S2E01 with Darrin Johnson - Accepting The Dare

Taking on a dare can be intimidating—but not when it comes from Darrin Johnson, host of the inspiring I DARE YOU Podcast. Based near Idaho Falls, Idaho, Darrin shares his life with his incredible wife, Michelle, their wonder dog, Westley, and their three grown children.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Darrin serves as Senior Vice President of Sales for a billion-dollar U.S.-based company and is renowned for building world-class sales teams.  He’s a gifted coach, mentor, and friend who has positively influenced countless lives around the world ... including mine.

In our conversation, Darrin reflects on his journey from growing up in a small town in Minnesota to achieving extraordinary success. He attributes much of his drive to his supportive parents, his grade school sweetheart-turned-wife Michelle, and a relentless determination that has shaped both his career and personal life. Darrin’s story takes a heartfelt turn as he shares how a significant health scare several years ago with Michelle, brought new purpose to his life and strengthened his already unbreakable bond with Michelle.

His I DARE YOU Podcast, one of my top 5 favorites, encourages listeners to dream big and take action toward their goals. Each episode features guests who share how they’ve faced difficult challenges, embraced growth, and ultimately made a lasting impact by facing their fears and simply getting to work. On a personal note, Darrin played a pivotal role in helping me bring my own podcast dream to life last year. His coaching constantly pushes me to step into my full potential and while I sometimes hesitate, I always take his dare—and they’ve never steered me wrong.

WELCOME TO THE CONVERSATION!

Check out the I DARE YOU Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-dare-you-podcast/id1611630260

Thank you for joining us and we can't wait to welcome you back again next week! New episodes drop every Thursday and can be found wherever you find your favorite podcasts!  

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Want to learn more about our host, Eric Nicoll?  Visit:  https://ericnicoll.com

Transcript

0:05

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Just2u podcast. My name is Eric Nicole and I'm your host. If you are a first time listener, welcome to the conversation. And if you're a regular, I'm honored that you've decided to join me for another episode. The Just2u podcast is centered around a network of conversations, which are meant to connect us, to inspire https: otter. ai And who knows? We might even learn a little something new that ultimately allows us to live in the sweet spot that I like to call the just you, you space it being. Each week I have the privilege of sitting down for unscripted conversations with friends, family, colleagues, community leaders, and influencers that all share their own personal journeys. I hope that you enjoy our time together as much as I have. We are certainly gonna laugh, and yes, we might even cry a little, but in the end, we're going to know that we're not alone during our life's journey. So, are you ready? Great, let's do this. Welcome to The Conversation. All right, everyone. Welcome to today's episode. I am so excited today for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, happy new year. We are launching into 2025 with a vengeance and I am super excited for a great year, primarily because of the conversation that I'm going to have today with my guest. I want to introduce everyone to someone who is not only a friend, but also a mentor. Someone that I. Have the utmost respect for and about a year ago, aspired to be him who was also a fellow podcaster. And we're going to talk about that. I'd like to introduce everyone to my guest today, Darren Johnson. Hi, Darren. Eric, how you doing? Good to be here. I am doing so good. It is a long time coming. I have wanted to have you on since day one. So I have a couple of things I want to say before we get started and then we're going to launch into you. But I had talked about this podcast for. Years and thought about it and dreamed about it and you know that because we have been in each other's lives for many years in a multitude of functions. And most recently over the last year and a half, you have served as an amazing mentor to me and a coach and someone that I have learned so much from, but you're also a fellow podcaster. And so I have been following you, listening to you from day one. And we are. When you sat down with me on our monthly call and said, you just have to get out there and do the first one. It was probably one of the most terrifying things I have done. We're going to talk a little bit about that. And you saw it in me, you saw it. I did. I did. But I was driving, yeah, I was driving this morning home from the gym. And I realized that I was terrified to jump on with you today and have this conversation because it would be like me being a singer and singing in front of Dua Lipa, right? It's your idol. She's good. She's good. She's good. But it's the person that you hold in this space. So I'm going to let that go. I'm going to breathe through it and we're going to have an amazing conversation today. So we will. I will. I want to say thank you for that. But I do want to introduce you just a little bit to our listeners. I've obviously known you and don't know a lot about your previous history. So we're going to get into that. But you are a corporate executive for a billion dollar company here in the United States, global company. I've had the privilege of, of, of watching you there. You are an amazing mentor. You've had a background in sales and developing extraordinary sales teams. for major corporations. Your bio on LinkedIn reads like a wannabe list. I'm super, super impressed by that. But what I find the most wonderful about you is that you are an amazing friend. You are an amazing husband to your wife, Michelle. You are an extraordinary dad to your three kids and a dog dad to Wesley, who I've had the privilege of meeting. And I think that's where I find you most fascinating because I see you in this corporate structure and I see that Darren and then I see the Darren on the other side as well and I have never met anybody and I'm just, I'm truly saying this and I'm not saying to blow smoke but I've never met anybody who has married the two of those so beautifully because you're the same person. in those relationships and the space that you hold is remarkable. I appreciate that Eric, very much. But I hope, I hope you get that. I remember the hike we had when I was in Idaho Falls attending a conference with you and we did that beautiful hike in that It's a place I will never forget. And the moments that I spent with you and Michelle and the dog and the breakfast and the hike and the ride back were probably some of the most profound and beautiful moments that I've had. So thank you for that. You're welcome. It was an honor to host you there. And yeah, that was at, that was in Victor, Idaho on Teton Pass, which is, I mean, it's God's country as you, as you saw, Eric. So yeah, that, that was a special morning for us as well. Yeah. I love our mountains