S11E2: FINANCES after stroke. ( guest, Christopher-Luke Peers)

0:00 Hello my beautiful survivors, how are you? This is Kalina from Stroke surviving the odds of the podcast. The mission of the show is really to move forward past the events of the slope, to declaim your life, declaim your identity. And for myself, I suffered a brain stem deception 28 years ago. And I'm proud to say that because the average of people surviving after stroke that Google says is 20 years. So I'm very proud of that and very happy about that. Now, I suffered a brain stem dissection and it led me to coma Interlochen syndrome.

0:42 But as you can see, I am here living my best life and you guys all of. You. Included you are part of my very best life. So thank you for that. I want to do a little bit of clean house and remind you the show is audible on Spotify, Google podcast, Apple iTunes. So go ahead like follow and subscribe. And when you are here, it's because you're seeing this on YouTube.

1:10 Make sure you hit that little bell. That little bell is going to make a huge difference in the show and in my life. Can I get to go live on YouTube? So I just love it. Love it. The more you see me, the more we empower as a team people. Every week I have these amazing guests, stroke survivors, neuroscientist, pastors, I I have a beautiful lineup of guests and today is not any different.

1:46 Today, I would like to introduce you to Christopher Luke Pierce. He is in South Africa, if I'm correct. Now he is the CEO and the cofounder of Freedom Loans and Venture. That company helps stroke survivors like us really reclaim financial stability. We know that we're not. When a stroke happens, it shuffles everything. Well, he makes things much easier and you're going to find out how you can do that with him. He is also not only a stroke survivor, but he is a toast. No, you are a speaker thanks to Toastmasters. So I can't wait to hear about that. He is extremely inspirational.

2:42 His I, I follow his Instagram such as I'm asking all of you too, and you will see that he is inspirational. He's full of drive. He doesn't hide anything. He is as authentic as it comes. Guys, I would love for you to meet Christopher Luke Hughes. Thank you, Karina. It's. Nice for being here. Yeah, it is an absolute honour to be here and part of the stroke survivors, surviving the odds and surviving the odds, you know. We are.

3:22 We are, my dear, We are absolutely. So I have a couple of questions to begin. Before we get into the meat and potatoes of today's episode, I would like you to introduce you as the man, not the survivor, as the man before the slope and how OK two babies they link and how they link the before and after. Yeah.

3:52 So I am the Co founder and director of as One Financial consultancy and I high net worth clients is where I'm called and high net worth clients have global investments. And you know, I look after the global portfolios which includes physical assets like land, like apartments, like luxury villas and investments and banking. And so I was making a lot of money, a lot of money. And then the stroke happened.

4:44 And the stroke happened like in an instant, in an instant. And I was like nauseous, like nauseous. I'm like, something is not right, OK. And I went back home after walking the dog and I think I'm going to run a bath. And we bought a box. There you go. Yeah. So like guys, please, I. Was so like, I yeah, so I think I'm going to have a bath to wake up and I feel funny.

5:43 Wait. I'm going to put them out. Wait, I'm going to put them outside. I apologize for that. No, no. So you. Run back, you're running a bath. And like, cowhat was the Afrikaans word for naked and get on. Then I'm like, oh, hold that I'm about to faint. And then I collapsed and in between the bathroom and the sliding gate is like 15 meters and it takes me forever to swivel along this floor like and then I finally call my partner and I'm having a stroke and I spent three months in ICU. They did not know what has happened to me, my high blood pressure normal, stress normal.

7:02 Like they have no idea. And then luckily enough, the doctors come in like I see a lung defect and that turns out to be the stroke. And I come back and, you know, during that time, during the three years that I have to myself, like isolation, I'm like thinking, you know, like something is missing my heart like something is missing.

7:48 Like I'm active, like I'm stress free. Like what what more and liberty is paying me disability monthly disability like I'm like what more and God and God. So let, let me just interrupt and let's go back in time. But that must have been that 15 meters that you had to drag yourself. What was going through your mind at that moment, at that very moment?

