EP 263 What's GOOD About TODAY? Lessons on Strength & Purpose

And welcome to another episode of stuck about my podcast. I am your host, w I z e. And today, I'm honored to welcome Christopher Cochran, an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a devoted family man. As a founder and CEO of Blue Chip Solutions and the and the board direct and the board of director of Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings Inc, Christopher has spent his life navigating the the complexities of business and leadership. But his most profound and

life changing role has been that of a father. Christopher's journey Christopher's journey took an unimaginable turn when his son, Christian, received a fatal diagnosis. Instead of succumbing to despair, Christopher and his family chose to focus on gratitude, resilience, and and the lessons Christians' unwavering spirit taught them. His book, what's good about today, is a powerful statement to the strength of perspective, the beauty of life's small moments, and the resilience of the

human spirit. Today, Christopher shares his story of love, loss, and the lessons we can all learn from his son's profound wisdom. Prepare for an emotional and inspiring conversation that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for every moment. So let's welcome to the show, Chris Cochran. Hello. Hey, Will. Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here with you, and, I feel,

certainly, what's good about today is being here with you talking. And I appreciate you I appreciate you stopping by and coming to share your story because it it is an amazing story. It's an impactful and amazing story. Me, personally, someone who's who's suffered from a a lot of loss and nothing as as you'd like with you because the the loss of a child is is very significant. So, let's just just right jump right into it.

Absolutely. Can you share the moment when you first heard about Christian's diagnosis and how did it change your outlook in life? Sure. Well, the first time we you know, there's sort of a prelim to it. There were some, I'd say, I'd say I mean, the summertime of twenty twenty was when Christian started to experience some back pain. And so like any parent, we I took him to the doctors. He got physical therapy. There

was nothing out of the norm. He was a healthy boy. He just graduated from college, you know, ready to take on his life. And so he, other than having the back pain, which seemed irregular, it go on and off, be okay. There was one night when he just started to have the pain was just too immense. So we took him to the doctor and ultimately test, m, MRI, revealed that there was something, an abnormally on his liver. So this is during COVID, and I only allowed one parent. So I took Christian

to the, to the hospital. It was the Hillman Cancer Institute. And I assured my son everything was gonna be fine and told his wife as I left, the house that, you know, it's probably nothing, and and we'll be okay. And just trying to give reassurance. You know? But, when I walked in, I kept reassuring Christian. We waited in the doctor's room, and five doctors walked into the door. They all had mask on. You could only you know, there was

muffled. I could see their eyes. But I knew when they walked in that room, they were about to deliver the worst news. Certainly, as a parent, I could hear, but, ultimately, what my son was gonna hear. And that was that he was, received a terminal diagnosis. He had something called cholangiocarcinoma. It's hard to pronounce. I didn't even know what that was, but when the scale of cancers, it's they're all bad. Cancer's bad, but it's the worst

that you can get. And, you know, less than one percent chance of survival even past five years. So we knew we, he was in trouble. But I would tell you, I knew as a parent, that's when I found out this is what was happening. I remember fading to black. I just remember I'm not a fainter by any stretch, and I just remember my knees starting to buckle because I knew the impact this is gonna have on my son, his mom when I have to go home, his brother and his sister, his friends, his family.

But my son put his hand on my shoulder, and it was the one, you know, one of so many superpowers he had. And he just looked me in the eye and said, dad, don't worry about it. I'm gonna be just fine. And I guess it was his way of trying to call me and let me know everything's gonna be okay. And and I can tell you, Will, from the moment that Christian was diagnosed, that moment to the moment that he took his last breath with us around him as a family here

in our home, he never complained one time. He never said, woe is me. Why this happened to me? How can this happen to me? Why would God do any of these things to me? He did the opposite, complete opposite. He embraced every single day, and he used to remind us as parents. He'd say, what's good about today? And it was a question, something we need to question that, you can always always find something beautiful, something wonderful every single day even in the worst of

moments. And we certainly had them, but that's, that's how I found out. That's how that, transpired, and, of course, I had to deliver that message to his mother when I got home. What what inspired you what inspired you to write what's good about today and share your family's journey with the world? Well, I think about a year and a half after Christian's passing, I started to feel that nudge, and that nudge was Christian giving me the the support that I needed to tell the story. His story was too

important. I felt like not only he he has lots of people who who had reached out, and there's so many letters from all over the place about the good things that Christian did that I felt compelled that I needed to tell his story. And that's why the story, what's good about today, a purpose driven life, just how I really think Christian did. He led a purposely driven life even as a child all the way up into be, 22, 20 three years of age. But I felt that nudge, and I am a journaler, so I

