Chris Ward
Chris Ward has spent his life running toward emergencies.
As a firefighter and EMT, he showed up when things fell apart — steady under pressure, calm in chaos, trained to respond when others couldn’t. But nothing prepared him for losing his wife.
That was the one emergency he couldn’t fix.
Widowed in midlife, Chris could’ve stayed stuck. Instead, he leaned into the only principle that ever made sense in crisis: keep moving forward. In his mid-50s, he signed up for triathlons — not to be elite, but to prove that endurance isn’t about speed… it’s about staying in the race.
Now a music educational consultant and founder of Forward Nutrition and Wellness Coaching, Chris combines first-responder grit, caregiver experience, and an endurance mindset to help others rebuild after loss.
On Rod &: Unqualified and Unsupervised, he brings frontline perspective, humor, and the hard truth that sometimes strength sounds like:
“You don’t have to have it all figured out…
you just have to keep moving forward.”
Preferably with coffee. And sarcasm.
Rod Pump
Rod grew up in Iowa—small-town roots with just enough life experience to know things don’t always go as planned.
He spent over 20 years doing the “stable life” thing—marriage, raising a son, being the dependable one. Then came the plot twist. After his divorce, Rod came out, found love again, and spent 16 years with his partner Jeff—until losing him three years ago.
Not exactly how he drew it up.
Now he’s navigating grief in real time—no roadmap, just showing up and figuring it out as he goes. Turns out, that makes him pretty good at helping others do the same.
When he’s not doing that, Rod stays busy—gym, singing in a semi-pro choir, traveling to DC, serving on boards, volunteering… and lifeguarding at two pools, because apparently sitting still isn’t an option.
“A rolling Rod gathers no moss.”
He knows there’s love ahead. For now, he’s embracing single life, good friends, and strong coffee.