8:28 I failed. I failed you. Failed. That's life. Failed. You didn't fall on the floor. You failed in life. Yeah, yeah. Really. I failed that life, yeah. So immediately your your mind was going. I failed. I am to blame for this feeling that I have. Yes, yeah. And you thought you were punished? I don't get it. Ah, you thought you were doing funny. Do you have a theory on to why you would have been finished? We are opening up, yeah, a case of esoteric questions. And I believe that God is like resetting, resetting my life. And, you know, previously I was not Roman Catholic. Got it.

9:34 Yeah. So 15 years, 16 years, I was like. Living life. Sinning, yeah, sinning, living life. And you know, and like, God was like reset, reset, OK, you lose the income, you lose the relationship, you lose everything besides me. He he saves your life to you right now, he saves your life, but he's punishing you for the sins you have done. That's the way you perceived it.

10:17 OK, OK, so I'm not going to go into in in details with the God thing. OK, However, you are not the only one feeling the way you felt. But God is, you know, the story of the feather, the brick and the bus. OK, let me tell you, OK, Sometimes before the stroke, think back, OK? And I don't even feel guilty about that.

10:56 But the feather is you have dizziness, you have signs, little, little signs that you ignore. And I know I have them too. I was at the gym six days a week training for and I was confident, feeling dizzy and seeing stars. But I worked through it. That was the feather. OK. A grip is a disabilitating, not a life threatening, but let's say a major migraine, major frozen shoulders, something that is going to stop you from doing your regular life.

11:44 OK, so now you've had little signs along the way, little headaches, little stars. This fell you chose to ignore. You got the brick. Debilitating something, stomach throwing up, I don't know, but something to stop your life. And then you didn't get it right. You got the bus. You had a stroke. I had a stroke. We all had a stroke.

12:12 Ice cream, You ski. We all sleep for ice. Cream for ice cream. You know, seriously. So the stroke is the bus. You did not die. God saved you, but it was in your own world. Wake up. Yeah, wake up and yeah, give up all the vices and. What happened? Now you're three months, been next to you, You're thinking, you're analyzing your own behaviors, right?

12:46 You're judging yourself like many people do, Yes. How did you become Christopher Luke Pearce? How did you become who you are today? You know, I say that's the Lord really gives me a lot, give me a lot. Like, I'm not talking. I'm not walking. And day by day, I'm making improvements day by day, showing up consistently, showing up with discipline, with grit, you know, with willpower.

13:38 And I've made it this far, Yeah. So could it be I'm just, I'm just throwing it out there, But good person you are now, the man that was lying in the hospital bed for three months and ICU that had that discipline grip to get his ass up and go to do his physios and routine and all that. That man was the same man as before the stroke, but now he understood more. Yeah.

14:15 Could it be? Yeah. You were always like that. I have to tell. The coach in me tells me that I need to reassure you that you are amazing and you were always amazing. Yeah. But you saw you found in you what you were missing. Yeah. And what are you doing Event? Yeah, a visa. I love it. I love it.

14:41 I love it like a do over. Yes, a do over. You know a do over means the world to me. Just just looking at your face, I can tell that it means the world that that Do you play golf? No. So I used to play golf like recently. Recently I warmer park is the driving range and I hit the ball like 3 meters, yeah.

15:26 OK, OK. And I used to hit the ball 280 meters I believe. You. Yeah, I used to play golf through Christopher Local. OK, OK, my. Old life, do you remember? You know what a molecule is. Yes, yeah. So the way I see this do over that we got from the stroke, it's a Mulligan, it's a free patch. Yes. You know, for those of us who understand golfing, I don't even bother hitting the mall anymore.

16:00 I just go to dinner. There you go. So tell me I read your Instagram that you are a pastor or you were or you are. How does? You know, OK, so lately I've been called by God to shepherd and her Herbie beach swims. Excuse me, I don't understand. Yeah. OK, so we're. Called by God to do what? To Shepherd Beechwood.

16:50 OK, Yes, yes, yeah. Love it. And OK. To remain patient and to, you know, with all the will that I have, I'm a good swimmer like I'm a great swimmer and I am a Paralympic swimmer like classified and you know, and I am called to shepherd the lost sheep, the lost sheep like the swimmers. And that's, you know where I come I.

17:28 Think it's beautiful. I think it's beautiful. Christopher, look that you are taking this part of your recovery seriously. Yeah. And and and it shows how much you feel blessed. Yes. Like you're blessed. That's that's all you can do is preach as in be the shepherd and and you we can bring the horse to water, but we can't make a drink, right. Yeah, you put upon.

