Episode Transcript

[00:40:52] But I did that and got good at it. And. Made the national team and then was like ranked third in the [00:41:00] world and, um, was doing that full time and, and doing recruiting. So I became like a little local celebrity and them in Arkansas was didn’t mean much because it was in Arkansas, but, uh, Yeah. Um, I guess a lot

[00:41:16] Kim: [00:41:16] of people, are they going to come for you?

[00:41:20] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:41:20] Listen, they could do it. Cause they don’t want to be in Arkansas either. They just stay, they just start there. Cause a family they can leave. They would, ain’t nothing in Arkansas, but yeah. So preparing for the Olympics and then all of a sudden, like that year of the Olympics, I mean, there’s like a lot of people dying and stuff.

[00:41:38] Were you supposed to go to, uh, uh, I think it was PO Chang or. Yeah, something like that, Korea, something like that. But, um, there was like a couple of people had died and then they was just like, yeah, there’s no way. There’s no way we can let you go down this track anymore because I was the only, so I was the first and only person to ever do it, [00:42:00] that sport with one arm.

[00:42:02] So imagine, imagine being in a rollercoaster with, with no seatbelt and you’re just in a seat. Going to take an

[00:42:11] Kim: [00:42:11] audience. It looks crazy.

[00:42:13] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:42:13] Yeah.

[00:42:16] Kim: [00:42:16] Go down the first time. Like what goes through your mind? Like, 

[00:42:22] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:42:22] a lot of stuff that I did. I was like, you know what? I’m already lost the arm. What’s the worst that can happen when people started flying off the track and dying.

[00:42:30] And then I was just like, Oh yeah, I need to think about this. But when they told me, like, I could no longer do it, I wasn’t even mad. I was like, that’s cool. Because in the midst of training for the Paralympics, for the actual, not the parents before they miss them and this attorney for the Olympics for that sport, um, that’s when I did my first half iron man, like a friend of mine invited me to go to Augusta.

[00:42:57] Um, and it was like, Hey, do you want to do a triathlon? And I was like, [00:43:00] yeah, that’s cool. Because I had been swimming and running and biking and artists left. So I was like, you know, I mean, a triathlon how’re could that be? I had no idea what an Ironman was, had no idea what a 70.3 was. So when I get there, uh, they’re telling me they like, they’re like, Hey, you’re going to need a Western.

[00:43:19] But I need a wetsuit for it, bro. And we’re just going to swim in a pool. He’s like, yeah. He was like, nah, I’m sitting in a river. I was like, hold on. I never, even I’ve never swim in open water. I was like, what are you talking about? He was like, yeah, this is a half iron man. So I get on my phone and I was just like, Oh what?

[00:43:40] Wait a while. Hold on, man. Google was like, yeah, you don’t got yourself in some mess. That’s what Google said. Great.

[00:43:48] Kim: [00:43:48] Isn’t Augusta. The one that takes you practically found the river.

[00:43:53] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:43:53] Yeah. So let me tell you about that. Yeah. That’s yeah. That’s yeah. That’s what it’s supposed to do. When you have two arms propelling you [00:44:00] down the river, you see what I’m saying?

[00:44:02] Like they, they, they try to give me the whole bag of potato chips. Like you could put a bag, like put it in the river and they go, yeah, man. Yeah. They feel to mention like when you weigh like 200 pounds, That slows the process down that slows gravity down. Like you’re not moving as fast as you think. Yeah.

[00:44:22] So, and I never put on a Wester before, so I’m hyperventilate and I’m scared. I’m the guy that was swimming with me was like, man, turn over on your back. I was like, listen. I was like, I ain’t trying to no, go no back in no open water. And he stopped me. He was like, all right, let’s just stop. He was like, listen.

[00:44:46] They’ve never found anybody at the bottom of a river or Lake or ocean with a wet suit on, I looked at him like what?

[00:44:57] Kim: [00:44:57] It’s true because you float in a wetsuit. [00:45:00] He didn’t

[00:45:00] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:45:00] know that though. I didn’t. And I’m looking at him like I legit white dude, and it was white people didn’t invite him. And he said, it’s not a problem, but I’m looking at him like, Bro you trying to sabotage my life because what you said doesn’t even make sense.

[00:45:18] Like that sounds stupid, but we finally, and I wasn’t supposed to do the whole thing. I was just supposed to do a relay. I was only supposed to do the swim and the bike. So I legit wore vans to the, uh, to the, um, transition area. The guy that was going to do my run was a double leg amputee. So he was just going to do the run.

[00:45:47] I get the transition. This dude is nowhere to be found nowhere to be found some might. So the God has slammed the guy that, uh, slammed with me. He was doing the whole thing. He was like, [00:46:00] Okay, well, I’ll get word to him, to the team and they’ll find him and get him. Maybe he’s on the course somewhere, or maybe he had to go to the bathroom, but we’ll, they’ll let him cut through and just meet me.