here, but there was nothing like it. I mean, every time we turned a corner, there was another beautiful moment. So thank you for that, Darren. And thank you for being on today. It's really a privilege to have you on here. Oh, my, my pleasure. I can't wait. Just do you podcast. I'm here. So I'm here for it. Good. Cause you heard about it enough, didn't you? For years. Well, let's, let's jump right in. So, yeah. As you know, the podcast is designed around a network of conversations of what it means to live your authentic life. And the way to get to that authentic life is all about the journey. And so I like to take my guests back a little bit. Although I know the adult, Darren, I don't really know. Young Darren. So could you just give us a little glimpse about young Darren? Where were you born? Where'd you grow up? Siblings, parents, give us a little bit of, of that Darren. You got it. And I'll come in for a landing and you can tell me if you want to keep going or not, because I could talk for hours on this one. Okay. Young, young Darren. I grew up in Hoffman, Minnesota, which is a small town in, you know, Rural Minnesota in between Minneapolis and Fargo, just off of I 94 and population of about 600 people. And I say that first, when I think about the young Darren, why do I go there? I think I'm just really proud of where I grew up. I'm proud of being a small town kid. I can't imagine a better place growing up than rural Minnesota My, my mom and dad, they are still with us. They're 85 and 83. They are my heroes. I've learned so much from them, and I'm, I know there are a lot of, a lot of people that don't have their parents still with them, so I, I try not to Forget that, I still have my parents, they're doing so well. I'm going to go see them for Christmas here, leaving on Sunday. But they're just a classic Norman Rockwell type Americana couple. They grew up you know on a, on a farm, and also in rural Minnesota right around Fergus Falls, which is close to Fargo. My dad served in the Navy. Came back, met my mom. They, they've been married now for over 60 years. And they're just best friends. And so I look at that also as they, they taught me everything about hard work how to treat people how to be, how to be nice, but not be a pushover. What it means to. Have a long, long marriage and, and, and just watching that was just, and I still watch it, it's really inspiring to me. But my graduating class in Hoffman, Minnesota was 30, and during that time, Eric, is when, when I met Michelle, I was growing up too, because my wife Michelle grew up in a small town, seven miles away from Hoffman. In rural Minnesota, this a little bit of trivia, there's so many small towns that are built right along the railroad tracks because back when the railroad tracks were being laid down and it was steam engines, the trains needed the spaces between towns so they could then get more water and all those things. So Michelle and I, we've known each other since we were in Sunday school, but we didn't start dating until we were, in high school. But look, in a small town like that, Eric if you were going to school, you did everything. And so, you know, if you could breathe, you're on the football team, you're on the basketball team, you're in choir, you're doing everything. And again, that's just part of the way I grew up and worked at the local supermarket because. You know, as soon as I could, because my mom and dad couldn't afford much, hardworking people very much blue collar, but, you know, if you wanted new shoes, you had to then work for it, so I mowed lawns, I delivered the paper. I worked at the supermarket and so, yeah, that's a little bit of young Darren. I didn't come from much and that, that, that's what really drives me too. It didn't come from much. Yeah. So I have a question about that. Cause it's super interesting. So I didn't anticipate that school of class of 30. So were you always this confident? Did you always have this posture? I mean, going to a school with 30 students, you probably had to, to assert a little bit of that. at some level, because that's a small group to fit into. Yeah, you know what, it's a good question, because when you say that, it's funny how we perceive ourselves, because I can see that about being confident, but when I think about young Darren, I don't see that. I don't see that at all. When I think about young Darren, being confident wouldn't be in that, descriptor in grade school You know, I had a stutter. I still have it. When, if you listen to the podcast, even this conversation, some, some words trip me up. And so when I'm editing the podcast, I get really self conscious, Eric, about it, where I'll be listening for that stutter. And I'll, and I just need to learn to let that, just let that go. It's okay. But that's a remnant from the young Darren. Yeah. In, in a, in that small class, you do start learning that you can do a lot of things because you have to, even though you, you're not necessarily built to be the quarterback of the football team. We need a quarterback who can throw the football. And so Darren you're, you're in. So I do think there's more you, you can't hide, like in a big. Big class, you know, you can hide and not step into it because you can, but when you're, just a small group, it's all hands on deck. And then also there's a, a family, it's like a brotherhood, sisterhood with your classmates where they are your best friends and now you're just going through life together. Yeah, I haven't thought of it for a long time, but yeah, it was just a beautiful, magical time to grow up. I was just, Eric, I was just talking to a friend of mine this morning. I was working out as, as well. And we, he's my trainer also, but we were lifting weights and on the stereo on the Sonos speakers came Brian Adams, summer of 69. And I, and I stopped and I said to my trainer, who's much younger than I, and I said to him, okay. I just want you to imagine I bought a Pioneer sound system and I brought it home and I hooked it up, cost me 500, a phonograph, nice needle. And the first album I bought was Brian Adams, Summer of 69. Oh my gosh. That's crazy. And if you know, you know, it's just, it was just a magical time. So anyway, I, I digress. No, I asked the question. I want to know, did you give any thought to what Darren would do in the future at that point? Because it's such a small town. I mean, this is different than the situation I grew up in and a suburb of Los Angeles with a couple of hundred, you know, students in the graduating class. It's very different. You have to fight for recognition. You have to fight for that spot, but you're also terrified because you don't want to be seen because you know, you're a little different than some of the others, a whole different experience, but you know, my aspirations were. Not where I'm at today at all. And I'm just curious if that's kind of your same experience. Yeah, it was. You know, when I look back on it, I am, I wish someone would have told me how big the world was back then, because I remember going into the library at school when I was, you know, getting into high school thinking, okay, what am I going to do with my life? I had no idea. There were, In, in my town there