Ep. 011 - Mele Kalikimaka (the Merry Christmas Episode) with Dave Wilber from Littleton, CO - December 21, 2020

In what is the last episode of the podcast for 2020, Dave Wilber (@TurfgrassZealot) sits down with Nathan for a one-on-one interview from a snowy Littleton, Colorado (while Landon is away “on assignment”) to talk about the importance of mental wellness, not only during the holidays and a pandemic, but also all year long.  Although Dave is a long-time member of the golf turf industry and member of the GCSAA, in recent years he has become an advocate for mental wellness and an article in Golf Digest in the Fall of 2019 placed him squarely in that spotlight on a national stage. 

We start the episode by discussing Dave’s background growing up in Colorado and becoming the first to develop a fully organic maintenance program at a golf course in northern California during his “granola days” in 1990.  A few years later, his work consulting with golf courses around the globe gave him a peek behind the curtain to see how stress at work had impacted others—sometimes with devastating impact.  When he realized so many others were dealing with the same demons he fought with, he decided to make his story public and use those experiences to help others. 

We wrap up the episode with some fun personal stories, a look back at Christmases past, and Dave’s tips for dealing with stress--like making changes in your routine, adding simple exercise, and reaching out to neighbors to help deal not only with the stress of holidays and everyday life, but also the pandemic.

If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to a professional, call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 or call 911.

In addition to following Dave on Twitter, you can read his blog and hear his podcasts via TurfNet.com.

Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!  We'll see you in 2021!