[00:46:10] So I was like, all right. So I put on my vans with no socks and I’m running. And as soon as you come out of transition, I think like maybe a quarter, a mile into the run, but there’s a, there’s an aid station. There’s a bang. And it’s do goes, are you. Are you about to do this in vans? I was like, I’m not supposed to be doing the run.

[00:46:30] And he, he took off his running shoes and gave them to, and I took off like I’m running, I’m trying or whatever, like doing my thing or no, no, no, no. That was after the bike. So I did the bike and then yeah, Gwen put on my vans and did all this and yeah, like I get to the first aid station. The guy gives me a shoes I’m running like, and I had never felt this type of pain.

[00:46:53] Cause I’ve never done all three together. Hmm. Like, and not knowing that I’m gonna have to run [00:47:00] I’m on the bike. Just getting it. Like I’m trying to, like, I’m trying to make up for the swim time. The dude that’s with me, he was like, Oh man, like, you’re really like, he was like, you’re really moving. I’m passing people.

[00:47:10] I’m gassed up, like feeling myself and had a little did I know I was about to die on this run. Like it was crazy, but got on the run and got somebody else shoes. This dude meets me at like mile eight. And I looked at him like, nah, brother, you can gone wherever you get came from. And you can just go bang.

[00:47:31] Now you

[00:47:32] Kim: [00:47:32] get in the metal at the finish

[00:47:33] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:47:33] line shoe. I was like, there is no, I was like, there is no way I’m giving up this chip. So I just

[00:47:39] kept

[00:47:40] Kim: [00:47:40] it

[00:47:42] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:47:42] something about the excuse was his hands were overheating. So they had to go find him some gloves, put ice in his gloves, which made no sense that had nothing to do with the writing.

[00:47:53] I was. Baffled. So I was like, all right. So I just kept running. I kept doing my [00:48:00] thing and I finished. And that, that was the birth of my love for triathlon, like that day. Cause it was so hard. I just remember when I crossed the finish line, like I was crying, like I legit was crying. I had never done anything like that.

[00:48:15] Never wanted to, I never had a desire to do anything like that. I felt like when people were telling me. At the, uh, like at the little symposium or the little thing that they have before the racist, like people were telling me the distances and I was like, man, who, why would, why do people do this? This is Don.

[00:48:35] Kim: [00:48:35] So that was your foray into triathlon, a 70.3. Most people start with sprints. So you just went like right into the big dog?

[00:48:46] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:48:46] Yeah, I will. Yeah. I went right into it. Um, I found me a another half. I did. What did I do? What was the other half? I did. I did.

[00:48:57] It was another, it was, I have, but it wasn’t an Ironman. It was an [00:49:00] Ironman represented was by rev three, but it was a half distance. So I did that. And then, um, I ended up doing the DC fool, Texas, or the Maryland, Texas and Chattanooga. And then I went back and did, uh, another Augusta. Um, and then that’s when I switched over to sprint and to this day, I think have, or fools are easier than sprint triathlons.

[00:49:31] Kim: [00:49:31] Bernstein. I was with spoken about sod from Varella offline, but he was, we were talking about that. The same thing, like sprints, your adrenaline is like going the whole time for that short amount of time. But when you’re in like a long whole race, you have, you can chill. You’re not chilling on a bike, but you have that time, you know, mellow.

[00:49:55] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:49:55] Yeah. You get like a transition bag. You can eat. Put on socks. You can [00:50:00] take your time. You can, you can make a mistake, but make up for it. You can legit do like a walk, run scenario. If you need to. You’re not in any big rush you have this time cap sprint. It’s not like that. Like my heart rate I’m in zone five.

[00:50:17] The entire time I look at my heart rate and every time, like I’m always, I look at training pieces with an, or a Strava and. My heart rate is just like through the roof. It stays like at, at least one 90 the entire time, like just there. So, yeah.

[00:50:35] Kim: [00:50:35] So you’re still active duty in the army right now, right? So what is your job today in the army?

[00:50:43] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:50:43] So there’s a program in the army that not hardly anybody knows it’s called a world-class athlete program. And basically, um, when you have the potential to. Um, term pro or go to the Olympics. The main objective is to go to the Olympics, but when you [00:51:00] have the potential to make the Olympics and you’ve made a development or a national team, the army basically comes to you and is like, Hey, we’re going to support you.

[00:51:09] And we’re going to, we want you to be an athlete. All we want you to worry about is being an athlete, representing the army as a soldier and an athlete. And you know, we’re going to provide you the tools to get to the Olympics and. I mean, that’s what I’m doing. I mean, soldier athlete

[00:51:27] Kim: [00:51:27] and they pay you to be a soldier athlete.