journaled Christian's path during his sickness. So it gave me an opportunity to go back. Unfortunately, it's it's an uncomfortable thing to do. But I

think it was important to be authentic, to be able to tell the story from a family's perspective because I mean, there's so many people with you know, it's the universal thing that every one of us will you you just said it, which is is grief, is things we go through and we lose people. And that's just gonna happen. The question is, how do you move forward beyond that? How do you take something and take

something that was so beautiful and build a legacy around that? And that to me, Christian left an unbelievable legacy, and I don't want to let him down. I wanna be able to go out and share those stories, share a family's love of how we navigated the worst thing that can happen to one, in your life, you know, losing your child, especially even your parents lose children all kinds of ways, and there's never a good there are no good ways.

You know, and I I feel that suffering of others who tell me stories of losing whether the suicide and drugs and oh, they're horrible. I am blessed I got to say goodbye to my son, but it was a long you know, it's a year it's a year, of watching my son die, and and he's so

beautiful. So it it takes that different kind of toll on you, when you go through something like that, and it transforms you, into into a person that I am I have no idea who that guy is, four years ago prior to this, and and I'm just a different person. So, that's what inspired me. Christian inspired me, and I wanted to get the get that out to as many people as possible. How did how did Christian's perspective and attitude shape the way your family handled this this difficult journey?

Oh, it was everything. Right? I mean, when you if you meet somebody who has been given a death sentence and they know that's what's coming, and they can still love life to the absolute fullest even more. Kindness I mean, he was always kind and always doing so many things. But when you watch someone under that kind of situation, go out, get a job. He didn't have to do that, but he wanted to show he was capable. He got a job with the ADP. He was able to do it for about

four months before he's incapable of doing that. He continued to make music. He was creative. He did multiple podcasts, did a podcast with his sister that's still up today. He was he got accepted to grad school during that time. He wrote a dissertation paper. I mean, he was always forward thinking. So this is the thing. He never said, I'm done. It's over. What's the point? You know? He he didn't take that approach. And so when you see something like that, how can I

not take that same approach? I'm I'm getting to be here for whatever reason. And so it inspired the family to, you know, come together even closer. We're a very close family. But it it it inspired us to say, what do we have to complain about? Nothing. Here's a kid who has is going to lose everything, everything, yet he still remained positive with laughter, cheered us up, made jokes, made sure everyone around him felt good. And and Christian did not treat death. I guess this is the way he looked

at life in general. It was not, the end of the road. He looked at it as just another part of the journey, and so he had a different perspective of life. And so, I think how can you not continue to try to, emulate that in any way and and project that onto others, which is what I've committed myself to do for and my family for the rest of our lives at least to to show that as best we can. Yeah. Absolutely. What what what's the most profound lesson you learned from from Christian?

Well, I guess it it's probably the simplest of things Christian would tell me, and I talk about in the book is don't take life so seriously. Now it's not something you know, I'm not giving you any great revelation that's been out there. But when you talk when you see a person who's dying says, dad, don't take this all so seriously, you know, which I did. Obviously, I spent a year trying to save his life and every doctor and everything, and he put his entire care

in our our hands. But I think it's profound to just when you think about someone who knows they're gonna pass or knows this is their diagnosis to say, don't take it so seriously, I think it leaves it leaves a mark on you because I none of the stuff sort of everything kinda brushes off my shoulder. People can't make me too mad, and I don't get too upset about earthly items, at all anymore. It's just, I just don't take it too seriously anymore.

And, so it's a it's a profound lesson, but, he he taught us lots of lessons, but that's just, the simplest form I can give you. Oh, yeah. I definitely feel that feel that when, when my mother passed away last year, like, right towards the end, we were from the hospital, and and it's one of those real it's one of those those last moments where she was very lucid and everything. And Mhmm. And I asked her how she was doing.

