Diabetics Doing Miles of Portraits part 2 with Annalisa Van Den Bergh and Erik Douds

[00:00:08] Rob Howe: Welcome to the Diabetics Doing Things podcast. We've been telling the amazing stories of type 1 diabetics all across the world since 2015, and we have over a thousand years of living with T1D on the podcast. The interviews range from incredible feats to everyday victories, and we celebrate them all just the same. Thanks for listening, and if you want to get involved even further, just send me an email. at rob at diabeticsdoingthings.com. Hello, ladies and germs. It's Rob Howe here. Welcome back to episode 125 of the Diabetics Doing Things podcast. We're rapidly approaching all-time legendary territory here. Over 150 podcasts published on the Diabetics Doing Things podcast, including our Tools of Type 1. So thank you so much for the continued support and listening. I really, really appreciate it. Special guests today, two of my really good friends, Annalisa Van Den Bergh and Erik Douds, who previously appeared on the podcast on episode 109, talking about their project Miles of Portraits, which they were raising money for at the time to go on a trip to Alaska, which they did. And you can actually check that out on their Instagram, Miles of Portraits. But now they're embarking on yet another adventure. And they are actually taking Miles of Portraits overseas for the first time. So they're going to be traveling to India in 2020. and they're going to ride a very demanding route across India. And again, just kind of conquering their fears. They have an awesome video on their Kickstarter, which I will link to in the show notes, as they continue to live their dreams of riding their bikes across the country, across the world, and meeting people along the way and sharing those stories. So I had a great conversation with Annalisa and Erik. They're going to tell you all about what it's like on the road for people with diabetes and some of the conversations that they encounter. and I'm really looking forward to sharing this conversation with you starting now. Annalisa and Erik, what's up?

[00:02:22] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: Hey, Rob. Thanks for having us.

[00:02:24] Rob Howe: Yeah, sorry for the weird like, hey, we were having a conversation before we started hitting records, so that's why it was strange, but that's how podcasts work, guys. So Miles of Portraits crew, you guys have had quite the 2019, and I guess the end of 2018 as well, But I remember, and just for context for people listening at home, I had like weird, it wasn't even dinner. It wasn't really drinks. It was just a time with Erik on like January 2nd or something in Deep Ellum here in Dallas. And then I feel like since then, both of us have been going kind of pedal to the metal. But why don't you guys like give us an update on what's been up for the last 12 months for you guys?

[00:03:13] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: yeah where do we begin um i think the last time we spoke with you was actually promoting our first kickstarter which um was through alaska so we biked a thousand miles in alaska um and so that was something that we actually yeah we had a kickstarter for that um but one of the highlights from that was actually ending up on the cover of adventure cyclist magazine which is this um It's the largest bike travel magazine. And so we wrote a article for Adventure Cycling about what it's like to bike tour in Alaska with type 1 diabetes. So the whole article was kind of written through the perspective of our Dexcom blood sugar graphs. And so that was really exciting because I was actually injecting myself with insulin on the cover of the magazine. I remember seeing that pretty awesome thank you yeah it was really exciting to just like bust that stigma you know and um yeah that was that was one of the highlights of that trip

[00:04:21] Rob Howe: it's so inspiring I think too to see like you're talking about stigma busting moments where you know you're the first person to do like doing an insulin injection on the cover of the magazine and you know just like the sort of ripple effects that come from that what was that like for you just to see like you know you pick up the issue and you see like in print in your hands you giving an injection on the front of a magazine that you

[00:04:45] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: that you love yeah that was really surreal um I found out about it actually like as I was going to this um adventure cycling meetup in Brooklyn and so I like was reading my email on the subway and the the editor-in-chief emailed me and said that they chose um our photo for the cover and so So I was actually arriving to this meetup that was put on by the same organization that creates this magazine. It's called Adventure Cycling. And they put on this, they create this magazine that comes out every month. And they also are the ones that create the maps that we actually use to cycle across AmErika. Yeah, they're called Adventure Cycling. and so I got to arrive to this meetup and actually like announce to all these people that I was going to be on the cover and I had my Dexcom like on my arm and I got to point to it and just like it was just great to be able to educate all these people about what type 1 diabetes like what it means to live with type 1 diabetes and then we actually got the cover as we were as Erik and I were biking from Los Angeles to Denver this spring. So I forgot where we first, oh yeah, one of the members, we call them our trail family, but we have a friend named Dennis who lives in Arizona, um, who we met on the TransamErika Trail. And so he's a subscriber to Adventure Cycling. And so he was the first one to hand it to us. And so that was really surreal.

