Kansas City Leader Candice McField – Staying Fit & Feeling Great


On this episode, David talks with Kansas City Leader and former professional figure champion, Candice McField. Tune in to hear insight into staying fit while working a corporate day job, how to turn your passion into a career, and ways to stay active.

Show Notes

Join David as he delves into a conversation with Candice, who embodies the epitome of turning a passion for fitness into a thriving career. Discover actionable strategies for staying in shape despite a demanding work schedule, and learn how you can harness your own passions to fuel your business success. Some key takeaways are:

  • Making Health & Wellness your daily routine
  • Road mapping your productivity
  • The legacy we leave behind

 

Stay in touch and up to date with Candice McField Fitness!
// Website // fightGLOBESITY // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // LinkedIn //

 

Candice’s pick for Best BBQ: Jack Stack

 

With all the wonderful ways to give back and get involved in and around Kansas City,  Hope International offers a place to give back internationally. Visit their site today to see how you can be involved in leaving behind a legacy of care, compassion, and wellness.

 

 

All episodes of KC Leaders is brought you by Catapult Creative Media

 

 

Show Transcript

[00:00:06.940] – David Maples

Welcome to the show! Glad to have you on the show today, Candace. Oh, I’m so thrilled that you’re here today. If I can just start off with a little bit about your background, and how did you end up in Kansas City?

 

[00:00:23.960] – Candice McField

Well, you have to ask my parents, but no, I was born and raised here, so born and raised in KCK went to, well, Sumner Academy for high school, which is like the college preparatory school on the Kansas side, because I know Lincoln on the Missouri side is the, quote-unquote, talked about school.

 

[00:00:44.220] – David Maples

Got it.

 

[00:00:44.580] – Candice McField

Yeah, born and raised.

 

[00:00:45.400] – David Maples

You didn’t want to ever leave, go somewhere else?

 

[00:00:47.720] – Candice McField

I did, though. I did. For college, I went to Los Angeles. I went to Loyola Marymount University, ended up out there for the four years. But you know what? I’m a Midwest girl at heart. After graduation, I decided to move back to Kansas City. This is home sweet home for me.

 

[00:01:04.440] – David Maples

Got it. Very cool. Tell me about currently what your businesses are. What exactly do you do?

 

[00:01:09.430] – Candice McField

What I exactly do? Online health coaching. Basically, think of personal training, but think about it as an online perspective. I help people across the nation. I’ve used technology. I build an app. I build an exercise library, over 1,000 different exercises, so people can see how to do the proper form. I’m responsible for their exercise plan or strength training plan, their nutrition. Anyway, I help people transform their physique.

 

[00:01:42.180] – David Maples

What made you want to get into all this?

 

[00:01:45.060] – Candice McField

Interesting question. Back in, say, 2004 or so, it’s a long story. I used to work in finance. Not a lot of people know that. I have economics undergrad major. I worked in finance, whatever, I don’t know, seven years or something. In finance, my first company, we went to a bodybuilding show, and we went to go see one of our colleagues. I saw the ladies take the stage, the figure competitors, and I was sitting in the audience and I was like, I can do this. I just tried it out the next year. Absolutely got massacred on stage. I trained for one year, did the same show. I ended up winning my class and I ended up winning my professional card at that show and then competed at until 2018. But I was still working in finance. This is about 2007 or ’08 now, working in finance. Then it just hit me like I’m really passionate about what I do as far as helping people for working out. Because so many people were asking me, What should I do for working out or for nutrition? It was just like a natural row into entrepreneurship.

 

[00:02:57.550] – David Maples

What madness infected you when you were in finance and you went and saw this competition, what enters your mind that says, I can do that?

 

[00:03:08.210] – Candice McField

I’ve always been an athlete since I was three or four. As an athlete, you had that mindset like, I could do anything. All I need to do is put my mind to it. I think my parents instilled that in my brother and I growing up. You could do whatever you want to do. You just have to work hard. You have to make sacrifices, etc. When I saw those ladies just being an athlete, I grew up playing basketball, softball, and I was like, I don’t know, just something in me, that competitive nature. I could be just as good as them.

 

[00:03:40.580] – David Maples

You came back the first year and you got destroyed.

 

[00:03:44.010] – Candice McField

I got destroyed. I didn’t place.