was, you know, police officer, a, a police officer, there were the teachers, but it's like, what, what do I do? I had no idea that the world was as big as it was. So the option for me to go to college was, I thought, was to go to Fargo, to North Dakota State University, or to, you know, St. Cloud, Minnesota, which had a smaller college. But to think about going to Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, or University of Michigan, or going to California, I mean. You could have just as well said, Darren, you're going to go to Mars. I had, I had no, who was I to think I could even do that? So the world was very, very small. And only because when I went to college and then started getting into my professional vocation and career, and started doing some things, Professionally that the world started opening, opening up. And so now when I'm doing the podcast or I'm coaching and talking to people all the time, I'm always thinking about, I want to put my arm around people and say, holy cow, if you only knew how big this world is and how big the economy is and how you could play a role in this, because I didn't have that in high school at all. And I, I wish someone had, I mean, it all worked out. I mean, that's probably why I I'm so driven to keep growing and learning. But I do think. A lot of people, they, they're stuck in a paradigm of this one little silo, this little world. And if they could just break out of that, that would be my hope for, you know, for a young Darren, but also for a lot of people. It's, it's, it's just such a great world. It is. And I think it's interesting though, because as you're talking and listening as well, I mean, small town, right? Very cold in the winter. I don't know how you do it. But you know, growing up where I grew up, very insular as well, yet I was in the suburbs of Los Angeles. We didn't have a hugely diverse community. My family, my, no, we didn't. My parents and my grandparents made an effort to introduce me to this, you know, bigger world. And even then, I still didn't know what the world could hold. That one day I'd be traveling around the world, going to Africa on safari or going to, you know, Tulum and swimming in a cenote. I had no idea that that would be part, because it was my school, the community, the church, the sports activities, the choir, all of that was just their grandparents. Everybody lived in the same town, all my cousins and aunts and uncles. We were all in this beautiful suburb of Los Angeles. But I remember the first time my mom took me down to LA downtown where my grandparents had a business and it was a whole other world out there. And I was like, Yeah, it was, but it really wasn't until college as well. And then after college that I was like, Oh yeah. So there's this bigger world out there. I was going to be a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher until I realized money. Yeah. My mom was a teacher for 35 years and just impacted countless couldn't even count how many students she made a difference in. And yet at the time, you know, you're it's the 1980s. It was all about the preppy scene and it's all about we're very affluent community. So it was, Oh, so I have to have a job that pays so that I can drive this car, live in that house and teachers just weren't going to cut it. Although, interestingly enough, my mother is retired now and does better than most people earning a salary in the United States. There's that. It's amazing. But it's, but it's interesting to hear. I think every person goes through this journey as a child, whether it's emotional or logistic to figure out what's next for them. And I think what's so great now, which we didn't have back then is obviously the internet. We didn't have an opportunity to, to log in and see some of the places that we could go. So fascinating. So you've known Michelle since you were elementary school. Yeah. Yeah. We met in Bible school or Sunday school. We were probably five or six years old when we first met. And so did you like her? I mean, like, when was the first time you kind of went, ah, she's the one. Yeah. See, I knew Michelle, you know, five, six years old. And I, I'll tell you, I always knew that she was smarter than me. You know, you just meet somebody and you go, okay, she's smarter than me. She's, I always admired her for that. And we went to different schools about seven miles away. Sure. And so she would but we went to the same church. So we, we were in, in the Lutheran Church, we have something called Confirmation, where you're baptized as an infant, and then you, you when you're about 12, 13 years old, you go through Confirmation class, which you basically memorize those. The, the Martin Luther's Catechism from beginning till end, you know, and it's more than that. But Michelle is just, was just unbelievable. She could memorize, you know, everything and, you know, got to know her even better then. And so now it gets even more weird, Eric, because, okay, Michelle's brother in law, his name is Jerry. Jerry was my high school basketball coach and peewee baseball coach. Again, welcome to a, welcome to a small town. This is like a screenplay, but okay. So I'm a, I'm a junior senior in high school and Jerry, who is Michelle's brother in law. I remember, he said to me, Hey, you know what? Why aren't you dating Michelle? And I, I looked at it and I said, I never, I never thought about it. But as a me is amazing. Cause as soon as he said that to me, it's like something clicked. When I thought to myself, Yeah, why am I not dating Michelle? And I remember where I was, I was driving, it was in the summer, I was driving through Hoffman, the small town, and Michelle was, was walking on the road, she was pushing a baby carriage, she was babysitting for Jerry's daughter, Raylee. Okay. And I remember thinking to myself, oh my gosh. She is really, really cute. Why am I not, why am I not asking her to go on a date? And so I was fast forward another four months. I was at a basketball game. Okay. Again, I keep reinforcing the small town thing. Imagine, I'm in the basketball game. Okay. I'm at the free throw line. I'm playing. You're playing. Okay. I'm playing. Small gym, whatever you're envisioning, this gymnasium, you can't, it's smaller than what you're envisioning. And I'm at the free throw line. And I kid you not, I'm looking at the rim and Michelle was one of the cheerleaders for the opposing team. She was standing, she was right there. Of course she was. Yeah. And so of course there's added pressure there, but yeah. After the game, I, she was leaving the gym and even before I went down and showered, I, I went out into the cold and I, I followed her and not in a stalking way. I just said, Michelle, Michelle, is it okay if I call you? On Saturday night and her, her response was something really romantic and she said, well, if you want to and she walked away and I'm like, okay, now, now I'm really intrigued now I really do have to call her. So anyway, yeah, when you're in a small town, everyone knows everybody and everyone's trying to you know, connect you with everyone else. And so that's, that's how the friendship with Michelle translated into actually dating and then she went to college. You