[00:06:25] Rob Howe: that's incredible and i think like too you mentioned so not just alaska uh not just biking you know across the u.s uh and like we won't even get into Erik biking in through death valley and then running the new york marathon uh like what did you guys ever you know as we're having this conversation for the first kickstarter you guys obviously like you know kind of and there's a lot of like principles that we can go into about like manifesting and like doing you know chasing your highest purpose and you know really finding your calling and doing what you really love is this what that looks like for you guys and what's that been like there is a moment when i

[00:07:08] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: was in tucson and what's also been different about this last year is seeing people for the second time or third time you like even with our friendship so you set off on this magical thing and you're kind of like meeting all these internet strangers a lot of times or just people when you're passing through town and you're like that was a nice moment but you're questioning like is this a friendship is this something like bigger and so this year I was riding with PK Stephan who's a JDRF coach down in Tucson and he was saying you know to be in the cycling community that's like glue when you share cycling and in common when you enjoy riding when you enjoy that whole experience. And he's like, when you add diabetes to that, that's when it becomes super glue. And I think it's both of the communities coming together that has propelled us and made it possible. And that's where it's like we can show up almost anywhere and the community comes out. And I think that's what we feed off of. And it's amazing to see that in events where half of our audience is cyclists and half the audience is involved in the diabetes community. and here they are coming together for various purposes, but learning from each other. And that's where I'm really happy, where we chose for Miles of Portraits. There's actually a point where it's going to be called Carrying the Burden, and it's only going to be about diabetes, where I'm really happy with Miles of Portraits. It's about telling the story of others, and that allows it to highlight others, but then also, obviously, it highlights our story, since we're the ones carrying it out. so it's really been amazing just to to see where that's taken us

[00:08:51] Rob Howe: well and i think it where it's taken you like literally and i guess as an idea right so personally as you guys have you know you guys are partners in and friends and you know are on this venture together what what's it been like for your friendship i mean like we were just joking you know you guys are together in Erik's like home right now which is super rare for you guys so what's that been like for you guys uh as a friend as a duo well just yesterday we actually went to

[00:09:25] Erik Douds: a meetup group in brooklyn it was nostalgic for me because after i graduated from colby i didn't really know any type 1 diabetics and there's a meetup group that has like 700 members in it or something but the first time i went was a potluck at Annalisa's father's rooftop and that's where we met and it's like fast forward here we are cycling across amErika and now the world together and i'm like if you really look at it like we are internet friends and now you know we both have met like our families extended families friends like this huge network and i think that's pretty remarkable because neither of us definitely expected that.

[00:10:11] Rob Howe: No doubt. What about you, Annalisa?

[00:10:16] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: No, it's been great. Yeah, just being able to meet on the road, as Erik was saying, just meet his friends and his family. And I just feel like it's cool that we've kind of created, we always call it our trail family, um but i think it's just a really special like community that we've become immersed in um and we even like have trail parents we call them our trail parents we met them in um virginia on the trans amErika trail um but yeah i feel like yeah it's been great so you know we talked a lot about

[00:10:53] Rob Howe: where you've been uh why don't we shift gears to where you're going because you guys are stretching this obviously alaska is not necessarily it's still the united states even though not the continental united states but you guys are going now outside of the u.s sort of safety comfort zone

[00:11:10] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: where are you going you're talking about our next trip yeah i'm talking about the the next trip i'm

[00:11:16] Rob Howe: talking about miles of miles of portraits where are you guys going where are you headed so we're

[00:11:20] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: really excited because um Erik and i always joke that we have seen a good amount of the u.s like we've both crossed it twice by bike, including Alaska. And so we're kind of like, we're getting a little tired of the US. And so we think that it would be great to kind of get out of our comfort zones. And someone a while ago just recommended to me to, if I can, leave North AmErika to kind of understand where I came from. And so I want to, like, I've been really craving to get out of my comfort zone and just go somewhere where like it's not comfortable and where they don't speak English. And so I was invited to a wedding in South India by my two college friends in Kerala, which is a state in the very south. And they invited me for this wedding that's happening on New Year's Eve. And one of my first thoughts was just like, how can how can we make this a bike trip because I'm already going like halfway, you know, around the world. It takes, um, it takes literally like two days to get to India. So might as well like make the most of it while we're there. So that's going to be the first time that we take miles of portraits international.