 

[00:03:45.650] – David Maples

Why would you say you got destroyed? Did you do something wrong, or are you just overconfident?

 

[00:03:52.530] – Candice McField

Well, I think in this sport, there’s so much to learn that first year because it’s all about symmetry. The longer you’re in that sport, the better because your muscles mature. At that time, that was my first time really lifting weights. I grew up playing basketball, but we didn’t lift weights like how a competitor does. Yeah, it was just a matter of, I don’t know, first year, there’s so much to learn. That learning curve is steep. I worked with a coach or trainer for a year after that, and the rest is history.

 

[00:04:29.570] – David Maples

The funny thing about it, as you mentioned about that, and I am… Arnold Schwarzenegger had a documentary called Pumping Iron, if you’re familiar with that or whatever. I remember what they said about him in particular was for the size of a person he was, he spent a long time, and basically he would talk about sculpting his technique. I guess it’s about symmetry, right? It is. I don’t know. But when you said that, it made me think about them having seen that years ago. I think he referred to the sculpting the body, etc. Wow! You not only have to train, but you have to… Yeah, that would never work for me.

 

[00:05:02.850] – Candice McField

Yeah, you have to train. It is about symmetry left to right, top to bottom. But figure, we don’t do the hard poses like the bodybuilders do. The figure competitors is about grace on stage, too. You have to have that stage presence. You’re in the five-inch heels and you have to know how to work it. There’s a lot of moving parts. It’s not just about your body, but you have to display it to the world, too.

 

[00:05:28.380] – David Maples

Got it. That’s pretty amazing. You did it. You came back the next year and you won a whole bunch of things. Yes. You just liked it. You just said, Hey, I loved it. I loved it. You told me before we started the show that you’ve retired in 2018. You said, Hey, I’m done doing this right now.

 

[00:05:48.410] – Candice McField

Yeah. You know what? Honestly, that’s a lot of years in the sport because what happens is you’re seeing me today, this is my regular size. But if I was to compete and get on stage, I would drop to nine and a half % body fat, 10 % body fat, which is extremely low for women. Actually, some of those ladies were probably, honestly, coming in at eight % towards my latter years. But essential body fat for women is probably 12 percent-ish, and so we’re taking it. You’re yo- yoing your body, you’re going so extreme. It’s just honestly the long term effects, I just think it’s not healthy.

 

[00:06:26.210] – David Maples

It could be very challenging if you’re trying to do that because it’s not healthy. If healthy fat for women is 12% or higher, then it’s really hard to cut down to that thing.

 

[00:06:35.170] – Candice McField

It is very difficult to… Once you get to a certain %, it’s super hard to continue to lose. But I’m just saying it’s not healthy on the body or the organs. You can’t stay there. A competitor never stays at their stage, physique, that’s impossible. But I’m just saying it’s just a rough life on the total body. I think sometimes in life you have to know when to get out. For me, honestly at that point, I did shows across the US. At that point, I did three international shows. I did enough. I accomplished enough. I had a blast. It was so fun.

 

[00:07:11.000] – David Maples

Now you’ve leveraged this into your other endeavors. Exactly. You do speaking, you do motivational speaking, you do fitness, you’re a health coach, and you also handle nutrition as well. Do you train anybody else for fitness competitions or anything like that?

 

[00:07:29.250] – Candice McField

You know what? I’m very few and far in between. Most of my clients are just regular everyday people. Like I said, I mostly work with the executives and busy professionals one on one as far as clientele. But every Blue Moon, like a competitor, but not as many as I used to before.

 

[00:07:48.300] – David Maples

Okay. You also have a not-for-profit.

 

[00:07:51.440] – Candice McField

I do.

 

[00:07:52.080] – David Maples

Tell me about that.

 

[00:07:53.640] – Candice McField

Real quick, three areas of my life, I say my passion is working with the individuals one-on-one and then my calling is the book I wrote because it mixes that spirituality and fitness.

 

[00:08:05.560] – David Maples

Will you tell us that? For listeners of the podcast, tell us the book, the name of it, where it can get it.

