Fishing Without Bait 498: Refusing to Let My Past Define Me with Shane Chojnacki
In Part 1 of of our discussion, host Jim Ellermeyer sits down with Shane Chojnacki — a professional fighter, wrestler, trainer, and health advocate also known as “The Violent Gentleman” Victor Benjamin — for a powerful conversation about resilience, choice, and refusing to let your past define your future.
Shane shares his story of growing up in a neighborhood marked by instability, addiction, and violence, while still finding community, guidance, and moments of protection from unexpected places. Rather than becoming a victim of his circumstances, Shane made deliberate, often difficult decisions to stay grounded in sports, discipline, and responsibility — even when easier and more destructive paths were available.
Throughout the conversation, Shane reflects on learning from the mistakes of others, betting on himself when others doubted him, and choosing action over self-pity. Jim connects these experiences to mindfulness principles, 12-step recovery thinking, and the importance of effort and behavioral change over intention alone.
This episode explores themes of:
Growing up without a safety net
Making “wise mind” choices in painful situations
Learning resilience through adversity
Taking action instead of living in “ifs, buts, and maybes”
Speaking intention into existence and showing up anyway
This is Part 1 of a continuing conversation that sets the foundation for deeper discussions on identity, mindset, and growth in future episodes.
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