[00:12:44] Rob Howe: It's exciting. And there's a Kickstarter going on right now and, uh, we will release this episode before the Kickstarter ends so that listeners of the podcast can go check it out uh which is you know rare now like i'm starting to get through all of my cues of podcasts uh if you if listeners are listening to this they're like yeah rob just like sits on episodes for years sometimes uh yeah that's true and i'm sorry but i'm making progress that's all

[00:13:08] Erik Douds: i can do is keep trying and tools of type type ones came out well and uh i know what that log is like you know we were just actually looking at some footage i have from the west coast and i'm Like, oh, there's things to edit. But it is interesting having our eyes set internationally in our Kickstarter video, one reflecting on the year where our first video is legitimately Annalisa and I sitting in her apartment, a moment like this, recording a podcast and just making our Kickstarter video together, half laughing, half nervous. And what's really amazing about this year's Kickstarter trailer, which focuses around fear is that if we probably had over 50 submissions but it features all these other cyclists and it kind of shows how it's a unifying message of fear and i think what's amazing about cyclists but then also type ones is like there's so much fear in our day-to-day lives like once you meet sometimes and they're like wow you do all this just to manage your blood sugar you're like yep like but you know things life's good and i think that happens a lot with cyclists where we're faced with various fears, but then they're still like, yeah, but I'm going to go travel. And so that's been really like exciting to edit, but then also to see all these contributions and see how different people experience it. You know, like we also have deaf writers who submitted things, women who bike by themselves. And so you get a lot of shared commonality on how you kind of approach the same topic. Yeah, I really liked the trailer. I think,

[00:14:43] Rob Howe: you know fear is obviously like a huge part of you know how many of us live our lives like either on a micro or macro scale uh so it was cool to see like hear those words of other people to those cyclists things like oh you know your husband lets you do that or aren't you afraid of being by yourself or whatever the case is like uh and it was really poignant i i just thought it was it was like it really attaches you to that journey because it is a big sacrifice right you guys are and it is, you know, at times lonely and you're isolated. What is that, you know, when you guys are riding across the U.S., you know, maybe you're more familiar with the U.S. now, but like Alaska or going into new places, like how do you, how do you wake up every day and challenge that fear?

[00:15:25] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: And what's that like? Yeah, I think just like cycling, especially as a woman, like I've realized that the first cross-country trip that we did, I realized that there was like literally maybe four or five other women who I, who are also cycling, like bike touring. And, um, I think that like there needs to be more, definitely more women out there because it just makes it more intimidating when it's just always men. Um, but now I'm like forgetting the question that you asked. What did he say? Just challenging fear. Right. Dealing with the fears. Yeah. So, um, I feel like we each have like several of our own fears, just being diabetics, me being sometimes a solo woman. I think sometimes there's like this general fear of going into like open, quiet spaces, like, you know, camping in the woods. And I feel like there's like I get really nervous sometimes when I'm on my own, like in such an open space. But it's good to remember that like cities can actually be more dangerous than like these open spaces that we're going through. And the same goes for, you know, like when we told people that we were going to India, everyone was like, even my father, he was like, I would be very unhappy if he went to India. And there's just like all these generalizations that people make about places. and these are like usually coming from people who haven't been to these places before and they're just kind of projecting their own fears on us so that's kind of like where the kickstarter video where what the theme was surrounding but yeah just realizing that for the most part it's just these fears that people project on us where like we have really learned that you have to you know, bike through a place to really understand it and realize that like, for the most part, the world is a, is a kind place, which is what we try to put forward with miles of portraits.