 

[00:08:09.360] – Candice McField

The book is called As For Me and My Body. Okay. Really, it’s just a play off that scripture. As for me and my house, I will serve the Lord. It’s just like, as for me and my body, blank, blank, blank, so you fill in the blank for yourself. But it’s a 21-day journey the reader goes through. That’s, I feel like, calling, right? Because it has a higher purpose. Then is my nonprofit. For me, when I look at the world and I see all these kids today, I’m just like, My gosh, we’re not giving them a chance because our obesity stats for kids is incredibly high. It’s like 76% of our youth do not get enough physical activity per day. That’s crazy to me, but it makes sense, right? Because we have all the screen time with these iPhones and iPads and whatever these kids are doing.

[00:09:01.910] – David Maples

I think to your point there, I think it’s endemic. We’ve got it in the kids now. I think I saw a picture. Somebody showed a picture of a whole bunch of ladies graduating college in the mid-70s, and then they shared the average graduate in class now, and it was like, Wow, we’ve swollen up a little bit.

 

[00:09:22.720] – Candice McField

Yes.

 

[00:09:23.310] – David Maples

I don’t know what to call it.

 

[00:09:25.190] – Candice McField

Right. That’s a nice term.

 

[00:09:26.720] – David Maples

Well, yeah, it was just like I was like, Wow, people are all thin, they appear to be healthy and things like that, and it’s just so different skipping to today.

 

[00:09:35.270] – Candice McField

That makes me think of… I remember growing up, like for kids, when we were kids, there was maybe one or two, quote-unquote, bigger kids, and now I feel like it’s a lot of bigger kids.

 

[00:09:51.240] – David Maples

You talked about, you mentioned that you do nutrition as well. How important is the nutrition to that healthy journey as well? Not just the working out piece, right?

 

[00:10:00.130] – Candice McField

You know what? People will say, Oh, it’s 80% nutrition, 20% exercise. Yes and no. I agree and disagree at the same time because for me, I feel like to unlock optimal performance, which is like a model that I use, you have to have exercise going at the same time. All these cylinders need to be firing at the same time, exercise, nutrition, rest, and then understanding your own body or your own genetics. I think that two areas that are very overlooked is rest. People don’t sleep enough, especially as Americans, and then also just understanding your genetic history. I tell and preach to clients all the time, listen to your body, listen to your body. It’s an art to wellness, but the more you’re in tune with your body, the more efficient and effective you’ll be.

 

[00:10:56.870] – David Maples

I read a study. I’d be, I can’t remember the name of the study, but it was talking about looking at the landscape for people long term and health and wellness. They said the number one determining factor of people being healthy and physically fit in their 80s is whether or not they were exercising and physically fit in their 60s. They said if there is one factor, like taking out nutrition, and I’m not saying nutrition is not a big part of it because they talk about that too, but they say that the exercise piece of it, that core component doing those things, and their study after study that keeps getting released about how exercise is one of the… It’s one of the only thing. It helps with mental wellbeing. It helps with health. It helps every aspect of your life. So why don’t we do it more?

 

[00:11:40.720] – Candice McField

That’s a million dollar question.

 

[00:11:43.300] – David Maples

Why don’t we? Today in the podcast, Candace and I are going to launch a new company. I’m just kidding. But the thing about it is, if we could find a way to solve that equation in some way, I think the benefits to everybody would be huge.

 

[00:11:57.160] – David Maples

I think what you said was interesting because you said, Hey, if you’re 60 and you’re working out, you’re more likely to work out when you’re 80. But then when you said it, I thought about if you even take it a couple of steps backwards. To get to 60 working out, you got to just go to 40 and then 40, go to 20 and 20 go to 10 or something like that. For me, I feel like it’s all about a lifestyle. The earlier, younger you are trying to implement this lifestyle, the better off you will be because a part of who you are. It’s your DNA. I just work out. I enjoy working out. I don’t feel right when I don’t work out. I just love for people to get to that lifestyle.

 

[00:12:42.730] – David Maples

Hence your focus with the not-for-profit on the kids. On the kids, exactly. If you start there, if you get them to do it, then that’s, See, it all makes sense now.

 

[00:12:51.600] – Candice McField

But I couldn’t start there. As a business, you got to have money. Yeah, there’s that. Well, no, but.

 

[00:12:59.640] – David Maples

That’s all part of it, right? It’s all part of it. What made you want to start the not-for-profit in particular?