And and in Spanish, she says, which made us all laugh because she was saying, I'm good. But she she in a way, she said, but I know I'm I'm leaving. She knows I'm, this is my last few days. But the way she said it, it was still with her sense of humor Mhmm. And the way the way she just had her her her her her former saying things. And at that moment, that's when we all realized it

was like, okay. We we can let her go in peace because the way she the way she just said it, it was just it was so funny to all of us who were there laughing, and and it was one of the moments that it just made made us realize, like, yeah, this is just life. You have to enjoy every moment and not take life so serious. Yeah. Yeah. She she sounds like a remarkable person. So, very wise woman. So what was the hardest part of this experience, and how did you

find the strength to keep going? Because I know this is this was something difficult. Yeah. Everything. There's, you know, look. You know, from the moment Christian got sick and that entire time that year, right, Christian died September first of twenty twenty one. So we lived one year. You know, most people who get this diagnosis, young people in particular, by the way, it's a very rare cancer. It's only seen in mostly Southeast Asia. It's seen in old people

and, very rare when you find it in young adults. Now that's that's happening more and more, you know, more environmental things. Who knows? But, for whatever reason, children, go quick because I think it's the metabolism. And so this is a a very speedy cancer. But I I look. I think I think it's it's it's the simplest thing is that, you know, I'm an action guy. And so, you know, my actions were to to find a way to save Christian's life. And as as he continued to do the things

he does as a 22 year old. Right? He's home from college just during COVID.

He has friends online and does video games with him or whatever and, does podcast and does these things. I'm in the background with my wife and a group just trying to solve these problems. And they're deep. Right? It's looking in RNA sequencing and DNA sequencing and and and all and this is the thing. Christian felt very privileged. He

he always felt overprivileged. Right? He was privileged that we had the ability to get these things for him, the ability to seek out the best doctors in the world, to be able to to do and fly and do all these things. And that's part of Christian's dissertation that he wrote when he went into college that he promised that if he survived for whatever reason, that he was gonna dedicate himself to traveling to be with those people who were going to be left alone with this kind of disease.

He wanted to be there for them. And so he he kind of, and, again, he that was during his life, right, telling us what he was committed to doing. So it kept us going as a family. He was also quite the funniest guy you ever met. He had the greatest sense of humor. It was a multilever level kinda sense of humor. He'd tell me a joke, and I would be like, Christian, I don't I don't get I don't get the

joke. And then he explained, oh, okay. I'll get it. It's like, it was like so deep in the the humor level, because he was brilliant. He had a photographic mind. He was smart. And, but at at the heart of who he was, he was incredibly kind to every individual you ever met from every culture, every background, race, you name it. Christian was so inclusive of every human being, and, that was important to him. And that wasn't reflected in Christian's memorial when he

passed. Over a thousand people showed up for his memorial. He he he actually helped us. He wanted to have a a specifically at the church, he wanted to have a, a a black opera singer sing at his he wanted that. Like, that he gave us specifics that were important to him, and so we followed those, to a tee. And so it I think that he, he kinda gave us all kinds of guides and helped us along the way in how to navigate this thing. But at

the end, you still lose someone and you watch this go down. It Of course. We're still living. Just like your mom was there. It's easy for your not easy, but your mom had come to peace with it all. Right? Yeah. It's it was easy for her, I suppose. Easy for Christian in the sense. You know? They had already made peace with it. Us, it's hard to make peace with those things because you want people to stick around with us forever, and that's what you want. Definitely. Yeah. In

your book, you talk about gratitude. How do you practice gratitude in your daily life? So I practice

gratitude the way Christian taught me to, practice gratitude. Christian, instead of following a to do list, Christian had a to love list. And so what I mean by that is as we all do in our lives, we check we have checkoffs for things that we do in our our daily life or things we need to accomplish. It's somewhat how we measure, us as human beings and how we achieve things. Our successes are achieved that way.

Christian would create to love list, and he would create these lists to, the people he would want to interact with every day to give as much love out as possible. So the way that I do it, I follow just his path, which is I write down every morning to love list. Those I need to give out as much love to. How many people? How am I going to give out that love? How many people do I plan to stop and speak with in

that day to give out as much love? And so I think for me, when you do things like that, it allows you to fall into a a back into the present moment. It allows you to see gratitude. See, gratitude is just a word. Mhmm. They're just words. And people throw out gratitude. But unless you practice gratitude, unless you actually stop, think, look, say it, and do it and put in practice and talk to people, and put kindness out to people,

that's where I think you see the gratitude of life. Right? That comes back to you in in in spades. So, that's how I go about my daily life. I certainly do my prayers in the morning, my prayers in the evening, and I make a point to say what's good about today every day. And that's what I when I speak, I tell people that you can say what's good about today every single day. It's a single mess sing singular and easy message to say to help you stop, reflect, and focus on the present moments,

and you will find gratitude. You can find it in so many ways. And and that's one thing that, that and this year I started was, actually praying and praying first thing I first thing in the morning, and then I take a few minutes to do a breathing technique and just that's how I start off my day. And so for me, it's been, especially now with it being a year since my mom passed. Mhmm. It's it's hasn't it hasn't gotten easier, but it's like, okay. But you can I you still I still feel