[00:17:40] Rob Howe: And you guys, I think have said that maybe in the video or just in some other content that you've posted that I've seen. The world is a kind place. Like what are, what are some moments maybe in the last year that stand out to you about the kindness that you've encountered while on the road?

[00:17:59] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: I think the fact that I've memorized the Brzozowski address, you know, the Brzozowski family, for anyone who's not aware of them, but they, Jerry is a type 1 diabetic, the husband, and then Vivian also has type 1 and their mom, Sam. but is there a family like I've become incredibly close with and that's that comment of you meet these people once and was this just kind of like a one-off thing like a friendship or is it something deeper and like the fact that I FaceTime Sam and she's like oh by the way you have some mail here you know I'm like that's how many times I've been at their house that's how many times they welcomed me into their house we've obviously gotten many adventures together. And I know they've opened themselves up to the diabetes community, but especially to me. And that's just remarkable that you can be in a completely different state, a completely different place and truly feel like your family with someone. And there's many people that that happens to. And I think it's the fact that when you're on a bike, you're traveling in this like semi-vulnerable state and so many people come out and help and that's what is refreshing to feel in today's world where you can be from New Jersey you can be from New York and you think the rest of the U.S. looks this way and then you go out and like totally defeats all your stigmas and that's where it's like you set your eyes on India then all of a sudden again you're like well now is this a bad place and I think that's where you just have to experience it through your through your own lens and then make your own judgments. And I know, like, there's so many people that have just like truly welcomed us in, which is nice, because then you also start reciprocating that. Right, there's this community called, we always talk about it, it's called Warm Showers. It's basically like the couch surfing, but for cyclists. And so as we've been biking, we've stayed at like countless homes along the way. Just these, these wonderful people who have just like literally left the door open for us and literally like without even meeting them have told us like where the key is and kind of to let ourselves in all because we have this like shared love for the bicycle. And so there's something like really special about that community that I can't really compare it to anything else. But it's been special for me to kind of pay forward all the generosity that I've received, or at least start to, I can never like pay it back. But yeah, I've been hosting a few cyclists in my like tiny apartment in Brooklyn. This couple from Quebec stayed over. And this woman, this solo woman from New Zealand. So it's been quite

[00:20:56] Rob Howe: an adventure. I think it's interesting to just like, for for those of us like me, I guess, who are uninitiated into sort of this world and this community of cyclists, but who understand the power of a community like the diabetes community, and who have also stayed at the Brzozowski's address. I don't have their address memorized, but I definitely have it in my phone. I think, you know, just leaving yourself open to the power of human kindness is such a eye opening and opportunity opening experience. And, you know, both on the giving and receiving side, it's just very cool.

[00:21:34] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: Yeah. And I know my mind has, you know, Dennis, who we talked about earlier in this conversation, we were with him in the Phoenix area. and he was talking about how the longer he follows people who continue to bike, that their project goes from one small thing to something much larger in shape. You know, and for us, that's where I'm like, I couldn't tell you that Miles of Portrait was going to be a series about the kindness of AmErika because I hadn't experienced that. And I'm starting to take that lens for like the diabetes community, where I'm like, I now know the issues and how people, how the diabetic community really feels across the U.S. staying in probably 50 plus homes, meeting probably all the major organizations and companies that play a vital role in the diabetes community. And then also seeing that in Canada, you know, and I'm starting to shift that, like knowing Apoorva, who is on the Beyond Type 1 marathon team last year, who's from India. And she was talking about some of the advocacy that has to happen over there. I'm interested in actually taking like that diabetes lens in India and be like, well, what are they doing well? Where are they hurting? How is that compared to AmErika? Because I know something that Apoorva talked about was just being a woman exercising is a stigma and then having diabetes is a stigma. So that's an awareness piece that has to happen over there. And so it'll be cool to kind of try to experience the diabetes community as we hopefully experience the cycling community as well.