18:06 Yourself lead by example. Love it, love it lead by example. That is that is a big value that right away. I tried to when I started the podcast lead by example. Our children that see us fighting for our lives. Lead by example our spouses that maybe are not living a a Roman life. No lead the people around that is something that is beautiful and commendable. Christopher Luke There's nothing to be shy of because today it still can feel a little bit taboo. People are uncomfortable saying how much they love God. Why?

18:59 Why you? Know that I just think this is like a western culture that has. Work culture is what I call it, you know, like say no to God, you know, LGBTQ plus, it's expanding, it's not contracting. And, and you know, I choose to live by faith and that's it. Like, by faith, like Sikhs, Muslims, like Christians, you know, like Hinduism.

19:51 Listen, it's faith. It's faith, yes, it's faith. And it's the divine, the creator God, whatever you call it, is alive and looking over us every day. You know, like I read, yes, I read the Bible every day, every single day and I believe that it is like to walk, affirm and believe, believe that there is a God and.

20:40 Who? Else sister the work media. Yeah, you are leading by example, Christopher Loop, and really I applaud that. I won't tell you enough. I do, BB, man. Now, I also saw on your Instagram, I kind of looked all over. I also saw, and I think that they're kind of linked, that you like to listen to classical music.

21:09 Yes. I pick up on these things because, well, how did how did you say it? It put it keeps you in touch with your emotions. Yes. And do you believe that your emotions are with the divine? You know, emotions are emotions. Like, I get that this is all a part of being human, but I use classical music to tune them out.

21:51 Like, let's say I'm feeling sad. OK, let's say I'm feeling sad because my dog died. I play the classical music, and it reminds me that Glock is a blessing. He lives to serve me. To serve me in the only way a dog can. Yeah. To be happy that I'm around and, you know, classical music resets my system, you know? Yeah.

22:47 So classical music is like music that's divine, that spreads joy, that spreads peace, that spreads love. Like, I don't know a single person who likes classical music but does not believe in love and peace. Yeah. What? That is so true. That is so true. Now I'm going to ask you a human question. Do you ever get discouraged? Yes, listen.

23:28 All the time. All the time, all the time. I want you to tell the audience and the listeners that it's a normal thing. And, and, and all that you see people feel survivors think that they're alone feeling how they do. They are failures and because they get down and they get discouraged. But look, guys, look, Christopher Luke is telling you that he does, and he's a very well centered man.

24:01 So I always tell you guys, if you choose not to take my words, at least take kids. And you see, he gets discouraged and now he's going to tell you how he gets over himself. I thought I, I, I'm a hard one. I know. OK, so but if you don't, please. Feel free. No. Do you? Feel it too heavy? You you tell me.

24:34 You mean I'd rather not go there? No self doubt is OK. Self doubt often represents social scenes and girlfriends. And you know, what does he think of me? OK, so I get over myself by telling myself I'm enough. I'm enough. I'm worthwhile being here, being like present in the chaos of the stuff that happening around me. You know, I believe in God, you know, so I say God, who will go for us, Send me.

25:43 And I say that and I'm like, send me. Send me to Ford. Charge this movement, this feeling of doubt, of fear, of angst, and let me send me. OK, I don't. Know if that answers it? Just resonates because I think we have, I think that's what I, I immediately found that we have a lot of similarities. We don't say the same, but we have a lot of similarities from what I could see beforehand. And now that I hear you, why would you tell people that spoke survivors that think their life is over, that they they're so down and discouraged that they're not at the limit, but they are so down.

26:46 They don't see the end of the tunnel, that there's light at the end of the tunnel. And, and and sometimes I struggle not to see. I always see a light. There's always a light, but I struggle to stay how I see the light. Yeah, I guess that's my aphasia, that the connection, you know? Yes. So I'm hoping that maybe you could bring some light into this. You know, anything is possible.

27:19 You know, luckily I make an exceptional recovery. Exceptional. Like I don't know if it is a miracle or if it's. Discipline. Yeah, discipline, like I changed my life in order Yeah, to feel better. Like diet is extremely important to me. Like the 1820 rule, like 80% I eat healthy and 20% I eat like cake like.