 

[00:13:05.820] – Candice McField

My gosh, just passion, like something that sometimes in life, that desire that never goes away. I feel like it’s a huge problem. I want to just be a part of helping to solve that problem. I think my passion to transform others, help others, hopefully, like I said, leave a legacy. My legacy… Part of my legacy can be like, Candace helped play a part in shaping these kids’ lives in this way, which is just wellness. But I think that’s it.

 

[00:13:42.290] – David Maples

She started out in economics and finance. There’s help for all of us out there. There’s hope for all of us. Sorry, let me change that. Well, I want to go a little bit into the Kansas City now and what you’re doing here, etc. Before I go too far and further, I always want to ask people, what’s the most rewarding part about what you do on a day-to-day basis?

 

[00:14:05.200] – Candice McField

You know what it is? I get to help people like you just transform. It’s not only that physical transformation, we talked about it for a second, it’s that mental transformation, sometimes spiritual, sometimes just career-life balance. But when I get to see people increase their energy, have more confidence, it’s crazy. I love the physical, but when people have more confidence, they have that swag, quote-unquote, in their step and their walk, it changes their complete lives.

 

[00:14:37.530] – David Maples

Absolutely.

 

[00:14:38.640] – Candice McField

Yeah, in so many different areas.

 

[00:14:40.970] – David Maples

See, that just gives you a high every day. That’s like a big deal. Now, absolutely. We brought you on the podcast in particular because you’re one of these people who you’re actually physically transforming lives. In what ways would you say that you are helping make Kansas City a better place to live, play, and work? What dodo you think, how are you contributing to helping lift up the city?

 

[00:15:03.860] – Candice McField

Yeah, I think it’s part of that same answer I just said before. I think that when people, let’s just say, quote-unquote, love themselves more, when you’re more confident, you’re feeling good about your physique and the size, I don’t know, I feel like you just do more good. I think the small impact I make in individual lives then translates and multiplies to others. I hope that the impact I have in Kansas City is helping Kansas City become more well. I know our stats for obesity were towards the bottom of the list for the country. Oh, really? Yeah, I don’t remember what number, but we’re not high on the list as far as our obesity rates and stats.

 

[00:15:49.210] – David Maples

For you, for the not-for-profit in particular, are you getting involved with schools or how do you get involved with these kids?

 

[00:15:54.800] – Candice McField

Honestly, we are looking to launch in January. We’ve only done like a pilot thus far. But yes, the schools and then also think of programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters. We’re going to be giving programs for the ‘bigs’ to do with their ‘littles’ other activities. Oh, that’s cool. Really? Do you remember ‘Book It’ by chance?

 

[00:16:15.570] – David Maples

No, I don’t.

 

[00:16:16.240] – Candice McField

Okay, so when I was a kid growing up, we had Book It, which was you read a certain amount of books per month, and you took this little piece of paper to Pizza Hut, and then.

 

[00:16:25.600] – David Maples

You got- Actually, no. I absolutely know it. I think it was called something else. But it was definitely involved with, it might have been Book It, it was involved with Pizza Hut, of all places, right? Yes, that’s right.

 

[00:16:33.660] – Candice McField

Here in Kansas City, it was called Book It. It’s the same type of concept, like self-paced or these kids can do with their parents or they’re big or whoever, and then it’s going to be connected to some reward. But we still have to… We’re working on that piece. But yeah, I think that, again, going back, if we could just transform or help these kids at a young age, it’ll just help them out.

 

[00:17:01.750] – David Maples

If you’re listening to this podcast or if you’re watching online on YouTube or on the website, we’re going to be linking in the show notes links to all of Candace’s initiative she’s involved with. Will you say the name of your not-for-profit initiative again? Yes.

 

[00:17:14.920] – Candice McField

It’s called Fight Globesity.

 

[00:17:16.630] – David Maples

Fight Globesity.

 

[00:17:17.710] – Candice McField

Got you. Meaning obesity is now a worldwide problem.

 

[00:17:20.550] – David Maples

It’s a global problem. Interesting. Are there any other particular initiatives or projects you’ve been involved with that you’re really proud of or you really love?

 

[00:17:32.770] – Candice McField

Like personal projects? Yeah. Sure. Number one, I would say, so many people don’t know, but I started a scholarship from my high school, Sumner Academy years ago. I ran it. But anyway, it’s been a joy. My very first year, I’ve kept in touch with two of the winners. Now they’re like, I don’t know, early 30s because this was-.

 

[00:17:55.740] – David Maples

Oh wow.

