Danny van Leeuwen: Resilient Athlete

Host Mark Hochgesang huddles with the inspiring and relentlessly optimistic Danny van Leeuwen—athlete, nurse, storyteller, and champion for living fully with a chronic illness. Danny doesn’t just talk about resilience; he lives it daily with multiple sclerosis while still pursuing movement, connection, and joy. His perspective flips the script from “What’s wrong?” to “What’s possible?” as we explore how folks can redefine success, choose hope, and keep moving forward even when the road gets rocky. If you’re ready for a conversation filled with energy, laughter, practical wisdom, and a contagious belief in what the human spirit can do—this episode is for you. Enjoy sports fans!

Danny's Health Hats Website: https://health-hats.com/

Danny's Health Hats Podcast: https://health-hats.com/new-health-hats-blog/

EPISODE TIME STAMPS

0:00 –  Opening and Episode Setup

01:18 –  Meet Danny van Leeuwen

02:07 – Athlete Roots and Early Lessons

04:56 – Danny's Competitive Spirit

06:10 -  The MS Diagnosis 

12:00 – Movement Matters

15:42 – Attitude is Everything

17:40 – Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

20:37 – Beautiful Music

22:50 – Oh the Places You'll Go

24:09 – Winning Redefined

25:00 – Pathological Optimist

26:10 – What Do You Do When You Can't?

28:56 – Final Takeaways and Closing

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Feel free to reach out if you have suggestions re future episode guests or topics. Mark's contact info is noted below. Many thanks. 

mphochgesang@gmail.com
971-985-6909