27:59 You guys got that? Indeed. 20 rules for the number one thing. 80 good. 20 cracked chips and everything OK next. And Oreos. And Oreos I love. Oreos, the romance. Do you split them open and lick the middle or you eat the whole thing? OK, like I'm all fast food. Like fast food is no go, no go for me. And fizzy drinks?

28:36 No go. Yeah. And. Yeah. So I like to keep the Whole Foods whole and I don't buy into cheap processed foods. No like. OK, Yeah, yeah. And speciality is key for me. You know, when I feel down, I look up and look to the heart and like, I feel safe. And, you know, the world is chaotic. The world is chaotic.

29:23 And we see this in Iran and, you know, Ukraine, Russia, the war going on there. And yeah, and I'm sorry. I'm. Looking after myself the best way I know how. By sharing love. By asking people what they are grateful for. Like every day. What are you grateful for? What are you grateful for? Me. Look, you're asking me. Yeah.

29:58 Oh, I think I'm grateful for a lot of things, like being alive. Is, is is a done deal, right? But I'm grateful for the encounters that I made for the, I think that we meet the right people. I meet the right people at the right time and the right things at the right time. And I am grateful that I have the awareness and the capability of, I'm very grateful for my inner growth.

30:33 I will say in the last five years how quickly I got it. But then again, I was supported. I went and I looked. I became an NLP practitioner, normal linguistic practitioner out of the blue, just like that, because I joined in and I loved it. And then I realized that's what happened to me when I was in therapy.

30:55 That's the exercises that I used to do. So I'm grateful that I'm capable of recognizing where I am versus even in my emotional intelligence. Intelligence has always been high, but I'm so proud and grateful to where I am. And I mean, it's a done deal to be grateful for life, my family, my dogs, my husband, my daughter. I mean, it's a done deal, right?

31:22 But you see, the I'm grateful for a cup of instant coffee. I don't like that special. I don't like that, but I like instant coffee. I, I, I savor it, you know, and I'm grateful that after the stroke, because I was very snob and before I, I, I was in humble before the stroke. Yes, I was, for a lack of better word, I was a little mundane.

31:51 I was a little, you know, a little over. I was modelling and you know the three inch heels and everything I was. There for interference. And the throat, wipe that out. No more heels for me, no more size 2. No, you see, now I got this. I got to use this and this. Yeah. So I'm using what God gave me, what God left me, and what God gave me. But does that answer the question of what I'm grateful for?

32:23 Yes, like we. Were talking about. Exponentially Karina. Exponentially, you take the stroke and Lochte syndrome, no help, no help. And you change this adversity. You change this adversity. You faced the demons and the doubt and the fear and like the anxiety, this discomfort and you made it out. Look at you Karina. You host a podcast that was listed 6 most influential podcasts like Look.

33:19 Yeah, I have one. Yes. Yes, I know where you're going, Christopher Luke. I think that it's for me. I love asking the questions. I love helping people, but I, I now I put myself in the back burner all the time. But yes, I received an e-mail. Thank you for reminding me. I received an e-mail stating that I was number six most influential podcast for stroke survivors in the US And that is huge because 77% of my listeners and now my viewers are from the States.

33:58 So that is huge. You guys are making it happen. Yay. But what I didn't tell you, Christopher Luke, is that there is a list in the US of the 20 most listened to podcast postal survivors. And I, we as a unit are numero Uno. We are numero Uno. And wait, I'm not done. Wait, I'm not done. This came as a huge vibe.

34:29 And thank you, Christopher Luke, for giving me the space to say this. It's funny, it's my show, but you're giving me the same. You know, I have to tell you, when I started this show in 2021, I was sort of like, you're looking for more. I wasn't called by the divine, but I was called to my heart. I wanted to take everybody's pain away and, and, and, and I knew what other smoke survivors were doing. And I did not have any sort of of support 28 years ago, right? So I wanted to make a difference. And when I decided to do the show in 2021, all I wanted to reach was one person.

35:19 Make one person around the world feel better about this situation, about their lives. See if they can turn it around. 1 Within eight months, it's out of the world. I have no clue. I remember looking at the list on my phone, The 50, the 15 Kings. OK, the 15 most popular scope survivor podcast in the world.