know, in Winona, Minnesota, a long way from, I went to school in Fargo. And so, you know, eventually over five or six years, we did get married. So, when you decided to ask her out, to say, hey, can I call you, what were you thinking then? Was, again, I'm just trying to get this picture of when this posture and confidence happens, right? And so, were you afraid? Were you fearful? Did you just, what was it that had you ask her? Well, you know, I think it was, The reason I, why I hadn't asked her is because I was just overthinking it, you know, what if she, all, all the things we all think of, what if she says no, then it, then the friendship will change and all that. And so I just, You know, I just got paralyzed, so I just chose not to do it. However, at that time, it must have been, you know, after the game, maybe a rush of adrenaline, maybe I was feeling a little more confident, or But it was just that, you know, the ten seconds of just insane courage where you just go for it. And that's, that's the only way I can explain it was there are these times when, when you're thinking about a goal and you're like, okay, all of a sudden you're going for it. And I can't explain why, but I thought, screw it. I'm going for it. And I followed her out in the parking lot and asked her. So, so that was it. It was just, I just knew it was time. I just knew. It's really interesting. We're going to get to the podcast in a little bit, but it's interesting that you said you're going to take that risk and just do it because that's, that's, that's Basically, the premise of your podcast is, is having people look at what that is. And, it's no mistake. It's called, I dare you your podcast, because. You know, I would have been standing right by you. I'm like, Hey, I dare you to go ask her out. That would have been a really, really great foretell to the future. And I would have, because I think we, we oftentimes miss out and we oftentimes the, the fear and that hesitation. And what if she says no, and what if she doesn't like me, or what if he doesn't like me? And what if he says no, keeps us from, taking those bold risks which obviously paid off. And. What's even more special is that distance and that time that you had apart. I'm sure there was communication and, and I'm sure there were not a loss of moments of thinking about her and probably she of you. I'll have to interview her sometime and get the other side of the story, but we'll, we'll see how that goes. So be nice to me. That won't happen. But I think that says a lot. So there was this time apart, you came back together. Obviously what, what was that moment when you're like, you're the one, will you marry me? You know, my best friend, the name is Paul, Paul got engaged and was getting married and so I was in the wedding. And I was watching Paul, again, childhood best friend, and dating his high school sweetheart and getting engaged and getting ready for the wedding. I started thinking about it. At that time I was probably, 21, when my best friend Paul got married. And so I was thinking, man, I don't know if I'm ready or not. But it was literally about a week before the wedding when I went with Paul to go pick up the, the ring. We walked into the jewelry store and we're looking around to rings and Paul said, When, when do you ask, when are you going to ask Michelle? And I looked at him, I said, well, I, I, I don't know. And I said, where, where are some rings? And literally in that engagement, ring store, I found the engagement ring and decided right there, right there in that store that I was going to ask Michelle to get married. And so it was the night of the wedding, Paul's wedding, you know, it was at the reception and it was in Glenwood, Minnesota, Minnesota is filled with lakes. And I asked Michelle, because I was in my tux, you know, feeling good, feeling had it all going on. And I said, Michelle, you want to take a little walk? And so we walked outside of this big, dance halls where big bands used to play on the shores of this beautiful lake. Walked out on the dock there. Moon was out. I mean, Eric is like a hallmark. Come on. I kid you not. I should have known. No, but this is, this is my recollection. Michelle may have something very different, but then, but then, but then I asked her and she said, she said yes. So that's, I wish it wasn't like a huge plan. It literally was my friend once again, just like Jerry said, Hey, when are you going to do this? And I said, Oh yeah, maybe I should. Paul said, Hey, when are you going to ask her? And I said, yeah, maybe I should. Really a lot of my life is prompted by people who have said, when are you going to fill in the blank? I mean, my career has been dotted with that and mentors and friends who have said, Hey, have you ever thought about getting into leadership? Have you ever thought about doing a podcast? You ever? And so that's a pattern for me. And that, that I've, there's always that guide in my life, whether that's an actual person or God, or that's saying, Hey, what, what do you think? Let's do this. There's a quote that I'm sure you've heard, and it's something that resonates with me all the time, and it says that there are people in this world who believe that there are angels whose sole responsibility is to land gently on your shoulder to wake you up so that you don't miss the rest of your life. And I've always loved that quote. I've used it a lot. Sometimes I change the wording and you were one of those angels or are one of those angels for me. However, you did not land so gently on my shoulder. So I'm glad that you have taken a few of those. moments with people in your life and universe, God, to get you to wake up and to realize that we don't know what tomorrow brings. We don't have that certainty that we think we do and to, to take that risk and, and to really move forward into that. So, and I, I'm so grateful. I've said it multitude of times, not only for that, but also for him sharing with you, because this relationship that you have with Michelle, as I mentioned when we started is really beautiful. And I've only had a brief glimpse and moment into it, but there was this palpable energy between the two of you and this energy that is rare. And there is a tremendous amount of love. Obviously, there's a tremendous amount of respect. You have beautiful Instagram when you're out traveling with Michelle and. I've never met anyone on the road so much, but that's, that's a work related as well as a personal, but you're constantly surrounded with this, the most amazing and beautiful energy. And I noticed it with Michelle. And. Honestly, it's something to aspire to that type of relationship. And I, I remember leaving that day and you dropped me off at the hotel and I was flying out the next day. And I remember thinking to myself, there needs to be an opportunity for people to experience that kind of relationship, to experience that kind of love and that kind of commitment. I'm sure it hasn't been easy. I'm sure there have been moments of. of ups and downs, like every relationship. There isn't a relationship that doesn't have it. And with your permission, I'd love to chat with that a little bit. Michelle had a rather harrowing experience over the last couple of years. Do you mind sharing a little bit about what that was like and we'll. Yeah. We'll, we'll talk about that for a minute. Yeah. So Michelle you know, she has always been just, she's an athlete. And I mean, she is beautiful, she's smart, she's athletic, and she, takes really great care of herself. And so I say that as a, as a setup because it was six years ago on a normal morning where Michelle was getting ready to go work out. At the local CrossFit gym. And she's a nurse. She was a nurse. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. No, she's an ICU nurse. Thank you for that. I mean, just a phenomenal nurse. Normal morning said, Hey, Michelle, I'm out of here. I'll see you tonight. What's for dinner. Yep. See you. Bye. Okay. Kiss, I'm out the door, and about three hours later, I get a text message from our trainer saying, Hey, Michelle's in trouble she's not doing well. And so, I drove quickly over to the, to the facility and there she was, there was Michelle. Who is never down for the count, but she was down for the count. She was laying on the ground at this CrossFit place and she was throwing up in a bucket. And I said, Michelle, what's going on? And Michelle, looked at me and she said, I'm having a brain bleed. And so she's taken care of patients like this her whole life, but she had this intense, intense headache. Got nauseous immediately and just dropped to the ground. So I quickly drove her to the hospital, the ER, which I probably shouldn't have, but I did, and they did a CAT scan on her. And sure enough, she had a brain aneurysm which impacts, a lot of people every single year a lot of healthy people, and she was one of them. And so they did the CAT scan and she said, okay she has a brain aneurysm, it's a, it's a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Which is something that is bad. And so they said, we can't handle it here. And so they air flighted her down to Salt Lake city and she was on the, on the helicopter and she was gone. So at that point, our, our life completely changed, obviously this thing, this was never part of the plan. And so I was immediately, it's like, what in the world? And we, up until that point, we've never really had any huge loss in our family or any type of, you know, illness. And, and so, it was game on. And so Michelle was on the flight heading down to Salt Lake, and so I immediately hopped in the car and just started driving to Salt Lake, which is about three hours away. And I didn't know any of this. So I've never been more scared in all my life. Because I didn't know if she was going to make it or not. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, what the heck is that? Brain aneurysm? I thought that was just for old people and people who smoke and So I'm driving way too fast on my phone doing research on what it is and, you know, what's the mortality rate and the internet is a scary, scary place. Scary, yeah. So I was getting so freaked out. I pulled into the hospital parking lot, rushed up to the neuro ICU and I walked in there, And there, in the room, I saw Michelle laying there. Thank goodness she was still, you know. And then in the room, there was a group of doctors who were looking at some monitors and this was like out of central casting. These guys turned around. It was like, these guys are all like Navy SEALs. In fact, a couple of them were some ex military doctors. I just had this feeling immediately that, okay, whatever's going on, these guys can handle it. I mean, I had a lot of faith in them, but they, you know, They told me what was going on. They were going to do a brain surgery on her to try to repair the, the subarachnoid hemorrhage and the brain aneurysm. And fast forward, she was in the neuro ICU for 30 days. And just, man, these angels were the nurses are absolute angels, but Michelle had to learn how to walk, talk, swallow. I mean, everything. This one, morning you're this vibrant, you know, And then immediately it, everything can change. Now I know for those who are listening, it may sound you know, trite and everything can change in an instant. But for me, that was the moment when it really hit me saying, okay, this thing, we, we may have plans and goals. But it can fall away in an instant. With one doctor visit, one car accident, whatever that is, it can change in an instant. So the, through that whole process, you know, Michelle was in rehab for another 30 days in Salt Lake City. I'm so proud of her because that girl I fell in love with in high school, that cheerleader, that she grew up similar to me where it's that, high drive, that grit, you got to just figure out a way to make it happen. She brought that into her rehab and she just learned how to do it all again. I mean, I could talk for hours about it, but, when I look at her right now, she still has deficits. You know, one of the deficits could have been, though, she could have not been here, or she could be in a nursing home, but one of the deficits she has is that her, it's the impact, the where the hemorrhage was, it impacts language, and so she, she cannot read very well, or write, and some of her memory is off. Long term memory is still there, but she'll, aphasia is there. So she'll, she may be talking about eighties rock band. She thinks she said Def Leppard, but she actually said Motley Crue, but the brain didn't pick it up on that, which I do that right now. So it's not that big of a deal, but, but I'm so proud of her. For the people who meet her for the first time, you probably wouldn't know that she had a brain aneurysm, but it's a traumatic brain injury. Yeah. So as her husband. I know. So I have, I have this dual thing in my mind. When I say the old Michelle, it's not, it's not derogatory. It's not a slam. I know that Michelle. And now I know this Michelle. She's still Michelle, but she's, she's different. And I love her. And I'm just so proud of her for what she's, what she's been through. It's really remarkable. When I heard the story in the car, it took everything I had not to burst out into tears. I'm the crier anyway, which I do on this podcast all the time. But I was so moved by the story because, you know, you're right place, right time for you, because you were nearby, you were close, you're on the road constantly. So to be home and to be there was huge. Her having the wherewithal to know what was happening to her in that moment and telling you. There's a problem. You need to get me help. But what was so fascinating was having breakfast with you and I knew about the injury. So I knew what had happened. We had been talking about it, but the thing that I found so remarkable was when she talks, she talks at a pace that is so beautiful because We rush through life so fast, and all of us talk, you're in sales, I'm in marketing and events, we all talk so fast, we're constantly on the go, and Michelle has this beautiful energy about her, where she's just present, because she has to be, right? She has to be. Yeah, that's a good description. And for her, that's her pace and I love it. And I learned so much yet, yet the woman can hike a mountain. Let me tell you, she can, she's strong. Damn. I was hoofing catching up. That was 30 pounds ago, by