[00:23:08] Rob Howe: yeah i think there's just so many opportunities to to learn about you know the struggles over there for people with diabetes i think that's it's interesting because india is such a large place uh and there's so many people that live there and yet you know we don't hear about at least in my sort of news cycle uh a lot of the you know issues that our brothers and sisters are going through with diabetes over there so uh i'm looking forward to kind of living through you guys lens and following along on my phone and actually putting some of that like swiping and scrolling and mindless time on my phone to good use. So let's talk about this because, you know, your Kickstarter ends on Annalise's birthday on the 26th, which is in 20 days from recording. And I'm going to try to publish this next week so that we can make sure to have some time out there for you guys. Uh, how does, you know, when does the trip start? What, what are the next steps for you guys to get going and how long is this trip going to take you guys? So we're leaving the

[00:24:12] Erik Douds: day after Christmas, um, to Kochi, no Calicut, which is in the South of India. And we're still, to be honest, like we haven't entirely figured out our route yet. Um, but we're going to do, kind of a loop out of Kochi, which is one of the big fishing town, fishing cities in India, like into the, into these like lush hills of like in the middle of the country, it's called Munnar to this hill station, and then back to the coast and down. But that's going to be about a month or so, I think. But the Kickstarter itself, the link to the Kickstarter is milesofportraits.com slash Kickstarter. And we've, yeah, we're really proud of the video that we made that's just on the front of the page. And if anyone is able to pledge, we'd so appreciate it. There's like a bunch of rewards that you can get. There's magazines and posters and some merchandise with our logo on it um yeah was there did i miss anything yeah i think um you know now we've been out here for almost two years and setting our sights and you know something that rob you were invited to is and you know in two weeks we're getting out in the hamptons with a group of uh incredible type ones thanks to uh peter friedfeld and you know setting i know as you know so i think a lot of people always ask like what do we actually do and you know so Annalisa does all the graphic design so there's actual like a physical magazine that comes out each of these trips and then i'm responsible for the filmmaking and peter and i have been talking about like could there be something that we produce that could be film festival quality but then also pushing that into a category that could be broader in health you know and so it's interesting like on my flight out to los angeles and yes every once in a while we fly everyone's like did you break here you know but i bumped into this artist artist victoria canal and um she's actually missing a hand so she's a disabled artist but incredibly talented and it's just one of those moments where i was like oh what do you do and she said oh i'm a musician and i went on her instagram and like all of her music is absolutely incredible really inspiring and she actually was working or worked on a documentary with one of our sponsors rebel that came out and it'd be really interesting i'm always interested how do we bring more people more groups into the fold in the diabetes community and it would be amazing to have a section or a segment in film festivals that highlights various aspects especially of invisible diseases but diseases in general um and so like that's starting to go up in the back of my mind like could we use victoria canal's music because she's a disabled artist in miles of portraits which features two people who ride with disabilities and get that into something like the hamptons film festival or all these other you know the bam film festival when i was hiking up in connected emotion kyle was one of the team members for the adventure team and he works at the hotel that hosts the BAM Film Festival. And so those, I think, are some of the bigger kind of aspirational goals for 2020, where it's like, all right, a lot of people are asking us, how are things changing? And I'm like, Annalise and I have put out our budgets for 2020. We already know where we're going for the next year, where I'm like, ah, in 2019 and 2018, it was like, as we were giving talks, we were making plans, which is still going to happen. But I think with that preparation and our community coming together in stronger ways where like because of Beyond Type 1 where it's like you have this online community that's really supportive. It's like, can we start shooting for like larger and bigger goals that hopefully expands our audience from, you know, the 100,000 people that read Annalisa's cover story to, you know, like we were semi-featured in Outside Magazine in various ways, not truly diabetes, but that's like 2 million people. And you're like, oh, can we get in some film festivals that really get some eyeballs on this disease in like an inspirational way rather than something that's kind of, you know, dull or kind of doesn't portray us that like, hey, you can truly go out there. And if you see us doing it, like you can do that, too. And it's been really nice to experience that, seeing kids read our work, talk to people like you, Rob, you obviously experienced that, like talking to people and say, yeah, you can do this. And so that's like really amazing to see in our community and feel that support as well. And realize that this all happened because of like the Kickstarter that we had last year. And it like it wouldn't have happened without that,

