"Go First" with Chris Garvey

Start with two words that change everything: "Go First". We sit down with returning guest Chris Garvey—National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, primary school teacher, and Hong Kong dad—to unpack how identity-level habits can turn good intentions into a life you can sustain. Chris shares why moving back into primary education felt like learning to teach again and how play, presence, and joy sharpened his craft. He explains how simple non-negotiables—Walking after meals, Protecting sleep, Setting device cutoffs—help him show up better as a father, partner, coach, and colleague.The conversation turns to the "Weeze Walk", a 62-kilometer lap of Hong Kong Island that raises funds for youth mental health through Mind HK and Kelly Support Group. After losing a cousin to suicide, Chris transformed grief into action by completing multiple loops last year; this time, he walked two laps back-to-back for 120 kilometers. You’ll hear the full story—moonlit waterfronts, the calm focus of night miles, the midday struggle on Dragon’s Back without water—and the practical playbook that got him through: “jiking” for longevity, early-morning training woven into daily life, and a steady fueling plan built on water, salt, peanut butter oat balls, and nut bars.Along the way, we explore the real bridge from "Knowing to Doing: BEING. Instead of short sprints and self-judgment, Chris urges tiny, durable changes that define who you are. That lens also drives his mission for youth mental health—building timely, accessible support so young people can recognize distress early and reach out before a spiral deepens. Want to help? Sign up for the Wheeze Walk, donate to active fundraisers like Chris’s, and—most of all—Go First: say hello, check in, offer support, and be the person who shows up.If this conversation moved you, follow and subscribe, share it with a friend, "Make a Donation". Your single step could be the start someone else needs.https://weezwalk.org/en/campaign/200Chrisgarveycoaching.comThehongkongbookclub.com