her presence? I I Mhmm. Everywhere I everywhere there's something that

remind me of her, and and and she like, she was just the kindest person. Like, her house was open to everyone. Mhmm. It was something that and to me, that's something that I I I pride myself on is being able to help help people and and and not not seek any reward for it because that's not how she was. She was just help like, anyone who came over from Puerto Rico that was moving over here to The States, my couch at home was their first

destination because her door was always open. And if it was the first step for them getting over here and and and making a better life for themselves over here, she definitely had the couch, and it was like, hey. You you can stay here as long as you want and and get on your feet. And and so that day was kind of looked inside. I I would see this, and and that's something that when I

launched the podcast was I wanna be able to help people. I wanna I wanna be able to have people come share their stories, share their journeys because there's so many people out there that need to hear these stories because it's important. With so much negativity that was going on in the news, the media, and everything, I I wanted to just focus on positive stuff, bringing people who who who had stories to

share. And and if someone one person could get something from any of my episodes, I I'm very proud of that. Absolutely, Will. And, Will, what is your mom's name? Antonia. Antonia? Antonia. Yes. Antonia. Antonia. Well, I am well, your mom would be very proud of you. I know that. You know, she was sounds like an incredible woman and kind, and you're just you're passing that through. Right? And she's looking and she is with here with us right now, so is

Christian. And so they're proud of both of us that we continue to do these things. And I think you're right. If it helps one person that can hear a message and can make them stop in their tracks and it can change their direction in a positive way, to give out more kindness. That, again, that ripple effect, that one person can talk to two more people. Mhmm. And so it

just ripples out, and and we'll never know. I always I fascinate I'm fascinated by this because we never know the true ripple effects of our own lives on others until, of course, when we leave this Earth. Right? We'll be able to look back on it. We'll say, oh, okay. There's this, this, and this. And so you wanna do as many ripples as you can. Right? Because I feel like once we get to that point, I hope they get that my ripples are big enough that they go, hey. That's pretty good.

You got a lot of ripples here. You're Yeah. You're all good to go. But sounds like your mom was giving out lots of ripples, and, you know, you're you're doing a good thing. So thanks for, sharing that story. If Christian can leave one message for the world, what do you think it would be? Christian's message? Yeah. Yeah. Well, I always, Christian's Christian's message is really one of hope, faith, gratitude, but it's also about resilience and trusting God's plan.

It's a message that came from Christian himself through the way he lived his life, the lessons he taught us. Christian believed that no matter what challenges you you you are feeling and are facing, there's always something good to hold on to. And that's just not just a mindset. It it's a testament to the faith he had in God's love and the belief that everything happens for a reason. So I think that, embrace your challenges. And and, ultimately, I always say,

look. I always leave when I speak is make sure you're saying what's good out today. If you get nothing else out of the conversation, for me at least, is to remind yourself of what's good about today so you can look back and see that there is beauty every single day. You just gotta look and and be present. How has this journey changed the way you approach business, leadership, and and decision making? That's a great question. Well, it's certainly different. I have you know, I do run, I am the

president of a technology company. It's a national technology company. I sit on the board for a public, biotech company, which is, does cancer research. Right? So, obviously, I have a connection into the cancer research world. The new technologies are coming down the road. And so but how it's this experience I said this before, which is I'm a different guy than I was prior.

I look at the world very differently. I think what I've done dramatically different is that I look at everyone as a soul, truly. And I think that once we stop looking at people as, I guess, just people or things or I you know, that that's them or what whatever that is, I look at people as souls. And when I meet someone, sometimes I don't even meet them, but I they'll pass me and I go, what and I wonder what about their soul. Like, what what's their story?

Because everyone has a story. Yeah. Everyone has a story, and everyone has difficulties, and everyone navigates life difficultly. And everyone who's listening, she was navigating something difficult

no matter what. I have never met anyone who has a cushy life. I mean, maybe there are some people out there. I don't know who they are, but I'm sure they're out there. But, I think it's just, the way I look at people is a lot differently. And so how I approach business is when I sit across the table or I'm going through something, I know that this is a soul and that, you know, I I go through that process. It doesn't mean I'm not a a negotiator or I don't go through and ask for things