[00:51:30] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:51:30] Yeah, and I get probably pretty good. I mean, I’ve been in the army for a good little bit, so 23 years, you know what I mean? So

[00:51:38] Kim: [00:51:38] what the, what the benefits look like,

[00:51:44] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:51:44] and I mean, I get, I get housing allowance so that doesn’t come out of my pocket. They pay for that. Um, they paid for my equipment. I mean, I just, I got two brand new bikes this year that are. Both of them are $20,000 plus [00:52:00] with all the stuff, the wheels and all that stuff. And they pay for some of my races, not all of them, but they pay for most of my races, um, because I’m injured.

[00:52:11] Um, a lot of the opportunity to take advantage of veteran, uh, non-profit organizations. So they give me money. Um, and then, you know, local races when they offer a bag. You know, for podium like money, I can keep that. So I’m in a very, very, uh, unique in

[00:52:34] Kim: [00:52:34] a good, a good deal here.

[00:52:37] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:52:37] Yeah. Yeah. It’s, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a great, it’s a great position to be in.

[00:52:42] Kim: [00:52:42] So did they invite you into the world-class athlete program or did you inquire about

[00:52:47] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:52:47] it? Um, so actually I had a friend who is missing a leg and I. Did my first para race was national. Like I happened to [00:53:00] qualify for it because I’ve been doing Ironman and it was my first short course. And I didn’t see them the whole time, but when I crossed the finish line, he wasn’t like, bro, like you legit just to fourth place and you’ve never done this race.

[00:53:15] He was like this. He was like, have you been trying it? Yeah. He was like, have you been training for me? So I was like, nah, man, I’ve been doing iron mans. And I was like, I don’t even really. Training for that. I was like, I’m still running our recruiting station in the armpit. So, um, yeah. So, yeah, so, um, I went back to Arkansas and they transferred me to, um, Fort Knox, Kentucky, which is another armpit.

[00:53:46] So I’m in Fort Knox in the middle of nowhere, all these crazy places, but so I’m there. And they sent me to San Antonio to go talk. Like, I, they love me like a dog recruiting command loves [00:54:00] me, but I asked him, I was like, Hey, I want to inquire about this place. Can I fly to San Antonio? They was like, yeah, we’ll fly you there.

[00:54:07] So I was like, okay. So they flew me there and got me a rental, got me a hotel. I met my friend. They took me in, I talked to the boss and I was like, yeah, I was like, I ain’t going to lie to you. I don’t know if I’m going to make any kind of scene, but if you provide me the opportunity, I promise you like. I won’t let you down.

[00:54:23] Like, you’ll get a hundred percent of me and if I don’t make it, it’s just going to be, because I’m older, I’m aging and there’s somebody out there that’s younger and faster than me, that, that, uh, beaten. I was like, but along the way, I was like, I promise you, like I will make headlines and I’ll make the army proud.

[00:54:40] And, um, you know, uh, I’ll, I’ll be that representative that, you know, the army needs I’ll be that good news story. I’ll be the face. So he was just like, yeah. I’ll give you a year to make some team. And my first, like it gave me an opportunity and my first year was like, [00:55:00] it was, it wasn’t anything I expected.

[00:55:02] Like you it’s like you immediately turn pro it’s like going from novice to pro immediately. Cause your whole life changes. You get all this money and now your job is to train and race. I wasn’t used to that and I was, I kept getting injured. Um, I couldn’t race. I think my first year only raised twice because I was injured the rest of the time.

[00:55:25] Um, and it was just, it wasn’t, it just wasn’t good. And I had to hit my 20 year Mark and in 20, in the military, 20 years, you can retire. And I was like, man, I’m going to take my little a hundred percent my 20 year retirement, excuse me. And I’m going to run and. Yeah, excuse me. I was expecting them to let me go.

[00:55:50] So I go in and I’m talking to him and I was like, yeah. So, you know, you didn’t hit any of your benchmarks [00:56:00] and you know, this is just not what we expected. No. What do you want to do? I was like, well, I’m at 20 years and I was like, you know, I’m 38. Yeah. I think I’m on gone. And. Call it quiz. And he was like, well, when you, when you, you know, when you retire, what you going to do?

[00:56:22] I was like, I’m going to cook. I’m going to still pursue this. I was like, this is like, I’m hooked on this sports. I’m still going to do the sport. And because I’m pear, I still have opportunity. He was like, Oh, well, we’ll keep you. I was like, all right. So the next year I raised may nationals. We had a couple of world races.

[00:56:42] So now I’m, I’m starting to hit my benchmarks. I’m starting to become a little known. People are starting to recognize who I am. And, uh, now as one, because I’m doing these bigger races now I’m starting to now I’m, I’m looking around. I’m just like, [00:57:00] and I’m like, am I the only black dude? I was like, nah. So I asked the director, I went to her, I was like, Hey, so, uh, is there any other black people that do this race?

[00:57:12] And she was like, Mike, you’re the only one she’s like, I’m surprised. You’re just not asking me. She was like, you’re, you’re the only one in the country. She was like, you may be the only one in the world. And I was like, really? She was like, yeah. So me, I don’t. Particularly pay attention to that. But once he brought it to my, when I started noticing, I started noticing, and then I started noticing how people were treating me.