the way. I was, by the way, 30 pounds leaner way to go. Well, thank you. You know the year I've had, and you know, I've talked a lot, and I watch you go to do your CrossFit, which makes me puke just thinking about it, but not good at the CrossFit, but I think the thing that was so beautiful to me in listening to the story and in watching and now being friends with her on Instagram is absolute blessing, obviously, to have her here with us. There's a purpose and a reason behind it. But I even now love the relationship that you have more because I've noticed a change in you as well. Obviously, I've noticed there's a little shift in importance. You've lived this amazing life with this amazing career, very much on the go, very busy, leading people in a myriad of ways as a mentor, as the head of sales, you know, creating sales team, all of that. I watch you. I've watched you. I've seen you stand in front of a room of thousands of people and stand up there and, and talk like you're talking. To me here today, the most effortless, right? And so there's this beautiful opportunity. I think to now, not that you didn't before, but now really presence yourself and what's important and presence yourself in living your own authentic life. You also have gone through a big transition. I've watched that you're watching your health. You're at the gym. You're doing these great hikes. You're doing all the things that I think now also make you happy because you know, that's what you need to do. So I'm super. I'm super proud of you, not to be condescending, but super proud of you as well, because I've seen that little shift just in the years that I've known you too. We have to take care of ourselves and we have to take care of the people that we love. So thank you for sharing the story. I know that it's difficult, I love watching her be as active as she is, and I wish we lived closer cause we'd have, you know, I'm sure Friday night family dinner is at the dinner table. Absolutely. Eric, can I mention one other thing on that? Yes, please. You brought it up, the, the, caregivers of those who are you know, going through things, whether it's a brain injury or whatever, that's another aha for me was the, the caregivers are under so much stress. And for everyone listening who if that might be you or you have a family member who's doing that, they're under unbelievable stresses. I want people to be able to be aware of that. And I remember one of the doctors telling me, he said, pace yourself. This is a marathon. You need to work on your own self care. And at the point that I was like, Whoa, wait a minute. I'm invincible. I got this. You have no idea. I'm Darren Johnson. I got this. Right. Right. There's not a chink in this armor. Don't you know? And he was so right. He was so right. The self care with that meaning the basics, sleep, nutrition, faith, exercise, friendships, you need that. And I coming after that, I really did struggle. I struggled for the first time in my life, struggled with a lot of things about, I needed someone to talk to. And so I, I did, I found someone to talk to because I needed to process all of this because this was not part of the plan and I wanted this thing, why did it happen to her and not to me? So yeah, it was really it did change, it changed Michelle, for sure. It changed me, it changed our family. And it's not a woe is me. The point is that, Yeah, these things that happen to all of us, they do change you and, and so then it, it's a matter of, okay, so how are you going to adapt? What are you going to do next? Because sometimes you just don't have a choice. You gotta, you gotta take it. You don't, but you, you brought it up. This is why you're so good. Cause it's a perfect transition, right? You have to talk to people. You have to be in communication. You have to have conversations. And I think a lot of times men are not. the emotional sharers that they need to be. It's mostly the women. It's stereotypical, but it's true. And I think men are not taught to open up and to share these vulnerable moments as much as they do. And I think going through, I don't think going through something like you did forces you to a place where you have to talk, you have to get it out and you have to be vulnerable. You have to show that, yes, you may be this man with this impenetrable armor, but at the end of the day, you're a human being, just like everyone else. And you need to have those moments and that person that you can share with and that that I have a lot of friends, a lot of people in my life. I have a very small circle that I call my inner sanctum. And it's those inner sanctum people are the ones that I reach out to that I can say, Hey, I'm scared. Or I'm, I'm upset, or I need your help and I need you to listen. I have a very small group of people like that. And those are the people that have gotten me through. You're one of those people you know, who've gotten me through so much. So thank you for saying that, because I think it brings up a really good point. Number one, that everyone just needs to feel, feel seen and feel heard and feel connected when they go through life's journey, because it's never just Rainbows and lollipops in a, in a, in a poppy field, it is tough and things happen that are tough and are there to strengthen us, but they're to teach us again, amazing transition to the podcast. So you doer of all dues decided to launch this podcast called I dare you. And I have probably listened to 99 percent of the episodes. Thank you. They are my I ever needs to be a podcaster, a podcast listener. I listened to a really cheesy, trashy one on the housewives, but that's a whole other story. But you and someone that you and I know very well McKay started podcasting and you're the two podcasts that I listened to the most. You're the top two out of the five, but you started this podcast called I dare you. And I want you to talk a little bit in our remaining time about. Why did you start that podcast? And then I have some questions for you as it relates to the podcast. Yeah. So why, why the, yeah, why the podcast? Really, really good question. So it's so simple, but let me see if I can articulate. I was I mentioned coming out after Michelle's injury, I needed to talk to someone. And that's someone that I started talking to and developed a friendship with, his name is Bob Goff. Have we talked about Bob before, Eric? We did. Yeah. Okay, Bob Goff is out in California. He's a great author, former lawyer. Faith is very important to him. And, and I, I say it this way because It's important to me as well, but what connects with me with Bob is that how he talks about his faith. It's a very conversational way, not in a but I would call more Bible thumping shame type. It's a very conversational way that God is with you on this journey. And, and when I started talking to Bob about what was going on with Michelle and what's next for me, he asked really good questions, but what's, what's next for me. And I have this great vocation that I have. I'm a senior VP, as you said, with us, wonderful company. I'm so blessed to be. In this role with this great company, working with incredible people. And I will tell you that there was still something for