or I want things done. It just means that I approach it, in a much more, a better way than I would have in the past because I recognize and I I always try to keep it light. So I think it just makes me a, I think, a better person overall by looking at people differently. Awesome. Awesome. How did how did you navigate the emotional challenge of being a father, husband, and business leader while dealing with such with such a a profound loss? You're the first person to ask me that question. It's a

great question. Well, I mean, I I feel very blessed that I run a business that, that I won't have to go in. I'm I'm the CEO. You know? So going in allowed me that opportunity to to be able to focus on my son, which is where a % of my my efforts were going to. I I shouldn't say a hundred. Maybe there's 1% where I have to I have to deal with work. But, really,

my mind and focus was saving Christian. But I trusted good people around me, as part of my business to step in where I needed them, ask for help when I needed it. But I never stopped my responsibilities to others in in the course of my business. You know, I to work and to continue to drive, you know, the technology space in which I was in. So it wasn't easy. It's hard to focus that way because you're

like, who cares? You know? But I'm also responsible for a lot of people, right, that work for me and people who work under me. So I knew never try to lose sight of of my role in that, and I think you you can't. And and I think people look to you the same way. Your kids can look to you for strength. People look to you for strength. They look for you to make good decisions under difficult sit situations. And so, you know, I've tried to always emulate being strong under those certain certain

circumstances. And, I think part of that has to do with the way I was raised. I was raised by a, I'm good parents, no doubt, very loving parents, but, my dad was a a navy. They they call them frogmans back then. They're it's predated the seals. Yeah. So he's a bit of a tough guy, and and I was a a a wrestler when I was young. So I I dealt with tough and be going through difficult things. Nothing like that, of course, but it helped me at least

understand I'm gonna get beat up and I need to fight through things. And everybody's gonna get beat up. You know? You're gonna get beat up and it feels like the end of the world and life feels like it's falling apart, but it's not falling apart. You just need to, you know, go out there and and and face the challenges. Most people run away from a challenge. You know? I believe in facing challenges head on.

And if you face them head on, it it it it diffuses a lot of stress, anxieties, and it can help you achieve greater things. And, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But, hey. So what? That's life. That's just the way it goes. Yeah. That's that's definitely the way life goes. You never never know. It's, and and I've like I said, I've I've dealt with with loss and everything. It started for me in, 02/2008 when I'm 31 years old.

My wife passed away in a car accident. Oh, sorry. This is this is someone I had been with the the beginning years of my adult life. Mhmm. And and so to lose her, it was it and and I I I I I didn't deal with it very well. I I, because it was just after that, it was just, like, one tragedy after another after another. Because the following year, I reunite with my dad after not having him in my life for, like, twenty something years only to lose him. I go see him Father's Day weekend of o nine.

I get there Friday. Saturday morning, he passes away. And so it was just just one tragedy we want, and and and I just didn't deal with it

the correct way. I I kinda, but how how does anyone really know how what what is the correct way to grieve? It's some it's it's how I I didn't deal like I said, I didn't grieve. Well, I didn't deal with it the correct way, but, eventually, I was able to to seek help and turn my life around and and and and realize that I'm there's more to me than than all the suffering and pain. And the people that that hadn't passed would want me to to

do more of my life. And so once I discovered podcasting and started podcasting, it it gave me that purpose. This was something like, okay. I found somewhere where I have a voice, and people could come share their their stories. And and it it really has helped me grow and and and develop as as as a man because it helped me face what what I what I for what I've been going through for all those years with, losing being angry with God. Mhmm. Saying why me? I was like, why

me? Why he doing this to me? What have and why am I such a bad person that all this is happening to me? Right. And it took time for me to realize that it wasn't happening to me. It it it's just it was a part of life. Right. And so it it was, it took some time, but I've I've found my way, and and I've been able to, I remarried. I have a beautiful wife that's very supportive and and That's awesome. And and has my back. And so with everything that's going going on, I it's just it's just made me

stronger. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I all the you made a point. I mean, grieving is not there's no any one right way or, you know, grief hits everybody a very different way. Doesn't mean anything other than it's just it it's an awful feeling. Mhmm.