 

[00:17:56.290] – Candice McField

-20 years ago or whatever, I don’t know. But anyway, so now to see them in their careers, one is a pilot for FedEx doing global… He does global flights. He does world travel all the time because of his job. Then one is a doctor, a medical doctor now. I think watching them just grow into themselves.

 

[00:18:18.790] – David Maples

What made you want to give a scholarship? A lot of people don’t do that. What made you want to do it?

 

[00:18:24.500] – Candice McField

I think it’s ingrained in who I am in my family. I don’t know, looking at my parents, my cousins, my uncles, aunts, I don’t know. I think it’s in the DNA of my family of having that servant’s type of heart and just helping others. I think that if I’m in a position to help somebody, why not help them if I can? It was 2006, and actually, I was doing my first… I think that was my first pro show, so I connected it to that. I was doing a show, but had like a, hey, fundraising type thing for the scholarship at the same time. I don’t know. For me, it was a way to get back and to give back to my community, my high school, and help some future kids going to college.

 

[00:19:15.400] – David Maples

No, absolutely. That’s awesome. I also think there’s a mentorship role. The fact that you said you’ve remained in touch with them. I’m not going to put words in your mouth, but I think that’s probably been important to them as they’ve grown and developed in their positions. Am I incorrect in that?

 

[00:19:32.950] – Candice McField

I would think that’s correct.. Now it’s both ways, right? They’re adults and I get as much joy just hanging out, chatting with them in that reverse way as well. I don’t know. It definitely brings a smile to my face.

 

[00:19:51.550] – David Maples

Focusing on Kansas City for a second. There’s a lot of stuff going on in KC. I know you’re from KCK. By the way, this is a Kansas City podcast, so we’re talking about the Metro, so we don’t care if you’re KCK or KC Moe, so it’s all right. But I did notice there was a little bit of infighting between people. If you’re from KCK or KC Moe, I didn’t know that there was any of that, but it’s funny. What unique opportunities or challenges do you see for Kansas City in the coming few years?

 

[00:20:21.900] – Candice McField

I think we hit on it. But just for me, I think so much is tied back to obesity. We’re famous for our barbecues. We’re not the most active city. When you go to Denver, it’s like a completely different vibe or being in San Diego or LA. I don’t know. I think Kansas City just has a huge opportunity just to do better in our wellness or with our wellness.

 

[00:20:48.410] – David Maples

Well, they’re revitalizing a lot of stuff downtown, etc. We had Lisa Pena on the thing. She does.

 

[00:20:55.070] – Candice McField

The- We graduated together.

 

[00:20:57.420] – David Maples

Wait, you know her! Oh, that’s too funny. Well, she started doing these walks down here in the city.

 

[00:21:02.750] – Candice McField

Yes, she has Urban Hikes.

 

[00:21:04.770] – David Maples

Urban hikes. Yeah, that is really funny. I’m aware of that now we know it’s a small world. That’s pretty funny. But I know that there’s a lot of that. Those kinds of things are important. I know they’re doing some stuff downtown with the streetcar now and things like that. Maybe they’ll help make that more walkable so people can do more things down there.

 

[00:21:25.150] – Candice McField

I don’t know. I just think there’s more opportunity we could just do better, like increasing our bike trails or walking trails, for starters.

 

[00:21:33.810] – David Maples

Is there anybody currently working on that right now? Do you know?

 

[00:21:36.930] – Candice McField

I’m sure. I’m just asking. I’m sure city governments and the state of Kansas, our whole Department of transportation. We haven’t talked about it, but I do. I sit on the Kansas Governor’s Council of Wellness. I actually chair it right now. There’s a lot of different initiatives going on around the state, like Pride things people never even hear about. But I feel like we could still do better.

 

[00:22:05.830] – David Maples

Yeah, got it. Is there one of these that you want to talk about? You mentioned it. You’re on the governor’s council for this. I thought maybe I should ask.

 

[00:22:17.120] – Candice McField

One of the projects?

 

[00:22:18.450] – David Maples

Yeah, one of the things you all are working on.

