In Episode 005 of Parallel Lives, Damian sits down with Marc Chabot, a retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major, husband, father, leader, and someone Damian has long respected as both a mentor and a leader in his own life.

This conversation goes beyond a military career. It’s about what service actually asks of you, and the people around you.

Marc reflects on a lifetime of leadership and service, the sacrifices made along the way, and the role his family played through every chapter. They talk about the weight of responsibility, balancing commitment to the mission with commitment at home, and how years of leading Marines shaped the husband, father, and man he became.

They also explore the decisions that change the direction of our lives, the lessons that stay with us long after a uniform comes off, and what it means to continue serving when that chapter is over.

For Damian, this one is personal. Marc isn't simply a guest with an impressive career, he's someone whose leadership, perspective, and example have had a meaningful impact on his own life.

Service. Family. Sacrifice. Leadership.

Different chapters. Different decisions. One life shaped by all of them.

We’re all one decision away from becoming someone completely different.

Welcome to Parallel Lives.

hear more from Marc and the Left Right Left Podcast :

https://www.youtube.com/@LeftRightLeftKeepMovin

What happens when the path from athlete to Air Force officer to scientist to neurosurgeon still isn’t the end of the story?

In this episode of Parallel Lives, Damian sits down with Dr. Javier Figueroa, MD, PhD, a former Air Force Academy football and rugby player, military officer, research scientist, neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, and father.

Javier’s path has been anything but linear. After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, he spent five years serving in the Air Force, including work as a research scientist studying biological threats such as ricin. When his military service ended, he went back to school, eventually earning both his MD and PhD before completing the years of residency and fellowship training required to become a neurosurgeon.

But this conversation goes beyond the credentials.

Damian and Javier talk about the transitions between each version of his life, the discipline required to repeatedly become a beginner again, balancing ambition with fatherhood, and what drives someone to keep pursuing difficult things even after they have already achieved what most people would consider success.

They also discuss Javier’s work as a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist and the creation of TriNeuro, the brain and spine wellness company he founded after years of research and treating patients.

From the football field, to military service, to the laboratory, to the operating room, Javier’s story is a reminder that choosing one path doesn’t mean you have to stay on it forever.

We’re all one decision away from becoming someone completely different.

Welcome to Parallel Lives.

Gary Peebles had a plan: become a Marine Corps fighter pilot.

There was just one problem.. he was too big for the cockpit.

What could have been the end of one dream became the beginning of a completely different life.

In Episode 3 of Parallel Lives, I sit down with professional stuntman and actor Gary Peebles to talk about how martial arts, an unexpected start performing live stunts at Six Flags, and a willingness to keep moving when the original plan disappeared eventually led him to Hollywood.

Gary has gone on to work on some of the biggest productions in the world, including Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, Black Adam, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and more, including doubling for Dave Bautista as Drax.

But this episode isn't really about Marvel movies or stunt credits.

It's about what happens when the life you planned isn't available to you anymore.

Sometimes the thing that feels like it closed the door on your dream is actually forcing you toward the life you were supposed to build.

There was blueprint. Just the willingness to pivot, keep moving, and see where the next opportunity led.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Parallel Lives.