35:50 And I remember seeing the list and thinking to myself, I want to be on that list. I want to be on that list. I don't care. I don't want. To go but. I want to be. A go, a go. Yes, eight months later, I was #8 out of 15 worldwide. Now I am maintaining position within the top five worldwide. So you ask me what am I grateful for? You know, when I introduce the podcast and I say I'm living my best life and you guys are all part of it. Well, my best life is seeing that I'm making a difference and I'm grateful for that and I'm grateful to have that chance. I could have been 6 feet under.

36:42 I could have been ashes, but I, like you, was safe to do what I do best, right What I what I was meant to do all along and I am creating a difference. Creating. The difference and and again I get down, I get the scourge. I am I I don't have. I do, I won't lie, self doubt. I don't have a lot, but I do have, and I get this scourge just like you, but I also know that I got to move my ass if I want to not get this to it, right?

37:21 Yeah. The only way we get we know and and correct me if I'm wrong, but the only way we can move forward is with some kind of action. Yeah. Some kind of motivation, Something that drives you? You know, I actually have to say that your NLP actually transfers to me like, personally. Like personally, you know, I have trouble finding where I belong.

38:11 And right now, right in this moment, I belong to a group or to Karina, to the stroke survivors like this. You know, I'm part of a group, and this makes me feel emotional. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I have a feeling that we're going to have more chat and more chances to rainstorm together, you know, and to grow together because we have the same mission, sort of.

38:59 Yeah, absolutely. So. And there's still one question I'm curious about. And if I don't ask you, I am going to really regret it. Can you explain to us what the Nelson Mandela University is? Nelson Mandela University. Because you got again, again, I, I, I checked you out and on Instagram you got a, a medal of some sort and you got accepted or you go, you graduated, I'm not sure. Yeah, so I am selected to individually represent South Africa at the Mauritius African Champs. Yeah, on June the 14th.

39:50 Really. OK, Yeah. And that has to do with the Nelson. So within the Nelson Mandela School you were chosen to go in this particular speaking event. No, no, no, no. OK, so OK, so try athlete. Oh yes. Yes, yes. Wow. Check you out. Check you out. You are very, very athletic. You swim. You swim. From what I see, you're like a dolphin. Yes, you swim.

40:27 You run you. Cycling. But I I don't see recycling though I never saw videos of that. You need to get a boat roll, yes. I need to get a GoPro. I've got one. There, there you. Do and there you go. OK, Yeah. OK and so I finally got selected for Parry athletes and triathlon team to to move my no back effective aphasia is tough.

41:13 So I finally got selected in two years to represent NNB like Eastern Province provincial triathletes and in Mauritius in June the 14th. So like, I'm stuck. Wow, that's a big accomplishment. I mean, you worked hard for that. Yes, physically. And mentally hard. Yeah. With discipline comes consistency. Those are the two biggest things that I I drill in me and I drill in people.

41:56 You can't have one without the other. But repetition and consistency are place to success. Yeah, when you have that, you have discipline. Yeah, so on the studying side, I applied to Mopark University and I've, I've gone like 2 modules, passed like 70% in the counting. And like, I'm grateful that I get to learn that I get to push myself. Like, wow, yeah.

42:43 Good for you, man. That's amazing, amazing, amazing. Listen, I know that we could go on and on and on. I'm going to talk to you after June 14. Maybe in the fall. We'll we'll do a recap of how summer went for the both of us and where we are at in both of our adventures. OK, so any final word, my dear? Any, anywhere people can find you? Would you should I get all your make sure I get whatever links you want me to get.

43:18 OK. All right. Excellent. Excellent. Thank you, guys. We are going to conclude. Today's episode was a wonderful, wonderful conversation. It was fun. It was full of laughter and seriousness and a lot of pride. I hope you guys can feel that with Christopher, Luke and myself. We are proud survivors, yes, such as you should be, Absolutely. And we're going to help you get there if that's what you want. OK, so again, I'm not going to clean the house. You know that I'm on audio on Spotify XXX. I'm here on YouTube.

44:00 Hit that bell. Please make sure you subscribe. It's free. And you know what I say, if it's free, it's for me. So that means that I'm going to let you guys go to let you guys go. And ma love you guys. Bye, Luke.