 

[00:22:20.050] – Candice McField

We’re like something cool. Got you. What we do is we do a lot of policy to advise our Secretary of Health and our governor. For instance, we just got what’s called Kansas Kids Fitness Day reinstated. There’s a group called KPHARD, and it stands for, sorry if I butcher it, but I want to say it stands for Kansas Physical Activity, Recreation, and Dance. There’s a group, and there’s comprised of PE teachers and others. But anyway, they came to us to help get Kansas Kids Fitness Day reinstated. That’s one project that we have done. Others include tobacco prevention. Vaping is a huge ordeal now and especially for kids in high school. Anyway, we look at different policies and things like that.

 

[00:23:14.180] – David Maples

You’re doing all these really cool things. You’re involved in the Governor’s Council for the Fitness. You got your not-for-profit that you’re going to be launching. Officially, it launches in January. You finished the pilot for it.

 

[00:23:23.630] – Candice McField

Yeah, we did the pilot. Now it’s just you want to start and then the timeline gets pushed back.

 

[00:23:30.550] – David Maples

It always does.

 

[00:23:31.620] – Candice McField

Fingers crossed, January. But no, we’re working on right now just finalizing and developing that content we need to… those challenges for those kids to do, so we have to….

 

[00:23:43.490] – David Maples

There used to be a presidential physical fitness. Is that still a thing?

[00:23:49.380] – Candice McField

I think it’s still a thing. There’s still the website, but I don’t know how…

 

[00:23:55.740] – David Maples

That’s the only thing…

 

[00:23:56.910] – Candice McField

Yeah. When we were little, it was a huge thing.

 

[00:23:59.170] – David Maples

It’s the only thing I’ve ever won! I had the presidential physical fitness thing for three years running because you could do pullups and stuff and nobody else could do them.

 

[00:24:06.370] – Candice McField

Or that’s sit and reach.

 

[00:24:07.770] – David Maples

Yeah, the sit and reach! I’m not the most flexible, but that’s always been my thing. But I’ve worked on it for that. Now, I thought it was a great thing. I remember that was a big deal whenever that originally happened. I wanted to say that was under… I know that Arnold Schwarzenegger got put on the the council for that or something like that in action.

 

[00:24:28.500] – Candice McField

There’s a council called the President’s Council on sports, fitness, and Nutrition, so maybe he sat on that. That council still goes.

 

[00:24:37.250] – David Maples

I think he did this in the, I want to say the early ’90s, like George Bush senior was somehow involved with it. I’m doing all this for memory, so this may be completely wrong, so don’t take it to the bank. You had this interesting way about you. I was really wondering, this is my collaboration thing. You did scholarship right as you were getting into fitness modeling… Not fitness modeling, into fitness competing. Sorry, that’s a different piece a little bit there. How do you personally approach collaboration and fostering unity within your community?

 

[00:25:16.630] – Candice McField

Yeah, so unique question. I think of two things. One, I think of Best Servant’s Heart we spoke about. I don’t know. I think if you just put others before you, like you help somebody else, then you’re really going to end up helping yourself, too, just because, I don’t know, just that nature of gratitude just multiplies. I think that’s one way. Then just always just, I don’t know, putting your best heart forward. Having that collaboration mindset. I have one tattoo, but it’s Ichigo Ichie. It’s a Japanese phrase, and I had a chance to go. Our tour guide, she told us this phrase and I just fell in love with it. The Japanese are very famous for their teas. When you’re given a tea ceremony, you have one chance to make that first impression with somebody. I think in collaboration, make sure you’re putting your best heart forward and then just let your natural personality shine through.

 

[00:26:23.050] – David Maples

Is there a personal experience or lesson that has significantly shaped your perspective on these things or even your career for that matter?

 

[00:26:30.960] – Candice McField

Personal experience.

 

[00:26:32.700] – David Maples

As well. You mentioned the service part. You just pulled this out of thin air. Seriously, you might have. You wrote a book, so it could be in there.

 

[00:26:43.350] – Candice McField

No, I would say two things. Number one, so that’s my faith. My faith is Christianity. I think that’s where it stems from. But also I have a global mindset, and so we haven’t really touched on that aspect. But when I went to Japan is because instead of going to, when I was in college, instead of studying abroad in one country, I went to semester at sea. Semester at sea is like you live on a ship and you sail around the world with, at the time, it was probably 600 college students. We started in Cuba and worked our way to Japan, 100-day voyage. Amazing, life-changing experience. When you’re, quote-unquote, as Americans and then we’re going to go to these other places that maybe are not as developed, you see and witness a lot. I think that that gratitude of just being philanthropic really stemmed from that because you see so much in, say, South Africa or India, and all your senses are just awakened. You’re like, Whoa, we are very, very blessed. Okay.