[00:57:36] And then I was just like, okay. I was like, all right. And only one time where it was really noticeable where the race director came up to me and was like, Hey, so what station do you want to be at? Um, I was like station. He was like, yeah, he’s like, aren’t you volunteering? I was like, no I’m racing. He was like, no, for real.

[00:57:55] I was like, Are you asking me? Because I have [00:58:00] one arm. He was like, well, no. I was like, Oh, so you for asking, because wait, this is

[00:58:08] Kim: [00:58:08] blood triathlon.

[00:58:09] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:58:09] Yes, there’s this. So are the Paralympic racists are separate from. The pros, but we raised it, the FSA venue on the same day, we just raced that a different time.

[00:58:22] But see, there’s no pro there’s no pro black athletes are protracted because there’s one as a max maximum. Yeah. There’s one, but he doesn’t even do it anymore. Nope. Which is, that’s a whole nother conversation. I’m so, I’m so disappointed with that. Like, I don’t know. We’re friends, we’re friends on Facebook.

[00:58:47] We’ve had a conversation, not

[00:58:52] for you to be a pioneer turn pro in it. Stop by what was the [00:59:00] objective like? That was that debt that blows my mind. But anyway, so even when all the races together, I’m still the only one. So. How

[00:59:10] Kim: [00:59:10] could you not notice though? Even when, when I go to races, even running races, like I say, Hey, to every black person, I know.

[00:59:18] Cause they ain’t that many of us there and triathlon is even worse. I’ve been to a race where I could count on my hand, how many of us it was there.

[00:59:28] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [00:59:28] So I think it was because, um, because I, at that time I was so new to the sport. That my nerves were so bad. Like I would legit fly in, get my stuff together and I’ll go do my, whatever my coach wanted me to do.

[00:59:45] And I was just in a different world. I was just in my own space. So I didn’t, I just, it just, I just didn’t notice. I mean, and I’m not growing like that either. You know what I mean? Like I wasn’t raised like that. I wasn’t, I’m not like that. I’m not that guy. [01:00:00] Uh, So I did it just didn’t Dawn on me until I started to be treated like I was the only black person in this sport.

[01:00:08] So, um, but in the, in the, in lieu of all of that, like I’m doing my thing, I’m hitting my benchmarks. And, um, it became a, it became a good situation. Um, 2020 was my, I mean, best year for training, but now more than ever is the issue like, um, Even with the sport, all these sports is trying to be inclusive and diverse, you know, include diversity.

[01:00:39] I feel like, I feel like it’s more of a problem now for me personally than it ever has been. Um, I was on a podcast with, uh, a organization, um, that, um, belonged to, and. I [01:01:00] don’t want to S I don’t want to say a name, so I don’t want them to be out at crazy, but I was on the podcast and, um, a lady asked me, she was like, um, you know, how did w what is it like for you and triathlon?

[01:01:15] I was like, honestly, I was like, uh, I’m going to go another direction with this. And I told her, she was like, yeah, please go ahead. And I was like, Being black in triathlon is like being a black man in America. And she just kind of looked we’re on a zoom call. There’s like 60 of us on there. I’m the only black dude.

[01:01:38] And she was like, what do you mean? I was like, so think of it. I was like, everybody on this call is white. I’m the only black man on is not the only black person, but I’m the only black man. I was like, I fear getting pulled over. I fear being in public and something happens. Then everybody’s going to look at me.

[01:01:59] I was [01:02:00] like, not only that, but I I’m full of tattoos and I have goatee I’m from Texas. I’m from South Texas. I’m a Southern. And as they get, I was like, but until I opened my mouth or you talk to me, you don’t know how educated I am. I was like, but along with that, I get treated like I’m the only black person in this sport.

[01:02:20] Seems like, well, what about now? Like you’re on this call. So like I am I’m, I’m an on USA T ambassador shift team. Right. And I’m the team captain. So I’m the team captain of that ambassadorship team. I’m also man of the year for USA team. So my question was, and I’m very appreciative, all that. And I’ve worked my butt off to get to where I’m at now at this elite status.

[01:02:46] Like I raised all your races now and I have all this sponsorships and people doing all this. But my question is is if we wasn’t going through what we’re going through right now had joyful, had that not happen. Had America [01:03:00] not witnessed him being murdered. Would I be in this position right now? What I even, would I be on the ambassadorship team?

[01:03:08] Would I be the captain? What I had gotten man of the year. You see what I’m saying? Like,

[01:03:14] Kim: [01:03:14] and these companies are like trying to fit into today, but there’s still so ignorance of what’s really going on. You know, and, and it’s, I mean, I can understand some people where they live in middle America and they don’t see any black people, but if you’re from like a mid to big city, how can you not know?