[00:29:09] Rob Howe: without the people who have who have been supporting us. Well, I full disclosure to listeners, I am a supporter and I will continue to be and I can vouch for, you know, the quality, not only the quality of you know the storytelling that you guys are sharing about the adventures but then also in the deliverables i just i love the the photo books uh and obviously you know the footage and getting to see you guys's journey and follow along and tell those stories it's it's cool to be a part of uh and i'm very privileged to you know at least have one layer closer than maybe the general public and uh you know just look forward to i was looking forward to this conversation and you know, continuing to follow you brave, crazy people all, you know, as far as you'll go. Thank you so much, Rob. Yeah, I love you guys. You guys are great. And I mean, you know, talking talking about like, you know, what's what is the evolution is always something that that I think about, you know, as you guys know, like diabetes is such a long journey. And, you know, unfortunately, there's just you you and I are going to have to continue to have it for a while and uh so there's just you know no what's the next thing for us to give back to the community and I just I'm very inspired by you guys's evolution and growth and um and you know I find myself wondering when I look at and and kind of understand the emotional weight of the output of this type of creative project. When you guys got back and started and regrouped together after, you know, going across Alaska about, you know, biking across most of the United States and also doing your REI tour, how did you, you know, emotionally find the energy to say, okay, well, this is what's next.

[00:31:03] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: We're going to stretch ourselves even further. I think for me, it's, I always talk about like, so after I did the transamErika I just I did the transamErika um because I basically crossed AmErika because um my mom died about five years ago and just experiencing that nightmare made me want to take advantage of my own health and like ability to do these crazy things um and so that's what originally got me into it and after I crossed AmErika by bike and just experienced like the liberation of biking through these like open roads and finding like pure happiness on the road, coming back to Manhattan and trying to sit in like an office desk was just something that was really hard for me to do. And so I always say that if I can help it, like, you know, I'm going to try to find a way to cycle as much as I can. It's definitely not been easy. Like, you know it's been a journey to make this sustainable um but i think that's what motivates me is just not wanting to go back to an office desk and doing like what makes me the most happy

[00:32:18] Rob Howe: basically yeah yeah i mean the love is deep right oh sorry i cut you off here go ahead no no go ahead rob i was just gonna say you know i think that like having that deep root and like finding that of like love and purpose behind what you do i mean you'll find a way to

[00:32:38] Erik Douds: get it done right exactly yeah but it's definitely uh a journey something i'm always saying with Annalisa is like the highest of highs and lowest of lows and someone who lives who submitted you know a submission for our kickstarter video she was responding like oh is this always fun and she is like, is life always fun? Like, is happiness always smiling? You know, like, is that what life looks like? And this has been probably the most creative challenge possible. I think people are always like, how do you do this? And I'm like, it's just pure grit. You know, like we have been to like low places and ultra high and those highs are what keeps you going. And I think that's where you need you know one self-care but that's where you need to meet the community and get those photos where people are saying wow like my daughter just got diagnosed with type 1 and like I found your magazine and here it is and you're like oh yeah that's why I'm out here and you know like a very appropriate place but we're in my basement and in the room other the next room is like a white couch and I was lying down there my dad came in after one of my trips and he's like, Erik, you really use diabetes to go above and beyond like what's expected of any normal person. And I think it's true when you wake up and you have these devices on you. And I know sitting in a doctor's office and being like, hey, like I want to do a triathlon. They're kind of like, good luck, you know. And just yesterday, as I picked up on Elisa from the train station, like I had Lindsay on the phone, I had a type 1 who was talking to us and say, hey I want to I followed your journey I want to ride from New York to San Francisco how do I do it and we're like great like we've done this we're here to help you follow our Instagram like follow all these resources and like you can text us you can direct message us on Instagram I think that's like the motivation when you feel like you're paving the path forward but then like you're also always learning from the people that came before you you know like my grandfather had type 1 and I'm like, you know, that whole generation didn't persevere and give us the technology that we have. Like we, you know, like Annalise and I are both looping now. I'm like, and that has solved so much when people used to be like, how do you manage your blood sugars? Like we kind of gave a big eye roll because I'm like, you know how hard it is to eat 4000 calories, bike 70 miles and pass out immediately after dinner. You know, now we can pass out and our blood sugars like wake up in range. We don't have overnight lows. We really don't have overnight highs. And like that allows us to be more creative. It allows us like not to be nearly as emotionally drained. And, you know, like I think that's how the community in all these different ways like continues to push each other. And that's where like I know having like a teammate that's so dedicated. Like I think I'm like, man, there's no one else. No one else who's so dedicated to this as I'm Lisa. And that's like why we're both still out here. I mean, like, all right, like what other challenge do you have to do? And like what other five things can we try to keep moving forward? And that's like where it's amazing to obviously like meet people like you where I'm like, man, Rob used to just be this Instagram friends. And here we are hanging out in his office, you know, playing with Enzo for the second or third time. And that's what's been so remarkable to feel like on a personal level where you're like, wow, this used to be like such an isolating, like invisible disease that I was dealing with alone for, you know, five to 10 years. And now it's like, this is my day in day out life. And it's like amazing.