 

[00:27:59.480] – David Maples

How did you stay informed and connected and engaged in the Kansas City community? What do you do personally to stay informed and engaged?

 

[00:28:10.960] – Candice McField

Yeah. I think part of what I was going to say before, too, for one of your questions was just I think one of my strengths is just networking. I think I’m a good networker, just having a genuine interest in others. Because I understand the value. It’s not like so much what you know, it’s like who you know, because who you know can open up a lot of doors and opportunities. I think that’s one way I stay connected is just to do my own network of who I know. There’s always things or talks or events being like, Hey, Kansas, do this, or, Here’s something about Kansas City. I don’t know. I think just being plugged into the community through my own network is how I stay involved. But also I just have an opportunity to be the fitness expert for Fox4. Kansas City, I think, helps too. Just helping Kansas City with some quick fitness tips once more.

 

[00:29:06.820] – David Maples

Now, when did you start doing this stuff with Fox4 originally?

 

[00:29:09.470] – Candice McField

Yeah, that relationship started in 2015.

 

[00:29:12.550] – David Maples

Okay, so 2015. You’ve been doing it since then, right?

 

[00:29:15.430] – Candice McField

Yes.

 

[00:29:16.240] – David Maples

How has that changed your trajectory and what you’ve done? Has that been useful for you? Tell me about it.

 

[00:29:21.850] – Candice McField

Yeah, very useful. One, I mean, just like from the business standpoint, of course, it’s a great publicity for the business. But from the personal development, it’s speaking. A lot of people have stage fright and things like that. For me, it’s from the personal development. But I don’t know, I think it’s just opened a lot of doors. I think people see me, which is a blessing, as a real fitness expert. There’s so many people that they say they’re a trainer, personal trainer, health coach. Unfortunately, in our industry, there’s no national certification. There’s no national standard. I think it helps just prove the respect.

 

[00:30:12.420] – David Maples

Why is there no national standard? I’ve heard someone say that before. Candace, you have your work cut out for you now. You have to establish a national standard.

 

[00:30:21.400] – Candice McField

I think I’ll stay in my lane.

 

[00:30:22.890] – David Maples

You’ll stay in your lane. Oh, it’s enough. It’s okay. I’ll just be on the governor’s council and do that and then I’m not for profit. I don’t know, somebody probably to do it. I don’t know. Somebody probably to do it.

 

[00:30:32.230] – Candice McField

I don’t know. No, I agree.

 

[00:30:33.750] – David Maples

What would it be?

 

[00:30:34.860] – Candice McField

I don’t know. How would you do it? But they do it for other industries. How these other industries do it, so why can’t we? I don’t know. That bothers me that there’s so many fly-by-the-night certification companies out there. You end up injuring people or people don’t have the background and the knowledge that they should have.

 

[00:30:56.220] – David Maples

I do need to ask this question in particular. What do you love most about KC and what helps it stand out from other cities?

 

[00:31:07.540] – Candice McField

Yeah. What first comes to mind is just we’re very, I think, welcoming. We were talking about it offline and even with your experience of moving here. I don’t know. I just feel like being in the Midwest, in particular, Kansas City, I don’t know, most of us are very just friendly. I think it’s just an easygoing place, and I think that’s what stands out. You can go up to somebody and ask for, Hey, directions, and you’re not going to feel like you’re bothering them. I feel like, quote-unquote, it’s very different in New York versus here. Everybody’s just super focused. They’re just trying to get to wherever they need to go. Don’t bother me. Don’t talk to me. But we’re more open and laid back.

 

[00:31:51.130] – David Maples

I’ve loved it. I’ve loved being here. Are there any local leaders or other influencers or things like that that inspired you in the KC community? You look at that person and say, Hey, look, I know I’m doing these things, but just somebody I say, I think they’re doing great stuff.

 

[00:32:06.800] – Candice McField

Sure. I think people I personally know, when I think about that question, maybe my book publisher, she owns a company called Launch Crate. I think Launch Crate is doing some phenomenal things in Kansas City as far as helping authors actually make a profit writing a book. Because a lot of times it’s so flipped. I think of Laura Owens. She owns a company called Healthy ID. Just how that company is doing… The whole basis is inflammation, how inflammation, if you can diagnose that, then it’s the culprit to so many other chronic health issues. I think what she’s doing there, so I don’t know. For me, influencers are people I personally know and not like celebrities.

