Running as an Outlet

    52:30 Final Words of Advice
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    54 mins
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