[01:03:41] Like you’re, you’re walking around with blinders on. There’s no way that these people do not know what’s going on. They just choose. Not to look at it or be involved in the situation, which is sad, but it’s good that you’re, you’re getting these opportunities because now your voice is being heard in these [01:04:00] spaces and that’s, what’s lacking.

[01:04:03] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:04:03] So, so, okay. So I’m glad you said that. So with that being said with these opportunities that I have, it’s almost like a double edged sword, right? Like, am I, am I playing the token? You see what I’m saying? Like, I, you have to, I feel like I have to be careful with that because I’m not, I’m not trying to be anybody’s token at all.

[01:04:27] Like that’s not the role I’m playing because at the end of the day, like, I’ve accomplished way more than most to army and had in my life. And this short time span that I’ve been on arm amputee, but I’m not trying to be a token at the same time, but I do want to take advantage of these opportunities because like you said, I want my voice to be heard.

[01:04:48] But when I had this platform and expressing my views, our views on behalf of us and not only triathlon, but in running. I have [01:05:00] to be careful on how I articulate to them, our point of view and where we’re coming from, because it’s so easy to get labeled as that angry black man. Right. It’s so that’s so easy and it’s so easy for them to be like, Oh, well, he’s still complaining.

[01:05:21] And we were trying to give him everything and he’s still complaining. So you gotta, you gotta.

[01:05:31] Kim: [01:05:31] Because we, the reason why we’re in the rooms now is not a good reason, but it is good that we are there because I mean, I just saw an ad, which is ridiculous for Gucci, right. It was a Jamaican. It was supposed to be the flag of the Jamaican colors. Did you see that?

[01:05:53] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:05:53] Yup.

[01:05:56] Kim: [01:05:56] It was the Guyana flag colors. I’m like who is in the [01:06:00] room in these companies.

[01:06:01] And that’s the problem. We are not in the room to say that this is not correct. So yeah, I understand what you’re saying by you not wanting to be that token, but. It’s I like that you are. And you know, you can put a positive spin on this and bring your perspective because you’re not the poster boy for black people and men in America, you know, you’re speaking for

[01:06:24] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:06:24] you.

[01:06:25] Right. And I, and I don’t want to be, because there’s so many different viewpoints, we have so many different, uh, experiences. You know what I mean? So I don’t want to be the voice of it, everybody, but I would like to be the starting point. You know what I mean? Like I would like to say my piece and be like, and be able to pass it off and be like, so this is my experience, but let’s go talk to so’s from Barlow and see what his experience is because I guarantee you, my experience is so completely different.

[01:06:58] Me and him have had a couple of conversations, [01:07:00] our experiences, the way we grew up. Not even the same, um, and how we grew up, you know what I mean? So in our experiences, I’m from the South, so it’s different. Um, yeah, so I mean, yeah, I do try to use, utilize the platform, but I also think sometimes they give us positions and they give us these opportunities to shut us up.

[01:07:25] Right. So like they just had the endurance exchange and I just knew I was going to be a part of that endurance exchange. And I wasn’t got it. So I’m the team captain and I’m the man of the year, but I don’t get invited to the endurance, like sayings at issue with that. So I shot an email to the people who are like, Hey, so very articulate.

[01:07:49] I shot. I told him, let it rest. Um, and then I just started really noticing stuff. Like I belong to. Um, a triathlon program that [01:08:00] specialized in, you know, it was, uh, a veteran non-profit, that was a triathlon program. It was a, like a starter program. And I just remember, excuse me. I was like, I did everything I could to promote them and making posts.

[01:08:18] And my social media presence is too. So I was like putting them my mind, doing everything. And then I noticed I was like,

[01:08:27] I was calling people that I knew. Yeah. I was calling people. I was like, Hey, so did you just get this grant? And they was like, yeah, they gave me $5,000. So I’m calling people and they’re getting stuff. So I, I do my little grant. I get email, email back immediate, like yo. So we don’t have the funding and we haven’t had the funding for this for like quite some time.

[01:08:48] So I immediately, like, I threw a fit and I’m not gonna lie. Like I. I didn’t use choice words, but I immediately told him, I was like, listen, I’m not, I don’t appreciate this. And I was like, I [01:09:00] know for a fact of X, Y, and Z, I was like, so at this particular time, I’m going to remove myself from your program. I was like, please don’t reach out for me for nothing else.

[01:09:09] I don’t need you guys. Like, I’m fine where I’m at. You haven’t done anything anyway, so that’s fine. And they immediately went to social media. And like try to, they didn’t show me, but they tried to do this whole black lives matter campaign. I was like, man, you got out of control. I hate that. I really

[01:09:32] Kim: [01:09:32] hate that.

[01:09:32] And you know what? You know, who’s in it for the right and wrong reasons, because there was a season like we’re ebbing and flowing and you know, we’re in the downturn of it now. And you can see how companies have switched. You know, they jumped on the bandwagon and they’re like off of it. They’re like we put our posts, we put our black squares up, we did this and you know, we’re done with this.

