How can music inspire a positive mindset, and how does mindset impact diabetes?

These are the questions we explore this week on the Virtual Campfire.

Continuing the conversation from our first chat around the fire, Zumbi (aka Zion-I) and I will be chatting about how music can inspire a positive mindset, and how we can utilize music to find healing. In a world where negativity reigns supreme and dominates the news cycle, how do we find comfort when the world feels like it's burning down around us?

When it comes to music, the lyrics you listen to matter, and that’s why Zumbi aka Zion-I creates flows rooted in spirituality and intention. Since the release of the debut album, Mind Over Matter in 2000, Zion I has risen up the ranks of independent hip-hop to solidify their standing as one of the most prolific conscious rap groups of the past 2 decades. Boasting a catalog that consists of over two-dozen albums, EPs, mixtapes and collaborations, Zion I (currently consisting solely of MC/producer Zumbi) continues to create inspired music influenced by social & political woes, personal challenges & triumphs as well as family, spirituality and a raw perspective on the world at large.

Cited by A.V. Club as “remarkable”, Zumbi continues to showcase his talents as a unique, diverse and skilled MC while maintaining his place as one of the most recognizable voices in Hip-Hop. The 2016 release, The Labyrinth was cited by PopMatters as “a timely new album of politically engaged hip-hop”. Fueled by his own personal losses as well as the current political and social climate of the world-at-large, Zumbi has created a record that, as the Huffington Post put it; “is as heartfelt as it is badass”.

So, with a positive mindset, what is possible? Ask Steve Turner.

Steve weighed 250 pounds in the fall of 2016 and was just diagnosed with diabetes. The lifetime New Hampshire resident was instructed to hit the gym and lose weight.

He followed his doctor’s orders and went to the gym – twice.

Instead, he hit the street and took up running. His goal was to run to the next telephone pole on his street; when he reached that pole, he tried to get to the next one, and then the next one, and the next one, and so on.

One telephone pole became two, and one mile became two. He got to the point where he wanted to train and compete the following August at the Saunders at Rye Harbor 10K.

10K became 100 miles, where he placed 10th in the Midstate Massive Ultra Trail race. As it turns out, 100 miles was not enough for Turner. Shortly after finishing his longest race he began his year-long training for the Moab 240 Endurance Run, a 240.3-mile race through some of Utah's most stunning and challenging terrain.

We'll be chatting about how his mindset played a huge role in his successful completion of the Moab 240 Endurance Run and what kinds of considerations he had to keep in mind to manage his diabetes while pursuing these adventures.

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