me that I wanted to do. It was just like a whisper that kept coming around saying, what if you were to do even more? And it really was prompted when Michelle got hurt. So, Bob said, look, you got all this great experience in leadership, you know, 30 years in corporate America, you got your MBA, your. You know, you're, you got, you and Michelle have been married for a long time. Why don't you start a podcast? And there again, just like one of those voices that came around and I thought, I never thought about it. What, what would that entail? And so Bob started really prodding me and saying, yeah, it's not that tough. Here's, here's how you do it. You just buy a basic microphone, MacBook Pro, you got on a schedule, and so he started laying it out for me, really taking away every objection that I had about why I couldn't do it. And then, Eric, you know what he had the audacity to say to me? He said to me, he said, you know what? We've been talking about this for a while, and we had, so when are you actually going to just start doing it? When are you going to do it? And that question really put me, put me back. He went further. So he said, the things that we've been thinking about for the last 15 months. 15 years, you could actually do it in 15 minutes if you were just to start doing it. So the advice that I gave you about start, Eric, for your podcast was exactly the same thing. I was channeling Bob Goff there because if he had not said that to me, I'll guarantee you, I would still be thinking about it. I'd be looking for the right microphone. I'd be looking for the right backdrop. There's always a reason why I wouldn't do it. But the fact that he said, you're going to do it. And he said, I'm going to be your first guest. And when he said that, now there's skin in the game and now I needed to do it and I had, I had no choice. So this, this mentor, this friend of mine, he did open the door for me and helped me and pulled me and pushed me along to actually doing the thing that I've always wanted to do. So that's the why that's, that's how I got there. But why I love doing it is that, one of the things that drives me is that, When I interact with people. I want to become better because I interacted with them. I want to learn from them. There's something in their background that I don't know. I really want to learn that. And I hope in return, reciprocity that because I have been interacted with them, that hopefully I can, I can share something with them that'll help make their life just a little bit better. Just not, not a whole pivot. But just a little bit better. And so I dare you is that I dare you then to do this one thing that could help you live just a little bit of a better life doesn't have to be a lot, but that has been such a tremendous. Outlet for me. And also it's, it's in the, one of the biggest surprises, Eric, it's helped me become even better in my full time vocation. So I am all over this on these passion projects and side projects. When you have something on your heart that fills you up and lights you up, when you pursue that, the other benefit is that, man. Do you become so much better at what you get paid to do? And that's been one of the, one of my big surprises. So I could talk forever about that, but does that, does that get closer? It gets close. And you actually answered the question because the next question on my list is what's impacted you the most. And I think you shared that. So I'll, I'll ask the question a little bit different. You've had some of the most extraordinary people on. I've shared with you moments I've been in the car and I've heard one of your guests say something and it hits me like a ton of bricks and I have to like push pause and go back and then record it and write it down and send it to you and say, Oh my gosh. And I remember driving in the car and listening to the guest. Couldn't tell you who the guest was cause there've been so many phenomenal ones, but I've shared this with you before. He said you know, are you sitting in the backseat of your own car? Yeah. Is someone else driving your car? And Darren, that knocked the wind out of me. Like not that I know this firsthand, but a tackle on the football field. I had no idea that that one comment, I was having a particularly difficult time at work with my job, with a client feeling very out of control. And when he said that, I realized that the client was driving the car of my own company. I wasn't driving the car. The client was driving the car. I bought the car, but he was driving it. And it changed my world. And I shared that with you so many times. And I think, you know, what's great about the guests that you've had on, and they've been so varied, they've been so diverse, is that. And what I find so fascinating about you and also about McKay is the timing of the episode is brilliant. I don't know how you do it. I've had the same thing said to me. Some of these episodes are like, how did you know I was going through the very same thing that week? But I think it's because we live in very insular lives. We live very much in our own bubble. And our bubble contains all the things we have to do, the places we have to go, the goals we've set and haven't met. And the thing that I love about I dare you is it causes you to think, and I know that's what good podcasts are for. The podcasts are designed to have you stop and go, Oh, wait a minute. That's a different way of looking at something. Or I've perceived that incorrectly. Maybe if I look at it this way, and you talk a lot about goals and you talk a lot about how to push through Obstacles and breakdowns and the guests have all shared their journey. And I think that's, what's so great because a lot of times we'll read a book. I'm not a big book reader. I'll read a book and go, I'll listen to a podcast because there's a connection. I can hear the voice. I can see the face. Cause I've looked at the promo. There's an opportunity for me to connect. You interviewed the doctor, a remarkable doctor in that two part episode. Yeah. Carl. And. Yeah, Paul, you talk about changing some of your habits and changing some of the things that you do. I credit that to this recent part of weight loss and this health journey that I've been. Oh, 100%. Yeah, that's great. 