[01:09:56] So

[01:09:59] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:09:59] to [01:10:00] align yourself with now, If you pay attention to commercials just when you’re watching TV, if it’s not an interracial couple it’s, uh, it’s, it’s something about black culture, but it’s, uh, a white company doing it. And you can tell that there was not, not one person of color in that room when they made that commercial.

[01:10:22] For example, I saw the Louie Baton commercial the other day for the first time. And I’m looking at this commercial, like. Who did this,

[01:10:32] Kim: [01:10:32] like, it’s a,

[01:10:36] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:10:36] it’s a Louis Vuitton commercial. And like they’re doing like some kind of, it’s supposed to be like some kind of, it’s supposed to be an, an African culture type dance to, to some crazy music.

[01:10:48] And then they have to, they went and found the two darkest black people they can find. I was just like, is this real right now?

[01:10:58] Kim: [01:10:58] These companies are going to [01:11:00] misappropriate our culture until the end of time. And we, we, if we keep supporting them, they’re going to keep doing it. And that’s the problem. That’s the problem.

[01:11:10] Right? Look we go enough on a, a we going down a long

[01:11:13] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:11:13] road. Yes. So I will say this, I will say this what’s going on right now. Is it just because it’s popular even within our sport, right? So w w. Within the sports that we do, um, it’s, it’s popular to be inclusive and to diversify it’s popular. That’s what’s going on.

[01:11:36] So like, um, if you notice, like these companies are posting what they’re going to post, but there’s no, there’s no action behind it. And the people that they are choosing, they’re choosing people that they feel like, okay, like if we choose them, we choose this group. They’re they’re subtle enough, just enough to not make a lot of noise, [01:12:00] but they, they can represent us.

[01:12:02] You see what I’m saying? So when that happened to me, that’s, that’s one of the reasons why I created my nonprofit, my own foundation, because I want it to be a part of change, but I wanted to do it my way. Like, I don’t want anybody to tell me how to run my organization. I’m going to do it the way I want to.

[01:12:19] And we’re going to create change the way I see fit amongst like our culture. You know what I mean? And using sports brings everybody together. You know what I mean? No matter what race, creative background, whatever everybody comes together, when it comes to a sporting event. So I’m using the sport of triathlon and endurance running to bridge that gap.

[01:12:46] And I mean, so far it’s, it’s been, it’s been remarkable. I mean, I’m getting the opportunity to do it and I’m doing it the way I want to. So,

[01:12:56] Kim: [01:12:56] and your foundation, that’s called swim bike run for [01:13:00] equality. I was going to ask you about that, but you already started talking about

[01:13:03] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:13:03] it. So no, I knew I had to react.

[01:13:05] They’re like get off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I was going to ask

[01:13:08] Kim: [01:13:08] you about that next, but yeah. So what’s your, what’s your like, goal of this foundation? What’s the mission?

[01:13:16] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:13:16] So my goal is to. It is too. I want to, so people would like what true inclusive, like to be inclusive mean and what diversity really looks like.

[01:13:30] So when you hear inclusiveness and diversity, people automatically take it to the race off top. When you hear those two words, all these organizations, that’s what they’re doing. It’s, they’re trying to involve people of color, right? Well, Absolutely. I want to do that because I do want to bridge that gap.

[01:13:50] But to me and to my board, that’s not all that it means it means race, religion, [01:14:00] whoever, or whatever you identify yourself. Like it doesn’t matter. Everybody has to get the opportunity. To be who they are. Right. Is this about being a good human? So that’s what we’re about. And the reason why I did that instead of becoming the pro black organization, I originally wanted to is because one of my good friends who is one of those girls, he’s from, uh, Wisconsin, R C from like Wisconsin or something like that.

[01:14:31] And she’s white. Not a black person in sight, but me and her were really close. We were super close and she’s a pair of athlete. And she went at Georgia, Florida incident happened, she called me hysterically crying and she wanted to do something and she wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to offend anybody.

[01:14:49] And she wanted to know what she could do. And so he made a comment on Facebook and people just drug her for like, cause you know, the whole white privilege [01:15:00] thing was super, super huge. And they was, they was just dragging her. And I went to her defense and I was like, y’all can’t why are y’all dragging this young lady?

[01:15:09] Just because she doesn’t know if you don’t live your, if you don’t live, if you live in that life and you are not experiencing anything else, then how you supposed to know? That’s like asking you, how does it feel to be rich? Well, I don’t know, because I don’t make over it. A hundred and some thousand dollars a year.

[01:15:26] So I don’t know, I have bills for real, for real. So how are you supposed to know? So that bothered me. So me and her got together and we wanted to create a platform where people can educate and be educated, but do it on a, on a respectful manner. But you know what I mean? Like I’m, I’m all about just treating people with respect and dignity.