 

[00:32:59.870] – David Maples

What do you see as the future of Kansas City and what role do you hope to play in that future?

 

[00:33:06.540] – Candice McField

Well, since I’m so focused on wellness, so the future of Kansas City is just more well. We’re healthy. In that can be not only physically, but just mental health as well. I hope that the part I’m playing is just helping others get there. Whether I am your coach or not, but hopefully, maybe a nugget, you’ve heard me speak or on Fox or social media, whatever, maybe there’s a nugget you can take away and apply to your life. I hope that I’m helping to make Kansas City more well, which translates to so many more things.

 

[00:33:46.500] – David Maples

Yeah, I know. I mean, it’s a holistic thing. You have to start somewhere, too, with that. What would you suggest to other people who want to get involved and make a difference in KC? They want to get involved with your initiatives. How do they get involved?

 

[00:33:58.940] – Candice McField

Okay, so from… For mine, if you go to Candace McField. Com, you can find everything I have going on. Whether it’s the one-on-one health coaching or as for me and my body or fight global obesity, sorry, that’s a main hub for every single thing. But I think outside of my initiative, I think it’s just a matter of… I have this saying of you just have to jump in the pool and start swimming. I don’t know what you’re passionate about or what you want to do, but whatever it is, you’ll figure that out. Once you figure that out, you don’t have to have it perfect. Just jump in the pool, you’ll figure it out along the way.

 

[00:34:38.730] – David Maples

Got it. Very important question. The best barbecue in Kansas City?

 

[00:34:44.070] – Candice McField

For me, it’s Jack’s Deck. Hands down.

 

[00:34:46.730] – David Maples

Jack’s Deck. Is there a particular location?

 

[00:34:48.640] – Candice McField

You know what? I like the Union Station location the best. I don’t know, the decor is really nice. Then you know what? I love their a rack of lambs, dry. I don’t even need the sauce, just dry. Their baked beans are my favorite for all the barbecue places. Okay.

 

[00:35:11.860] – David Maples

I wanted to ask that. Are there any other local events or organizations in places in Kansas City you say, Hey, I think people should know about this. It’s a hidden gem, something I think is really cool here.

 

[00:35:23.980] – Candice McField

This has a spiritual element to it, but I just went to this really cool, I guess, annual dinner fundraiser for Hope International. Hope International is doing microfinancing. It’s really powerful because it’s not handing out money to people in other countries. They have several countries they work with in Africa. I want to say maybe Central America and South America. But anyway, but the point is microfinancing, and I think that’s the organization in Kansas City should know about. It has an international element to it. But there’s a Kansas City rep here.

 

[00:36:06.360] – David Maples

Microfinancing is… I mean, some of my other podcasts that Bucks Stops here, we always talk about one of the things that’s the biggest determining factor to success in any company is access to capital. If you can’t access capital, it might as well be the moon. The microfinance things allow people, when they have an idea for a business, and especially in other countries, a small amount of money can be the difference in starting in a knot. I think that’s huge. That’s really huge. I would like to know more about that organization and we’ll put some stuff about that in the show notes. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

 

[00:36:39.730] – Candice McField

Thanks for having me.

 

[00:36:40.690] – David Maples

Yeah, you’ve been great.

 

[00:36:41.870] – Candice McField

Like I said before, I love meeting people and I love connecting with people. This has been fun and I hope that you guys listening have gotten at least one piece of advice or-

 

[00:36:54.890] – Candice McField

I’ve gotten seven.

 

[00:36:56.830] – Candice McField

Seven?!

 

[00:36:57.760] – David Maples

Yeah, there’s actually really great stuff in here. Well, Candice, thank you so much for coming on the show today and thank you for your time. We’re going to put all the stuff in the podcast.

 

[00:37:08.350] – Producer

Thank you for listening to The KC Leaders Podcast. Please remember to like, share, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen. For more information about this podcast, you can visit kcleaderspodcast.com. Don’t forget to check out our other great podcasts like The Bucks Stops Here, streaming now on all major platforms and at thebucksstopsherepodcast.com.

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