[00:36:23] Rob Howe: Well, I just have to share with both of you like a huge just gift of gratitude. because yes, we, you know, we were Instagram friends and, and, you know, at least Erik so far and Annalisa, we will meet one day. I know. We almost got each other at the Dallas airport. Oh my gosh. Like minutes, minutes from like from crossing paths. Uh, it will happen. And, uh, but I, but I just like, if you guys weren't out doing these things, if you weren't ambitiously chasing that higher purpose, you know, we wouldn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation. We wouldn't be friends. We wouldn't be able to be friends. Uh, we would just be living our lives with diabetes and isolation. Uh, so I have to thank you guys for, you know, wearing your hearts on your sleeves, uh, you know, getting on your bike and just riding it out 70 miles a day and pass it out and then doing it again. Um, it just, it brings me a bunch of joy to be able to talk to and call friends, people like you who are doing amazing things that are affecting people's lives in such a positive way. So big thanks from me to you.

[00:37:40] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: Thank you, Rob. Big thanks to you as well.

[00:37:43] Rob Howe: Hey, you know, I try to do what I can and I'm very fortunate to just get to interact with some of the coolest people in the world. So the pleasure is all mine.

[00:37:55] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: and i'm happy my sister moved uh right around the corner from you it's a fun excuse to come visit

[00:38:01] Rob Howe: yeah no kidding we'll have uh we'll have to substitute uh or ask the restaurant to substitute chips for peppers or whatever they did last time while i'm on like my whole 30 expedition or whatever it might be so uh looking forward to the next time we get to sit down and share a meal together beautiful all right guys well we're gonna i'm gonna post all the links to the kickstarter in the show notes and in the Instagram bios and stories and wherever else. So be on the lookout for this episode. Thanks so much for listening. And guys, be sure to follow along Miles and Portraits.

[00:38:37] Annalisa Van Den Bergh: Awesome. Thank you for having us again, Rob. Thank you, Rob.

[00:38:41] Rob Howe: ...as far, and I have a lot of really great stuff coming up in the future. So I'm going to do something that I haven't asked before. Or if you're listening to this podcast, A, I would love it if you would subscribe to the podcast just so you get the notifications whenever we publish new episodes. Because if you've been listening for a while, you know I don't always publish them consistently. Sometimes I'll publish five in a week. Sometimes it'll be only a couple in a month. And you need to know when these episodes drop. So be sure to subscribe. And if you like the podcast, be sure to go to your preferred platform like iTunes and leave a review. I would love to boost my reviews and I've never asked you guys to do that before. So I figured you don't ASK, you don't G-E-T. I would love a review from you. So I want to hear from you there. Also, we are now available on Spotify. Turns out I was just submitting it to Spotify incorrectly, but I corrected that. So now we're on Spotify. So if that's your preferred listening platform, be sure to subscribe on there. Also, just want to let you know that in 2019, we have an awesome new program coming called Tools of Type 1s. It's going to be on this podcast, so you don't have to subscribe anywhere new, but it's going to be an entirely new form of programming with some of your favorite Type 1 personalities. So they're going to be two a week starting January 8th. Be sure to tune in, and I'm going to blast all the messaging I can all around. So be sure to listen to Tools of Type 1s launching January 8th, and thank you for continuing to listen to this podcast.