[01:15:48] You know what I mean? Like just be a good human. Um, don’t crucify me because I don’t know. I’m sorry. I didn’t grow up like that. So educating show me, you know what I mean? So, [01:16:00] um, and that’s what, that’s what we did. And before like legit, I added another person, lolly she’s a phenomenal person, sees a teacher in San Antonio.

[01:16:09] So before I knew it, like we had over a thousand members within like a month. So then, and it was prominent people on there. Like there’s. CEOs and people that I never even knew was on there, but they’re reaching out to me and they’re just like, Hey, so yeah, you really should think about making this about profit.

[01:16:31] I was like, yeah. I was like, I’m a full-time athlete. I do not have time. I just don’t have that kind of time. I mean, training every bit of like six to eight hours a day with one day recovery, my window recovery is not going to be trying to be messing with this. And I was like, I just don’t have that time.

[01:16:50] So I talked it over with the two girls and they was like, yeah, we’ll form a board. We’ll add another person who will take care of her. They was like, Mike, you just be the face and you can speak when, you know, [01:17:00] and you can be the prejudice on the other. You’re the founder, but we’ll take care of everything else.

[01:17:03] And it just clockwork. It just the three young ladies that I have I have on my board. They just, I mean, within two months we were a nonprofit. All the paperwork taken care of. And I, I would ask him, I was asking questions. It would take people years to become a nonprofit. And we did it within two months. Um, and this has been a great experience and we are providing like, you know, A platform for people to reach out and this, that, and the other.

[01:17:32] And, um, we’re creating like a kid right now for our own foundation with zoop, um, which is, you know, a team I belong to. We aired, uh, we added, uh, a brother on the team by Derek Britton. Do you know Derek?

[01:17:48] Kim: [01:17:48] No. Born in Derrick.

[01:17:51] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:17:51] Yeah, that’s a good dude, man. Um, and I met Derek because I teamed up with base out of Colorado.

[01:18:00] [01:17:59] And he had an issue with that and he let me have it, like he messaged me. Yeah. He messaged me and he let me have it. I mean, one Oh one side and down the other. And then he said, after he let me have it, he told me to call him. So I called him. I was like, listen, man. He was like, no, you listen. He was like, I’ve been in this sport way longer than you have.

[01:18:21] And you have no idea. What storm you’re about to create. And he just, he schooled me like he schooled me and I listened. We talked for like a couple of hours and he schooled me. And from that point on every time I was getting ready to make a decision, I will call him, I’ll call him. And then I would put him on a zoom call for our team meetings.

[01:18:39] So finally, I was just like, I mean, why don’t you just be on this board, man? Like, why don’t you just be the vice-president like, I kinda need you right now. And he accepted it like right there on the spot. Like, so. And he’s a zoo ambassador as well. So now that I have him and I mean, it’s been cool. It’s been a great [01:19:00] situation, you know, we’re, we have big plans and, um, you know, my goal for 2022 is we’re going to create an ambassador team.

[01:19:07] And, um, so we’re going to have our own ambassador team like zoo and, um, we’re going to sponsor, uh, three, uh, three people of color. So one woman, one, man, and then one I’m gonna go find a pair athlete. So I won’t be the only one. So we’re going to fully sponsor down to do races and we’re going to get them bikes because I have a deal with a failed.

[01:19:27] So we’re going to get them bikes and get them gone and whatever diff, whatever discipline they want to do, whether it’s sprint Olympic for half, you know, we’re gonna, we’re going to do that. And then, you know, of course, you know, Derek is a runner just like. Uh, lolly, they’re both, you know, endurance runner, so we’re going to create a running program.

[01:19:49] And so we’re going to have a separate endurance running program, and then we’re going to sponsor three other athletes. I’ve met Ian, and we’re just gonna, you know, try to make the sport grow.

[01:19:58] Kim: [01:19:58] Well. It sounds like [01:20:00] you’re, you will be doing big things with your nonprofit in the future. I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s going to become.

[01:20:08] And on that note, talk to you

[01:20:10] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:20:10] all day. All day.

[01:20:15] Kim: [01:20:15] Well, we’re going to wrap up this interview because you know, folks got a short attention span. A they might have clicked out by now, but not after year after year harrowing story. Cause you have me on the edge of my seat. I loved every minute of it and it’s okay.

[01:20:28] It’s just amazing to see what you have become after that experience. I mean, not many people, the bounce back. That’s why I asked you the mental question, because mentally that can like, just kill people and, you know, you came out on the right side of it and. You’re doing good. And you’re setting a great example for others that are going to come up behind you.

[01:20:52] So I really commend you for that. And it was just great talking to you as first time we chatted, you know?

[01:21:00] [01:21:00] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:21:00] Yeah. I see. We’ve been friends on social media for a hot second,

[01:21:04] Kim: [01:21:04] not a black triathlete world is this big. So like we all know each other, but yeah. Long time, but yeah, it was great having you on the show.