Some people fall into drugs and alcohol, and, I I readily admit that in that short, you know, call it the that period after Krishna was numb and the family's numb, that I did didn't turn to to alcohol and some drugs and things like that that that hit me, because I thought I could just sleep, you know, and sleep it off or you know? I don't know. You know? But here's the thing I'd I'd say. And and I do believe pain,

suffering, they are two different kinds of things, but I do think those things do bring us closer to God. In many ways, it's this it's the human condition, but it it it's and I remember once, you know, my wife or somebody would say why, and it's like, what do you mean why? I'm like, god, was okay with his son being put up on a cross and die. I don't know that I'm you know, how do I get why am I going to be separated out that somehow I'm not getting the privileges, you know, that

somehow? But, you know, but I think there's two things that help me. And maybe those who are listening that maybe it will help them. Two things that help you, I think, is to remain humble before God. Remaining humble and be in life. Remember that, you know, that humbleness keeps you grounded, and it's very important. The second thing that helps me wash away and continue to move forward is realize you are not in control. So when you think you're in control, you are not in control.

I've thought I was in control of everything four years ago prior to Christian's passing. I could control things. I even thought I could save Christian's life, you know, and prayed more than anyone else in on the face of the earth and more prayers and more people and praying, praying. And and that doesn't mean God didn't hear my prayers. Okay? It's just wasn't he wanted it more than he than than he was allowed to stay here. And so I'm not in control of those things. God is fully in

control. So I think once I realize, hey, Chris. You're not in control. You're just gonna do everything you can while you're here and do good many good things as you possibly can till god calls me up and says it's time for you to to get going. So, and that's okay. I think that relieves a little bit of pressure out of of me. And so when you let go of that control, it it gives you a little bit of, a reason for moving forward and doing other

things. Absolutely. And that was something I I had to realize that I I didn't it wasn't I didn't have control of everything that was happening. And and when I came to that realization, it was like, okay. That's when I started really turning my life from a back turning it back around. I had been homeless for some time and Right. Was just sleeping from couch to couch, and and and it it was a struggle,

but, like I said, I I've been able to turn my life around. I'm I'm married to a a beautiful woman who's very supportive, who's who's funny, intelligent, and and and understands me. And then, Is she funnier than you? Probably not, but but she tries. She's she's not listening to that. Okay. So the the okay. So she's my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. Yeah. She does not listen to my show. Oh, then you're safe. You can say anything you want. She she doesn't listen to

my show. And people ask, well, why don't you listen to support him? She says, yeah. I support him. I I wear his T shirts. I wear his merch. I say that if people ask, I tell him to go check out my husband's which she does. But she goes, but I I I speak to him every day. Like, I, like, I don't wanna hear his podcast. Right. Right. No. Yeah. Listen. That makes sense. That makes total sense. But you are funnier than her, so we know that. You know that.

So what role did faith and spirituality play in your healing process? No. It's everything. Right? I mean, it's my existence. So faith is without it, I have nothing. And, you know, you mentioned about getting angry with God. Of course, I'm angry at God. And I even talk about this in the book. Right? Those who have asked me, what's my relationship with God? What's my wife's relationship losing her firstborn? I tell you I have a relationship, and that's the thing. I have

a relationship with God. I've said some things to God that I regret, and I've always apologized to God to say I apologize, you know, and I hope you forgive me for that. God does forgive me, and he does understand. So I say, look. I have a relationship with him and and Christ and understanding everything that, has been given to me. So in many ways, I'm a very I I feel very blessed in what I have. I have there in my lungs. I have my wife. I have my two kids. I don't have my Christian who was the

center of our universe here at this family for everybody. He's I'm he was my best friend. He was my wife's best friend and my kid's best friend, and he was amazing and made us laugh every single day. But that's not how how it's played in the cards, but faith is played an absolutely critical part. And, it played a critical part for Christian. Christian, his name is Christian, so you can imagine. Mhmm. But, you

know, when Christian before Christian passed, he wanted to make sure that we did something good as we set up foundation. He wanted to set up a foundation, which we put in his name, Christian Cochran Legacy Fund, which is through the Pittsburgh Foundation. He also wanted us to give back to the church. And so in the middle of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania here here in Pittsburgh in the city center, there's a, this

gorgeous, oldest church in all of Pittsburgh. It's Polish church, and it sits in the heart of Pittsburgh and lots of people, lots of stores and bustling. And right there in the heart is six boulders with water and a memorial garden with Christian's pitcher and his story called the what's good about today fountain. And it talks about Christian and the legacy in which he's led. And one of the quotes in it is it says, be kind to everyone because you never know what someone is going through.

And so that was Christian would always remind us of that. And so, you know, obviously, faith is is critical in how we navigate and and asking for help. And, and so, you know, we it it's it's everything. There's nothing else. You know? Faith is everything. So I'm I'm I'm on the other side of Pennsylvania from you. I'm in the Oh, no. Philly. No. I'm in the Pocono Mountains. Oh, yay. I'm in I'm up in the Northeast. Yeah. Pennsylvania. But, last year, I went to Pittsburgh for the first time.