100%. Yeah. And so you answered the question, what surprises you most I just want you to know. Yeah. That I wondered where that came from when you sat with me on that zoom call on that rainy day back in January of 2024, and you said, When do you just gonna make me cry? When are you going to just do it? And I was terrified. Will people listen? Will they like what I have to say? Will they think it's boasting? Will they like the guest? How do I find guests? Will guests show up? Will they be interesting? All of those things. And you just looked at, right? And you just looked at me with this. look that Darren Johnson gives and you go, you just got to get the first one out. And I even told you, you said, why are you procrastinating? I said, Oh, I've got this project and that project. I'm going to be traveling here. And I remember taking my microphone that you sent me and my MacBook Pro off to Hawaii and did that first episode. And I'll never, I'll never forget you or, or be able to say thank you enough, because I listened to your first couple of podcasts. I've shared this with you before, so it's going to be no surprise. Those first couple of podcasts, I went, don't quit your day job there. They were, they were rough. I was hyperventilating. Trust me. I know. Why do you think it took me a year to get you on? Like I got to get my act together. But I want to thank you. And I want to say that you have not only made an impact in me, you have made an impact for thousands of people around the world who have tuned in and subscribe to the podcast to listen to ways that they can push through. I've had the privilege of seeing you speak and hearing you speak many, many times and always leave with something. You'll have to come back some other time. We'll talk about that yardstick measuring of your life exercise that you did that freaked me out. I'm going to leave it as a teaser. We're not going to talk about it. I would love that. That's the most impactful exercise that we do that I've done. Yeah. Yeah, you did that to me, mind you, the day before you and I went on that hike. So I was also dealing with my measuring tape internal conversation, but I have two final questions because I could sit and talk to you forever but I have two final questions for you. I do go ask all of my guests who have shared a little bit of their journey and again, thank you for sharing with us this journey from your young Darren to now it's packed with a lot more that we could talk about, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. What would you, if you had an opportunity to look at that little Darren back in his little elementary school, what would you tell him about his life today? You know, I would tell him to I would tell him to relax and that everything is going to work out and you're going to meet the most amazing woman you're going to, you're going to have, believe it or not, you're going to have three incredible kids. And that as long as you, as long as you work hard and live a good life, it's going to be fine. Everything's going to be fine because that little Darren did have you know, anxious self doubt. And, and I think I would just tell you just to relax. And, and the other thing I would just tell the young Darren would be, is to stop overthinking and start doing. You're spending so much time just this narrative in your head and how about just stop and actually just get into action. Just take a few couple of steps. That's what I would tell the young Darren. But that overarching theme that, you know, relax and I know everything leads to the next, but yeah, there's a plan. There's a plan for you. God's got a plan for you. Have faith. Follow his lead and just keep moving. That that's what I would tell young Darren. I would love to see young Darren's face when the adult Darren is standing up in front of thousands of people that cheer when he walks on stage because they know what's about to come. See, I get emotional thinking about it. But I'm super grateful that that young Darren had this upbringing that he did, that he had the opportunity to again, deal with some obstacles that he saw in his life to push through, to push forward, to to deal with this stutter that I still can't hear to meet this beautiful woman who became your wife and, and partner in, in life and in crime with your daughters and the remarkable life that you've lived. I say this a lot and I say it not as a cliche, but the world is a better place with Darren Johnson in it. And my world is a much better place. It gets me so emotional to say thank you. For what you've done for me and for the many people who you've touched, I'm honored to have you as a friend. And man, thank you for, you know, pushing me to do this podcast. It has been remarkable. I've shared with you some of the experiences, you know, we're kicking season two into gear with this episode. I know it's going to be a year filled with amazing connections and conversations. So thank you for that. I really appreciate it. Well, Eric, I have to tell you too, look, I'm, I'm just so proud of you for what you've done. Thanks. I'm just so proud of you and I, you know, I, I love you, love you so much for what you have done and what you are about to do. And so I appreciate your friendship very much, but again, what you, you stepping into this and, and creating this type of a podcast and season two, I it's, it's fun to see. It's, it's amazing how they all just kind of add up before, you know, you look back and you have 40 plus episodes, but just know that I'm just really proud of you for, for, for, for being part of the solution here. Well, I appreciate it and, and leads me into my last question for you and then we'll wrap this up. You're, how many episodes in now, 181, 53, 153. Wow. What do you think? That's amazing. So at the end of every episode, your, your podcast is titled, I Dare You. At the end of every episode, you asked your guest, what's their dare for your listeners? So I'm going to turn around and throw it right back at you as we wrap this up. What's your dare for us for 2025? Yeah, I would dare you to whatever your 2025 goal is, is to get into action. I mean, we all are thinking of something that we want to accomplish. And it's that, again, it's that narrative, that loop that keeps coming around. Every time it comes around, there's a little bit of self doubt or social comparison or whatever that narrative is that we, we all have. It's normal. Yeah. But now find that point to say, okay. I'm going to stop the loop and I'm actually going to get into action. And when I say that, it doesn't mean huge steps. It could just be one small thing, sending the email, having the conversation, making the phone call signing up for that race, whatever it is to you. I dare you to actually get into action and stop the narrative going around your head. That's why I dare you super powerful, super powerful. And I'm, I'm going to dare my listeners also to take some time to listen to your podcast after they've listened to mine, they can go over and listen to yours. So we're going to put the link to your podcast in our social media, Darren, thank you for your time today. And thank you for giving this glimpse into your world. It's an honor and a privilege. And I just can't thank you enough. Eric, it's been a real honor to be on the podcast. And yeah, let's, let's do this again. And I love you. I'm proud of you. And thanks again for this invite. This has been a lot of fun. Okay. Until next time, say hi to Michelle for me. I'll do it straight away. All right, everyone. Thank you again for joining us on today's episode. I hope our conversation resonated with you like it did me, and I cannot wait to sit down with you all again next week. Remember to subscribe to the Just You Podcast on your favorite platform so you can make sure not to miss a new episode, which drop every Thursday. If you like what you hear, you can easily share the podcast and episode Directly with your friends. And if you would rate us and leave us a review, we'd love to hear from you. You can also follow us on Instagram at just do you pod. As you go out into the world today, remember to just do you. All right. Talk next week.