[01:21:13] Um, when you know, you get those ambassador programs going, definitely send me the information and I’ll put it out there because you know, athletes are always looking, triathlons are expensive, you know, we make it look good and easy, but people you don’t know, like triathlons are expensive. All of the gear we have to buy the bike.

[01:21:36] I remember. That’s it. I never said a way triathlon because I didn’t want to pay to ship my bike with me. Like it’s, it’s expensive and people don’t realize that. So when they’re, when we get opportunities to get sponsorships, it’s, you know, we have to let our community know because they’re not going to let us

[01:21:57] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:21:57] know.

[01:21:59] Right. Yeah, [01:22:00] absolutely. Yeah. And that’s, I mean, that’s one of the things like throughout this whole time and developing relationships, That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to do an ambassadorship program because I’ve developed all these relationships and I developed a relationship with bike flights. I know me, I hate flying with my bike.

[01:22:15] Like I hate standing there that conveyor belt waiting for my bike to come down like, Oh my goodness. Like I have no idea what this bike is going to come out, looking like in. Yeah. I hate that feeling. So, you know, develop a relationship with, by flight. So I should like my bike every time now. So, and I met people that don’t even know about it.

[01:22:36] Like, people don’t know that

[01:22:38] Kim: [01:22:38] there’s another one as well. Right. That they pick up, you bring them your bike, they dismantle it and ship it and put it back together.

[01:22:45] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:22:45] Right. Yeah. So, so yeah. So Mike flies, what you do and you take your bike to like your local bike shop. They do everything for you and they ship, they, they ship it from your bike, from your shop to a local bike shop where the [01:23:00] race is going to be.

[01:23:00] And then by the time you get there, it’s already put together, you know what I’m saying? And you just. Bam do it again. And that’s what people like me

[01:23:09] Kim: [01:23:09] need, who can’t even change a flat tire.

[01:23:13] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:23:13] Listen,

[01:23:16] Kim: [01:23:16] how you tire camps. I’ve been, and I still can not change a flat tire.

[01:23:20] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:23:20] I, if I get a flat tire, I tell people all the time they be like, man, you don’t ride with like an extra inner tube.

[01:23:25] What I look like, come on, man.

[01:23:30] Kim: [01:23:30] I don’t have the whole kit, you know, in the back, but. Um, Sol, if I get a flat tire on the road somewhere,

[01:23:40] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:23:40] I had a dude try to show me how to change a tire with my feet and my hand. I was like, listen, brother, if I ever get a flat tire, if I ever get a flat tire, the last thing going to see me do is be on the side of the road barefoot and trying to attend to the tire.

[01:23:54] But I get a flat I’m done. I’m a call sag vehicle. We’re going to the house. So rap. Oh,

[01:24:00] [01:24:00] Kim: [01:24:00] God. That’s like my, my nightmare. That’s why I never bike alone. I bike with someone that can change my flat

[01:24:09] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:24:09] smart. Yup.

[01:24:11] Kim: [01:24:11] All right. Thank you again, Mike, for being on the runway podcast, I will leave all of your socials down below so my listeners can follow you and. That’s it. You have anything else you want to add

[01:24:27] Michael DreamChaser Smith: [01:24:27] preset, you have in me. And I appreciate what you do. You know, it’s platforms like this man that, you know, people run across or they hear about, and it encourages them to get out and, you know, do get outside their box.

[01:24:41] You know what I mean? So, yeah. I definitely appreciate you and what you do, and I appreciate you having me. Yeah, of course.

[01:24:47] Kim: [01:24:47] All right. So we will chat at another time. I would like to thank Michael for being on the runway podcast. Did his story, have you on the edge of your [01:25:00] seat? Like it did me. If you’re listening, I want you to watch this on YouTube when it drops the following Tuesday.

[01:25:08] So you can see my facial expressions. And so you can make those facial expressions right along with me because his story was just. Oh, my God. Unbelievable. And I’ve been following him for a long time. We’re both black triathletes. The black triathlete space is very small and I never knew his entire story.

[01:25:28] So this was the first time that I heard it as well. And all my God, he is just such an inspiration. It’s been amazing what he has been able to do in the sport of triathlon. And I just wish him a whole lot of luck. So. All of his details will be down below. So be sure to follow him on Instagram, look out for his nonprofit organization.

[01:25:51] They are going to be doing great things, uh, coming soon. And if you are a triathlete, definitely hit him up. He is [01:26:00] a wealth of knowledge and he is willing to share and mentor other athletes, which is great because not everyone is. That nice in the sporting world. So again, I want to thank you for tuning into the show.

[01:26:15] Please come back next week to see what extraordinary athlete I will be featuring next. And I will catch you on the next one later. Thank you so much for tuning into the show. Be sure to subscribe to the runway on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review of the show on Apple podcasts. It would really help me out if you are a runner that has a story to tell, and you will like to be on the show.

[01:26:43] You can email hello@therunways.com or send us a DM on Instagram to the run wave. See you next time. [01:27:00] .