Friend of mine, Jeff Ravella, he has a a podcast, studio Mhmm. In in Tarentum Tarentum. Tarentum. Yeah. Twenty eighth. Yep. Up north. Yeah. So so,

so we went we went there and helped him launch his podcast theater, and, we actually we're going back this year because we're hosting another two day event at the September, to celebrate International Podcasting Day. So we're gonna be there. We're we're trying to have a networking event Friday night. So any podcast who wants to come to the theater and do their show live as well as, having virtual having virtual guest as well. And and it it's just it's been amazing to actually and I met Jeff

through podcasting and Mhmm. Through great relationship. He's been he's, become a real good friend of mine. And it it was just amazing to go and and help support him launch his podcast theater, and and now we're growing that. And and, hopefully, we can get a lot of people to come and and do live podcast from the theater itself. And it it it's a it was, great great time. And That's amazing. Yeah. And you're gonna and you're coming back? Coming back, Dennis. So I would love

for you to come down to the theater and and check it out. Alright. Okay. Do you guys ever get downtown, or is it all you stay up in the North pretty much? Well, it it's he it's the theater. He he he's in, he lives in New Kensington. And Uh-huh. But the theater's in in Tarrant and and Okay. And but, we went, when I went to visit him, I forgot what place he took us to. It was, the In the city? Not in the well, me and the wife went into the city. We went into the city. We went actually to,

Rivers Casino. Okay. Yeah. That's a very good guy. So we, we went around and drove around the city a little something. But, we plan on, when we go down this next time, because I took a week off Okay. To go. And and so we're gonna plan we're planning on, doing doing a little visit around the city. Well well, if you when you do that, I hope, and you're you're gonna be in the city. Yeah. The major area is Smallman Street, which is, the Strip

District. Mhmm. And at the end of Strip District, because you're going down all the shops, you'll see is that big beautiful church and know that right next to it is the big memorial. So if you're ever down there, you can see that Memorial if you ever get down there. It's a bustling place. That's where everybody's going. So I'd I'd tell you to go that area because it's, it's the booming place of Pittsburgh, the biggest booming place. I'll definitely get

this. I'll go with the wife, and we'll check it out. And yeah. Excellent. There you go. Something that, like I said, I wanna go down and and because when we done, we just went for this two days, but now I'm off for a few days or probably a week. So we might go down earlier probably Wednesday, Thursday and and and get to travel the go around the city and and check some of the some of the beautiful sites in in Pittsburgh. And so It's a good town. It's a good town. Yeah.

It's fun. It's amazing. Yeah. It's a good place to live. Christian loved it. Christian loved it. What what what what's what's your biggest hope for those who read read the book? Well, the nice thing about I mean, the thing about the book is, every chapter is a little different. Obviously, there's context to how I, met my wife. We met in high school. Our high school sweethearts. And so I I it was important to bring context to the family. It's not like I'm somebody. You know? I'm a nobody.

But you have to bring context to where I come from and my wife and how we met and and our only dream of having children. That's been our dream, and Christian was our first born. And so telling the stories of Christian of when he was a child, how he interacted with children is a unique thing. The way he approached life as a child was unique, and so it carried all the way through. And so I think, to me, when people have asked me about the book, I tell them it's

a love story. It's a love story about a family, a family that loves one another who, who, you know, Christian loved his family so much. He loved us so much, and and we loved him, of course, so much. But you he always put us first. We always put each other first and take care of one another. So I think, yeah, the book,

obviously takes you on a bit of a roller coaster, which, you know, I think is in is is what it is, which is allows you to see a family that goes through something, shows you how someone lived a life and how you can come out on the other side. But at the end of every chapter or details, you know, there are things to fall back on about that chapter. So you can always go to the chap end of the chapter and say, what did I just

read or learn? And these are the things that you've learned from that chapter. So I thought it was, important that people take away that, you know, here's somebody who led, this incredible life, extraordinary life, built on kindness and love. And if I emulate, a little bit of that, how much we can give back in this world, would be amazing. So, you know, I've I've been very blessed that the book is selling very well. I get to see the report selling overseas. It's on global distribution. So I'm

I'm happy about that. If anybody knows anything, there's no money in books. So this isn't about money and all goes to Yeah. To the foundation anyway. So but to me, it's just getting the message out. Right? Yeah. I get to speak at at in, you know, what, university level with students. I love to speak at young adult conferences and you know, because I feel like they're the most impressionable. They think they can never be injured. They never can be hurt. No. The you know, which most case is

true, but life turns on a dime. And I just wanna make sure they understand, you know, where to to accept these that you're in the present and and remind yourself of this, what's good about the day and and share it with others. And that's that's my hope of the book, and that's my hope that, people get from it all the time. How has your definition of success changed since this experience? Well,

success is I guess, before it was measured in, do I have a big enough house, a big enough car, or, you know, I have enough stuff? Am I keeping up with the Joneses? All that gobbledygook that means nothing. To me, success is just I success is the love. It's so simplistic. See, the the English language is so it's only got so many words. You know? We all say the same words over and over. It drives me nuts. You know?

I'm sure in the next life, they'll have lots every word possible, but I guess it's just success is seen that I help somebody. You know? When I do presentations or I speak to others, it's them bringing their personal stories to me. And if my story resonates with them and I see good things happening from that, it also goes into the foundation. And and when we get back to, so in Pittsburgh, like, we do partner with the charter some charter schools, Propel. It's an inner

city school that was important to Christian. He want us to get back to those who are less fortunate and, scholarships. And so when I see that happening and good things happening to those who have less, that, gives me a sense of purpose. There's a reason for being here. There's a reason for for everything. So, you know, so, yeah, those are the things that I deem as successful. When I see the joy that someone else gets or they become successful or they're, they're feeling tremendous love,

they're not alone. They have support around them, and they can feel it. To me, that's that's the ultimate in success to me. Not money is not it. I care less about any of that. I mean, obviously, I need enough to kinda get by, and that's fine with me. I don't it's not a measure of a person in in any way. Yeah. I I feel the same way. It's something that, to me, if if I'm helping one person, that that to me is is being successful. I don't care about

the metrics, the numbers, any of that. Just the fact that I'm able to impact one person's life, to me, it's it's a sign of success to me. Yeah. I think that's that part I talked about is being humble. Just remain humble and know that you're not in control. So just do the do all you can do for others, and, good things will come your way. Not just in a monetary way. Forget that. It's the the the love you get back is Mhmm. Can fill up,

especially when you're hurting. Yeah. You know? Your heart is is is been ripped apart or it's still tattered, and mine's always still feels like it's tattered. Yeah. Exactly. Always filling it with with pockets of joy. And so if I can just fill those gaps, it just, it helps a little bit better, to manage. Chris, this this has been an amazing conversation. I I'm I'm honored to have you on the show and and have you come and share Christian's

story. But we've come to a time where you get the the solo screen and you get to plug away, let everybody know where's the foundation, where they can get the book, everything. Oh, well well, first, thank you so much. I'm humbled and honored to be on your show. Thank you so much. Yeah. People can, I hope you get a chance to get the book? You can find the book on Barnes and Noble, what's good about today, a purpose driven

life. You can find them at Amazon, Barnes and Noble. Any major retailer will carry it or will have it sent to you. The other place you can reach out is on, christiancochrane.org. That is simply just talks about the

foundation, talks about Christian, shows pictures, stories, letters, the impact statements, and all those things, to keep Christian, at the forefront of everything that I talk about. ChrisCochranspeaks.com is is my website. It's what's used just to, book opportunities for me to get out and and meet with, lots of people whenever I can. So if you're looking to, to do that, feel free to do it. If it's just that you need to

to to send a note and need some encouragement, I'll do that too. If you need to talk to me, I'd be I'm always available to anyone for to talk. That that's just something I know I need to do. So, otherwise, if you don't pick up the book, just remember to say what's good about today. If you get nothing else, what's good about today? Just remember it and, keep saying it to yourself. Once again, thank you so much for being such a great guest and and for

sharing your story. I greatly appreciate it. But don't leave this yet. Let me close out the show, and we'll chat a little bit off the air. Sure. But, thank you so much for being such a great guest. Thanks, Will. Alright, everybody. Another great episode is is in the books. It's something that really I take really personal, especially with every everybody knows everything that's been going on with me in the past and everything. So this is a very important topic to me.

Like I said earlier, no one can tell you how to grieve. You always have to find your your own way to to grieve, and and some people might think it's wrong, but it's it's your way of dealing with it. As always, big shout out to my RealWise fam, Papi j, Brandy j. Love you guys. Big shout out to the boss lady. Appreciate everything you do for me. If you haven't subscribed to the podcast, please do hit the notification bell. And and to all the essential workers out there, god bless y'all.

Be safe. You know, your boy wise does it. Peace out.